Windows Phone 8 is on the up these days accompanied by fantastic devices like the Lumia 920, but it seems to be the emerging Firefox OS that is gathering interest as a newcomer to the scene. Although extremely early builds of the operating system have been released for those daring enough to try it out, not many people have witnessed it in the flesh, that is until it appeared on a mysterious smartphone during a CES event.
Before Apple introduced the world to the iPad as a mainstream, usable-for-everyone gadget, no one really believed that tablet computers would every become a mass usage item for a majority of technophiles the world over. Slate-based PCs existed long before that, but neither they were as powerful in their specifications, nor did they have an ecosystem as strong as iOS to back them up with a plethora or apps. Then, they were really overpriced, too, making it harder for average Joe to consider buying one.
In the world of Android, and modern smartphones in general, apps are what define how useful the device is going to be. The popular phrase, “there’s an app for that”, might’ve been notorious for Apple’s iOS platform, but it holds pretty true for the rapidly-growing Android operating system as well. No matter what the hardware capabilities of your device are, unless you supplement them with the right apps, it’s going to be pretty much useless. Android, as a mobile OS, has matured a lot over the years, adding features and useful gimmicks to the AOSP as the versions have evolved. One particular thing, however, that remained pretty much unchanged, was the way how you launch apps on your Android smartphone or tablet. Other than introducing the recent apps list in the newer iterations, Google hasn’t really changed app-launching method, and hence, you have to usually hit the Home button and start a new app from the launcher itself.
For a long time, Facebook was always thought of as a web-based company that didn't put a lot of importance on users who prefer to access their services through mobile devices. The official Facebook app was built around cross-platform technologies making it notoriously slow, unpredictable and unstable, and their mobile website didn't really make things much better. That focus started to shift with the acquisition of Instagram, followed by the updating of their mobile apps into native languages as well as the release of standalone apps such as Messenger and Camera. For the first time, we can now actually get an insight into Facebook's mobile users and devices and firmware that they actually use, thanks to some meticulous data collection from Benedict Evans of Enders Analysis.
Google offers a bunch of fantastic apps at stock level for Android users, and Calendar certainly falls into that category. However, it's far from perfect, and a third-party offering by the name of Agenda rather novelly helps you keep track of everything at a glance - presenting both your weekly and daily to-dos in the same convenient pane. Having been knocking about for iOS for a long while now, Agenda finally arrives for Android, and where a year or so ago, a port from iOS to Android or vice versa would result in a second-grade product, the version made for those on Google software is just as good.
Whether you avoid Windows Phone or if Microsoft is not quite your cup of tea, you might have felt at least some interest whenever you see your friends walking in with a new Windows Phone device. Maybe you’re quite a fan of Windows 8 and are looking for a way to bring the same look-and-feel to your Android phone. Tile Launcher Beta might just be the perfect solution to let you do that.
If you like gaming, but haven't the time, space, or dedication to invest in a games console from the likes of Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony, enjoying high-end games on your HDTV is something you probably don't get to do that often. But never fear, because one group of Kickstarter enthusiasts have not only got your back, but are looking to revolutionize the way many of us enjoy gaming on the big screen with small, portable console capable of running Android games on a TV.
Facebook's Messenger started out as an MSN-like instant-messaging service, but has since evolved into an all-singing, all-dancing service complete with its very own app. When it broke away from the official Facebook mobile app, some questioned the necessity of two separate entities, but as Zuck and his merry men have continued to pile on the features, it has become very clear that Messenger is worthy of its lone identity. Today, the popular app for iOS and Android have been updated with even more goodies, such as thee ability to send out voice messages, as well as call friends free of charge.
Happy new year! If you are among the thousands of people who has included weight loss in their new year’s resolutions, or making more friends, or travelling, an app for their smartphones will definitely be a tool that they should consider. Fig is a new tool that makes it easy to improve your health by taking a few simple everyday steps.
The success of a smartphone these days depends on a lot of factors, and for that reason, it’s hard to single out devices that have been successful with all sorts of crowds. For Apple, success comes mainly from the immense ease of use that their phones and tablets deliver, and from the fact that the company sells on its brand name, too. When it comes to Android. a lot of other factions come into play. For instance, the device’s hardware specifications, the Android version that it’s running, and equally importantly, how much customization friendly it is. On the last front, advanced users are more concerned with how much hackable the device is. Recently, Samsung’s high-to-middle range phones have been on a roll, not just receiving rooting methods, but also, a lot of community support.
