Google Setting Itself Up To Make $10 Billion Per Year From Android?

With a skyrocketing number of Android device activations each day, Google is setting itself up for an opportunity to make what their CEO, Eric Schmidt thinks could be, billions.  After being called a “one-trick pony” as a company making almost all of its revenue from online ads, the next step for the search giant is one many saw them positioning themselves for long ago…

He also said Google is positioning itself to earn $10 billion or more per year in the mobile device business, thanks to its Android operating system.

Google is giving away the Android software for free to device makers, who are using it to power dozens of popular devices. By spreading Android, which is growing at a rate of 160,000 new handset activations per day, the company ensures that its Internet search, maps and other ad-supported services will endure as users shift to mobile devices.

“If we have a billion people using Android, you think we can’t make money from that?” Schmidt asked rhetorically. All it would take, he said, is $10 per user per year. Among other things, Google might earn such sums from selling access to digital content from newspapers.

Looks like we’re on the right side of the wall on this one.  +1 Android!


Source: The Wall Street Journal, via. droid-life.com. 

iPhone 4 vs Droid X: Antenna issue

The whole thing about Apple demonstrating how the Droid X can loose signal strength might be true and valid. But, if you observe the video carefully, please notice that the way the guy holds the phone is not an usual way to hold the device. Besides, the Droid X has a very wide profile and is not very easy to hold it in the hands in that way. Every phone truly has one or more weak spots, but this is not the most common way of holding a phone that can trigger attenuation, unlike the iPhone 4. All said and done, iPhone 4 is one of the best smartphones out there in the market. I personally own a Motorola Droid, but I still want to get my hands on an iPhone 4.

Apple's version of Droid X signal attenuation:



Droid-life's demonstration of the same:



Adding a bumper to the iPhone 4 would slightly increase the gap between the fingers and the weak spot making it slightly better in terms of signal reception. Based on Steve Jobs’ media conference on July 16, the statistics that show that only a mere 0.55% of iPhone 4 users called AppleCare about antenna issues, is a startling difference from what has been projected by the hype around the so-called ‘antennagate’.

Steve Jobs' July 16 press address:



I hope Apple comes up with a better solution to all this fuss. But, we must remember that Apple and their iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry and really has set the standards for all competitors. The fact that Apple develop their own software to fit the hardware, makes it more easy to address issues and gives them more control over the overall device experience. We must still spare a thought for Apple, and criticize Microsoft for their not-so-great Kins. Sure, Microsoft didn’t hype their phones but this is not the right context to discuss that.

iPhone 4 craze

I just stumbled upon this cnet video on iPhone 4, and about all those crazy folks out there who stood in the line to get their hands on one. I personally feel, it's a great device- new design, new features, new OS, and new craze. Based on the carrier constraint, Apple service, Apple AppStore experience, and smartphone competition in the market, I would overall rate the iPhone 4 as "good". I would give it a 8/10. Watch this video, enjoy!