Hasta La Gadget!

Tensions seem to rise between Apple and Google every time they launch a phone or acquire a new media company, but the real battle is happening in a wonkier arena: telecom.

That’s what Elia Freedman, CEO of Infinity Softworks, argues in his intriguing piece “Fighting the Wrong Fight,” featured in today’s Tweet of the Day. Freedman tweeted: “This is critical. We’ve been distracted by Apple v. Google. But that’s not the real fight, one for the soul of mobile.”

In his post, Freedman enumerates examples illustrating that the experience you get on your phone ultimately boils down to what carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile want you to have. He’s right.

Ever wonder why the iPhone doesn’t have free tethering? Or why some Android devices are shipping with bloatware? These were decisions imposed by carriers, who are fighting to regain control of their industry in the aftermath of the iPhone revolution.

As Wired’s Fred Vogelstein originally reported in his bombshell 2008 piece “How the iPhone blew up the wireless industry,” Steve Jobs transformed the wireless game by convincing AT&T to carry Apple’s phone without even seeing it. That sly move resulted in a phone that Apple was able to design for customers to enjoy instead of carriers. After the iPhone became a blockbuster hit, the rest of the wireless industry was forced to offer competitive products tailored to a rich customer experience.

However, carriers didn’t simply wuss out. As Vogelstein revealed in a followup piece, the relationship between Apple and AT&T has since turned dysfunctional. In one incident, Apple was pushing for AT&T to include tethering as a free service as part of its unlimited data plan, but AT&T wouldn’t allow it without incurring a fee. The two companies were arguing over this matter in late 2008, and only recently did tethering finally become available for iPhone customers — for an additional monthly cost, just like AT&T wanted.

And as large and influential as Google may be, the search giant appears to have ceded control to carriers in light of its recent joint proposal with Verizon regarding net neutrality (as Wired.com’s Ryan Singel summarizes poignantly in his piece “Why Google became a carrier-humping, net neutrality surrender monkey“).

Now is indeed a time for concern. While consumer tech companies appear to be the gods delivering our products, it’s the carrier overlords who possess the keys to the broadband fueling our mobile experiences. That’s a tough position for even Google and Apple to wrestle with.

Seen any especially awesome tweets you’d like us to feature? Share them with Gadget Lab by Twitter.

See Also:

• AT&T Plans 5 Android Smartphones in 2010
• TV ‘Anywhere’: AT&T Relents on iPhone 3G Slingbox
• How Apple, AT&T Are Closing the Mobile Web
• AT&T’s Data Limits Rein In Cloud-Based Media Services
• Cap My iPhone? Try This Instead, AT&T
• In Escalating War Against Verizon, AT&T Is Getting Tone Deaf — and …

Image by Lore Sjoberg

HTC already transitioned its Desire and Nexus One units from AMOLED to Super LCD, and it looks as if the outfit may soon be doing likewise on the highly popular Droid Incredible as it struggles against a long-running AMOLED shortage. The Verizon memo you see above clearly lays out the firm’s intentions, with an entirely new SKU (ADR6300VW3) expected to flush through retail channels “around the end of September.” In other words, those who purchase an Incredible after the end of this month will all but definitely be guaranteed an SLCD unit. We pinged HTC to see if it wanted to deny or confirm the claims, and here’s what we received:

“We haven’t announced any moves towards changing the Incredible display from AMOLED to SLCD.”

Yeah, a textbook denial. Oh, and if you’re wondering whether to rush or retard your impending Incredible purchase, have a look at our Desire head-to-head here. Decisions, decisions…

HTC Droid Incredible nearing switch from AMOLED to SLCD? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We suppose one way around Google TV’s initial reliance on IR blasters to communicate with some set-top boxes is to just give away everything necessary for a good experience — Sony HDTV, Google TV (it’s unclear whether the first two are separate or one item), six months of Dish Network service and a free installation from Best Buy’s Geek Squad — which, according to AllThingsD, is exactly what the 600 attendees of today’s Google Zeitgeist event received. That even the great minds of our time presumably require a custom installation just to get everything going may not be a great initial sign for the product, but as the post points out, Aaron Sorkin probably isn’t used to plugging in his own HDMI cables anyway. With those 600 units in the wild and a retail release presumably around the corner, we should see some first hand reports leaking out just about any time now.

Update: Search Engine Land reports users actually received 3 months of complementary service from Dish and a Google TV-equipped Blu-ray player from Sony, not a an HDTV — which certainly makes more sens than suddenly tossing new flatscreens into random households.

Zeitgeist attendees comped with Google TV gift bag: Sony Blu-ray player, Dish Network and free installs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just as Paul Vasquez would have us do, we’re questioning the true meaning behind a curious page that has popped up over at the Droid Does website — a very authentic portal that Verizon Wireless itself has been pushing for nearly a year. Put simply, the splash page details “great news!” surrounding a heretofore unannounced Android 2.2 update for the arguably gigantic Droid X. In fact, we’re even told about all the amazing features that Froyo brings, but alas, our own X has yet to get any sort of notification from Big Red. The image you’re peering at above was purportedly texted to a tipster from VZW, but unfortunately, the links led to the previously referenced splash page rather than a download. Still, we’re guessing that this means a bona fide release is just around the corner — Verizon’s already a few weeks late at this point, so hopefully the finishing touches are nearly done.

[Thanks, Kellen]

Continue reading Droid Does website points to imminent Froyo update for Droid X… but what does it mean?

Droid Does website points to imminent Froyo update for Droid X… but what does it mean? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever seen a handheld that can run StarCraft II? You have now — this is the Ocosmos OCS-1, a Windows 7 sliding-QWERTY and dual-joystick device from Korea with Intel’s new Oak Trail inside. We’re looking at a 1.5GHz Oak Trail chip to be exact, coupled with Intel GMA600 integrated graphics, up to a 64GB of solid-state storage, 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth underneath a 4.8-inch, 1024 x 600 capacitive touch screen. Front and rear cameras and a microphone are on hand for your inevitable video chat sessions, and there’s an array of slots and ports just as you’d expect. Get a closer look in our gallery below, while we go find out more.

Ocosmos OCS-1: Oak Trail meets Windows 7 in a 5-inch gaming handheld originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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