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Android Features That Blow iPhone Out of the Water

Posted by Dylan Love | October 21, 2012
URL: http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/224707


While iPhone fans brag about their beloved devices, Android fans will grin knowingly and take comfort because there are several solid reasons to stick with -- or switch to -- their Google-powered phones.

Here's a look at the nine biggest features that make Android devices more favorable than Apple's iphone:

1. Expandable storage
If your iPhone is filled with files, you're out of luck. Not the case with Android, which welcomes and supports SD cards for added storage capability.

2. Killer maps
The iPhone 5 saw Apple pull the plug on Google Maps and sub in its own mapping app. And it's embarrassingly bad. Apple CEO Tim Cook even wrote a statement apologizing for it.

Google Maps is still alive, kicking and as accurate as we remember it on Android phones.

Related: We Just Found Our New Favorite Weather App

3. No 'walled garden'
In the Android ecosystem, there are fewer restrictions on apps. Apple will only allow apps into its App Store after it reviews and approves them, which can take weeks. Google will let anyone who agrees to follow their policies publish an app, often within hours.

4. Ability to Choose your default apps for Web browsing, email and more
Apple forces you to use its email app and Safari Web browser by default. Android is so open that it will let you pick any alternative browser or email client to be your default. If you want to get especially customized, you can even change keyboards.

5. Support for multiple app stores
Yet another extension of Android's open attitude: You are free to not only run any app you wish, but that app can come from any Android-based app store you want. Amazon operates one, for example.

6. Multiple hardware choices
Not everyone wants to have the same exact phone. Because Android runs on multiple devices, you can have your choice of processor speed, screen size, and price.

Related: 10 Android Apps You Didn't Know Existed, But Make Your Phone Much Better

7. Standard cables and dock connections
There's no goofy Lightning connector in the Android world. Your phone connects to and syncs with your computer via a few different types of readily available, standard USB cables.

8. Better widgets
An Android lock screen displays more useful information than an iPhone's and does so in a more aesthetically pleasing way. Graphic weather updates, album art for music, and notifications for missed calls and the like show up neatly.

9. Better integration with Google services
It only makes sense that a Google-based mobile operating system should integrate gracefully with Google's Web services. If you're a Google Calendar user or Google Drive warrior, you only need to log into your Google account once and everything syncs up in a snap. If you've tried using Apple's iCloud, you know it doesn't match up to Google's web prowess.

Google says Maps not waiting in wings for iPhone 5

(Reuters) - Google Inc has made no move to provide Google Maps for the iPhone 5 after Apple Inc dropped the application in favor of a home-grown but controversial alternative, Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said.

Apple launched its own mapping service earlier this month when it began providing the highly anticipated update to its mobile software platform iOS 6 and started selling the iPhone 5.

But users have complained that Apple's new map service, based on Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker TomTom NV's data, contains glaring geographical errors and lacks features that made Google Maps so popular.

"We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know?" Schmidt told a small group of reporters in Tokyo. "What were we going to do, force them not to change their mind? It's their call."

Schmidt said Google and Apple were in constant communication "at all kinds of levels." But he said any decision on whether Google Maps would be accepted as an application in the Apple App Store would have to be made by Apple.

"We have not done anything yet," he said.

Google and Apple were close partners with the original iPhone in 2007 and its inclusion of YouTube and Google Maps. But the ties between the two have been strained by the rise of Google's Android mobile operating system, now the world's leading platform for smartphones.

Schmidt said he hoped Google would remain Apple's search partner on the iPhone but said that question was up to Apple.

"I'm not doing any predictions. We want them to be our partner. We welcome that. I'm not going to speculate at all what they're going to do. They can answer that question as they see fit," he said.

Google provides Android free of charge and allows developers to add applications on an open basis, betting that by cultivating a bigger pool of users - now at over 500 million globally - it can make more money by providing search functions and selling advertising.

"Apple is the exception, and the Android system is the common model, which is why our market share is so much higher," Schmidt said, adding that success was often ignored by the media, which he said was "obsessed with Apple's marketing events and Apple's branding."

"That's great for Apple but the numbers are on our side," he said.

At one point, Schmidt, who was in Japan to announce the launch of Google's Nexus tablet here, used the device to show off a new function of Google Maps.

The feature allows users to shift their view of an area by moving the device in the air without touching the screen, similar to the effect of looking around.

"Take that Apple," he said, adding quickly, "That was a joke by the way."

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iPhone 5 Finally Unveiled - Get your Mobile Website at Miami - Go Mobile Nationwide !

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http://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2012/

U.S. to top the world in mobile ad spending for the first time

For the first time, the U.S. will surpass Japan as the world’s biggest market for mobile advertising, according to research firm eMarketer. In 2012, advertisers are expected to spend more than $6.43 billion globally in 2012, with the U.S. contributing $2.3 billion.

Every year, for the past few years, marketers have been insisting that ‘this will be the year of mobile.’ Well, it looks like this year might actually be a high watermark for mobile advertising in the U.S. in some kind of quantifiable way.

For the first time, the U.S. will spend more on mobile advertising than any other country, including Japan, which had been the reigning leader, eMarketer said Wednesday.

According to the research firm’s forecast for worldwide mobile ad spending, advertisers will spend more than $6.43 billion globally in 2012, with the U.S. contributing $2.3 billion and Japan following with $1.7 billion.

“The big underlying reason is that smartphone growth and mobile Internet usage is growing very quickly in the U.S. and  you’re starting to see a tipping point where a majority of people are starting to use smartphones… or mobile Internet,” said Clark Fredricksen, vice president of communications for eMarketer. “That’s causing a lot of interest from advertisers.”

Additionally, he said, the increase in mobile spending is stemming from the fact that many advertisers in the U.S. already spend heavily in digital and are moving more money into mobile and from consolidation among U.S. ad publishers (for example, Google’s purchase of AdMob and Apple’s acquisition of Quattro).

The research firm expects the U.S. mobile ad market to grow 96 percent in 2012, which is a decline from the 126 percent growth in 2011, but Frederickson said they expect growth to slow because the market is maturing.

Despite the booming interest in mobile advertising, it’s important to note that mobile advertising still accounts for just one percent of the total ad spend in the U.S. and worldwide.

In terms of global ad spending across all categories, eMarketer projects that total media ad spending will grow 7.4 percent this year to $542.3 billion, with help from a small bump from the Olympics, and decline next year to 6.4 percent. Next year, ad spending in China will reach $53 billion, surpassing spending in Japan for the first time, and placing it behind the U.S. as the country with the second highest amount of ad spending.

Nokia Releases ‘Hot Pink’ Nail Polish To Commemorate Phone Release

To commemorate the release of its hot pink Lumia 900 phone, Nokia has released a nail polish to match the phone’s vibrant color.

Called the ‘Nokia Lumia Pink’ polish, it was designed by Duality Cosmetics and will be available for customers at three one-day events in Dallas, Denver and Los Angeles.

Customers will also be able to receive ‘cellphone-themed’ manicures and pedicures during the events—from Nicki Minaj’s nail stylist, Kandi Banks—while trying out the Lumia 900.

Ladies, would you like to go pink with Nokia?

President Obama "Make mobile software applications and web sites within the next 12 months"

Back in May 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum to US governmental agencies: get on mobile now. Referencing an Executive Order ( 13571 ) he gave roughly a year back, which ordered agency heads to start searching out and using cutting edge technologies to deliver their services, Obama has ordered all agencies to make mobile software applications and web sites within the next 12 months. And he’s helping them out too ; today, the CIO will release a strategy guide to help agencies do this, titled “Digital Government : Building a 21st Century Platform to Better Serve the American People.”

 Click to View Executive Order ( 13571

Your website in the hands of the world

Looking through the data a few trends become very clear.

• Mobile web usage is growing at a huge rate around the world.
• High-speed mobile web subscriptions are growing at a huge rate and have enormous room to continue growing.
• Smartphones with web browsers are the fastest-growing device types for high-speed mobile web subscribers around the world.
• More and more people are accessing the internet primarily or exclusively on mobile.

All 4 of these trends show no sign of slowing or reversing. The mobile web wave that is sweeping the world will benefit those who are well positioned to ride it – and the best positioned are those with a mobile website.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: mobile is here to stay and the time to act is now.

Need help with your mobile strategy?

Get started with Go Mobile Nationwide

More Information on the Mobile Industry - Video

If you're interested in the future of mobile and how it will affect your business take the time to watch this video. Mobile is here and  now  !

Go Mobile - The Reasons Why

It’s no secret that going mobile is the way of the future. And while Internet-based technology for smartphones hasn’t quite exploded yet, many marketing experts think the mass proliferation isn’t far away.

According to eMarketer, more than 96 percent of the U.S. population is expected to own a mobile phone by 2013 and the gap between web-enabled mobile and wired Internet users is likely to narrow significantly in the coming years.

In order to provide this growing base of mobile web users with the optimum experience, many small business owners are developing mobile-friendly company websites that are optimized for smartphone display.


Making the Mobile Transition. 
There are a variety of options for mobile website development based on your company’s goals. In some cases, it may be more practical to generate a mobile-friendly website using the bones of your existing site. But, it is important to remember that just because you may be able to see your existing website on a smartphone, it doesn’t mean that it is also mobile-friendly.

Multiple Uses: 
Mobile devices have revolutionized the way consumers shop. Although most consumers are not yet making purchases with their smartphones, mobile devices are impacting purchase decisions. Many mobile users are using their phones to research products, compare prices, look for unbeatable deals, read reviews and find locations.

Better Search Results:
 Mobile searching has become one of the fastest-growing online resources. With computers essentially accessible from jean pockets, it has never been easier for consumers to search for what they want. It also has never been easier for your business to be found by potential customers via popular search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo! on a mobile device. In the future, these search engines may begin to rank websites by their vast platform options, so if your company does not have a mobile-friendly site, it will appear lower in search results.

Quick Speed: 
Mobile websites are designed for optimal speed, which means consumers don’t have to wait for pages to download and they can spend more time browsing. However, if your website is slow to load on a mobile device, users will move onto another site that is faster. 60 percent of users expect a mobile site to load in three seconds or less.

Local Engagement: 
A mobile website allows you to engage users with features such as mapping functions and directories that provide general information on your company’s location, contact information and address. Furthermore, visitors can find your website through location-based technology that tracks their geographic proximity to your business.

Competitive Advantage: 
Mobile technology is everywhere, and before we know it, most businesses will have implemented a mobile marketing strategy. However, having a mobile website now allows you to stand out among other industry competitors and ensures that you have the best opportunity to capture consumer attention when they are browsing your page.


A Successful Mobile Website. 
If you decide to create a mobile-friendly website for your business, there are a few golden rules to keep in mind to improve user experience and satisfaction:

Keep it Simple. 
Mobile users rarely use a mobile phone to just casually surf the web. The typical user is looking for on-the-go access to something specific. As a result, it is important to keep your mobile site simple with the design, layout and navigation. Ask yourself, “For what reason are consumers going to visit our site?” In most cases, it will be to reach a live person, so you should make the phone number prominent.

Don’t Use Flash.
It is important to stay away from Flash layouts. Although Flash-driven elements may look appealing on a desktop browser, users will receive an error message if accessing your website on a mobile device. You don’t want to lose potential customers because they can’t view your information.

Avoid Multiple Images.
Nothing slows a page down more than large images. It is recommended to discard most of the images on your mobile homepage except for ones those that are essential. When you do add images to your mobile website, be sure to select smaller versions.

Cater To Tapping. 
When converting your website from a desktop to a mobile design, you need to make sure that the links, buttons, menus, etc., can be accessed by tapping. Keep in mind that although desktop websites lend themselves well to clickable areas, the mobile web requires larger elements that can be pressed with a thumb.

The Future is Now. 
In order to maximize the potential of your business and stay ahead of competition, it is important to be aware of top technology trends. Implementing new technology is a great technique to attract new customers and keep your current clientele impressed with your business. In a world where the mobile spectrum is constantly changing and optimizing mobile websites is the up-and-coming trend, there is no better time to hop on the mobile bandwagon and make sure you are not left behind.

QR Codes for Mobile Websites

The QR (Quick Response) Code is one of the most exciting new innovations in marketing. In order for QR codes to be effectively used, they have to direct users to a mobile-optimized website, not a regular desktop website. With RealShowing's mobile website software you can create unlimited web pages and unlimited QR codes.

Customize the QR code's size/color, and then download an image file (JPG, PNG, EPS). Print your moible site's QR code for you mobile site on business cards, flyers, brochures, signs, products, doors, windowns, vehicles and all advertisements for your business. QR codes can be scanned from a computer screen so you can even insert them on your desktop website, your Facebook page, and any online ads.

How do I scan a QR code?
QR codes can be scanned by most mobile devices that have a camera. You can download a free app for your Android, iPhone or Blackberry smart phone. Just search your mobile app marketplace for "qr code" or "barcode scanner". Once you have the app just open it up and hold it to the QR code. You will then be directed to the URL associated with the QR code.

QR Code Use Examples

Real Estate

• Property Signs: potential buyers or tenants can drive by a property and simply scan a QR code on the lawn sign to instantly see photos and details about the sale or lease.
• Open Houses: potential buyers can scan a QR code as they walk into a home and then bookmark the listing page for future reference. Eliminate costly flyers forever!
• Retail Property for Lease: potential tenants can scan a QR code posted on the property's front door or window to instantly see photos of the space and lease terms.
• Business Cards: all real estate agents need to get a mobile website and should place a QR code on their business cards.

Restaurants

• Front Door / Window: people love to check out a menu posted outside a restaurant before deciding to walk in. All restaurants should post a QR code outside their front door for prospective customers to scan. If they don't have time to walk in they can view your mobile website (with your complete menu) on their phone and keep walking, then bookmark it for future use.
• Take-out Menus: place a QR code on your restaurant's take-out menu so your customers can keep an updated version of your menu on their phone and easily reference it to place a take-out order. No need to worry about your take-out menus not having updated prices and contact information. Soon enough you can completely eliminate your costly printed take-out menus.
• Tables: place your QR code at every table in your restaurant so customers can learn about your restaurant, get coupons and more.

Hotels

• Room Key Cards: all hotels should have a mobile website and print a QR code on the guest room key card so guests can learn about the hotel's amenities, browse the room service menu, see local points of interest, and more.
• Night Stand or Desk: place your hotel's QR code on the night stand or the desk in your rooms.
• Elevators: place a QR code for your hotel's mobile website in the elevators.
• Hotel Directory Book: if your hotel has a directory book in every room, you should insert a QR code in the book so guests can view all of the hotel information on their smart phone which can be easily accessed when guests leave the room.

Go Mobile Nationwide - Memorial Day Tribute

STOP

Stop the cookout, party, and shopping spree

To remember those who were brave enough to keep America free.

Stop to remember the ones who took the battlefield with pride.

And never forget the reasons for which they have died.

Reasons of patriotism, sacrifice, and love for country that ring so true.

Stop and be thankful they gave up their lives for you.

Memorial Day 2012

Go Mobile Nationwide launched and ready for business !

It’s been a long road getting the Go Mobile Nationwide project going but we are happy to announce the official launch of the website. As a launch special we are now offering our clients an introductory offer of $558.00 which includes a custom mobile 6 page site along with free hosting for a period of 1 year. The mobile hosting is valued at $178.00. Mobile websites from Go Mobile Nationwide include a tap to call button, interactive map, contact form,share buttons which allow your visitors to share your site on Facebook,Twitter, Google Plus and Linkedin. If you have a Youtube video presentation for your company we can also place it on your pages, and most importantly, the capability of making changes to your mobile pages anytime you like using the content management system.

We have plenty more new developments in the works, which we plan on rolling out over the next few weeks, like our custom Photo Gallery widget. We know you're going to love the new features, so keep your eyes peeled !

If you're ready to take advantage of this introductory offer, visit the site and click on the "Go Mobile - Sign-Up Now" button

 Remember, Mobile Users are using their phones to search the web for restaurants, shopping, and local businesses… and most are ready to buy!




Thank you for your input, you asked and we provided!!!
Go Mobile Nationwide.com

We’ve acquired Motorola Mobility

May 22, 2012 at 7:53 AM

The phones in our pockets have become supercomputers that are changing the way we live. It’s now possible to do things we used to think were magic, or only possible on Star Trek—like get directions right from where we are standing; watch a video on YouTube; or take a picture and share the moment instantly with friends.

It’s why I’m excited to announce today that our Motorola Mobility deal has closed. Motorola is a great American tech company that has driven the mobile revolution, with a track record of over 80 years of innovation, including the creation of the first cell phone. We all remember Motorola’s StarTAC, which at the time seemed tiny and showed the real potential of these devices. And as a company who made a big, early bet on Android, Motorola has become an incredibly valuable partner to Google.

Sanjay Jha, who was responsible for building the company and placing that big bet on Android, has stepped down as CEO. I would like to thank him for his efforts and am tremendously pleased that he will be working to ensure a smooth transition as long-time Googler Dennis Woodside takes over as CEO of Motorola Mobility.

I’ve known Dennis for nearly a decade, and he’s been phenomenal at building teams and delivering on some of Google’s biggest bets. One of his first jobs at Google was to put on his backpack and build our businesses across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Russia. More recently he helped increase our revenue in the U.S. from $10.8 billion to $17.5 billion in under three years as President of the Americas region. Dennis has always been a committed partner to our customers and I know he will be an outstanding leader of Motorola. As an Ironman triathlete, he’s got plenty of energy for the journey ahead—and he’s already off to great start with some very strong new hires for the Motorola team.

It’s a well known fact that people tend to overestimate the impact technology will have in the short term, but underestimate its significance in the longer term. Many users coming online today may never use a desktop machine, and the impact of that transition will be profound—as will the ability to just tap and pay with your phone. That’s why it’s a great time to be in the mobile business, and why I’m confident Dennis and the team at Motorola will be creating the next generation of mobile devices that will improve lives for years to come.

Google Chrome Just Passed Internet Explorer To Become The World's Most Popular Web Browser

Seth Fiegerman | May 21, 2012, 6:43 AM

After months of chipping away at its lead, Google Chrome has finally overtaken Internet Explorer to become most popular web browser worldwide.

Chrome's share of the market rose to 32.8% in the week ending May 20, while Internet Explorer's share of the market dropped to 31.9%, according to new data from StatCounter, via TheNextWeb. This marks the first full week that Chrome has beaten Explorer.

Google's browser had previously topped Explorer for a single day back in March.

Mozilla's Firefox is the third most popular browser with just more than a 25% of the market.

What the rise of the smartphone means to mobile marketing

 by A.W. Berry

Created on: May 21, 2012   Last Updated: May 22, 2012

Smartphones double as mobile computers in several ways making any mobile Internet connection via a smartphone a marketing opportunity.  According to the Ecommerce Times, smartphone market penetration has reached near 60 percent of all households with a broadband Internet connection; this is more than double 2009 figures. By the end of 2011, approximately 68 percent of U.S. households had broadband connections per Multichannel News. Using an average household size of 2.63, and a population size of 311.592 million, that would give approximately 46.73 million U.S. households at least one smartphone.

Monetization

What this means for mobile marketers is it increases net exposure time to market and raises the prospect of gaining a return on investment via monetization of mobile applications, hardware and advertising. When more individuals use smartphones instead of more traditional computing hardware to access the internet or applications, it increases the potential marketing opportunity for information technology service providers, advertisers, businesses public relations, and software developers. For example, according to MarketingProfs LLC, 14 million Americans used quick response or QR Codes to learn more about something in just one month in 2011.

Opportunities

The opportunities to market via smartphones are extensive, and limited only by what the designers cannot conceive within the hardware capacity of the phones and the computing capacity of the operating systems, which is substantial. Direct Marketing News says these changes to gain market share are not being taken advantage of as much as they could be. For example, many retailers do not have online purchasing options, websites with smartphone accessibility, or business specific smartphone applications. Additional examples of underutilized smartphone marketing mechanisms include free product or service sampling, online coupons, promotional content and real time social media interaction.

Obstacles

There are also obstacles to smartphone marketing; in particular, smartphones such as the iPhone are still primarily communication tools rather than computing devices. Furthermore, in light of this, the need for functional utility and enhanced communication ability provides the key to mobile marketing per iMedia Connection. This means mobile marketers are tasked with the challenge of creating a different kind of marketing that is communication based rather than content based as is more the case with desktop and laptop computing. Marketers must also be aware of product trends such as which operating system platforms to focus on, currently iOS and Android have the largest market share in the United States per 925 LLC.

Campaigns

The smartphone mobile marketing campaign is agile, flexible and understands its target market in addition to being able to gain that markets interest, trust and loyalty. The 2012 winners of the Global Mobile Awards illustrate how this can be done. For instance, Rovio Entertainment Ltd's  game “Angry Birds” was a winner of this award. This is a mobile phone application that entertains, occupies, and enhances the smartphone user's life in some way. Smartphones enable innovative use of smartphone technology to market at lower cost and with increased efficiency with the help of mobile metrics. However, they also mean the bar has been raised for marketing campaigns to reach their optimal market exposure.