Another turning point in the Android-Apple saga as Android powered tablets surpass Apple’s iPad sales. Estimates suggest that Apple will only account for 46 percent of the tablet market in 2013 as opposed to its 51 percent hold on the market last year.

Surprise attack

Ever since the iPad was introduced in 2010, Apple has enjoyed its role as ruler of the tablet market. Until now, research firm IDC (International Data Corporation) has “increased its 2013 tablet market forecast from 172.4 million to 190.9 million units expected to be shipped” in favor of Android.  ”Android tablets from manufacturers including Google and Amazon.com will catch on this year”

At last year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ​​Google went all out. They dedicated a huge area for the Android brand, company representatives handed out green Android pins and gave journalists and visitors ice cream sandwiches — named after the (then) latest operating system. However, at this year’s event, the Android swag and Google promoted representation was nowhere to be found.

For those following Google’s mobile marketing moves in the past two years, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Google has been trying for some time to focus Android the brand primarily on the application developers, gadget freaks and technology journalist demographics. It seems, to Google, that Android is similar to, “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” The Android app store has been changed to Google Play and even Google itself omits the name of the Android OS from its hardware products (Nexus devices series) — what enables many hardware manufacturers producing Android phones to promote their own brands.

Today, Samsung announced at the Mobile World Congress that they are releasing Wallet, an Android ticketing and coupon app to compete directly with Apple’s Passbook.  Users will be able to store things like concert tickets, coupons, membership cards and boarding passes in one centralized application.

Location based services will also be enabled, sending push notifications to alert users when they are nearby where their stored passes could be used.  Imagine walking down the street and being notified that your favorite restaurant nearby is having a special for card members at that moment.

Retailers and service providers can simply scan the barcode screen of the device for users to redeem their services.

The API is open, which means you can almost guarantee that there will be an large amount of brands and stores available to use in the app in the near future.  They are already beginning their launch with a sizable stable of brands, including Walgreens, Expedia, Hotels.com and Lufthansa among others.

Throughout the blogosphere there is already criticism of the app as being too similar to Apple’s Passbook.  Comparisons have been made to the logos of both apps as well as the user interface.  What do you think?  Does it matter that their similar?  Leave your comments below.

In the never ending war between Android and iOS, each different operating system wins their own respective battles. Android had more handsets, but Apple has more apps. Who will win the battle for most social? Check out the infographic below.

In the never ending war between Android and iOS, each different operating system wins their own respective battles. Android had more handsets, but Apple has more apps. Who will win the battle for most social? Check out the infographic below.
Path:

The latest story from the very high-profile Apple vs. Samsung patent battle is that Samsung is going to pay its debt in nickels.
As you probably all heard, Samsung was found guilty of violating various Apple’s patents by essentially making smartphones that are too similar to the iPhone. In addition, Samsung was also found to be in violation of several Apple software patents including elements of the smartphone user design and interface. Apple, for example, was the first company to market a touch-screen interface featuring the ability to zoom in and out by pinching your fingers. Apple also owns patents on certain aspects of screen scrolling behavior, including the way a scrolling screen shakes when pushed too far.
We do believe that Apple’s claims are ridiculous and they are acting like a cry baby when a sibling gets a similar toy. Unfortunately, they won (some would say that it is only thanks to home field advantage) and Samsung still has to pay.

Websites and blogs from all over the world have announced today the arrival of 30 trucks loaded with 5 cents coins to Apple’s California headquarters. Minutes after the trucks arrived, Tim Cook (Apple CEO) received a call from Kwon Oh-Hyun (Samsung CEO) explaining that this is the payment of their debt. Apparently the verdict document did not specify the payment method so Samsung could pretty much do whatever they want.

We broke down the numbers for you:
1 billion dollars equals 20 billion nickels. Each nickel weighs 5 grams which means that 20 billion nickels weigh 100 billion grams. 100 billion grams are 100 million kilos; this is 27% of how much the empire states building weighs! If we put the coins right next to each other we could almost circle the earth.

This data is what made …

Could it be possible that losing a court case is actually a good thing?  Well in the case of Samsung vs. Apple, it could be.  Now that the jury has decided that Apple is the victor of the battle, the first instinct for us Android users is to think that hard times will be headed our way.  While there may be lots of changes to come, this situation could turn into a great thing for Android developers and users.

1. New Android Innovations

   Samsung has done a great job of creating phones for the mass market, selling hundreds of millions of handsets all over the world.  As obviously shown by the outcome of the lawsuit, Samsung hasn’t been as successful in innovation.  Now that 7 of Apple’s patents have been ruled as being infringed upon, Samsung, HTC and other device manufacturers are scrambling for redesigns to work around these features.  Innovation always happens when new limits are imposed.  Now that all future devices can’t violate these patents, the top brains at all these companies will be working overtime to come up with ways to work around them.  Within the next year we could see an entirely new library of devices and design changes that may have never even been thought of if it weren’t for this lawsuit.  It’s an exciting thing that will be great for users and developers alike.

2. Faster Android Updates

   Since many of the patent infringements relate directly to the Android software and not just the design of the phone, the Android team at Google is scrambling for a solution to fix the problems with the software.  Luckily, only Android version 2.x was implicated in the trial.  This means that Google could solve this problem by updating everyone to Android version 4, Jelly bean.  By upgrading all Android users from …

It was a day that has certainly been coming for a while now. Apple users have claimed it would never happen but it has, a single Android producer, Samsung, has overtaken Apple in units sold during Q3 of 2011. 28 million Samsung units were sold compared to the mere 17 million iPhones sold during the same period.

Before you all start jumping up and down in disagreement, I know that one of the reasons was because of the anticipation of the now released iPhone 4GS and Apple are sure to have a bumper Q4 with the release of the iPhone 4GS and the occasional ‘Let’s do it for Steve’ purchase but the fact remains that the walls have been breached.