Today the local newspaper Göteborgs Posten posted a full page interview with me about mobile app development. You can read it by clicking on the image below, or you can read it online at their web site.
Bright Future for App Developers
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Category Archives: Thoughts
Android 2.3 – Best Upgrade Yet?
Earlier this week Android 2.3 was announced by Google. Personally I believe this upgrade might be the most significant upgrade to Android since release 1.0, and I will explain why.
The Game Changer
Android 2.3 means that it is finally possible to create true cross-platform native games between Android and iOS. The major improvements include:
- Better garbage collector that won’t lock up the system.
- Better input handling, more suitable for games (won’t lock up the rendering loop as previously). This one is actually a significant improvement for games.
- Native access to sensors like Gyro and accelerometer for improved performance.
- Finally a native sound API – and it’s the full OpenSL ES implementation. Audio was previously a major showstopper in terms of CPU usage for gaming, especially games relying on multiple audio channels.
- Native access to assets for faster asset loading, very suitable for games.
Summary: Android 2.3 will be a real premium game platform in 2011. There will no longer be any difference in quality between Android and iPhone games.
The Smooth Scroller
Android 2.3 will finally use Open GL for UI layer compositioning, which means that you will have smooth-as-iPhone scrolls and swipes. The combination of Open GL accelerated UI with the new and improved garbage collector should mean that Android finally will catch up with the iPhone in terms of UI smoothness and responsiveness.
Summary: Android 2.3 will be fast and smooth. Finally.
Digital Payments
Android 2.3 includes support for Near Field Communication devices, and I believe this WILL change the way we do payments. But it will take a few years. The first step is to get the technology out there, and Android 2.3 is leading the way forward.
Summary: Android 2.3 has the potential to change the way we purchase things.
Skype and Other VoIP Solutions
Android 2.3 includes full support for SIP applications, which finally means that services such as Skype can be fully integrated in the phone. You will receive a phone call and it can be Skype or a regular phone call – it’s presented in the same way. The SIP implementation opens lots of interesting new possibilities for phone gateway applications on the device.
Summary: Android 2.3 might be the operating system that finally makes it possible for VoIP applications to be used anytime, anywhere, fully integrated into the mobile phone experience.
iPad and the Apps You Cannot Live Without
If you are interested in how you can integrate an iPad with your daily work life, don’t miss the blog post I did today at HiQ-Bloggen (in Swedish):
Mobile App Developers: It’s All About the Marketing
Google just posted an interesting interview with Peter Vesterbacka, CEO of Rovio (the company behind the famous Angry Birds game). The game has been downloaded over 30 million times, and Rovio have sold over 10 million copies on the iOS platform.
Some interesting tidbits from the video:
“When we do an update [to Angry Birds] about 80% of the people who ever downloaded the game since December last year do the update, so it’s a pretty high number.”
I found this figure interesting. I thought the number of people upgrading their apps were closer to 100%.
“One thing that we’ve really been starting to look at now is engagement. Take the iPhone version alone, there’s 65 million minutes of play time every single day. So there’s a lot of time spent with our game, with the brand. And that compares very favorable with front-time TV for example. So, what that probably means is that a lot of the ad spending will shift towards this, and we are of course very excited about that.”
That’s some very impressive numbers. It basically means an average play time of 6.5 minutes per sold copy on the iPhone, every day. Finally, Peter’s advice to other mobile app developers:
“Think really, really hard about the marketing and branding. That’s really the key. The App Stores are the most competitive market places out there, so you really need to think hard about how do you stand out, how do you differentiate, and what can you do differently.”
You can watch the full interview below:
Follow-up on the Galaxy Tab
From the xda-developers forum:
“The thing I really I love about my Tab is that it has turned my HTC Desire into just a phone, and my PC into something I just use during the day for work. The Tab is now my primary method for internet and multimedia consumption when I’m not at my desk working.”
I think more and more people are beginning to realize that the Samsung Galaxy Tab should not be compared to the iPad, but that it’s instead a completely new kind of device – much more portable than a laptop or an iPad, and much more useful than a smartphone for catching up on social networks, watching movies, or browsing the web.
Fishman’s iPad Installation
This iPad holder is exactly what I want in my car. And the rear seat infotainment system is not too bad either.
MobileMe Subscriptions for Half the Price
If you like me live in a non-US country, a yearly Apple MobileMe subscription will cost you around $120 if you buy it directly from Apple (in Sweden the cost is 795 SEK).
May I suggest a cheaper alternative: eBay
If you search eBay for “MobileMe” you will find numerous high rated sellers that sell yearly MobileMe activation codes for around $50. If you pay with PayPal you won’t be charged any Swedish VAT for your purchase, so the total cost will be 60% cheaper than buying your subscription directly from Apple.
Worth a thought the next time your MobileMe subscription is about to expire.