Enter the Enterprise Tablet

3.3 million iPads have been sold since the product launch in April.  Even for Apple -- a company whose new products are always fanatically anticipated -- that's a huge success!  It's clear that the general consumer thinks a highly-portable content-consumption device is a good idea.  

I agree -- it's a great idea!  It's actually quite liberating to be able to kick back on the couch, surf the web, check email, etc., all while feeling as comfortable as reading a magazine.  The content consumption tablet has arrived and it's here to stay.

But what about all the hopes for an 'enterprise tablet' -- a tablet that someone may actually want to take to the office and use it for -- well, work.  While that idea is yet to be proven successful, companies are refusing to give up.

Cisco has recently announced the Cius (pronounced See-Us), a Android-OS powered tablet for the business-person on the go.  As the name suggests, the primary use of this tablet is as an extension of Cisco's tele-presence system.

As the modern workplace continues to expand beyond the confines of office buildings and meeting rooms; keeping workers 'connected' via instant messaging, video conferencing, etc becomes increasingly important.  The Cius delivers this functionality in a low-cost package that's also highly portable.  I can't imagine why any organization who has invested in Cisco's tele-presence (it's expensive) would chose to not further expand their remote-productivity capabilities with the Cius.

And now it looks like Cisco is not alone.  The HP Slate (previously considered dead) seems to have been re-branded as a Windows powered enterprise tablet. At this point these are just rumors, so little is know about the features or the target audience HP is after.  However, given HP's own tele-presence system (called Halo), one can guess that they are shooting for something at least somewhat similar to the Cius.

It's been very exciting to witness (and participate in) the iPad success.  I'm now very curious if the tablet form-factor will be received with equal enthusiasm by the enterprise.

Nokia Reacts to Apple Press Conference : 'We Make Antennas, Too'

Shortly after Apple's Antennagate press conference, Nokia issued the following public statement. (Interesting parts in bold)

"Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.

Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.

In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That's why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design."

The typical reaction to the statement: "Hey, my first cell phone was a Nokia. They make smartphones, now?"

Apple's Stand on the iPhone 4 's Antenna: We Love You, Here's a Bumper Case

Apple held a press conference this morning to respond to the perceived outrage over the iPhone 4's new antenna design.  Unless you've been vacationing on a remote island for the past 22 days, you're already well aware of the fact that some people have been experiencing dropped calls if they held the phone a certain way.  Some have gone as far as to call Apple's new product unusable.

The press conference wasn't a recall announcement, the declaration of an upcoming fix, or even an apology.  Instead, Apple used it as an opportunity to put the entire situation in perspective.  I think they achieved that.

Reception Always Degrades When a Phone is Held

Apple showed several slides displaying how phones from other vendors also 'lose bars' when held in the palm of a hand.  According to Apple, the Blackberry Bold 9700, Droid Eris, and Samsung Ominia II  (each using a different type of operating system) have the same antenna problem as the iPhone 4.


 

 

Apple's stand is that it's not the antenna design that's to be blamed, but rather the laws of physics.  The logical question that follows is - why hasn't an antenna problem been the focus of so much (or any) attention before?  

Steve Jobs' answer, while not verifiable, was interesting.   He believes the reason is the 'bull's eye' Apple placed in the lower left corner of the phone.

By having the dual antennas be external and leaving a visible seam where they meet, the phone begged people to hold it where it wasn't suppose to be held.  The fingers are just naturally drawn to the difference in surface texture.  As a result, iPhone 4 owners were more likely to disrupt the antenna reception than those owning other phones. 

Also, since the iPhone 4 shape is radically different in comparison to the 3G or 3GS, only a limited number of case have been available.  Customers are therefore walking out of stores (and using) 'naked' iPhone 4s.  Had more people been able to purchase cases, the weak spot would have been less noticeable. 

What Apple wanted people to take away from this is:

• iPhone 4's antenna problems are not unique
• The antenna issue is a an industry-wide problem
• Despite the flaw, the iPhone 4 is still an amazing device.

Undoubtedly, some would have a hard time classifying the phone as amazing given the above arguments alone. So Apple brought out some data.

Data Shows Users Think the iPhone 4 is Great 

To counter the claims that the phone is 'unusable', Apple shared some interesting data points.

• 0.55% - percentage of iPhone 4 owners who have called Apple Care complaining about receptions issues.  This suggests that you have to go out of your way to experience the antenna problem.  That's pretty convincing.  While the antenna problem is real, it's not a 'practical' one.
• 1.7% - percentage of iPhone 4s returned.  Over 98% of people who bought an iPhone 4 don't want to part with it.  This is even more impressive if you consider that the return rate for the 3GS was 6%
• < 1 - number of additional dropped calls per 100 when compared to previous generation iPhones.  AT&T provided the data here.  Dropped calls are happening, but it's in line with what's always happened. This suggest no new flaw in networks or phones

In my opinion, it's hard to argue with such data.  Despite the you-tube videos and late-night talk show skits, the people who are actually using these phones aren't complaining.

We Love You -- We Mean It

I'm not sure how many times Steve Jobs said 'we love our customers', but it's up there.  Given the popularity of their products -- I think it's true.  Whereas Microsoft loves the enterprise, Apple loves the everyday man and woman.  They understand their needs -- simplicity, usability-- and cater to them.  To prove this declaration of love, everyone with an iPhone 4 can now receive a free bumper case.  If you've already purchased a bumper case, they will refund the cost.  While the presented data shows that this may not really be necessary, it's a nice gesture to further enhance what Apple is all about -- great customer service.

So Why All The Hoopla

The 'bull's-eye' and limited availability of cases may have have contributed to people discovering the problem, and that 'discovery' did drive up negative commentary.  But, according to Steve Jobs, the real reason why people made such a big stink about this had actually nothing to do with phones. It's simple human nature.  We love to see someone on top, shove them hard, and watch them fall.  

If there is one thing from this event that stuck with me the most, it's a question Steve Jobs posed during the Q&A portion of the event. To all the people trying to tear down Apple, he asked:

"... what would you prefer? That we were a Korean company? Or that we, here in America, are leading the world with these products ..." 

In a world where America is under constant attack from others trying to become as influential, whey aren't we more supportive and proud of a U.S. company doing so well?  Why are so many fueled by the desire to watch this company crumble?   It's Apple -- the inventor of the computer as we know it -- and it's our Apple.

Keep up the good work, Apple -- Everyone else, enough with the antenna, already.


 

Apple Announces iPhone 4 Press Conference This Friday

The iPhone 4 antenna madness continues.  Consumer Reports says the problems are real and can't recommend the phone ...  An RF expert says Consumer Report's testing was flawed ... People who can pay $600 for a phone refuse to part with $29.99 for a bumper case ...

I was starting to think that we'd have to wait for the Singularity weirdos to bring back Einstein before we got to the bottom of this.  Maybe we'll get some answers sooner --  Apple is holding a press conference to explain things this Friday.  The ever cautious Android guys have already started shaping their tin-foil hats.  

Opportunities in Emerging Platforms - You're Too Late To Be First

Thoughts on how developers should view new and emerging platforms such as Android and (more appropriately) Windows Phone 7.

Oh if only all of us could have ridden the Fart-App Wave.  In 2008, fart apps were selling to the tune of $10,000 a day.  You read that correctly.  Recording and playing back a medley of fart noises was making someone $10,000 every day!  Had I'd been so lucky, today I'd be dictating this blog to my assistant while trying not to spill my Mai-Tai.

I'm happy for those titans of flatulence. Honestly, more power to them! The rest of us, however, need to move on.  We need to move on and fully acknowledge the fact that those days are long gone.

It's tempting to look at a new emerging platform and think 'Hey, I bet that new doo-hickey doesn't have a truck-stop inspired fart collection yet'.  Maybe it doesn't, but that doesn't change the fact that there is an army of 'entrepreneurs' thinking the same thing.  The fart app was a hit because since Alexander Graham Bell, no phone in the history of phones has ever farted before. As stupid as it was, it was novel, and you can't recreate novelty simply by porting it to a new platform. 

In the last three years, hundreds of thousands of apps have been deployed.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that all the simple novel ideas have been bled dry.  While the evolution of our devices can trigger a new surge of next-generation fart apps (for example, iPhone 4's new gyroscope or LED light), those opportunities are very rare.  Your best bet, then, is to take an existing, non-trivial, proven-successful application and add some form of new value.  And you do that by rethinking feature sets, improving quality, and crafting superior user-experiences.

If you're thinking that this contradicts conventional thinking, you're right, it contradicts conventional thinking.  How can someone re-create something that already exists, slap on 5-10% new value on top and expect people to jump ship and swim their way? The answer is that app purchases are made with virtually zero commitment in mind.

If you purchase a new TV only to later find that same TV, at the same exact price, but with a much nicer remote-control, you will more than likely not be buying another new TV that day.  A TV purchase -- given it's cost and the thought you put into deciding which TV to buy -- is a commitment that you won't quickly abandon.  The same hold true for smaller purchases as well -- say, anti-virus software going for $50.  Apps, on the other hand, are 'expensive' at $9.99.  The typical one runs $0.99.  There's no commitment there.  If you're not 100% satisfied with an app you own and something somewhat better comes along, you'll give it a whirl.  So, as a developer, it makes sense to find something with a large user base and build something that is (at the very least) somewhat better.

So in the world of mobile device platforms -- new, emerging, busting at the seams with buzz -- none of that matters.  In my opinion, appropriate considerations are

1. Which platform best enables developers to create an app with new or improved value and superior user experiences.
2. Which platform best enables consumers to discover and acquire those applications. 

Perhaps you think Android is that platform or maybe you think Windows Phone 7 will outshine the others. Maybe iOS, the reigning champion, will remain the reigning champion.  I have my opinions on which platform makes the most sense, but none of them have anything to do with NEW.