The Story behind Google Maps for iOS

Of course after iOS 6 was released everyone heard about the failure that is Apple Maps. But where had Google Maps for iOS gone? The reason Apple Maps was created in the first place was because Apple felt Google was holding back on features for their iOS counterpart of their Maps application which by that time was miles ahead on Android. Apple in particular was missing voice-navigation and so the only way it could implement this feature for consumers was to make its own app. What Apple failed to understand however is that it is a huge project to develop a Maps application that almost begins to rival Google's offering, and while with that in mind Apple put in a great effort, it predictably wasn't enough. So, the millions of consumers who had updated to iOS 6 were now stuck without a Google Maps app with no easy way of downgrading, courtesy of Apple. Their only hope? For Google to release a new Maps app via the app store.

HTC's Survival

It's common knowledge in the tech world that HTC is not doing so well.

HTC's Q4 profits shrank by 91% to $34.4 million, the lowest they have been in 9 years, but this is no surprise. HTC have been struggling for quite some time now, although I can only comment past July 2011 as that's when my interest in Android first manifested.

At that time HTC were currently touting the HTC Sensation as their flagship phone, which happens to be the phone I am currently  holding. It was somewhat of a rushed release in my opinion, most likely due to the negatie reception of the HTC Thunderbolt released only months before. While being one of the first 4G capable phones, the Thunderbolt suffered from laughably poor battery life, a 'feature' held by all 4G phones 'back in the day', and I personally value battery life over almost every other feature in a smartphone, especially form factor. HTC hoped that the Sensation would put them back into the Android vs Apple game, which by then was more like Samsung vs Apple and that has unfortunately not changed since. I say unfortunately because variety is important for consumers and therefore having just two companies dominating all competition is not ideal. Obviously as their profits continue to decline exponentially, it is clear the Sensation did not complete this objective.

The Problem With Windows 8

This is my first blog post but I'm definitely not going to keep it to a minimum.

Firstly, I think the concept of Windows 8 in a mobile user space was brilliant and was what the tablet world really needs to progress from their current fairy limited use of strictly media consumption and not creation. The reason this is currently a problem is because Apple's iPad proved to be the first successful tablet in the market, other companies only saw it as wise to at least partly copy the iPad's function. And while the iPad isn't terrible, I believe it is severely underpowered and held back by Apple's 'walled-garden'. Imagine using OSX on an iPad. I've always believed slapping a phone OS onto a tablet was not the way to go but unfortunately, the biggest players in the tablet market, both iOS and Android, have this view to an extend. Then along came Windows 8.