SAN FRANCISCO – Well, there’s little doubt that tablets running Google’s Chrome operating system are coming soon–the only question is when. A new rumor courtesy of tech news site Download Squad suggests that Google is teaming up with Verizon Wireless and HTC to launch a Chrome OS tablet on November 26, which not coincidentally happens to be Black Friday.

Google will supply the OS (Chrome), HTC will build the device, and Verizon Wireless will provide the data network, the rumor goes. What’s interesting here is that several Android-based tablets will allegedly arrive around the same time, including devices from Samsung, Motorola, and possibly even Sony. (Then again, we’ve been hearing about iPad-killing Android tablets for months now, but only a few are actually shipping.)

Assuming all of these tablets do ship, what will consumers make of the Chrome vs. Android issue? Both are Google-branded mobile operating systems. Your tablet of choice may run one or the other. The potential for end-user befuddlement is quite high. Which OS should you choose?

Sadly, Google’s dual-OS strategy for the mobile market is a mess–although I’m sure it once looked great on a flowchart at Google HQ. Last summer, Google’s vice president of mobile engineering platforms Andy Rubin stated that Chrome and Android will have distinct jobs, and that the two OSes won’t overlap in the consumer market. Here’s an excerpt from July 2009 news report by IDG News’ Stephen Lawson:

“Google’s emerging Chrome operating system won’t squeeze out Android, according to [Rubin]…Mobile device OSes have specialized jobs that other platforms don’t, such as running network protocol stacks, carefully managing battery life and handling handoffs among cell towers, Rubin said. ‘There’s different problems to be solved in different categories of consumer products…But that doesn’t mean that … one wins and one doesn’t win. You need different technologies for different solutions.’”

From a design standpoint, Google’s distinction between the two mobile OSes may make perfect sense–well, to engineers, anyway. But the finer points will be lost on consumers who simply see two types of Google tablets–Chrome and Android–running on similar devices. A store’s sales staff may not provide a lot of enlightenment either. May the head-scratching begin!

If Google persists with its dual-OS strategy in the mobile market, it would be wise to undertake a massive media blitz to educate the masses on the differences between Chrome and Android. Compare Google’s mess with the beautiful simplicity of the iPad: No OS overlap there. Apple gets it: Keep it simple, stupid.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Apple iOS, which runs on its iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, has a flaw in how it reads PDF documents that makes it easier to hack. This flaw is exploited by JailbreakMe, a one-click site that makes it easy for anyone without any real tech skills to hack into their own iPhone.

The flaw lets JailbreakMe open up an Apple operating system, and enables the user to load non Apple-approved applications on to an Apple device. JailbreakMe brought the security risk to light, finally causing Apple to release security updates for iOS 4.0.2 for iPhone and iPod touch and iOS 3.2.2 for iPad this week. (By the way, doesn’t this sound a lot like the same security flaw that Adobe learned about in late July?)

But the threat to the iOS is not the operating system itself but in its third-party software, such as the Safari browser, QuickTime, Java, or apps from Adobe. Nonetheless, it’s Apple that bears the responsibility for monitoring security, since it’s made the choice to use the software and package it for users. This is a weird conundrum since Apple believes in the “walled garden” approach to applications. Shouldn’t it be patrolling the garden more?

Android has similar issues, such as an innocuous Jackeey wallpaper application that retrieved personal information from each phone that downloaded its application. Neither JailBreakMe nor Jackeey were hacking into anyone’s phone; however, their code could be used for evil rather than good, which worries most security experts.

So how does Apple’s security for its mobile operating system stack up against that of Google’s Android, the biggest competitor?

1. Walled Garden v. the Wild Jungle

The biggest problem with Apple’s security is its walled garden philosophy, which relies on the wisdom of Apple approving applications rather than by consensus or the individual user. While many Apple fans say this decreases iOS problems, others say that it actually contributes to them by closing a door on the application after it has gained entrance into the App Store. Apple’s gatekeeping system on its walled garden is also virtually unknown, and it may also prove to give a false sense of security.

The Android Market, on the other hand, resembles a swap meet. The applications are available without restriction, and are monitored and reviewed by users themselves, including analyzing code–something not offered by Apple. While some worry that the free-for-all will be a security risk, at least one security research firm, Lookout, says Android’s applications are less problematic than Apple’s.

2. Pig-in-the-Poke v. the Test-Drive

Another way that app security for the Linux-based Android platform is better is that each application must disclose to the user what part of the device it plans to use and how. Google also publicly talks about operating a “honeypot,” or a computer not hooked up to all parts of its system, which monitors Android applications for malicious programs. Such open discussion is not part of Apple’s corporate climate, users frequently don’t know what they are buying until damage is done–but if they’re lucky, they found out about their vulnerability through JailbreakMe.

3. Freedom v. Establishment

With Google’s new App Inventor, you don’t have to be a software engineer to create an application for the anything-goes Android platform. Not so at Apple. It takes an experienced software developer to create anything on the iOS, and it’s up to the corporate honchos at Apple to approve it. As for security in the “walled garden,” there are no guarantees.

While the iPhone has some important security features, like sophisticated memory protection and a required digitally signed code requirement, security analysts say Android’s protection is stronger because of its source openness and the way it isolates applications which causes less harm to users. While business owners should block or limit access to applications to company machines to protect their data, the Android platform may prove just a little safer.

SAN FRANCISCO – It’s time to ditch my battered BlackBerry 9000. Whether the successor should be a newer BlackBerry, an iPhone, an Android handset, or something else entirely is up in the air. Is it worth waiting for something that’s not out yet, like the Windows 7 phone?

My wish list for a new phone includes reliability, a speedy Web browser, lots of options for apps, a decent camera, Wi-Fi, and GPS. Easy access to Gmail and Google Docs would be great.

Many shiny, new handsets beckon, but I don’t want to take a leap of faith or greed without advice. Which smartphone should it be? (You can help by voting at the end of this post.)

iPhone 4

The legendary loyalty of iPhone users doesn’t stop with all-night lines outside of Apple stores prior to the launch of a new handset. Despite the “antennagate” debacle and complaints of a bad proximity sensor, surveys show that most owners remain satisfied with their iPhones. (Yet, maybe the surveys spoke too soon.)

The slim iPhone 4 for AT&T has a 3.5-inch display with the best resolution available on any phone. Multitasking and cut-and-paste functions make this 1GHz, 802.11n model more work-ready than its predecessor–even if multitasking isn’t up to snuff. The 5-megapixel camera and HD video, plus the FaceTime videophone app, add to the appeal.
With more than 200,000 iOS apps available, the iPhone has the largest marketplace of mobile downloads. These include practical tools for work as well as less useful ones for play. The apps easy to discover and a snap to download and buy, and organizing them has improved with the introduction of Folders.

Among the drawbacks to the iPhone are the touchscreen-only keyboard, which can lead to a minefield of typos, especially when larger fingers are tapping. The lack of Flash support is more annoying on the iPad than the phone, but irksome nonetheless.

Also, do I really want a smartphone that drops calls if held a certain way, or that requires wearing a funky case to function properly? It’s hard to stomach the chairman and CEO of a company address a product flaw by pointing fingers at rival companies, and offering customers little but a Band-Aid workaround and a short, 30-day return window.

Droid X

Unlike with Apple’s iOS, you can choose from among many phones that run the Android operating system. Among these, the sold-out Motorola Droid X for Verizon is perhaps the most appealing.

Comparisons abound between the competing handsets from Apple and Motorola. A speedy, 1GHz processor and HD video are among their shared selling points. Yet, the Droid X comes with a 16GB microSD card, while the iPhone lacks expandability. The Droid X‘s call quality attracts better ratings than that of the iPhone 4, it’s supposed to offer an hour longer of talking time, and it’s got an 8-megapixel camera. Its 4.3-inch display dwarfs that of the iPhone 4.

Flash support will come later with Android 2.2 and more business-friendly features. In addition, the Droid X can serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, I’ve heard users complain about limited battery life and new Motoblur software.

There’s no push-button keyboard on the Droid X, but Swype for Android lets you “type” by dragging your finger across the screen from one letter to the next. This is faster than touchscreen “tapping”, even if it leads to hilarious typos.

While the Android apps marketplace is smaller than the iPhone app store, it’s bound to grow, especially because Google App Inventor‘s interface makes it easier for budding developers to build apps.

Unfortunately, rogue apps are reportedly leaving Android phones dangerously hackable. Do you really want to integrate your professional and private life on a device that’s prone to invasion? Then again, recent headlines about Android security threats have been overblown.

BlackBerry Torch 9800

Maybe the best replacement for a BlackBerry is another BlackBerry. RIM had fallen behind on the “wow” factor in the smartphone market, but its new handset blends next-generation features found in Android devices and the iPhone. The 1GHz BlackBerry Torch 9800 slider combines a QWERTY button keyboard and a large touchscreen display,a nd it has 802.11n Wi-Fi. The BlackBerry 6 operating system includes the WebKit browser with tabs for online multitasking, as well as remote data-wiping options in case of theft or loss.

Unfortunately, BlackBerry App World is a disappointment, not just because it’s clunky to find and buy apps, but because, in general, their volume and quality pales next to the options for Android and iOS. Despite the other bells and whistles on a new BlackBerry handset, it’s hard to imagine RIM catching up in the apps arena anytime soon.

And, although BlackBerry remains the best choice for those whose companies lean on its mobile infrastructure, that’s not the case with my job.
Carriers

Since I have an AT&T account with a legacy, all-you-can-eat data plan, I’m not tempted to switch carriers and get nasty surprises on the next bill. But if AT&T doesn’t supply the best phone for me, would another carrier’s plan be affordable? Could it even cost less than the $130 I shell out each month? That’s what I paid in the last billing cycle to talk for 841 minutes, send 523 text messages, and receive 481 texts. I also sent or received 11 MMS messages, and Internet data usage reached 17.74 MB.

The Choice

Of course, these aren’t the only options for a BlackBerry 9000 replacement. Maybe the Microsoft Windows Phone 7, upon release, will look more alluring than in its recent iPhone-mimicking preview. Could Palm’s WebOS even see a resurgence?

Then again, since I don’t use my mobile phone often for calls, maybe a better investment is a hybrid tablet-phone. As a phone, the Dell Streak is a bit clunky–still more portable than Gordon Gekko’s Motorola DynaTAC–but it might do the job.

LONDON – With its iPad capturing 6 percent of the portable PC segment in the second quarter of 2010 Apple will continue lead the media tablet market through at least 2011 largely because of the lack of innovation in the netbook market.

Canalys today released its quarterly worldwide PC market data, highlighting Apple’s jump into the top five PC vendors. The iPad captured approximately 6 percent of the portable PC segment in Q2 2010, with over 3 million units shipped during the device’s first few months on the market.

“Apart from the ‘Apple effect’, the iPad owes its success to a lack of advancement in other portable computing segments, such as netbooks,” said Canalys Vice President and Principal Analyst Chris Jones.

“To capture share moving forward, PC makers will have to take the netbook to the next level or go after new customer segments with their own pads.”

Many manufacturers have announced the launch of pads for later this year, and Canalys expects pads to overtake netbooks by 2012.

Canalys expects the pad PC market to reach 12.5 million units in 2010, growing to 66 million by the end of 2014.

Due to its first-to-market advantage, Canalys anticipates that Apple will continue lead the market through at least 2011. As more vendors enter the market, however, there will be a period of experimentation with a range of various models aimed at both consumer and enterprise customers.

“The key to creating a great user experience on a connected mobile device is ensuring that the hardware and software work together in harmony,’ said Jones.

“Platforms such as Android, iOS, webOS and possibly BlackBerry, as well as Chrome, MeeGo and Windows, are likely to battle it out in the pad market over the next three years.”

“As the number of consumers with multiple devices increases, it will also be important for pads to seamlessly integrate with existing equipment,” said Canalys Senior Analyst Natalie Spitz.

“In addition to synchronization capabilities, vendors should be prepared to take a strategic look at content – all-important, but often overlooked.”

Though some overlap will be inevitable, Canalys forecasts that pads and netbooks will continue to coexist in the portable PC market for some time.

As the pad represents an additional luxury purchase to a certain extent, customers may eventually choose between the two devices, causing the netbook market to soften as vendors develop their pad offerings.

SAN FRANCISCO – Microsoft‘s quarterly earnings announcement on Thursday painted a rosy picture of a healthy and vibrant tech company. Revenue from Windows sales jumped 28 percent versus the same quarter a year ago.

And there’s little doubt that Windows 7 is a hit. More than 10 percent of all PCs worldwide run Windows 7, which is the fastest-selling operating system in history, Redmond claims. And while Microsoft’s third-quarter revenue of $14.5 billion rose a modest 6 percent over the same period a year earlier, profits shot up an impressive 35 percent.
So what’s not to like?

Well, for starters, Microsoft’s position in the emerging mobile computing market is questionable at best. For large enterprises, Research in Motion’s BlackBerry phones still rule, while Apple’s iPhone and Google Android-based devices continue to make inroads.

Redmond has stumbled badly in the cell phone arena. Its Windows Mobile 6.x platform is essentially moribund. Know anyone who uses a Windows phone anymore? (Yes, I know they’re out there, but their numbers are dwindling fast.) The company recently scrapped its social media-oriented Kin device, which arrived on the mobile scene at least a year too late. And while Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 software does look promising, devices that run it won’t debut for a few more months.

Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to milk its Windows PC cash cow for all its worth. When it comes to the desktop and laptop market (both business and consumer), Redmond rules with its series of dominant products, including Windows 7 and the latest versions of Office, Exchange, and SharePoint.

But that could quickly change if low-cost laptop and tablet devices running one of Google’s mobile operating systems–Android or the upcoming Chrome OS–prove popular for businesses.

Microsoft’s PC-centric ways should be a cause for alarm in Redmond. It’s no surprise that the company’s biggest revenue growth is in its Windows and Windows Live division, while its Online Services and Entertainment and Devices divisions are relatively flat. Microsoft sees its Bing search, Xbox Live, and budding cloud services as areas of growth–but they’re not there yet.

Redmond’s revenue stream is too desktop-centric for its own good. Despite its Windows-oriented success, the company is a big question mark moving forward.

SAN FRANCISCO – What do you get when you combine the brains of Android with the body of Lego? If you’re UK-based chip designer and Lego enthusiast David Gilday, you get a DIY robot capable of solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Gilday’s Lego NXT robot is controlled by a Motorola Droid, and solved an oversized 7-by-7-by-7 Rubik’s Cube in only 38 minutes, 52 seconds.

This isn’t the first puzzle-solving gadget that Gilday’s built. He previously built a Rubik’s-solving ARM-powered version of the MultiCuber robot. However, his latest feat is his largest yet–and with the addition of a smartphone, all the more impressive. You can see the puzzle solving action here.

Want more geeky lego creations? Then be sure to check out our favorites!

One of the biggest IT Expo to hit the Philippines goes south as the Computer Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines (COMDDAP) brings the latest gadgets and the greatest sales to SM Cebu.

Among the products to be featured by Redfox include Android Phone Wizphone, E-book reader WizLib, Interactive Whiteboard, PC System  iCitizen PC, and all-in-one PC with the eVolve.

The company will also have a Vengeance Sale, featuring selling the Redfox 890i Laptop at only P11,995.

Visit COMDDAP Cebu 2010 at SM Cebu this coming July 16 to 18.

Check out the Redfox Website for additional details. Visit www.redfox.com.ph

SAN FRANCISCO – The immediate future looks bright for Motorola’s new Droid X smartphone, which is scheduled for release Thursday, July 15 on Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. This big and brawny Android handset is benefitting from early reviews praising its beautiful 4.3-inch display, impressive multimedia features, and relatively long battery life versus comparable phones.

While it’s unlikely that initial Droid X sales will match the iPhone 4′s staggering success–specifically, 1.7 million units sold within three days of launch–early signs show strong consumer interest in Motorola’s new phone. Best Buy has already started and stopped two rounds of pre-orders for the Droid X, and the retailer won’t guarantee that customers who preordered will get their phone on launch day.   Verizon Wireless has said it expects inventory shortages as well.

iPhone 4 Criticism

A recent batch of news stories critical of the iPhone 4 may boost Droid X sales too. Verizon Wireless recently reworked its prelaunch marketing campaign for the new phone, capitalizing on persistent reports that the iPhone 4′s antenna design leads to reception problems if a user holds the device in a certain way.

On June 30, Verizon ran a full-page ad in the New York Times that pokes fun at the iPhone 4 antenna controversy. The ad touts the Droid X’s “double antenna design,” adding that the Motorola phone “allows you to hold the phone any way you like and use it just about anywhere to make crystal clear calls.” (Click on the image to see the full ad.)

Android Rising

Another development that bodes well for the Droid X is the emergence of Google’s Android OS as a major player in the smartphone market. Android’s mobile market share mushroomed by 44 percent from February to May 2010, according to a report released Thursday by marketing research firm Comscore. Android’s share of the U.S. smartphone pie jumped from 9 percent in February to 13 percent in May.

Translation: There’s a lot of consumer interest in Android, which ships on dozens of mobile devices across all four major wireless carriers.

The Droid X’s big display and Hummer-sized dimensions (well, for a smartphone, anyway) are creating a lot of positive buzz. Factor that in with the iPhone 4′s woes, and Motorola and Verizon couldn’t ask for better prelaunch conditions.