'In Defence of the Floppy Disk Save Symbol'

Connor Tomas O'Brien, in a blog post:

Those who believe that the floppy cannot represent saving a document because nobody uses real floppy disks anymore miss an important point: while symbols initially piggyback on the meaning we assigned to a material object in order to stand in for something more abstract, once a symbol is used often enough, the symbol itself is enough to carry meaning, and the material object is no longer important.

O'Brien has an interesting viewpoint on this topic, which has been on a lot of designers' and developers' minds ever since we started debating things like skeuomorphism.

'Engineering Serendipity'

Greg Lindsay, writing for The New York Times:

Silicon Valley is obsessed with serendipity, the reigning buzzword at last month’s South by Southwest Interactive Festival. The term, coined by the British aristocrat Horace Walpole in a 1754 letter, long referred to a fortunate accidental discovery. Today serendipity is regarded as close kin to creativity — the mysterious means by which new ideas enter the world. But are hallway collisions really the best way to stoke innovation?

It's tough to create an environment where creative professionals (such as developers) are highly productive. You have to hire the right team, you have to work on interesting things, and you have to figure out your workplace situation. The article covers a topic that has become de rigueur these days. It isn't enough to simply do the aforementioned steps; a company must cultivate an environment where developers meet each other in informal settings and 'talk shop', thereby generating fresh new ideas.

The First-Person Shooter Version of Mega Man Would Have Been Weird

Michael McWhertor and Wes Fenlon, at Polygon:

The game would have stayed true to core Mega Man X gameplay concepts, re-imagining his X-Buster arm cannon, his dash and his ability to appropriate the special powers of his fallen enemies. Platforming elements, including X's wall jump, and classic Mega Man X characters would have been re-imagined in new ways.

The videos are quite interesting. They show a Mega Man game that has a completely different style than previous editions. That difference, in fact, might have been the downfall for the game (which was never made beyond prototyping). The article mentions the transition that Metroid made from 2D to 3D, but it's worth noting that the style change was not quite as drastic since Metroid was always somewhat 'dark'. Mega Man, by comparison, has historically been a lot more 'upbeat' in terms of art style.

Sonic Dash is a Good Example of Freemium Done Right

I've recently been playing an iOS game called Sonic Dash, and it is a good example of how to do freemium right. While not the most original game (it is--at its core--a Temple Run clone), it is a fun game that distills the core experience of Sonic the Hedgehog games--running, jumping, and loop-the-loops.

That speaks to the fun, but what about the freemium? Well, that can be summed up by saying that Sonic Dash, while clearly trying to sell in-app purchases to the player at various points throughout the game, makes its sales attempts in a way that is much classier and more enjoyable than many other freemium games.

Take Words with Friends as an example. It not only has a user interface filled with distractions (mostly ads), but degrades the user's enjoyment by taking over the entire screen with ugly ads. In the worst cases, Zynga takes the cake by forcing users to load a video ad.

*Words with Friends is an example of poor user experience caused by intrusive ads.*

In contrast, Sonic Dash integrates in-app purchases in a more sensible manner. When a user loses, they see this screen:

The user is presented with a sales proposition (in this case, to purchase tokens that let them continue their current 'run'). Notice the difference from Words with Friends. The ad is something that helps the user continue in the game, rather than being an ad for something completely unrelated to gameplay. As well, the ad can be quickly dismissed by tapping the green arrow.

Tapping that green arrow, by the way, presents the user with the following screens:

The user is presented with items that can be purchased using 'currency' that can be earned via gameplay (in this case, collecting golden rings). As well, the user is shown their score for the current 'run'. Tapping the 'X' on the hint window will take users to the final screen, where they can share their experience on social networks, see a list of items that can be purchased, or simply play again.

It's important to take note of the fact that not only is the for-pay portion of Sonic Dash more sensible in the context of the game, its ads are also much more pleasing to the eye than the typically garish ads displayed in Words with Friends.

Folks, SEGA has done a fine job of producing a freemium game that is fun to play and sells items without being distasteful about it.

Samsung is Building Stores Inside of Best Buy

As has been reported, Samsung is building stores inside of Best Buy. This is a very smart move to push the Samsung brand across all of the many products that it manufactures.

Coincidentally, I popped into a local Best Buy and snapped a pic of that store's Samsung store (which is not yet complete).

To no one's surprise, this is across the aisle from the Apple store.

Try Out BlackBerry 10 On Your Phone

The folks at BlackBerry have a new site out there that lets smartphone users 'try out' the new BlackBerry 10 user interface via a touch-enabled guided tour. It showcases the multi-tasking feature, calendar app, game center, BlackBerry Peek + BlackBerry Hub, BlackBerry Keyboard, BBM Video with Screen Share, Docs to Go app, and Camera + Time Shift Mode features. Although it is a very static demo, it does give users a good preview of what they can expect from BlackBerry 10.

A while back, Microsoft did something similar to let users try out the Windows Phone user interface. This may be the start of a trend for platforms looking to attract users.

Google Had a Bug in Handling iTunes App Links, And Some People Freaked Out

Robin Wauters, writing for The Next Web:

Mind you, I’m not suggesting Google has intentionally tweaked its search algorithms to taunt Apple and reduce the number of direct iOS app downloads via its engine, but the change is noticeable nonetheless, and not in the best interest of end users in my opinion. I’m no Danny Sullivan, but I would think that if this was a simple matter of the Apple iTunes website losing PageRank juice, the results would be consistently poor, and they’re not.

I'm surprised that so many writers and commenters would think that Google was suppressing iTunes results when users search for iOS apps. Presumably these writers think that Google is doing this in some sort of bid to hurt iOS/help Android. Folks, the fact of the matter is that Google makes its money via advertising to users that want to use its products (e.g. Search) because the products are good. It makes no sense for Google to sabotage search term relevancy in this case.

Even better is that Google provided a statement to The Verge stating the obvious:

We’ve been having some issues fetching pages from the iTunes web servers, and as a result some people may have had problems finding iTunes apps in search easily. We’re working with the team there to ensure search users can find what they’re looking for.

Thoughts on a Facebook Home Screen

Josh Constine for TechCrunch:

Last week, Facebook sent out invites to a big press event to “see our new home on Android”. My sources got us the scoop that Facebook plans to unveil a new homescreen for Android that pipes in its news feed content and notifications for instant access. We’re told this experience will be debuted on an HTC handset running a version of Android that’s been modified by Facebook. The homescreen replacement is also likely to make its way to other handsets, either in the form a launcher app that can run on standard Android builds, or through Facebook partnerships with other OEMs.

A Facebook home screen could be interesting, but it could just as likely be a non-factor in the mobile phone market. At best, it could be something somewhat similar to Google Now. The problem is that it would be very limited when compared to the true Google Now.

Apple is Putting Boots on the Ground for Maps Accuracy

Looks like Apple is finally doing what just about every serious mapping effort does...hire people to go out in the world and verify the accuracy of mapping data. It's surprising that it took them this long to make this move.

Which Mobile Operating Systems Will Survive?

The mobile operating system market for smartphones has changed very much over the past several years. In particular, we have seen the rise of two dominant competitors (Android and iOS) and the demise of an upstart (webOS). The past few months have seen new challengers enter the fray or announce plans to do so. The following is an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor as well as a rough determination of market viability.

It should be noted that this should not be construed as investment advice.

1) Android

Strengths

Android, the operating system backed by Google, is by far the world leader in market share with almost 70% of the market as measured by shipments. Accounting for some margin of error due to the way various manufacturers report shipments vis-a-vis sales, Android has roughly 60-70% of the global installed user base. Android's open source nature and flexibility has allowed it to dominate overall market share, with particular strength in the mid- to low-end smartphone market. Android can be tweaked by users (e.g. via widgets) or manufacturers (e.g. Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's Sense). Its connection to various app stores (e.g. Google Play and the Amazon App Store for Android), along with the ability for users to 'side-load' apps from non-app store sources has increased the amount of software available for the operating system. Google Play, in particular, has over 700,000 apps available for users to download.

Weaknesses

A major weakness of Android is the fragmentation due to various OS implementations and device integration. In the case of custom skins (such as the aforementioned TouchWiz and Sense examples), the combination of customization and wireless carrier interference has drastically limited the rate at which newer versions of Android proliferate throughout the installed user base. The two year-old Gingerbread was only recently eclipsed in market share by the combined share of the Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean releases. This fact, along with device hardware variability, makes it more burdensome for developers to target the Android market. As such, it is often the case that so-called 'premier' apps launch first on iOS and later on will release a version for Android (if at all). It should be noted that Android user web usage hints at the idea that Android users buy Android phones to be, well, 'phones' and not 'mobile computers'. Android is also heavily dependent on the success of a single manufacturer, in the form of Samsung. A danger exists in the form of 'forking' such as what Amazon did to produce its Kindle Fire.

Viability: Excellent

The strengths (and installed user base) of Android make its chances of remaining viable in the foreseeable future excellent. Assuming that non-compatible forked versions do not proliferate, Android's open source nature and large user base will protect its place in the market.

2) iOS

Strengths

iOS, the operating system created by Apple, has roughly 20% of the market (see the aforementioned report in the Android section for details). Despite trailing Android in market share, Apple has been able to use iOS to achieve roughly 70-75% profit share. iOS is known for being popular with users for its tight integration with the apps, video, music, and books available via Apple's App Store and iTunes Store. The App Store, in particular, has roughly the same number of apps (700,000) as Google Play yet has a staggering lead in terms of revenue generation with a much smaller installed user base. iOS tends to receive the lion's share of so-called 'premier' apps that launch first on the platform. Examples of this include Instagram, Angry Birds, and Instapaper. There have also been cases where app makers (such as Facebook) have focused their attention on upgrading the iOS version of the app months before upgrading the Android version of the app. iOS is exclusive to hardware from a single manufacturer (Apple), and as such it benefits greatly by being optimized for a significantly reduced hardware set. In addition, developers can more quickly make use of features available in newer versions of iOS since users are able to upgrade the operating system at a much faster pace than is seen with Android.

Weaknesses

iOS, being completely produced by a single company, suffers somewhat from not being able to quickly iterate on various new design ideas or feature innovations. iOS, as is often noted by more technically inclined users, does not offer powerful widgets that quickly provide information to the user (as is done in Android). In fact, in some cases where iOS has relative parity in features such as the Notification Center (which appeared earlier in Android), iOS has much more limited interaction available for the same feature. Likewise, iOS is hampered by a rather limited interapp communication scheme that does not provide the same flexibility offered in competing platforms. This makes it more difficult for developers to integrate with third party apps beyond the ones officially sanctioned by Apple (e.g. Facebook and Twitter). iOS also suffers somewhat in terms of services maturity exemplified by the new Maps app and iCloud Core Data syncing, though this somewhat mitigated by the availability of alternative services. iOS is, by and large, only available in the high-end phone market and is thus not within the reach of users with limited budgets such as those in India and China.

Viability: Good

Apple must overcome its shortcomings in terms of services maturity as well as rapidly innovate in offering developers and users newer (and better) features. If it does so, the profit-driven war chest combined with current large installed base of users willing to pay for a premium product will protect its place in the market.

3) Windows Phone

Strengths

Windows Phone, produced by Microsoft, has roughly 3% market share. This number is due, in part, to Windows Phone being released three years 'late to the party'. Windows Phone's strengths are in its integration with the Microsoft ecosystem (e.g. with the Xbox 360 via Smart Glass) and some third party providers (e.g. Facebook and Twitter integration in the People Hub). The 'Metro' design language works well to provide users with more information and less 'chrome', and is stylistically unique when compared to its competitors.

Weaknesses

Windows Phone suffers from a much smaller app store. This is exemplified by the absence of ports of notable applications such as Instagram. Major app announcements focus on apps that have been available on other platforms for years.

Viability: Fair

Windows Phone maintains some measure of safety due to the sheer size of Microsoft. However, it'll need to take better advantage of the Microsoft ecosystem (e.g. Office and Xbox) if it is to stand a chance in the long term.

4) BlackBerry 10

Strengths

BlackBerry 10, created by BlackBerry (formerly Research in Motion), is a renewed entry into the market. Its Android app compatibility has helped to create a larger app store than would be expected at this early stage after launch. BlackBerry 10 offers innovations in the area of communication integration, multi-tasking, and the separation of work versus personal data. BlackBerry 10 also continues BlackBerry's emphasis on security and messaging.

Weaknesses

The larger than expected app store is inflated by the inclusion of Android ports. While this helps to get the platform off the ground, it is also could turn out to be a crutch used by developers to avoid having to create a BlackBerry 10 port of an app that would take advantage of features unique to the platform. BlackBerry's market share has dwindled and faces pressure in the government and enterprise spaces from Windows Phone.

Viability: Fair

BlackBerry 10 must not only recapture the BlackBerry faithful (while fending off encroachment from Microsoft), but must also find a way to carve out a significant portion of users from Android and iOS.

5) Tizen

Strengths

Tizen, produced by a consortium led by Samsung and Intel, is a new entrant into the market. It is an open source, HTML5-based platform similar in many respects to webOS. The HTML5 foundation provides developers with an opportunity to more easily create apps that work across many kinds of devices. It is backed by Samsung, who leads the world in phone sales (all sales, not just smartphones). Samsung's interest in reducing its dependence on Google ensures it will maintain some level of interest in the platform.

Weaknesses

Tizen suffers from many of the same issues that plague platforms not named 'Android' and 'iOS': limited number of apps in general, especially in the area of premier apps. While being based on HTML5 confers some ease of transferring of skills for mobile app developers (especially if they have a web development background), the past failure of webOS, the pace of innovation in the native platform space, and the concern around the look-and-feel issues surrounding HTML5 apps deflate much of the advantages of going the HTML5 route.

Viability: Poor

Despite being backed by a market leader like Samsung, the issues surrounding HTML5 as a mobile operating system remain outstanding. As well, it is entirely possible that Samsung may decide to 'pull an Amazon' and fork Android in order to reduce its dependence on Google. This would relegate Tizen to a second-class citizen in the Samsung ecosystem.

6) Firefox OS

Strengths

Firefox OS, created by the Mozilla Foundation, is an open source, HTML5-based platform. It is targeted at devices at the low-end of the market, where it will have less competition from the likes of Apple or the mid- to high-end Android devices manufactured by Samsung. As well, the emphasis on low-end (and thus less expensive) phones allows Firefox OS an opportunity to catch some of the growing market in the developing world.

Weaknesses

Firefox OS shares all of the weaknesses of the aforementioned Tizen operating system. As well, it suffers from not being backed by a market behemoth like Samsung.

Viability: Poor

Entering a market with two established, entrenched platforms and two clear market manufacturers (one of which has its own hat in the budget OS ring) creates a poor outlook for Firefox OS.

7) Ubuntu (for phones)

Strengths

Ubuntu, backed by Canonical, is a smartphone interface for the Ubuntu operating system. It provides for native apps as well as HTML5-based apps. It has a user interface design that emphasizes the use of gestures. It provides a 'full PC experience' when docked.

Weaknesses

Ubuntu's strengths are arguably weaknesses as well. The extensive use of gestures to drive the UI may equally as innovative as it is daunting to use for new users. Trumpeting the ability to turn the phone into a 'full PC' would make more sense as an advantage for Microsoft (the desktop OS leader) than it does for an OS with a tiny desktop market share.

Viability: Poor

Ubuntu for phones, unfortunately, makes the least amount of sense as a platform compared to its competitors. Outside of some UI innovation, there is very little evidence that it stands a chance of surviving in a very crowded market.

Summary

The mobile operating system market has grown and matured at a fantastic pace. As the market matures, we will likely see a relative few competitors remaining in the space once the dust settles.