Google has just unveiled Android 4.4 KitKat. The naming convention for major Android operating system releases doesn't take a genius to figure out. With each new big release getting a name based on popular sweets, and those names following the alphabet series, the next release after Jelly Bean was believed to be called Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Now, after an announcement by Google itself, it's clear that isn't quite accurate.
Both the iOS and Android versions of BBM are tipped for an October-time release to the public, but apart from that there has been little news or leaks claiming to purport to offer an insight into what is around the corner for BBM.
Samsung has never been afraid to push the boundaries in the mobile industry, particularly when it comes to display size, and with the Galaxy Note 3 set to pack a panel in excess of 5.5 inches, a leaked render of the alleged Galaxy Note 12.2 - which was originally thought of as a 12-inch tablet PC - has just been spotted in the wild. With numerous vendors said to be preparing larger tablets as we get to what can be very much described as the "hardware end" of the tech calendar, we expect the Korean company to be in amongst the announcements, and although the Galaxy Note 12.2 is still very much at the rumor stage, the shots present a very elegant, naturally large device.
If the smartphone was the biggest growth market in technology over the last five years, then wearable technology is quite possibly going to be in the same boat from this point forward, especially if all the rumored devices do actually see the light of day.
We're inching closer and closer to the impending announcement of the supposed iPhone 5S and 5C, and while it may just be a speed bump of the existing iPhone 5, the 5S is currently the one that everyone is shouting about thanks to that rumored champagne colored option.
Despite being relatively old when compared to many devices currently on the market, the LG-made Google Nexus 4 continues to sell in strong numbers. Moreover, the recent price-drop, which saw significant amounts slashed from the cost of the Big G's already cheap-and-cheerful device, will have done its popularity no harm at all. But due to its age, the technology is not quite as fledgling as this time last year, and if you've checked the displays of devices like the Galaxy S4 or the HTC One, you'll know that the Nexus 4's screen looks a little washy by comparison. Thanks to the work of the guys over at XDA-Developers, notably member franciscofranco, you can inject a little much-needed life into your Nexus 4's display.
The Moto X has gotten the smartphone industry just a little bit excited, no less because it's the first real collaborative effort between Google and Motorola since the search giant stumped up a whopping $12 billion to acquire its new subsidiary. The range of features, the (almost) pure Android experience, and the seemingly unlimited customization of the device's aesthetics have made it a real talking point, but since it has only been released in the United States, not many have yet been able to get their hands on it. To see how it copes with wear and tear, the guys at Phone Buff have given the device the hammer and knife treatment, and although not perhaps the kind of instruments any smartphone will encounter frequently, responsible shoppers will definitely want to check to see how the Moto X copes when put to the sword.
Android is a fantastic mobile operating system, and continues to become one of the biggest forces in mobile software out on the market. As is the nature of Android, everybody seems to want a slice. Whilst this means that we, as consumers, have a large product base to choose from, it also means we get lumbered with a huge amount of manufacturer bloatware. Without a doubt the worst feature of the Samsung Galaxy S4, in my opinion at least, happens to be the user experience that Samsung TouchWiz provides. HTC Sense 5 isn't any better either, and don't even get me started on Motorola's MOTOBLUR from some years back.
Despite the fact that BlackBerry looks in more than a spot of bother just now, the planned effort to bring the famed BlackBerry Messenger service, or BBM, to Android and iOS is still going ahead as planned. Whether owners of said devices actually require this impromptu resurrection of a dying brand - particularly in light of services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger - remains to be seen, but by the looks of a new landing page on the Canadian arm of the company's website, the wait is almost over.
The official Twitter app has taken a fair bit of stick over the years, especially with the likes of Tweetbot hanging around, but it's fair to say that in recent times, things have improved dramatically. Today, Twitter for Android and iOS have both been given rudimentary updates, with the main alteration being that conversations between tweeters are now clearer, rather than showing up as individual tweets.
