IndoPost.com Breaking News and Opinion

Google’s Gmail says bye-bye to App for BlackBerry as support and download will end just one day before this year’s Thanks Giving Day

BlackBerry smartphone subscribers will not so happy to celebrate this year’s Thanks Giving Day as their favorite email system will be facing end of life.  The world’s largest search engine will dump Gmail App for BlackBerry starting November 22, 2011. 

As per Google support notes, they will not let users to download the Gmail app starting November 22, 2011.  Google support team will stop offering any helps for setup a Gmail account via BlackBerry or helping to troubleshooting if users get into email issues.

Google urged BlackBerry subscribers to use BlackBerry web browser to access their Gmail accounts.  Users still can continue using the Gmail App for BlackBerry as long as they won’t need any supports from Google.

Let’s say hello to Polaroid’s new Z340 Instant Digital Camera which will cost USD$ 299.99 and refill ZINK paper at $19.99 per 30 prints per pack

Polaroid, the old-style instant camera maker, introduced a new generation of instant digital camera with a built-in printer.  The new model Z340 will cost USD$ 299.99.  The instant camera can make 3X4 inch prints using refillable ZINK paper which will cost $19.99 per 30 prints per pack.  Camera fans can buy the new camera via Polaroid online store or at large electronic stores or at Amazon.com.

The exterior of Z340 digital camera almost look like the old-style Polaroid instant cameras which were famous during the 1980s era. The camera is equipped with 14-megapixel camera, 2.7 inch display and an SD memory card slot.

Images: (left) Polaroid ZINK paper; (right) Polaroid Z340

Display Advertising War in America: Microsoft, Yahoo!, and AOL to partner and cross-selling premium online display ad inventory to fight Google ad networks

Google ad networks has just found a new competitor as three companies, Microsoft, Yahoo!, and AOL announced to partner and cross-selling premium online display ad inventory in America starting in early 2012. 

Ever since 2008, Google acquired DoubleClick for over US$3.1 billion, the world's largest search engine and pay-per-click company started to taking market share on display advertising in America.  At the same time, this Silicon Valley-based company has also eaten smaller players lunches. 

Facebook, the social networking King, continues to maintain the number one spot in today's display ad market.

According to the press release, the display advertising partnership of the three companies will provide technologies such as real-time bidding (RTB) which allows advertisers to access the combined inventory of premium online display advertising.  Happy faces will go to online advertisers, agencies and publishers, as they will be significantly benefited from the ad alliance. 

Not only human: the world’s largest search engine now connects local businesses, global corporations, places, and any non-human things via Google+ Pages social network

Only human were allowed during the initial launch of Google+ social network this past summer.  As the service launched within hours, Google cancelled any business accounts that the engineering team spotted.  Today marked the beginning Google+ to let businesses entity and non-human things to join this new feature for the world’s largest search engine. Top level engineering executive, Vic Gundotra, wrote in a post “we want to make sure you can build relationships with all the things you care about—from local businesses to global brands—so today we’re rolling out Google+ Pages worldwide.”

Any non-human things are now being welcomed to join Google+ Pages program. Over the next 48-hours, local businesses, global corporations, places, and any non-human things will be able to create Google+ pages via tools provided by the giant search company.  One of those tools include Create A Page tool.  After login into a business account, users will be asked to create a page by choosing a category of several categories, such as local business, brand, company, and others.

(Image: Google+)

Allergies in America: the side effects of canned air fresheners and fragrant scents products and people with allergies and asthma

The used of canned air fresheners and fragrant scents in America’s houses continue in the rise in recent years.  However, medical experts and doctors warned that people with asthma or allergies should avoid those canned chemicals products in their households. 

According to a new study presented by Dr. Stanley Fineman of Emory University and the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic during an annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Boston this week, canned air fresheners could potentially causing irritation.  Researchers cautioned that air fresheners with chemicals can produce nasal congestion, sneezing, and lasting runny nose.

Americans young adults cannot leave home without mom’s cooking: sons and daughters prefer to living in their parents’ home as economy remain weak

America’s Census Bureau found there are increasing numbers of young people who are living in their parents' home and continue enjoying mom’s cooking in recent years. 

The percentage of men at college students age range 18 to 24 choose to live with their parents hit 59% in 2011, compared to 53% in 2005.  For women age 18 to 24, there were about 50% in 2011, compared to 46% in 2005.

The percentage of college graduated men age 25 to 34 remain living in their parents’ home increased to 19% in 2011, compared to 14% in 2005.  For women in the same age group, the percentage increased to 10% in 2011, compared to only 8% in 2005.

Smartphone market share in America in September 2011: Google Android was number one with 44.8% share, Apple iOS was number two with 27.4% share, RIM BlackBerry was number three with 18.9% share, and Microsoft Windows Phone was number four with 5.6% share

One of the most widely used datasets by Wall Street analysts was published by comScore.  The latest mobile usages and handsets data from the research company found 87.4 million people in America used smartphones to communicating and accessing wireless networks by the end of September 2011.  The research firm believes smartphone usages have increased about 12% from the prior three month period ending June 2011.

Google Android was number one smartphone operating system with 44.8% market share by the end of three-month period ending September (July, August, and September).  Compared to the prior three-months span (April, May, and June), Android had 40.2% share, and this was an increase of 4.6% share for the period.

Apple iOS was number two by capturing 27.4% share, compared to the previous three-months period which was at 26.6% share (an increase of 0.8% share).  With the launch of Apple iOS version 5 during the second week of October, Apple iOS will continue to maintain its superior position in term of smartphone market share in America in months to come.

With production delays and its popular messenger system (BBM) outages, RIM BlackBerry’s share of smartphone market in America dropped to 18.9% share, compared to the previous three-month span which was at 23.5% share (a drop of 4.6% share).

Microsoft Windows Phone will likely take the number three spot in the next few months with its partnership with Nokia handsets maker and very aggressive marketing campaigns for the latest mobile OS dubbed as “mango” or Windows Phone version 7.5.  However, Windows Phone OS had only 5.6% share by the end of September, compared to the prior three-month which was at 5.8% share (a drop of 0.2% share).

(Table: comScore)

America’s smartphone operating system market share Q3-2011, July to September: Google Android remained stable at 43%, Apple iPhone was constant at 28%, RIM BlackBerry’s share was steady at 18%, and Windows Phone was stable at 7%

Data provided by research firm Nielsen showed smartphones representing 43% share of all phone subscribers in America by the end of the third quarter of 2011 (September 30).  The research firm also found over 50% of users in the age group of less than 44 year-old has used smartphones to communicate with friends, families, and colleagues and access mobile web.

While several handsets makers including Sony Ericsson will drop producing feature phones, the adoption of smartphone continues to skyrocketing in America.  Google Android remained stable during the Q3-11 and captured 43% market share of smartphone operating system.

The popular Apple iPhone remained steady and controlled 28% market share of smartphone OS. 

While suffered from several outages during the quarter, RIM BlackBerry’s share was stable at 18%. 

The newly launched operating system from the giant software company Microsoft dubbed as Windows Phone 7.5 (product code name “mango”) hold at stable level and captured 7% smartphone operating system market share for Q3-11.

(Chart: Nielsen)

Microsoft Bing decision engine goes mobile with HTML5, the latest version 3.0 is now powering apps for Apple iPhone and Google Android smartphones

Microsoft Bing decision engine launched a new version of mobile app to catch more Apple iPhone and Google Android smartphones users.  The enhanced version 3.0 Bing for Mobile app run only on Apple iPhone and Google Android operating systems, while for other operating systems must wait for while including Microsoft Windows Phone and RIM BlackBerry, the fine print reads “coming soon to more devices.”

Microsoft Bing urged iPhone and Android users to download the new app at Apple iTunes store and Android Market.  As soon as they have downloaded the app they can go to m.bing.com to check out all new features with the new HTML5 coding system. Those new features include the following:

1. Local maps, business listings, and real-time transit maps, in split view: phone users can use Bing Maps to search for local maps and business listings, to get driving directions, and to explore real-time transit maps for a trip.
2. Best local deals: users can scroll down all type of deals from over 100 providers in America including Groupon, Living Social, and other Microsoft’s partners.
3. Video Domain: mobile users can see breaking news videos, check out the popular viral videos, and sports videos.

(Screenshot: Bing for Mobile, Android Market)

Starting November 6, 2011: the best BlackBerry Bold 9900 goes on sale for $199.99 with a two-year contract via online or at local AT&T stores

America’s BlackBerry users who subscribe to AT&T can get the new and powerful Bold 9900 smartphone starting on November 6, 2011. The new phone will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract via online or at local AT&T stores. BlackBerry Bold 9900 was launched in mid-August this year as T-Mobile started selling them immediately. The production of BlackBerry Bold 9900 was first announced in early May 2011.  AT&T has delayed offering the phone to its subscribers due to technical reason with its mobile payment system. 

BlackBerry Bold 9900 is a very powerful smartphone with full QWERTY keyboard and a 2.8-inch touch screen. It is also one of the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone ever made by Waterloo, Canada-based Company, Research In Motion (RIM). It measures at 10.5 mm. The phone has capability for 4G speeds. It is equipped with 1.2 GHz processor, 768 MB RAM, 8GB of onboard memory (for max expansion to 40 GB with a 32 GB media card). It can record HD video and dual-band Wi-Fi.

(Image: BlackBerry Bold 9900)