Google has just announced via the official Android blog that it is in the process of rolling out some additional security mechanisms to the world's most popular mobile operating system. The blog post, which was written and published by an Android security engineer by the name of Rich Cannings, gives a brief overview on some of Android's existing security based positives before continuing to announce that the newly added features will boost the already existing Verify Apps functionality in the going fight against malicious content.
It's relatively rare that a mobile game comes along and manages to generate as much excitement and pre-release hype that the Family Guy announcement managed last December. Sure, there's been a string of extremely popular smash hit games that have immediately benefited from going viral and getting tons of downloads and success on the back of that. However, the Family Guy franchise is an existing household name that already boasts an animated TV series, along with a whole heap of official merchandise. Add to that a stunning, extremely fun and visually impressive mobile game that's now available to download for iOS and Android.
It's been a busy day for Dropbox by all accounts, with the cloud storage company having earlier on released an Android version of the Mailbox app it acquired for $100 million last year. Underlining its intention to mix it with the major players in mobile space, Dropbox has released a new photo and image gallery app called Carousel for both Android and iOS, which makes it very easy for users to share their memories with friends and family.
The fact that Dropbox forked out a cool $100 million to acquire Mailbox last year is a testament to how highly regarded the app is, but while it's now seen as the go-to email solution for those rocking an iOS device, the fact that it's only available on the iTunes App Store is very limiting. But when a company pays such vast sums of money to acquire something, expansion is generally forthcoming, and as such, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Dropbox has released the Mailbox app for Android, as well as announcing a desktop version.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is just a few days from releasing, but some lucky individuals have managed to get their hands on the device earlier than billed. But while many of those with early access have given us a run-through of the numerous features that Samsung has bundled into the new handset - something we are certainly grateful for - others have used their privileged access to the new hardware to satisfy an appetite for destruction. It's certainly arguable that the videos that invent elaborate ways to destroy gleaming new devices are the most enjoyable of all, and a couple of new clips showing a hammer and a boiling water tests only further emphasize this point.
When it comes to the promotion of a new product, manufacturers seem obsessed by the idea of paid celebrity endorsements, but while this has proven problematic on many occasions, HTC has once again drafted in actor Robert Downey Jr. to help with the promotion push of its new One M8 smartphone. The rather humorous ad spot sees Downey talk briefly about how great the device is, before strongly advising - in a little bit of Old English - that you should go out and grab your very own as soon as possible.
Samsung is not a company that you'd say is unfamiliar with litigation, but while the Korean outfit tends to find itself in court accused by Apple of patent infringement, the Galaxy S5 maker has reportedly sued a newspaper of its native tongue for posting some unflattering coverage of its upcoming flagship. Given that the Galaxy S4 didn't sell as well as the company had hoped, there's added pressure on its successor to make amends, but while negative reviews certainly don't help matters, Samsung's decision to respond by means of a lawsuit does seem a tad extreme.
As well as trying to make significant inroads in the field of wearable technology with Project Glass, Google has also demonstrated how it intends to shake-up the smartphone world with Project Ara. In case you happened to miss the previous coverage, the Project Ara team is currently working on the development of modular smartphones, consisting of a skeletal backbone that can be upgraded by means of interchangeable modules. The product, which will likely be intended for the lower-end markets to start with, could eventually challenge the modern day smartphone as we know it, and today, some new images have emerged of the development process in full flow.
Google's Android 4.4.3 update may well be on the way for select devices, but while this rudimentary bump could be rolled out in the next couple of weeks, something much more significant is said to be on the horizon. Currently referred to as 'Project Hera,' the future implementation will aim to bring an aligned, synchronized experience across Android, Chrome and Web apps, with users able to carry out tasks in a seamless manner throughout the range of Google platforms.
Even though the Play Store is moderated to ensure that dodgy, malicious apps don't make it through the gates and onto people's devices, it's not a completely foolproof system. Virus Shield, a relatively new app that claimed to protect users from viruses and other such non-niceties, has scammed many folks out of their money because, at $3.99 a pop, it didn't actually provide any speakable anti-virus features. Although it has since been ousted by the search giant after being exposed, it remains to be seen whether the 10,000+ customers that parted with the substantial sum will see any kind of refund.
