Apple: Random iOS 7 crashes to be remedied in “upcoming software update”

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/01/apple-random-ios-7-crashes-to-be-remedied-in-upcoming-software-update/

Suggestion / ramble for Nokia & Microsoft

So Microsoft and Nokia have jumped into bed together. Its been a while coming but with Mr Elop being an ex-MS employee it was set in the stars. 

There is hope but it's still a fledgling platform in comparison to Android and iOS. The market share is growing but slowly.

Nokia have really carried the Windows Phone platform forward but I go get the feeling that HTC, Samsung and maybe even Dell seemed like they were left for dead a bit which is a shame. (I really liked how thin the HTX 8X was and the Ativ S really did no bad in my eyes either). i hope they continue with the OS and models. 

The platform has hardware restrictions... Thats a good thing in many respects. I means less variation which means more targeted software which in theory should mean less development time and better quality. 

Nokia have a  few headline features in their 41 megapixel camera and design. The iPhone 5c has clearly given a nod to the Lumia range. I think the ecosystem needs to keep current with hardware changes though against the competition. quad-cores, resolutions, AV format support are major features lacking here. 

Now here comes the kicker(s), they've struggled for developer support in a lot of areas. Namely Instagram being one of the biggies. At the moment the platform has some great alternatives but the average customer doesn't want or go exploring for alternative services that use the service they want via another app. 

So what can be done? Well MS and Nokia seem to like developing and maintaining apps for others (The Facebook app was an example of this). Thats good as it gives some assurance but surely getting a bigger market share will temp devs over when there is more to gain. 

Nokia are somewhat going in the right direction with their decently specced lower end devices targeting the younger, growing population. They have product placement in programs like HollyOaks and various others. I think this has been their main area of growth for the platform. Especially with the recent financial climate.

Then comes the release date: 25th September (UK)... The iPhone 5c and 5s come out on the 20th September. Thats going to gut Nokia's straight away... Next up... Specifications... generally more is better in peoples eyes... Stick a bloody quad-core chip in your phone, make it 64-bit... If not, make it a damn sight cheaper! 

Next, your competitors sell ecosystems..They combine into an experience but they all fair pretty well as stand alone separates. Now you may have seen on this blog that i'm a recent fan of the Xbox music service. In does well as a stand alone product on various platform and I like it because its like Spotify without the clutter. Push the ecosystem! Here maps is actually quite nice to use but I always think of google maps first when i go to type on my keyboard. 

Raise awareness of the product links as well as how well they work separately. I.e. I'll stick with your music service if I can still use it and change my phone! 

Next the bundles! Below is one you really need to get operators to subsidise and make. It'd be awesome. Hell, shove this on Vodafone in the UK with their 4G and Spotify deal and make a big deal of the headphones and that'd win a few customers. The camera is great but the specs sheet is lacking, you have a fight on your hands this time a round Nokia. Not sure your good looking but fat top ender will handle it without a helping hand. 

Also whats with the bloody red version being missing! That was the best one!   

I should point out I had a Lumia 920, I wanted to love it. It didn't love me. Dust kept getting in the earpiece and breaking the sensor so I couldn't get the screen back on during a call as the phone thought my ear was still pressed to the phone...I gave up after the 4th handset replacement and sold it. Also the OS need a bloody rotation lock! I now use a Samsung S4, it's not great and doesn't look as nice but it's big, thin and has swift key which I absolutely love! I do miss the Xbox live achievement games though! 

O2 bag the LTE Google nexus 7 exclusive in the UK

The wait is over for folks in the UK who want to get their hands on the new Nexus 7. The tablet, which was launched just over a month ago, can now be purchased for £199.99 (16GB Wi-fi only version) and £239.99 for the 32GB version.

There's also an LTE version priced at £319.99 on offer at O2 for those needing the cellular availability add in, but that won't be available for a couple of weeks. The N7 can also be picked up in Germany, France, Spain, and Japan from today.

The updated N7 features a 7-inch HD screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution (323 ppi), the device also packs an Adreno 320 GPU, a 1.5GHz snapdragon processor, 5-megapixel rear-facing  and 1.2-megapixel front-facing cameras. In the U.S. Best Buy is currently taking orders for it with the 16 GB and 32 GB SKUS costing $229 and $269 respectively.

http://www.neowin.net/news/new-nexus-7-now-on-shelves-in-the-uk-starting-at-19999

https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/tablets/google/nexus-7-4g-black/

Windows Phone update in testing, includes rotation lock and text syncing to PCs

About time for the rotation lock. That was so annoying I gave up on the platform. What a pain trying to check your emails in bed when you woke up.

Also I welcome the feature that we had BACK ON WINDOWS MOBILE CE, which was to be able to send SMS from a PC. It'd be better if we could have it emulate the display like we used to. (With the MobileMe app (program as they were known back then)).

If it gets swype / Swift key then I might even go back to the platform, dodging Nokia unless they have a think high spec model that doesn't fall over at the sight of a bit of dust.

I tried to love the platform.... see historic posts. It just didn't love me... 

http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/9/4604990/windows-phone-update-rotation-lock-text-sync-features

Nokia blames Microsoft for poor Windows Phone app selection- The Inquirer

Good to see someone trying to give them a kick up the ass. I'm not going back until there is a decent rotation lock and the high end Nokia phones don't kamikaze them selves at the sight of a bit of dust near the ear piece.  

Nokia blames Microsoft for poor Windows Phone app selection- The Inquirer

The next Nexus 7 has been announced!

Nexus 7 tech specs:

SCREEN
7.02” 1920x1200 HD display (323 ppi)
1080p HD IPS
Scratch resistant Corning® glass

CAMERAS
1.2MP front facing, fixed focus
5MP rear facing, auto focus

DIMENSIONS
114 x 200 x 8.65 mm
0.64lbs (290g) Wi-Fi, 0.66lbs (299g) LTE

BATTERY
3950 mAh
Up to 9 hours active use
Wireless charging built-in (Qi compatible)

AUDIO
Stereo speakers
Surround sound, powered by Fraunhofer

PROCESSING
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, 1.5GHz
GPU: Adreno 320, 400MHz

WIRELESS
Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4G/5G) 802.11 a/b/g/n
NFC (Android Beam)
Bluetooth 4.0

NETWORKS
Optional 4G LTE

North America:
4G LTE: 700/750/850/1700/1900/2100 MHZ (Bands: 1/2/4/5/13/17)
HSPA+: 850/900/1900/2100/AWS MHz (Bands: 1/2/4/5/8/10)
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Europe:
4G LTE: 800/850/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600 MHz (Bands: 1/2/3/4/5/7/20)
HSPA+: 850/900/1900/2100/AWS MHz (Bands: 1/2/4/5/8/10)
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

MEMORY
Choose 16GB or 32GB internal storage
2GB RAM

PORTS & CONNECTORS
microUSB
SlimPort™ enabled
3.5mm audio
Microphone
Power and Volume buttons

SENSORS
GPS
Gyroscope
Accelerometer
Compass
Ambient Light
http://www.google.com/nexus/7/

Apple iOS 7 to feature design overhauled by Jony Ive- The Inquirer

Apple iOS 7 to feature design overhauled by Jony Ive- The Inquirer

Skype for Windows Phones goes gold and hits v1.0

WP Central has the details: here