Google Documents had its mobile version for the last three years but, it was not truly mobile. The mobile version used to be read-only.

In a latest announcement from Google, it is rolling out the updated version of Google Docs with edit support. The update will be rolled out in the next few days for English-language users around the world. The updated Docs is compatible with Android-based handsets running Froyo version 2.2 and iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running Apple iOS V3 or higher.

Although writing or massive editing in a phone might not be that convenient, minor correction or reviews are best done on the go. Microsoft in is latest release, has also included its Office package in Windows Phone 7. Apple is also selling its iPad versions of text editor, spreadsheet, and presentation software.

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Google Documents adds mobile editing for Android and iPhone

Microsoft tried to show it’s confidence on its upcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system by hosting a mock funeral ceremony of it’s rival phones including Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry.

In the ceremony, hearses for the iPhone and the BlackBerry were carried along with Microsoft employees dressed up in Windows Phone 7 garb. The Microsoft employees even performed the "Thriller Dance" (see video, below) hoping the Windows Phone 7 to bury the competition.

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Microsoft’s Funeral Ceremony for Windows Phone Rivals

In the page where Apple explains the features on the new iPod touch, one of the picture has a green colored phone app.

It looks like the screen shown in the iPod Touch is actually that of iPhone and the graphic designer did copy-paste of screens of iPhone to make the iPod Touch.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is not used to being said what to do with his device.

When people started telling that his device was not good enough, he was outraged. He started telling how they need to hold the ‘magic device’. Consumer Reports was the one to blame for all these hassles. That was why he was ‘stunned and embarrassed’.

Some points to prove that he wasn’t at ease in the press meet:

• Admitting "We’re not perfect” shouldn’t have been easy for Jobs. That is why he started his presentation by admitting the truth.
• He was still in defensive mood – repeatedly calling out the press for blowing the problem out of proportion.
• Saying and trying to prove, the antenna problem isn’t unique to Apple.

And yes, nobody cared! As long as they can get their hand on the $29 ‘bumper,’ for free!

Those, who heard of the the Apple engineers knowing about the problem beforehand, are asking, ‘Is Apple staffed with people afraid to tell the truth?’

Since the iPhone 4 went on sale yesterday, a number of reports have begun to appear online about the users having issues with the signal strength. When the phone is held with hand over the new steel band that encases the iPhone, the signal strengt reduced and loose the connection.

Apple’s response to the problem:

“Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.”

That means, Apple publicly admits to their antenna design flaws within the iPhone 4 that can reduce reception quality.

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Apple responds to the iPhone 4 antenna problem

Now, it is HTC, who is suing Apple in response to a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Apple in March.  HTC, a Taiwan based smart-phone manufacturer, makes phones based on Google Inc and Microsoft Corp software.

In the lawsuit, HTC is accusing Apple of infringing five HTC patents but, didn’t specify the patents by names. HTC has asked the ITC, a U.S. trade panel that investigates patent infringement involving imported goods, for a halt of the importation and sale of the company’s popular mobile devices.

People usually don’t expect Apple to respond to media reports. But, a report saying Android is outselling the iPhone should have worried the company. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison told John Paczkowski of Digital Daily:

This is a very limited report on 150,000 US consumers responding to an online survey and does not account for the more than 85 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide. IDC figures show that iPhone has 16.1 percent of the smartphone market and growing, far outselling Android on a worldwide basis. We had a record quarter with iPhone sales growing by 131 percent and with our new iPhone OS 4.0 software coming this summer, we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.

As long as the iPhone continues to grow at 130% per year worldwide, Apple won’t be much worried. One thing to be noted – iPod touch is not a smartphone. They might have add the a million of iPads, sold in a month, in the list though.

Some even accuse the Android success: “… drastically reduced pricing, and aggressive buy-one-get-one-free offers from wireless providers create a false sense of success.”

It is nice to know that they at least are worried. We, as consumers need competition. It doesn’t matter whether it is Apple, Google, Microsoft, RIM, or Palm (HP I mean).

Google’s Android platform has inched itself to second position with a market share of 28% in the US after RIM’s Blackberry in the smart-phone market, leaving the iPhone in the third position.

Android’s start was not that smooth as compared to iPhone but Google picked-up with multi-touch and attractive handsets. Multi-carrier and multiple handset manufactures (from Motorolla, HTC, Samsung etc.) gives Android a clear advantage to iPhone’s single hardware and a single carrier.

Yes, iPhone still has a greatest advantage on its pocket, the App Store with more than 150,000 apps, when compared to about 50,000 Android apps. But, strict and inconsistent approval system is scaring away the developers.

Do you think the Android’s ‘Open’ system will win over the ‘Closed’ iPhone system in the long run?