Instagram hasmore daily users than Twitter

Image © Mashable.com

Yes its true. I didn't make up the table you are seeing right now. I am one of those people who like Twitter much more than Facebook. I also trust Twitter more than any another social networking platform. I used to be a little worried about Twitters position on the social media landscape, but now I am really really worried. It seems a little too early to say this but twitter better get their act together or they could slowly drift into the world of MySpace. Instagram now has more daily users than Twitter.

These figures from Comscore don't look good for twitter which has been around longer than Instagram. they should be ahead in the mobile apps section of social networking. This might explain Dick Costolo's recent appearances on TV shows like the Charlie Rose talk show. I hope they have something up their sleeves.

My thoughts on the iPhone5 so far

Ok, so the famous and most sought after smart phone is now out. I know this blog post about the iPhone should have come earlier but I think now that the dust is settling we can all see why in my last post about the iPhone I was so critical about this Californian Tech giant(Apple). It was obvious that people were not going to be wowed by apples new offering, the iPhone5. Don’t get me wrong it would be successful considering Apple's huge following but it will definitely not be the best thing that they have ever made although they boldly proclaimed the iPhone 5 was the biggest thing to happen to the iPhone since the iPhone.

© Apple.Inc

That proclamation sounded quite silly considering the fact that the improvement they were bringing to the iphone5 were things that we had already seen in other phones i.e. Android phones.

Front View of the iPhone5:  © Apple.Inc

It seems like every day we hear new complaints about the iPhone5, something that was unheard off when it came to Apple. It just seemed like apple will never go wrong but it is becoming apparent that there is something going wrong with Apple looking at the current trend of releasing apps that are not ready for launch (maps) and having defects and scratches on the device.

I am hoping they haven’t let their recent success get into their heads, because if that is the case it will be very unfortunate. With competitors like Samsung and Nokia breathing down their necks in-terms of style and quality Apple better wake-up or they will be the next RIM (I have nothing against RIM I just wish them the best).

The way Apple handles their current problems will determine whether their new yet to be launched iPad mini, will take off well (personally I think it would, Apple has an ever growing loyal following ). Let’s wait and see what this tech giant will do.

Google takes Street View under the Sea

Google adds underwater panoramic pictures to its famous Google maps Google street view. I had to talk about it. When Google maps first came out, I was excited. The fact that I could travel to any place was just cool. Then street views came, that was even more exciting, I could find myself in any street in the world(well not every). But this just beats everything I was expecting from the service.

It is a lovely tool to have(ie. going under water) but I am not sure how many times I am going to use it although it gives the chance to spend more time under water than I can normally do.

Looking at all the efforts Google puts into maps I wonder, how does Google profit from map, what is the real ROI for Google Maps.

Windows 8 Coming Soon, Get Ready

Intel CEO slams Paul Otellini windows 8, says it is not ready but releasing it before it is fully baked is the right move since Microsoft can make improvements after it ships Well to be honest nothing really is ready before it is launched. Every tech companies products are launched even if it could still be improved. Microsoft is no different and you can bare witness if you are an iPhone user that Apples new maps app is just not ready for release. A lot of Apple users are unhappy but I tell you all this would be forgotten when the next iteration of the maps app is introduced.

Windows 8's Metro UI

Personally I think there is a lot Microsoft could do to improve their upcoming operating system(Windows 8), I feel the same as Intel's CEO. There are some bugs and interface issues that have to be solved before it is released, but I can definitely say one thing, Microsoft is definitely heading in the right direction and making all the good decisions at this stage. Windows 8 has every right to compete with whatever tablet or desktop operating system is out there especially apples OS's. I really cant wait to see what the PC market would look like when Microsoft is releases Windows 8 and their line of Surface Tablets.

I am confident that although reception might not be that fast compared to apple Adoption will rapidly increase after the first few weeks when people realize that Microsoft has a viable alternative to its competitors.

Google Launches A “Google For Entrepreneurs” website

Google for Entrepreneurs

In celebration of their 14 birthday Google has launched a website dedicated to helping entrepreneurs Google for Entrepreneurs. This is to serve as resource for entrepreneurs bringing together Google resources that are designed to help small businesses. It will also bring together programs and partnerships that Google has with organizations that help start-ups around the world. 

This is a Google move and I absolutely love the idea. It is true that there are a lot of resources Google provides that entrepreneurs benefit from. But putting all of this together in a concerted effort to help the startup community not just in the United States is something that I greatly admire and I am full of praise for Google. Of course they will benefit from more business using Google products but the fact that they are reaching out makes me glad.

Google for Entrepreneurs web page

The announcement as made in a blog-post by Mary Grove, the head of global entrepreneurship outreach, which stated that Google's work concerning entrepreneurship was focused on three areas

1. Partnerships with strong organizations that serve entrepreneurs in local communities
2. Google-led programs to bring Google teams and Google tools directly to entrepreneurs
3. Placing relevant Google tools in the hands of start-ups as they are getting off the ground and ready to scale. 

So spread the word and let everyone know about this great website. 

The New iPhone or whatever Apple calls it, is almost here

               So we are back again in the rumor month of the iPhone5. If you were plugged into the technology world last year you were definitely expecting an iPhone5 and many bloggers including myself were caught in the hype only to find out on reveal day that it was going to be called the iPhone 4s.
I will never forget that, so this time round I will not even bother naming the new iPhone as a the iPhone5, I will just call it “the new iPhone”.

So many rumors have been all over the web, accompanied with all sorts of alleged leaked images of the new iPhone and the whole technology market is so excited about the whole iPhone thing.

Personally after going through a couple of iPhone releases, announcements and iPhone rumors, it gets a little boring and I wonder why people care what Apple releases, Especially when android phones are much more powerful than the iPhone(i mean processing power and every other spec you can think of).

Well lets just say there world has more variety in personalities so there will still be lots of people who would be excited about it.

My take on this years iPhone

It wouldn't be amazing in anyway. To be honest I think the only improvements we would see would be in-terms of processor and Screen technology (I think the new iPhone would definitely come with a retina display) and general hardware upgrades. It might be disappointing for most. The only surprise would be the date of availability. It definitely would be in stores in less that a week. Personally I am expecting the very next day.

According to some reliable sources like Cnet.com, the The iPad mini would have its own event and Apple would be looking to spread the buzz about their products by spreading the release of their products over a month rather than doing it in one night. This should also help them push up the value of their stocks even higher than its current value. We cant wait to see the new iPhone or whatever Apple chooses to call it this time(personally I cant wait for it to get out so I can finally have some peace with all the buzz about Apple this, Apple that, ... ..I cant take it anymore)

Well whatever happens Apple is likely to sell a record number of phones be cause some other carrier wants a slice of the pie. This cant go bad for Apple whatever then do even if the new iPhone was monochrome display phone.  

P.S 

I think Apple is going to stop calling their iPhone an iPhone. They might just coin another name for the damn device and of course it will start with an "i" . I can image Tim Cook saying something like this "We looked at the iPhone and although it is the best selling Smart Phone on the market we chose to come out with something even bigger and better, something beyond the iPhone, something that represents what Apple stands for. Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you the i......................, the most advanced phone in the world" (and you all know it would just be a load of B.S since its Android competitors would have higher performing phones although they will be lacking that Apple fineness)

Implications of the Apple v Samsung Trial

            If you have been following the Samsung v Apple trial........... Well you have been, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this blog post to know of my opinion. So let’s get right to it.

Apple and Samsung, two technology giants going head to head in a court-case that could change the technology landscape

             First of all this has been a very interesting and annoying trial if you should ask. It has nothing to do with Judge Lucy Koh. It has everything to do with the implications any outcome might have on the tech industry and value of patents in the tech industry.
Just think about it for a moment, if Samsung wins this case (if they do not have to pay Apple any royalties for supposed infringement on Apple patents) we would see even more companies creating devices similar to that of Apples at lower prices (and with lower quality), this is already the current state of the industry but now companies will feel free to do this without thinking about Apple dragging them to court.  This might be bad for Apples business (something I highly disagree with) but on the whole it is not bad for the consumer. The only downside is that most companies would stop the process of innovation and switch to the practice of creating cheap copies of Apple products (this is already being done by less respected companies but it will now be a widely accepted practice in the tech industry and will no longer be frowned upon).

             If Apple wins this case they might just go ahead and kill the rest of the competition to ensure that consumers would be left with only one option which would be Apple (they seem to forget that is in this spirit of competition that they came out with such great products). The down side of this is that we will all be left with one option, empty your pockets and buy some fine Apple products or forget about technology altogether(because in no time, almost all other tech companies would be bleeding and might be out of business). But it might rejuvenate another wave of innovation and who knows what other great products another tech company might come out with. Personally I can’t wait to see what might happen to the tech industry as we know it when this case ends, as the jury makes a final decision on this case.

             I am tempted to side with Samsung but who knows what might happen at the end of trial?

              You are welcome to give your comments about what you think about the trial.