A typical case of an iPad application going wild! And how is it just possible?

Orangutans who are known for their high intelligent quotient have also started communicating using the iPad.  The authorities  at the Miami’s Jungle Island are allowing their 6 orangutans to use the iPad to communicate and be part of a mental stimulus programme.

Linda Jacobs who oversees the programme says that orangutans have the intelligence that they need to communicate, but they are just not equipped to do so. Jacobs said she began letting the orangutans use iPad last summer, based on the suggestion of someone who had used the devices with dolphins. The software was originally designed for humans with autism and the screen displays pictures of various objects.

A trainer then names one of the objects, and the ape presses the corresponding button.  They can also identify body parts, helping the trainers  to give medical care for them and even give them shots. The devices have been a great addition to the enrichment programmes Jungle Island already does with the orangutans, Jacobs said.

Keepers have long used sign language to communicate with them. While trainers have developed strong relationships with orangutans, the iPad offers an opportunity for them to communicate with people not trained in their sign language.

Looks like yet another revolution in the making at both – the Animal world and the App world

Ubuntu Linux by Canonical will also join the bandwagon of mobile application platform along with iOS, Android and Windows. Canoical founder Mark Shuttleworth says that Ubuntu based applications will have multiple personalities – different for desktops & tablets. He also states that Ubuntu would provide more advantages & disadvantages over the established choices of iOS, Android & Windows. He feels that the major competition would be the upcoming release of the Windows 8 OS which is more tablet friendly than any other platform. He adds that they are not into hardware acquisition or offering their own smartphone and hence will remain neutral to hardware manufacturers.

Shuttleworth puts forth that a developer can write an application for Ubuntu and have it run, with only minimal modification, on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers.

Only time can tell if Ubuntu Linux will be able to run the race at the expected pace to keep up with its competition!

Deloitte sights 4 main reasons why more than 25 % of all tablet sales are going to come from enterprises.

Consumerization of IT: With employees being aware that tablets work beyond just gaming, movie watching & music playing gadgets to enterprise related executing gadgets, this ranks as the first reason for the increase in the tablet sales.

Entry of different Industries: Deloitte indicates a deployment of about 5 million tablets in healthcare and retail sector alone. Along with these 2 industries, manufacturing industry will also test tablets among their employees for deployment

Requests for apps: Deloitte believes enterprise software providers are receiving requests for iPad apps and other tablet-tailored programs. The firm said large players in ERP, ECM, CRM — think Oracle, Salesforce.com, SAP and Microsoft — are writing secure apps that can be provisioned across an entire company

High adoption rates: The tablet form factor is driving adoption in the boardroom; its’ relative flatness makes for an unobtrusive computing device

AdMob Mobile Metrics’ Metrics Highlights of 2010 talks about the latest trends happening in Mobile space.  It is interesting to see how Smartphones with touchscreens, WiFi connectivity, and advanced Operating Systems are growing in popularity. Here are some of the highlights of the report

May 2010While mobile Internet requests are growing rapidly worldwide, there are regional differences in the devices used

• 92 countries generated more than 10 million requests in May 2010, up from 27 countries in May 2008

• Nokia leads in Africa, Asia and E. Europe, while Apple leads in N. America, Oceania and W. Europe

Smartphones with touchscreens, WiFi connectivity, and advanced Operating Systems are growing in popularity

• In May 2010, smartphones generated 46% of traffic in the AdMob network, up from 22% two years ago

• 24% of AdMob traffic in the US came over WiFi in May 2010

Mobile Internet Devices like the iPad, iPod touch and Sony PSP are changing the way the mobile Internet is accessed

• Mobile Internet Devices have consistently accounted for at least 10% of AdMob’s monthly traffic over the past year

Apple was the top device manufacturer in the AdMob network, driven by the worldwide adoption of iOS devices

• Of the nearly 44 million iOS devices in the AdMob network, 57% of the devices are outside of the US

The launch of new Android devices over the past year has led to rapid growth in the Android platform

• Traffic from the Android platform has grown 29% month-over-month since May 2009

• In May 2010, 14 devices generated 92% of Android traffic, compared to one device a year ago

The iOS and Android platforms show a higher usage than share of handsets sold, primarily due to strong app usage

• Users of the iOS and Android platforms regularly spend at least 79 minutes a day using apps

• Consumers on the iOS and Android platforms download approximately 9 apps a month

Zenprise, a mobile solutions company has recently released its top five predictions for enterprise mobility in 2011. The forecasts clearly suggest a phenomenal growth in enterprise mobility and are based on feedback from many enterprise customers and industry leaders.

Prediction 1: Tablets will kill Laptops

Tablet computing devices such as the iPad and RIM’s PlayBook are expected to start replacing laptops, especially for travelling executives, management top brass, CEOs, etc. Tablet sales is expected to touch 54.8 million in 2011.

Prediction 2: You might get a free iPad at work
Next year the trend will shift to enterprises purchasing and deploying iPads for their employees. Now that most enterprises have mobilized their workforce they are looking for ways to mobilize their business. With its larger screen size and greater computing power, the iPad will be the device of choice for enterprises. Yes, that means you can probably expect a free iPad from your company next year!

Prediction 3: ‘Office’ Applications will Rule the Roost
The year ahead might see the creation of a new kind of mobile application, the “microapp,” which will enable employees to use their mobile devices for transactions commonly conducted via a company intranet, such as requesting additional business cards, expense approvals, vacation requests, etc.

Prediction 4: Anytime/Anywhere Access will become a HR Issue
With more business-focused mobile devices entering the enterprise, more employees will be connected 24/7 to their work email. Several lawsuits have already emerged where employees claimed they were required to use their mobile devices after-hours without pay. In 2011, we anticipate that more employers will implement and enforce corporate policies to create clear guidelines for after-hours work on mobile devices and ensure proper compensation for non-exempt employees.

Prediction 5: Companies will Up the Ante on Mobile Security
In addition to preventing traditional security threats and vulnerabilities, such as malware on devices themselves, mobile security requires defining the policies, rights, and content workers receive on their devices. In 2011, companies will require increasingly sophisticated mobile security solutions that span multiple management layers including the network, device and application levels.
The bottom line however, is very clear. Enterprise mobility devices and apps will play a far greater role in our everyday lives next year.

Look forward to a “connected” year ahead. Happy 2011, well in advance!