While it's true that the iPhone release that we recently endured is perhaps the biggest thing to happen in technology in the month of September, gamers would no doubt offer a dissenting word on the subject.
Apple's iPhone 5s, as is so often the case with new, flagship smartphones launched by the Cupertino company, brought quite a few new and exciting features unprecedented in the mainstream smartphone market, and as well as being the first to include a 64-bit processor, the aluminum-clad handset's 'Touch ID' fingerprint sensor is also the first of its kind. Now The FIDO Alliance, a cluster of almost fifty companies pooling ideas on an eventual successor to the traditional password, reckons that Android devices could soon start to see something similar to Touch ID in as little as six months.
Those associated with Google's flagship mobile operating system will by now be very much aware that version 4.4, which has been given the name of the popular (and also very tasty) KitKat treat, will be arriving at some point in the near future. What remains rather less obvious, however, are the specific features Google will be packing therein, and although the rumor mill has suggested it could be released as early as this month alongside the very eagerly awaited Nexus 5, we've nothing concrete to go on. But as the mobile world gets itself in a tizzy regarding these rather significant releases, Gadget Helpline has snagged a rather dated build of Android 4.4, and having dissected it somewhat, has dug up some intriguing features.
One of the major arguments against large-displaying "phablet" devices, which take the features of a smartphone and combine them with a slate-like form factor, is that they are incredibly hard to function with just one hand. The new Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which packs a mammoth 5.7-inch display, is one such handset, but for those struggling to use their shiny new Note 3 without using both hands or getting some kind of repetitive strain injury on one, Samsung has thrown in a neat little feature that scales down the display.
Smartphones are more than just communication devices, and have been so for quite a while now. They have replaced personal information managers, multimedia players (famously known as MP3/MP4 players), portable gaming devices, and even photo albums. In fact, the massive internal storage spaces on Android based devices, alongside the ability to supplement it with microSD expansion cards, make perfect combination for keeping your precious memories - both photo and video - with you anywhere. That’s a convenience that we all enjoy, and have become completely accustomed to.
It's well known that Samsung has a pretty sizeable budget for purpose of marketing and advertising, and with the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch having recently been announced and subsequently released worldwide, the Korean outfit will doubtlessly be putting some of that vast wad to good use. The ball is already rolling with the first major ad for these two major releases, and in a break from convention, features some strange, borderline creepy puppets. Check it out after the break!
New smartphones hit the market every couple of weeks nowadays, and although a large portion of them tend to be run-of-the-mill, some of the mobile industry's big companies like to make a bit of a statement with certain releases. This year, Samsung has done exactly that with the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, both of which feature, among many other things, a new-look, intuitive lock screen. Unless you're in ownership of either of the Korean company's marquee releases, it's likely you've simply been admiring from afar, but thanks to the admirable work of the folks at XDA-Developers, you can enjoy this neat little feature on your own device.
If you're an Android fan who is eagerly awaiting the release of the next-generation Nexus smartphone, then prepare yourself to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The latest image that we are seeing flying around the web could potentially be the clearest and best quality leak of the device that we have seen to date and pretty much shows us exactly what's in store for the Nexus 5 - at least aesthetically.
Gaming on smartphones may be something of a boom industry, but that doesn't mean that all developers are falling over themselves to launch on every platform imaginable. Take EA and PopCap's Plants Vs Zombies 2 as an example - the title had its worldwide launch on Apple's iOS last month, but so far Android gamers have been left looking over the fence at what their cool neighbors are playing. Yes, Plants Vs Zombies 2 for Android is available to download if you happen to be in China, but that doesn't really help everyone else now, does it?
Here's our full video comparison of Apple iPhone 5S vs Samsung Galaxy S4. It seems fit to put iPhone 5s and Galaxy S4 through a rigorous comparison to see which one actually comes out on top.
