It’s finally happened. If the latest numbers can be believed, smartphone adoption now rests at 50.4% of the overall mobile market, which is up from 47.8% in December. That means more people in the U.S. now own smartphones than feature phones. The tide has turned. The paradigm has shifted. We’re the majority.

Well, sort of. Though there’s still some contention as to whether or not Android is in fact beating out iOS as the leading smartphone operating system in the U.S., Nielsen’s latest research shows that Android is leading the way with a 48.5% share. Nielsen also figures. They looked at all sorts of demographic data too, including that there were slightly more female  mobile subscribers in Q1 2012 than males, but the split was fairly even (50.9% versus 50.1%). 67.3% of Asians surveyed had a smartphone as their primary handset, which which was a significant lead on the other ethnic groups; U.S. Hispanics enjoyed 57.3% smartphone penetration, followed by 54.4% among African Americans and 44.7% of white people.

I’m often iffy about comparing iOS and Android market share directly considering their wildly varied manufacturing circumstances; if Android gets to add up all of its smartphone manufacturers as if they’re a singular driving force for the platform, shouldn’t Apple get to count iPad and iPod touch numbers in OS market share research? That said, I wouldn’t take it too personally that the numbers from Nielsen showed that Android was beating out iOS in the U.S. since Apple is pushing their platforms in many directions where we still aren’t seeing much of Google’s operating system. Besides, Apple is still making boatloads more money than anyone else. And they’re often doing it in spite of the carriers.

But back to the big news. If any of you were smartphone users back in the day of the Treo or Windows Mobile, of Symbian or BlackBerry, did you imagine the day would come when most people in the U.S. were smartphone users? And did you think it would take this long? Did you think it would take longer?

Smartphones used to be for the geeks and the go-getters. Now they’re for almost everyone, and the almost is rapidly fading. How long until all phone users are smartphone users?

Source: Nielsen

Most players on iPhone and iPad tend to spend more money than those playing on an Android device — five times more, to be exact. This according to a Newzoo study that examined the growth of mobile gaming in Europe and North America. It showed that there are now 101 million American mobile gamers, 69% of which are playing on smartphones and 21% play on tablets. Of them, iPhone claimed 19 million gamers, which is 28% of everyone that plays games on a smartphone. Surprisingly, the iPod touch managed to snag nearly as many with 18 million players. As you might expect, the iPad rocks the tablet gaming world with 12.7 million gamers (a 60% slice of the whole tablet pie). In the U.S., the vast majority (91%) of revenue was made through various in-app streams, not counting advertising, though that figure is a bit lower for Germany and France, which ranged between 73% and 87%.  This data was gleaned from a survey of 17,000 people plus data from Distimo, who do regular reports on app downloads.

This data isn’t a huge surprise considering how much Apple has polished the purchasing process on iOS and through iTunes. Game piracy is a very real concern for many Android developers, and likely contributes to iOS being as profitable as it is. What’s more surprising to me is that in-app purchases constitute such a big chunk of revenue; I’m rarely interested in spending any cash on in-app purchases, and would much rather pay cash up-front for a full game without being harassed by ads or prompts to buy virtual currency. The good freemium games out there will tend to have their IAPs mostly in the background, and will naturally lead people to them through engaging gameplay rather than obnoxious pop-ups.

How much do you guys tend to spend on iPad and iPhone gaming? Are in-app purchases appealing to you? Developers, how much more profitable do you find your iOS titles compared to Android?

Source: Forbes

Apple has pushed out iOS 5.1.1, a free software update for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users. The minor point release focuses, as usual, on bug fixes and performance enhancements.

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

You can update now quickly and efficiently, on-device and over-the-air (OTA) by going to Settings, General, Software Update on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Or you can break out the USB dock cable, tether up, and launch iTunes on your Mac or Windows desktop. If you need help updating, here’s where to go:

• How to update your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad over-the-air using iCloud
• How to update your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad using iTunes on Mac or Windows
• iOS 5 help and discussion forum

Jailbreakers, as always, will want to stay clear. If you notice any other changes, drop us a line.

Microsoft SkyDrive, Dropbox, and the newly introduced Google Drive all focus on storing your data in “the cloud” (i.e. in massive data centers) instead of on a physical hard drive in your home or office. That means not only can you free up some valuable internal storage space, but enjoy the piece of mind that comes with solid off-site backup, and the convenience of accessing your files from all your computers, many of the your devices, and almost any web browser. While Dropbox, Skydrive, and Google Drive will all get the job done, which one is the best choice for most iPhone and iPad users?

SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: Interface and Experience

While you can access Dropbox, Skydrive, and Google Drive via the web, that’s not usually not the best option for iPhone and iPad users. Apple severely limits what web browsers can do in iOS, so while web sites are great to view supported files, they’re not much good for anything else. That means the first thing most iPhone and iPad owners will do when choosing a cloud storage service is to look at their native app offerings.

SkyDrive is a universal app for iPhone and iPad users. The overall interface is incredibly straight forward and easy to use. Upon signing into SkyDrive, you’ll be presented with your files and folders. You can choose to view them as a list or a grid. Tapping into a folder allows you to view the contents and open any documents inside that folder. You can also upload pictures to SkyDrive or create more folders.

If you need to edit a document, you can open it in a supported app by tapping the export button. Unfortunately you won’t be able to sync changes back or save back to SkyDrive unless the individual app supports saving to SkyDrive. This is both a limitation of iOS and a product of SkyDrive’s popularity relative to DropBox.

Dropbox functions in a very simliar way to SkyDrive and is also available for both iPhone and iPad. That’s not surprising — there are only so many ways to make a file browser. In the Dropbox app you can navigate through folders and mark things as favorites. Doing that stores a file locally for quick viewing later, even if offline. You can also pop into settings and set Dropbox to cache a certain storage amount locally for even quicker access to files you view regularly.

You can upload pictures and videos to Dropbox from within the app, but nothing else. (Again, that’s an iOS restriction.) You will, however, be able to view many common files types from your iPhone or iPad such as Word, Excel, PDFs, and many image file types. You can also send supported files to other apps for editing or viewing.

Google Drive doesn’t have a native iPhone or iPad app yet. (Google says they’re working on it.) You can access your Google Drive files via mobile Safari though. It’s not the most intuitive or functional solution and it has to make you wonder what exactly Google was thinking when they released Drive without an iOS companion app. (It’s not like they lacked the time or resources to get it done for launch day.)

As a work around, you can use the Google Search app which provides access to Google Apps. It’s not a full solution but it works. You could also add a homescreen bookmark to Google Drive for quicker access.

Until the iOS app arrives, iPhone and iPad users will probably shy away from Google Drive. Dropbox is easy to use but could definitely make do with an update. Right now, SkyDrive has the best design and interface.

SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: Features

While SkyDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive are all cloud storage and sync services, they all work differently and offer a different set of features. Before you decide which one is for you, you need to figure out exactly which features you need most.

SkyDrive boasts online file collaboration, public file sharing, and version tracking. You’ll be able to edit files online via the Microsoft Office web apps, or from your computer via the traditional Microsoft Office suite, and have them all on your iPhone or iPad when you need them.

If your main purpose is to use a file storing service to free up space on your iPhone or iPad, SkyDrive can help you do that with built-in media streaming, which means you can upload music and video to SkyDrive and stream it into the app on your iPhone or iPad.

Dropbox also offers built-in media streaming in their iPhone and iPad app. You’ll also be able to share files and folders online, create share folders publicly, and track document versions. However, Dropbox doesn’t include the ability to edit documents via web-based apps, nor do they have their own desktop suite. You need to open any documents stored in Dropbox in a local editor on your desktop or mobile device.

In addition to lacking an iOS app, Google Drive doesn’t currently support media streaming. So, if you were hoping to unload some music and videos to Google Drive, that’s not an option yet. You will, of course, be able to access everything on your iPhone or iPad via mobile Safari but that isn’t an ideal solution. Google Drive does enjoy Google Docs support, however, but unlike SkyDrive it doesn’t offer a native desktop document editing suite.

Google’s lack of an iOS app hurts it again here. When it comes to features, Dropbox and SkyDrive are extremely comparable but Dropbox’s inability to let users edit files on the web gives SkyDrive a slight edge.

Skydrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: Workflow and syncing

While mobile document creation has come a long way, most iPhone and iPad users will most likely still spend most of their time creating documents on their Windows or Mac PC, and will definitely need to access them there. So, a seamless workflow between desktop and mobile apps is a must.

SkyDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive all offer both a native app for Mac and Windows as well as a free web portal. When it comes to the native Mac and Windows apps, all three apps have almost identical interfaces and functionality. They seamlessly integrate with your file system. You’ll just notice a new folder in your main tree of files. They’ll also all add a system tray icon to your Mac or Windows PC for quick access.

To use these services from your Windows or Mac PC, you simply drag and drop, or copy and paste your files into the folder, and then work them the same way you did previously. You won’t notice any difference, but the files and folders are syncing your data constantly with each respective cloud service.

When you return to your iPhone or iPad to pull up a document, it’ll just be there. And if you ever need to access your documents from someone’s else’s Windows or Mac PC, you can do so easily by accessing the web based version of SkyDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Google has the better desktop clients but their lack of an iOS app kills the overall workflow model. Dropbox has great apps but once again doesn’t have online editors like Microsoft or Google. That makes SkyDrive the winner.

SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: 3rd party app compatibility

Many iPhone and iPad apps integrate support for cloud storage. If you’re looking to use text editors frequently, for example, it will matter a great deal which services are supported.

While SkyDrive and Google Drive are fully functional cloud services in their own right, neither enjoys anywhere near the support of Dropbox. Dropbox has simply been around a long time an many developers have chosen to embrace it. In fact, for many apps, you won’t find support for many cloud services outside of Dropbox (and Apple’s iCloud, which is not exactly the same).

Dropbox by far has the best support from other app developers.

SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: Storage space and pricing

Using SkyDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive means you get online storage that can free up local drive space, you get online backup that can keep you files safe, and you get remote access that lets you get to your files no matter where you are. All of them offer some amount of free storage, and the ability to buy more to suit your needs.

SkyDrive gives you a generous 7GB for free. If you’d like to add more storage on top of that, this is what you’ll pay:

• 20GB – $10 per year
• 50GB – $25 per year
• 100GB – $50 per year

Dropbox gives users the smallest amount of free storage, coming in at only 2GB for a free account. They do offer a referral program that’ll allow you to rack up an additional 250MB for each individual you refer up to 8GB total. Otherwise, to buy additional storage, here’s what you’re looking at:

• 50GB – $9.99 a month or $99 per year
• 100GB – $20 a month or $199 per year
• 1TB+ team accounts – $795 per year for the first 5 users

Google Drive gives you 5GB of free storage from the start. After that, here’s what you can expect to pay –

• 25GB – $2.49 a month
• 100GB – $4.99 a month
• 200GB – $9.99 a month

There are sometimes special promotions or cross promotions where you can get additional storage bonuses for free, sometimes for a limited time. It’s hard to predict when these will happen or for whom they’ll apply, but it’s worth doing a web search before paying just to see if there are any special offers available.

Otherwise, Dropbox makes for the most expensive service by far and gives the least amount of free storage to new users. Conversely, SkyDrive offers both the highest amount of free storage and the cheapest price for additional storage. However, Google Drive is extremely competitive, so if you’re already a Google user, there’s no compelling difference.

SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: Conclusion

If you take each individual category and weigh them equally, it looks like SkyDrive is the winner here. But not all categories should be weighed equally. A lot of free storage is great. Cheap additional storage is great. Arguably better desktop apps and inarguably better online document editors are great. But none of that matters if you need your cloud service to be supported by your iOS apps and that support simply isn’t there.

Until Google Drive gets a proper iOS app with streaming media support, it’s impossible to recommend it as anything other than a secondary or tertiary backup service to drop extra copies of your files for extra safe keeping. If you’re already a heavy Google user, especially a Google Docs user, the free service is there for the taking.

If you’re brand new to cloud storage and all you want to do is offload some media and documents to free up space on your iPhone and iPad, SkyDrive’s combination of free storage and low additional storage costs make it the best option.

If you need to have your docs and data available in your iOS apps, then even though it’s more expensive and doesn’t have an online editor built in, Dropbox is still the only way to go.

Everyone’s individual needs and priorities will be different, but for right now, for most users, most of the time, especially if you don’t need anything more than the free storage they offer, Dropbox remains the best cloud storage solution for iOS users. iPhones and iPads are app-centric devices, and that’s still where Dropbox shines.

SkyDrive – Free – Download Now

Dropbox – Free – Download Now

Google Search – Free – Download Now

Additional resources:

• Dropbox for iPad review
• Instapaper vs. Pocket vs. Readability: Read later app for iPhone shootout
• Pandora vs. Slacker vs. Spotify: iPhone music streaming app shootout

Proview lawyers recently said that Apple has had a change of heart and are discussing settlements with the LED manufacturer over the use of the iPad name in China. One of Proview’s attorneys said in an interview:

We feel that the attitude of Apple Inc. has changed. Although they expressed that they were willing to negotiate, they have never taken any action before. But now, they are having conversations with us, and we have begun to consult on the case.

Apple has been wrestling with Proview for a few months now over the iPad trademark. Even though Apple had acquired the rights to it from Proview years ago, apparently the sale was made by company in the UK without the proper authority. The ensuing legal squabble escalated to iPads being pulled off shelves in China.

Seeing as Apple has more money than God, I’m surprised they aren’t just throwing a brick of cash at these guys so they can get on with the business of selling tons of iPads in China. The iPhone 4S made a huge splash in China, and no doubt the new iPad stands to be just as big of a hit provided it can wrestle its way through this legal quagmire.

Source: Xinhuanet via iClarified

Apple has filed a case with the World Intellectual Property Organization to gain access to the web domain iPhone5.com. Currently, the site is a modest fan forum. While Apple’s action here might give us a hint as to what they’re going to call the next iOS smartphone, it could just very well be protecting the world at large from scams which would target unwary Apple fans. Once upon a time, Apple even had to wrestle iPhone4S.com from a porn company.  Either that, or Apple is preemptively secure potential market names like it did with iSlate.

Apple’s track record with snagging domains has been spotty. It took them awhile to lock down iPhone.com, and to this day, iPad.com is stubbornly parked by someone else. Before you start getting clever about picking up some domains yourself, iPad3.com, iPhone6.com, iPhone 6S.com, iPhone7.com, and iPhone7S.com are already owned.

Whatever it’s called, we’re holding out for a new iPhone this fall, likely with an introduction to iOS 6 this summer at WWDC.

Source: Electronista, pic

The note Instagrammed above and quoted below greets new Apple employees on their first day of work. That’s not a new revelation, but seeing it turn up again online is a great reminder. Apple sweats a lot of little details. From day one.

There is work and there is your life’s work.

The kind of work that has your fingerprints all over it. The kind of work that you never compromise on. Thought you’d sacrifice a weekend for. You can do that kind of work at Apple. People don’t come here to play it safe. They come here to swim in the deep end.

They want their work to add up to something.

Something big. Something that couldn’t happen anywhere else.

 Welcome to Apple.

That sense — that Apple is working on things that are insanely great, that will dent universes — was deliberately made part of Apple’s corporate culture during the Steve Jobs era, and is something the current executive team no doubt wants to maintain.

Ultimately, whether you find it inspirational or cultish, it’s proven effective, over and over again, every time Apple ships a new device or announces record results.

Often in modern companies employees aren’t instilled with a sense of value. Their individual contributions are recognized and they aren’t made to feel as if they matter. Sometimes they’re deliberately made to feel like they don’t matter, like they’re an insignificant cog in a giant wheel, expendable and always replaceable. That products are part of an assembly line, a unending conveyer belt of beige boxes. A machine.

There’s no shortage of stories about Steve Jobs and Apple utterly annihilating employees, or about the stresses and pressures endured by those who work at Apple.

But on the first day, when employees are new and expectations are set, they’re told they can change the world at Apple. And that’s a tremendously powerful message.

Source: M via @nickbilton,

The Next Web

Evernote, makers of the widely popular note-taking and idea management apps for iPhone, iPad, and pretty much every platform you can think of, have bought Penultimate, one of the premiere hand-written note-taking apps on the iPad. Evernote will be keeping Penultimate as a separate app, however, and will be moving to push it out to other platforms as well. Ben Zotto, Penultimate’s developer, has written a blog post about the acquisition:

Penultimate has come a long way since its launch as the original dedicated handwriting app for Apple's first iPad two years ago. It now offers scores of powerful features within that same accessible and attractive design. It's remained a top-selling app, and millions of people have showed us that they're doing things with Penultimate we never imagined. I've been amazed and humbled by all of the passionate users I've encountered— you have offered your valuable feedback, support, and candid (!) critiques. Penultimate would not be what it is without you. I believe that this partnership makes a lot of sense, and Penultimate is only going to get better from here. Not just incrementally better, but WAY better, and quickly. I'm excited about the future of the app, and I sincerely hope that you will be too.

Zotto also notes, interestingly enough, that core members of the Evernote team have been involved in mobile handwriting recognition technology going back to the days of the Apple Newton.

The main Evernote app is currently iMore’s favorite way to enter text, record voice, and take photos (and be able to search text in photos) for every day productivity. Evernote has branched out into other, more specific apps as well, including Evernote Food and Evernote Hello. Penultimate added basic Evernote support earlier this year, but that will no doubt increase now that they’re a member of the Evernote family.

Here’s the full press release.

Mountain View, CA – May 7, 2012 – Evernote, the company that’s helping the world remember everything, today announced the acquisition of Penultimate, the most popular digital handwriting application for iPad, and the fourth best-selling iPad app of all time. The acquisition will allow Evernote to expand its handwriting capabilities, while also making Penultimate available on more platforms and devices.

“Digital handwriting has been around for decades, but it has never gone mainstream because the hardware and software simply weren’t aligned. Thanks to Penultimate and the iPad, that’s all changing,” said Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote. “For the first time ever, writing on a tablet is really great, which is why we chose this moment to make the acquisition. We have big plans for Penultimate that will both enhance the app and bring more capabilities into Evernote. It’s already the best handwriting app out there, and it’s only just getting started.”

The Penultimate app is designed to resemble a physical notebook. Individuals can use a finger or stylus to take notes wherever they like. The application allows users to choose from a variety of paper types, ink colors and line thicknesses. Notes taken in Penultimate can be saved directly to Evernote with a single tap.

“Technology often distances us from things that feel natural and human. With Penultimate, our goal was to use the most advanced tools to enable something that was at once powerful and familiar,” said Ben Zotto, creator of Penultimate. “I'm thrilled to join the Evernote family. Their vision and expertise will help bring exciting improvements to Penultimate, and together we'll elevate the importance of handwriting within Evernote.”

AT&T has announced a new home security and automation service called Digital Life that comes with an iPad and iPhone app with a bunch of security and remote control options. With it, you can change the temperature, switch the lights, manage the alarm system, control the window blinds, shut off the water main, and even remotely unlock doors. Here’s the full feature list:

• Professional installation of the platform, sensors and other devices
• Integrated, wirelessly enabled platform that combines home security and automation capabilities
• AT&T owned and operated 24/7 security monitoring centers
• A state-of-the-art user interface application, which allows customers to customize a solution based on individual needs, and the ability to manage and control their services from the U.S. or while traveling abroad
• The option to experience and purchase the service in AT&T's distribution channels, including AT&T company-owned retail stores. The service will also be made available for purchase on att.com when available commercially.
• The ability to add more features and services after the initial installation, hassle free

This is a pretty sweet package that seems to include just about everything you would need, but I cringe to think what the initial set-up cost would be, nevermind the monthly subscription fee. Similar bundles go for about $500 to set up, so that should give you an idea of what to expect. Wi-Fi routers tend to be the hubs for home automation, but emerging standards like NFC and Wi-Fi direct certainly have a role to play, as well as older technologies like Bluetooth – it’s just tricky getting all of these in-home machines to talk with one another while keeping the user experience simple and straightforward.

Trials for the system are kicking off in Atlanta and Dallas over the summer. Want to sign up? Hit the link below.

Source: AT&T’s Digital Life registration page

For today only, the iMore iPhone Accessory Store has the Case-Mate Phantom Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $29.95! That’s a whopping 40% off! Get yours before they’re gone!

Express your toughest style with the Phantom iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 case. The Phantom case sports a sleek design fit for any lifestyle. The two-piece iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 case impresses with its clean, aesthetic lines and fresh, on-trend colors for good looks and convenient function.

A snap-on frame supports the front and sides of the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4, protecting the screen while the case lays facedown. The multi-layer outer piece is constructed from the revolutionary DuoFlex and PolyCore materials. The DuoFlex soft finish creates a natural cushion and an easy-to-hold grip, while also covering each of the iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 ports. The solid PolyCore material covers the interior for snug, hard shell protection.

Features:

• Two-piece, tough iPhone case
• Formed from DuoFlex and PolyCore materials
• Form fit feature covers back and corners
• Access to all ports and functions

Shop Case-Mate Phantom Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

 

The iBGStar blood glucose monitor by Sanofi for iPhone and iPod touch has now gained FDA (Food and Drug Administration) clearance and is available for sale in the United States. The iBGStar was first talked about way back in 2010 and it has taken nearly two years for it to become commercially available in the US.

Sanofi US announced today that the iBGStar Blood Glucose Monitoring System, consisting of the iBGStar blood glucose meter and iBGStar Diabetes Manager App, is commercially available in the U.S. iBGStar is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared blood glucose meter that directly connects to the iPhone and iPod touch, offering accurate blood glucose monitoring that seamlessly integrates into the lives of people with diabetes. iBGStar is available for purchase at Apple Retail Stores and all Walgreens stores nationwide, online at Apple.com, Walgreens.com and through Diabetic Care Services.

The iBGStar consists of a glucose monitor that attaches to your iPhone or iPod touch via the 30 pin dock connector. The information is then used by the companion app that is available from the App Store. The iBGStar has been available in the UK since March this year and now it is also available in the US too. The iBGStar costs $99.95 from the Apple Store and is compatible with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation iPod Touch as well as the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S.

Source: Multivu, Apple Store

And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest mobile sites found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Mobile Nations was born — to provide the coverage no generic tech blog could provide! Through the years, their roster has prospered, changing several times, but their glory has never been denied! Heed the call, then—for now, the Mobile Nations ASSEMBLE!

BlackBerry World 2012

Our sibling site, Crackberry.com did a fantastic job covering BlackBerry World 2012. Head on over there to read all about it, or check out reading list below for Kevin Michaluk’s round up. tl;dr version: They loved it. I watched the Keynote stream and… it was more of a mixed bag for me. When RIM should have rushed to adapt to a post-iPhone world, they took so much time they nearly destroyed their brand. When they should have taken their time to release a proper tablet, they rushed and let the PlayBook drop like stone. Now, when they’re bleeding market share and user base each and every day, they’re taking their time to get BlackBerry 10 as perfect as possibl. It’s absolutely the right thing to do, but they simply may no longer have the time or technology left to do it.

They weren’t expected to show anything at the keynote but they ended up showing just a little bit. It was interesting — very much the PlayBook made phone. It’s heavily gesture-based, which means discoverability will be a problem and it’ll skew towards a more savvy, less mainstream audience. But that’s exactly who RIM is targeting.

The new CEO, Thorsten Heins, apparently came off far, far better than his predecessors during the event. During the keynote, however, he tragically maintained the Regis Philben schtick of Mike Lazaridis — constantly staying on stage and consistently interrupting during tech demos. Hopefully when RIM watches the replay, they’ll stop that from happening again. They also have to stop RIM Australia from doing dumb, distracting stunts just says before their big events.

RIM has a lot of challenges ahead — they’re incredibly late to market, their developer platform is still remarkably unfocused, and what they showed on stage did not appear to be as far along as what Steve Jobs showed off in January 2007, some six months before the original iPhone launch. Steve Jobs, however, didn’t send developers at Macworld home with prototype hardware. He also didn’t pledge $10k paydays for certified apps. Hopefully both those things will help make up the difference for RIM.

Bottom line, though, the only thing that really matters now is shipping. They have to nail the BlackBerry 10 landing. And they have to nail it hard.

Samsung Unpacked

Android Central likewise killed it at Samsung Unpacked. Unfortunately, Samsung did everything they could to kill the event first. Sure, I’m used to the polish and precision of an Apple event, but there’s just no excuse for a lot of what happened at Unpacked. It was as if no one bothered to rehearse the presentation before hand.

Samsung announced the hugely anticipated Galaxy S III to thunderous applause and the director immediately cut to the crowd — where no one was clapping. Samsung announced their new, rain drop inspired audio tone, it sounded like someone peeing, and the Samsung rep herself looked aghast — and called it “bizarre”. On mic. Not only did they invoke Palm’s river stone design philosophy, claim technically if not morally correct invention of Palm-like wireless charging, they managed to match the creepy lady motif of Palm’s early, ill-fated advertising with truly strange videos all their own.

They also announced Samsung versions of Siri and iTunes Match, after earlier announcing a Samsung version of iCloud.

Given the build-up — a build-up Samsung orchestrated — it’s understandable that there were a lot of heads shaking after the event. Last year Samsung blew HTC out of the water with the best Android phones on the market. This year, when compared to HTC’s new One kit, they came up decidedly short.

Rumor repeats

Hey, did you hear? The iPhone 5,1 might have a newly redesigned micro dock connector and a widescreen display. It’s been “confirmed”.

And it sure sounds familiar. It’s almost as if it had been reported months and weeks ago.

If you hear a rumor, and it’s been reported before, telling your readers that lets them better assess the likelihood of the rumor. That’s the job of a writer — to serve the reader.

Features

Now for some original content.

• Best free iPad apps: Leanna leads team iMore in the presentation of 50+ awesomely free apps for Apple’s tablet.
• Post iPhone ergo propter iPhone: Yours truly begins to explore the strategy Apple has used to try and continuously off-balance their competition and force them into a constant cycle of reaction.
• Pandora vs. Slacker vs. Spotify: iPhone music streaming app shootout!: Ally takes a look at the three most popular U.S. streaming music solutions, and helps you pick the very best one for you.
• iOS 6: Is it time for Apple to revamp the Home screen?: Yours truly again, this time taking a look at the iOS Home screen, how it compares in terms of usability and information density to competing platforms, and whether Apple needs to address any discrepancies.
• Siri six months later: Community report card: the iMore nation tells us they’re just not using Siri and we try to figure out why.
• Apple's next big thing: You know who, looking at Apple’s accelerating device profits, and what product could possibly keep them up.
• How to use iCloud like a Dropbox or Google Drive-style cloud store: Gary goes all ninja on iCloud to try to make it work in as close to a Dropbox style manner as possible.

Reading list

• Five Important Observations From BlackBerry World 2012 by Kevin Michaluk. A list of what RIM got right at BlackBerry World.
• Why You Can’t Trust Tech Press to Teach you About the Tech Industry by Anil Dash. A case study in how it can be frustrating when someone else misses something you wouldn’t (though you’ll likely sometimes miss something someone else wouldn’t either).
• Apple Is Doomed: The Phony Sony Parallel by Jean-Louis Gassée. Why Apple wasn’t like Sony before, so can’t be modeled on Sony now. By one of the guys at Apple between Steve Jobs’ two acts.
• What retail is hired to do: Apple vs. IKEA by Horace Dediu. An interesting look at why IKEA, like Apple, isn’t getting their retail implementation copied.
• I’m leaving the internet for a year by Paul Miller. As stunts go, there doesn’t seem to be a clear win here. In some ways, the longer it lasts the less interesting it becomes. Like groups who live without electricity, the line drawn always comes off as arbitrary — i.e. why are you allowed fire but not lightning?! (I do know I wouldn’t last a day. Maybe a week if I was locked in a harem. But that’s it.)

The Avengers

Joss Whedon’s Avengers was fantastic. Pretty much the super-hero epic I’ve dreamed about since I was a child. We’re talking about it, with lots of spoilers, and the type of nit-picks only those deeply in love with a film can pick. Jump on over to our Movie & TV Forum to get in on the action.

If you haven’t seen it yet, go now.