ImaginativePRO Blog

A FIRST LOOK AT THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 & S8 PLUS SMARTPHONE, PREORDERS START MARCH 30, DELIVERY BY APRIL 21

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the nicest phone I’ve ever held. It’s a beautiful combination of glass, metal, and an absolutely massive screen in a body that’s much smaller than you might expect.

And that might not be enough to make it stand out anymore.

There are two versions of the S8:

• Standard Galaxy S8 with a 5.8-inch screen
• S8 Plus with a larger 6.2-inch screen.

Both are available for preorder on March 30th and will be shipping in the US on April 21st. Pricing, as always with Samsung, is up to the carriers — but you can expect them to command a premium price. The early word is that it will start at $720.

Here's the official introduction video uploaded on YouTube on March 29, 2017:

Here’s everything we learned about these two phones after using them for an hour or two last week.

GALAXY S8 HARDWARE

Holding the S8, I’m struck by the fact that nothing about it feels especially surprising, and not just because damn near everything about it has been leaking for the past few months. The boldest feature is every phone’s more important feature: the screen. On the S8, it extends up and down to cover nearly the entire front of the phone. It also curves around the left and right, something Samsung is calling the “infinity display,” which gives it the look of not having any bezels at all. And speaking of curves, the four corners of the screen are also slightly curved instead of squared-off, which adds some elegance and perhaps some screen durability.

Click Image To Enlarge

The S8 and S8 Plus fulfill Samsung’s promise of fitting a big screen in a smaller body, and so they’re quite a bit more usable than other large-screened phones. I didn’t experience some of the accidental touch issues that I still get with the Galaxy S7 Edge. But I also only had about an hour with the phone, so it’s possible that it could still be an issue.

Click Image To Enlarge

More than anything else, the S8 is nice. It may seem like table stakes in 2017, but these phones are incredibly well-designed. There are no seams, only the barest of camera bumps, and everything seems milled down to sub-millimeter tolerances. They feel inevitable in a way that almost becomes boring. Many of the design touches are evolutions of the S7 Edge and Note 7, but refined to their Platonic ideals.

Click Image To Enlarge

Extending the screen to near the bottom of the phone means that there’s no room for Samsung’s traditional hardware home button. Instead, it uses software buttons like other Android phones. It also uses some haptic feedback like Apple’s iPhones to create a virtual feeling of pressing a home button, though it only works on the very specific spot where the software home button appears. One neat feature: some Android apps hide those main Android buttons when they go full screen, but you can still firmly press the bottom of the screen to activate the home button.

Click Image To Enlarge

Getting rid of the physical home button also means that Samsung had to move the fingerprint sensor. It’s on the back now, right next to the camera. That’s not a very convenient place for it, honestly. It’s too high up on the phone to comfortably reach and it’s also right next to the camera module, which might mean you’l be getting fingerprints on the camera more often than you’d like.

Click Image To Enlarge

Speaking of fingerprints, because the S8 is nearly all glass, you’ll see them on the back a lot, but they’re not as prominent as you might expect (they’re worse on the LG G6, for example).

Click Image To Enlarge

Both the USB-C port and the 3.5mm headphone jack (hallelujah) are located on the bottom of the phone. You have power on one side and volume buttons on the other, underneath which you’ll find a whole new button that’s dedicated to the big new software feature on the Galaxy S8, Bixby. There’s much more on Bixby below, but for now I’ll just note that dedicating a hardware button to this software feature is a big bet on Samsung’s intelligent assistant. If Bixby ends up being not that great, I expect many people will be looking for ways to remap that extra hardware button (or decrying that it’s vestigial).

Click Image To Enlarge

GALAXY S8 SPECS

As you’d expect, the S8 has the best specs you can get on an Android phone. Depending on the region, you’ll either get Qualcomm’s newest (and slightly rarer) Snapdragon 835 or Samsung’s own Exynos. In both cases, Samsung is touting that they’re built on a 10nm chip, which should theoretically help with power consumption. In my brief time with it, everything was whip-fast. Hopefully it will stay that way over time — Samsung phones often don’t.

Click To Enlarge Image

The standard S8 has a 570ppi 5.8-inch screen, with a resolution of 2960 x 1440. The S8 Plus has the exact same resolution on its 6.2-inch screen, which works out to 529ppi. For my money, the standard S8 is the way to go. It still feels like a massive screen and the body is significantly smaller. The height of the screen is interesting, too: the aspect ratio is a super-tall 18.5:9, which adds a bunch of screen real estate to scroll through. I didn’t get to test a bunch of third-party apps, so hopefully we won’t see too much weirdness with the new aspect ratio. Even if we do, Galaxy phones are popular enough to prod developers to update their apps to support it.

In terms of other specs, it’s pretty bog standard stuff: 4 gigs of RAM, 64 gigs of onboard storage, and an expandable SD card slot.

GALAXY S8 BATTERY

Nearly 900 words in and I haven’t made an exploding phone joke (you’re welcome, Samsung). But now is the time to point out that the last time the phone maker released a phone this big and beautiful, it literally set itself on fire on a disturbingly regular basis. The company’s responses to this issue were botched and bad for some time before it pivoted, apologized, and introduced a new process for checking battery safety. Those safety checks are important, but Samsung still has to own all the exploding phone jokes and hear them at every mention of its phones for a while.

So on the S8, Samsung did not push the envelope when it comes to capacity. The S8 has a 3,000mAh battery and the S8 Plus has a larger 3,500mAh battery — the same capacity that the Note 7 had. But neither is especially large when you consider the fact that they need to power towering screens. Samsung claims it has tweaked the battery chemistry to help the batteries last longer after a year or two of use.

To make up for it, Samsung is offering the usual suite of power options: Qualcomm Quick Charge and support for both major wireless charging standards. But I still have reservations about how long the batteries will last on these phones. In fact, it may be a reason to seriously consider getting the larger S8 Plus.

GALAXY S8 CAMERAS

Another place where Samsung hasn’t really pushed the envelope is the camera. The S8 uses the exact same rear camera as the Galaxy S7, a 12-megapixel sensor with OIS. Samsung says it’s done work on the software side to improve picture quality, and in my short time with it I found it to be significantly faster than the camera on the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Click Image To Enlarge

It is notable that the S8 Plus doesn’t get a better camera or a dual-camera setup. Excepting screen and battery size, both phones are identical.

I suspect it’s using the “take pictures all the time in the background and just save them when you hit the shutter button” trick we’ve seen on other phones. It also borrows another trick from other Android phones: the shortcut to launch it is double-pressing the power button now (since the home button is virtual).

Click Image To Enlarge

The front-facing camera (aka the one you really care about) has gotten an upgrade. It’s an 8-megapixel sensor now, but more importantly it has autofocus. Switching between cameras was fast and easy, as was swiping over to get to Samsung’s kajillion photo gimmick settings. But some of those gimmicks are pretty neat, I’m especially fond of the GIF mode, though I do wish it was just automatic like you can do with Apple’s Live Photos and the Motion Stills app.

Click Image To Enlarge

In any case, the competition for the “best smartphone camera” is way more interesting now than it was a year ago, when just Samsung and Apple were at the top. Now, Apple and LG are sticking multiple cameras in their phones while Google’s Pixel has jumped to the top of the Android camera quality game. It’s too early to say that Samsung is resting on its photography laurels with the S8, but it is fair to say that there’s probably nothing here that will give other companies reason to worry.

GALAXY S8 SOFTWARE

That Samsung is capable of making great hardware should come as no surprise to anybody. It’s the software where we have reason to be skeptical. Running all the way back to the bad old days of TouchWiz, Samsung has a well-earned reputation for taking Android and mucking it up with bad ideas.

For the past few years, though, the common refrain has been restraint, and I’m going to repeat it again today. Samsung has done a pretty good job keeping its worst instincts in check. There are a ton of weird features to find in the dark recesses of the settings menu, but out of the box the basic look, feel, and functionality of Samsung’s Android skinning is pretty good.

And there are some genuinely great parts, too. The iris scanning that lived all-too-briefly on the Note 7 is back, if you’d like to unlock your phone that way. But the best way to unlock the phone is Samsung’s new face detect system. It takes about 20 seconds to set up and once you do, it works really well. It’s not the same, bad face unlock that was introduced in Android years ago, it’s an entirely new system Samsung made.

In my 10 minutes or so of playing with it, it didn’t fail to unlock a single time. In fact, it was so fast that we a hard time filming it. I had to point the phone away from my face and then just tilt it up to look at myself. I unfortunately forgot to print a glossy 8 x 10 of my face to test with, though, so I can’t say if maybe it’s tuned to be a little too forgiving when it tries to see if it’s you. Samsung admits the face-detect system is less secure than the other ways of unlocking, so you will still need to set up the iris or fingerprint scanners to make payments.

There is one gimmick that in theory I should be excited about but in practice I’m just not: DeX. It’s a feature where, after buying a specialized dock, you can plug your Galaxy S8 into a monitor, keyboard, and mouse and get a full desktop mode. Unlike solutions we’ve seen in the past (RIP Motorola Atrix), the desktop mode here simply offers Android apps instead of a full desktop browser. It looks well-designed for what it is, offering full access to your notifications and resizable windows. But it can’t escape the fact that outside a few apps like Samsung’s own browser, Microsoft Office, and Adobe’s creative suite, Android apps are bad on big screens.

People who unironically call themselves Road Warriors like they’re IT managers in 1999 will love it. The rest of us probably won’t use it. And that’s fine.

GALAXY BIXBY PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Samsung may not have put a ton of effort in changing its hardware design language, updating its camera, or packing in a bigger battery. But it has been focused on figuring out how to make software that people actually like, and it’s all centered on a new virtual assistant called Bixby.

As I mentioned above, Bixby is launched by pressing an honest-to-god dedicated physical button. It has basically three modes:

1. A short-press of the button takes you to Bixby Home (you can also swipe over to it from the home screen).
2. Long-pressing the button turns on Bixby’s voice features.
3. There’s a small button on the camera app for Bixby’s augmented reality features.

Click To Enlarge Image

Let’s start in the middle with voice, because speaking to Bixby is the most interesting and challenging set of features here. Essentially, what Samsung is trying to do is create a new kind of virtual assistant, one that helps you use the device directly in your hands rather than ask random questions from the cloud.

I wasn’t able to test this myself, unfortunately, but Samsung did run us through a couple demos. In one, you can open the gallery app and then issue voice commands for editing a photo rather than trying to dig through the interface to find the right button. “Bixby, rotate this photo left,” and “Bixby, send this photo to Dan.” If you live that Samsung Life, you can use Bixby to send videos to your TV or turn off your smart lights, too.

The goal is that “anything you can control with touch, you can also control with voice.” It’s a laudable goal, but it’s also one I very seriously doubt Samsung can achieve. For one thing, it only works with about 10 Samsung apps at launch. Also, it can only work with apps that are written to support Bixby. Unlike Google Now on Tap, Bixby doesn’t do any screen reading to try and guess what’s on the screen. So it might be a virtual assistant, but it’s very far from an artificial intelligence.

The other big question with Bixby is how exactly is it differentiated from the Google Assistant. It seems pretty clear, but then you discover that there’s a bunch of overlap. For example, you can do things like set alarms with Bixby. There’s also Bixby Home, which so far as I can tell is a giant, random set of information cards for things like your smart light bulbs, fitness data, local news and weather, and whatever else Samsung thinks belongs in a virtual assistant home screen. It looks like every widget screen you’ve ever seen on a phone, which is to say it looks like sort of a mess that you probably won’t use very much.

Last but certainly not least are Bixby’s camera features, which are Bixby’s best features. You can launch it either directly in the camera app or from Bixby Home, and what it essentially does is turn your camera into a photo search machine. Point the Bixby camera app at anything and it will identify it and suggest web searches for it. I tried on flowers and it gave me options to buy flowers on Amazon or look at more flowers on Pinterest. It wasn’t able to precisely identify my Android Wear watch, but it did know it was a round watch and offered to let me buy a real one on Amazon.

It also works with more prosaic things. Samsung ran a demo with wine labels and book covers, both easily identified and given options to buy. Samsung says it’s working with specific partners for Bixby — including Amazon and Pinterest — but it doesn’t appear that it works with the biggest search engine of them all, Google. That’s not really a surprise.

GALAXY S8 RELEASE DATE, COLORS AND PRICE 

In the US, the S8 and S8 Plus will come in black, gray, and silver. Gold and blue are options internationally.

The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are available for preorder starting tomorrow, March 30th, and you should get a free Oculus headset with a controller and a set of games along with your preorder. The official release in the US is on April 21st. Unfortunately, Samsung won’t confirm pricing, leaving that to its carrier partners — again, it looks like it’ll start at around $720.

COMMENTARY:   I was so impressed with the new Samsung Galaxy S8, that I pre-ordered a Galaxy S8 Plus on Thursday, March 30.   T-Mobile, my wireless carrier, is running a special promotion, offering a FREE pair of Samsung VR goggles with each new phone ordered, while supply lasts.  This is my fourth Samsung Galaxy phone, and I see no reason to change handsets.  I hope I made the right choice.   

Courtesy of an article dated March 29, 2017 appearing in The Verge and an article dated March 29, 2017 appearing in Android Headlines and an article dated March 29, 2017 appearing in Digital Trends and an article dated March 29, 2017 appearing in Seeking Alpha

 

 

BOOMERS EMBRACE THE AMAZON ECHO AND THE 'INTERNET OF THING', AMAZON MAY HAVE SOLD 9 MIL DURING CHRISTMAS

 

Amazon Echo, commonly referred to as “Alexa,” has become one of the most popular gadgets to debut in recent years. People the world over are embracing all of the ways that the device, first available in June 2015, can aid in managing the home and day-to-day life. While this kind of technology is often thought to appeal to only younger demographics, Boomers are finding new and innovative ways to use Echo to meet their specific needs.

Click Image To Enlarge

The device, by nature, is one that relies on auditory interaction instead of visual input. As we age, many people have trouble seeing the small screen offered by a phone, finding it even more difficult to use the tiny keyboard to enter text. Through the voice command interface offered by Echo, Boomers are finding features easier to use. Need to make a grocery list? Just ask aloud that Alexa add an item to your list, and she’ll compile all of your requested items so you can review them later. She’ll even send a text message to your phone or tablet with the list to help you when shopping in the store.

Click Image To Enlarge

One of the truly modern marvels of Echo is the ability to manage your home through the Internet of Things – those household devices that connect to the Internet. The device can be paired with several other gadgets now on the market to create a truly interconnected home management system. 

Phillips offers its Hue line of light bulbs. When the bulbs are connected to the Echo, they can be controlled by simple voice command, making turning lights on and off a breeze. This function is very helpful for seniors traversing a home, letting users turn lights on before moving, providing added safety and security. Remember those times when you heard a strange noise in the house? Now the user can turn the lights on before leaving the bedroom to check it out!

The popular Nest thermostat system can be connected to Echo, allowing a user to control a home’s temperature by simply asking for it to be warmer or colder. The Nest also connects to phones and tablets, letting loved ones keep an eye on home temperature and energy usage from any location.

While any age demographic might find these abilities helpful, Boomers are especially appreciative as Echo combines the control of several devices into one easy-to-use interface that can take commands from anyone in the household, such as family members and caregivers. 

The Echo’s reminder system is also very powerful when put to use for a Boomer. It can help remind users to take medications and set notifications for myriad daily tasks. These functions are especially useful for those with early-onset dementia, as the device never tires of reminding users what they need to do or of answering questions that a caregiver might find repetitive. 

Retirement communities around the country are also seeing the benefits of these devices, offering them pre-installed in homes. These systems can be a huge benefit for the community, as they can sample information on power efficiency in units, check on resident safety and provide another vehicle for communication/information-sharing.

As this type of technology continues to evolve and grow, it is expected that additional interconnected products will be aimed squarely at the Boomer market. Google has entered the fray with its own in-home assistant, and several companies are developing similar devices for niche audiences, such as children and seniors. Additionally, more connected products are being developed each day. These include health management applications and devices, communication aides and, of course, new and varied entertainment options. By combining all of these functions into a device that doesn’t rely on a screen, manufacturers have found a niche for those who desire to age in place, providing control of their home by voice alone. 

By embracing these advances, Boomers and seniors are finding ways to remain in their homes longer. Professionals marketing and selling to these demographics would do well to fully understand these products. They should definitely make them a part of their offerings going forward, whether that be interconnected applications or pre-installed, in home packages.

COMMENTARY:  

Amazon Echo Product Lineup

Amazon Echo voice speaker device lineup (Click Image to Enlarge)

Amazon Echo

The Echo is the tall black cylinder (far right in above pic) that stated it all - a Bluetooth speaker equipped with far-field, always-on microphones and internet-connected smarts.  The $179.99 device can control smart home products, play music from your phone, Amazon Prime, and Spotify, and even order products off Amazon just by listening to your voice.

With the Alexa app, you can customize the virtual assistant to your liking, with hundreds of Alexa Skills for everything from delivering more accurate weather forecasts to making fart sounds.

Amazon Eco Dot

Take the Echo, slice off the top, and you've got the Echo Dot (far right next to the taller Amazon Echo in the above pic).  The Dot ditches the high-quality built-in speaker to cut down on cost, while still giving you all of Alexa's smarts.  A smaller built-in speaker does let you talk to Alexa, but its not good enough for straming music.  Instad, you can connect the Dot to speakers you already own via Bluetooth or an audio-out jack.

The Dot sells for $49, and Amazon offers a variety of bundles that package it with Bose speakers or other smart home products.

Amazon Tap

The Amazon Tap (far left in the above pic) takes the Echo's core features and packs them into a portable Bluetooth speaker. Since it's battery-powered, the Tap isn't always listening like the Echo or Echo Dot. Instead, you have to press a mic button to speak to Alexa.

Even though it's portable, the Tap requires a WiFi connection to use Alexa (there's no LTE option), so if you're out and about, you'll need to use your smartphone as a mobile hotspot. You can pre-order the Tap for $129.99, and like the Echo Dot, it ships March 31.

Amazon Fire TV

The Fire TV version (right of the Amazon Tap in the above pic) of Alexa doesn't have all the same features as Alexa on the Echo, but it can still control smart home products and take advantage of Alexa Skills.

The main difference is the way you interact with Alexa. You need to have your TV on and speak to Alexa through the Fire TV Remote. There's no always-on listening mode, but that might be a positive if you have privacy concerns.

Amazon Echo Units Sold

 

Amazon does not report how many Amazon Echo smart speaker devices they have sold since 2014 when the device was launched.   Several IoT industry experts have estimated how many smart speakers have been sold.     

According to the 2017 Voice Report from VoiceLabs, Amazon Echo and Google Home smart speakers will sell more than 24 million units combined through the end of 2017.

The report, which combines data from multiple sources, including CIRP, KPCB and InfoScout, shows that a total of 24.5 million devices will be sold by Google and Amazon in 2017.

Click Image To Enlarge

The report also shows that the total footprint of voice-first devices will hit 33 million units by the end of the year after expanding by 24.5 million units, which means there are only a total of 8.5 million units of Amazon Echo and Google Home combined.

That’s a little hard to believe, and it conflicts with information from Morgan Stanley, which showed that there were more than 11 million Amazon Echo devices sold between mid-2015 and December 1, 2016.

Both reports can’t be true, obviously, but we have to remember that both of them are estimates rather than actuals. There’s no way to get the actual numbers because only Amazon knows what those are – and they’re being very tight-lipped about it, other than the fact that Amazon Echo devices sold 9 times more during Cyber Week 2016 than the year before.

We know that Amazon sold at least 1 million Amazon Echo devices during the 2015 holiday season, possibly more. 9 times that means the company sold at least 9 million units at the end of 2016. That information comes directly from Amazon, so it has to be accurate.

As it stands, we believe that Morgan Stanley’s numbers are closer to being correct. What’s more, the investment bank even said that the estimate of 11 million is “likely very low.”

If that’s the case, then there are already between 11 million and 15 million Amazon Echo and its variants out there. But the VoiceLabs estimate is about 9 million in total – Amazon Echo and Google Home combined. That’s why we believe the number is way off.

However, what’s interesting is that the voice-first market is estimated to grow nearly four times over the course of 2017. According to their sources, that works out to 33 million devices by the end of this year.

Now, if we use the data from Morgan Stanley and the growth estimate from VoiceLabs’ sources, something interesting emerges: total voice-first device units will grow to at least 45 to 50 million devices by the end of 2017.

Amazon Echo will continue to dominate that market, at least through 2017, and Google Home and other smart speaker makers who have released or are releasing similar products this year will each get a share of market.

For Amazon, that’s great news because theirs is the only device that will offer direct voice shopping from Amazon’s extensive catalog of items.

Assuming that the figures are anywhere near accurate, we could see a further spurt in Amazon’s retail revenues in North America. The unit is already hitting close to $20 billion in revenues – $18.87 billion reported in the last quarter, to be exact. That figure should be well over $20 billion for the holiday quarter, which is being reported on February 2, 2017.

If they see a further spurt in growth based on voice shopping sales through Amazon Echo devices, 2017 could be the year that Amazon’s North America retail division alone hits the $100 billion a year mark.

As for Google Home, even strong sales in 2017 won’t make a big impact on their revenues, but it will give them a solid presence in the voice-based consumer electronics market.

And who knows, Google may well introduce voice advertising in future to monetize their voice search channel, with users coming in from Google Assistant on Google Home, Google Pixel smartphones and future devices.

 

Courtesy of an article dated March 28, 2017 appearing in MediaPost Engage:Boomers

and an article dated January 24, 2017 appearing in 1RedDrop and an article dated December 31, 2016 appearing in ChatBots Magazine

 

To view my PBT Consulting blog click HERE

APP ANNIE 2015 GAMING REPORT: THE STATE OF GAMING ON MOBILE DEVICES AND WHY MOBILE LEADS OVER OTHER PLATFORMS

App Annie just released its "2015 Gaming Report" and gaming on mobile devices widened its lead over other platforms in terms of spend, comprising 40% of all consumer spending on games for the year 2015.   The reports key findings are summarized below.

Key Themes & Takeaways:  Gaming Trends

• Mobile gaming overtook both home game consoles and combined PC and Mac gaming in consumer spend for the first time in 2014; the gap widened in 2015 and shows no signs of slowing.
• Games continued to have the majority share of worldwide consumer spending on both Google Play and the iOS App Store, with each store seeing incremental year-over-year gains in gaming-related share of consumer spending.
• Home game console spending was disproportionately high in North America and Western Europe. Mobile game and PC and Mac game spending was centered in Asia-Pacific and shifted further in that direction in 2015. Asia-Pacific in particular saw explosive growth in share of consumer spending on the iOS App Store.
• The top revenue-generating titles on mobile were actually more stable year-over-year than those on handheld game consoles (partly due to handheld games being sold in physical packaging).
• Home and handheld game consoles declined marginally in consumer spend from 2013 to 2015.
• Home game consoles saw the highest consumer spend per device in 2015 at nearly 5x that of mobile games. However, given their broad appeal, mobile games have a much larger user base and therefore monetize higher overall.

Worldwide Consumer Spending on Games by Device for the Years 2013-2015

Click Image To Enlarge

• Mobile gaming overtook both home game consoles and combined PC and Mac gaming for the first time with the highest consumer spend in 2014.
• Mobile gaming’s lead continued to widen in 2015 over PC and Mac gaming, home game consoles and handheld game consoles.

Worldwide Consumer Spending Shares on Games, by Region, 2015

Click Image To Enlarge

• Asia-Pacific gained in share of game spending for iOS App Store and Google Play combined due to iOS’ explosive growth in China and the healthy growth of all major APAC markets.
• Asia-Pacific also gained in share of consumer spending for both handheld games and PC and Mac gaming.
• Home consoles didn’t see much growth in Asia-Pacific despite the 14 year ban on consoles in China being lifted in 2015. Western Europe showed growth in home game console spending in 2015.

Top 5 Worldwide Grossing Portable Games, by Platform, 2015

Click Image To Enlarge

Worldwide Game Spending Per Gaming Device, 2015

Click Image To Enlarge

• Home game consoles far and away led other gaming mediums in consumer spend per device.
• Mobile gaming saw the smallest consumer spending per device, but had the largest gaming base, reaching not only core gamers but also a significant amount of casual gamers who may not otherwise play games.

Key Themes & Takeaways: US Gamers

• There was practically an even gender split within both the mobile gaming (Android Phone and iPhone gamers) and PC and Mac gaming communities in the US in 3Q 2015. Related games represent a great opportunity for marketers to reach both male and female customers.
• In 3Q 2015, PC and Mac gamers skewed toward those aged 45+, handheld and console gamers skewed towards those aged 13–24, and mobile was more evenly distributed with the largest age bracket being 25–44.
• Android phones trailed significantly behind the other gaming platforms in typical hours of gameplay per week. (Such gamers spent less than one-third the time of those on home game consoles, handheld consoles and combined PC and Mac.)
• Appealing to a broader user base, which includes non-traditional and casual gamers, US Android Phone gamers played less time per person per week. Gamers on other devices had much higher weekly gameplay hours per person.

US Gaming Device Demographics, by Gender, 3Q 2015

Click Image To Enlarge

• Males and females were represented evenly among US iPhone and Android Phone gamers and combined PC and Mac gamers.
• US home console gamers skewed male (approximately 59%) in 3Q 2015.
• Handheld game consoles in the US skewed the strongest female (approximately 53%) in 3Q 2015.

US Gaming Device Demographics, by Age, 3Q 2015

Click Image To Enlarge

• PC and Mac gaming skewed older than other US gaming devices in 3Q15 with about 59% aged 45+.
• Handheld game consoles had the largest share of young American gamers at 36%+ under 24 years old in 3Q 2015.
• US mobile gamers were strongest in the 25–44-year-old bracket at about 40%.

 US Gaming Device Demographics, by Hours of Gameplay Per Person, 3Q 2015

Click Image To Enlarge

• US Android Phone gamers played less than 3 hours per week on average in 3Q 2015. (This mobile gaming community is larger and includes a significantly higher share of casual gamers.)
• 41% of PC and Mac gamers played less than 5 hours per week versus 22% on consoles.
• 14% of PC and Mac gamers played greater than 20 hours per week versus 8% on consoles.

Key Themes & Takeaways: Wrap-Up

• Mobile gaming surpassed both home game console and PC and Mac gaming to become the top global platform by consumer spending in 2014, furthering this lead over other gaming devices in 2015. Mobile gaming grew to over 40% of total consumer spend on games last year, up from about 35% in 2014.
• More than 80% of combined iOS and Google Play consumer app spending in 2015 was derived from games, which enjoyed significant spending growth. On iOS, this share topped 75% in the second half of 2015.
• The Asia-Pacific region saw the greatest growth in share of game consumer spending worldwide on iOS and Google Play app stores, handheld gaming, and combined PC and Mac gaming, a testament to the cultural gaming tradition of many countries in the region as well as the ongoing expansion of China as an increasingly large and viable market for game monetization.
• Home console gaming saw more than double the consumer spend per device than any other gaming platform. Mobile gaming saw the lowest consumer spend per device, but had the largest audience, giving it the highest overall consumer spend in 2015.
• In the US, there is a significant opportunity across all platforms to attract male and female gamers. Console gamers skewed decidedly male. Android Phone and iPhone along with PC and Mac gaming represented near-even gender divides for gamers.
• Across handheld, PC and Mac and home console games, users spend roughly the same amount of time per week playing games on average.
• PC and Mac gamers have much more variance in the amount of typical gameplay per week compared to home console gamers, with almost double the size of the user base at both extremes (less than 5 hours per week and greater than 20 hours per week).
• Hours of gameplay per user per week on Android phones was significantly lower than other gaming platforms, a result of the wide appeal and broadened user base from casual gamers.

Courtesy of an article dated March 29, 2016 appearing in App Annie Blog

WHY VR HARDWARE MAKERS CO-EXIST IN PEACE, CREATE VR AWARENESS AND AVOID CUTTHROAT COMPETITION, FOR NOW

Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg having fun test driving the new Oculus Rift VR headset after its launch last month. (Click Image To Enlarge)

VR hardware makers seem to know that, for now anyway, it's in their mutual interest not to tear each other down.

Competition in the video game world can be pretty cut-throat—they don't call it the console war for nothing.  Whenever a new generation of home video game machines emerges, it sometimes almost feels as though the manufacturers—behemoths like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo—delight in trying to eviscerate each other.

But at the moment, the virtual reality world is a bit different. With the first Oculus Rifts showing up on doorsteps today, four years after one of the most famous Kickstarter campaigns of all time, the consumer virtual reality era truly begins. But instead of mirroring the video game industry’s pitched battlefronts, VR hardware makers seem to know that, for now anyway, it's in their mutual interest not to tear each other down.

Richard Marks, who heads up VR efforts for Sony, says.  

"The attention Oculus brought to VR was great.  The fact that there are multiple VR platforms all coming to market, that is really good for the timing of VR, because it does create more of a critical mass. It is challenging for any one platform to create a new medium."

That’s a sentiment I hear again and again during conversations with leading VR community figures. What’s clear is that industry insiders believe consumer virtual reality needs to get off the ground before major players can start worrying about which company will "win" the medium.

Anthony Batt, the cofounder and executive vice president of Wevr, a leading virtual reality content production company, says.

"This reminds me of the early days of the Internet.  Everyone’s best interest right now is to grow the pie so VR becomes a widely adopted industry."

Oculus Rift VR headset (Click Image To Enlarge)

Virtual reality, of course, is not a new technology, having been around in one extremely expensive form or another for decades. But with the arrival of the $599 Rift, HTC’s $799 Vive next month, and Sony’s $399 PlayStation VR in October, we’ve reached the point where deeply immersive, high-fidelity, high-quality VR experiences are actually arriving in people’s living rooms.

HTC Vive VR headset begins shipping in May 2016 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Although the Vive at launch will outpace the Rift by including a set of sensor-laden hand-held controllers that lets users see and incorporate their hands in 3-D VR games and other experiences, Oculus is expected to soon keep pace when it releases its Touch controllers later this year as a separate product.

Sony PlayStation VR headset begins shipping in October 2016 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Still, with those two devices’ launches, on top of Google’s $15 Cardboard VR player and Samsung’s $99 mobile Gear VR, which are already on the market, it’s fair to say the full spectrum of the consumer virtual reality age is now upon us.

 

Samsung Gear VR Launch video

Google's Cardboard DIY headset is made out of cardboard (Click Image To Enlarge)

FEW EXCLUSIVES -- YET

The dawn of this age comes with big expectations. Analysts at Digi-Capital predicted last fall that VR would be a $30 billion industry by 2020, while Piper Jaffray pegged the value of VR content—everything from games to rich cinematic experiences, live events, real estate applications, surgical training tools, and more—at $5.4 billion by 2025. There are already hundreds of VR experiences available for platforms like the mid-range Gear VR—which is powered by Oculus software—and low-end Cardboard, but if one thing is clear at this moment in VR’s evolution, it’s that the industry will go nowhere if there isn’t a steady flow of great new content at every quality level, and at least some level of mutual support. Beating the other guy today isn’t the primary motivation.

Click Image To Enlarge

Chris Dixon, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and an early investor in Oculus, says.

"For so many people in this industry, VR has been this childhood dream of nerds and sci-fi fans, and of course, VR had a couple false starts in the past.  So most people think the biggest risk is that VR will not work, not be good enough, not gain wide adoption, and think only a secondary risk [is] that their competitors get a better position."

Nick DiCarlo, the vice president and general manager of immersive products and virtual reality at Samsung, maker of the Gear VR, concurs.

"Right now, the VR industry is much more focused [on] building awareness of VR as an idea, and how cool it is, rather than competing. The VR community really works together to build . . . momentum in the space."

While it’s unclear if companies like Oculus (which Facebook bought for $2 billion in 2014), HTC, Sony, and Google are actually and actively cooperating with each other, many industry experts say their impression is that those companies are mostly playing nice with each other at this point. In the video game industry, one mark of the cut-throat attitude between competitors is their thirst to be the only platform on which big-name game titles are available—especially at launch. But with a few notable exceptions, such as Minecraft and Rock Band being available only for the Rift, or Gran Turismo launching solely on the PlayStation VR, that doesn’t appear to be happening much in the VR world.

Linc Gasking, the cofounder and CEO of 8i, a developer of VR production technology, says

"For Oculus to succeed, VR needs to succeed, and everyone is in it together.  You see that playing out more and more, where the big [hardware makers] are not asking for exclusivity on content yet, which really helps that process."

Gasking reasserts, pointing out that at this early stage,

"The success of VR floats all boats.  VR is the platform, not any individual device."

Chris Milk, the founder of the highly regarded VR content developer Vrse, which teamed with the New York Times and Google on the publication’s highly publicized distribution of more than a million Cardboard headsets to subscribers, agrees.   Milk says.  

"I’ve seen a lot of collective support from one another in the community.  I haven’t seen [platform makers] walling their gardens off. . . . We haven’t seen anyone saying 'we want an exclusive on this for us, and you can’t do it for others.'"

When asked on Twitter about the possibility of Oculus or Sony having exclusive content, Oculus founder Palmer Luckey responded,

"I am glad Sony invests in the VR ecosystem, and encourage others to do the same!"

Another reason why VR companies haven't been chasing exclusives as hard as they do on the traditional video game console front is that they are keenly aware that bad VR experiences on any platform or any device can turn people off to the entire technology forever. That’s especially troubling to executives if the person who has the bad VR experience is a decision-maker at a Hollywood studio or an ad agency. Those people, after all, are the ones who have the budgets to finance big VR projects, the very projects that will become a financial lifeblood for this nascent industry. All the virtual reality hardware makers need fantastic developers to create fantastic content for their devices.

That said, though consumer VR is still in its earliest stages and no one really knows how large the businesses being built around it will get, there’s no shortage of work for people developing VR content. Milk argues.

"The thing now is that there’s more work than any of us can handle.  We’ve had to learn how to say no, because in the last few years, we’ve gone from banging on doors and saying, ‘You should do something in VR, this is going to be really important,’ to everyone with a marketing budget banging on our door saying, ‘We need to do a virtual reality experience.’"

Gasking agrees that VR has reached the phase where people are desperate not to miss the boat, despite the fact that most of the consumer hardware is only just starting to come online.  Gasking says.  

"We’re seeing all the increase in press create a surge of interest.  We got a FOMO call from an ad executive concerned his clients were missing out on the VR wave and wondering how to start to buy advertising for his clients."

There's yet another reason why VR hardware makers may also be more flexible about exclusivity right now: They really need developers who produce games (such as Half-Life and Mortal Online) that are already wildly popular on non-VR platforms to create VR versions that can quickly draw customers to their devices. So, in some ways, VR hardware makers need established game developers more than established game developers need the hardware makers.

THE LOOMING VR CONSOLE WAR

Make no mistake, however:  Hardcore competition between the likes of Oculus, HTC, Sony, and others may already be bubbling beneath the surface.

One reason, says Jeffrey Greller, an agent at William Morris Endeavor who specializes in VR, is that because hardware like the Rift and the Vive is expensive—especially when many buyers will also have to purchase a gaming-quality PC to power their new gear—consumers are likely to pick one platform and stick with it.

Greller says.  

"Once you’ve committed to a hardware platform in VR, it’s going to be very difficult for another hardware brand to have you purchase their technology."

That could very well end up being a problem on the higher end of the VR spectrum; devices like Samsung’s Gear VR, Google’s Cardboard, and others are substantially cheaper than the Vive and the Rift.

And, since the Rift and the Vive offer very similar features, that’s where the really heavy competition is likely to brew, posits Bruce Wooden, the head of developer and community relations at VR development company AltSpaceVR and the cofounder of conference and meetup organizer Silicon Valley Virtual Reality.

Wooden said.  

"If there’s any kind of competitive spark at this stage, it would have to be between Oculus and HTC. They have two high-end headsets that are generally targeting the same audience."

Still, while he notes that it’s "unavoidable" for there to be some level of competition in the VR industry, it’s not even close to the ferocity of the console wars. At least not yet.

In the meantime, today’s launch of the Rift and the imminent launches of the Vive and PlayStation VR can only be a good thing for the broader VR ecosystem, especially because each of those systems, along with lower-end platforms like Gear VR, Cardboard, and others, together meet the full range of people’s VR needs.

Sony's Marks said.

"Having multiple platforms in VR is good, especially at this early stage.  Serving the customers of those platforms with VR in [each company’s] unique way makes sense."

So are all the big VR companies actually rooting for each other?

Dixon said.  

"I think they are.  Obviously, Oculus and Valve and everyone want to be the leader. But I think everyone agrees that for the next few years, [the most important thing] is that everyone succeeds."

(Neither Oculus, Google, nor HTC would comment for this story.)

COMMENTARY:  Virtual reality could be big soon. Augmented reality could be bigger, but might take longer to get there. How big and how soon? Let’s look at what we learned in the last year and how that changes the mix and timing of AR/VR forecasts.

Click Image To Enlarge

Timing Is Everything

At the start of last year it looked like consumer AR could launch in 2016. AR now appears largely focused on enterprise users this year, with most consumer AR expected to launch around 2017 (although wild cards like Magic Leap could change that). This effectively pushes AR consumer market revenue back by 12 months, with AR now forecast to hit $90 billion by 2020. VR’s topline remains largely unchanged, with $30 billion forecast by the end of the decade. The timing change also moves the tipping point for AR passing VR from 2018 to 2019. So where our internal numbers hit similar revenue to last year’s forecasts, they now do so a year later.

Click Image To Enlarge

Mobile First

We now know that the CPU/GPU requirements for high-end VR come at a premium. Sony Playstation VR and mobile VR (from Samsung and others) are expected to be the initial consumer VR market drivers, changing installed base forecasts in favor of mobile VR. There isn’t a material impact on topline VR revenue forecasts, but the revenue mix looks a bit different by sector. VR largely remains an entertainment market driven by hardware, games, video and theme parks, with non-entertainment apps driving a meaningful minority of revenue by 2020 as the market develops. (See original VR sector approach here)

Click Image To Enlarge

Changes to consumer market launch timing had a significant impact on topline AR forecasts, but the sector mix looks broadly similar to last year’s numbers. AR hardware revenue will drive the market, followed by augmented commerce, data, voice, video, enterprise, theme park, advertising, apps and games revenues. (See original AR sector approach here)

Go East, Young Man

The weight of innovation for AR and VR is in America today, with an unsurprising bias towards the West Coast. There are significant concentrations of development in Asia, with the Chinese market in particular giving rise to many home grown competitors. Where higher than average AR/VR revenue per user is likely to come from North America, Western Europe, Japan and South Korea, installed base is generally the ultimate driver of long term revenue. Combining our forecasts by sector and country/region indicates that Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, others) could drive AR/VR revenue by 2020, followed by Europe and North America. This geographic potential has not escaped the notice of entrepreneurs and investors, as everyone tries to figure out where to place their bets. 

Click Image To Enlarge

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

What does this mean for established players and startups? The short version is that everything has changed and nothing has changed. Despite Apple buying Metaio, it might take 18 to 24 months for a consumer market large enough for it to enter. Facebook, HTC/Valve, Sony and others will push forward with PC/console VR, as Facebook now explores AR in parallel. Samsung (with Facebook) and dozens of competitors will drive mobile VR. Google’s friends Magic Leap will do what they’re going to do, as Microsoft, ODG and others focus on Enterprise AR in 2016 ahead of consumer AR next year. Mobile VR will see hardware prices fall driven by Chinese competitors like Letv, and everyone hopes Moore’s Law brings high-end VR within reach of the average consumer.

The direction remains the same, it’s just a question of timing. We’ll keep updating as hard market data becomes available this year.

You can find out more about AR/VR sector and geographic revenue forecasts in Digi-Capital’s new Augmented/Virtual Reality Report 2016

Courtesy of an article dated March 28, 2016 appearing in Fast Company and an article dated January 2016 appearing in Digi-Capital Blog

THE ZENO GROUP'S THE HUMAN PROJECT™ 2016, SAYS MILLENNIALS HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH TECH

Surprisingly, Millennials have a love/hate relationship with technology, according to a study from Zeno Group and research firm CEB Iconoculture.

Teens and 20-somethings have a more balanced relationship versus the dependency that generations before them have, says Therese Caruso, managing director, global strategy + insights for Zeno Group. 

Therese Caruso says.

“There has never been a youth generation that looks and acts like this one, and that wields more influence. They are shaping the global conversation and workplace of the future. The only way for brands to connect is to act like a best friend – the values young people assign to their deepest relationships are the same values they want to see in brands. The Human Projectconnects brands through shared values and beliefs and tells the story about what compels this audience to become advocates and evangelizers.”

 

Caruso continues.  

“They acknowledge that technology can support their goals, but also that it can work against them.  Since youth are hyper-aware of health/wellness and the connection between health and tech overuse, they do put their tech down in a less ceremonious, more practical way than Millennials.” 

Barby K. Siegel, CEO of Zeno Group said.

“The goal of The Human Project is to challenge marketers to view key audiences not as targets or even consumers, but as real human beings.  It is no longer enough for marketers to understand category-specific behavior, but must now tap into a deeper set of core values.”

Kate Muhl, Research Director, CEB Iconoculture Consumer Insights, said.

“It’s urgent that marketers understand today’s global youth. Not just because they’re important consumers in their own right, but because youth are reshaping the culture in which brands are operating. It’s time for brands to take the level of research focus and priority they’ve given to Millennials and apply it to this new generation of consumers.” 

The Human Project Infographic - Zeno Group from Zeno Group

According to the global study, "The Human Project," Millennials feel particularly bullish about their future:

• 60% are optimistic about their personal finances, compared to only 40% of the general population.
• 67% are optimistic about their jobs compared to 40 % of the general population, according to the global study, “The Human Project.”

The biggest takeaway for marketers is how influential and different global youth are from past youth generations, Caruso tellsMarketing Daily.

Caruso says.  

“They are leading change through a different conversation around education, lifestyle and entertainment, purpose and politics.  Their influence and vast differences in values and behaviors are two aspects that feed into other key insights.”

It’s really important that marketers understand global youth now, she says.

“Not only are they influencing everyone, including the purchase decisions of their own parents and siblings, but they’re reshaping the culture in which brands are operating,”

Caruso continues.

“And it’s not enough to study what they’re reading or purchasing because simple demographics are not a reliable measure. The only way for brands to really connect is to act like a best friend — the values young people assign to their deepest relationships are the same values they want to see in brands.”

Youth are extremely health aware and guided by a life of balance. They know how to indulge and practice prudence/integrate foods and habits that can live together in a healthy body and mind, she says.

Caruso says.  

“Today’s youth views happiness differently — there must be a mix of success, balance and purpose.  Happiness is more practical and personal: being informed/connected, achieving goals, feeling good mind + body, indulging and practicing prudence, choosing to live their own life of purpose.”

Ultimately, their favorite brand is themselves — they use brands to build their own personal brand, she adds.

The report also lays out what Zeno Group has branded as the “7 Global Truths” about this generation -- what brands and businesses believe to be the most important consumer constituency, from the influence they will wield in the upcoming election, to their relationship with technology, to how they are redefining the role of leader, and how they are connecting with the world's top companies; and maybe most importantly, how the world’s most successful companies are connecting to them.

1. Youth Wield Powerful Influence. There has never been a generation with more influence both inside and outside the family and this has changed the dynamic of the modern family. Seventy-eight percent of parents with children in this group feel that their kids are more involved in their family’s decisions than they themselves were as children.

2. The New Leadership Paradigm. Global Youth do not view leadership by the traditional, top-down mode. Rather, they prefer a lead-by-example, collaborative model – “leaders bring people together to get things done.” On a scale of 92 values, leadership is ranked extremely low at 65 or high, while equality is ranked number two by the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia.

3. Friendship Built on Values vs. Shared Interests. Global Youth build friendships not on proximity or convenience, but on shared values, like morals, ethics and beliefs, and priorities. Thanks to this group’s strong sense of identity, peer pressure is also starting to fade.

4. Technology + The Love/Hate Paradox. Global Youth work to maintain a balanced relationship – not a dependency – on technology. They are keenly aware that technology can support their larger goals, but also know it can work against them.

5. Youth Are Health Aware, Guided by Balance. Global Youth research and educate themselves on all-around health and wellness, and they aren’t interested in “traditional diets.” Out of 92 values, health was ranked number one among Chinese youth – differing greatly from the values of their parents.

6. Happiness Re-Defined: The New WE/Z Happiness Equation. Global Youth view “happiness” as equal-parts balance, success and purpose. Success tops the list as the highest-ranking value among Global Youth in the U.S., Canada, U.K., India and Australia. Purpose is overall a high-ranking value among Global Youth with parents in Canada, Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. ranking purpose significantly lower than youth.

7. A Brand Called “Me”: Youth vs. Brand as Status Symbol. Global Youth are passionate about brands that help to enhance and build upon their own, personal brand. In order to earn this group’s trust and loyalty, brands must understand their mindset and personal goals.

The study gathered data from more than 5,000 individuals in the United States, Canada, China, India, Australia and the United Kingdom. The study defines “Global Youth” as those born between 1991 and 2001 and divides them into two distinct groups:

• “Gen WE” (14-20)
• “Gen Z” (21-25)

Examining the nuances into how Youth think, act and behave is imperative for companies and brands as they look to maintain relevance with today’s most digitally intuitive generation, Caruso says. Gen WE and Gen Z are masters of platform, more self-aware, success-driven, socially responsible and more global-minded than any generation before them.

About Zeno Group

Zeno Group is a global, integrated communications agency, born from PR. The award-winning agency is committed to work that delivers true business value for clients across consumer, corporate, health and technology industries. Zeno is the unprecedented three-time PRWeek US Mid-Size Agency of the Year winner (2011 – 2013), winner of PRWeek Malaysia New Consultancy of the Year (2015), recipient of the SABRE Silver Anvil (2015) and most recently recognized at PR Cannes Lions (2015). Zeno Group is a DJE Holdings Company.

Courtesy of an article dated March 3, 2016 appearing in MediaPost Marketing Daily and an article dated March 2, 2016 appearing in Zeno Group

 

THE SAMSUNG GEAR VR HEADSET, FEATURES, REVIEW PRO'S AND CON'S, CONTENT, COMPETITION AND STARTER ALTERNATIVES

There's currently no better way to get started with virtual reality.

When Samsung and Oculus debuted their Gear VR headset almost a year ago, the companies made it clear the device wasn't yet ready for the masses. Billed as "Innovator Edition" models, the original Gear VRs were intended mainly for early adopters. They only fitted a limited number of phones -- the original was designed just for the Note 4; the second for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge -- and were also quite pricey at $200 per headset.

 

Beginning November 10, 2015, Samsung began taking pre-orders of their new Samsung Gear VR headset through Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, and Samsung.com.   On November 20, 2015, Samsung and Oculus released the first-ever consumer-ready version of the Gear VR for shipment.   The new Samsung Gear VR headset is smaller, lighter, cheaper (only $99) and is compatible with more phones (the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+). But, more importantly, its content library has exploded, with more VR apps and games than ever before. Virtual reality has finally gone mainstream, and there's no better way to get started than with the new Gear VR.

Click Image To Enlarge

Summary

Samsung's Gear VR is the company's first virtual reality headset designed for everyday consumers. For just $99 and a compatible Samsung phone, you can dive into an incredible experience that'll have you watching 360-degree movies and playing super immersive games. Yes, it only works with a limited number of phones, but right now, there's no better option if you want to give VR a try.

 

Hardware 

Samsung never made any pretensions that the Gear VR would be small and portable -- it's always been a rather large headset that looks like you have a giant pair of ski goggles strapped on your face. But every iteration of the Gear VR has been more lightweight than the last, and the new consumer-ready version is no exception. Samsung says it's about 19 percent lighter, and I definitely feel it. The previous models had chunky white plastic around the head straps while the current model has none. This not only reduces the headset's overall weight, but makes it far less cumbersome to put on. All you do is strap the headset to your head with a couple of elasticized Velcro straps -- one around the back of your head and the other around the top -- and you're ready to go. The top strap is technically optional, but I liked having it on for a more secure fit.

The fit, by the way, is pretty excellent. The soft foam padding around the eyes and the nose bridge makes the fit very comfortable (My discomfort came from nausea instead; more on that later). Another upside is that new Gear VR also easily accommodates most glasses -- I was able to wear mine without too much shifting around. That said, if you have a relatively lightweight prescription, you might want to go without your glasses entirely for additional comfort. Plus, the Gear VR has a focus wheel at the top so you can easily adjust the focus to match your eyesight.

Like all the previous Gear VRs, the new model is not a standalone headset -- it's essentially a VR viewer for your phone; sort of a fancier version of Google's Cardboard, if you will. Except that unlike Cardboard, the Gear VR has additional hardware -- an accelerometer, a gyroscope and proximity-based sensors -- on board to reduce latency and increase the performance overall.

Click Image To Enlarge

To get started, you'll have to snap the phone onto the front of the Gear VR so that the display faces the headset's stereoscopic lenses. Simply dock the phone into a micro-USB dock on the left and then lock it in place with a plastic holder on the right. At least for now, the Gear VR is compatible with four different Samsung phones: the Galaxy S6, the S6 Edge, the S6 Edge+ and the Note 5. Since the latter two phones are slightly larger than the others, the Gear VR has a toggle that you can use to slide the micro-USB dock to the left or right to accommodate the different sizes. Though it seems like the headset's use is limited to just these four phones, Samsung told us that it's highly likely the current Gear VR could be compatible with future Samsung phones too.

By default, controls are relegated to the four-way directional touchpad on your right temple. It's much more contoured than previous Gear VR models plus there's a raised center nub, which makes the whole thing far easier to use -- you can just feel your way around to figure out the controls. Above the touchpad is a back button, which has been relocated slightly to the right for easier accessibility, while a volume rocker is located to the front.

Though it's not included with the Gear VR, I also recommend you wear a pair of headphones with it, as it'll make your VR experience more immersive. There are also a few games that would benefit from the use of a dedicated gamepad controller (again, this isn't included with the headset), which you can connect to the phone via Bluetooth.

Hand-On Test

I tested the Gear VR with a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+. Setup was pretty easy; once you have the phone loaded into the headset, you're pretty much ready to go. As soon as it docks into place, the handset will automatically launch Oculus Home, a VR content portal from where you can launch a variety of apps, movies or games (if you don't have the Oculus app installed, it'll prompt you to do so). Virtual reality content has exploded in the past year, and nowhere is this more evident than the variety available on the Oculus Store -- Samsung and Oculus tells us there are already more than a 100 apps and games on board, with even more coming down the pipeline.

Before we delve into the content, let's talk about the display quality. In short, it's not great. Since you're essentially pressing the phone's screen up to your face, there's definitely a slight "screen door effect" where you can spot individual pixels. This effect seems a lot more reduced than previous Gear VR headsets, but it was still noticeable. As a result, videos looked pretty pixilated and games just didn't look as sharp as I would like. Of course, a lot of this is dependent on the phone's display -- the S6 Edge+ has a very good 1440 x 2560 Quad HD resolution, but even that didn't prove sharp enough when magnified with the Gear VR's lenses. I'll admit to brushing aside the need for phones with 4K displays, but perhaps there's a real benefit if you plan to use them with VR headsets.

That said, once I started really playing around with the content, I found myself casting those display quibbles aside. Viewing 360-degree video of an ocean landscape was wonderfully serene and peaceful, and I also enjoyed watching episodes of Doctor Who on Netflix as if I were in movie theater. Playing games was especially delightful: Shooting at incoming drones in EVE:Gunjack and flying around on a jetpack in Omega Agent was fun and engaging. Being able to look around you to home in on enemy targets feels a lot more interactive than just waggling a thumbstick.

Click Image To Enlarge

My favorite game by far, however, is Land's End, a puzzle game akin toMyst or Monument Valley. Set on a rocky island, you solve puzzles by staring at dots to illuminate them, tracing a line from dot to dot in order to unlock a path. The immersive VR environment coupled with the game's tranquil soundtrack makes this one of the more meditative games I've ever come across. Note: I recommend using a swivel chair to play some of these games so that you don't suffer from too much neck strain.

As much as I was having fun however, I found that I could not wear the Gear VR for very long periods of time. That's because it does make me feel a bit nauseous; I had to take the headset off every half hour or so to stop my head from spinning. Of course, your mileage may vary here, but it's worth the warning. I happen to be one of those people who suffers from motion sickness on boats and while traveling down windy roads, so I'm perhaps more susceptible to this kind of thing.

Another thing to watch out for is battery life. After a solid hour of VR time, the phone's battery dropped by as much as 20 percent. After four or five hours, the phone was nearly dead. Also beware if you do want to keep the phone in VR mode for very long, as it does occasionally get hot enough to overheat.

The Competition

If you just wanted to get your feet wet with virtual reality, Google's Cardboard is not a bad start. After all, it costs close to nothing and it's dead easy to set up. The downsides, of course, is that it doesn't offer nearly the same degree of sophistication and immersion that the Gear VR does. The Gear VR has straps so you can wear it for hours on end, additional on-board sensors to reduce latency, plus it has a dedicated touchpad for greater control. At the end of the day, Google Cardboard is just, well, cardboard, while Samsung's Gear VR is a full-fledged dive into virtual reality.

The Google Cardboard VR headset is available through Amazon for under $20.00 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Then again, Gear VR's performance doesn't quite compare to more advanced VR headsets like the Oculus Rift, the PlayStation VR and the HTC Vive. For one thing, Samsung's Gear VR doesn't have positional head tracking, so you can't do things like duck behind walls or bend your head down to take a closer look at something on the ground. The other headsets also promise to be far more powerful -- the Rift and the Vive will be powered by high-end gaming rigs while the Playstation VR will harness the computational prowess of the PS4. That should lead to a higher fidelity experience with better graphics and better physics -- features that even the best smartphone won't be able to match.

Oculus Rift VR headset is designed for professional VR developers. The headset and Oculus' software developers kit (SDK) is available on Amazon for $1,275.00 (Click Image To Enlarge) 

Yet, those other systems aren't even available to the public yet. Plus, they promise to be much more expensive. Though the prices aren't official just yet, rumor is that they'll cost at least $300 each. And that doesn't even include the cost of a high-end gaming PC, which could be well over $1,000. If you plan on going with the Playstation VR, a PS4 isn't cheap either, retailing at around $350. Even if you were to buy a Gear VR along with a compatible Samsung phone, that would only run around $500 to $700 if you get your phone off-contract. Additionally, all three rival headsets need to be tethered to their source computer, which limits your movements when playing games. The $99 Gear VR, on the other hand, is completely mobile, letting you swivel around on your chair or take it anywhere.

Sony's Project Morpheus is now called PlayStation VR and has a vague release date of Q1 2016, but Sony has not announced a price (Click Image To Enlarge)

The HTC Vive VR headset was designed for professional VR developers and will be available for pre-ordering in February 2016 with shipments in April 2016. No prices have been announced (Click Image To Enlarge)

Closing Statements

If Google Cardboard gives a taste of virtual reality, Samsung's Gear VR offers up a whole feast. With just the addition of a smartphone, you can get a truly immersive VR headset that lets you travel distant lands, watch movies and shoot up spaceships in alien worlds. It's comfortable to wear for hours at a time -- even if you wear glasses -- and controls are intuitive and easy to understand. Yes, it's only compatible with Samsung's latest handsets and no, it's not quite as advanced as headsets like the Oculus Rift. But at only $99, Samsung's Gear VR still makes for a great entry-level VR headset for the everyday consumer. If you already have a compatible Samsung phone, it's a no-brainer.

COMMENTARY:  If you haven't already done so, I urge you to read my blog post of September 24, 2015, when Facebook and Samsung announced the Samsung Gear VR headset at the Oculus Connect 2 Developers Conference.  

With Gear VR, Samsung gets to be the first to push VR hardware out to the mainstream and it serves as a lure to bring brand-new Galaxy owners in. The company is putting itself at the tip of a sector that; according to SuperData's Stephanie Llamas, will drive the bulk of VR sales at first.

The mobile slice of the VR sector is forecasted to generate nearly $1 billion in revenues by the end of 2016 and fatten to about $4.4 billion by the close of 2019, according to SuperData Researcher's preliminary study into the nascent market.

The big lure for early adopters is the very affordable price of $99.00.  This pricing strategy appears to have worked with both BestBuy and Amazon reporting that they are out-of-stock, but are taking back orders for delivery at a future date.   If you already own a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ or Note 5 you are good to go, but first you must download the Oculus VR software.  Once installed, you will be able to run over 100+ (and growing) VR apps designed for the headset.  

I haven't tried the Samsung Gear VR headset yet, but Amazon claims the headset is a No 1 best seller and owners have given it an average review rating of 4.5 stars.  65% of owners have given it a 5 star rating.  The biggest complaint from Amazon owners has been the video quality which depends on the resolution of your Samsung phone.  Owners are also reporting that the headset is a huge drain on your phone's battery, can cause your phone to overheat, and you may experience eye fatigue if you use the headset several hours.  All users loved the low price and highly emersive VR experience.

Some Altenatives

If you are still hesitant to dive in and buy the Samsung Gear VR headset, there are several lower-priced alternatives (yes, there are) you may wish to consider.  All of these fall into the "starter" category and are a great way to experience virtual reality on the cheap.  

• Google Cardboard VR is a starter headset made of cardboard that sells for $12.98 on Amazon.  Owners called the Google Cardboard VR headset "simple, fun and affordable."  To use the headset you need to download the free Cardboard app from Google Play.  According to Google Play, the Cardboard app has been reviewed by nearly 69,000 owners and has received an average user review of 4.2 stars (out of 5).   The Google Cardboard VR headset will accommodate phones with displays up to 6-inches in size and running Android OS 4.1 or higher.  Google Play claims between 1-5 million Cardboard app downloads.  Amazon says they are temporarily out-of-stock, but the site says they will have more on December 19, 2015. Hypergrid Business published a list of 22 online sites where you can buy Google Cardboard VR.  Google Cardboard is also available through Walmart and BestBuy, but you will pay a bit more.  The Google Cardboard VR head garnered a review of 4 stars on Google Play.  74% of owners gave it 5 stars. 
• View-Master VR Starter Pack - Is compatible with and uses the Google Cardboard app (see above).  The Starter Pack includes one View-Master viewer, one Preview Reel, one adapter for the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s and a user guide. The Preview Reel included with the Starter Pack allows you to sample View-Master VR apps, such as Space, Destinations and National Geographic: Wildlife. You can fully explore these exotic new worlds by purchasing View-Master VR Experience Packs (sold separately).  Reviews averaged 4 stars from Amazon users. Available at Amazon, Target, Toys R US, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. $24.99 to $29.99. 
• FIVESUNG 3D VR headset - This is a knock-off of the Google Cardboard VR viewer, but made of plastic.  Reviews are all over the place.  Reviews averaged 3 stars from Amazon users.   Available at Amazon and owner reviews were mixed averaging 3.8 stars (out of 5).  Price:  $19.99. 

Courtesy of an article dated November 15, 2015 appearing in Engadget, an article dated November 20, 2015 appearing in CNN Money, an article dated October 28, 2015 appearing in Wearable, an article dated December 12, 2015 appearing in Tech Times, an article dated November 23, 2015 appearing in Tech Times, and an article dated August 10, 2014 appearing in Hypergrid Business

Follow Me:   Twitter: turk5555    Facebook: 797743955    LinkedIn: turk5555 

Subscribe To My Blog Newfeed

 

 

BLACKBERRY'S NEW PRIV ANDROID PHONE, REAL KEYBOARD, SECURITY, AVAILABILITY, PRICING, SPECS AND REVIEWS

 

BlackBerry Ltd.’s new Android phone hit the market through AT&T on November 6, 2015, and could be the company’s last attempt at making its devices profitable before ending production.

 

The Canadian company has unveiled several new phones in the two years since Chief Executive Officer John Chen took over, but none has managed to stop hardware sales from falling. Chen has repeatedly said he will exit the device business if he can’t make it profitable.

Click Image To Enlarge

The BlackBerry “Priv” -- named for its emphasis on privacy -- runs a full version of Google’s Android operating system but features some of BlackBerry’s highly respected security and productivity features. It comes preloaded with an application that tracks how much other applications on your phone are accessing your personal data and location. It also has BlackBerry’s signature physical keyboard, which slides down from under the touch screen.

Click Image To Enlarge

Brian Colello, a Chicago-based analyst at Morningstar Investment Services, said in an interview.

“Perhaps there’s something else in the pipeline, but this device does seem like a last stand.  We’ve seen new products come out for the last couple years, BlackBerry’s trying to get a hit with any form factor, any price point and now it’s with a different operating system.”

With its share of the global smartphone market at less than 1 percent, BlackBerry has been working to shift its focus to higher-margin software sales. As he tries to turn around the company’s fortunes, Chen has held onto the phone business, which still accounts for about 40 percent of revenue. Blackberry could stop producing phones within the next year if it doesn’t begin turning a profit, he said at a conference in October.

Click Image To Enlarge

Software Target

Chen is working to reach $500 million in software revenue by March 2016 by acquiring security-focused software companies and building up new products like secure teleconferencing. BlackBerry completed its $425 million acquisition of Good Technology Corp. on Monday, a deal the company said will contribute about $160 million in revenue in the first year.

Ron Louks, BlackBerry’s head of devices, said the company will make announcements about its product “road map” in the beginning of 2016, but declined to say whether it would announce a new phone. Chen has said the company is going ahead with software updates to its BlackBerry operating system. 

Click Image To Enlarge

By running Android for its new device, the Priv sidesteps one of the biggest problems BlackBerry has had in persuading people to use its phones: a lack of applications. As the company’s operating system waned in popularity, developers stopped making applications that were compatible with it, prompting even more people to ditch its devices.

If the Priv sells better than BlackBerry’s two most recent major releases, the Passport and the Classic, it may keep the phone business going, Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Financial LP, said in an interview.

Declining Shipments

BlackBerry shipped 800,000 smartphones in the quarter that ended Aug. 29, its lowest since at least 2007.

Gillis, who has a buy rating on the stock, said.

“It doesn’t take a lot of phones to really move the needle for this company.” 

The company’s shares gained 2.9 percent to $7.50 at the close in New York and have declined 32 percent this year.

The Priv, with a retail price of $699, is targeted at a “very, very competitive market,” of high-end Android phones, Colello said, including those made by HTC Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. The new device is BlackBerry’s latest effort to find a phone that can stabilize sales as the company transitions toward Chen’s software revenue target.   He said.

“They’ve done a good job of continuing to lower their break-even level for the hardware side to stay in business, but even though the bar’s going lower and lower, the sales still aren’t keeping up.  I think BlackBerry’s still searching for a hit phone.”

Click Image To Enlarge

COMMENTARY:  

Cellular Network Support, Prices, and Pre-Order Details For The BlackBerry Priv

AT&T is the currently the only U.S. cellular carrier offering BlackBerry's Priv smartphone.  Customers can purchase the phone for $250.00 with a two-year contract or via AT&T Next with $0 down.  You have your choice of the following contracts:

• Next 24 (30 payments) for $24.67 per month.
• Next 18 (24 payments) for $30.84 per month.
• Next 12 (20 payments) for $37.00 per month.  

Both T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon are in negotiations to offer the BlackBerry Priv through their cellular networks, but no definite dates have been released. T-Mobile CEO John Legere told CNET that BlackBerry is "on a comeback" and hinted that the Uncarrier will have the Priv soon.

The comment on BlackBerry's comeback is just one in a growing collection of comments by Legere on BlackBerry.  In an interview with Fox Business News anchor Liz Claman, Legere said that John Chen is doing a "great job running BlackBerry," and T-Mobile is "trying to figure out how to get to groups of zealots -- T-Mobile fans and BlackBerry fans -- how to get those two together.

T-Mobile confirmed that that talks are happening, and suggested a 2016 release date is probable.  T-Mobile's network already works on the BlackBerry Priv, if the phone is unlocked.  

The phone sold through the BlackBerry Store is designed to work with GSM cellular networks, but a CDMA-compatible is coming to Verizon soon.  Verizon tweeted confirmation on November 6, and directed those interested to sign-up on its website for more information.  No release timeframe was offered.

BlackBerry will also make the Priv available internationally as follows:

• Canada -  Rogers (Pre-Orders) and ShopBlackBerry Canada ($900 CDN)
• United Kingdom - Carphone Warehouse and ShopBlackBerry UK (560 Pounds including VAT)

Marshmellow and Security Updates

In a recent interview with Android Central, Ron Louks, BlackBerry's president of devices, commented on the upcoming update to Android Marshmellow 6.0 and monthly security updates.  Louks didn't give a firm date for Marshmellow 6.0, but said the update should hit "sometime in the new year," at least confirming that BlackBerry Priv users will not have to wait long for it.

BlackBerry's added improvements to Android that will attract enterprise users who seek data encryption and built-in security features that track how apps are interacting with your data (Click Image To Enlarge)

BlackBerry has done really solid work adding a layer of security to the Priv — "Priv" stands for "privacy," after all. The user-facing aspect of it is a piece of software called DTEK security, which monitors your phone for nefarious acts and also gives you a handy security audit that lets you know what's going on inside each one. The Priv isn't running the most recent version of Android, but it has the same ability to let you examine each app's access to your privacy settings and turn them off if you don't like them.

On security updates, Louks said BlackBerry will try to adhere -- at least in Europe -- to pushing security updates within a month of Google releasing them.  As more malware and vulnerabilities hit Android, manufacturers are being called upon to quickly update devices and make sure users are safe and secure.  BlackBerry will import its own security systems as well, to ensure vulnerabilities are mitigated before Google patches them.

Priv Specifications

BlackBerry has gone all-out with the Priv Android phone, so the specs are about as high-end as any other flagship Android phone -- Unfortunately, the Priv also has a high price tag to match.  The phone has an intriguing slider design, the likes of which we haven't seen in a number of years, so that users can choose between a virtual keyboard or a physical keyboard.  When you slide the screen back, a full QWERTY keyboard in the old school BlackBerry style is revealed.  The keys are touch sensitive for scrolling and cursor control, too, so you can use it as a trackpad if need be.

 

GSMArena created this wonderful breakdown of the BlackBerry Priv's technical specifications:

Click Image To Enlarge

BlackBerry's New Android Apps

When it comes to software, BlackBerry's added a few bells and whistles to make Android secure enough to suit its standards.  The BlackBerry Hub is included, which brings all your messages into one feed, as are other standard BlackBerry apps like BBM.  BlackBerry's special DTEK for Android software will also alert you when your privacy may be at risk, give you a security rating for your device, and it offers for specific security features, so that you know what's going on with your personal info and more.  You can determine which apps and services are allowed to use your microphone, camera, contacts, and more. 

BlackBerry released a range of apps onto Google Play store in late October.  The apps will be pre-installed on the BlackBerry Priv, and are apparently only usable on that device.  Users that tried to download the apps were informed that their devices are incompatible. 

The apps include BlackBerry Launcher, Keyboard, Camera and Services.  Password Keeper has been added to store all passwords in a single folder, encrypted and secured by BlackBerry -- the app can also import infor from previous BlackBerry owners moving to Android.  DTEK for BlackBerry and MicrosoftextFat for BlackBerry have also been added to the Google Play store.

Having all the applications available on the Google Play store should make them instantly available without a firmware update.  BlackBerry plans to offer an almost stock experience, with additional security and some new applications ported over from BlackBerry 10.

BlackBerry "Old-Style" Keyboard

A lot of mobile device experts don't give the BlackBerry Priv a chance of succeeding among smartphone users or making a dent in the smartphone market, because its debut comes four years too late.  However, I believe that the Priv will be able to capture market share because there is a latent demand for smartphones with old-style features like a physical keyboard.  

Although the BlackBerry Priv may look "old-school," a physical keyboard fills a need in the marketplace.  The limitations of a virtual keyboard on tablets like the iPad, quickly gave rise to attachable physical keyboards, and now they are a must-have accessory for most serious tablet users. It is my opinion that the Priv's physical keyboard is going to be a hit with users, especially old-school users like yours truly.

Click Image To Enlarge

BlackBerry's keyboard is truly special, incorporating fresh ideas that most smartphone makers ignore:

• The keyboard software is optimized for the keyboard — no mean feat, given how few Android phones have bothered with them anymore.
• The keyboard is also touch-sensitive, so you can scroll with it and swipe down on it to bring up an optional symbols keyboard.
• The keyboard does not make the Priv top-heavy or ackward to hold or use.

You are probably not going to be any faster or more accurate using the Priv's physical keyboard than you are on a touchscreen virtual keyboard, but it isn't about what's definitively "better." Because after you reach a certain level of quality and functionality, it's perfectly fine just to have personal preference. Live and let live.

I believe that enterprise and government users will like and value the BlackBerry Priv's security and data encryption features.  These are must-have features for corporate users, government agencies and individuals who want that extra layer of security not found in most of today's smartphones.    

Multi-Tasking On The Priv

One change that I love on the Priv is the layout for multitasking. Instead of showing a vertical stack of cards, BlackBerry designed multitasking to show a grid of apps in varying sizes. Think of it like the Windows 8 Start menu for apps you already have open. Hitting the multitasking button and then thumbing through the list of apps on the keyboard’s touchpad feels like magic. Compared to the stacked card interfaces of Android Lollipop and Marshmallow and iOS 9, Blackberry’s implementation is a breath of fresh air. You can see more than one app with its preview clearly. It’s one of the biggest things I’ll miss when the Priv goes away. 

Click Image To Enlarge

BlackBerry Priv Reviews

BlackBerry Priv reviews by expert reviewers are mostly good averaging about 3.5 stars out of 5.  The Priv is regarded as a good phone, not a great phone, but a "great first effort for an Android phone." The $699.00 price tag may scare off a lot of potential buyers, but with a two-year plan through AT&T, the price is only $250.00.  According to Ron Offringa, Droid-Life, ere are the good and bad of the Priv:

The Good  

Display - The 5.4-inch (1440 x 2560 pixels) display on the Priv is visually great. Colors are accurate, text is crisp, and the curve along the edge of the display makes Android’s slide out menus feel more real.  The display is able to get very dim, but I have definitely seen displays that get brighter, meaning you may have some issues in direct sunlight.

Hardware Design - The Priv feels like a tank. A plastic tank, but a tank nonetheless. That’s not a bad thing, but don’t expect the Priv to delicately slide into your pocket.  The body looks downright handsome in its stealth black paint. Where other phones look delicate with their bendable aluminum bodies and glass backs, the Priv feels like a solid, well constructed pocket computer.  The body of the Priv is curved to match the sloping glass on the front, but the middle edges are flat so that the phone is easy to grip.  The power on/off button is on the left instead of the right, but that's no big deal.  The bottom of the phone has a micro USB port at the center and the headphone jack on the right.  The placement of the headphone jack makes it relatively easy to find with a cursory brush against the bottom of the device.  The top of the phone features a micro SD card tray and the SIM tray. For whatever reason the SIM card should've been placed on the bottom of the tray (facing the back of the phone) instead of on the top. This isn’t a big deal, but it is an odd design that was confusing at first.

The Keyboard - The slider keyboard on the Priv is probably the single best thing about it.  Can you type faster on a virtual keyboard?  Probably not, but if you have never used a phone with a hardware keyboard then it might take you longer to adjust, but after using the Priv keyboard a few times, you will feel right at home.  The keyboard is touch-sensitive and can be used as a trackpad for scrolling by brushing your fingers on the keyboard.  Finally, as long as you’re using the stock launcher, you can also set shortcut keys for individual presses or long presses on the keyboard.

Click Image To Enlarge

The Software - The Priv runs an almost stock version of Android 5.1.1 (that’s right, no Marshmallow 6.0 Android on the most secure phone in the world), but CEO Chen says "they are working on it (getting Marshmallow upgrade) sometime in 2016."  Here are a few changes to note. Notifications can be bundled by app, so if you have a ton of new notifications, but you really just want to see your emails you can tap on your email app icon and only see those in the notification shade. BlackBerry includes a Peek menu on the edge of the display to quickly see your calendar, favorite contacts, messages from BlackBerry Hub, and tasks.  BlackBerry Hub is an app that summarizes your communications for you. All of your emails and texts and calls and even social media bits can be found in one place. I can see this being really helpful for someone who either needs or wants a summary of their day regularly or who wants a notification center to go to because they find the notification tray too limited or lacking context.

Device Search is a limited replacement for Google Now that allows you to search your device or, if you don’t find what you want, you can tap a button to search the web or Drive or any other app listed under Extended Search. When you’re on the home screen if you start typing on the keyboard it will ask if you’d like to use Device Search or Google Now.  I haven't tried Device Search, but I use Google Now all the time, and like it very much.

Multitasking  (See above) on the BlackBerry Priv is a breeze and one of the changes that users love is the layout for multitasking.  Instead of showing a vertical stack of cards, BlackBerry designed multitasking to show a grid of apps in varying sizes.  Think of it like the Windows 8 Start menu for apps you already have open. Hitting the multitasking button and then thumbing through the list of apps on the keyboard’s touchpad feels like magic.

Average

Security and Privacy - The first, and most important, is that the Priv lacks a fingerprint scanner like high-end phones like the iPhone, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, HTC One A9, Galaxy S6, and Note 5. 

The second is that DTEK (See Above) thinks it’s secure for me to have a password or PIN that locks my device after 10 minutes.  BlackBerry should not be giving that default setting a passing score. I also love that DTEK has a section that says that my device is secure because it is a BlackBerry.

The third is that the Priv runs Android 5.1.1. While this shouldn’t be too upsetting for users considering Marshmallow is only just over a month old, from a security standpoint it is a bit of an issue. Maybe BlackBerry will be quick with updates, but there’s a good chance that unless BlackBerry picks up the pace the OS itself will become a security issue.

NOTE:  In my opinion, Ron Offringa from Droid-Life either does not understand the Priv's security features, or didn't want to dwelve too deeply into the Priv's security capabilities.  For these reasons, I differ with the security review of Ron Offringa from Droid-Life.    

If you wonder just how secure the BlackBerry Priv really is, well, it's very secure.  For starters, the Priv uses data encryption technology and its security software works like an internal "firewall" that operates in the background and monitors for malware and mobile app spyware that might want to tamper with your program files and data.  If it senses this, it will notify you immediately to take appropriate action.  

And there's much more than meets the eye centered specifically around security and stability.    

What about fingerprint readers? Apple does them. Google does them. Samsung does them. Why doesn’t BlackBerry?  Dave Kleidermacher, BlackBerry’s chief security officer, said.

“User authentication is a freakin’ nightmare in the mobile world today.  There is not yet a widespread and ubiquitous user authentication mechanism that is both strong for security and users don’t hate it."

Kleidermacer explains why the Priv does not come with a fingerprint scanner.

“The reason we haven’t put a fingerprint scanner is that if you lose your fingerprint, you’ve lost that part of your identity forever. And that’s a problem, because it’s a static picture of your finger. It’s just bits. You drop those bits, and you’re done. We’ve never put a fingerprint scanner on our devices because we think of it as a relatively weak authentication system.”

Kleidermacher argued that, if implemented poorly, it’s easy to steal those bits off of a device, or even lift the fingerprint off the actual device and use that to log into it. In short, he believes that using your fingerprint as your identity is flawed from the get-go, because it doesn’t change. Other types of biometrics, where the “password” isn’t just a static image, but rather something that is moving or changing, while still being unique to you, are “much better.”

He elaborated further.

“I’m not saying biometrics are a bad idea.  I’m saying that today, in terms of what’s available in the market ubiquitously, there is not yet one that I’ve seen that passes our muster from a security and stability perspective.”

Indeed, Kleidermacher refused to declare that BlackBerry would never include a fingerprint reader in a future device. He said that relying on a combination of a fingerprint and something else might be a reasonable tradeoff, adding that “eyepanning” technology shows tremendous promise.

He continues.  

“We are constantly evaluating biometrics in general, and when we feel satisfied that the security strengths, cost, and usability are in a sweet spot, then we would consider putting them into devices. When that will happen, and exactly what type of biometric, remains to be seen still.”

Translation: Don’t be surprised if a BlackBerry Android phone next year has some sort of biometric solution.

So, what exactly has BlackBerry added to the Priv that isn’t available in Lollipop out of the box? Quite a bit.

There’s the aforementioned DTEK and picture passwords, as well as a Password Keeper app and media card protection.   FIPS 140-2 compliant full disk encryption is on by default, and you get the S/MIME encryption protocol for digitally signing and/or encrypting messages, and of course doubly encrypted messages via BBM (though you can install BBM yourself on any Android device, assuming you still have someone to message on it).

But there are three improvements that particularly stand out on the Priv:

• Secure compound, a special BlackBerry area of firmware that runs below Android (making it immune to Android vulnerabilities) and handles operations such as validating the integrity of the Android OS itself
• Verified Boot and Secure Bootchain, which uses the embedded keys to verify every layer of the device in order to make sure they haven’t been tampered with
• Modifications to harden the Linux kernel with patches and configuration changes to improve security

The first two points we discussed earlier:  These are the two that were impossible to pull off before Lollipop came along. For the third, Kleidermacher explained that BlackBerry has made “literally thousands of changes to both the Linux kernel below Android and to Android itself for security and privacy.” Of course, if Android 6.0 was the base, the company wouldn’t have had to include as many patches.

But there’s more than just software fixes here.  Back in February 2009, BlackBerry acquired cryptography company Certicom. Ever since, BlackBerry has injected security keys into its chipsets to guarantee the “hardware root of trust.”  This is a big sell to corporations, according to Kleidermacher.

He declared.  

“How do I know that the hardware key, that the hardware root of trust, hasn’t been tampered with during the supply chain? You can’t test this with Fibs certification.  So we don’t really care where the device is being manufactured, the chipset and the injection is controlled by BlackBerry and our Certicom technology. That can give users and businesses a very high level of confidence that the root of trust for all crypto (encryption, integrity validation, and application-level security policies) is rooted in something that is truly BlackBerry secure.”

This is where it becomes very clear that BlackBerry will be selling the Priv to die-hard BlackBerry fans, sure, but it will be mainly selling it to corporations.  The Priv is meant to be Android plus BlackBerry, the best of the consumer and business worlds.  

I know this has been an lengthy explanation for why I differ with Mr. Offringa's poor review of the Priv's security.  Having said this, it is my opinion that the Priv's security is the real strength of this phone, and why security should be rated as one of its best features.  Heads of IT and enterprise users are going to love the security features of the Priv, but I think that regular users concerned with mobile app spyware and malware will love the Priv as well.  Security should be everybody's concern, so BlackBerry must communicate its security strengths when it markets the phone.  Execution will be everything. 

Performance - Performance on the Priv is great. Between the Snapdragon 808 and the 3 GB of RAM apps launched quickly, ran well, and stayed in memory for plenty of time. The device does run hot when under the stress of a game (which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering this year’s Snapdragons) and battery life definitely takes a hit.  That being said, the Priv took everything thrown at it with aplomb.  For whatever it's worth, I have the Snapdragon 800 on my non-BlackBerry smartphone, and it screams, plays video without any interruptions and the heating issue is hardly noticeable.

Audio - The front facing speaker on the Priv is great to see.  It’s not a Boom Sound speaker or anything, but it’s plenty loud for speakerphone calls or listening to music in an otherwise quiet room. I put The Beach Boys on while washing dishes and I could hear Brian and the gang perfectly well. I do wish the volume got louder with headphones, though. With headphones the audio is certainly audible, but my iPhone and the Galaxies are able to get several clicks louder.

The Bad

Pricing and Availability - The BlackBerry Priv is available right now at AT&T for $24.67 per month on a payment plan or $249.99 on a 2-year contract.  BlackBerry's CEO says the company is now negotiating with T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint to carry the Priv, but not likely to become available through those carriers until Q1 2016.   You can also buy the Priv directly from BlackBerry for $699.99.  The model from BlackBerry will work with AT&T or T-Mobile. This isn’t the best availability we’ve seen on a phone at launch.   I’m also not a huge fan of the pricing, but remember most top tier phones have been within $50 of this price point until very recently.

Battery Life - According to Droid-Life, battery life on the Priv was less than stellar. The same deficiency was reported by The Verge, CNET, Engadget and Android Authority.  TechAdvisor gave the battery good marks for longevity, but they didn't use the phone for watching videos or playing games. Like most of the phones reviewed this year, fast charging is a nice workaround for low battery life. However, you need a fast charger which costs extra.  The Priv is equipped with a very decent sized battery in it.  On Ron Offringa's first full day with the phone the battery lasted until 3:30 PM when it was around 10%.  Better results are expected of a phone whose manufacturer claims the battery can last up to 22 hours.  

I never trust the claims of the manufacturer when it comes to battery life.  They tend to exaggerate. How long the battery will last before requiring a charge depends on how you are using the phone.  If you view a lot of online videos and play games, those activities are very processor and battery intensive, and this will drain a battery twice as fast.  On the other hand, if you are just sending and receiving emails, texting, making or receiving calls, and visiting your social networks, and dont't view a lot of videos or play games, you could conceivably get 10-12 hours of usage.  

A lot of these reviewers did not operate their Privs at different types of activity and intensity of usage. In my opinion, batteries should be tested for light use, medium use and heavy use (includes watching videos and playing games).  I have a feeling that those 22 hours were based on very light usage.    

Camera - The front facing camera on the Priv is good in bright light. In anything other than bright conditions you’re going to want someone else to take your selfies for you unless you love blue/green hazes over your photos. The fact that BlackBerry shipped a front facing camera this bad in 2015 just goes to show how little they care or know about what people want in a smartphone. 

The rear facing camera on the Priv takes good shots. Pictures are sharp and clear, and colors are bright and true. The dynamic range was surprisingly good in shots where the light differed and it performs well enough in low light situations. That led to an experience a bit more akin to shooting with an actual camera and I felt like I was able to stabilize the shot better than I can if I have to push in a volume button or peck at the screen.

 
Pictures taken with the BlackBerry Priv's front-facing camera (Click Image To Enlarge)

The frustrating and ultimately disappointing part about the camera is that it is downright slow.  It takes about a full second for the shutter to activate after you press the take picture button.  

Here again, I beg to differ with Ron Offringa's bad review of the Priv's camera's.  Most of the Priv's pictures will be taken with the 18-mega pixel rear-facing camera.  As you can see from the above, the pictures are just fantastic.  I think Ron's criticism of the front-facing camera is way over the top.  I would've given the Priv a good grade for its phoos.  Shame on Ron for being so centered on selfies. Kind of tells you what this narcistic reviewer does with his smartphone camera.

Final Verdict

The Priv features a lot of really good software ideas with interesting hardware, particularly with its security and stability, but the lackluster battery life and poor camera performance make it hard to recommend to anyone but the biggest keyboard nerd.  If you don’t use your phone to take a lot of pictures and you don’t mind having to charge your phone then the Priv is worth looking at. This is heartbreaking to write because the Priv does so much so well and, most importantly, actually offers something you can’t get on any other Android phone.  

It's apparent that Ron places far too much emphasis on battery life and the camera.  Exactly what I thought he would do.  Ron entirely misses the point of the Priv.  This is not a phone targeted to Ron's Millennial generation.  It is targeted at older Generation X, younger boomers, corporations, SMB owners, and former BlackBerry users who appreciate quality construction, a "built like a tank" smartphone, with unbreakable security, a physical keyboard, good rear-facing camera and accessibility to the Android ecosystem.  If they want selfies, they will ask someone to take them using the rear-facing camera.  If you want to make egg over the battery life, I can show you several instances, where even the iPhone and Galaxy phones can suck up a battery dry in no time at all.  As a Boomer, I don't get all bent out of shape if my phone sucks up juice. I get a better battery, kill apps running in the background that I don't need, watch videos on my laptop, and drop the brightness of the display a bit. That's what I do with my ZTE ZMAX smartphone, and this works for me.  It's been a long 15-hour day, and my ZTE ZMAX is telling me I have 80% power still available.  Battery no problem. My grade 4.0 out of 5 stars.  If you don't like me review, sue me.          

Courtesy of an article dated November 2, 2015 appearing in Bloomberg, an article dated November 9, 2015 appearing in The Verge, an article dated November 6, 2015 appearing in VentureBeat, an article dated November 25, 2015 appearing in Droid-Life, an article dated November 17, 2015 appearing in Digital Trends, an article dated November 18, 2015 appearing in International Business News, an article dated November 17, 2015 appearing in ValueWalk

Follow Me:   Twitter: turk5555    Facebook: 797743955    LinkedIn: turk5555 

Subscribe To My Blog Newfeed

 

 

APPLE REPORTS STRONG Q3 2015 REVENUES AND EARNINGS, 48.05 MIL iPHONES SOLD, NO APPLE WATCH DATA, STOCK RISES THEN DROPS

Apple CEO Tim Cook (Click Image To Enlarge)

This afternoon Apple delivered a solid earnings report, with just about everything in its right place.

For the September quarter (FY Q4 2015), it earned $1.96 per share, on $51.5 billion in revenue. Its earnings were well ahead of expectations, while revenue was roughly in line.

Apple sold 48.05 million iPhones, which is a 22% jump compared to the previous year, and is about what analysts expected.

Investors basically yawned at the results, with the stock going nowhere in after-hours trading.

Apple offered holiday guidance that is a little light of expectations, but is generally fine. If Apple hits the high-end of its guidance, $77.5 billion, it would deliver 4% growth, which is reassuring to investors who were worried Apple's growth would go negative.

Apple analyst Gene Munster wrote in a note shortly after the numbers were released.

"Our early take is that the guidance seems to imply flattish (74-76 million) iPhones for December. This would imply iPhone units down 1% to up 2% year-over-year. We view this as a relief given investors were bracing for the start of the 6S cycle to be down meaningfully (down 5-8% y/y)."

Here are all the numbers versus expectations:

• Revenue: $51.5 billion, up 22% year-over-year (y/y), versus expectations of $51.04 billion
• EPS: $1.96, up 38% y/y, versus expectations of $1.88
• Net income: $11.1 billion
• iPhone units: 48.05 million, up 22% y/y, versus expectations of 48.5 million
• iPhone's average selling price: $670
• iPad units: 9.88 million versus, down 20% y/y, expectations of 10.2 million
• iPad's average selling price: $432.66
• Mac units: 5.71 million, up 4% y/y, versus expectations of 5.6 million
• Gross margin: 39.9% versus expectations of 39.3%
• Cash on hand: $206 billion
• December quarter revenue: $75.5-$77.5 versus expectations of $77.13 billion. If Apple hits the top end of its guidance, revenue will be up 4% y/y. 

Here's a table with all the results:

Revenues by Geographic Segment and Product Summary

Click Image To Enlarge

Charts

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Imge To Enlarge

Earnings Call Log

You may also view the Apple Q3 2015 Live Earnings Call Log by clicking HERE

COMMENTARY:   Cook said the company began taking orders on Monday for the new Apple TV. He called it a “huge day” based on demand for the new product.

Apple also issued a healthy forecast for the holiday quarter, which began this month. These are the highlights:

• revenue between $75.5 billion and $77.5 billion
• gross margin between 39 percent and 40 percent
• operating expenses between $6.3 billion and $6.4 billion
• other income/(expense) of $400 million
• tax rate of 26.2 percent

But analysts appeared to be concerned with Apple’s ability to continue growing strongly into 2016.

The company has not yet broken out numbers for Apple Watch sales but Cook said sales are ahead of Apple’s expectations.

I feel that investors and analysts were short-changed and left with a blank stare when it came to sales of the Apple Watch.  For two consecutive quarters, Tim Cook has declined to provide data on actual Apple Watch sales.  Cook stated that the lack of information about the Apple Watch is for "competitive reasons."  Translation:  He doesn't want to feel embarassed if Apple Watch sales are poor or below expectations.     

Its my belief that Apple Watch sales are okay, but not spectacular, and he wants to wait until after Christmas to give the Apple Watch a boost in sales because consumers are likely to buy the watch as a gift.  This period also gives existing Apple Watch owners and new buyers time to report any bugs or issues with the new Apple Watch OS 2.0.1 update which just became available for downloading on Monday. The new OS update improves batery life and security measures and offers bug fixes and new emoji's.

Apple's Q3 2015 (Fiscal 4th quarter) unaudited financial reports can found in its press release by clicking HERE.

Courtesy of an article dated October 27, 2015 appearing in Business Insider, an article dated October 27, 2015 appearing in Forbes. and an article dated October 27, 2015 appearing in Forbes Tech

Follow Me:   Twitter: turk5555    Facebook: 797743955    LinkedIn: turk5555 

Subscribe To My Blog Newfeed

GOOGLE GLASS IS NOT DEAD, AMAZON'S LAB126 ENGINEERS HIRED TO DESIGN 2ND GEN OF GLASS, NEST CEO TO HEAD 'PROJECT AURA' TO DESIGN NEXT GENERATION OF GOOGLE EYE WEARABLES

 

Google is working on a new wearable technology effort known as Project Aura and is hiring consumer electronics experts from Amazon's secretive Lab126 to jump-start the new group.

Project Aura appears to have gotten started in June and is focused on reviving Google's troubled Glass computer eyeglasses, as well as accelerating Google's efforts to develop related wearable technology.

Project Aura will remain within Google rather than being a standalone company under the new Alphabet holding company or being folded into the Nest smart appliances business, a source familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

Nest CEO Tony Fadell will continue to have high-level oversight of the project, though it's unclear what will happen after Nest becomes a separate Alphabet company, the source said.   Ivy Ross, a fashion industry veteran that Google hired to lead the Glass team in 2014, is heading up the Aura group.

Google has hired at least three employees from Lab126, Amazon's hardware division, to work in the new group and Aura has a dedicated recruiter tasked with bringing in more talent.

Several LinkedIn profiles and job listings viewed by Business Insider describe Project Aura as "Google Glass and Beyond."

Project Aura is not be be confused with Project Ara, Google's modular phone concept.

Beyond Glass

The new Aura group provides a much-needed re-branding to the tattered Glass image as well as opening the door to a broader scope of wearable technology initiatives to help Google compete against rivals such as Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft.

By remaining within Google, the Aura group will be able to collaborate more closely with other advanced technology efforts such as Soli, which allows consumers to control gadgets through gestures such as rubbing fingers together, and Cardboard, which turns ordinary smartphones into virtual-reality devices using a cardboard headset.

While virtual-reality technology is an growing area of focus within the technology industry, particularly as Facebook preps the release of its Oculus VR headset, the source said it's still too soon to know whether the Aura group will be focused specifically on VR.

Although Business Insider first spotted Google job postings that indicated that the company planned to release other products in the Google Glass division besides just smart eyewear back in May, the existence of the Project Aura group and its new hires has not been reported until now.

Google stopped selling the initial $1,500 version of Glass to consumers earlier this year following waning interest and criticism that the device was too expensive and clunky, without enough practical-use cases. The head-mounted device, which allowed users to record video, also raised privacy concerns and caused a consumer backlash.

Google continues to sell Glass to businesses for use in the workplace and is reportedly working on a new enterprise version of the device.

Google Glass History-Making Unveiling

Google co-founder Sergey Brin officially unveiled Google Glass at the Google I/O 2012 Developer's Conference held at Moscone Center in San Francisco.  It was one of the most exciting, buzz-filled new product unveilings that I have ever witnessed.  If you didn't catch the Google Glass unveiling here's the Google Developer's video.

 

Incidentally, both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak shotdown the idea for wearable VR glasses. Jeff Soto – an ex-Apple employee and founder of TENDIGI – a mobile development firm, writing on his personal blog – I am not Robot narrates an interesting story, which explains the reason Jobs shotdown wearable glasses like Google Glass.

"As soon as I saw the video for Google’s Project Glass I instantly recalled a funny story from my time at Apple. I was once at a Town Hall meeting in Cupertino where Steve Jobs commented on this type of wearable computing. An Apple employee in the audience asked Steve a question to the extent of: 'How can we reach out to our leadership if we have a really good idea'. Steve immediately put him on the spot and made him pitch the idea in front of everyone there. An opportunity to pitch Steve Jobs. What?  The employee proceeded to pitch an idea about glasses you can wear that display various types of information. A heads up display a’la terminator cyborg vision if you will.  He continued to explain how he wished he had a way to see projected information while he perhaps went for a run outside. Keep in mind this is happening in a room filled with a lot of people.  Steve immediately shot his idea down and told the guy that he would probably trip and fall if that were the case. Steve also suggested he should get a girlfriend so he has someone to keep him company while running. I can not watch this Project Glass video without recalling this moment. So if you’re wondering what Steve would think about Project Glass, that’s pretty much it."

Google Glass Sales Suspended

The original Google Glass cost $1,500, and was only available to conference attendees.  An estimated 2,000 people placed pre-orders.

Almost a year later, despite outstanding pre-orders, Google expanded the project.  A competition was set up where the public were invited to explain what they'd do with Glass. They had to use the hashtag #ifihadglass.

In May 2014, Google started selling its new Glass Explorer for $1,500 through Google Play store to anyone who wanted it after months of exclusive, invite-only availability.  

Google hasn’t disclosed sales of Google Glass, but Statista estimated that more than 831,000 units were sold in 2014.  (NOTE:  I find this number difficult to believe)

In January 16, 2015, Google suddenly suspended sales of Google Glass Explorer, its most hyped new product offering to come along in a long time.  Sales were suspended not because Google Glass failed commercially, but because of the controversey Googe's "smart glasses" raised.  The following infographic lists several issues that many people raised about Google Glass.  

Click Image To Enlarge

Ori Inbar, the chief executive of the non-profit AugmentedReality.org, said it couldn’t be “farther from the truth” to call Google Glass dead, or a failure. He says Google has sold more hardware in the smart glass category than anyone else so far, which has helped to raise public awareness and create inroads for competition.   Inbar said.

“Google elevated public awareness to smart glasses to an unprecedented level.”

Google's suspension of Google Glass gives competitors like archrival Epson, which was at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January 2015 full force showcasing its eyewear enterprise apps, the opportunity to grow their own installed base in its wake.

The popularization of smart glasses in the workplace has created inroads for other tech heavyweights to launch their own augmented reality glasses, attachments and goggles as well. Sony and Microsoft both stepped into the breach in January 2015, Sony with its SmartEyeglass Attach prototype that would clip into an existing pair of glasses, and Microsoft with HoloLens, a headware that implants holographs into the physical places, spaces and things of a wearer’s actual reality.

Lab126 Experts

Dima Svetlov, whose LinkedIn profile says he worked on Amazon's TV streaming stick, joined Aura as a software development manager in May.  Amir Frenke joined in June as a director of software development.  Tina Chen left Lab126 in August after working on its TV streaming box and smart-home assistant, Echo, and now works as Aura's manager of technical program management.

Lab126, which makes consumer devices like Amazon's Kindle e-readers, TV streaming products, and the ill-received Fire smartphone, reportedly laid off dozens of engineers who had worked on the phone earlier this summer.

Svetlov, Frenke, and Chen, whose LinkedIn profiles don't reveal any details about Project Aura besides the description that it works on Glass "and beyond," are joining Apple veteran Max Ratner, who worked on the iPhone.

The project even has its own designated recruiter, Jessica Bailow, who has been focused on Aura since June, according to her LinkedIn profile.  And Google recently posted several job openings for the Aura team, including a program manager for category development, an industrial designer and a UX designer.

Business Insider also recently reported that Adrian Wong, the former Google Glass lead electrical engineer, who had defected to Facebook-owned virtual-reality startup Oculus, quietly rejoined Google in June.  His LinkedIn profile describes his new job only as "building blocks" for Alphabet/Google.

But the added description that "G is for Gadgets, Glasses, and Goggles" suggests that he may be working on Project Aura as well.

Google declined to comment. 

Courtesy of an article dated September 16, 2015 appearing in Business Insider, an article dated April 12, 2012 appearing in iPhoneHacks.com, an article dated January 30, 2015 appearing in MarketWatch, and an article dated September 5, 2014 appearing in The Verge

Follow Me:   Twitter: turk5555    Facebook: 797743955    LinkedIn: turk5555 

Subscribe To My Blog Newfeed

 

APPLE CEO TIM COOK REFUSES TO REVEAL NUMBER OF APPLE WATCHES SOLD, KEEPS ANALYSTS GUESSING

How many Apple Watches sold last quarter? Apple won't say, but that hasn't stopped analysts from speculating.

A collection of 17 analysts offered Fortune Magazine their predictions for Apple Watch sales last quarter. The numbers varied from a low of 2.5 million to a high of 6 million.

The forecast provides a glimpse into the demand for the Apple Watch, a high profile product in the burgeoning category of wearable devices. Unlike the iPhone or iPad, Apple doesn't break out how many watches it has sold. This has led to a guessing game of sorts by analysts and investors. The Apple Watch, which competes against other wearable tech products and luxury goods, commands a premium price over rival smartwatches.

Despite some of the more bearish estimates, the Apple Watch seems to be doing relatively well, according to research firm IDC. In its latest quarterly report on wearables, IDC gave Apple's smartwatch the No. 2 position, just behind market leader Fitbit. Over the second quarter, Apple shipped 3.6 million watches, said IDC, grabbing 20 percent of the wearables market. Fitbit shipped 4.4 million wearable devices.

Click Image To Enlarge

Apple also continues to push the watch, expanding its reach to Best Buy in August and launching an updated version of its Watch OS software in September. Even analysts such as Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, who estimated just 2.5 million in sales last quarter, believes demand for the watch will take time and sees sales surging from 14 million next year to 40 million in 2017.

Click Image To Enlarge

Apple CEO Tim Cook refused to reveal sales numbers on the Apple Watch, calling it "competitive information," at a Wall Street Journal technology conference Monday.  He said.

"We shipped a lot the first quarter...then last quarter we shipped even more.  I can predict this quarter we will ship even more."

The Apple Watch is available in three varieties: the entry-level Sport version starting at $349, the Apple Watch starting at $549 and the Apple Watch Edition starting at $10,000.

Apple declined to comment on the analyst projections.

COMMENTARY:  In a blog post dated July 13, 2015, I boldly proclaimed that the Apple Watch was a "big flop" and I am not backing away from that opinion. Honestly, would you pay $10,000 for a watch if it wasn't a Rolex?  Just because the Apple Watch is an Apple product, does not guarantee success.  

Apple originally developed the Apple Watch as a high-tech fashion item, but the design of the Apple watch should've been left up to jewelry and watch designers who really understand fashion.  As a result, the Apple Watch has failed to make a fashion statement, in fact, many fashion designers greeted the watch with a big yawn and called it just another fancy consumer electronics "gadget."

A salesman at the famed department store Printemps treats the watch as a technology gadget, saying his store won't carry the watch, which will range in price from $350 (£232) to more than $10,000 (£6,600) for the high-end Apple Watch Edition in 18-karat gold.

The salesman at Printemps, which carries such brands as Rolex, Montblanc and Longines said.

"You have to understand; we are luxury brands, and [the Apple Watch is] more technology," 

Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns became the timepiece's highest-profile advocate from the fashion world when she joined CEO Tim Cook onstage in San Francisco on Monday, but not everyone is impressed  (Click Image To Enlarge)

The Apple Watch requires that you have an iPhone that runs the apps that gives the watch its functiontionality, so in essence, it is basically an extension of the iPhone or just another electronics gadget.  People who crave luxury and fashion don't want another electronic gadget on their wrist.  

In another blog post dated September 27, 2015, I pointed out that Apple's next watch will be round, not square.  Round watches is what consumers are buying, which is why Fitbit is kicking ass in the smartwatch category.   Will Jones, a Tablets and Computing Buyer with John Lewis, stated that one reason square watches are falling short with consumers, is that.

“People don’t want to look like they’re wearing a computer on their wrist.”

Even Guy Kawasaki, the former "chief evangelist" for Apple, while attending the CeBIT technology conference in Sydney in March 2015, was wearing a Breitling watch, not an Apple Watch. When asked why he didn't wear an Apple Watch, he said.

"This is a real man's watch, not an Apple."

Guy Kawasaki refused to wear an Apple Watch, but proudly shows off his Breitling watch at a recent CeBit Technology Conference in Australia (Click Image To Enlarge)

Guy added that he "might love the Apple Watch someday," that day is not today.

Guy also expressed some reservations about the design of Apple products under the company's new CEO, Tim Cook.

"Some of their decisions, I just scratch my head."  

Take the new MacBook, he pointed out, it only has one USB port.

"What alternate universe are these people living in that they only need one port?"

When the "chief evangelist" for Apple is critical of Apple's new product designs under Tim Cook, you know that Apple's reputation as a technology innovator maybe ending.  In short, Tim Cook is no Steve Jobs. 

I don't believe that Apple CEO Tim Cook is being honest with analysts.  If sales are so good, why doesn't he just provide sales numbers to support his claims.  It's my theory that Apple is just buying time until generation 2 of the Apple Watch is unveiled.  It will be round and rely on leading edge apps to give the watch functionality and appeal.   

Courtesy of an article dated October 21, 2015 appearing in C|NET, an article dated August 27, 2015 appearing in C|NET, an article dated August 27, 2015 appearing in AppAdvice, an article dated March 9, 2015 appearing in the Daily Mail and an article dated May 4, 2015 appearing in Mashable

Follow Me:   Twitter: turk5555    Facebook: 797743955    LinkedIn: turk5555 

Subscribe To My Blog Newfeed