We were waiting for it, after so much gossip… finally, Google TV has been announced. And it rocks. Let´s review all the confirmed information:

THE CONCEPT

Google TV is far superior to Apple´s approach (do you remember Apple TV?), which was a kind of TV add-on or supplement. Google bets for a complete renewal of the television concept, which becomes an interactive service where you can search for plays and movies, search over the web, run your favorite apps, or even videochat… all from a fundamental place on people´s lives: your coach.

THE PLAYERS

There are some big players with Google to bring up this new era. Sony is the one building up the TV itself, Logitech will build up set-top-boxes (called Companion Box) to adapt traditional HDTVs to full-featured Google TVs, and will also provide the remote controllers; and Intel will provide its Atom processors to fuel up all with the necessary power.

THE TIMELINE

There are four proposed milestones:

1. TODAY: Google wants us to start optimizing web sites NOW. A Google TV website development guide has been published, mainly an open call to designers and developers to start opening our minds as this new channel has never existed before.
2. 2010 FALL SEASON: Launch of Sony TVs and Blu-Ray player as well as Logitech´s Companion Box. Most probably Google TV will be limited to US users at this time.
3. EARLY 2011: Launch of Android Market, Google TV SDK and TV Web API.
4. SUMMER 2011: All the project will be published as open source !

Logitech´s Companion Box

THE REMOTES

In my opinion, Remote Controllers are one of the key challenges for Google TV. Technology is mature enough on other aspects of the project to take the leap, but interacting with TVs with a practical control, that´s another story and I would dare to say it could determine the massive adoption on “non-geek” homes. Nintendo Wii controllers were probably the only innovation in this field over the years, but are not at all suitable for the task Google TV proposes.

Logitech is the ally selected by Google, and their proposal, if still not unveiled, mixes a compact keyboard, a remote control and a touchpad. There will be an Android app to use Android smartphones as remote controllers, and Logitech blog also suggest a variety of controllers as shows this image, including a video camera for video-chatting.

THE BEST: ANDROID ON YOUR TV

The best of it all is that Android will not be only in your pocket, but in your living room. Google TV technology is built upon Android. We as Android developers can´t wait to embrace this new concept of applications over 40 inch screens .  There is a Chrome browser too, running on top of Android, to navigate the web and play webapps.

Google TV will come with Netflix, Youtube and Hulu pre-installed, but any Android app not needing phone capabilities should work, in fact Google demoed the actual Pandora mobile app published on Android Market.

SO…

We had high expectations on this year´s Google I/O developer conference, but all have been surpassed. Still analyzing how Android 2.2 has raised the bar for Apple (which worths a separated post) , and now Google TV is coming. And will come to stay. I really believe this is the beginning of a new era. And Sevenclick is in.

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Related links

http://www.google.com/tv/

http://www.google.es/tv/developer/

http://discover.sonystyle.com/internettv/

http://logitech.com/google/GoogleTV

http://blog.logitech.com/2010/05/20/logitechgoogletv/

Morgan Stanley published last month a report analyzing the “state-of-the-art” of Mobile Internet. The report covers almost every aspect related to Mobile Internet: technologies, key players, carriers, content providers, etc..

While reading one the presentation summary, one slide kept my attention. It’s a diagram comparing different mobile platforms in terms of HTML Mobile Page view, mobile Internet and mobile application usage and unit shipmets.

HTML Mobile Page Views

• iPhone users represent 65% of HTML Mobile Page views, with only a 17% of market share.
• Symbian has only a 7% of HTML Mobile Page views, despite a 45% market share.
• RIM also has a poor 3% of HTML Mobile Page views.
• ANDROID overtakes RIM, Symbian, Palm and Windows Mobile!!!!

Mobile Application usage

• iPhone is doing a great job here with a 50% of Mobile Applications.
• Symbian has a 25%, a bit low taking into account its 45% market share.
• Android obtained an 11% in just one year.
• RIM has an interesting 7%. Not bad taking into account that Blackberry user interface is far from being usable (IMO).

Analyzing this information we foresee two winning platforms: iPhone and ANDROID. These are two young platforms, with great potential and a user base hungry for data consumption.  In the case of iPhone, it’s really awesome taking into account that we are talking about one single device, not a family of devices.

Every 1% of iPhone users consume a 3,8 % of HTML mobile page views and a 2.9% of Mobile applications. 1% of Android users consume a 2% of HTML mobile page views and a 2,75% of Mobile Applications. Interesting numbers, isn’t it?

I’m completely sure that 2010 will be the year of ANDROID. During the last CES in Las Vegas, Moible Manufacturers presented more than 20 new ANDROID devices. Even Google presented its own device, the Nexus One, probably the most advanced mobile phone in the market now. I don’t forget about iPhone. Apple is doing well, and they will probably (surely?) present a new version during the summer. But, as new ANDROID devices appear, the penetration of this platform will get higher and higher, probably overtaking iPhone in two years time.

Anyway, these are very interesting times for mobile industry, specially for mobile internet and applications.

Link Morgan Stanley’s Mobile Internet Report
Via Mobile Phone Development

Today, Sony Ericsson is announcing its latest phone, first SE Android-powered phone. The Xperia X10 show off some really advance hardware capabilities, as well as a new UX (User eXperience) platform on top of Android which SE says will evolve over time as well as expand over other products.

Android is finally maturing and all manufaturers are releasing their Android-based devices. A few include customizations made by the manufacturer, read HTC Sense, Motorola Blur… and most include common hardware found nowadays, while others are betting on the lastest hardware in an effort for standing out of the rest.

Sony Ericsson bets for Android, and their first device, Xperia X10, really stands out for what we are used to:

• 4.0 inches, 480 x 854 pixels (WVGA), scratch-resistant capacitive screen (non-multitouch)
• The processor is the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
• 8.1 megapixel camera with smile detection

These are a few of the powerful hardware details, but the phone also comes with a nice interface on top of Android, called SE Timescape and SE Mediascape, the first for managing your contacts and social networks, the later for music, photos and videos. These interfaces, still unnamed but referenced over some SE press-releases as the new UX (User eXperience) platform, is said to be platform-agnostic, which mean we could eventually see UX platform running on top of Windows Mobile.

To note that Xperia X10 runs Android 1.6, so it doesn´t include Google Navigation Beta as Motorola Droid, but they include SE WisePilot to make up for turn-by-turn directions.

We are eager to try-out one of these, hopefully someone at Sony Ericcson could send us one ? 

Check these links to read more, and don´t miss the teaser below:

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Product Page [english]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Product Page [spanish]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Press Release

Sony Ericson Product Blog

If you want to have an in-depth look to the Sony Ericsson UX platform – Timescape and Mediascape -, check this video SE just released on their blog:

Caixa Penedès presents with SevenClick, TBS Group company specialized in mobile software development, its mobile eBanking system completely developed for ANDROID, Google’s mobile operating system.

This way, along with the iPhone solution and the electronic banking solution compatible with any mobile device of the market, Caixa Penedès customers will be able to access from mobile.caixapenedes.com a brand new access environment for ANDROID where they’ll be able to consult and operate their accounts, as well as visualize corporative, commercial and Social Activities information.

Global Position of Accounts and Credit Cards, Movements checking, external and personal transferences, mobile prepaid recharge and ATM localization through Google maps. These are some of the main features.And all of them for the first time specifically developed taking full advantage of those devices running Google’s brand new operating system.

Undoubtedly, a big step taking Caixa Penedès to the top of worldwide mobile electronic banking.

Press Note

Once you have the HTC Hero in your hands, you can say at first sight this is the first 100% HTC ANDROID project, as one of HTC members said.

In fact it’s the first device delivered by HTC not including the “with Google” logo on his back, what makes the Hero more independent from Google services than was Magic or G1.

GUI

With the introduction of HTC Sense, HTC gives Android their own look and feel, very close to the look and feel of their Windows Mobile devices, but integrating much better with the most basic applications of Android such as calendar, dialer, etc…

HTC Sense makes the device look more elegant than original Android and includes some functional improvements as well. For example, the number of desktop tabs. Pure Android devices as G1 or Magic have only three tabs for placing all your shortcuts and widgets, what becomes insufficient after the first weeks (well… at least for me), but HTC Sense provides up to 7 tabs for placing your favorite shorcuts and widgets.

And there is a lot of widgets to put on! It’s specially remarkable the great widget collection included in HTC Sense. Quantity and quality! Stocks, clocks, calendar, twitter, and more… This is one of my favorite things in HTC Hero.

Hardware

Looking at hardware design, HTC has tried to improve their previous models and to include something new. The most impacting thing is the Teflon layer that is covering all the external surface except for the screen. I really like it. It makes the Hero very comfortable in your hands. And, of course, harder to scratch.

The 3.5 mm audio jack is one of the improvements we expected and here it is. No more problem deciding listening to music or charging your device.

But there are a couple of things I don’t like. The first is the new layout of hard keys, that makes usuability go one step back in my opinion. Specially the ‘Back’ key, that becomes more difficult to use for right-handed people. The second, the curvature in the area of hard keys. I guess the goal was to make more usable the keys, speciallly with only one hand, but I think the only result is that HTC Hero is very uncomfortable when you left it on a table and try to use it with a single hand.
Maybe it’s just a matter of taste.

Software

Talking about productive software, I must confess I was a bit dissapointed with the software shipped with Android (at least on Magic). No PDF viewer, no documents editors, no task manager, … HTC has addressed this issue in some extent shipping on the Hero applications such as QuickOffice, Stocks, Footprints, PDF Viewer, Peep, … This provides a better experience with the device and can make life easier to some users as they won’t need to Android Market for getting some important applications.

A separate mention is deserved for web browser, due to the prominent place it takes in such a connected device. Two very important milestones have been reached with HTC Hero: multitouch and Flash. This allows a much better experience browsing the ‘desktop web’.

Moreover, some other little but yet appropiate improvements in the browser makes the experience better than in the original Android browser. And so it happens with the virtual keyboard, that shows a better performance and usability.

Another interesting point of HTC Hero is the management of social networks, integrated in system settings and in the configuration wizard for initializing setting at first start up. This allows you to manage your Facebook, Twitter or Flickr accounts in a very easy manner.

And last but not least, the mail application shipped with HTC Hero includes Exchange support out of the box.

Other features

Of course, HTC Hero includes all features already available in HTC Magic like A-GPS, compass, YouTube application, accelerometer,… that have become a commodity in this kind of devices.

To sum up here’s a list with pros and cons of HTC Hero, but, better than all I can say, you should look at the video review we posted yesterday.

Pros

• Great widget collection
• Improved virtual keyboard
• Flash support
• Multitouch
• HTC Sense makes GUI more elegant and usable
• New 3.5 mm jack for headphones
• 5.0 megapixels camera
• Exchange support

Cons

• New keys layout
• Curvature makes difficult to use on a table with a single hand

Now, we have put our hands on this little precious for a couple of days, and have new things to share with you: a video review showing the main features of HTC Hero and Sense and how the mobile applications can help in our daily life. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks to our friends of Confëttika, for this great videos.

First, unboxing and looking at HTC Hero design …

Getting it to work …

Reviewing …

And a real life sample …

As we announced, HTC invited SevenClick to attend the presentation which took place last wednesday in London. The secret surprise was twofold:

• HT SENSE. A brand new user interface created by HTC for ANDROID powered phones.
• HTC HERO. The third ANDROID phone by HTC.

The event was very impressive, bringing together people around the world to the presentation. The organization was perfect, allowing media to talk directly with HTC executives present in the event.

Peter Chou, HTC CEO started the presentation talking about HTC’s perspective of mobility. Then, he introduced the new HTC SENSE interface. Finally, Horace Luke presented the Hardware specs. After the presentation, HTC staff made personalized demos of the devices, allowing people to use them on their own, touching, feeling and sensing them, which is very important in my opinion.

HTC SENSE

Just like the TouchFlo interface for Windows Mobile devices, ANDROID phones will have a specially adapted interface. As one of HTC members said, this is the first 100% HTC ANDROID project. They have invested lot of time (and money) in the software part, and the most remarkable result is HTC SENSE.

The main change from the user point of view is that SENSE focuses on contacts. What does it means? Accessing your contacts you’ll be able to browse their mails, SMSs, Facebook profile, Flickr photos… and so on.

From a user perspective, HTC SENSE is much better than regular ANDROID interface. Looks better, keeping the best things current interface offers, but powering the user experience through a myriad of widgets.  Because all of this is about Widgets.

HTC HERO

With a design very similar to the HTC MAGIC, the most remarkable feature of this device is Teflon. HTC has used this material to create a harder and stronger phone, less prone to scratches. HTC has included a 3.5 mm audio jack, wich is much better than just a Micro USB jack.

I don’t want to include an extensive specification description. Just follow the link in the botton of this post.

HERO will be available on July, and HTC announced agreements with T-Mobile and Orange.

I’m my opinion a very interesting device powered by great software too. We must demand great pieces of hardware running the best software. If one of the parts is not good enough, the formula doesn’t work.  This device follows the path initiated by HTC with the MAGIC (I’n my opinion, the HTC DREAM was just a proof of concept).

I’d like to thank HTC people for the invitation. It’s been a pleasure to be there and attend this great event personally. We look forward to your new presentation guys!!!!

Technical specifications

Product WebSite

HTC has invited SevenClick to attend next 24th of June to an event in London. Everything is very misterious.

No information. Just a cryptic picture of a guy with a Rose (Rosie????).

By the way, SevenClick is going to be there. The mistery will be revealed in two weeks.

Stay tuned for more information.

SevenClick, TBS Group company specialized mobile solutions development, is participating as speaker in the Banking Technology Comittee of the European Savings Banks Group, taking place in Madrid on June 8 and 9.

Invited by La Caixa for such an important event, José Manuel Cristóbal, SevenClick’s CTO, will make a presentation entitled “Mobile Banking. Getting Satisfaction!”covering a number of first-level success stories.

Among them, those related to iPhone and Android electronic banking solutions, mobile Digital Signature, secure authentication mechanisms and payment authorization methods. All of them from a pure mobile perspective, assuring security and legal validity of each process.

Undoubtedly, a new opportunity to know the most important innovations in banking and mobile technology.

All of them in a exclusive environment with representatives of Technology Departments from the main European Savings Banks.

Press Note