After a lengthy period of rumor and speculation, the Google Nexus 5 smartphone, along with Android 4.4 KitKat, is now upon us. The handset itself has been the subject of rave reviews, and while the updated software includes a hatful of useful enhancements, there remains, as ever, one or two nagging issues. Notably, the battery percentage option is still non-existent in stock Android, and although there's now a less-than-perfect workaround for those looking to dig out this almost essential feature hidden within KitKat's chocolatey exterior, we do hope Google plans to properly implement it in the near future.
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.
Google has pushed two new ads out onto the Internet, but they're not for what you might expect given that the company has a brand new smartphone in retail stores right now, the all-new Android 4.4 toting Nexus 5.
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 Galaxy Note 3 is a beast in every sense of the word. Samsung may have been caught out trying to tweak up its performance when running certain benchmark apps, but even without this rather unnecessary tactic, the handset still leaves most other smartphones in the shade. Those accustomed to using the phablet through previous models will be more than clued-up on how everything works, but for those looking to familiarize themselves with the almost endless reel of features, the Korean company has released a very useful and informative Galaxy Note 3 Experience app.
One of the positive trends which Android users are benefitting from at the moment stems from Google placing a lot of importance on getting its own first-party Android apps into the daily flow of as many users as possible through the Play Store. To keep the ball rolling on that commitment the company has today pushed out two major app updates to the Play Store for the masses to enjoy.
Google's Glass is still in beta, and as such, has only been offered to select individuals thus far. The Explorer Edition now has a more relaxed program allowing a broader range of interested parties to get involved, but selling the device on has hitherto been strictly prohibited. While the resale of Glass is still very much against the search company's terms of service, Google will no longer be deactivating the wearable tech if users are caught doing so, something that has occurred up until now. So, in essence, it's still an illegal act, but in this case, the police (being Google) will be turning a blind eye to those looking to sell Glass for potential profit.
Star Wars: Tiny Death Star first made its debut a couple of weeks ago in Australia, and after some delay, has now gotten its release for iOS and Android in the United States. The title, which does get the LucasArts stamp of official approval, has been created as a collaborative effort between Disney Mobile and Nimblebit, and if you're a fan of Star Wars and would like to enjoy an 8-bit epic based upon the legendary sci-fi franchise, then look no further than Star Wars: Tiny Death Star.
Although Google spends a great deal of time updating and improving the general functionality of its wide range of products and services, often, the search giant comes through with some nifty customization features. Fairly soon, your Google+ profile will be the subject of deeper integration with your Android smartphone, becoming the profile picture seen by those who call, and so long as you've gone through the process of verifying your phone number in the first place, anybody ringing you will see your Google+ image.
Now that Google and LG have finally put to bed the rumors and confirmed the new Nexus 5 handset, we can begin to concentrate on the actual important aspects of the device. Prior to its release, the Nexus 5 was undoubtedly one of the most leaked handsets that we have seen with images, purported technical specs and even video glimpses of the device appearing on an almost daily basis. The unofficial unveiling of the hardware didn't bring any surprises as the leaks had already told us pretty much everything that we need to know, except for one thing - how the device will perform in the real world and especially how it stacks up when compared against its predecessors in the Nexus range.
