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Can Sprint Support the IPhone 5?
Mar 29th
Sprint wants to roll out 4G LTE iPhones as soon as they come out, but the carrier's network and financial problems may hinder its competitive plans.
The Overland Park, Kan.-based company's chief financial officer Joe Euteneuer told investors Sprint's contract with Apple is the same as Verizon and AT&T's deals, and the carrier intends to offer comparable packages for the upcoming iPhone. Sprint is rolling out its faster network this year, but it only plans to serve six major U.S. cities, a far cry from the larger carriers' extensive coverage.
Apple has not said if its next iPhone will run on 4G LTE, but analysts expect it will, as the company promoted the new iPad's LTE capability and several competing smartphones already run on the faster network.
Apple did not give Sprint a deal to sell its LTE-capable iPad, citing the carrier's slow 4G network as problematic. After Sprint worked so hard to carry the iPhone, its exclusion from the new iPad carrier roster likely spurred increased talk about its 4G LTE plans for the iPhone, to make sure it does not miss out on the next 4G LTE Apple product.
"If you make the assumption that they launch a device at a similar time that they did last year, you're basically done with the major markets," Euteneuer said, explaining how the potential summertime release of the iPhone 5 will benefit Sprint because the carrier's network will be up and running by that time. "I don't think we are really disadvantaged at all."
Sprint struck its deal with Apple to keep up with competitors, but the price of subsidizing the iPhone is nearly bankrupting the company. Board members are not happy with CEO Dan Hesse's strategy, and he is in the hot seat with investors.
The carrier suffered another setback in its 4G strategy when its deal with LightSquared failed due to FCC concerns, and Sprint recently abandoned the unsuccessful partnership. Sprint is scrambling to find additional spectrum at a bad time, with potential sources dwindling as competing carriers buy up as much bandwidth as they can.
Sprint is struggling on several fronts, and sees Apple as a potential path to salvation. The carrier paid a high price for the rights to sell iPhones, and its steep investment means the company is likely to stay committed to the coveted product.
In this light, pouring money into developing its 4G LTE network may seem reckless to investors, but it also could be the company's only choice to stay relevant and sell the iPhone.
Can Sprint Support the IPhone 5? originally appeared at Mobiledia on Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:55 am.
Apple CEO Polishes Image with Foxconn Tour
Mar 29th
Tim Cook took his first trip to China as Apple's chief executive, visiting Foxconn's iPhone production plant and suggesting the country's importance in the tech giant's future.
The Cupertino Calif.-based company's CEO was all smiles in a photograph taken at the Foxconn Zhengzhou Technology Park as he toured the facilities. The plant employs 120,000 workers.
Cook's visit is the latest action by Apple's leader to quell criticism surrounding the company in the past year for treatment of factory employees. The tech giant agreed to voluntary supply chain audits, and Cook personally guaranteed that his company would do everything in its power to make sure any issues would be handled.
The situation at Foxconn factories has brightened lately. Last month, workers received raises between 16 and 25 percent, depending on their time with the factory. In addition, playwright/actor Mike Daisey admitted to exaggerating or lying about several of the claims he made about his own visit to the factory in his controversial play about Apple factory workers, effectively debunking some of the more extreme claims about conditions at Foxconn.
Cook also attended to other business matters in China during his visit. He visited Apple's Beijing store to check on the company's retail health and met with government officials in China, likely to discuss the long-term growth of his company in the country and plans for future investment.
Apple will likely expand in China with wider iPhone distribution. The device is available in the country at smaller carriers, but Cook is reportedly paying visits to larger companies such as China Telecom and China Unicom during his visit to negotiate a deal to offer the next version of the smartphone later this year.
Cook's tour at the Foxconn factory is likely the part of his visit that makes headlines, but the CEO had several reasons for his visit to China, as his company makes the country a bigger part of its business in the future.
Apple CEO Polishes Image with Foxconn Tour originally appeared at Mobiledia on Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:45 am.
LG Develops Flexible E-Paper Display
Mar 29th
LG is launching a flexible, paper-like electronic reader, a new device that may revolutionize the tablet industry.
The 6-inch electronic paper display, or EPD, will revolutionize the e-book market, LG claims. Chinese manufacturers are already prepping to make the digital screen that bends in the hand, and LG says it will be available in European stores as early as April.
Bringing together convenient e-reader technology with the flexible touch of paper, the "e-paper" display touts its strong potential for innovation. Many in the media industry worry about newspapers becoming a thing of the past as tablets take over, but a paper-like screen meant for reading helps bridge the gap between traditional print and modern technology at a time when readers of all ages are going digital.
The device is ultra-thin and extremely portable, measuring 0.7-millimeters thick and weighing about 14 grams. LG's test reports say the device is resistant to scratches and can fall 1.5 meters, or about five feet, without breaking. The most novel feature is the EPD's ability to bend 40 degrees from its center, allowing users to angle the screen to their comfort level and offering a unique design compared to other e-reader and tablets.
LG says the device will reduce eye fatigue and electricity consumption, in addition to lower prices in comparison to other e-readers.
"With the world's first plastic EPD, LG Display has once again proven its reputation for leadership and innovation with a product we believe will help greatly popularize the e-book market," said Sang Duck Yeo, head of operations for LG Display's Mobile/OLED division.
LG has long been associated with liquid crystal mobile displays, so its progressive EPD product in the e-reader market is a bit of a departure. The technology offers many possibilities that could prove immensely profitable if consumers respond well to early product runs, or if LG forges licensing deals with manufacturers to use the flexible screen in their own devices.
With more niche products coming out to help meet consumer needs, the e-reader market features multiple competitors. The Kindle Fire, as an entertainment-based platform, is plausibly the second-most popular tablet after the iPad, while the Barnes & Nobles Nook line continues to reinvent itself to keep up with e-reader trends. Many e-reader double as web-browsing, app-based devices, but something like LG's EPD is a specific answer to the floundering print industry.
The EPD offers consumers a new way to get the morning paper, or read their favorite novel -- not in a hard copy, not on an app, but on a bendable screen they can carry close. There's likely more to come from LG and its competitors as lighter, thinner screens are the next step for digital reading, as even if the initial device isn't a hit, the technology alone brings functional, unique advancement in design.
LG Develops Flexible E-Paper Display originally appeared at Mobiledia on Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:02 am.
Daily Roundup: March 28, 2012
Mar 28th
People often tweet their daily activities, but a lawyer learned you can't do it while observing at the U.S. Supreme Court, while a British man learned to keep his tweets non-racist.
Also, Apple said it will offer Australians a refund if they bought a new iPad after officials said the devices' advertising was misleading. And if you were buying a copy of Harry Potter for your Kindle, you may have had some trouble: Amazon's Kindle Store buy buttons disappeared, reappearing hours later.
Supreme Court Shuts Down Man's Tweets
The U.S. Supreme Court shut down a man's live tweeting during hearings on the constitutionality of the new health care law.
Electronic communication is strictly forbidden from inside the court, but Casey Mattox, a lawyer for the right-wing Alliance Defense Fund, said he was "defending religious freedom, the sancticty of light, marriage and the family."
Mattox was listening to proceedings from the Lawyer's Room, adjacent to the court itself, and stepping out into corridor to send updates to a colleague, who would tweet them out.
The ADF succeeded in covering the proceedings for most of the day until a court marshal told Mattox to stop.
Apple Offering Australians a Refund
Apple said it will email everyone in Australia who bought a new iPad to offer them a refund, after national officials accused it of being misleading in its advertising.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said earlier this week it was taking legal action to ensure Apple makes consumers in that country aware its third-generation iPad can't connect to a 4G mobile data network in the country.
In addition to the refund offer, Apple said it would post warnings over the next week stating the new iPad is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks and WiMAX networks.
Kindle Buy Buttons Crash on Harry Potter Debut Day
Buy buttons on Amazon's dominant e-book store disappeared for several hours on the same day Amazon started sharing Harry Potter e-book sales with writer J.K. Rowling.
Buttons for the Potter series, along with other links for best-sellers like The Hunger Games and the Fifty Shades trilogy were replaced by larger green buttons that said, "This title is not available for customers from: United States."
Amazon didn't directly comment on the issue, but a forum post on the site's Kindle Direct Publishing unit said the matter was a "website" issue, and the buy buttons returned later in the day Tuesday.
British Man Jailed for Racist Tweet
A British man was sentenced to nearly two months in jail for charges of inciting racial hatred after authorities cracked down on his tweets against soccer star Fabrice Muamba.
The black 23-year-old soccer player's heart stopped for 70 minutes, and he almost died. However, Liam Stacey tweeted several times against the player and his supporters, even telling one of his detractors to "go pick some cotton."
Stacey at first claimed his Twitter feed was hacked, but then claimed to be drunk while posting the tweets, including one that said "LOL. F*** Muamba he's dead!!!#haha."
The judge called his comments "vile and abhorrent."
Daily Roundup: March 28, 2012 originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:05 pm.
Republicans Introduce Cybersecurity Bill
Mar 28th
Republican representatives are backing another cybersecurity bill, adding their proposal to a host of competing House and Senate solutions as both parties seek to protect national digital infrastructure.
The latest bill calls for increased dialogue between government security agencies and private corporations, as well as suggesting higher penalties for hacking. Under the proposal, companies like Comcast, Verizon and other ISPs will receive legal protection in exchange for sharing cyber threat information with the National Security Agency.
"It puts the private sector in the driver's seat, instead of relying on overly prescriptive government mandates that hamper growth and weaken response capabilities," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), who introduced the bill on Tuesday with Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R., Calif.).
Blackburn and Bono Mack's proposal is almost identical to that of Sen. John McCain's, which also provides incentives for voluntary information sharing between the NSA and private corporations.
McCain's bill enjoys broad Republican support, but the ACLU warns it may allow the government to monitor citizens even more closely by combing through corporate data. These are not the only cybersecurity bills on the table, however, as over 30 such proposals await votes on Capitol Hill.
Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman, John D. Rockefeller and others introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 in February, suggesting the Department of Homeland Security set cybersecurity standards.
The Cybersecurity Act differs from Blackburn and McCain's bill in that it proposes holding corporations to a standard and not asking that they voluntarily disclose breaches.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) supports Lieberman's bill, as does the White House, but it faces opposition from Republicans and the Chamber of Commerce.
Another bill up for consideration is that of Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin, who suggests setting standards for corporate hacking disclosures rather than relying on incentives.
Both Republicans and Democrats continue to display increased interest in cybersecurity legislation since a rash of high-profile hacks struck the nation last year. As the threat of hacks on critical infrastructure continues to grow, both sides of the aisle are now drafting bills in an increasing hurry.
But so far the parties' differences have prevented an agreement, and a bi-partisan cybersecurity solution is unlikely until after the November elections.
Republicans Introduce Cybersecurity Bill originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:54 pm.
House Votes to Limit FCC Influence in Mergers
Mar 28th
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would limit the Federal Communications Commission's ability to weigh in on company mergers, as lawmakers examine regulatory oversight of the tech industry.
The Republican-controlled House passed The Federal Communications Commissions Process Reform Act, despite overwhelming Democratic opposition with a 247 to 174 vote. Supporters say it would add transparency to the agency along the lines of other federal bodies, but Democrats say it will disable the FCC and keep it from protecting public interest.
Mergers between carriers, cable companies and manufacturers are often a cornerstone of business strategies. They're especially crucial in a tech industry trying to secure spectrum to build growing networks, on devices now blending communication and entertainment services. FCC approval is central to who succeeds in those deals, so changes in the process, like diminishing the government's oversight, will likely affect those decisions.
The FCC's ability to attach conditions to grant approval to specific deals is the main point of controversy. Some lawmakers who support the measure say those conditions fall outside of FCC jurisdiction, like those applying to channel choice or Internet traffic rules.
Senate passage the bill will limit the FCC's authority by preventing the agency from putting conditions on mergers and acquisitions, and limit its overall authority. In addition, the FCC would need to provide detailed cost benefit analysis of business and consumer effects before making decisions.
But the bill isn't likely to pass, at least as written, when it's voted on by the Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Barack Obama said he would veto it if it passes.
Even if these regulations don't stick, officials increasingly focus on powerful mergers between tech companies that could alter industry leaders, or stifle free competition as they change offerings for consumers. Lawmakers weighed in heavily on the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger which the FCC deemed would harm competition, and carriers push the FCC to open up spectrum access, crucial to building networks that can support the growing smartphone and tablet market.
Many factors indicate the bill will fail as written, and the FCC will likely be able to impose the same conditions it has and make the same type of assessments. But the very discussion on the House floor about how much control the FCC should have isn't likely to disappear, especially as companies continue to look to acquisition as a way to strengthen weaknesses and stay ahead.
House Votes to Limit FCC Influence in Mergers originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:42 pm.
Free Speech Notches Victory Over Police in Boston Case
Mar 28th
Boston police settled a lawsuit with a man charged for filming an arrest on his phone, underscoring law enforcement's embattled relationship with mobile technology.
Police charged Simon Glik with violating a wiretap law, disturbing the peace and aiding in the escape of a criminal, indicating police saw his behavior as illegal and damaging to their work.
Glik then sued the city for violating his First and Fourth Amendment rights, sparking a debate between activists and police. The courts sided with Glik, noting his documentation did not interfere with the arrest, a decision other courts could use to allow future citizen journalism.
Police departments around the U.S. have prosecuted citizens for recording police activity, with arrests made in Seattle, Miami and many other cities. Boston now owes Glik $170,000, and departments across the country may take steps to prevent similar arrests to avoid costly settlements.
"The First Amendment includes the freedom to observe and document the conduct of government officials, which is crucial to a democracy and a free society," said Sarah Wunsch, an attorney with the ACLU of Massachusetts. "We hope that police departments across the country will draw the right conclusions from this case."
The case reflects the tenuous relationship law enforcement officials have with recent electronic innovations, especially phone cameras and social media. These new technologies allow everyday people to act as citizen journalists, documenting how government agencies conduct business, which makes police officers uneasy.
Police departments may not like the idea of citizens documenting their moves, but they are embracing smartphone camera technology and social media in other ways. Neighborhood watch programs are using smartphone apps to report suspicious behavior, showing police appreciate citizen surveillance under some circumstances.
The Boston Police Department has generally embraced social media, striking a deal with Twitter to use data during criminal investigations. Other law enforcement agencies mine Facebook pages and Twitter feeds for evidence, highlighting how these departments see the value of social media and ever-present photo and video sharing.
Glik's victory suggests courts are likely to protect cell phone camera users' rights despite law enforcement protests. This case may impact current policies in Illinois prohibiting cell phone photography of on-duty police, which may prove important when NATO holds meetings in Chicago in May. Large-scale protests are in the works, and police intent on arresting activists may hold off on handcuffing novice journalists.
Police departments remain wary of unrestrained cell phone documentation, and this issue is unlikely to disappear without continued legal battles between law enforcement officials and camera-toting citizens. For now, however, Boston is paving the way towards increased freedom for amateur reporters, keeping police on their toes.
Free Speech Notches Victory Over Police in Boston Case originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:31 pm.
Apple Tackles IPad Charging Flap
Mar 28th
Apple addressed complaints about the new iPad's charger, demonstrating the company's increasing awareness of criticism.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company confronted reports of a glitch in the tablet's battery display, which can mislead users about how much power is left on the device. If the tablet is left plugged in, the iPad will keep charging after it reaches 100 percent, then de-charge and power back up, cycling through the process even though the display shows full power.
Michael Tchao, Apple's vice president, acknowledged the new iPad keeps charging after the full-charge sign comes on, but dismissed the battery feature's potential problems, telling AllThingsD, "It's a great feature that's always been in iOS."
Apple explained the battery operates this way to encourage complete charging, but critics think the system is flawed. A report from CNBC suggested the design may actually damage the tablet's battery life over time.
The charging issue is one of several minor design complaints lodged against the new iPad, piling on to grumbles about the tablet's tendency to heat up and its incompatibility with older Smart Covers. Apple's willingness to address the issue shows the more proactive stance the company is taking on criticism under CEO Tim Cook's watch, a step forward from the Steve Jobs era, when criticism was often ignored or less diplomatically rebuked.
Under Cook's leadership, Apple has addressed a number of design issues, like battery problems with the iOS 5, but the company has also owned up to larger problems, like the Foxconn controversy. Accusations about working conditions in Apple's Chinese factories went on for years, until Cook spoke out and acknowledged that Apple needed to pay attention to the possible abuse.
Apple's cooperative tone may be necessary in an increasingly stiff market. The new iPad is maintaining tablet market dominance, but the company doesn't want to risk customer dissatisfaction and possible defection to rivals by failing to discuss problems with its latest product.
Microsoft's Windows 8 tablets and Google's branded tablets may challenge Apples' title as the best tablet maker, so with competition creeping closer it can not afford to be cavalier about its fans' complaints.
The new iPad may not have the best battery life, but robust sales show it is still a highly desirable gadget. Until competitors unleash an equally impressive tablet, small glitches are unlikely to unseat the iPad.
Apple Tackles IPad Charging Flap originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:05 pm.
Galaxy Note "Phablet" Is a Hybrid Hit
Mar 28th
Samsung's hybrid "phablet," the Galaxy Note, is selling millions, proving its unique phone-and-tablet design has a place in a crowded tablet market.
The South Korean electronics giant says it sold 5 million Galaxy Note units since December across U.S. and European markets. Branded as offering the best of a smartphone with the best of a tablet, the touch and stylus-operated device will also be available in Japan next month.
The sales are impressive for a relatively risky venture, given the phablet presentation. A 5.3-inch screen size puts the Galaxy Note at an intermediate level between a smartphone and a tablet, and the stylus could be considered more of a gimmick than real innovation. The Note may not revolutionize the tablet market, but it helps solidify Samsung as a tablet market competitor capable of producing and pushing its own innovation.
The Galaxy Note has an interesting edge in the market, offering the expected conveniences of a smartphone but upping tablet-based interaction with an "S.pen" stylus that allows users to take notes and sketch directly in documents. With an 8-megapixel camera and Android Gingerbread interface, the Galaxy Note is a good choice for consumers who want a smartphone with the added benefits of a tablet for Web convenience.
The Note release is part of Samsung's overall handset strategy. Samsung already makes the most of the world's smartphones, and it's looking to bolster its tablet production to boost its profits. Android is trying to make tablets a cornerstone of its brand, and an innovative device like the Note could help garner more Android-based tablet sales against Apple.
Despite the Note's popularity, Apple's new iPad still owns the market. The stylus is an interesting twist, however, and other manufacturers could try to copy the design or add the feature in their own way, although the market is not likely to support more than one phablet. Instead, there's room in the tablet market for varied sizes and functions, like Amazon's Kindle Fire, which has an emphasis on entertainment.
So far the Galaxy Note managed to create as a unique device that offers one-of-a-kind functions. As consumers flock to devices that offer new features, like a phablet, the Galaxy Note could continue to make a splash and foster competition, giving Samsung an edge in both the tablet and phone markets.
Galaxy Note "Phablet" Is a Hybrid Hit originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:52 pm.
ITTO: Gaming Can Save Your Life
Mar 28th
Gaming is fun, but a growing number of titles are harnessing games' potential to improve users' health and quality of life in the face of serious illness and injury.
Is This Thing On?, or ITTO, is our Wednesday column showing how everyday people use technology in unexpected ways.
Everyone knows that gaming can improve hand-eye coordination, but beyond that, the activity is often cast in a dim, unproductive light -- think teenager, bean bag, Orange Crush soda and salty potato chips. That image is being increasingly challenged and transformed by developers who are just beginning to scratch the surface of the full potential of mobile social gaming to cure a wide range of ills.
Veteran game designer, author and traumatic brain injury survivor Jane McGonigal's "SuperBetter" debuted this month, showcasing social gaming as a tool to battle health ailments like social anxiety, weight management, chronic pain and even diseases like cancer.
McGonigal's approach to gaming as an activity that can exercise problem solving skills guided her in developing SuperBetter, and underscores her assertion that gaming can heal and even change the world -- a notion that was put into practice when the author of "Reality is Broken" suffered a mild brain injury in 2009.
In consultation with doctors, psychologists, scientists and medical researchers, McGonigal drew from her own gaming background and set out to create a game to help heal her own injury and build up her personal resilience, which is key to recovery.
SuperBetter is designed to help users achieve health goals -- or recover from an illness or injury -- by increasing personal resilience, which means staying curious, optimistic and motivated even in the face of the toughest challenges.
"When I first heard about Superbetter, I assumed that it was basically designed to help people with physical recuperation, but after talking to McGonigal and playing with the program, I've found that the game is much more open-ended, allowing users to focus on whatever part of the recovery process they think is most important to them," said Alex Goldman, an NPR blogger who used the social game to help in his own physical recovery after a car accident. "In that way, it's a very robust tool, allowing for incredible customization."
Superbetter requires completing seven "missions," which are objectives for the game. They include going after an "epic win" -- a long-term goal completed in six weeks, and "signifies a huge step towards becoming better; creating a "secret identity," which personifies the bad habits targeted for reform; identifying "power ups," or things that motivate towards the goals and makes the user feel good; outlining "quests," or smaller goals to help attain the epic win; recruiting "allies," those who can encourage in the mission; and selecting "future boosts," something to look forward to in the near future.
Users can customize Superbetter to target a wide range of real-world ailments in a virtual and interactive way, joining another "serious" game, "Re-Mission," developed in 2005.
The "Re-Mission" game, designed specifically for those undergoing cancer treatments, allows users to control a microscopic robot in the body of someone undergoing cancer therapy to fight the disease and manage the side effects of treatment. The goal of Re-Mission is to cure the virtual patient, which entails learning about how cancer moves within the body.
Re-Mission helps users better understand what is happening with their own bodies, and studies back up the game's effectiveness. The act of playing works with parts of the brain responsible for motivation at a higher level than non-interaction methods like watching and hearing. As a result, the game yields higher therapeutic rewards.
The White House is exploring the potential connection between gaming, health and overall engagement, with President Obama tasking the senior policy analyst at the Office of Science and Technology with studying how to make games for topics like education, health, civic involvement and the environment.
The move to capitalize on gaming's potential underscores the growing perception of gaming's benefits. The administration also follows educational leaders who incorporate gaming into both traditional and special needs educational settings for children.
For example, the popular franchise "Dance Dance Revolution" debuted a classroom edition of the game earlier this year at the California Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation & Dance State Conference.
This version of the game allows nearly 50 mat controllers to connect to just one computer, so dozens of students to play as they boost their fitness and have fun at the same time.
There is growing belief video games, properly designed and used in the right context and circumstances, can engage and motivate users in a way traditional methods cannot. Harnessing play platforms in creative ways could become the latest hot topic in promoting resiliency, managing illness, promoting health, and these areas may just be the tip of the iceberg.
ITTO: Gaming Can Save Your Life originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:23 pm.
