Real Racing 3 has finally arrived for iOS and Android in the U.S., and is available to download right now from the respective stores of each platforms. Being free to play, it's sure to attract a large audience, and if you enjoy the likes of Asphalt or Need for Speed, then Real Racing 3 is a release you'll most certainly want to try out.
Root is one of the fundamental concepts for Android, right from the inception of the operating system, to the point where it has today become the leading smartphone platform, evolving far beyond it was when it started. When it was started, gaining root access on Android wasn’t as simple as it has become today, and much credit for that goes to the Superuser apps developed by ChainsDD, and then the SuperSU by Chainfire. Both these apps have made it “super” easy to get Superuser access, but that, too, is dependent on a custom recovery. And when it comes to custom recoveries, nothing could perhaps ever gain as much popularity as Koush’s ClockworkMod.
Back at WWDC 2012, Apple announced that iOS 6 would be getting a new native app called Passbook, which, as we now know, is a utility offering an organized, digital solution for vouchers, tickets, boarding passes, and other wallet-fodder. Not to be outdone, arch-rival Samsung has just taken the wraps off a very similar utility by the name of Wallet, which looks to be an Android incarnation of Apple's fledgling offering. Having made the announcement at the big Mobile World Congress, the Korean company has also given a short video demonstration, and although the clip is only 45 seconds long, it looks as though the app offers the same functionality as the Cupertino company's earlier version.
In its essence, Android is a variant of Linux, built over a shell of the open source operating system that has been a major contender in desktop systems for Microsoft’s Windows and Apple OS X. Since the mobile operating system is running a Linux kernel underneath, it therefore follows the same pattern and rules that apply to its elder sibling. Generally, Linux-based operating systems have a very efficient memory management mechanism, enabling users to make full use of the system’s available RAM. However, one thing that has plagued Android since its inception is the sluggishness that the OS generally presents, which becomes even more pronounced as you continue to use your device.
Visa's very own NFC software is about to hit the mobile market, and with Visa being a well-established, world-recognized brand, it's no surprise to see the company has found a mutually beneficial deal with Samsung to implement the software into a fleet of Samsung smartphones. First up for some Visa NFC treatment will be the eagerly-anticipated Galaxy S IV, which is set for announcement in New York next month, on March 14th.
Thus far, it has been a pretty winning formula. Devices created by Samsung, but running Google's Android software, account for 40% of total Android smartphone sales, and have helped Android become the number one ecosystem in terms of reach. With this in mind, you may think Google would be happy that its key manufacturing ally is doing so well, but while the search giant is grateful its partner is shifting such vast quantities, the Mountain View-based outfit is also a little worried the Korean company's dominance is getting a little too big, and wants other vendors to step up their games and offer some competition.
After much speculation, Samsung Electronics today have finally confirmed that they are ready to introduce the world to the next-generation Galaxy device. The technology world has been discussing the potential aesthetics and technical specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S IV for quite some time, with the South Korean company confirming that a dedicated event will be held on March 14th to announce the device.
If you've spent any amount of time flashing ROMs or modding elements of your Android device, you'll know how enjoyable and rewarding a process it can be. However, when flashing firmware, wiping your data is always a prerequisite, and while there are various means of backing up your smartphone or tablet, such as a full ROM back up in recovery (known as a nandroid backup), it is something we sometimes wish we didn't have to go through. It's an inconvenient, but necessary predicament, XDA-Developers member Goddchen has sought to make the process of backing up information a great deal easier by creating a sort of all-in-one utility with Easy App Toolbox.
A recent study carried out by the parent company of tech problem-solvers FixYa has found that Apple's iPhone is far and away the most reliable on the market, and compared with arch-rival Samsung, is a full 300% more reliable. Earlier this week, we learned the Cupertino handset was the best-selling smartphone in the world based on Q4 sales figures, but while that is a seasonal affair which often swings in favor of the company which has most recently dropped a flagship, the depth of the FixYa study makes the outcome even more damning. It took into account a total 722,558 combined problem reports, along with market share data from StatCounter, in order to obtain reliability scores; and in short, Apple excelled while competitors faltered.
With March 14th looking increasingly likely to play host to the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S IV, the anticipation level is approaching fever pitch. That day, incidentally, is the day before rival HTC launches its new, impressive 'One' handset to market, which makes the prospect of the fourth Galaxy S device landing on the 14th to bag some thunder even more likely. According to reports surfacing today, the Samsung device may follow in the Taiwanese company's footsteps by placing significant emphasis on the camera, with some reading into Android 4.2's Photosphere feature as a sure sign Samsung wishes to implement its 'Orb' technology to the forthcoming smartphone.
