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This Week in Mobile: MWC Top Smartphones, In App Purchases and WP7 Multitasking
Daniel Carey
Beginning this week at the conclusion of the largest consumer mobile phone show in the world, Mobile World Congress, Okay Geek is proud to bring you ‘This Week in Mobile.’ A new feature that rehashes some of the largest stories in mobile from the previous week. Join us in this edition as we discuss some of the top smartphones shown off at MWC, Google’s new in app purchase policy, and Windows Phone 7 Multitasking.
Smartphone News
Xperia Play:
Looking to capture the all but non-existent gaming market on Android, Sony Ericsson finally unveiled their PlayStation Phone, the Xperia Play. As you’d expect with most Android powered smartphones, the Play has a gorgeous 4-inch multitouch display. However unlike other devices its crisp display technology can be accounted to Sony’s included Bravia engine. Inside the device you’ll also find a 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion and an Adreno 205 GPU capable of performing up to sixty frames per second. Snazzy specifications maybe all the rage these days, but specs alone don’t allow for great performance. Cue Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread.
Sony’s created a real humdinger here, no wonder technology journalists the world over have been in a tizzy. But I pose this question: is such a device really necessary? We’ve seen the prospect of smartphone gaming thanks to Apple’s iPhone, and there are few decent games in the Android market, however PlayStation hardware on a phone seems like overkill. With the recent announcement of Sony’s NGP, I would assume most consumers would favour it with its quad-core processor and ability to run ported PS3 games. In my opinion (and we’re all allowed to have an opinion), it feels as though Sony’s shot themselves in the foot. Lets face it, a PlayStation Phone may sound cool, but that’s all.
In the end it may be one of the most innovative smartphones shown off at Mobile World Congress, however innovation doesn’t measure success. And in recent years that’s something Sony Ericsson has struggled with.
Samsung Galaxy S II:
Following up their highly successful Galaxy S line, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S II at Mobile World Congress. Fans of Samsung’s original high-end smartphone line have a lot to look forward too. Notable improvements to the Galaxy S II include: a larger display, up from 4-inches on the original Galaxy to 4.3-inches on the S II, a snappy new processor which has been confirmed as a 1GHz Samsung branded CPU (it hasn’t yet been confirmed which generation of processor Samsung is using though). Other specifications include Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread, HSPA+ compatibility, NFC, and overall slimming — down from 10mm deep to 8.5mm deep.
Now some maybe thinking that 4.3-inches is too large for a smartphone, and I do agree. However, according to Samsung, they’ve managed to keep the overall physical volume on par with previous handsets thanks to reducing the bezel around the display, and as said above, slimming the handset down 1.5mm.
LG Optimus 3D:
While personally I think 3D is nothing more than a gimmick, LG Electronics is betting big on the technology. At the Congress they announced two 3D capable devices, but for the moment I’ll just focus on their latest smartphone. The LG Optimus 3D as it has been dubbed, is the company’s most recent foray into the Android space. Currently, its got all the makings of a killer handset.
Specification wise the Optimus 3D has a 4.3-inch display panel boasting glasses-free technology, in other words you don’t have to wear glasses to use its 3D functionality, a feature most would be aware of by now thanks to the Nintendo 3DS. Besides a gorgeous new display that’s an industry first; the Optimus 3D has a dual-core 1GHz OMAP 4 CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU — the same graphics chip was used in Samsung’s original Galaxy line, and from past experiences with a few of Samsung’s handsets, its more than up for the challenge of powering a 3D display.
As I said earlier, personally I think 3D is nothing more than a gimmick; mainly because I find it distracting. Sure, on a TV or in a movie theater it’s perfectly acceptable, but on a smartphone? That’s just idiotic. No matter what I think, however, 3D is an ‘in’ technology, making the Optimus 3D a viable smartphone option amongst the general populace.
Despite my personal opinions towards a 3D capable smartphone, I can’t help but think this will revolutionise the Android gaming market. With devices such as the 3DS pushing hand-held 3D gaming to the next level, it makes sense to incorporate such a feature in a high-end smartphone. Sony Ericsson may have announced the Xperia Play, but a 3D capable smartphone / gaming platform is far more enticing.
Android News
In App Purchases:
Google has been promising in-app purchases for quite some time now. So, you can imagine my delight when they finally unveiled it. In-app purchasing allows developers to charge for content inside an application, using a different paradigm to the standard ‘one fee for an application.’ The implementation means that companies wishing to sell virtual goods, or offer subscription fees inside an app are now able to do so.
Personally I think its a good option to have, for a while now I’ve absolutely loathed having to purchase additional content through a website. When I’m in an application that’s where I want to stay until I’m done doing what I’m doing. iOS saw this strategy a while back with apps such as “Amazon.com,” although now that they’ve chosen to rail road developers with a 30% cut of sales, Apple’s strategy is facing an Anti-trust investigation and may be dead before it takes full effect.
Coming back on point; for developers wishing to take full use of in-app billing, Google’s noted that you’ll need to have a ‘Google Checkout Merchant Account,’ and have consumers running the latest build of Android (2.3 or higher). The Mountain View company also stated in-app purchases should go live by the end of this quarter.
Windows Phone 7 News
Multitasking:
Multitasking has been talked about on Windows Phone 7 since the operating system’s announcement early last year at Mobile World Congress. Now, Microsoft is prepping consumers with what’s to come in the future. During Microsoft’s press conference at MWC, Joe Belfiore and Steve Ballmer did the inevitable by showing off a carded view of multitasking on Windows Phone 7. In a very webOS like manner, consumers are able to hold the ‘back’ button down to bring up a “card view” with all running applications. Simply pick an app and jump straight back into it.
Previously Microsoft didn’t allow for third-party multitasking, citing battery life concerns. However, in lieu of recent announcements it appears those concerns have been lay waste side. Unfortunately, while such a feature is needed drastically by the OS, Microsoft hasn’t given a firm release date. In other words don’t get your hopes up for Windows Phone’s first update, this puppy will be coming later in year.
I find it interesting that the two companies (Apple and Microsoft) who were adamant multitasking was an irrelevant feature on phones, have in recent months chosen to adopt the feature. Funny, isn’t it; adopt or perish.
Wrap-up
Unfortunately we can’t rehash all of the weeks news, a feat such as that would require superhuman writing abilities. And alas, we’re but mere mortals. Nevertheless, below is a list of other interesting news that didn’t quite make the cut.
