The wireless industry is trying to radically improve mobile Web browsing by making it as much like the PC experience as possible. In a step in that direction, handset makers are bringing Flash multimedia player to more cellphones.
This week Adobe signed a deal with cellphone manufacturers Sony Ericsson, Nokia, LG, and Motorola to bring it’s Flash component to cell phones.
At the same time, some carriers are preloading advanced Web browsers, like Opera and Google’s Android, into handsets. Those browsers are good at reformatting Web pages designed for PCs to make them viewable on phones with 2.5-inch screens.
Right now most of the Websites don’t have mobile-only versions. That is a problem for wireless carriers that rely increasingly on advanced Web and multimedia services to power their growth.
Only about 14% of U.S. cellphone users accessed the Web at least once in February.
Also, making video from Websites work on cellphones is widely seen as a crucial component of the new shift. And, again, wider distribution of Flash is one significant step. For that Adobe is dropping its traditional licensing fees and making changes to its technology that simplifies its integration into mobile phones.
Beyond this, there are other major technical limitations, since most of the cellphones don’t have enough memory or processing power to support video applications.
Some in the industry say that cellphones won’t ever truly be able to duplicate the PC Web. Some Web services that are packed with content and features, like MySpace and Facebook, are best offered as specialized software applications that consumers can download on select devices.
Google’s ten design principles
Google has published a list of then things that make a design “Googley”, and therefore universal.
1. Focus on people –their lives, their work, their dreams.
2. Every millisecond counts.
3. Simplicity is powerful.
4. Engage beginners and attract experts.
5. Dare to innovate.
6. Design for the world.
7. Plan for today’s and tomorrow’s business.
8. Delight the eye without distracting the mind.
9. Be worthy of people’s trust.
10. Add a human touch.
AT&T Mobile TV launched: $30 for unlimited watching
AT&T has just launched its mobile television service in 58 markets, one year after Verizon’s V Cast Mobile TV. Both use MediaFLO technology. Packages start at $13 per month for four channels: CBS Mobile, Fox Mobile, NBC 2Go and NBC News 2Go. There is a $30 premium services, with includes unlimited TV watching with access to 150 simulcast or time-shifted programming from CNN, ESPN, Comedy Central and others. It only works with LG’s touch-screen Vu and Samsung’s Access.
The new 3G iPhone will be a game-changing
The new $199 3G iPhone that will come this summer could be a game-changing device. Being 3G, the higher speed data service could open up video streaming to your handset; it will allow good quality live newscasts or Video on demand.
However, there is a catch: data plans start around $100 month with Apple picking up about 25 % of the monthly revenue.
