With Nokia’s hold on the smartphone market worldwide at around 50%, Windows Mobile taking a big chunk of the market and RIM’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iPhone capturing the rest of the market, is Google’s Android platform going to be a disruptor or just another player? I have been thinking about this since Google’s announcement of the Android platform but wasn’t sure how to answer this until I saw this, an official demonstration of Android. It really makes analysis easier when you see something in action instead of trying to visualize an abstract description in one’s head. After watching the demonstration, I’m convinced that Android has the potential to be a disruptor, however there are hurdles involved in that there are huge incumbents that can throw money at development and to a large extent replicate the experience. The hope would be that with the release of the Android SDK, the development community, as a collective force, can create innovative software. To provide incentive, Google has set aside $10 Million in prizes for the best applications developed.

Google will likely bid on the upcoming 700Mhz spectrum auction and if they end up acquiring it with or without a carrier partner, it is a huge step for the search engine. What started as an extremely sophisticated search algorithm has morphed into a company with the 4th largest market capitalization in the US and the backbone of the internet. It is without a doubt one of the most innovative companies of this generation. The purchase of spectrum and the release of Android signifies what pundits all over the world have been talking about for years, that the internet will move to the mobile wireless arena and its growth will be exponential. Just recently there was a report published saying that global handheld sales outpaced that of desktop PCs. Convergence of the internet, wireless service and computers will continue and only those companies that can re-invent itself will be left when the dust settles.

Android, internet, spectrum and the organization of the world’s information are the ingredients for Google’s strategy in these rapidly converging industries. I think in the longterm, Android will end up becoming a huge threat to the Windows Mobile platform and will overtake them. As for the BlackBerry software, there is nothing, that the Apple or even Google (with current information) can do to penetrate the enterprise market that RIM holds so dear (as for the consumer segment, the jury is still out on that). The main difference between RIM’s strategy and everyone else’s is that they provide end-to-end solutions for email starting with the email server, network infrastructure to hardware to the OS. This is the crux of RIM’s strategy, success and survival from the enterprise perspective. As long as they can keep that barrier to entry by way of defending their IP, they will be good for many more years to come in the enterprise space.

What makes Google so dangerous to the traditional carriers, handset manufacturers and software developers is that they aren’t jumping into wireless to make money in the same way that everyone else has been, but to provide yet again another platform to deliver its services like Gmail, Google Search and Google Checkout, which all of course serve as platforms to deliver targeted ads. The more accessible these services become, the more sticky or convenient it is for people. It will be through the way Google operates itself in wireless, rather than through the actual product they offer that it will disrupt wireless.

Whatever the outcome of the spectrum auction or the adoption of Android, I would love to see Google, RIM and Apple battle it out for the consumer space. Competition from these guys will only benefit the little people like myself.

Here are my initials thoughts on Apple’s latest rendition of Mac OSX. I just received my upgrade DVD from Apple even though I ordered it in the middle of October and was told via email that I should be receiving my copy by October 29. I waited until October 29 only to be disappointed that I didn’t receive it and that the tracking number given to me meant nothing and did nothing on the Purolator and Canada Post website. I called into Apple’s call center and was put on hold for about 20 minutes before I was told that my DVD could not be tracked and that they’d send me a new one instead. I was told the new order should be delivered by November 5. It arrive on the 5th and on the 7th, I received my original order in the mail. So now I have two copies of Leopard.

I installed Leopard and it was simple and painless. All it took was a couple clicks on the mouse and away it went. About 40 minutes later, my MacBook Pro was rebooting and the new dock and the translucent menu bar was up on my screen. After using the new operating system for about a day now, I like it. I haven’t tried out bootcamp or time machine yet, but spaces works well and I do like the improvements here and there. Like Walt Mossberg from the WSJ wrote, this is an evolutionary upgrade but a worthwhile one. I’ve read about the controversy over the new dock and I personally don’t mind it at all. I kind of like it actually.

If there’s anything strange that comes up while using Leopard, I’ll be sure to document it here!

Back in March, I wrote that I would love to see the next iPhone without the telephone functionality as a future ipod.  It was probably expected by many, but when the announcement came about the new iPod Touch, I was happy to see the form factor and also that what I desired came to fruition (sans the voip) but was disappointed with the storage capacity.  Given some time, the iPod Touch may end up taking the place of the iPod Classic as the regular iPod when storage capacities allow.

I haven’t actually played with the iPod Touch, but if it’s anything like the iPhone, I think I will be pleased with the experience.  However, as much as I’d like to fork over some money to get the updated iPod Touch, I will wait until I see at least an 80gig flash HD in the unit. Until then, I will have to continue using my 5th gen ipod.

I’ve been using the Google Apps for this current domain and I love it! I’m a big fan of these services. I wish there were some improvements or changes, but overall, I’m quite happy with Google’s offering. I’m also looking forward to seeing their web-based presentation application coming out soon too.

Anyway, I was on the Google Apps page and just clicking around and reading up on their services. I know, it’s a geeky thing to do, but it’s what I do. I then started to type in random domains to see which domains might have signed up to use Google Apps. I typed in utoronto.ca and I got the message that this particular domain was already registered! Now, I know that someone might have just tried signing up with the utoronto.ca domain and it was declined or something like that, but there is a chance that U of T might be thinking of implementing or testing the Education Edition of Google Apps. This is good news to me because I still use my school email quite extensively. The current webclient that U of T uses is absolutely atrocious. I would like to see students have access to Google’s slick suite of services offered through the school. I think U of T would be the largest Canadian institution to implement Google App campus-wide if they do indeed offer this.

About a week ago, I received my Shure E4C in the mail and when I got it, I tore it open and stuffed them into my ears and turned on my ipod to try them out. My first reaction wasn’t too good. These buds really require a high quality source to make them shine, and let’s face it folks, the iPod isn’t the greatest source. I hear that you can get a third-party attachment to the line-out on the iPod to plug in your headphone and you can get better sound. I guess for the average headphone, you can get away with just plugging it in through the headphone jack, but with a pair like the E4s, you need something a bit better. The problem isn’t that the sound sucks on these headphones, it’s that you can hear all the distractions on poorly ripped music, or hear all the static and hiss in low bitrate music. And on top of that, these particular headphones requires a stronger output.

Anyway, I tried out the E4Cs on my 2nd gen shuffle, which incidentally has better sound, and my computer and that is when I heard these headphones shine. The sound reminds me of my Grado SR80s. Not overwhelming bass, but nice and tight, with great mids. I’m not an audiophile, so I won’t be able to describe in any more detail what the sound was like, but in comparing the E4Cs and the CX300s and the JBL200s, the sound on the E4Cs was definitely more detailed and, in my opinion, seemed like it reproduced the music better than these other IEMs. The best thing about Shures is the isolation. I love it! I love how I can wear them and can’t hear anything around me and conversely, nobody will be distracted by my music or podcasts. This is ideal for commuting. I like to make sure that others aren’t bothered by me on the subway during the hour-long commute I have.

Anyway, I’ve decided I need to get rid of some of my headphones. I want to get rid of my CX300s and JBL200s, so if you’d like them, let me know!

I’ll keep my Shures and Grados.

I’ve decided to review a blog of my choice once in a while. The first blog I’m going to review is a fellow Canadian blogger, John Chow. I actually came across his site in a newspaper article in the National Post while at work a few weeks ago, and it was then that I decided to really try to make my own blog as successful as his was. I’ve had my domain for awhile now and I’m only now trying to maintain it. Anyway, back to John. John’s blog covers a wide range of topics and is quite informative. I love his coverage of anything blog-related and the tips he gives in some of his posts to aspiring bloggers. However, his site is not a one-dimensional one. He will write and post pictures and videos of other things he feels are interesting, such as food and restaurants. Also, he offers a full RSS feed, which is quite convenient. Overall, I think anyone half interested in the internet and blogging or making money off of blogging will enjoy John’s site.

He is running a sort of promotion I suppose where he has invited his readers to review his blog and in turn, he will help drive traffic at my own site. The rules are here and if you’re a blogger, feel free to look through his site and review it also. I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out after this review is posted, but it certainly gave me an idea for more content on my blog. I look forward to reviewing more blogs in the future.

I was able to get a pretty good deal on a pair of the acclaimed Shure E4C IEMs. I’m looking forward to them and will be posting my thoughts on them when I do get them sometime this week. I’ve always been a fan of inner ear monitors (IEM) as they provide the isolation I want and usually good bass. Back in 2000, I got my first pair from Pacific Mall in Toronto from an importer of audio goodies from Asia; they were the Sony EX71s. I loved them while I had them and used them with my MD players and later with my 3rd gen. ipod. However, my tastes evolved and over the last year and a half, I was able to experiment with some other IEMs and headphones such as the Grado SR80s, Koss KSC 75s, Senn CX300s, JBL 220s and briefly the Shure E2Cs. The E2Cs blew me away and was what convinced me to put down the big bucks for the E4Cs.

I’ll be selling my Senn CX300 and JBL 220s, so if you’re interested in them, let me know!

On to the ipod. We all know what the iPhone will look like and by the time it comes out, we’ll have seen the LG Prada phone and the Samsung touchscreen either online or in stores, depending on what country you live in and how passionate you are about cellular devices. I think the new ipod should keep the iPhone form-factor and take out the cellphone functionality, keep the wifi, and - this is what I think could be killer - make sure that there’s VOIP functionalities on the phone. So, basically, wherever there is an internet connection via wifi, the user can use the phone interface on the ipod to make/receive calls! Now whether that is through some sort of iChat solution, or an independent VOIP solution, or a product from Cisco would be up to the brilliant guys in Apple product development to decide. However, the Cisco solution is interesting because it can actually happen because of the deal between Cisco and Apple which put to rest their patent lawsuit.

I really hope the new ipod can also have fantastic battery life too….One can dream right?

Maybe by the end of the year, I can be using my E4C with a brand new ipod!

As many of you may know, March 14, 2007 is the day when Canada finally gets wireless number portability. It’s about time! Minister of Industry Canada, Maxime Bernier, has also recently announced that there will be a spectrum auction around Q1 2008. Could this mean that we’re finally going to get a real nationwide 4th carrier? From a consumer standpoint, I’m very happy to see these developments. The only barrier that stands in the way of a bigshot GSM carrier from entering Canada is the foreign ownership regulations. If those are amended then hopefully we can see another GSM carrier with the coffers to build an extensive network nationwide and the leverage over handset vendors to bring the latest and greatest to the Great White North. But I bet what’s going to happen is that we’ll see one of the cable companies (read Videotron or Shaw) buy up spectrum and try to launch their wireless service.

As an employee at a wireless carrier, I see these developments as challenges and/or opportunities for us, but I can’t help but be pulled to the consumer perspective…where more competition means cheaper rate plans and better service (hopefully).

Now only if I can somehow get out of my Bell contract…

Now, I’m a really big fan of Gmail, Google’s email service. The user interface is quick and very sleek and the storage is awesome. For the longest time, webmail service reminded me of an oligopoly, where all the major players (Hotmail, Yahoo) agreed to compete in very limited areas while maintaining the status quo. The big players were not willing to push the limits in storage capabilities, modernizing the GUI at an adequate rate, and accessibility.

Enter Google, the seemingly friendly giant. Although they project their brand as a friendly company with their mantra, “Don’t be Evil”, I have doubts. Anyway, Gmail came in put the entire webmail industry on its ear with virtually unlimited storage, small text-based ads, quick ajax-based GUI, and a totally new way to organize email: labels.

The only problem I’ve experienced with Gmail is that it seems like there’s a limit on the number emails that can categorized under one label. Perhaps there’s something wrong with my account, but as of a few months ago, whenever I’ve tried to label one of my emails as “Personal”, Gmail automatically puts it under a new label it creates for me called “Personal2″. And when I try to delete this “Personal2″ label and re-categorize the emails within this label in the “Personal” label, Gmail puts these messages right back into an automatically created “Personal2″ label. I know the last few sentences sound a tad complicated, but that’s what is happening.

Has anyone heard of this or has anyone experienced this also? I think it just doesn’t make sense to place a limit on the number of emails you can place under a particular label. I’ve been trying to figure this out for awhile now and have just recently given up. I now just label my personal emails as “Personal2″.