Looking forward to thinnest tablet in the world today.

How to deal with Android platform “fragmentation” as a developer

Android has overtaken the iOS, trailing only Symbian, according to this Gartner report.

Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Operating System in 3Q10 (Thousands of Units)

Company	3Q10  Units	3Q10 Market Share (%)	3Q09  Units	3Q09 Market Share (%)
Symbian	29,480.1	36.6	18,314.8	44.6
Android	20,500.0	25.5	1,424.5	3.5
iOS	13,484.4	16.7	7,040.4	17.1
Research In Motion	11,908.3	14.8	8,522.7	20.7
Microsoft Windows Mobile	2,247.9	2.8	3,259.9	7.9
Linux	1,697.1	2.1	1,918.5	4.7
Other OS	1,214.8	1.5	612.5	1.5
Total	80,532.6	100.0	41,093.3	100.0

Source: Gartner (November 2010)

IMHO, it will widen the lead in the next year or two, regardless of the Verizon iPhone. The open nature, variety of vendors and competitive ecosystems have lead to many choices.

However, the wide variety of Android devices available has confused some consumers and clueless media. Jobs and the media have been spinning this issue ad nauseam. Perception is reality in pop culture.

So what should a developer or small independent shop do?
Following the 80/20 rule, release a version targeting v2.1 and above, followed by a Lite version targeting earlier versions if resource permit. Since Android version 2.1 and above account for close to 80% of the market.

Android 1.5 7.9%
Android 1.6 15.0%
Android 2.1 40.8%
Android 2.2 36.2%

source: http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

This is what Angry Bird developer Rovio has done, and the correct way to handle this. The Android Market filters by version, so only devices meeting the version requirements will see and able to download it.

This is part and parcel of the software release process. Target the sweet spot. do a good job and it will be fine. For example, face time is only available on iPhone 4, and only on wifi. But you would hardly notice that from Apple ad.

The long, long road to 4G

A lot of bandwidth has been spent on 4G lately. But what exactly is 4G?

Officially, it is the standard IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced) as defined by the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) of the ITU(International Telecommunication Union).

Based on that definition, carriers must implement one of two future technologies, LTE-Advanced and WirelessMAN-Advanced.

Some objectives of the 4G wireless standard:

• A nominal data rate of 100 Mbit/s while the client physically moves at high speeds relative to the station, and 1 Gbit/s while client and station are in relatively fixed positions as defined by the ITU-R,^[11]
• lower latency
• IPv6 support

• A data rate of at least 100 Mbit/s between any two points in the world
• Smooth handoff across heterogeneous networks,^[12]
• Seamless connectivity and global roaming across multiple networks,^[13]
• High quality of service for next generation multimedia support (real time audio, high speed data, HDTV video content, mobile TV, etc.)^[13]
• Interoperability with existing wireless standards,^[14]
• An all IP, packet switched network.^[13]
• Femtocells (home nodes connected to fixed Internet broadband infrastructure)

Neither WiMax(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) nor LTE (Long-Term Evolution) qualify as 4G (fourth-generation) technologies.

It will be years before the first full roll-out happens. My bet is on one of the Nordic countries, South Korea, or China.

Here are some links(bed time reading) while you wait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G

http://www.4gamericas.org/documents/3G_Americas_RysavyResearch_HSPA-LTE_Advanced_FINALv1.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Prentice-Communications-Engineering-Technologies/dp/0137033117

Regardless of the definition of 4G, there are a number of excellent 3G+ devices on the market such as the T-Mobile G2, T-Mobile MyTouch 4G and HTC EVO. Time to get on the fast lane.

(This blog post represents my personal opinion and only my personal opinion. This author has no official capacity of any kind, nor qualifications of any sort to comment on such important topics as 4G. )

Nokia working on android devices?

Rumor has it that a group within Nokia  is working on android device.

There has been numerous such rumors going around, usually denied by Nokia.

But this it a Nokia group seeking to hire an Android developer(or two) through an Android developers’ event.

So, Nokia is finally joining the Android bandwagon? Time will tell.

Carrier payment option(s) coming to the Android Market

I received an email from Android Market 2 days ago, which began with

“You are receiving this email because you have applications published in Android Market.

We’d like to let you know that there is a new Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA) for Android Market. …”

The changes, as highlighted by Tim Bray on the official Android Developer blog, are

• In Section 13.1, “authorized carriers” have been added as an indemnified party.
• Section 13.2 is new in its entirety, covering indemnity for payment processors for claims related to tax accrual.

Which implies that carrier payment option is coming to the Android Market soon!

HTC EVO 4G on Sprint

I have been using it since I received it at Google I/O.

Now that I have a few weeks to test it out and compare notes with others with iPhone 3GS, Nexus One, Moto Droid,

it is the best smartphone on the market, period.

Pros: Bigger, faster better in almost every aspect.

Overall, its speed is faster than any device except the Nexus One on Froyo 2.2, at least twice as fast as the iPhone 3GS in internet browsing.  Linpack benchmark, Sun Web Spider to follow.

8M pixel camera takes good pictures, the software not optimized to take full advantage of the hardware.

HDMI – does not have the chance it test it yet.

Spiffy 3G, 4G network ready.

Internet tethering works flawlessly. Install driver, plug in the micro-usb cable, enable tethering and go.

Hotspot also works well, I have tested with up to 4 devices without any issues.

Short battery life – not really. Only because it does so many things faster and better, it gets used so much more.

I have stopped checking email, or browsing the internet on the laptop during the day.

Larger screen, virtual keypad helps me to out-text my friend on 3GS for the first time ever.

Unlike the iPhone which has the  major design flaw in the sealed-in battery, you can get a backup battery(or an upgraded battery in the future.)  Longer term, perhaps a handy solar/crank charger.

Cons:

Lack of hardware camera button, trackball, physical keyboard.

Minor inconveniences but not show-stoppers.

What’s new in Froyo(Android 2.2) Part II

According to the keynote/demo,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY3U2GXhz44

Froyo has the new or improved features -

1. Speed (JIT Compiler) up to 5x, for Games, CPU-bound apps

2. Flash support

3. Microsoft Exchange support

4. Cloud-to-device messages

5. Tethering & mobile hotspot

6. Browser improvements

Speed up 2x-3x

Speech recognition, Translation

Sensor and camera support in browser

7. Data Backup API

8. Install app from internal memory to SD card

9. Improved Android Market

search ahead

(Automated) Update all apps.

Bug report with full stack trace.

Over-the-air app insallation trigger

10. Music

Over-the-air download

Over-the-air streaming

11. Ads – AFMA

Expandable Ads

Link to youtube

click to call, map

And $100 credit on for conference attendees at google.com/mobileads

How many lines of code does it take to create the Android OS?

About 12141638 lines, as of May 23rd 2010, 6pm, according to this blog

http://www.gubatron.com/blog/2010/05/23/how-many-lines-of-code-does-it-take-to-create-the-android-os/

Sprint Developer’s Guide for HTC EVOTM 4G

It’s only Version 0.10, including HTML5 video and location sample code.

Check it out -

http://developer.sprint.com/getDocument.do?docId=98781

What’s new in Android 2.2 (Froyo) ?

According to various sources ..

• JIT Compiler, up to 450 percent improvement in LINPACK benchmark on a Nexus One, at 37.5 megaflops.
• Adobe’s Flash 10.1 support
• USB Tethering
• Portable Wifi Hotspot

http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/05/11/exclusive-androidpolice-coms-nexus-one-is-running-android-2-2-froyo-how-fast-is-it-compared-to-2-1-oh-only-about-450-faster/

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/13/exclusive-google-to-add-tethering-wifi-hotspot-to-android-2-2-froyo/