Kindle Direct Publishing: Easier than iBooks?

by Holly Shoemaker

Earlier in the year I discussed how education by Apple will not reach those in need and how the Department of Justice (DOJ) looked into e-book price fixing. In addition to using e-books to try to transform the education industry, individual authors look to do the same with self-publishing. To that end, Amazon’s expanding Kindle line does not just provide competition with iPads, but an outlet for individuals to become their own publishers.

Amazon announced that 27 out of its top 100 Kindle books used Kindle Direct Publishing. Instead of dealing with publishers, Amazon says authors publish directly from its service, and authors have the ability to participate in the company’s 70 percent royalty program.
 
Better Choice than iBooks?

Both outlets give authors options not always available through traditional book publishers. Self-publishing via Amazon provides a less stringent way to get published when compared to Apple's iBooks. While Apple released the iBooks Author is January 2012 as a competitor to Kindle, it makes it more difficult for self- publishers. As it does with apps, Apple has final approval of what it makes available, and published books require an ISBN. With Kindle Direct Publishing, authors choose the royalty program and publish their content.

Amazon Stays True to Profit Model; Peculiar Showcase Tablet Prior to FCC Approval

by Holly Shoemaker

As expected, Amazon announced its new Kindle lineup on Thursday. The standout item, designed to compete with Apple's iPads, but at a lower price point, is the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE Wireless for $499. Amazon expects the item to ship on November 20, 2012. However, there is one issue with the device – it has yet to receive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval.

Potential Roadblock?

I received the email from Amazon shortly after the company’s announcement on Thursday. The email said the following, “The 4G device has not been authorized as required by the FCC. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”

The FCC must approve tablets and other devices before companies start selling them. The FCC checks to ensure electronics do not interfere with signals and that they adhere to safety standards. Amazon expects to receive approval by the November 20, 2012 shipping date, but its move to announce a non-approved tablet seems unusual. At the same time, the company clearly has faith in its direction and expects to receive the required approval in time.

My Additional Findings

Amazon has once again updated its “Compare Kindles” section and the Kindle Fire HD is now available for $199 with16 GB of storage, and the tablet will start shipping on September 14, 2012. The Kindle Fire has a list price of $159, which will also ship on September 14, 2012.

e-Readers Not Forgotten

Amazon also introduced the Kindle Paperwhite, showing consumers the company still believes in its e-readers. E-readers still provide a good choice for those mainly interested in online books.

Concluding Thoughts

Amazon designed the Kindle brand for expansion. Its ability to offer different price points depending on a user’s needs and budget should appeal to a larger consumer base. While that in itself differentiates Amazon from Apple, Amazon has remained true to its profit model. While Apple makes more money off its devices, Amazon remains focused on content and accessories, showing that it understands the company’s revenue stream. Owning a device is only the start – customers need to build libraries, stream video and download apps, to name a few, to truly get the most out of owning a tablet.

Apple Device Codes Hacked? Not So Says FBI

by Holly Shoemaker

A hacking group, known as Anonymous, posted claims this week that it accessed 12 million Apple device codes, also known as unique device identifier numbers (UDIDs), from an FBI computer. Now, Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have said the claim lacks merit.

Anonymous said it accessed the data in March by hacking into an FBI laptop. The group claimed the flaws in Java allowed hackers to obtain the IDs. Hackers have taken advantage of these security flaws in the past to infect Macs and PCs. Yesterday, the FBI confirmed that its laptops were not used and that no one from the FBI gathered this data. Apple also said it did not provide any organization with the account information.

Security Breach?

At this time, the FBI has said it does not consider this a serious security breach. In looking at the information, it does mostly come across as a bunch of rants, although it appears hackers have posted some actual user devices and unique codes assigned to iPhones, iPads and other devices.

Are Device Codes Threatening? 

By themselves, hackers cannot really do much with the device codes. The issue of privacy comes into question when the UDIDs are viewed with sensitive information like addresses and phone numbers. In this case, it does not appear Anonymous has that additional information, or at least, the group has not posted that.

Apple took proactive measures against hacking prior to the incident. The latest version of software for the iPhone and other devices will have a feature that replaces UDIDs. That should provide better security protection for users.

Samsung Undercuts Nokia: Debuts First Windows 8 Smartphone

by Holly Shoemaker

After the verdict in California, a Samsung attorney said the company had already put plans in motion to differentiate its products from iPhones and iPads. At the IFA trade show in Berlin today, Samsung did just that. In a move that undercuts Nokia, Samsung announced that in Q4 2012, it will offer its first Windows 8 Phone, the ATIV S. Nokia is expected to announce its new Lumia Windows 8 smartphones on September 5, 2012 in New York.

Overview of ATIV S

While the ATIV S is not the first Windows-based phone, it is the first Windows 8 one. It will feature a 4.8-inch HD display, HSPA+ support, a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera and a 1.5 gigahertz dual-core processor. At this time, the price has not been released and the phone lacks LTE connectivity, which has analysts speculating that T-Mobile will become the first carrier to sell the phone. In January, T-Mobile started selling the Lumia 710.

Concluding Thoughts 

While I discussed in June how the rumor of Samsung buying Nokia lacked rationale, perhaps more news will follow if Nokia fails to gain traction when its releases its Windows 8 phone. One thing remains certain - Samsung shows no signs of losing its number one spot as the world's largest handset manufacturer; the company dethroned Nokia to gain that honor.

Apple Drops YouTube App: Google’s Search Engine Next?

by Holly Shoemaker

Earlier this week, Apple announced that when it releases iOS 6, its latest operating system, the company will no longer offer Google’s YouTube app as a pre-installed one on iPhones and iPads. At is developer’s conference earlier this year, Apple announced that it would also drop Google Maps from the new iPhone.

Licensing Issue?

Apple said that its license with YouTube ended, but that consumers may still use YouTube via the Safari browser. At this time, Apple has not said if it will replace YouTube with another app.

Concluding Thoughts

It is no surprise that Apple continues to drop apps associated with Google. As the race to win the smartphone market continues to heat up, so will the app war. Analysts expect that Google needs to worry about a larger matter – that Apple will drop Google as the default search engine on the iPhone. While that is unknown until the contract expires, Apple should think of how that move could affect its customers. Google is still the largest, and in my opinion, most effective search engine. Sorry Bing – I do not think Google’s potential loss will become Microsoft’s gain.

New iPad Launches in China without Chaos

by Holly Shoemaker

Weeks after settling its lawsuit with Proview Technology over then naming rights to iPad, the company launched the new iPad in China on Friday. Most noteworthy, was the absence of crowds and often chaotic nature that marks Apple launches in China. In January 2012, the police became involved, and Apple decided not open the doors of its Beijing Apple Store when it launched the iPhone 4S.

Concluding Thoughts

This time, consumers who showed up early to Apple stores noted the absence of long lines and a noticeable calmness surrounding the launch. After the iPhone 4S launch in January, Apple adopted an online reservation system to assist with crowd control. The system seemed to work as the new iPad launched in China without a hitch.

The demand for Apple’s products remains high throughout China. Reports indicate that Apple saw its profits increase in Q2 2012 threefold to $7.9 billion in Greater China.

Nexus 7 Ships, Unclear How Tablet Affects Retail Chains

by Holly Shoemaker

Google shipped its Nexus 7 tablet to customers in the United States this week. Reports remain mixed regarding the availability of the tablet in retail stores. Google has not officially said when the tablet will be for sale in retail chains, although some consumers indicate they have purchased the tablet in stores. Some retailers report they have sold out of all Nexus 7 tablets. Google has not publicly released information on how many Nexus 7 tablets it shipped to retailers or the quantity stores ordered.

Concluding Thoughts

This is the first tablet to have Google's name on it and the first to run Jelly Bean, the latest Android operating system. At this time, the Kindle Fire is the best-selling Android tablet. As I have stated before, based on the price point, Google’s tablet seems like it could affect sales of Amazon's Kindle line over Apple's iPads. However, its smaller size could sway some customers considering iPads and Android tablets. For those that do not want a skin over the Android platform, like the Kindle Fire has, the Nexus 7 could be a good choice.

China: The Ally in the Map App Battle

by Holly Shoemaker

Apple escalated the map app battle at its annual developer’s conference this past June with its decision to drop Google Maps as the default map application on its upcoming iPhone. Now, the company selected AutoNavi Holdings Ltd. as its map partner for future iPads and iPhones in China. AutoNavi has worked with Google since 2006.

Concluding Thoughts 

AutoNavi should profit on both sides and gain an edge over its competitor, NavInfo Co. Auto Navi announced last June that Samsung chose its navigation app for the Galaxy S III. For Apple, the move is strategic and makes sense for its Chinese customers. China remains Apple’s second largest market behind the United States. Its move to partner with AutoNavi, a company that also knows Google, should help Apple continue to build its consumer base in China.

Apple, Foxconn to Improve Factory Working Conditions

by Holly Shoemaker

On Thursday, May 10, 2012, Apple and Foxconn, the company’s main supplier, agreed to share the costs related to improving working conditions in factories that make iPads and iPhones.

 

Background Information

Apple and Foxconn have garnered media attention in the past months regarding working conditions in some of its Chinese factories. In April 2012, 200 employees threatened to commit suicide over low wages. The same factory dealt with a similar threat in January 2012 when 300 employees threatened to commit suicide over conditions related to working on Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles.

In January 2012, Apple entered into a partnership with the Fair Labor Association (FLA). As part of the partnership, Apple must uphold the FLA’s ethics code. Based on the FLA’s inspection of Foxconn, and now its recommendations, Apple has to make improvement by July 1, 2013.

At this time, the companies have not disclosed the exact breakdown of who will pay for what costs.

Concluding Thoughts

Apple had no choice but to publicly say it will remedy conditions because of media attention, its relationship with the FLA and its reliance on China to manufacture parts.

The improvements do not just benefit Apple and Foxconn. They will benefit companies such as Dell and Amazon who also rely on the same worker base  and plants to manufacture parts.

Tablets Useful as Secondary Screens for Radiologists

by Holly Shoemaker

A study conducted by Dr. Mark McEntee of the University of Sydney shows that iPads and other tablets make useful secondary screens for radiologists. He presented his findings at a recent medical imaging conference in San Diego, Calif.

Overview of Findings

Dr. McEntee had eight U.S. board-certified radiologists identify specific conditions such as fractures and intracranial bleeding using iPads and secondary screens. He found the following:

• Secondary screens like iPads performed just as well as traditional LCD monitors. He also discussed how using the images when talking with patients will make for more productive visits.
  
• He cautioned that secondary monitors are not always a good substitute for high-resolution radiology ones. This is attributed to the resolution of the displays. Radiology displays have a resolution of 508 to 708 dots per inch (dpi). In contrast, iPads have a 130 dpi. Therefore, in some cases, radiologists will not obtain all the needed views to properly diagnose a patient.
  
• The study raised concerns regarding hospital theft. As the use of tablets in hospitals increase, so does the chance of theft. Dr. McEntee recommends that medical professionals do not store patient data on tablets.

Concluding Thoughts

The study is relatively small, but it does reinforce the importance of testing to ensure all mobile devices meet necessary guidelines. The study also stresses the need for hospitals to have defined policies on when it is appropriate to use a primary or secondary screen. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will likely have oversight as it continues to seek ways to monitor mobile devices.