Wolfram Alpha and The Appification of Search
May 2, 2012
Bye bye boolean. The Verge informs us, “Wolfram Alpha Now Available as a $2.99 PC App.” The innovative “computational knowledge engine” app, already available for iOS at the same price, can now be purchased at Intel‘s AppUp market. The announcement states:
“It appears to be largely the same [as the iOS version] in terms of functionality, but there’s been a few interface tweaks to better fit the larger screen. Wolfram Alpha says that the app has been specifically tailored for laptops and ultrabooks. Of course, you can already access the search engine on your computer for free via the website, but the new app appears to provide a nice midway point between the basic service and Wolfram Alpha Pro, which comes with a monthly fee.”
The Pro version of Wolfram Alpha costs $4.99 per month ($2.99 for students.) The first advantage over the free version lies in the ability to launch a search using images, files, or your own data in addition to simple text. The resulting reports are also more extensive and more readily exportable to a variety of formats. See the link in the above quote for an extensive discussion of the Pro product.
For those unfamiliar with Wolfram Alpha, the service introduced a new angle into the world of search when it launched in 2009. Other Web search engines just retrieve a list of relevant Web sites; this application connects the dots, analyzing data with its Mathematica product. Its functionality has been famously incorporated into Apple‘s Siri.
Cynthia Murrell, May 2, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Digimind Releases Digimind Mobile
May 1, 2012
Digimind users can now put that power in their pockets, provide they use an i-device. “Discover Digimind on the Go! Now Available in the App Store,” crows Digimind’s Web site. The write up states:
“In today’s fast-paced working environment, you need access to business critical information while on the move. With Digimind mobile you can receive and validate alerts, add information and share with colleagues as you travel between meetings or commute to and from work. The flexibility that comes with the Digimind app gives you a real competitive edge.”
With the mobile tool, one can receive alerts and alert validations, forward content, and add information to folders. Its App Store page is here.
Digimind‘s global client list includes organizations from a broad range of industries. Its works to save its clients time and money by automating and streamlining the collection, analysis, and sharing of data. The company boasts of having turned a profit from day one, and of growing by 50% annually.
Cynthia Murrell, May 1, 2012
Sponsored by Ikanow
Research in Motion Stops Android Sideloading
April 24, 2012
Research in Motion will restrict its users from sideloading Android apps onto its Blackberry PlayBook tablet, so says Alec Saunders, the VP of developer relations. TechNewsWorld reported on the story in “RIM Fishes PlayBook Out of Google’s ‘Chaotic Cesspool.’” The PlayBook’s sales figures have been extremely low and RIM tried to save the tablet with Android apps. RIM allowed Android developers to repackage their apps for the Playbook as along as they removed the name “Android” and all links to the Google Android marker.
For a time it worked, but the VP developed a different opinion:
“Saunders later referred to Google’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android Market, which was recently made part of the Google Play store, as a ‘chaotic cesspool.’”
Even though RIM had Android app developers remove all that information from apps sold for the PlayBook, they still allowed sideloading and compatibility with the Android. The agreement went sour with Android security, malware, pirated apps, and low quality apps. Developers loved the agreement, because they got more money, but when users downloaded the apps from unofficial Android stores it cut into the PlayBook’s profits. RIM is pulling out to keep their app market cleaner and so they can keep growing in the app market. RIM has been in the news a lot lately with a stabbing at RIM party and when an executive’s behavior on a plane soured a flight. They’re doing poorly all over the board and now RIM is wiping up the bloodstains. What will happen next? Maybe RIM will go away? We think Google will remember the “cesspool” comment, however.
Whitney Grace, April 23, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Google Asserts No Android Fragmentation
April 12, 2012
In the iPhone versus Android mobile battle, Android may be about to suffer a huge loss.Tech News World recently reported on the issue of fragmentation causing Android developers to flee in the article “Is Fragmentation Breaking the Android Dev’s Will?”
According to the article, due to the continued fragmentation of its operating system, developers are starting to lose interest in developing apps for Android. Based on information derived from a survey conducted by Appcelerator and IDC at the beginning of the new year, Android phone app development fell by nearly five percentage points over the past quarter to about 79 percent and interest in Android tablets fell just over 2 percent to about 66 percent.
The article states:
“Google’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) own figures show that many different versions of Android are current being used. Google statistics regarding the number of active devices accessing Google Play over two weeks ending March 5 found that 62 percent ran Gingerbread, or Android 2.3. Another roughly 25 percent ran Froyo, or Android 2.2. Eclair, or Android 2.1, was used by 6.6 percent of the devices.”
However, will some mobile outfits just take the open source version of Android and make an Amazon-like version? We don’t know but you may find these phones presaging the future.
Jasmine Ashton, April 12, 2012
What Amazon Taught Mobile Phone Outfits
April 7, 2012
The Technology Review article “Android Device Makers Are Mutinying, Says Insider” struck me as a trifle sensational. I have been getting more comfortable with Googlized headlines in the New York Times, but Technology Review. The story’s main point, in my opinion, was old news to us here in rural Kentucky. We wrote an analysis of the impact of the Amazon use of Android in the Kindle Fire in November 2011. The revelation that Android device makers were getting frisky was a foregone conclusion after Amazon took an older version of Android which was open source and did its Amazon thing. We thought the creation of an Amazon Kindle app store would clue in the savvy observers that Google was being out maneuvered.
Here’s the passage we noted in the Technology Review write up:
Morgan [top dog] says his company [Skyhook Wireless] is going to be part of a “major” new phone device that will be released at the end of this year. It will be based on Android, but not controlled by Google. “They [Google] really do restrict anything a device maker can do to stand out, for their own purposes,” says Morgan. “It’s very unappealing to a device maker. They don’t want to be just a commodity hardware maker because they’ll all lose out to cheaper players in China. Everyone’s emboldened by the success of Amazon. Everyone’s saying ‘we need to go our own way.'” Paradoxically, this trend is positive for Android, just not Google’s control over it.
I am okay with Amazon’s approach. Skyhook is fine too. But the real action will be the manufacturers of mobile gizmos in the Middle Kingdom and neighboring countries. An open source operating system emulating the Amazon approach means opportunity without royalties. Will your Android app run on one of these quasi-Android devices? I think the flower pot of Android will spout many different blooms.
Stephen E Arnold, April 7, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Android Fragmentation Not
April 5, 2012
In the iPhone versus Android mobile battle, Android may be about to suffer a huge loss.Tech News World recently reported on the issue of fragmentation causing Android developers to flee in the article “Is Fragmentation Breaking the Android Dev’s Will?”
According to the article, due to the continued fragmentation of its operating system, developers are starting to lose interest in developing apps for Android. Based on information derived from a survey conducted by Appcelerator and IDC at the beginning of the new year, Android phone app development fell by nearly five percentage points over the past quarter to about 79 percent and interest in Android tablets fell just over 2 percent to about 66 percent.
The article states:
Google’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) own figures show that many different versions of Android are current being used. Google statistics regarding the number of active devices accessing Google Play over two weeks ending March 5 found that 62 percent ran Gingerbread, or Android 2.3. Another roughly 25 percent ran Froyo, or Android 2.2. Eclair, or Android 2.1, was used by 6.6 percent of the devices.
We get it. Fragmentation means homogenous just like “meaningful use” means better health care.
Jasmine Ashton, April 5, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
No Joke: Upcoming MobileX Conference in Lexington, KY
April 1, 2012
For search enthusiasts that are interested in learning about the the potential impact of mobile devices on various industries, Awesome Inc recently reported on the upcoming conference in the article,”MobileX Comes Home to Lexington.”
According to the article, MobileX Lexington is a one day conference that will be held from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on April 13 at Awesome Inc. The conference for entrepreneurs, investors, developers, industry professionals, and mobile enthusiasts that identifies opportunities, explores solutions, and provides technical education in the mobile & related industries.
When introducing the speakers, The article states:
Anthony Hand of Samsung, who will be giving a talk on “Opportunities for Mobile Innovation: A Designer’s Perspective”. He is a user experience designer at Samsung Research in Silicon Valley for mobile apps and services and has worked with all of the major smartphone platforms and mobile Java. Recently, he spent two years at Motorola as the lead UI designer for the Home Screen and most of the widgets on their Android devices.
This conference could be an exciting opportunity for those interested in learning about innovations in the mobile world.
Jasmine Ashton, April 1, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Inteltrax: Top Stories, March 19 to March 23
March 26, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, the myriad of ways companies are handling tough times through analytics.
One positive light was shone in “Netflix Sets Analytic Example” which shows how the once-sagging movie giant is correcting its course with analytics.
On the flipside, “LexisNexis Fighting a Losing Analytic Battle” shows the original king of analytics and discovery to be going about a big data conversion all wrong.
And on a slightly less concerning note, “Mobile BI Might Be Too Much for Some” shows that while handheld analytics is cool, it’s wasted on many users.
Big data anatlyics is a soaring field, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ups and downs on the way to the top. We help you see all the good and the bad this wild world of innovation has to offer by bringing you the latest every day.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting
www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax, March 26, 2012
Voicebrook and Nuance Team Up for Voice Search
March 26, 2012
SYS.CON Media recently reported on an agreement between Voicebrook and Nuance Communications to work together to deliver comprehensive, speech-enabled reporting solutions for anatomic pathology laboratories in the article, “Voicebrook and Nuance Partner to Provide Speech-Powered Reporting Solutions for Anatomic Pathology Laboratories.”
According to the article, Voicebrook, a provider of integrated speech recognition and digital dictation solutions for Pathology, plans to adapt its VoiceOver software to include the benefits of Nuance’s Dragon Dictate.
The article states:
Powered by Nuance’s advanced speech recognition technology, VoiceOver® is a key component in optimizing anatomic pathology Laboratory Information System (LIS) and Digital Pathology workflows. Used by more than 200 of the most prestigious private and hospital laboratories across the United States and Canada, VoiceOver® is proven to deliver enormous savings, efficiencies, and quality improvements to anatomic pathology laboratories.
It looks like speech technology is becoming a big deal. I like to call this the Apple Siri effect. It may not work perfectly, but it points the way to the future.
Jasmine Ashton, March 26, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Google Faces Apple in Mobile Search Wars
March 24, 2012
Business Insider recently reported on the release of a research note arguing that the rise of the iPad is a long term threat to Google, in the article, “How the iPad Could Destroy Google’s Lucrative Search Business.”
How, you ask? According to two Wall Street analysts, Apple will continue to push alternative sources like Siri as a way to de-emphasize Google’s impact. In addition to this, Siri could potentially hurt Google in the long run by diverting search traffic.
Anthony DiClemente of Barclays writes:
Siri is not a search technology; however when paired with services such as Wolfram Alpha and Yelp, it can circumvent traditional search engines and provide the user with answers that may have originally required a search. Because Siri is a non-visual medium, it does not provide the ability to present users with clickable ad links, an area where GOOG derives most of its revenues. Performics estimates mobile could account for 20% of all paid search over the next 6 months, and Google has said 2/3rds of all mobile searches are on Apple iOS devices.
While placing such a high emphasis on Siri’s impact on search may be a bit of an overstatement, unlike other companies like Microsoft or Amazon which have a variety of revenue sources, search advertising is where Google gets the vast majority of its revenue. If Siri threatens that search ecosystem than Google could have some major challenges to overcome down the road.
Jasmine Ashton, March 24, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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