How far Screen size can grow?

Did anyone wonder about the growth of screen size of their smartphone? In early 2000s, people would be tired of carrying a big brick like mobile phone with uncomfortable antenna. Typically, only for the utility purpose mobile phones were used. Within a decade, we started having compact cell phones that fit even new born hands. Now, the situation is reversed! Now, the screen size matters. How good the phone is depend on how big the screen is. Did anyone think small size smartphone usually end up with proportionately small specification?!

I did really wonder it would be hard to have compact smartphone except for few choices in the market that too in price tag exorbitant than normal smartphone. Why manufactures contend on a very big screen? Does screen size really matters? If so, then what would be the status of the tablets which preferably have a big screen than a phone which is expected to fit in our pocket.

Most of the cell phones now show their heads of from the user pockets due to the extra large screens. What made the manufactures to do so?

It is indisputable that smartphones are used for number of purposes. Preferably, for emails, movies, games and so on. But it is true that the very purpose of the smartphone is to do any of the abovementioned activities. Kids have their own priority while business people have their prerogatives and so on. But did anyone feel uncomfortable about the portability of the smartphone expecially if they are short of pockets to carry enough gadgets with them when they go a hands free walk.

Why are the smartphone manufacturers fail to address the need of the compactness when it comes to producing high end devices. They seems to prefer large screen and thin product which looks gorgeous. But when it comes to handling at haste they hardly fulfill the needs of agility. And I hope most manufacturers of smartphone would read the aforesaid concerns before designing next smartphone.

How Budget Smartphone can make you sick

Budget Smartphones

Smartphones, a great utility at present era. A man without smartphone is not good for business. It may be iPhone, Android, Firefox, Symbian, whatever you know. Without smartphone, individual is lost. Even it may result in identity crisis! With increasing smartphone market, especially, in developing countries have raised few questions yet to be answered.

Though the matter of questing the use, adaptability, social condition are out of our control. Now the real point for consideration is how for the budget smartphone made us sick!

It is better to switch our time machine back to early 2000's where smartphones are only for business people who type a lot on the go. Busy with emails and organizing teams to get the job done! With Blackberry took the guardian role when it comes to business relying on smartphone to make executives keep in touch with it workers. Smartphone made the life simple and making the work a touch away.

But with Android and iOS, the theory on smartphone took a twist. It spread like a wildfire among the public. The smartphone usage among the public outrun the top executive who had the monopoly to carry a smartphone.

The smartphone did come with its own effect. The price of the smartphone were too high which made it beyond the reach of majority. Even it took toll on one month pay for an individual. Yet, business is business. None can refute it. The Smartphone makers had other plans to reach masses with budgetary phones. For those, affordability matters, hardware makers produced stripped down version of high end smartphone so everyone could carry one without distinction.

See also: Is your website mobile-friendly? 

But such product has its own wises. 

Strip Down Processing Power: Most prominent point when it comes to budget smartphone is strip down processing power. You won't get as much power as you do when compared to main stream high-end models. The sad part is it is obviously true. When a high-end model comes with new kind of processor, the budget smartphone will come equipped with processor of old high-end model. 

Limited RAM and Multi-tasking: Next crucial aspect for smartphones are Random Access Memory, also simply known as RAM. With limited RAM, apps find very space to linger. Cramped RAM will force close applications and kill background processes which we won't notice at most times. Have you felt delayed notifications for messaging services like Whatsapp, Viber, Hike, etc? When you open those apps, you receive notification that some one has sent you a message! 

And Multi-tasking, with limited RAM, applications find no place to run when you switch to other application. It virtually kills your multi-tasking abilities. Unless the apps provide to saving application state, applications will tend to close when you switch to other app.

Low Internal memory: Flash memory are costlier than SD card memory. To cut cost, budget smartphones will provide limited internal memory space for applications. Virtually, it will constrain the user to very few apps to use. Consider, 1 GB of Internal memory in a budget smartphone. Not more than 10 to 15 apps could be installed provided each app is 30-40 MB of size and occupy some space for App data. Apart from the apps you install, Google updates will start filling up your internal memory. Further, some apps disable the capacity to move apps to internal storage. So if you are kind of person who install apps which don't support SD card storage, you will be constrained to limit your choice of apps. Simply, you have to sacrifice your wish for usability of the smartphone.

And most people who use budget smartphone would have encountered often 'The device has insufficient space' when updating a app from store. Limited internal memory? Then No more app installation and insufficient space to update applications.

Lagging Games: Here comes the interesting part, avid gamers, kiss good bye to your gaming. Budget smartphone will not handle all resource hungry games. If you do manage to install some, the game lags or skip frames and make the game play awkward. Not all smartphone will result in lagging games or force closing the game apps. But some factors play important role. With limited processing power, RAM, it will throttle your gaming experience. If you are avid gamer, who wish to do some fun gaming, better look out for standard model of handsets. Consider yourself as buying PSP or portable gaming device which would cost you more than your smartphone.

Substandard Handset maker: With smartphone market expanding at rapid pace, many handset makers came to play in the market. To cut cost, to improve affordability, some handset makers prefer sub-standard materials. Not all, but some of them. The life of the budget smartphone getting shorter than ever. The low quality materials shorten the life span of mobile handsets. Remember the days of Nokia handset? Rock-solid durable handset which could even survive a fall from 1st floor of the building. Actually, it did. But contemporary smartphone would not able to survive accidental fall to floor.

If you find any missing point that need to be addressed, comment them. Share or tweet if you like the post.

Google issue Memo in response to Statement of Objection (SO) from European Commission for Competition

Google has responded to the European Commission's Statement of Objections (SO) which is to issued soon. It has issued internal memo, Google has issued statement and asked it Googlers not to comment on the pending legal issue but to do well on the usual work of producing quality products and services.

Google, along with data form ComScore MMX, Google data, desktop traffic, unique visitors, has supported it arguments against the SO that is to be issued by European Commission. In memo, it has released the data analysis from various sources and indicated searches in France, Germany , UK. Those analysis were made on search on Shopping and travel in the respective countries. 

Google has stated that such SO issued by European commission is not a final findings. It is just initiation of process. It is a document in which the commission staff sets out its preliminary arguments so that the company in question can respond. Google has also mentioned that SO are modified or settled the case by the commission. If the settlement is remote, the commission issues an infringement decision, which can be appealed in court.

Google has assured that it has strong case. It, further, cited that commission has previously opened and closed an inquiry into iTunes few years ago. 

"we have a very strong case, with especially good arguments when it comes to better services for users and increased competition." - Memo to Googlers.

Google has acknowledged increased quality and competition in the search market. Google has took preemptive steps as the company anticipates proceedings against Android shortly from the European Commission for competition. It has set out that Android comes with apps with no restriction. Many devices are sold with other competitors apps such as Facebook, Microsoft Office, Amazon, etc. And further stated that consumers have a lot of choice and they are exercising it.

'Finally, we know the upcoming announcements will be distracting. But you can help in two ways. First, by not commenting on pending legal issues, internally or externally. And second, by focusing on what you all do best... building great products that serve our users and customers.' - Memo to Googlers.

Update:

'Since Google Shopping is all ads, Google could just close the standalone service in EU, keep running ads in main results & maybe be fine' - +Danny Sullivan  on Twitter.

European Commission for Competition has initiated antitrust proceedings. Google must place it rebuttals before the commission. 

Is your Website mobile-friendly? Test your website with new tool.

Google Adsense has made an announcement today that test your website for mobile-friendliness. 

'You can check your site by testing your pages with the Mobile-Friendly Test tool. This tool shows how Google Search sees your pages. To get a list of mobile usability issues across your sites, log in to your Webmaster Tools account and use the Mobile Usability Report.' - Google Adsense

Google has launched a new tools to check websites for mobile-friendly version. The website may be internet blog or business website. Making your website mobile-friendly will help increase your presence on mobile Google search.

See also: Make money online with this simple steps

With increase of Smartphone market, most internet traffic is driven by the mobile networks. Most people who use Smartphone such as Android, Microsoft, iPhone prefer to place orders from Smartphones. The use of PC, laptops has reduced when it comes to browsing information. Though you need PC, laptops, workstation for your work, people tend to use smartphone for most of the personal work such as Google Search, buying or selling, location, etc.

With e-commerce penetration, purchases made through smartphones may surpass orders placed through PCs. One important factor is convenience. Just a tap over the screen, brings home the product. This make smartphones most preferred device than PCs. 

With Google Adsense making announcement for optimizing websites for mobile, the update which was made recently to the mobile search will provide advantages to sites which are mobile-friendly. 

Yet, Google has made advisory for mobile-friendly sites. It has called for further optimization. Go mobile today to provide your visitors a good user experience and to make use of your mobile traffic. Check the new tool here.

Bing SERP: Good news we have got, Bing is mulling to implement its own ranking algorithm for mobile friendly websites! Day by day responsive design play vital role. Designing for mobile takes the top most priority than desktop. With smartphone penetration, mobile friendly websites take pivotal role in business penetration. 

See also: Myntra Shuts down website

For bloggers, implement one of the best responsive web design to stay on top of results. With wordpress, blogger, hubpages, blog.com, the default themes are mobile friendly. But people who have implemented own theme or paid theme has to make sure theme is responsive and support different dimensions of screens. For mobile ranking will play critical role for generating traffic. 

If you like the post, share or tweet to provide your support.

Get Ready To Pay for WhatsApp, Viber, Hike, Blackberry,etc

Airtel, a leading telecom company, which advocated for separate charges for (Over-The-Top)OTT has turned huge tide. The Regulatory authority has moved consultation paper to levy separate charge for OTT. The deadline to submit suggestion is April 24, 2015. This move have challenged the very net neutrality in India. If the regulatory authority approves such move, then get ready guys, we have to pay for all video and voice calls in messaging services. Apart from data charges we have to shell out extra charges in the OTT charges. No more chit chats!

OTT (Over-The-Top):

1. 'In broadcasting, over-the-top content (OTT) refers to delivery of audio, video, and other media over the Internet without the involvement of a multiple-system operator in the control or distribution of the content.' - Wikipedia
2. Until now telecom operators don't distinguish OTT and other browsing data. But the regulatory authority was forced move which will prompt a distinction which will lead to hefty phone bills in future. 

Save The Internet!

An online campaign has started against the TRAI move to allow telecom operators to levy charge on OTT. Visit savetheinternet.in to lodge your protest today. Click on 'respond to Trai now or edit answer' to lodge your protest.

If not now, as a user of internet, we will lose our rights forever. Our free and neutral internet will be under the grip of telecom operators. The choice of network will depend on the choice of service offered. The leading telecom operators lobby for favoritism over other networks, concession for using particular service over their networks. 


We are under pressure to decide our future internet. If we lose now, you will lose it forever. Stand against the move to uphold net neutrality. 

It may appear as a simple move. But soon it may outrun us. One day, apart from exorbitant charge for data connection which we pay today, we will be forced to pay for every single message which are sent and received through internet messengers. It is high-time to lodge your response to maintain net neutrality in India.

My humble request is to lodge your response by visiting savetheinternet.in and send an email to TRAI protesting against the proposed move.

The first day saw a 27,000 emails in response to the consultation paper. But considering the number of internet users in India, we need more people to respond to the consultation paper to uphold net neutrality. Provide your support today! Have a happy future!

Update as on April 28, 2015: The crisis worsen as the Telecom operators like Airtel, vodafone, Idea has appealed with the Government to charge for OTT services today. Once TRAI grants approval then next target would be preferred content network by telecom operators. The Airtel Zero will get it's rigor back and will engulf user experience with sponsored contents based on Zero ratings.

If corporate lobby extends to the TRAI consultation then all is lost for Indian Internet users. Than the widely publicized broadband connection in 2003, mobile data cover vast majority of the internet users. The easy to setup and use network now faces challenge posed by the service providers. As no concrete net neutrality law is in place, which now making telecom operator to encroach upon mobile internet as and when they need to. Most prime target of these move is the internet messaging application whatsapp. As Indian user base vast, tapping the minimal charge over this OTT service will boost revenue of those telecom companies. With gross profit on mind, service providers started muddling with OTT service.

One day, telecom operators will invade your privacy if such trend gets approval from TRAI. Whatever these telecom operators dictate will be the laws of internet if not nipped in the bud.  TRAI, telecom regulator of India, yet to respond on the consultation paper on OTT services. Stay tuned for the updates. 

NOTE: To add insult to the injury, TRAI, listed 1 million user name and email id of those who sent reply to the consultation paper on OTT services. Well, a Telecom regulator of a country provides 1 million email id for spammers and marketers to solicit. Have you seen such a pathetic situation in any other country? Please share your opinion through comments. (Source: Times of India, link: 1 million email id exposed)