TechStew

The Nokia of old is dead! Last year I predicted that this year would mark the demise of Nokia, at one time the biggest cell phone manufacturer in the world. After its disastrous dithering and the resulting market failure Nokia was snatched up by Microsoft for a measly $7.2b, a fraction of its worth from just a couple of years ago (in comparison, Skype was bought for $8.6b). However, I do not think that Microsoft really wanted to buy Nokia, rather it was forced into this move by Nokia’s dismal performance, and the fact that Nokia carried 90 per cent of all Windows Phone sales. Microsoft had no choice but to purchase the flailing smartphone maker in order to save its position in the market.

With Apple's stock down 25% since its peak, industry watchers and stock market analysts are beginning to pose this almost unimaginable question. Of course, Apple is still a fabulously successful company. They remain the most valuable and profitable corporation in the world. Apple's design, manufacturing and distribution capabilities are the envy of consumer product companies. Their innovation, marketing and merchandising prowess is legendary. Any ripple in Apple's skyrocketing success can be a catalyst for Apple watchers to question Apple's future. Analyst predicts Apple's 2013 product lineup, includes new iPad mini, iPhone 5S

Given the speed of technological advancements and a slew of new mobile phones hitting the market every week it is no wonder the virtual wars of 'who is the best' among blogger and commentators are raging more then ever.   Some light on which brand customers like the best can be found in  a report from last week by Toni Sacconaghi, a Bernstein Research analyst : 95% of current iPhone users in Europe and North America plan on repurchasing an iPhone now, and 85% of iPad customers plan on repurchasing another iPad some time down the line as well. Bernstein Research also surveyed other smartphone users and found that 75% of Android users plan to repurchase another   Android device, 58% of BlackBerry users plan on doing similarly, while just 37% of Windows phone owners intend on sticking with the platform. At the bottom of the list is now almost obsolete Symbian.  Popularity of mobile platforms Mobile OS comparison: Windows Phone ...

How important is mobile phone screen size? iPhone and Galaxy Note In the sea of mobile devices available to consumers the screen size ends up being the deciding factor way too often when purchasing a new mobile phone. I think this is definitely a wrong approach akin to the choice of number of pixels on your next point and shoot camera. Simply put there is a score of characteristics which is far more relevant to your user experience than the mere size of the cell phone screen. Before I go any further I would like start by admitting that I was somewhat of a ‘size queen’ myself; started on HTC HD with 3.7” and ended up with Titan with 4.7” screen. I loved the idea of larger screen thinking of improved web page browsing and movie watching. So I spent hours transcoding my favorite movies to the mobile format hoping that one day I would watch these movies (or my transcoded TV series) when travelling and away from my home TV. Do you know how many times I actually watched them? Zero...