iPhone 5 may sport a new “micro” dock connector | VentureBeat

iPhone 5 may sport a new “micro” dock connector:

Apple may be getting ready to ditch the current dock connector used in iPods, iPhones, and iPads in favor of a smaller version — meaning you’ll possibly have to keep up with yet another adapter to use all the latest accessories for iOS devices.

Annoyances aside, Apple could have a very practical reason for making the change, according to a iMore report that cites an anonymous source. A smaller “micro” docking port would give the company more room for other important components within the iPhone 5, which could be the first device to receive the new dock treatment. And since the iPhone 4S has a much shorter power lifespan than all the models preceding it, the most likely use for that additional space would be to include a bigger battery.

The new docking port is said to be a new design rather than the outdated microUSB standard used by the rest of the mobile phone industry.

It’s also worth noting that Apple is moving away from its reliance of transferring information to its mobile devices through a power cord. As part of Apple’s iCloud push, the company is now enabling more OS software, app, and digital media updates over the air. That said, the dock connector will be little more than a way to charge the device as well as connect to third-party accessories.

The latest rumors speculate that the iPhone 5 will hit sometime before the end of 2012, and will feature a larger screen as well as a more curvy design.

[iPhone 5 concept image via ciccaresedesign]

VentureBeat is holding its second annual Mobile Summit this April 2-3 in Sausalito, Calif. The invitation-only event will debate the five key business and technology challenges facing the mobile industry today, and participants — 180 mobile executives, investors, and policymakers — will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. You can find out more at our Mobile Summit site.

Filed under: mobile, VentureBeat

Getting Androids and iPhones to Play Nice - Businessweek

Getting Androids and iPhones to Play Nice - Businessweek:

Developers use HTML 5 to build apps that work across devices

Pity the programmer. The path used to be so clear. After coming up with the next billion-dollar software idea, the only decision to be made was whether to build it for just Windows or Mac as well. Now the options are far more diverse. Mobile platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows Phone all vie for coders’ attention alongside desktop operating systems and Web hubs such as Facebook. Each one requires time and often a different skill set.

The problem is particularly acute in video games, where iPhone users expect to be able to interact with their friends even if, God forbid, they’re using a different device. Michael Carter, a 27-year-old software engineer, thinks he has a solution in HTML 5. Carter’s company, Game Closure, builds tools that let game developers write one version of their genius idea, then publish it anywhere. In Game Closure’s take on the card-game Hearts, for instance, friends in different cities can play against each other using Facebook, an iPhone, or an Android tablet. “It’s the future,” says Carter of HTML 5.

At its core, HTML 5 is a set of standards that lets Web browsers understand animations, videos, graphics, and other multimedia content without the need to download a plug-in like Adobe’s (ADBE) Flash, which is how most Web videos and graphics are displayed today. Many technologists—including the late Steve Jobs—have criticized Flash for being buggy and draining battery life. The goal of HTML 5, which is gradually making its way into all modern browsers, including ones on mobile devices, is to make sites look and feel just like apps downloaded directly to a phone or desktop. Until recently, that was more of a promise than a reality.

That’s changing in part because of the steamroller effect ofApple’s (AAPL) iPad and iPhone, which don’t run Flash content. Game Closure’s write-once, publish-anywhere tools for game makers attracted Zynga (ZNGA), which offered $100 million to buy the startup, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to discuss the negotiations. Carter won’t go into specifics other than to acknowledge that “we definitely walked away from a pretty large payout. But we have a larger vision for game development.” He secured $12 million in a venture round led by Highland Capital to build his company instead and plans to make money by licensing his technology or signing revenue-sharing agreements with those who use it.

Zynga is hiring its own HTML 5 engineers to create new titles, as is Electronic Arts (ERTS).Amazon.com (AMZN) debuted an HTML 5 version of its mobile website last year, and in early February IBM (IBM) bought the development company Worklight to create HTML 5 business applications for phones and tablets. “We’re at a technological inflection point,” says Tom Conrad, the executive vice president of product at the music-streaming site Pandora (P), which rebuilt its main website in HTML 5 in 2011.

As HTML 5’s use has expanded, software engineers proficient in it are in short supply. “Just call a recruiter and ask for one—see how long it takes,” says Adam Miller, CEO of Cornerstone Software, which builds applications for HR managers. He says HTML programmers can make up to $250 an hour.

Some worry the rush to HTML 5 could lead to shoddier software. Since the very idea behind HTML 5 is universality, it may discourage developers from tailoring their code to the capabilities of specific devices. Not every phone has an accelerometer that can sense tilting, for instance. “HTML 5 is by far the greatest lowest common denominator ever invented,” says Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote, a note-taking application. “But it’s still the lowest common denominator.”

The bottom line: HTML 5 developers are in demand and can earn as much as $250 an hour, though some say tailoring apps to specific devices is preferable.

Box bets on Android in business with new update, gives all users 50GB storage free

Box bets on Android in business with new update, gives all users 50GB storage free:


Cloud storage powerhouse Box has updated its Android app with tons of new features. And to celebrate, the company is giving away 50GB of free storage to any Android user who logs in during the next 30 days.

There has been a lot of movement in the cloud-storage space in the past six months, so Box’s effort to bulk up in mobile aren’t surprising. Apple recently announced it would directly integrate its consumer cloud solution iCloud with its upcoming Mountain Lion Mac OS. Microsoft is also on its way to making its SkyDrive product available everywhere as well as integrating it with Windows 8. Google may also enter the fray with its own Drive cloud-storage service in the next few months. And of course, you’ve got big players like Dropbox, SugarSync, and Amazon Cloud Drive that continue to innovate, too.

Box’s new Android update brings the company full speed into the present with an overhauled user interface, new features, and compatibility with Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of the Android OS. The company actually worked with Google to help redesign the user interface with Ice Cream Sandwich in mind, which even users who have an older version of Android will benefit from. New features include the ability to comment on files, add teammates to individual folders, and batch uploads for uploading multiple files at once.

Those concerned about Android fragmentation need not worry too much, as Box supports most older versions of Android. “What’s great is that Box is not a super intensive application,” Box VP of Platform Matthew Self told VentureBeat. “The experience is fairly consistent across all Android devices.”

Box will also be adding support for four languages — French, Italian, German, and Spanish — to the Android app, which ties to Box’s growing international presence. Self told me that 40 percent of the company’s users are now outside of the U.S. and 20 percent of the company’s revenues are generated from international markets.

On top of giving away 50GB of free storage for life for those who login from Android devices, Box will also be giving away 20 Samsung Android tablets to a single company that can compellingly explain how it plans to use Box to improve its daily routines. Two runners-up for the contest will win a Samsung Galaxy Tab.

The new Box Android app is available today in the Android Market, and will soon be available in the Amazon Appstore, Barnes & Noble Nook Store, LG World, and the Verizon Store.

A few more screenshots from the new Box Android app can be viewed here:


And you can check out a Box-created infographic that describes just how big 50GB is as well:




Filed under: cloud

Veteran Googler Dennis Woodside To Replace Sanjay Jha As Motorola Mobility CEO

Veteran Googler Dennis Woodside To Replace Sanjay Jha As Motorola Mobility CEO:
With Google’s purchase of Motorola nearing completion, some anonymous sources close to the situation have revealed that a management shakeup is in the works too. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha will be replaced by veteran Googler Dennis Woodside when the deal comes to a close.

Woodside is no stranger to the Google-Motorola situation — in addition to serving as an SVP and President of Google Americas, Woodside was also chosen to lead Motorola Mobility’s integration into Google last September. Though Woodside’s selection for the spot isn’t a huge surprise considering his role in bringing the two companies together, earlier rumors indicated that Google Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora would eventually be the one to take Motorola Mobility’s helm.

No word yet on when the shakeup will officially occur, but it’s quite the move for Motorola Mobility. Since Jha became CEO of Motorola’s Mobile Devices division in mid-2008, the company went from producing occasionally-handsome featurephones to becoming a major player in the smartphone space thanks to their timely adoption of the Android platform.

While Mr. Jha can probably see the light at the end of the tunnel, he still has some time left to enjoy his position. Though both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission warily signed off on the transaction, Google still needs approval from China, Taiwan, and Israel before they the deal can be finalized.