Self-Sufficiency in Technical Information

As the way people consume information evolves, so does the level and style of communication. Users no longer want a hard copy of words on paper. They are seeking self-sufficiency in everything they do, and online user guides and technical manuals are the mainstay for getting the information they are looking for. Young consumers may attempt to figure things out first, but at the point they need to search for a solution, they expect to find it quickly and easily.

Visual Experiences For The Answers

Next-generation audiences are seeking visual experiences for their answers. They can often look at a diagram or drawing and see what they need to do instead of reading through pages of text to find an answer. Whether they are searching for part assembly instructions, software configurations, or operations manuals, a visual is generally easier for them to comprehend. By searching online documentation young minds can expect a visual experience for the solutions to their problems.

Mobile, Easy, and Error Free Research

The ability to search and peruse online documentation, user guides, and technical manuals on any device at any time is crucial to younger generations. Their research experience must be mobile, easy to reach, and error free. They are using mobile devices for every task, and successful user guides will be responsive and viewable on any platform. There is no margin for error in holding the interest of these Generation Y and Millennial (usually born after the 1980s) generations.

The future of instruction manuals and user guides is more powerful than ever, but next generation users will drive the high demand for data that is easy to find and navigate.

No company in the history of this planet has ever had the level of success that Apple has seen since 2007 with the first iPhone hit the market.

The combination punch of hardware and software development, bringing products to the market that are literally designed and developed from the ground up, is the business model of choice.

And it’s for this very reason that Google spent $12.5 billion to acquire Motorola Mobility.  This is the largest acquisition by far that Google has ever made.  And it goes to show the steps that a company will take in order to compete, and also to follow the leadership, of a company like Apple.

The world is in awe of Apple, and every hardware and software company on the planet is trying to find a way to mimmick Apple’s success.

This number would otherwise be huge, except we are comparing them to the iPad 2 sales.

In the first two months of sales for the Motorola Xoom (Android 3.0 Honeycomb) tablet, estimated sales place the device selling about 100,000 unites.  This number is not based on actual sales figures, rather on research from Deutsche Bank analysts who arrived at the 100,000 figure by using the Android developer site to see how many people are currently using the Honeycomb OS.

So let’s say for simplicity sake that the Motorola Xoom has sold 100,000 units ni the first two months.

Compare this to the Apple’s original iPad sales’ volume of 300,000 just on the first day, and you’ve got a dismal sales record already for the Motorola Xoom.

But don’t threat too much because the expectations were never set too high in the first place.  Deutsche Bank states that the current estimated sales pace is in line with its estimates of 50,000 units in the first quarter and 150,000 in the second quarter of 2011.

Again, the numbers show that Apple’s iPad is the predominant authority in the tablet market, and will be for then indefinite future.

via BGR

Here’s a birthday that I didn’t see on my Facebook wall.  The mobile phone turns 38 years today.  That’s right, the first publicly made mobile phone call happened in New York City on April 3rd, 1973 by a gentleman named Martin Cooper. As reported, he was walking down the street in New York and people were literally stunned in their tracks at what they were seeing.

Martin Cooper worked for Motorola at the time, and according to Mr. Cooper,

People want to talk to other people — not a house, or an office, or a car. Given a choice, people will demand the freedom to communicate wherever they are, unfettered by the infamous copper wire.

Today, Martin Cooper is 82 years old and still working in the field of technology.

Happy 38th birthday mobile phone?

via TNW

So what did you think of the Motorola Xoom Super Bowl commercial last night? (check out the video below).

Yeah, that looks like a pretty sweet Android tablet, I must admit.

But can someone tell me who, in their right mind, is going to pay $799 for this thing when you can get an iPad for half that?

According to the image above from Engadget, the Xoom is coming to Best Buy on February 24th with a $799 price tag.

I think someone at Motorola needs to be fired to their “let’s compete with the iPad” strategy.

Sure, the Motorola Xoom is the world’s first Android 3.0 tablet. But is that really saying a lot? And does it really justify a $799 price tag?

Apple is the one who created a whole new paradigm of personal computing with the iPad – not Motorola.

And Motorola doesn’t even have their own operating system – they are utilizing Android, much like hundreds of other tablets are doing today.

Here’s the Motorola Xoom Super Bowl commercial, in case you missed it:

The battle of the tablets is heating up and Motorola is ready to get in on the action. Motorola has released a pretty awesome commercial that walks us through the history of the tablet, from Egyptian hieroglyphic tablets in 3200 B.C., to the latest Samsung Galaxy Tab in 2010 A.D.  Motorola’s commercial points out the deficiencies of tablet releases up to this point, including the deficiency of the iPad being just like an overgrown iPhone.

Check it out below – here’s the Motorola Android tablet (pre) commercial:

Android smartphones are breaking wide open in the China market. And Motorola is right there ready to compete directly with the Android Marketplace as a source for downloading Android Apps with their new Shop4Apps platform. Not only can Android smartphone users get the latest and greatest Android apps from Motorola’s Shop4Apps store, but developers can easily submit new apps for review and inclusion.

Several Motorola Android smartphones are shipping with the Shop4Apps pre-installed. The Motorola A1680 and the XT806 smartphones come pre-installed with Shop4Apps, as well as the new Motorola XT502 Android tablet.

via Motorola

Motorola has launched the Motorola i1, which is the first push-to-talk mobile phone that is running on the Android OS. This is the old school push to talk device running on the advanced Android platform. The reviews have been dismal primarily because of the processing speed when you attempt to run applications and the web, and also because all the protection elements (i.e. battery covers, headphone jack cover, etc…) make it very difficult to manage the device. You can see the video review below from Android Central, but the final assessment is that if you absolutely need a push to talk phone, you might want to consider the Android powered Motorola i1, otherwise you probably need to look at getting a higher end Android handset.

Here’s the video review of the Motorola i1 Android phone:

via AndroidCentral

Verizon Droid Pro Leak, Release Date

So here it is > Motorola DROID Pro. It is supposed to have a 1.3GHz CPU, 4″ screen and global roaming capabilities. Estimated launch of November 2010.

Not sure how pleased Verizon is with this leak, but it doesn’t matter now, the Droid Pro leak is out and spreading across the web like wildfire.

BGR has just leaked info from an inside source at Verizon that basically dumped the next year or two of Android releases, mobile phones, and even the Motorola Android tablet.

One of the more interesting leaks was the Droid Pro.

Verizon first launched the Motorola Droid, then came the Droid X, and now we have an upcoming Droid Pro.

Droid Pro specs:

• 1.3GHZ
• 4-inch screen
• global roaming with GSM support
• at least Android 2.2 (Froyo), probably Android 3.0 (Gingerbread)

So what do you think about the possibilities of the Droid Pro?

John Biggs from Mobile Crunch is excited about the Droid Pro saying that he “would totally rock a Droid Pro, though, when it comes out. Worldwide service along with a nice Android install are just what I’ve been looking for.”

via Boy Genius Report

To get right to it, the upcoming Motorola Droid X10 Android tablet is expected to be released in early 2011, powered by Android 3.0 Gingerbread.

The delay from earlier rumors that the Motorola Droid tablet would come at the end of 2010 is apparently due to Motorola wanting the tablet to launch with Android 3.0 (Gingerbread).

The Motorola Droid tablet is reported to sport a 10 inch screen.

via BGR

What I’m going to try to do is give you quick highlights of the news that’s moving right now around the tablet industry along with links to great resources to get more indepth on these story lines.

Let me know what you think about this format in the comments.

So here we go:

Rumors next iPad will have camera

AppleInsider is reporting that the next generation of the iPad seems to be fitted for a camera. According to their sources, Apple’s iPad management profile policies available to corporate users include the capability to disable use of its camera, providing evidence of future intent to include a camera on upcoming models [read more]

Lonely Planet guidebook series for iPad launches

Guidebook pioneer Lonely Planet, among the first publishers to offer an iPad-specific travel app when the tablet computer debuted this spring, has launched an interactive, iPad version of its new Discover series. The ebooks, currently available for Great Britain, Italy, Spain, France, and Ireland, feature suggested itineraries organized by region, theme and length of trip [read more].

Microsoft, other rivals, scramble to catch up to the iPad

In light of the 3 million iPads that Apple has sold already, companies like Microsoft are no in panic mode trying to come up with rival tablet devices that can get in on the market that Apple has tapped…. wait… actually created with their iPad. Everyone is now scrambling to try to answer the iPad [read more].

Motorola’s Droid tablet is on the way

Motorola is wasting no time getting in on the tablet craze by putting together plans to launch the Motorola Droid tablet, which will be powered by Google’s Android OS. The Motorola Droid tablet is said to have a 10-inch screen and the launch date is expected as early as this autumn in the United States [read more].

Sprint has just released the Motorola i1 iDEN phone which is the very first Android powered Nextel phone with Nextel’s Direct Connect (aka push-to-talk) technology.

The Android powered Motorola i1 is available online right now, and also through business sales and telesales – the mobile phone will be available in Sprint stores on August 8th, 2010.

You can get the Motorola i1 Android phone at Sprint for $149.99 after two-year contract and $50 rebate.

There is no doubt that Sprint is forging ahead in the mobile phone market place. Sprint was the first mobile phone carrier to bring 4G data connections and 4G enabled mobile phones.

Features of the Motorola i1 Android phone:

Highlights

• Nextel Direct Connect® means you can just push-to-talk, instantly connecting you to other Nextel users–across town and across the nation
• The slender touchscreen with virtual keyboard lets you quickly navigate to just the tool or app you need.

Key Features

• Touchscreen
• Nextel Direct Connect®
• Group Connect
• Music capable
• GPS Navigation enabled
• Web browsing capable
• Email capable
• Camera
• Rugged
• Bluetooth® Wireless
• Memory card slot
• Voice activated dialing
• Second Line Service

Here is a hands on demo of the Motorola i1 Android phone via AndroidCentral:

Apple is not ready to just sit back and let this whole antenna / death grip issue blow over without a fight, and perhaps even bring down some other competitors in the process.

The most recent mobile phone in Apple’s cross hair is Verizon’s Motorola Droid X.

Apple released a video showing how the death grip on the Motorola Droid X will cause a signal loss, just like with the iPhone 4. But once again, these problems are occurring a very small percentage of total devices in the market place.

Of course, AT&T is ecstatic about Apple attacking the Motorola Droid X.

Here’s Apple’s video showing the Droid X antenna issues:

Motorola Droid 2 release date could be as early as August 12th, according to Engadget. Previous knowledge of a Droid 2 launch had the device launching from Verizon the 23rd of August, however Engadget is claiming some credible inside information for the August 12th date.

The cool thing about the rumored August 12th Droid 2 is that it will be a Motorola Droid 2 Star Wars Edition with a white R2-D2 on the back.

This is taking the Droid phone back to its roots in the Star Wars, and in fact Motorola actually had to license the name from Lucas Films.

Here’s a run down of the specs on the Droid 2 coming to Verizon:

• 8GB memory card preinstalled
• 5 megapixel camera
• 3G Mobile Hotspot functionality
• 1GHz CPU

[image via Engadget]

At around 1pm EST, the first Motorola Droid X unboxing video finally hit Youtube. The video shows a new Droid X customers unboxing the device and quickly showing the screen size and some of the apps, along with the other accessories in the Droid X box like the USB cable and phone charger.

One thing I didn’t realize until watching this video is that the Droid X has an HDMI cable out.

Here’s the first Droid X unboxing video on Youtube today:

The highly anticipated Motorola Droid X has arrived at Verizon today for it’s official debut. One of the biggest concerns that Verizon had was inventory of the Droid X. Verizon wanted to avoid the inventory problems it still has with the Droid Incredible by stocking up the stores with the Droid X for today.

Here is what BGR is getting from their Verizon sources:

“…most stores are selling out of the Motorola Droid X, yet some are having activation issues.  According to BGR sources, Droid X phones are being activated without data (voice only) as the Verizon data system is backlogged. The system isn’t down completely, but some Droid X customers are leaving the Verizon store with only voice working on the Droid X handsets. The current data backlog is said to be around 2 hours or more. However, sources are saying that customers are “extremely happy excited” about the new Motorola Droid X, even though they have to wait awhile for the data activation problems.”

So there you have it folks, most Verizon customers are excited about the purchase of their new Motorola Droid X with its massive 4.3 inch touchscreen display and the Android 2.1 OS.

Can’t wait for the first Motorola Droid X unboxing to hit YouTube – I’ll get it posted here ASAP!

This is huge, literally! The Motorola Droid X with it’s 4.3 inch touch screen display is fixin’ to hit Verizon stores tomorrow like a tidal wave.

Unlike the Droid Incredible release that has plagued Verizon with supply shortages, Verizon doesn’t plan on making the same mistake with the Motorola Droid X. In fact, it’s been said that is you order a Droid Incredible today, you won’t receive it until this time next month.

But that’s not the case with the Motorola Droid X that is set to be released by Verizon tomorrow. PC World is reporting that:

“Verizon isn’t about to let the same thing happen to its highly anticipated Droid X. Checks by several blogs indicated average stocks of between 50 and 100 units. While not a lot, it certainly means in most cases if you’re there early, you’ll be taking home the phone that day. Boy Genius Report added that the company also has backup stock in its warehouse, so stores would be able to replenish the ones they sell.”

The Droid X will be powered by the Android 2.1 OS with an update to Android 2.2 and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 coming via an over-the-air update later this summer, according to Mashable.

So who’s planning on showing up tomorrow at Verizon to pick up the huge Motorola Droid X?

[image by ccsinsight via Flickr]

As Apple is reeling from all of the negative publicity generated from the faulty iPhone 4, not to mention the scathing negative review from Consumer Reports, there is another handset that is lurking in the shadows, ready to launch and attack the Apple iPhone user base.

That device is the Motorola Droid X by Verizon, and it’s release date is now less than 2 days away (July 15th, 2010).

Most people believe that the Motorola Droid X is the best response to the iPhone 4. The Droid X has a 4.3-inch touch screen, speedy processor and an 8-megapixel camera – the iPhone 4 has a 3.5 inch touch screen. Wow… that’s nearly a 1 inch difference!

The Motorola Droid X can also act as a WiFi source for up 4 WiFi enabled devices via the Verizon data plan.

Currently, the Droid X is running on the Android 2.1 OS but Verizon said they will be sending out an auto update to all Droid X customers to upgrade to the Android 2.2 OS.

So the Droid X is massive in size with a large touch screen that make watch videos, displaying apps, playing video games, browsing the web, and interacting on Facebook and Twitter more like being on a laptop than on a mobile phone.

What do you think – is the Motorola Droid X the best response so far to the popular iPhone 4?

I just wrote about the leaked information about the Verizon Motorola Droid 2 device that was featured on the Verizon Summer catalog. But then I failed to include a video review of the Motorola Droid 2 – I figured that would be helpful. So here it is below, a video review of the Motorola Droid 2. Not too much difference between this device and the original Motorola Droid, except for a couple of small features. Check out the video below to see:

Boy Genius has just leaked some information about a Motorola Droid 2 device by Verizon, and the expected release date for the Motorola Droid 2 is sometime this summer.

The Motorola Droid 2 was featured on a Verizon Summer catalog that has not yet been released. You can view the entire Verizon Summer catalog here.

Here’s some specs on the Motorola Droid 2:

Motorola Droid 2: 8GB memory card preinstalled, 5 megapixel camera, 3G Mobile Hotspot functionality, and 1GHz CPU.

According to the Verizon Summer catalog, all that is mentioned about the Motorola Droid 2 is that it’s coming soon – no specific date yet.

Man… this mobile phone is massive!

The Motorola Droid X is coming right on the heals of Apple’s iPhone 4. Verizon is the exclusive carrier for this data device and let me tell you… this bad boy ain’t playing around.

Equipped with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, the Motorola X goes on sale at Verizon Wireless stores on Thursday, July 15th and costs $200 with a mail-in rebate and a two-year contract.

The Motorola Droid X will be powered by the latest Google Android OS – Android 2.2 and is really only comparable to the HTC EVO 4G both in size, capabilities, and it’s Android influence.

Check out the Motorola Android X video review by the LA Times:

Well it seems like the guys at AndroidSpin has got their hands on a leaked image for T-Mobile’s handset line up for the remainder of the year. Now it is possible that this could be fake, but since the Motorola Charm was just announced and it’s listed in the line up it just might not be.  According to the image a Dell netbook should be coming out between July & August. And the HTC Vanguard, which is due out in September, their is not a lot of information about the handset. There’s also an update going out to the Mytouch 3G,CLIQ & CLIQXT in August.

Josh Uhlemeyer

Former Author of Mobile News Now

Twitter: twitter.com/joshuhl

Author’s Facebook Page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT9H8Ee_aRU&feature=player_embedded

Josh Uhlemeyer
Former Author of Mobile News Now
Twitter: Twitter.com/joshuhl
Authors Facebook Page

Source:Androidguys

Josh Uhlemeyer
Former Author of Mobile News Now
Twitter:Twitter.com/joshuhl
Josh Uhlemeyer Facebook page

The handset has a square pivot design with a 5-row QWERTY keyboard, a 3.0 MP camera & Bluetooth. The FlipOut will have Adobe Flash enabled in its web browser, which will allow the user to view Flash enabled websites. The handset will also feature “Crystal Talk” which improves voice quality & filters out back round noises by adding a second microphone. The FlipOut will also feature an improved media player, which will have full screen lyric support, integrated song ID & will also allow you to know what others around you are listening to. The Motorola FlipOut will be available in Europe in the Q2 of 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F66Tx1l_ykU&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT9H8Ee_aRU&feature=player_embedded

I think this handset will be marketed mainly towards teenagers. Since the handset is mainly focused on social networking & not to mention the vast array of colors to choose from. So what do you think of the Motorola Flip Out?

Source: Motorola

Josh Uhlemeyer

Former Author of Mobile News Now
Twitter: twitter.com/joshuhl
Facebook: Josh Uhlemeyer Facebook page

Motorola Droid is expected to get Android 2.2 (froyo)

When it came to Android 2.2 going out to handsets the Nexus One is the first to get the update & HTC has already mentioned which handsets will get it. But am sure a lot of you Motorola Droid owners are wondering if you will get the Android 2.2 update. Well according to a   Motorola spokesperson quoted at Slashgear has mentioned that Android 2.2 will be coming to the Motorola Droid in the near future.The spokesperson quoted :

“We’re excited to see Google’s news of the next version of the Android operating system and look forward to integrating it on our Android-based devices as it’s made available to the open source community.” “While I can’t comment on specifics, we do expect the Droid by Motorola users to receive Android 2.2 as a software upgrade in the near future.”

Unfortunately that’s all that the spokesperson could say about Android 2.2 for the Motorola Droid. So we don’t know if Android 2.2 is going to be the exact same as the Nexus One or if it will be missing a few features of the mobile operating system. Since the Motorola Droid is a Verizon branded phone it’s possible that Verizon could disable the tethering & portable Wi-Fi hotspot functions.

Josh Uhlemeyer

Former Author of Mobile News Now.

Source: Slashgear

Well that won’t be the case with the Dell Aero, AT&T has put up a sign up page for the Dell Aero listing some of the handsets tech specs. The page states that the Dell Aero will have a 5.0-megapixel camera, 3.5 nHD display, support for Flash lite & GPS.

The Dell Aero will have the Google Apps that are found on all the other Android handsets such as the Android Market place, You Tube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Gmail & Google search. If you want to sign up for more announcements for the availability of the Dell Aero please go the source link below.

Source: Dell Aero

Josh Uhlemeyer
Former Author of Mobile News Now

For some strange reason, I either haven’t noticed this until now, or Verizon updated their website, but I was just checking out Verizon’s Droid Does website and man… it is awesome!

If you haven’t yet, you need to check out the Verizon Droid Does website.

Now I’m not an expert web developer and it’s not what I do for a living, but I’m around it enough and dabble in it enough to know that something like the Droid Does website was not cheap – by any means.

I’m guessing that it is built using flash, because of the motion involved. But I suppose that can be achieved with the new HTML5 protocol as well.

But the cool thing is that even though the Droid phone is always moving and changing, all the little icons around the Droid phone are active links – meaning, you can click them – it’s basically the Droid does navigation bar.

Anyway, I have to admit that I am very impressed with Verizon’s Droid Does website – very cool stuff and very high tech indeed.

I would give it an A+ if I had to grade the website, and especially if the grading system was based on what kind of impact or impression does it give the Motorola Droid phone.

Droid Does Stealth Commercial

One cool thing I just noticed is there is a little sub link under the “Notification Panel” navigation section called Stealth.

If you click it, the Droid Does Stealth commercial will start playing.

Here’s the link >>

So I wonder who put up the money for the design and development of that website. Was it Verizon, Google, Motorola, or all 3?