BlackBerry Z10 is an efficient communications-focused device

(Image: BlackBerry)

Summary: BlackBerry has always been focused on communications, and you will find that BlackBerry 10 continues that tradition. The Z10 is an efficient smartphone that will appeal to those who need to get things done.

After using my BlackBerry Z10 for a few weeks now, my initial excitement for the BlackBerry 10 platform has not worn off — thanks to the BlackBerry Hub, awesome keyboard, application switcher, and attractive hardware.

Everything in BlackBerry 10 is based on Flow, the gesture-based navigation and controls; and after using the Z10 for a few weeks I now find myself swiping all over my other phones. Like the Nokia N9 with MeeGo, I love that I can unlock the Z10 with a simple swipe up from below the display. After the display is on, the fun just continues.

BlackBerry Hub

I find that both Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10 are more focused on centralized communications than Android and iOS. In Windows Phone, you can quickly view relevant communications (text messages, status updates, call history) with pinned Live tiles associated with people or groups. BlackBerry 10's Hub lets you quickly view communications and notifications in one central location, and I find myself living in the Hub probably 75 percent of the time I am using the Z10.

While Windows Phone is more centered around people, the BB Hub is focused on accounts — so you can view all of your communications or easily filter by type of communication. I also like that all the communications are actionable from within the Hub. Android now does a better job of this with Jelly Bean notifications, but the notification drawer is not "sticky" enough for efficient communications management.

My only real issue with the BB Hub at the moment is the inability to move to the next message in an account from within a message you are viewing. It requires a swipe back to the Hub first. Granted, it is only an additional tap, but it seems a simple swipe to go to the next message (like we see in Gmail on Android) is a valid gesture.

BlackBerry Keyboard

I can adapt to most phone keyboards and prefer them over QWERTY keyboards. I tried different types on Android, and am satisfied with the ones on iOS and Windows Phone. However, the BlackBerry 10 keyboard — with its slick next letter word prediction — rocks. I love how I can enter text in sentences by only tapping and swiping up a minimum number of times. The more you use BB10, the more the keyboard improves for your vocabulary, and I feel it is the best software keyboard available.

RIM has always excelled at hardware QWERTY keyboards, and now they are showing they can also lead with the software keyboard.

App Switcher

In addition to the gestures, BlackBerry Hub, and keyboard, another aspect of BlackBerry 10 that makes it efficient is the functional task switcher/manager. The task switcher on BB10 is a mashup of Windows Phone Live tiles and Android application switchers. On Android, the task switcher is different for each manufacturer, so the experience isn't always consistent. I like how BB10 supports up to eight applications at once, and provides useful updates in the task switcher view.

Integrated apps and well developed third-party apps will have the active thumbnail in the task switcher changing to support the thumbnail view. Given that the task switcher is where you end up with a "home gesture", it is used quite a bit on BB10.

BlackBerry Z10 hardware

I think the BlackBerry Z10 hardware also lends itself to efficiency and usefulness as a vital communications device. Like the iPhone 5, the BlackBerry Z10 is perfect for one-handed usage. Most high-end Windows Phone and Android smartphones are too large to use with one hand, and people today seem to prefer large displays. I do enjoy using my Galaxy Note II, but have to say that carrying the Z10 in my pocket and using it with one hand is actually pretty refreshing and enjoyable.

The display is just about perfectly sized at 4.2 inches and it looks fantastic, even to my aging 44-year-old eyes. I also like that I can output the display using the standard micro-HDMI port on the side of the Z10, and hope for some kind of landscape cradle accessory.

The battery life is not as good as I had hoped, but it is easy to swap it out for a backup on the go. I do carry external battery packs to charge devices up, but it is much more efficient and desirable to simply swap out a battery for another one. Also, the hardware will last longer since you can easily swap out a battery rather than having to tear apart a device to attempt a battery change.

I also like that the Z10 supports microSD cards up to 64GB in size. I found that putting photos and music on a microSD card and then popping it in the device is faster than transfer via BlackBerry Link.

Summary thoughts

Overall, I think BlackBerry has come out with an efficient and enjoyable communications-focused operating system that will serve BlackBerry fans well. It seems to me that the OS is designed to help you get things done without wasting time messing around with inefficiencies. The hardware is attractive as well, and hits the sweet spot for size and functionality.

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China expected to overtake U.S. to become world's largest iOS and Android market

Summary: A report by an app metrics firm shows how during 2012, China added 150 million new devices to its already robust mobile market, compared to only 50 million added to the U.S. market.

This is the month that China is expected to overtake the U.S. to become the world's largest iOS and Android smartphone and tablet market, claims app metrics firm Flurry.

According to a report, last month both China and the U.S. had an active device installed base of 221 million and 222 million respectively. But this month this is expected to change, with China expected to have 246 million active devices, compared to 230 million in the U.S.

(Source: Flurry)

Flurry's data shows that during 2012, the U.S. smartphone and tablet market grew by 55 million new devices. However, over the same period, China added 150 million new devices. In fact, if it hadn't been for the boost that the holiday season in the U.S. gave to mobile sales, China would have passed the U.S. two months ago.

Flurry's data show the U.S. and China to be enormous markets for mobile devices, far surpassing the U.K., which trails far behind when it comes to active iOS and Android devices, with 43 million.

(Source: Flurry)

China has over 1.3 billion people, compared to the U.S. which has just over 310 million, so it come as no surprise to find China taking the top spot. Most of the Chinese growth is being driven by a rapidly expending middle class, who is showing an insatiable appetite for gadgets.

While the growth experienced in China staggering, isn't the country with the fastest growing mobile gadget market. That title goes to Columbia, which saw it's smartphone and tablet market grow by 278 percent over 2012, with Vietnam in second place with growth of 266 percent. China's growth is in sixth place.

(Source: Flurry)

Flurry claims to track over 2.4 billion anonymous app sessions per day across more than 275,000 apps from around the world, and says that it is able to reliably measure activity across more than 90% of the world’s smartphones and tablets.

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Nvidia rolls out its 4G LTE play to combat Qualcomm

Summary: The aim for Nvidia is to pitch one processor to operate smartphone functions and bring "superphone" capabilities everywhere.

Nvidia launched its 4G LTE processor dubbed Tegra 4i and plans to battle Qualcomm with a smaller footprint and more speed.

In a statement, Nvidia outlined its LTE line-up, which is critical given Qualcomm has an LTE lead. Nvidia's Tegra 4i, known under the Project Grey codename, has 60 cores, a quad-core CPU with ARM's R4 Cortex-A9 and an integrated modem and better battery life.

The aim for Nvidia is to pitch one processor to operate smartphone functions and bring "superphone" capabilities everywhere. The Tegra 4i was designed by Nvidia and ARM.

In a blog post, Nvidia said the Tegra 4i chip was also the result of the Icera acquisition 20 months ago.

Among the key points:

• Tegra 4i has the same architecture as the Tegra 4;
• The processor has five times the cores of Tegra 3;
• Nvidia introduced a reference design for Tegra 4i;
• The company's wares will be demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress the last week of February.

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5 Reasons Why Nokia’s Lumia 920 AT&T Exclusive is Dumb

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It has a breakthrough camera, wireless charging and a gorgeous screen. And it’s headed to AT&T–and only AT&T. When I heard the news that the Lumia 920, Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone 8 device, was going to be exclusive to one carrier, I felt compelled to tweet the following. “I don’t think that’s good for Windows Phone adoption.”

Of course, I don’t know the terms of this deal — the Verge’s Chris Ziegler tweeted back that AT&T may have refused to carry the phone unless it had the exclusive — but overall it’s a dumb move. Here’s why.

1.  A Lumia 920 exclusive hurts Windows Phone.

According to IDC, Windows Phone devices have a whopping 3.5 percent share, barely up from 2.3 percent a year ago. By locking itself into AT&T, the premier Windows Phone device of the year won’t be made available to Verizon Wireless’ 94 million customers. Or Sprint’s 56 million. Or T-Mobile’s  33.2 million (before the MetroPCS deal). At a time Microsoft desperately needs a hero device to champion its platform, Nokia’s flagship should be made available to as many U.S. shoppers as possible.

2. Nokia and AT&T exclusive didn’t work the first time.

Remember all the fanfare for the original Lumia 900? Even though AT&T gave that device lots of marketing support and said it would be its biggest launch ever, it wasn’t enough to really move the needle in the U.S. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Lumia being used in public. All I see are Galaxy S IIIs and iPhones. AT&T’s lame commercials promised you would get the girl because of the phone’s curved edge, but neither that nor an aggressive $99 price could help. What makes Nokia think that things will be different this time around?

3. Carrier exclusives almost never work.

It’s the pretty rare phone that would cause someone to jump carriers. Consider that wireless churn rates, defined as the number of consumers who switch carriers, are extremely low with Verizon reporting  just a .84 percent turnover for Q2 as compared to .97 percent for AT&T, 1.69 percent for Sprint and 2.1 percent for T-Mobile. We don’t know how many of this tiny group of users left their carriers because they wanted an exclusive phone from another provider, but I suspect issues like service and pricing were bigger motivators.

In fact, other than the iPhone exclusive for AT&T, there have been very few exclusive devices that have been runaway hits. According to Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at Current Analysis, “Motorola’s exclusive with Verizon for the original Droid made that phone a success.”

That’s true, but I think that phone was successful mostly because Verizon customers were clamoring for an iPhone alternative. Greengart added that more recently “the exclusive with Verizon has held Motorola back compared to Samsung and Apple, which broadened their own distribution.”

4.  Nokia is now outflanked by HTC.

Nokia should be more worried than ever about the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S, which Steve Ballmer strangely called “signature phones” for Windows Phone 8. These colorful devices — which bare more than a striking resemblance to the Lumia 920 —will be available for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Never mind the fact that the Lumia’s features are more compelling. Anyone interested in Windows Phone and not on AT&T will likely see the 8X as good enough.

5.  It slows momentum for wireless charging.

One of the coolest features of the Lumia 920 is that it comes with Qi wireless charging capabilities. Not only is Nokia working with third parties to make cool accessories for wire-free juicing, it has partnered with Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to put charging plates on tables in some of their cafes. Virgin Atlantic is also on board, although for now it’s limited to charging stations in the London Heathrow Clubhouse.

How is Nokia going to gather more support for this technology and make one of its chief selling points more compelling when the phone with Qi built in isn’t widely available? The lower-cost Lumia 820 will support wireless charging but will require a separate shell.

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Woes of a smartphone enthusiast: Why AT&T exclusives suck

Summary: I pay full price for most of my devices, yet AT&T still won't unlock my phone if it is an exclusive. Thankfully, Verizon is doing it right with their high-end smartphones, while Sprint and T-Mobile don't really matter when it comes to unlocked devices.

As a smartphone and mobile gadget enthusiast, I love getting the opportunity to try out many of the latest and greatest mobile devices. In many cases, manufacturers or carriers send phones for two weeks to 30 days before I have to ship them back and look to the next device. Apple doesn't send anything to me so I have to purchase those devices to test out; and if I really enjoy other devices I will buy them to keep for an extended period of time.

One such device that I find valuable is my red Nokia Lumia 920; its image stabilization during video recording is a major asset for me. I paid full price for mine in December and earlier this week I jumped on an eBay deal for a yellow one with the intent to pass it along to my wife.

Unfortunately, the ugliness that is carrier exclusives reared its head and killed my plan for the yellow 920. As more and more people upgrade before full subsidies are granted and look to also move toMVNOs, it is important to understand a limit imposed by AT&T.

You would think paying full price gives you some control over the device too, but AT&T keeps that control if there is an exclusivity deal with the phone.

I usually pay full price for my phones since I buy so many that I rarely qualify for any upgrade eligibility to buy lower cost subsidized phones. I don't mind paying full price since I get to keep my existing plans and decide when I want to leave a carrier as no contract extension is required.

You would think paying full price gives you some control over the device too, but AT&T keeps that control if there is an exclusivity deal with the phone. I have been an AT&T customer for just about a year and asked to unlock my yellow Lumia 920 so I could let my wife use it on T-Mobile as we have all our family plan lines with T-Mobile and not with AT&T (that's just a single line I use for testing purposes). Multiple AT&T customer service agents told me I cannot unlock the phone since it is an exclusive and recommended I try again in April or May.

I completely understand (well not completely if someone wants to travel overseas with their phone) that carriers keep their phones locked when you buy them with their subsidy, but if you pay full price with no contract obligation then you should have the option to get it unlocked with an account in good standing. Thankfully, Verizon has apparently seen the light; their latest smartphones, including the Apple iPhone 5 and HTC Droid DNA, come SIM unlocked right out of the box. You can use them on T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, or with a growing list of MVNOs --  as well as around the world -- without even having to call up the carrier for assistance.

In the past it only made sense to unlock a device for international travel, but with T-Mobile's higher speed data starting to work on the same frequencies as AT&T and MVNOs offering compelling no-contract options, there is value and flexibility in having an unlocked device. Sprint and T-Mobile have special frequency bands on their devices that generally only work with their service so there is little need to get their phones unlocked. T-Mobile is moving to the 1900 MHz frequency, so there will be more reason to look for unlocked devices in the future.

I understand most phones sold outside the US are already unlocked, but unfortunately AT&T appears to have a problem with cell phone unlocking.

Here are my suggestions for AT&T:

• Be like Verizon and provide SIM unlocked phones out of the box (best option for the consumer)
• Provide SIM unlocked phones for those who pay full price (seems to be the most common sense approach)
• Let customers who paid full price or who are not under contract, SIM unlock their phones for a small fee (I would pay $25 to $50 to get this Lumia 920 unlocked)

AT&T does provide SIM unlock codes for customers in good standing when a device is beyond its exclusive period; I have my Nokia Lumia 900 unlocked and running on T-Mobile right now. However, these exclusive deals are completely locked down even when sold at full price.

In today's world where every carrier has outstanding smartphones, I highly doubt people are switching to a carrier for one specific exclusive phone and it seems that these exclusive deals generate more bad feelings than positive outcomes for the carrier. Mark Spoonauer, Laptop Magazine, posted his 5 Reasons Why Nokia's Lumia 920 AT&T Exclusive is Dumb and I completely agree.

My wife now has to use a phone with a poor camera (what was Nokia thinking on the Lumia 900 anyway?) while I wait for the stupid AT&T exclusive to end on the Lumia 920. I am seriously considering dropping AT&T as soon as I can get these Lumia 920s unlocked. I can then support Verizon with my full price purchases since they sell fully unlocked devices with no hassle.

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6 Good apps for the BlackBerry Playbook

By James Kendrick |

Summary: The BlackBerry Playbook is a good value for the cheap prices available, but needs good apps. This short list contains my favorites and the most heavily used apps on my Playbook.

You remember the BlackBerry Playbook? That’s the 7-inch tablet from RIM that hasn’t exactly set the tablet world on fire. It was panned at launch for the lack of functionality, but with the release of Playbook 2.0 a while back became a solid tablet. With a starting price of $199, the Playbook is a solid competitor to the Kindle Fire, although without the big ecosystem from Amazon.
Related: BlackBerry Dev Alpha device and BB World demos show RIM isn’t out of the game yet | RIM’s challenge: Platforms don’t sell, gadgets do | First look: BB 10 | BlackBerry 10: Best feature nobody’s talking about
The hardware of the Playbook is very good, so it is a good buy for what it delivers. There is not a huge selection of apps in the App World, but I find all that I need to cover my needs. The arrival of some Android apps in the store is a nice benefit, although RIM doesn’t make it easy to discover those in the market.
Playbook owners quickly developed a method to sideload many Android apps onto the Playbook, but RIM has stated it will do away with that practice with the 2.1 release in the future. It has been confirmed that any Android apps that have been sideloaded will still run after that release is applied, so get them loaded soon if you plan to do so.
The six apps I use most often on my Playbook provide most of the functionality I require on a daily basis. I use many of the preinstalled apps as I find them quite good, but those are not included on this list. It is compromised mostly of third-party apps with the exception of one from RIM.

1. Blaq. I am a heavy Twitter user and the first thing I install on most gadgets is a good app to use the service. Blaq is the Twitter client recommended most often by Playbook owners, and with good reason. It has an attractive UI that makes working with Twitter enjoyable and simple. It handles multiple Twitter accounts for those with multiple personalities, and updates in real-time. It is a solid performer and a good deal for $1.99.



2. GeeReader Pro. I work with Google Reader RSS feeds all day, and this app is as good as any for doing that. It is robust enough to make tracking thousands of feeds a breeze, and fully syncs with Google Reader online. The article view is customizable on the fly, allowing for optimum reading of full articles. $1.99.


3. Evernote. I am a heavy Evernote user and access it on all mobile devices I use. The Playbook app is not as full-featured as the Android and iOS apps, but it is still a decent method to see all of my notes in the cloud. For those needing the full features of other versions on the Playbook, it is possible to sideload the Android app and use that. Free.




4. PressReader. This app does an amazing job of presenting full newspapers for reading on the go. It automatically retrieves subscribed newspapers, and the reading experience is awesome on the 7-inch screen of the Playbook. The text rendering is very crisp, making it possible to read at most zoom levels. There are free trials for many of the periodicals, after which a fee is required. The app is free.



5. Podcasts. This app is part of the Playbook system, but is good enough to make this list. It handles audio and video podcasts nicely, and I use it all the time. Listening to podcasts while doing other things is a good use for the great multitasking on the Playbook. Free (installed with Playbook 2.0).



6. Kindle. I must have the Kindle app on all devices I use, and sadly Amazon never released a version for the Playbook. It is possible to sideload the Android Kindle app, and that is what I use. It is the same version as that on all Android devices, which is pretty darn good. The Playbook is the perfect size for long reading sessions, and the Kindle app is how I do it. Free (must sideload).

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The Android dilemma: Too much choice, yet not enough

By James Kendrick 

Summary: Android is everywhere and that’s a good thing, except the one you want is often not where you can get it.

My Galaxy Nexus S 4G recently got the long-promised Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update. It is so much better with the latest version of Android that I would never go back to an older version. Of course now my Nexus S 4G is old hardware, so it’s not the dream phone it could be. Not many phones have ICS yet, and even though there are more Android phones out there than anything else, those wanting the best are out of luck.

Related: Android on 600 phones and tablets in less than 4 years

That is the ultimate problem with Android. There are too many phones to choose from, but few of them have everything that tech-savvy buyers want. If you find an Android phone that is just what you want, with the latest version of Android, odds are it’s not available on your U. S. carrier of choice.

An article on Techfanatix sums up the situation nicely. The Gadget Mom, a friend of mine for a good while, voices her frustration with the “too much choice, yet not enough” situation. We both like Android, but getting it in the form and package we want is far too often out of reach. She sums it up succinctly:

“I am Joe Consumer, I walk into Verizon, and I’m faced with twenty two smartphones to look at. Twenty two. I ask the sales rep what’s the difference between them. They say… um… well, this one has a keyboard. This one has TouchWiz. This one has Sense. This one has Motoblur. This one has a big battery. This one is free. This one is cheap. This one has a Pentile display. This one has an AMOLED display, and this one has a super duper AMOLED display. At this point Joe is huddled in the corner crying like a baby and shaking. Make it stop.”

All of these phones are nice in their particular way, but as she points out it can be overwhelming. It doesn’t help that the OEMs of Android phones are beholden to the carriers and require variants of particular handsets just for their customers.

“HTC’s One phone is an X on AT&T, an S on TMobile, an Evo on Sprint, and Incredible on Verizon. That, my friends, is what it looks like when a manufacturer has no backbone. That is also what it looks like when there are too many choices.”

Too much choice, yet for each individual there is usually not enough choice in play. You want that one special Android phone that fits all of your wants and needs perfectly, but you can’t have it unless you switch carriers if at all. It’s easy to see why technology lovers can be frustrated.

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The ABCs of BYOD for the SMB

By James Kendrick

Summary: Workers are starting to bring their own beloved gadgets to work. Companies should embrace this, as there are benefits to be enjoyed. This is especially true for small businesses.

It started with phones but is ramping up to include tablets. That’s the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement, where employees push for permission to bring their own device to use for work. BYOD can be useful for the small or medium business (SMB) as a way to keep employees happy while cutting costs. Allowing employees to bring their own devices to work is new, and businesses should be thinking of the ramifications to the company.
BYOD is not for everyone
Many employees are perfectly fine with the company handing out phones or tablets to use at work. They don’t want to use their own purchased equipment for the good of the company. Others would rather have their own gadgets on hand, even for work, and are willing to use them for the good of the employer.
Dissatisfaction over the equipment used by the company is a common motivator for employees wanting to bring their own device. People buy what they like, and some hate other solutions, especially those provided by the company. Others prefer the simple approach, and just having one device to deal with is better. No more having one phone for personal and another for business.

Think BYOD through before allowing it in the workplace
Companies considering letting employees bring their own device to use for work should first think through the ramifications for doing so. Having employees use their own equipment means clearly defining what that means in practice. People think of their own gadgets as their own, but BYOD is a gray area.
Related: Q&A: What BYOD means for IT
Two things are important for both employees and employers to remember in BYOD situations: the gadgets belong to the employee, but anything created on them for work belongs to the company. That sounds obvious but people tend to think what they do with their own phone (or other gadget) belongs to them. The reality is that any information, whether document, photos, notes or similar content, created at work for work belongs to the company.
This should be spelled out clearly in policies and procedures dealing with the BYOD scenario before kicking it off. Both sides should understand who owns what, and what that means, before the first employee brings the first gadget for work.
When folks use their own devices for work, it is inevitable that they will end up with potentially sensitive company (or client) information on their gadget. This requires sensible procedures to make sure that information stays protected through both company and personal use of the device. These need to be clearly defined and understood before the gadget hits the desk.
Prepare for the unexpected
Certain rare situations will end up happening, and everyone needs to be ready to handle them. Devices are lost or stolen every day in this big, bad world, and sooner or later will happen in BYOD situations. Lay out precise steps for the employee to take when this happens, and when they should do them.
It would help if the personal device could be remotely wiped in the event it disappears. There are apps available for most platforms to do this, and they should be a part of the program from the beginning. While the employee owns (and is responsible for) his/her gadget, any work data belongs to the company and it is up to the employer to protect that.
How to handle down-time
Current gadgets are pretty well-made, but sometimes they fail. This means unplanned down-time as the employee deals with the failed device. Whether that entails a visit to the local Genius Bar or returning the gadget to the manufacturer for repair/replacement, there will usually be a period where the device is not available for use.
The company needs to be prepared to provide a temporary device for the employee to use during such periods. While the personal gadget is the responsibility of the employee, the company doesn’t want no work to happen while it is out for repair. That means a loaner of some time to keep the gears turning in the workplace.
The same concerns about company data for missing gadgets apply to those being returned for service. Lay out the procedure for protecting the data before any device is sent out for repair by the employee.

Address potential collaboration issues
While the popular sentiment claims mobile devices are only good for consuming content, savvy users know that is not the case. Workers willing to bring their beloved device to work are probably already creating content on the gadget. It makes sense to understand this will happen, and address it in the procedures defining the BYOD situation.
You don’t want your employees suddenly receiving documents or information in formats that can’t handle, so define what should be used. It is better to use common formats such as PDF or others commonly used for documents. Dictate what should be used by the mobile worker to keep things going smoothly.
Companies normally load up company gadgets with official apps, so do the same for personal devices being used. This keeps everyone working together smoothly, and shifts the cost of the tools to the employer where it belongs.

The BYOD phenomenon is coming, embrace it
These are by no means all of the issues that BYOD will create, and policies will need to adjust to handle new ones as they occur. This is a totally new frontier for the enterprise, and surprises will happen from time to time.
It is vital to approach this with the proper attitude on both the part of the worker and the company. Do not be too heavy-handed in defining the rules, as the workers are using their own property. Be realistic in doing just what is needed to protect company information, and a happier workplace will be the result.

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Comscore: There’s an app for… everything (report)

By James Kendrick 

Summary: Those accessing the mobile web rarely use a mobile browser, instead choosing some of the millions of apps.

Society is spending more time on the web than ever before. This is especially true for the smartphone crowd. New numbers from Comscore show that out of all of those folks accessing the web while mobile, virtually all of them are using apps and not a browser.
App usage is growing rapidly as smartphones are now in over half of phone owner hands in the U. S., according to Nielsen. The feature phone is headed for the relic bin as cheap smartphones intrude on the turf formerly reserved for the dumb phone.
The mobile web usage statistics from Comscore show that all of those smartphone users are in one app or another almost all the time. Apps are used to access the web a staggering 81.5 percent of the time spent online, leaving mobile browsers in the dust.
The app usage breakdown is telling, as Twitter users access the social network using apps and not the web a whopping 96.5 percent of the time. Facebook fares better on the browser, but still 80 percent of the time it is accessed with apps. That’s slightly better than access to Google sites, as those are accessed 81.1 percent of the time through apps instead of a browser.
That last figure is surprising, as Google services are designed to be used in a browser. Google apps are not known for being very good compared to the browser, but the statistics show that doesn’t matter to users.
The next time you are in public waiting for a table in a restaurant, look around and of all of the people you see tapping on a phone, you can make some assumptions. They are probably using an Android phone (with a 48 percent share), and they are almost certainly in one app or another. It seems there’s an app for everything.

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