HTC's Q1 Quandary: HTC reported its biggest revenue drop yet Friday as it released its unaudited first-quarter earnings. One of the main reasons was competition from fellow Android-maker Samsung, which presented a much rosier outlook for the first quarter, but also has several non-handset businesses to help its margins.
Samsung is forecasting consolidated revenues of 45 trillion Korean won (US $39.78 billion) and an operating profit at 5.8 trillion won ($5.13 billion). HTC said it earned total revenues of NT$67,790 million ($2.3 billion) in the first quarter, a 34.92 percent dip from last year. Both companies are stepping it up in the Android market this year -- HTC with its One series of smartphones and Samsung with its Galaxy line and Note "phablet." (See Sprint Unveils HTC Evo LTE and Samsung Sells 5M Phablets.)
Google augments your eyes: Google has its eye on another platform for its software: glasses. The software giant has released a video (below) detailing augmented reality-equipped Google Glasses that pull up information about your surroundings as you walk. The glasses tap into Google's mobile functions, like search, voice commands and video chat to add context for the nerd -- I mean, person -- wearing them.
Instagram wages geek war: Photo-taking Android users were happy to see that Instagram unleashed a version of its photo-editing app on Google's OS this week. More than 1 million downloaded the app in its first 24 hours on the Android Market. The launch did, however, start an online geek-fight between iPhone and Android users, with many reverting back to stereotypes of both platforms -- i.e. Apple Inc. users are sheep and Android users are tied to an inferior OS.
Lumia 900 on OS lockdown: Reviews of the Nokia Corp. Lumia 900 on AT&T Inc. are in, and, of course, most are drawing comparisons between the Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS and Android. CNET points out that in contrast to Android, Windows Phone is "pretty locked down," giving Nokia little room to add its own touches to the OS. Instead the handset maker played up its own apps like Nokia Drive, Maps and Transit, as well as highlighted third-party apps like ESPN and CNN. CNET also noted that the Lumia doesn't have Nokia Music Mix, available in Europe, to help its credibility, nor does it have Nokia's new TV service, only coming to Finland so far. (See AT&T's Nokia Lumia Drops LTE to $100 and Nokia Fires Cheap Shot at Apple.)
BlackBerry still alive in D.C.: Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) may have lost favor in its home market, Canada, but one place it still is holding strong is in Washington, D.C., where federal workers -- including President Obama -- are still using its BlackBerry devices. Half a million people, in fact, are hanging on to their BlackBerrys, according to the Washington Post. The regulators reportedly appreciate the device's security and relative low cost, although many admitted to having iPhone envy. (See OS Watch: RIM Loses at Home, Braces for Worse and More RIM Shots: BlackBerry Apps & Mishaps Abroad.)
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