If Android is your mobile OS of choice then it's highly likely that CyanogenMod has been on your radar for quite some time. The aftermarket firmware solution allows users to flash their Android powered devices to introduce features and offerings that aren't included in official builds of the open-source software.
The advantages of rooting an Android device - as well as some of the drawbacks - have been well documented in many a post here at Redmond Pie. But if you have decided to enter the Dark Side, as it were, you'll be more than aware that both management and all-in-one tools can be invaluable in terms of getting the most from your hacking and modding endeavors.
Google Play Editions are all the rage right now. After years of smartphone enthusiasts wishing that hardware makers would offer versions of their smartphones with a stock installation of Android as an option, the GPE versions of devices like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 have proven predictably popular amongst enthusiasts. It's debatable whether the general phone-buying public even noticed, but that's not the point.
Following on from its introduction of the Xperia Z1S and Xperia Z1 Compact smartphones at CES, Sony has introduced two additional devices to compliment the Xperia range. The Xperia T2 Ultra and the Xperia E1 are built with relatively modest specifications and look like they will be aimed at the lower entry level smartphone market rather than those looking for a powerhouse device to compete with the best of Android.
Does it need saying that there are never enough rumors in the world of technology? Probably not, because we all know that pretty well enough already. The truth is, whenever there’s something big coming up, the rumor mill only seems to pick up pace further, and now we get to hear about the alleged specs for Samsung’s new and upcoming Galaxy S5 flagship Android phone that is expected to be unveiled around March this year.
We’ve discussed on multiple occasions how fragmentation is Android’s Achilles Heel. Despite all the many advantages that the open source nature of the operating system brings to users, it’s no hidden truth that OEMs often tend to delay newer Android builds for even not-so-old devices (or cancel them altogether) simply because they want customers to upgrade to the latest phone to get their hands on the latest and greatest that Android has to offer. Nowadays, it’s not just the one year old smartphones that suffer this dilemma - even the reigning flagships see considerable delays in getting updates to the latest available version of Android. Galaxy S4 is just one example from Samsung.
It’s no hidden fact that with the amount of personal data that our smartphones today hold, privacy and identity protection is a huge concern. There have been ways around to “lock” your device for a very long time - long before iPhone and Android ever existed - but those phones didn’t really contain as much sensitive personal information as the former, not to mention that smartphones truly became popular and mainstream after these two contenders claimed the market. Hence, privacy concerns are much large scale now.
Samsung is the mobile industry's power releaser, and even though the Galaxy Note 3 has sold in excess of 10 million units since the September release, the Korean company is already planning a revised, cheaper model. According to a leaked snap, we can now see how the handset stands up against the real deal, and since, in the eyes of many, the Note 3's specs amount to overkill anyway, perhaps the Neo model will sell strongly once it eventually debuts.
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has just announced WWE Network, a 24/7 streaming service. Wrestling fans with a passion for late nights will be particularly pleased about this announcement as it effectively allows subscribers to sit in front of the WWE's superstars on a 24-hour basis for a relatively small monthly outlay. The subscription based service will be billed at $9.99 per month and will require a minimum six month commitment from those wanting to get in on the action in the United States.
The festive season may be over for most, but in celebration of the new calendar year, there seems to be no-end of promotional offers on apps for mobile users. With Sephora throwing out promo codes for iOS apps like confetti, Android users are certainly not being left out, and Agent - a 5-in-1 smart assistant for those running Google's mobile operating system - has just gone free. Check the details after the break!
