US mobile market trends- Smartphone usage stats

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Apple App Store vs Wholesale Apps Community

The world’s leading telecommunications operators and device manufacturers are launching an open global alliance (more…)

Apple’s iPad Cons and Pros

This is what we make of Apples iPad presentation — a new beautifully and smartly designed new device, which is clearly oriented towards education market and execs on the go. (more…)

Bing May Become a Default Search Option for iPhone OS 4.0

Business Week reports that Apple and Microsoft have been discussing making Bing the default search engine on the iPhone. In light of accelerating rivalry between Apple and Google over the mobile market it does make sense. Some sources suggest that Apple is working on its own search solution and the Bing deal might be just a move that buys Apple some time. It doesn’t look like any deal between any of these three companies will live long. Each has its own Mobile OS, Mobile Ad agency, and two of them have their own devices.

Apple’s Rumoured Tablet to Have 3D Interface?

Apple has filed a patent that describes an interface for manipulating “three-dimensional virtual objects” on a touch screen. The technology  may be used in future releases of iPhone or in the rumoured Apple tablet (iSlate?). I doubt that simply porting existed OS to a 10” touch screen may take “you-know-who’s considerable undivided attention”. Having an entire event dedicated to the mobile market Apple will most probably try to set a new standard. 3D User Interface may become just the thing to mark a new step in evolution of UX.  Apple has been working on various 3D systems for quite some time now: 3D Projection System, 3D Desktop, 3D Displays, etc.

Apple to Buy Mobile Advertising Company

Apple is about to announce the acquisition of Quattro Wireless for $275 million. Apple tried to bid on AdMob acquired by Google not so long ago. With Google’s Nexus launch tomorrow both companies become direct competitors in the smartphone market. From a UI prospective, it is interesting to see how Apple’s User Experience dedication and strict App Store approval rules will stand against Google’s users-know-better-what-they-need approach.

Smartphone sales per OS vendor

Stats from June 09 shows Symbian being the clear leader on Mobile OS market, thanks to Nokia and a few Sony Erricson and Samsung devices.

It will be interesting to see what the chart will be for Q2 2010 with new Android phones introduced every week or so, Windows UX-focused Mobile 7 and Samsung’s Linux-based Bada.

Touch screen tactile feedback and user satisfaction survey

A survey recently conducted (France, Germany and the UK) showed 38% were planning to get a touchscreen on their next mobile phone while only 47% of people who already owned a touchscreen said they would get another one. In other words, less than half of touchscreen owners thought they’d stick with the technology on their next purchase. Apple has a high customer satisfaction rate and since iPhone is the only available device iphone users don’t really have a choice.

As a designer I can’t help but love the idea of one surface that becomes what one needs it to be at the moment. I’m not moving back to physical keyboard. At least on my phone.
I don’t play many games on my iPhone and when I do tactile feedback is not something I miss.

The possibility of tactile feedback was mentioned in the original iPhone patent application and last year Apple filled “Keystroke tacility arrangement on a smooth touch surface” patent. It desscribes various tactile feedbacks on a smooth sureface keyboard such as:

• Braille-like dot pairs or bars at key centers
• Articulating frame that protrudes at key edges during typing
• Articulating frame that deforms surface cover at key edges during typing
• Rigid frame under key edges with compressible key centers

We may see it implemented in rumoured Apple Tablet Mac that supposedly should surface in next few months. So it looks like touchscreen are going to become smarter and more “user-freiendly”.

Motorola Droid first impression

Android 2.0 looks great. I have to admit. I’m a big fun of iPhone OS but version 2 of Google mobile OS looks sleek and visually polished. I did not have a chance to play with it yet but pictures leave very positive impression. It LOOKS usable enough. Not sure it would beat iPhone’s in it’s simplicity but it is a real rival.

The firsts device available with Android 2 seems to be Motorola Droid. Sadly it’s design doesn’t produce any excitement. Seems very dated and follows Nokia Communicator idea, which judging form how often i’ve seen it on streets  never been very popular device.