Posted by Christopher Lyons on Tue, Jul 13, 2010
My blogs are biased, I’ll unashamedly admit it. I talk an awful lot about Apple, sing their praises, and flaunt the fact that their mobile technology products are changing the game. Well, pretty soon, with the help of Google, there’ll be a new game changer in town; you. You’ll become your own game changer, optimizing everything for yourself and for your business.
“How”, you ask?
Simple.
I first came across this factoid in the New York Times. The article states that “Google is bringing Android software development to the masses.” Starting yesterday, Monday, July 12, 2010 – Google will be offering a tool that allows for the easy creation of apps for Android phones. Need an app that will help you optimize your business processes, or maybe one that will help you stay up to date with the meetings your sales team members are currently at? If so, there’s an app for that…potentially, if you create it.
The article states that, “The free software, called Google App Inventor for Android (http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/), has been under development for a year. User testing has been done mainly in schools with groups that included sixth graders, high school girls, nursing students and university undergraduates who are not computer science majors.” Sounds like it can’t be too hard to use.
Don’t believe me?
Well you should, because later in the article it’s mentioned that some of the apps can be created in just a manner of minutes.
According to the article, “The goal is to enable people to become creators, not just consumers, in this mobile world,” said Harold Ableson, a computer scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who is on sabbatical at Google and led the project.” Mr. Ableson then goes on to say, “The Google project is intended to give users, especially young people, a simple tool to let them tinker with smartphone software, much as people have done with computers.”
I don’t know about you, but I like the way Mr. Ableson thinks. Having the ability to create apps that you need, when you need them, will truly be a blessing. In terms of IT Support and IT Mobility, there is so much that can be done with apps that will improve each individual business and its daily processes.
Welcome to the world of game changers (at least in my one-sided mind), Android.
Posted by Christopher Lyons on Mon, Jun 14, 2010
It's been just over two months since Apple's iPad made its unforgettable debut, and well over 1,000,000 devices have already been sold. Through working in
IT Support (and being an early-adopter nut-job who camped out on the morning of the release), I have seen firsthand what the iPad can do for
IT Mobility, especially in terms of the 3G version. From internet/email access, calendar/planner, business specific apps, telephone apps, remote desktop apps, and VPN connectivity to word processing, spreadsheets, and slideshow presentation capabilities - this awesome touch-screen toy is establishing itself as a requirement for businesspeople. It's light, portable, powerful and quite possibly the most convenient device I've ever come across aside from the iPhone.
Next week, the iPhone 4 will be unleashed, further crushing any competition Apple has in the Smartphone market. The iPhone 4 will make even the iPhone 3Gs look like a rotten apple (pun intended). That being said, think to way back when, just a few years ago, when Smartphones were first coming about.
Now, think of today's Smartphones.
Over just a few short years, Smartphones became a "must-have" for all businesspeople, constantly upgrading and evolving to the point where they became the most necessary devices around. Will this same transformation hold true for Tablets?
Apple's iPad Tablet isn't the world's first stab at Tablet computing. However, it is the first to make a big, unforgettable entrance to the party. And with the dawn of the iPad, many others are sure to follow. But, hey, more competition for the iPad will allow for better technology upgrades and features on all of the devices competing with the iPad, including the next-gen of the iPad.
The HP Slate, which promised to be a threat to the iPad, had its legs cut off before it could walk due to concerns over using Windows 7 on a Tablet. Unfortunately, it won't be making its way to the hands of tech geeks everywhere anytime soon. However, the possibility of an HP Tablet with Palm's OS has been lingering, and should make for pretty interesting news if it comes to fruition.
Also, there is a Samsung Tablet in the works which will run on Android 2.2. If this really comes about, let the games begin! With the features of the iPad already establishing it as an essential, and the fact that I expect the evolution of Tablets to mirror that of Smartphones, what can we expect next from Tablets?
We already know Apple overlooked many of the bells and whistles that could have been included on the iPad (most likely intentionally). Any competition that comes about for the iPad will serve as a catalyst that will cause competing brands to develop their products and features more quickly, in an attempt land the big punch first. I expect big things in the future, and I like what I'm seeing. If our phones are already making such a splash, I can't wait for the later generations of Tablets. I'm excited, and you should be to!
Posted by Matt Kolowski on Mon, Oct 19, 2009
I just called my parish priest to administer the Last Rites. You would be wise to do the same.
A few weeks back Google and Verizon formed an unholy alliance to combat the speeding locomotive that is Apple. They even hyped a "game changer" that would be announced in a few weeks. While I hate that phrase in all of its various uses, I at least raised an eyebrow since it came from Google's nerdy boss. Last night the new ads hit talkie boxes across the country, promoting the mysterious "Droid", and at the same time, talking down the iPhone in regards to features it doesn't have. Features like taking pictures in the dark, a physical keyboard, and baking cakes. Ok, one of those is fake.
But surely such a product would not come from the anemic Motorola? Right? RIGHT!? WRONG. Leaked specs of the Motorola Droid have come out thanks to the ‘Boy Genius Report', and I will present some of them to you in a completely non-biased fashion. Maybe.
First off, it has the mystical physical keyboard. Since losers around the planet complain about using virtual ones all the time, well, you can shut your mouth now. It also sports a 5MP camera, with flash. That's a pretty big step up from my measly 3PM with no flash. I am officially the biggest nobody on the planet now. Thanks Motorola. It also runs Android 2.0, the latest and greatest from the Google. Not too shabby. Capacitive touch screen? Check. The coolest thing though, is that when docked in its charger, it becomes almost like a mini "multimedia station", which can display the weather, time, etc. Nuts, my stupid iPhone can only display the time when docked...$30 straight up cash, anyone want this thing?
In all seriousness, I've been waiting for a good Android handset to come out and make the OS worthwhile. Pretty soon it's going to be on more phones than any other OS, but who cares when the hardware can barely run it? That looks to change with the release of the Motorola Droid. Listen, if you throw in Google Voice and a $199 price point, I may mosey on down into that Verizon kiosk with the salesman that has bad B.O.
Kidding! I want nothing to do with a company that pushes awful VCast down my throat with every ad they make. Nobody wants to watch MSNBC on their phones, dummies. Viva iPhone!
Posted by Christopher Lyons on Tue, Oct 06, 2009
Working for an
IT Solutions Company whose blog page is predominantly polluted with articles about the iPhone (I have to admit, I enjoy them too), I saw something that I thought should be thrown into the mix. Earlier today, Verizon Wireless announced that it will be dedicating its efforts into developing and selling phones that use Google's Android.
Verizon, who previously announced that it would sell Android based phones, has now implied that it will use these smart phones as direct competition against AT&T's Apple iPhone. Verizon and Google are working on codeveloping Android phones pre-loaded with applications that will be made by major manufacturers.
Motorola Inc will be releasing some Android based phones in the near future, and Verizon has already planned to sell them. T-Mobile, another provider, has been selling Android phones since last year, and plans on coming out with new phones made by Samsung and Motorola. Sales of existing Android phones have been minimal compared to iPhone sales, but now Google and Verizon plan on going head to head with AT&T.
Now, all said and done, you're probably wondering why Trigon Technology, an IT Solutions and Computer Support Company based in Wayne, Pennsylvania - just outside of Philadelphia, cares to blog so much about mobile phones. Well folks, I don't want to turn this blog into a lengthy sales pitch, but it's because we offer Mobile Technology Solutions to small and midsized organizations. If you get a chance, check them out!
Posted by Matt Kolowski on Mon, Aug 03, 2009
It was a good ride while it lasted.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt has resigned from Apple's Board of Directors. Schmidt's company has started to come into conflict with Apple's more and more with Android, Chrome and Chrome OS and even Google Apps debuting. Therefore it was in both companies best interest for him to no longer be involved in their top secret meetings.
Gone are the days where Schmidt and Jobs would skip down the street happily for Ben & Jerry's, slapping each other 5 after using the iPhone Maps application to find the nearest Starbucks and giving each other pounds, laughing hysterically while they see someone using a Zune to listen to music. Yes, those touching heartwarming moments are over, friend. But it's not like they were going to last even without this Board resignation.
Remember that amazing blog that was on this very website about the Google Voice app? (It was the one with amazing writing and rapier like wit.) It turns out there is a slight update. The FCC is investigating Apple, AT&T and Google as to what the deal is with the application approval process. They want to know exactly what happens when an application is submitted, and just who has say in the whole thing. The only one to come out of the investigation unscathed looks to be Google.
As Apple and Google distance themselves even further, prepare to hear the phrase, "Going Google" a heck of a lot in the next few months. Think Apples old school ‘Switch' ads for a new, nerdier generation.
Is that even possible?
If so be afraid, very afraid.
Posted by Matt Kolowski on Thu, Jul 30, 2009
Ok, maybe not.
But they sure give that impression.
Ever heard of Google Voice? Pretend for one second that you're a very busy professional and you have an office, home and cell phone. And it's very hard for everyone to get in touch with you at the right place. So you get a new phone number;KL5-867-5309 through Google Voice. You can now give that number out, and have it forward to all of those numbers. You can even set certain contacts and groups to only ring certain phones. For instance, that friendly woman I met at the bar the other week will only ring to my cell phone. But when my boss calls that number, it will ring all 3 of my phones. When the CFO of my client that I spilled the cake on calls me, she can ring my office line(which I never answer). You can also forward text message to different phones too. Cool, huh?
If you want to be able to respond to your friends and co-workers using that number, you can download the Google Voice App for your Android or BlackBerry phone. That way you can send texts from your Google number and even make calls too. All over your existing network.
Want to be able to do that on your iPhone? Tough marbles. The app was out for a day or so and then Apple decided to pull the plug. There was even a third party app that was approved by Phil Schiller himself that was yanked after a few days. Sadface.
If you dig deep enough on the internets, it looks like AT&T is to blame. It's not the first time that the phone company has cut down a perfectly good app. They told Apple that the Slingplayer app, which streams television, could only use Wi-Fi, and not AT&T's 3G network. It looks like they're not that keen on another company coming in and copying the company that Apple partnered with. (They seem to be fine with it on their other AT&T phones, just not the one that is the face of their company.)
But lets say that it wasn't AT&T's doing, and it really was Apple's decision. Lets also say that instead of Google Voice, it was Microsoft Voice. Would you really approve an app from your main competitor that replicated features on your own phone? I'd give that a swift kick in the pants too. While I'm at it, I would complain about those pesky ads they've been showing bashing my laptop prices. Oh wait, they did that already.
Suck it up people, this is AT&Ts world and we're just living in it.