Whether it is to install a more performance-conscious custom ROM or set an app to kill other apps after every few minutes, folks with older Android devices can use a wide variety of methods to get more juice out of their device.

My default ringtone/vibration intensity is set so I can just barely detect them. I‘ve set them like this because, this way, I easily get notified of incoming calls/texts/emails without drawing attention to myself in quiet environments like the classroom or the library.

Siri was introduced as one of the three major features of the iPhone 4S back when it was announced in late 2011. As we all know well by now, it is a voice-based personal assistant that lives inside the iPhone 4S which serves all sorts of commands given by the user. Voice commands involving things like setting a reminder/timer, going through latest text messages, firing off an email/text message, getting weather updates etc. etc.

One of the primary uses of smartphones today – besides taking photos/videos, receiving/sending texts and calls, consuming content from social networks and RSS feeds – is as an organizational tool; we use it to wake us up in the morning, to keep track of meetings, events and other appointments and, of course, to keep to-do lists.

The smartphone of today has become the ultimate example of convergent technology. These devices take razor-sharp photographs, record Full HD 1080p video, play video games, read books, play music, besides taking the occasional phone call and sending/receiving a text message.

Sony’s Xperia line of smartphones is, in my humble opinion, one of the more underrated Android smartphones. Sony’s custom Timeline user-experience on top of Android 2.3 Gingerbread is one of the best in the business and the company offers great support to the development community in the form of giving them unlocked bootloaders and kernel sources.

When it comes to theming a smartphone, enthusiasts will agree that the wallpaper plays an integral part in gluing the entire look together. Enthusiasts, then, like to search around for the perfect wallpaper and then stick to it for as long as they don’t get tired of the whole theme.

While there are plenty of others, there is one feature that Android has that iOS doesn’t: the ability of Android apps to interact with another. On iOS, each app has its own room of sorts from where they can interact with the operating system; on Android, there’s a large apartment in which every app lives and each app can communicate with the other.

Despite all the criticism regarding its one-size-fits-none form factor, Samsung has sold over 5 million units of the phone-plus-tablet Galaxy Note. Almost everything about the device has controversy surrounding it, whether it’s the huge 5.3” 720p Super AMOLED HD display or the inclusion of a capacitive stylus; it’s really a love it or hate it kind of thing.

With beautiful typography, continuous horizontal layouts and large thumbnails, Window Phone 7’s “Metro UI” is arguably the best looking mobile operating system in the market today. It provides a completely original user-experience which focuses more on information than apps.

The GO Dev Team is considered as one of the strongest forces in the Android development scene because of their great “alternative” apps that replace stock apps. GO SMS Pro, GO Contacts, GO Launcher HD and GO Keyboard are good examples of such apps.

While I am a satisfied user of the stock Messaging app (mixed with SMS Popup) that comes with the Galaxy S II on Android 2.3/4.0, there are plenty of people out there who prefer a messaging app that does more than just send/receive text messages. They want abilities like being able to schedule texts, receive pop-up notifications, voice input/output, a nice home-screen widget, blacklisting, favorite contacts etc. etc.

Android is known for the sheer variety of excellent third-party apps available in Google Play that are good alternatives to stock, pre-included apps. Mobile browsers, particularly, are available in the dozens with strong ones like Boat Browser, Dolphin and, of course, Opera Mobile/Mini.

Besides the introduction of a whole new user-interface, Ice Cream Sandwich brought functional upgrades to Android such as Beam and Face Unlock. Now, Face Unlock is certainly not as secure as a PIN or alphanumeric password, but it provides a good level of security and has a a lot of novel value.

AT&T Galaxy S II Skyrocket users got a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich yesterday when an official beta version of it was leaked. Now, to take advantage of all that power that your Skyrocket possesses, the development community has found a way to gain root access. Check out our easy step-by-step guide on how to root the Skyrocket on ICS after the jump!

Despite being such an “open” mobile operating system, all Android phones in the market today come with a few limitations. These are actually safety mechanisms put in place for more security and to ensure that (inexperienced) users don’t mess up their devices. For enthusiasts, though, these safety mechanisms are limitations. Limitations that limit how they get to use a device they own.

AT&T Galaxy S II Skyrocket users rejoice! An Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM (official) has been leaked for the device which can be flashed in a few simple steps. Those of you interested can check out our easy-to-follow step-by-step guide right after the jump!

Advanced enthusiasts like to customize every aspect of their smartphone, whether it is the keyboard, the launcher, the overall theme or the boot animation! Yes, it’s not very uncommon to find people spending hours on choosing just the right setup which includes choosing a boot animation that fits the overall theme of the device.

Those of you who own a smartphone will know that this small little device has become an integral tool in their everyday life. It is used to take high-res photos, record full HD videos, listen to music, online communications and, of course, to handle calls and texts.

One thing that Apple did right when they copied Android’s excellent notifications drawer feature was its ability to work even with full-screen apps such as games, video players and alternative browsers. By default, Android doesn’t give you this option. If you’re inside a full-screen app and wish to see the time or the latest notifications, you are forced to exit the app and then pull the notification drawer from the homescreen. It’s inelegant, ugly and simply makes for an inconsistent user-experience.