The document discusses the challenges Google faces in competing with Apple in the smartphone OS market, particularly concerning user dissatisfaction with the customizable nature of Android. It also mentions Google's initiative to create a new review process for child-friendly applications amid concerns over safety and trust in automated reviews. Lastly, the document highlights Apple's acquisition of Linx to enhance camera quality in smartphones, potentially creating a new demand for professional-grade photography capabilities in mobile devices.

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THE WEEK IN 3 WORDS

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SEASON #02 – WEEK #16

3. LOLLIPOP ISN’T REALLY LOLLIPOP
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Owners of recent Android devices may have updated their OS to the latest
platform version: Lollipop. Though, the result of the update may have been
quite disappointing for them, as was the author of this article*.
The point highlighted here reveals how complicated it is for Google to compete
with Apple in the area of smartphone OS: Apple really control the OS and how it
looks like. Google, on the other side, leaves room to manufacturers to reshape
their OS. While it can be quite elegant (Xiaomi) it can also be a disappointment.
The problem is, users will probably associate Google to their disappointment,
and not the manufacturer, who they trust for the hardware.
The Nexus line is a way for Google to show how their OS should really like, but
those devices are far from being best sellers. Maybe Google should be more
constraining in the future on how Android can be tailored by manufacturers
(even if it would then contradict the OpenSource approach of the OS)?
(*): http://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-secret-shame-of-the-android-ecosystem/?tag=nl.e101&s_cid=e101&ttag=e101&ftag=TRE684d531

5. APPS FOR CHILDREN
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Google announced* a new program for families: the objective is to add
an extra review process for some applications which developers mark
as “for kids”.
This is the equivalent of what Apple is doing for a while with the similar
section in its own apps store. And is quite necessary! (In 2013, in USA,
72% of kids under 8 were using a smartphone or a tablet**)
Now the question is: could parents trust Google review? Even if Google
claims to comply with some standards (Children’s Online Privacy
Protection, for example) most of the Android applications review are
automated and non-human. Will the algorithms be robust enough to
prevent malicious developers to refer an app as suitable “for kids” but
still hide some non-desirable hidden features (such as in-app
purchase)?
(*): https://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/families/about.html (**): https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-
use-in-america-2013

7. WHY BETTER SMARTPHONE CAMERA?
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Smartphone or tablet camera are usually fine for amateur photography, but
Apple seems to move one step forward, by buying the Israeli company LinX*.
LinX claims to build very small camera device which can mimic the quality of a
SLR (Single-Lens-Reflex) camera.
Apple started a campaign of photos taken with the iPhone 6 devices
(can be seen here: https://www.apple.com/iphone/world-gallery/) and,
of course, the popularity of apps like Instagram is not to be proven
any more. Using smartphones or tablets to take photos makes totally
sense, because pictures are mostly about capturing a given moment
and smartphones (especially) and tablets are usually at hand when
such moments occur.
Though, camera quality is not part of the top usual users criteria to choose a
smartphone. Will Apple manage to create a new need by equipping its mobile
device with professional-grade camera?
(*) http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-buys-israeli-camera-technology-company-linx-1429037790