Apple faces threat from China, bellwether in battle against Android

Computerworld - Apple faces a threat from an unexpected quarter: Chinese developers crafting Android apps, an analytics firm said today.

Chinese developers build nearly two-thirds of the mobile apps used by Chinese consumers -- an even higher percentage than U.S. developers contribute to U.S. consumers' app usage patterns -- illustrating not only the difficulty outsiders face in breaking into the massive market, but reinforcing one analyst's claim that Apple will face a crisis next year if it continues to shed smartphone share.

According to Flurry, a U.S.-based mobile analytics firm, U.S. developers are losing their grip on the mobile app ecosystem, and have accounted for just 36% of all smartphone and tablet apps published so far this year. That's down from 45% over the last two years.

The U.S.'s contribution to the overall app market -- Android and iOS -- looked better when Flurry weighted the data by time spent with apps: There, U.S. developers accounted for 70%. But that, too, was smaller than in years prior, when U.S. programmers held app usage shares of 75% and 76% in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

While Flurry's data was meant to push U.S. developers to think globally -- something they've not done nearly as successfully as those in other countries -- it also revealed an interesting trend in China.

China, said Simon Khalaf, president and CEO of Flurry, is not a big software exporter at the moment. But that will change.

"The software export market [for China] is nascent now, it doesn't look like a big software exporter yet," said Khalaf in an interview. "But Chinese developers are starting to see some adoption in Japan and Korea. That's their focus now: CJK [China, Japan and Korea]."

And Chinese apps, localized for export, will continue to grab global share by expanding into other neighboring markets, including Southeast Asia, India and Indonesia. "The sheer numbers in India ... that's a lot of market [for Chinese apps]," said Khalaf.

The Chinese maneuver may seem inconsequential to Apple at first glance, but Khalaf begged to differ.

That's because Chinese consumers are more likely to be using an Android-based smartphone, one tied to the Android ecosystem, than they are to own an iPhone and rely on Apple's app market. In earlier studies by Flurry, the firm pegged the Android-iOS split in China at about 2 to 1, with Apple's installed base accounting for just 35% of the country's total. The remaining was all Android.

And Chinese developers, like all developers, follow the money. If Android dominates the installed base, Android is what developers will write for.

"When you look at the apps being submitted to Flurry, you do see an interesting shift happening, with Chinese developers releasing Android and iOS apps at the same time," said Khalaf. "But an 'Android-first' release could be the next shift down the road."

And that's where things start to get ugly for Apple. Or so Benedict Evans, an analyst with U.K.-based Enders Analysis, has argued.

In a report published in early August, Evans maintained that without a low-priced iPhone in its portfolio -- and by low, he meant as low as $200 to $300 -- Apple risked losing mind share among developers. In other words, Apple needs market share as much as profit margin for the iPhone to continue being a credible smartphone brand.

Like Khalaf, Evans saw the danger stemming from developers' decisions.

"Developers are starting to move from creating new products on the basis 'iPhone, then maybe Android' to 'iPhone and then Android' or even 'iPhone and Android at the same time,'" Evans said in his report. "We do not see Android becoming a first choice this year, but it is no longer optional for any publisher seeking real reach. If total Android engagement moves decisively above iOS, the fact that iOS will remain big will be beside the point -- it will move from first to first-equal and then perhaps second place on the roadmap."

If that happens, Apple is in a world of hurt.

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Bolshoi faces 'difficult challenge'

29 July 2013 Last updated at 11:47 GMT The famed Bolshoi has been mired in controversy of late The new head of the Bolshoi Ballet has admitted he faces "difficult challenges", following a series of scandals including an acid attack on the company's artistic director.

Vladimir Urin told the BBC such events "are now in the past".

He was put in place earlier this month after the Russian culture ministry said the Bolshoi needed "renewal".

The Bolshoi is about to embark on a three-week run at London's Royal Opera House.

The occasion marks the 50th anniversary of the company's first visit to Covent Garden.

In recent months the Bolshoi has been mired by allegations of vicious infighting and feuds - as well as the attack on artistic director Sergei Filin, in which a masked man threw acid in his face.

Veteran dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze, who was in open conflict with the theatre since the attack, was forced out in June.

Leading soloist Svetlana Lunkina told a Russian newspaper she had moved to Canada amid claims of threats to her husband.

"Every theatre sometimes goes through difficult times - it's a normal process of the human life," Mr Urin told BBC arts correspondent Rebecca Jones.

"As human beings, some people might have glorious moments and some tragic events. I'm sure that all these events which happened in the life of the Bolshoi and which amazed all the world - all these things are now in the past."

Mr Urin said, having only been in his post for 10 days, he had not had the opportunity to look into the history of the Bolshoi's recent problems.

"I just need more time to understand the basics of what happened," he said.

'Untruthful things'

However, while he accepted the Bolshoi's reputation had been tarnished by the controversies, Mr Urin said he believed it was unjust.

"Very often a lot of untruthful things were coming out. It doesn't mean some events did not take place, they did take place - but very often it was a lot of rumours around these events and it was a wrong evaluation of what was going on." he said.

"What is vitally important now for the people of the theatre is what they will see on stage. I'm sure that if the creative life of the company is organised in a good way, it will produce new creative interesting works and then everything shall be fine."

Mr Urin's predecessor Anatoly Iksanov was removed from his position with a year still left on his contract.

He had been accused of mismanaging the Bolshoi's $1bn (£860m) renovation - which ran years over schedule and over budget.

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said: "A difficult situation had developed around the theatre and the troupe - everything pointed to the need for renewal."

Dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze said he was forced out of the Bolshoi

"As always in the ballet world we do need some new blood - not only dancers but also choreographers and directors as well," agreed Mr Urin.

"We would never say goodbye to the trouble makers if they are brilliant dancers. I'm sure we should be able to find a mutual language to co exist."

Mr Urin's comments came on the same day Mr Filin told the Daily Telegraph he had just undergone his 22nd operation following the attack in January.

"Some of the optimism that we had earlier has not been justified. My right eye sees nothing at all and my left is working at about 10%," he said.

"I can make out light and dark; I can't make out faces. But I want to concentrate on the fact that my doctors are amazing and there is a plan for treatment. There is hope that my left eye especially can improve."

View the original article here

Bolshoi faces 'difficult challenge'

29 July 2013 Last updated at 11:47 GMT The famed Bolshoi has been mired in controversy of late The new head of the Bolshoi Ballet has admitted he faces "difficult challenges", following a series of scandals including an acid attack on the company's artistic director.

Vladimir Urin told the BBC such events "are now in the past".

He was put in place earlier this month after the Russian culture ministry said the Bolshoi needed "renewal".

The Bolshoi is about to embark on a three-week run at London's Royal Opera House.

The occasion marks the 50th anniversary of the company's first visit to Covent Garden.

In recent months the Bolshoi has been mired by allegations of vicious infighting and feuds - as well as the attack on artistic director Sergei Filin, in which a masked man threw acid in his face.

Veteran dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze, who was in open conflict with the theatre since the attack, was forced out in June.

Leading soloist Svetlana Lunkina told a Russian newspaper she had moved to Canada amid claims of threats to her husband.

"Every theatre sometimes goes through difficult times - it's a normal process of the human life," Mr Urin told BBC arts correspondent Rebecca Jones.

"As human beings, some people might have glorious moments and some tragic events. I'm sure that all these events which happened in the life of the Bolshoi and which amazed all the world - all these things are now in the past."

Mr Urin said, having only been in his post for 10 days, he had not had the opportunity to look into the history of the Bolshoi's recent problems.

"I just need more time to understand the basics of what happened," he said.

'Untruthful things'

However, while he accepted the Bolshoi's reputation had been tarnished by the controversies, Mr Urin said he believed it was unjust.

"Very often a lot of untruthful things were coming out. It doesn't mean some events did not take place, they did take place - but very often it was a lot of rumours around these events and it was a wrong evaluation of what was going on." he said.

"What is vitally important now for the people of the theatre is what they will see on stage. I'm sure that if the creative life of the company is organised in a good way, it will produce new creative interesting works and then everything shall be fine."

Mr Urin's predecessor Anatoly Iksanov was removed from his position with a year still left on his contract.

He had been accused of mismanaging the Bolshoi's $1bn (£860m) renovation - which ran years over schedule and over budget.

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said: "A difficult situation had developed around the theatre and the troupe - everything pointed to the need for renewal."

Dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze said he was forced out of the Bolshoi

"As always in the ballet world we do need some new blood - not only dancers but also choreographers and directors as well," agreed Mr Urin.

"We would never say goodbye to the trouble makers if they are brilliant dancers. I'm sure we should be able to find a mutual language to co exist."

Mr Urin's comments came on the same day Mr Filin told the Daily Telegraph he had just undergone his 22nd operation following the attack in January.

"Some of the optimism that we had earlier has not been justified. My right eye sees nothing at all and my left is working at about 10%," he said.

"I can make out light and dark; I can't make out faces. But I want to concentrate on the fact that my doctors are amazing and there is a plan for treatment. There is hope that my left eye especially can improve."

View the original article here