Joe Wilcox

Today, Google formally announced Android 3.2, an "incremental release" that addresses a big perception problem: Not enough native Honeycomb tablet apps. Apple's iPad has 100,000, while Android has, well, you don't really want to know.

Google announced the new capability a week ago. Now developers will have access to it: "'Stretch to fill screen' is normal layout resizing (using your app's alternative resources for size and density) and 'Zoom to fill screen' is the new screen compatibility mode" Scott Main, lead tech writer for developer.android.com, writes in a July 11 blog post.

Continue reading →

That's the question raised by Amazon's new Kindle Textbook Rental service, announced today. Amazon claims 80-percent savings when renting rather than buying. Would you go for it?

Amazon says it has "tens of thousands" of e-textbooks available to rent for initial 30 day-periods with extensions that could go as little as one day more up to a total of 360 days. The rental program is available for Kindle ereaders or any device capable of running the Kindle software, including Android handsets or tablets, iPad, iPhone, Macs or PCs.

Continue reading →

Second in a series. On Saturday, I let AT&T bill me for another month of U-verse service, even as I try to switch to over-the-air broadcasts and Internet streaming. To be honest, cutting cable's cord is more difficult than I anticipated.

Key points in this post: 1) I don't get OTA reception with antenna attached to Tivo. 2) I do get nearly a dozen stations clearly with antenna attached to TV. 3) TiVo, which was supposed to be the hub to OTA/streaming, has proved incapable. 4) There are more local channels available OTA than are typically carried on cable/IPTV.

Continue reading →

Yesterday's Flurry blog post "iPad 2 and Verizon iPhone Take Some Wind Out of Android's Sail" sent the Apple Fanclub of bloggers and journalists into a tizzy. They're still blogging about this great news today. But is it really so great?

I don't think so, because the data is limited in reach and the analysis supporting it overlooks too much. So I'm asking for your help in getting different perspective. If you develop for multiple mobile operating systems, please tell us which matter more to you -- in comments or by sending email to joe at betanews dot com. I'll explain more in the closing paragraphs. Meanwhile please answer the two polls below -- one for developers and another for mobile device buyers (which could be developers, too).

Continue reading →

You could spend real money for virtual goods on the farm, or earn merit badges for being an informed citizen instead. For free.

Late yesterday, Google announced "News Badges" -- more than 500 of them -- for readers of Google News. I was feeling crappy yesterday (still am today -- and I'm not looking for sympathy badges), otherwise you would have read this story last night. Maybe. I kind of chuckled about the whole concept and joked with other Betanews writers about it.

Continue reading →

Investors rewarded Google on Friday for strong second quarterly earnings results, with shares up more than 13 percent in early trading. Google traded $599.69, up $70.75, or 13.38 percent soon after the opening bell. The stock closed at $528.94 yesterday. Shares rose more than 10 percent overnight in after-hours trading. Google opened at $597.87 this morning.

Google announced Q2 earnings late yesterday. Revenues rose 32 percent to $9.03 billion, year over year; net income climbed to $2.51 billion up from $1.84 billion a year earlier. That's $7.68 earnings per share. Operating income was $2.88 billion.

Continue reading →

In case you hadn't noticed, very few rumor stories appear here at Betanews. We purposely err on the side of factual reporting rather than spread gossip. There are plenty of sites doing that all to well. Today's Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and MacBook Air no-shows are examples why we cautiously write about rumors. Particularly when it comes to Apple. The rumors are often wrong.

But in this era of grubbing for pageviews, it's easy for bloggers and reporters (and their editors, if there are any) to justify publishing rumors, particularly about hot company Apple. Often, the mass of readers see only the headlines and assume the rumor to be fact. Look around and tell me a tech company for which there are more rumor stories circulating than Apple. The company's secretive character is major reason.

Continue reading →

For a change, Gartner and IDC agree on something. Both analyst firms put Apple in third place, based on shipments, during calendar Q2 2011. Apple was the only bright performer, during another lackluster quarter. Both firms put a positive spin on otherwise grim numbers.

The overall global PC market grew a tepid 2.3 percent year over year, according to Gartner, down from its earlier 6.7-percent growth projection. IDC put growth at 2.6 percent, slightly off its 2.9-percent estimate. By comparison, US PC shipments were disastrous, falling 5.6 percent year over year, according to Gartner, and declining 4.2 percent by IDC's reckoning.

Continue reading →

Well, so much for the 23 million subscribers Netflix worked so hard to get. Based on Betanews poll results, currently with more than 1,600 responses -- 59.52 percent of Netflix users will "cancel account".

We asked: "Netflix has separated DVD and streaming plans -- raising prices 60 percent for many customers. How will you respond?" The company announced the pricing increases yesterday. Under the old arrangement, subscribers could rent one DVD at a time and get unlimited streaming for $8.99. Under the new scheme, 1-disc rentals and unlimited streaming are $7.99 a piece. To get both, the new price is $15.98, or a $6.99 increase.

Continue reading →

I told you so. In April, citing unnamed sources, Business Insider set the web aflame with rumors that Microsoft would back away from its retail store strategy. I asserted that Microsoft wouldn't and shouldn't. Today during his Worldwide Partners Conference keynote, Microsoft COO said that more stores would be coming. Lots of them.

"We're going to open up to 75 more stores over the next 2 to 3 years and continue to bring our stores outside the US as well", Turner boomed. I hope that's clear enough for all the web's rumor-peddlers.

Continue reading →

Yesterday, Netflix did something almost unthinkable in this economy -- dramatically increased prices for many customers. I asked for your reaction, and, whoa, did you give it.

To recap: Netflix separated its DVD and streaming plans. Under the old arrangement, subscribers could rent one DVD at a time and get unlimited streaming for $8.99. Under the new scheme, 1-disc rentals and unlimited streaming are $7.99 a piece. To get both, the new price is $15.98, or a $6.99 increase.

Continue reading →

Will the Google makeovers never end? I sure hope not.

Google has started to roll out yet another new version of the Android Market. The revamped store client is going out to Android 2.2 or higher handsets now, on a rolling basis expected to take several weeks.

Continue reading →

I've had a DVD-rental plan from Netflix since February 1999. Sometime between now and September 1, I will cancel that plan -- not because I want to give up DVD movies but because Netflix is forcing me to choose between them or streaming. To get both, I will substantially pay more. So will you, if a Netflix subscriber.

I got the official email about an hour ago: "Your current $9.99 a month membership for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs will be split into two distinct plans. Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month. Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs, 1 out at-a-time (no streaming) for $7.99 a month. Your price for getting both of these plans will be $15.98 a month ($7.99 + $7.99). You don't need to do anything to continue your memberships for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs".

Continue reading →

Groupon has nothing to fear from Google. Yet. But the methodical Google Offers expansion shouldn't be ignored -- today two other cities join Portland. Google Offers beta launched in the Oregon city on June 1.

Google announced New York and San Francisco as coming soon on that day. Next up, revealed today: Austin, Boston, Denver, Seattle and Washington, DC and possibility Google Offers could reach 10 major metropolitan areas by early autumn.

Continue reading →

Now Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg should worry. Google+ is scarcely two weeks old and invite-only but growing like a weed. Ancestry.com founder Paul Allen (not to be confused with Microsoft's cofounder of the same name) estimates the 10 million-user number based on a cunning surname analysis.

I wouldn't be surprised at the 10 million number. Over the weekend, I saw a sudden and stunning surge in people following me who aren't early-adopter techies. Many are friends who didn't receive invitations from me, by the way. Sorry guys.

Continue reading →