Could a New Facebook App Terminate Traditional Text Messaging?

August 12, 2011 by

Facebook at Mozcon - Alex © by Thos003

On August 10th, Facebook introduced it’s new Messenger app for 3G and 4G Android Phone models plus the Apple iPhone. Smartphone users have been able to use Facebook’s messenger function via the popular Facebook app for Android and iPhone for sometime, but now they’ll be able to access the messenger exclusively through an easy flick of the finger. The ease in which it has now become to send a Facebook message is matched to that of the traditional text message. In addition, the Facebook Messenger app lets users send photos with their messages along with location coordinates and other information lacking in traditional SMS service.

This has industry experts wondering if the age of the text message is coming to a close. Facebook certainly hopes so and has the full intention of replacing SMS service, which currently consists of carriers operating their own in-house collection of data. To Facebook, typical text messages inhibit users from being able to fully express themselves to each other through instant text-based communication. They represent an archaic mode of transferring information, a mode with an existence that’s getting harder to justify in light of superior technology.

At the same time, however, the only way Facebook will succeed in taking over the role of text messaging is through the industry that commands text messaging. The only way the social network company can conceivably overcome such an obstacle is to either convince carriers they can make as much profit from losing SMS as they do keeping it around, or starting their own phone service.

Considering that Facebook has recently announced plans to release “products” the idea that they could try and outmaneuver the phone industry completely isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Especially when you consider the mountain of capital and sky of possibility available to Facebook right now.

In the meantime, Facebook is likely very focused on just letting people start to prefer the Facebook Messenger app over texting on their own. It’s been said that one of the biggest things going for it is the ability for text messaging addicts to cut the costs of their monthly phone bill down by using the app. However, since data usage is no longer optioned with a flat-rate fee, the savings might be less than what you would be led to believe.

Text messaging is a means to an end. That end – dispensing information to associates – can be replaced with a multitude of various methods of communication. Judging by how influential Facebook is in the lives of people the world over, there’s probably little point in SMS-profiteers fearing competition from anyone else.

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Will Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 Recover Market Share Potential?

August 6, 2011 by

Samsung Galaxy Tab (T-Mobile) © by medbuoy

Samsung introduced its Galaxy Tab 10.1 recently, and already it has Apple’s knickers in a twist, much to the chagrin of Australian Android fans. The South Korean manufacturer cannot distribute the new entrant to the tablet market until either it receives court permission to do so, or Apple and Samsung resolve their latest patent differences. Will Samsung cut their losses before they’re cut out of this e-generation’s market share?

Apple has filed suit against Samsung for 10 alleged patent infringements in the Android device, including the touchscreen technology on iPad, the “look and feel” of the device.

Pardon, but how can “look and feel” be patented? Sorry…Back to the story:

Apple’s attorneys will seek injunctions preventing distribution of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in other, unspecified countries as well.

The dispute isn’t brand new. Apple sued Samsung in the United States for “slavishly imitating” the iPhone and iPad design and technologies. Samsung retaliated with “Well, MY dad…” suits against Apple in Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Meanwhile, because the prior US injunction could not and did not include distribution and sales in Australia, Samsung initiated their pre-launch advertising on July 20th. Samsung had agreed to provide Apple with three samples of the Australian version seven days prior to its launch there.

The injunction is based on the US lawsuit, although the Australian version is a bit different from the Australian version.

With Blackberry’s PlayBook entering the tablet market, Samsung will have an even tougher fight to gain a reasonable market share, especially with the interest in the iPad 2.

The Blackberry PlayBook and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab look a lot alike. They’re about the same size and thickness. They both have fair battery life, but neither duration will knock anyone’s socks off.

PlayBook as a horizontal orientation while Galaxy Tab has a vertical one. They each have an LCD screen with either 1024 x 600 or 600 x 1024 pixel resolution, but Galaxy Tab has a narrower contrast ratio and peak brightness threshold.

Blackberry’s PlayBook is at a distinct disadvantage in its Internet technology. Its proprietary software doesn’t allow as much content as Android does in the Samsung device. That, alone, will cause a lag in sales behind not just the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but also any Android device.

Apple’s iPad 2 is also vertically-oriented and is slightly smaller than either the PlayBook or the Galaxy Tab. Internal memories of the iPad 2 and PlayBook match at 16.0 GB. PlayBook’s screen allows slightly easier reading than iPad does, but iPad’s battery lasts a fraction longer in audio, e-book reading and video play, but since neither battery is anything spectacular, that’s not exactly major bragging points.

Direct comparison of the iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 shows that the iPad is both longer and wider than Samsung’s model. The Galaxy Tab offers a memory card for data transfer and storage, whereas, the iPad 2 does not. Both devices use an LCD screen, but iPad 2 does edge out the Galaxy Tab in brightness, which shows distinct advantage when reading or watching videos on them.

Internet capabilities are fairly evenly matched in overall email capabilities and web browsers. The iPad 2, however, as a member of the Apple iPad family, does have a wider selection of apps available than the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

With those side-by-side comparisons, will Samsung have a decent chance to catch up to iPad 2 in demand, or will the Blackberry PlayBook sneak further up the user’s preference list?

The author of this article is Holly Adams from Coupon Croc, the best resource for Littlewoods discount codes to save on all the hottest electronics.

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