Here’s the rundown: Google gained a huge 2.7 percent of the market, moving from 2.5 percent in September to 5.2 percent in December. Meanwhile, Palm fell massively from 8.3 percent to 6.1 percent over the period. Both RIM and Microsoft lost one percent of market share, with RIM dropping from 42.6 percent to 41.6 percent, and MS from 19 percent to 18 percent. Apple gained 1.2 percent overall, jumping from 24.1 percent to 25.3.

Interesting numbers…looking at this I realized I’m already working from a unfounded assumption that the mobile battle is 100% Android vs. iPhone, but there are so many more players when you step back to think about it.

It seems like the key thing that needs to shake out is Apps — what and how many platforms will ultimately attract developers — but aside from that, mobile world can probably support multiple platforms for some time to come.

If you’re a Blackberry or Palm partisan, for instance, I doubt you’re going to see an explosion of apps, but you might already have good enough stuff built in; Microsoft users are probably most worried about extending Outlook and Exchange to their phones and don’t need thousands of additional apps.

Of those mentioned, I think Palm is perhaps in the most trouble unless they get a killer app ramped up soon. Ms. D loves her Palm (nee Treo) for reporting tasks, messaging, its connectivity to Palm Desktop, and its brick like battery-life. Most of that Treo-ness was designed out of the Palm Pre series, unfortunately, so it’s not like she’s got a direct upgrade path from Treo to Pre. (Nobody is supporting Palm Desktop anymore, which gives me headaches trying to help her connect and sync.) So her next step is a question mark — potentially an iPhone, if it moves from AT&T, or some sort of Android that catches her eye down the road.

Deuce McAllister doesn’t look *thrilled* to be there, but hopefully he had fun!

Deuce — the Saints all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdown — is heavily involved here in Jackson both as an investor and in charitable endeavors, and he’s the first player who really got me interested in the Saints. He’s from Mississippi and played college ball at Ole Miss.

After some knee injuries he was cut from the team early this year, but he re-joined them in the post season as honorary captain, getting both teammates and Saints fans excited just by his presence. He retired this year as a Saint. (He’s there with tight-end Jeremy Shockey, who supposedly has broken bones and a plate in his leg right now, but still caught a SuperBowl touchdown. Maybe he’ll get Deuce’s ear in the off-season and they’ll both get back up to fighting form. One can hope!)

You can disable the Sense UI without uninstalling. Go to the “manage application” list of apps, open the TouchFlo, press “Clear defaults” and “Force stop”. Next time you press the home button a dialog will appear asking whtat to use as your desktop app – “TouchFlo” or “Home” (the classic android desktop).

OK, I’ve decided to make it happen. I’ve disabled the Sense UI on my HTC Hero to see if it will speed it up and make dealing with the actual phone a little better. I’ve update K-9 Mail, the Facebook app, etc. So far, obviously it’s a little less “slick” and (to be fair) I’ve got fewer widgets running but it does seem a touch snappier so far, and it’s kinda fun to have what feels like a new phone.

Highlights from the Super Bowl as called by each team’s local broadcast; I’ve gotten a huge kick out of Jim Henderson doing play-by-play on Saints games — he adds plenty of emotion in this one when Shockey gets the touchdown and Porter makes his interception.