Rating: Google CEO has little to counter iPad 3 rumours
It seems that Apple hasn’t lost its flair for self-publicity one iota despite the loss of Steve Jobs. Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, has just presented his keynote address at MWC 2012 which has its origins in the world of GSM, of course. Schmidt appears to have maybe overlooked this point with his comments about mesh networks. But he’s primarily viewed as the public face of Android – the Google sponsored mobile OS. Android’s arch rival is, naturally, Apple’s iOS. Well, in a move almost certainly designed to steal Android’s thunder, Apple announced that it is holding a Press conference on March 7th [2012]. Even as Schmidt spoke.As GoMo News has reportedly previously here – the next generation Apple tablet – probably labelled the iPad 3 is very definitely expected in March.
An iPad 3 launch almost certainly accompanies a new version of iOS. An event which is in sharp contrast to Android which doesn’t seem to have much new news at MWC 2012.
In his speech Schmidt talked up the potential of mesh networks in developing countries. Such networks are essentially Wi-fi based and therefore compete directly with mobile network operators.
The early part of Schmidt’s speech was used to promote the joys of a version of the Chrome browser that now works on the Android mobile OS.
There are only two major problems with this. Firstly, it’s not news because the ‘beta’ version of this product has been out for a while and already has nearly 7,000 reviews.
The second and even more telling problem is that this product requires version 4.0 (Ice cream Sandwich) and above. So the vast majority of Android mobile phones can’t run it.
Hence Google has missed an ideal opportunity to announce something special such as a new release of the Android OS.
The only interesting snippet is that when Schmidt was asked whether Android will be made available on feature phones, he replied, “A better question is ‘when will smartphones cost what feature phones cost’ and the answer is: next year [2013].”
Nice recovery.
