Android KitKat is the latest dessert that you can possibly get at this point in time for your Android smartphone or tablet, depending on the device that you carry. Usually, Nexus devices are the first one to taste any new flavor of Google’s mobile OS, and that’s what we saw with Nexus 5 that ships with Android 4.4. For all the others in the pipeline, the release was promised to follow in the days to come. Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are the first ones that have started receiving the over-the-air 4.4 update, but if you haven’t gotten the notification yet in your region, the good news is that you can update right away using ADB sideload.
At the end of last month, Facebook announced a brand new Messenger app for iPhone and Android. The app, which was a complete overhaul from what we’re already accustomed to was not given an exact timeframe as to when it would be made available. Now though, we have official confirmation from the social network itself that the newly updated Messenger app will be available today to everyone wielding an iOS or Android device. More details and direct download links for both platforms can be found right here.
Consumers who take interest in the highly competitive smartphone market may not immediately class Motorola as one of the "big boys". The opinion of the wider community may differ on that one from person-to-person, but it seems that the Google-owned company is making a continued effort to claw back the reputable name they once had. The latest push in that effort takes the shape of the new Motorola Moto G handset that is designed to be an entry-level device for those looking to get in on the smartphone action with an affordable but powerful option.
Google has taken the earliest possible opportunity to give some good news to existing Nexus tablet owners. In an official post on the Android Google+ page the company has announced that the latest and greatest release of the Android operating system will be be coming to the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. The announcement will come as great news to the Android community that is irritatingly used to waiting months for the latest version of the favored OS to become available on their existing hardware.
CyanogenMod is undoubtedly the biggest name in custom firmware when it comes to Android these days, and with good reason. With support spanning all the handsets that hackers and enthusiasts are likely to ever want, CyanogenMod is very likely to be available in some shape or form for the device that's currently sat in your pocket.
Google's Project Glass is one of the most fascinating developments in the technology industry, and with the Big G having recently released the big Google Glass XE11 update for the wearable tech, things seem to be pushing along just nicely. The progress continues in a similar fashion with the news that music playback features are headed to Glass. As of today, the search giant has added new functionality that allows users to find songs, browse playlists and enjoy their music, and the whole system will be controlled by voice commands. Furthermore, the company will also be selling stereo earbuds by the end of the month especially tailored to Glass. Full details after the break.
It has long since been the case that users switch from Android smartphones to iPhones in larger proportions, but more so than ever, the trend is increasing. According to a study by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, more Android users made the jump to Apple's iPhone this year than ever before, and although many of those picking up the new iPhone 5s / 5c were previously owners of an older iPhone, the Cupertino firm will surely be encouraged to see more and more consumers ditching Google's OS for its own ecosystem.
Being able to install multiple operating systems on a desktop computer is something we just assume as standard. Running Linux alongside a Windows installation on a PC is an everyday experience for millions of users around the world. Installing Windows 7 or Windows 8 as a dual-boot operating system on a Mac is actually extremely commonplace as well. Although mobile platforms have benefited from significant growth in the last few years, and continue to grow, we've never really had a truly functioning dual-boot system that has been adopted by the masses. For those that may have heard of, and used, the MultiROM booting system on Android you may be pleased to hear that the development team have released a new version with support for additional hardware.
Whilst it has been rather easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding Glass, plenty of valid questions have been raised and yet to be properly addressed. Questions such as how will those with prescription lenses be able to use the wearable tech? And perhaps even more importantly, will fashion-conscious people want to wear Glass in its current form factor? Rochester Optical appears to be working on solutions to all of these issues by developing designs to work with those frequently playing sport, individuals looking to retain a certain style or image, or those folks wearing glasses by force rather than choice.
The development of Google's Project Glass is moving along nicely, and with the search giant having promised to release a November software update at some point this month, version XE11 brings a healthy amount of new features for those in ownership of the Explorer Edition to enjoy.
