Apps & Personal Data - Android, Not So Good

Two recent research reports are raising questions about just how much free apps are costing you - in terms of personal & private data.  Android apps in particular.
  The Bit9 study, found that more than a quarter of Android apps access personal data such as contacts and email, while 42% get GPS information, 31% access phone calls and phone numbers, and 9% could cost you money (mostly through premium SMS text message charges) - and not always with your permission.

"What's interesting about the mobile world is that [risky] apps aren't always malicious," Bit9's Sverdlove says.  In a (mobile-friendly) enterprise, the key is apps with access to potentially sensitive information could be exposed or abused, he says.

  Juniper Networks looked at 1.7 million apps available through Google Play,  They found that free apps were four times more likely to track locations than paid apps, and more than three times more likely to access user address books and contacts.

"It's OK for a free app to check location if they want to advertise. That's reasonable. But what's not is not being transparent and clear [about necessary permissions], and not providing the end user with really good data to make decisions" on whether to download the app, (Juniper's Dan Hoffman) says.

Juniper found that almost 7% of free apps can access address books, 2.6% can send text messages without the user knowing, 6.4% can make calls, and 5.5% can access the device's camera.  And only a small fraction of the apps actually used the personal data they collected to target third-party ads.
  Juniper also found that the worst offenders were cards and casino games apps (84% of those apps can use the device's camera, and 85% can text) and racing apps (99% can send SMS texts, 95% can place phone calls).

The full Juniper report is available here, and the full Bit9 study, here. 

Source -  More Than 25% Of Android Apps Know Too Much About You,  DarkReading

App (OS) Battle Update: Google Improves

Google recently announced that 700,000 apps are available for its Android mobile OS, roughly the same number currently available for Apple's iOS platform.
  Despite the growth in app availability, app developers continue to earn less sales from the Google Play storefront than the get from Apple or Amazon's app stores.  Research from earlier this year found that for every $1 generated on Apple's App Store, Amazon drives $0.89, and Google Play $0.23.  The difference in returned value is leading some app developers to reconsider where to focus their efforts.  A survey of app developers found less than two-thirds expressed a strong interest in developing Android tablet apps, while 83% were very interested in developing iPad apps.
  The early concerns about the Google Play store and developing apps for Android tablets contributed to Google's efforts to offer an App Development portal and Tablet App Quality Checklist as ways to help and support Android app development.  Google's also tried to minimize the sales return differential by facilitating in-app purchases, and noting that about half of Android app revenues come from in-app sales and services.

Source -  Google catches up to Apple with 700K apps for Android,  FierceMobileContent

Report: Apple's iOS and Google's Android to split mobile market

Research from Global Equities Research suggest that the Apple and Android operating systems are likely to increase their dominance of the mobile marketplace, eventually coming to share 98% of the market.  After talking with app developers, they concluded that

"98 percent of [the mobile market] will be shared by Google Android and Apple iOS. There will not be any third spot left. Nokia, Microsoft and RIM will struggle in the remaining 2 percent of the market."

  There's numbers backing that conclusion.  Apple's sold more than 400 million iOS devices, and the number of people who have set up one-click-billing accounts has doubled in the last year (reaching 435 million accounts - last year there were 180 million).  Google's Android is also doing well, with more than 1.2 million device activations a day.  And there is cross-over as well - the recent Google YouTube iOS app was downloaded a million times in the first 24 hours.
  In contrast, analysts were cautiously mixed in their predictions about the heavily hyped Nokia Lumia 920/Windows Phone 8 product launch.  Some even called the product pair "poor industrial design" and "dead on arrival."  (In large part because the screen is too large for easy one-handed operation).  While the Nokia just launched, the new RIM - Blackberry product launch has been pushed back to January.
  In the meantime, Apple recently launched the iPhone 5, and analysts expect an iPad Mini to be available next month.  On the Android side, Kindle just launched a new family of Kindle Fire tablets, and October should see the new Android OS (Jelly Bean), some 30 new Google apps, and at least 15 new Android-running smartphones.

"The innovation rivalry between Apple and Google will not leave any third slot in the mobile space," concluded report author Trip Chowdhry. He added, "Innovation velocity of both Apple and Google far exceeds that of its peers."

  The analysts see one potential ray of hope for a challenger OS - the fact that Apple and Android dominance (and their competition) have forced wireless operators to heavily subsidize many of the newest products.  Some financial analysts have warned that the iPhone 5 launch would likely result in a significant hit on wireless operator profits.  The various wireless operators could help a third OS challenger by pushing a third platform; but this is only likely to help if that third platform could offer highly capable, competitive, smartphones at low price points.  Microsoft has the funds to subsidize product lines if it wants to, and has been very innovative in the past.  Its had a problem, though, getting many of those innovations adopted by consumers.

Source -  Android, Apple Dominance Leaves No Room for Third Platform: Report,  CIO Insight Mobile & Wireless.

Smartphones, Google Now, and Intelligent Agents

Smart mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are quickly reaching the point where they will have the technology capable of becoming a truly Intelligent Agent (IA). The notion of intelligent agents has been around a while, with roots in the AI (artificial intelligence) and digital/ computing futurist communities.  The essence of the idea is an autonomous system that can take independent action on the part of users, based on observation of current context and what it learns from observing previous user choices and behaviors.  Or more colloquially, a digital personal concierge or personal assistant that can provide you what you want or need, when you need it.
  James Kendrick, in a post on ZDNet, suggests that we're quickly getting to the point where your smartphone can become your personal assistant and usher in a "new dawn of usefulness."  He spins a story of how smartphones as personal assistants can aid users throughout a typical day.  It's a nice example of "design fiction," where stories are told to illustrate the potential of technologies and applications.  (I still think that Corning's A Day Made of Glass is one of the best examples - and reflects many of the same uses and benefits, although displayed on a wide variety of nearby screens.  Still, you can think of the personal smartphone as the mobile interface that drives all the screens in the "Glass" world).
  Smartphones are personal mobile devices, and thus are in a good position to observe and record individual contexts, choices, and behaviors.  Current smartphones already combine anytime/anywhere access to the Internet and its wealth of information, geolocation tracking and apps, and the ability to monitor and record basic personal information and individual choices and behaviors that occur through the device. Recommendation systems are here and improving (if narrowly focused) - both Amazon and Netflix have strong recommendation engines that track user preferences and can autonomously search for and recommend alternatives that might be of interest.  Is this enough to usher in a new dawn of smartphones as intelligent agents?

  I'd argue that these factors alone aren't quite enough.  You also need to factor in the other side of the interactions - the wide variety of devices and systems that an intelligent agent will need to interact with.  The coffee machine in the kitchen, to start it brewing, monitoring and tracking public transportation, making reservations at restaurants, etc.  So far, only bits and pieces of digital systems are interconnected at the level envisioned in Intelligent Agent design fiction.
  Another issue is the question of the processing power, and storage capacity, needed for the better recommendation systems.  Current generation smartphones aren't up to the task, yet. For now, quality recommendation systems reside on their hosts systems, although their results are accessible on mobile devices.  In addition, even the best of existing recommendation systems are several steps below the level of artificial intelligence envisioned for Intelligent Agents.  The applications are extremely narrow, with minimal tracking of preferences and applied to fairly static inventory of choices.
  And then there's data service pricing.  Intelligent personal agents need to be active almost continuously - monitoring locations, searching for relevant information, updating personal preferences. They will generate significant data flows, particularly if hosted on the mobile devices.  As mobile service providers move from unlimited data pricing packages to data caps with punitive overage charges, users may not be able to (or want to) absorb the costs of operating Intelligent Agents.  And costs could skyrocket if the systems an agent queries for information charge for that access and use.
  Then there's the issue of mobile network capacity, when everyone's Intelligent Agents are driving those high levels of data flows simultaneously.  The London Olympics gave an unanticipated answer to the question of capacity, when the data flows from spectator smartphones along the cycling road course overwhelmed the official GPS tracking app designed to show where individual riders were during the race.  And for mobile IAs, that capacity needs to be wireless.  There is intense competition among the myriad users of radio spectrum, so it's not clear whether the mobile bandwidth needed will be forthcoming.
  The advent of Cloud computing and storage does provide a technological framework for hosting personal Intelligent Agents off-device - although serious issues have yet to be resolved.  Among them: the costs of required data storage and processing; privacy and data security concerns related to personal information and behaviors; offline back-up and restoration of agents in case of emergencies or failure of online systems; etc..
  Still, the technological and programming foundations for mobile-based Intelligent Agents exists today, although not at the level that experts expect IAs will need for smooth, efficient, and effective performance.  And you can see the beginnings of smart personal agents (not quite IA) emerge in prototype applications like Google Now.

  Google Now, at least in terms of what is envisioned, looks to be that kind of personal assistant - using smartphones to provide real-time location data to mesh with personal information (calendars, contacts, email) and public data feeds to create "cards" of relevant information that users can choose to access.  It looks to be using the Cloud to record location and Web browsing histories, and to perform the information processing needed to develop pre-packaged templates of personalized information that users can choose to access..  Bundled with the recent 4.1 upgrade for Android OS, it provides a glimpse (limited and imperfect) of what personal digital assistants and mobile Intelligent Agents can be.

Sources -  Smartphone of the not-too-distant future, your personal assistant,  ZDNet.com
Reading the tea leaves of Google Now, c/net.com

Slight editing for typos and clarity.

Online piracy - and enforcement - hits apps

It was bound to happen at some point, given the rapid diffusion of smartphones and tablets, and the popularity of apps.

  The U.S. Justice Departments IP Task Force, in conjunction with French and Dutch authorities have seized three website domains for allegedly trafficking in pirated Android apps.  What happens with a domain seizure is that U.S. authorities work with Internet domain name servers to block access to the websites (replacing original content with a home page announcing the seizure), and where they can, they also seize website content on the servers that host them and try to arrest the site operators.  However, due to the nature of the Internet, site owners and operators are often outside US jurisdiction, or are hidden behind layers of fake names or companies.  Domain seizures have had a somewhat mixed record in terms of actually doing anything to slow down piracy or trafficking in counterfeit goods, and have at time seized websites in error.
  Still, this seems to be the first anti-piracy action directed at the unauthorized copying and sale of apps.  App developers have been worried for some time about the potential piracy of Android apps.

A 2011 survey of 75 Android developers by the Yankee Group and Skyhook Wireless found that more than half believed Google wasn't doing enough to prevent app piracy. Last month, developer Matt Gemmell also laid the blame at Google's feet: "People pirate Android apps because it's easy."

Google has implemented some additional security and encryption measures in newer Android licensing system and for apps sold through Google Play, but developers are concerned that these efforts aren't extended to all app developers and purchase platforms.  There is also some concern over whether Google's measures will be sufficiently hamper piracy and unauthorized copying of their apps.

Source -  Android App Piracy Leads Feds To Seize Websites,  Information Week

Instagram For Android

Post contributed by Sheena Hunley -

It has been 17 months since Instagram was introduced on the iOS; finally the wait for the Android version is over. The popular app is now available from Google Play for Android smartphones versions 2.2 or later. However, it is not readily available on Android tablets.

  Since the app was introduced, it has been a popular tool of many iPhone photographers, with

30 million registered users and 1 billion photo downloads with the iPhone app alone. The

company expressed in a press release that the Android version would emulate that of the iOS.

However, slight differences have surfaced. There are a few features that are unavailable: Tilt

Shift/Blur, Share from Feed and Live Preview. 

  Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom says themissing features are due to trying to get the product out faster for Android users- omitting features that were least used by the iOS consumers. For example, live preview was only used by1 percent of all posters. But if you are an Android user who enjoys these features, don't worry.According to Instagram, feature updates will eventually workout the differences between the two

versions.

 Since the app has reached the Android market, it has already received stellar reviews in Google Play- reaching 3,000 5-star rankings. Overall, this is an efficient tool for some photographers to share camera phone shots. 

Source - Press Release, from Instagram

BJB- Added link to press release and did some minor editing and formatting.

Google is now offering “Music Beta” for Android

Post submitted by Chelsey Hallett -

   As of last May, Google is now offering “Music Beta” the official Android music player. Similar to iTunes by Apple, Google Music Beta is a free music library that allows users to store up to 20,000 songs on the web, phone, and/or tablet at home and on the go. However, Music Beta is unique because everything is stored online “in the cloud”. Therefore, users do not have to deal with the hassle of wires or syncing for added convenience. Storage in the cloud is also beneficial because users can access their music library from any device and it does not take up any space on computers, phones, or tablets. This eliminates the need for large gigabyte devices. Also, users do not have to be online to use this system. All one has to do is select the songs, albums, and playlists they want to have on their mobile devices when not connected. “The Music Beta’s online storage capabilities make it special, reliable, and different from its competitors.
  Some other perks to Google Music Beta is the “Instant Mix” playlist option where the library will put together playlists it thinks the user will like based on their music preferences. Another service Google Music Beta offers is “The Magnifier”. This is a music-downloading site where users can buy free music. Google originally had plans to open a music store like iTunes where users could purchase songs for 99 cents along with albums, etc. However, Google struggled to sign two major record labels to their new service. Instead, Google launched the new service in September in the form of a blog site advertising new artists and songs. The music team picks artists they feel “deserve more attention” and writes blogs about the artists to help expose them to the world. They also advertise a free song available to download from that artist. Magnifier has hundreds of new songs and allows users to pick one free song to download a day. Along with free music downloading, the site has new artist interviews and concerts for viewing. All songs downloaded from the Magnifier will immediately sync to their music library.
  Considering Google Music Beta is such a new service, many do not know about it yet. Also, Google Music Beta has to compete with other major music library systems such as iTunes. However, the online storage makes the system unique and there will be more upgrades and expansion to come to Google Music Beta.

Source: Music Beta by Google.

Abandonment Issues

The last week has seen some significant moves by major players abandoning efforts in the mobile / connected media markets.
The most recent is Logitech's announcement that it is pulling out of its deal manufacturing its Google TV set-top box.  CEO Guerrino De Luca called it's near year-long effort to sell the Revue set-top box based on Google-TV software a "mistake of implementation of a giant nature."  Issues with the implementation of Google TV limited demand, and a price drop from $250 to $99 per unit didn't help.  Logitech reportedly lost $100 million on its Revue player in the last year.
The Logitech withdrawal leaves Sony as the sole remaining hardware firm incorporating Google TV.  The Google TV software is included in some of its connected TVs.

Earlier in the week, Adobe announced that it was abandoning future development and support for Adobe Flash players for mobile devices.  While not giving a lot of details behind the move, there were hints that some of the elements of HTML 5 provided player opportunities surpassing Flash in mobile uses, and Adobe did stress its commitment to contributing to HTML 5 development efforts.  They also indicated that abandoning further mobile Flash development would free Adobe to pursue work on mobile apps.  One apparent advantage in the move is that Adobe can work on a single code platform (HTML 5), or on developing apps for a small number of mobile operating systems (primarily Apple's iOS and Android), rather than having to develop plug-ins for a wide range of hardware chip and operating system implementations.  The move may have a short-term impact on Google's YouTube, which has relied heavily on Flash as a video platform and format.  The move may limit mobile access via Android and Windows-Mobile based mobile devices, at least until new YouTube player apps can be developed, or YouTube can convert the millions of Flash videos it hosts into alternative formats.  Apple already has a YouTube app that translates Flash into alternative formats for viewing.
In a separate announcement, Adobe announced that it was abandoning further development of Flash Mobile Player for connected TV systems and other digital home devices.  This was also a blow for Google TV, which had relied heavily on Flash players for its video content.  In the announcement, Adobe explained the move - "we believe the right approach to deliver content on televisions is through applications, not a web browsing experience, and we will continue to encourage the device and content publishing community down that path." 

Overall, it's not been a good week for Google on the mobile video and connected video fronts.

Sources:  Logitech CEO - Google TV was a 'gigantic' mistake,  Fierce Cable
Adobe to abandon Flash plug-ins for mobile,  TechRadar.com
Adobe to abandon Flash on Connected TVs, too,  Mashable

Amazon's Kindle Revamp & the Future of Digital Media

As predicted, Amazon announced it's first entry into the tablet market on Wednesday, the Kindle Fire. On the technology front, it's not going to directly challenge Apple's iPad.  The Fire has a color touchscreen, but it's only 7 inches (slightly larger than the Kindle reader at 6") compared to the iPad's stunning 10 inch display.  The Fire has no camera or microphone, does not have the capacity to hook up to a 3G network (it does have WiFi), and is limited to 8 GB of internal storage (the iPad comes with up to 64 Gb).  It's stated battery life of 8 hours is several hours less that the iPad 2's expected  time on a charge.  Running on an Android OS, the Fire pulls from the Android app base that still has a way to go to match the range of apps available for the Apple iOS system (approaching half a million).

On the other hand, the Fire isn't being marketed as an iPad-killer high end tablet.  It seems to be envisioned more as an extension of the Kindle branding approach - a device for accessing and using digital media content - only this time accommodating audio and video content (especially content acquired through Amazon).  As the lead feature on the Amazon Kindle Fire product page states, "Movies, apps, games, music, reading and more," with "18 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books" available through Amazon.  Screen size and battery life is sufficient for regular personal use, and the Fire offers stereo speakers (for stereo on iPads you need to use headphones), and the limited onboard storage is offset by the included free Cloud-based storage for all content acquired through Amazon.  Further, the Fire comes with a one-month trial of its Prime membership, and Prime members get free streaming access to more than 10,000 movies and TV shows.  Amazon's MP3 store regularly offers free songs and samplers, and Kindle bookstore continually offers free promotional titles, access to hundreds of thousands of older public domain titles, and connection with a growing network of public libraries offering eBook loan services.  The Fire is aimed at heavy media consumers rather than Internet and computer users.  But it's not limited to just media.  The Fire includes a customized web browser, and the Android OS means it can run games and other Android apps.  And its priced at $199, while the iPad 2 starts at $499.

John Gruber, blogging at Daring Fireball, gives a good summary of the contrast between Apple and Amazon in the tablet market -

"The iPad takes it on from the high end. It's the best possible device in that price range from the world's best maker of devices. The Kindle Fire takes it on from the low end. The iPad is a credible laptop replacement for many people—and with iCloud and another year or two of hardware improvements that's going to be true for more and more people. The Kindle Fire is a laptop replacement for almost no one. It's a peripheral, not a second computer—and it's priced accordingly."

Analysts expect Amazon to sell 2.5 million Kindle Fires in the first two months (expected to start shipping Nov. 15), and 13-15 million in 2012 (in the U.S. only, for now).  On the other hand, projections are for Apple to sell more than 50 million iPads worldwide in 2012.

While most of the hype has been centered on the Fire as Amazon's first tablet, Wednesday's product launch went well beyond that - introducing a range of new models and price cuts.  Analysts were anticipating a $249 tablet offering, and perhaps the first sub-$100 basic Kindle.  Amazon's biggest surprise was not only pricing the tablet at $199, but three different models breaking the hundred dollar price point, if you're willing to go with the "Special Offers" service, which lets Amazon put ads or offers as the device's screen saver (without is $30-$40 higher).  There's a basic reader at $79, a touchscreen e-Ink version at $99, and a version with Amazon's traditional keypad feature also at $99.  Both the Touch ($149) and Keyboard ($139) models also have 3G models that allow free downloads outside of WiFi areas.  The larger screen DX model remains available as well.

The new price points could well prompt another huge extension of the eBook market this Holiday season - rapidly expanding the ownership base.  A Pew Internet report in June indicated that eBook ownership doubled between November 2010 and May 2011, rising from 6% to 12% of U.S. adults.  A Harris Interactive report released last month suggests ownership and usage will double again in the next six months, and that was prior to Amazon's new models and price points.  With the new prices and models, I anticipate greater adoption and use among younger readers and media consumers, expanding the eBook market.  If Amazon can also follow up with a subscription model for ebooks, this could well push up interest in reading and demand for books. 
In a similar vein, the Fire price point is also likely to significantly expand adoption of tablets and their use for media content.  This should further hasten the shift to digital media and on-demand usage.  It will be interesting to watch the coming transformation.

Sources - Amazon Kindle Fire No True iPad Rival: Munster,  eWeek.com
E-reader ownership doubles in six months, Pew Internet  (full report available at this site)
One in Ten Americans Use an eReader; One in Ten Likely to Get One in Next Six Months, harrisinteractive

Android's Nook features Magazines

Barnes & Noble has updated its Nook e-reader app for Android, offering access to tablet magazines through a free reader for the first time.  The new app promises to provide access "to more than 140 magazines and newspapers, including ESPN The Magazine, The Economist, Rolling Stone, Travel + Leisure and Us Weekly." (Access was previously restricted to users of their Nook Color device).  This follows last month's introduction of a Kindle app for Android devices.
Several of the larger publishers (Nearst, Time Inc., Conde Nast) have been working with Apple to offer subscriptions (or free access to print subscribers) on the iPad.  One of the sticking points at the moment is the level of compensation Apple is seeking as developer/distributor of apps and online versions.


Source: "Upgraded Nook: Android App Carries 140+ Publications," Online Media Daily

Netflix expands mobile base

Netflix is starting to release apps for a limited set of Android mobile devices, following on its success with the iPad/iPhone version.  This initial release is limited to devices running Android 2.2 or 2.3, and that have a sufficiently fast processor.  The limitation, according to Netflix, is Android's lack of standardization, which means that Netflix needs to test the app on individual devices to see if can support streaming without fragmentation issues.
Netflix recently became the video company with the largest number of subscribers (passing cable operators and satellite services), and further expansion into the mobile world of tablets and smartphones is likely to keep them growing, and on top.

Source: "Netflix on Android Shows First Signs of Fragmentation Problems," Connected Planet

Google I/.O Announcements - Now a medium

Google is sponsoring a big event for tech types and reporters, called Google I/O.  Among the announcements are several indicating Google is making serious moves into both the content and mobile markets.  Here's a glimpse at some of the big announcements:

Google Music (or at least "Music Beta by Google) was launched, offering users the ability to upload 20,000 of your tunes initially, providing a cloud hosting service similar to Amazon's that would allow you to stream from your library to any device supporting Flash.  The full launch of a music store was delayed by issues in getting licenses from major record labels.
Engadget has a comparison of streaming music services.

Not content with sound, Google also announced the addition of video and movie rentals to the Android Market, mirroring the recently expanded YouTube rental inventory.  Users can access the movies Via PCs and Google TV through YouTube-Movies, and will soon be able to use Android Market for play on smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 or higher. In additions, purchases on one platform reportedly can also be accessed from the other.

Speaking of Google TV, the folks at Google announced that the Google TV platform will get an upgrade to the new Android 3.1 platform this summer.  The upgrade will provide users with access to the Android Market.  Google also confirmed that the Google TV app will be included in Sony, Samsung, and Vizio TVs offering internet access, and Logitech Google TV set-top boxes.

Sources: "Google Music Beta to stream 20,000 songs for free, official! (updated)," Engadget
"Android Market launches movie rentals, thousands of titles available to your PC, phone or tablet,"
Engadget
"Google TV getting Android 3.1 and Market this summer; Sony, Vizio, Samsung and Logitech onboard," Engadget

Army Gets Smartphone

From Andrew Starnes -

I think this is a very interesting story because I did not realize that the army did not already supply something similar to this for it's soldiers already.

The smartphone idea is brilliant because this will allow the military to be even more productive and anything that will give the military an advantage like this is a good thing. It's a good idea too, that they are ensuring the productivity level will be high by only allowing pre-approved to apps to be downloaded onto the phone. I also think picking android is the way to go too because of the popularity of the phone it's user friendliness.

Source: "The U.S. Army's first smartphone will run Android," Geek.com

Android outpaces Apple in some areas

From Jordan Lawson -

Android has more free apps than Apple, as well as being more 'desired' according to two studies being reported by Design Taxi: It's interesting that these two posts from Design Taxi came out just mere hours before each other. Perhaps the reason Android is a little bit more desired because it has a bigger selection of free applications. I doubt it though. The percentage is just a tiny difference with 31% desiring Android and 30% desiring iPhone, but I was completely surprised by it. Perhaps Androids have caught up (or people have realized they can work as well as an iPhone), or they could be less expensive as there are more options and one iPhone to buy.

Source: "Android more 'Desired" than iPhone, Survey Says." DesignTaxi
            "More Free Apps on Android Than iPhone, Study Finds," DesignTaxi