We've seen the drop tests, we've shrieked at seeing iPads doused in molten lava, but those intent on destroying their beloved gadgets never cease to discover new ways of bringing scratches, dents, and general harm to the most sought-after mobile devices on the market. In this case, the Samsung Galaxy S III is dragged along by a moving car in order for the tester - YouTuber “aperfectgalaxy” - to prove the incredible strength of the newish device's screen, and in order to give a sense of perspective, an iPhone 4S is also hauled along for the ride in what is known as the "scratch test drag race".
As an avid user of both iOS and Android-based devices, I am pretty pleased with what they can achieve at stock level. Having said that, the real fun arrives in what can be done to extend the capabilities offered as standard, and I am constantly amazed by some of the apps and modifications one can perform to make a smartphone even smarter.
The Samsung Galaxy S III was one of the most highly-anticipated Android releases of this year, but after numerous purported sightings and inaccurate images of the device's final design, it was of much surprise that the device didn't ship in black. Sure, many vendors alter and omit various colors along the way, but the black shading of the device had been a standard feature of both the original Galaxy S and its predecessor, the immensely-popular Galaxy S II.
There are many companies embattled in a quest to gain the largest market share in both the tablet and smartphone markets, and the recent court cases between Apple and Samsung has offered us a strong indication as to the inner workings of the firms locked in the fight for supremacy. Internal documents have been leaked to the San Jose case revealing much about the practices of both companies, while some of the big cheeses of both electronic outfits have leapt from obscurity to make their feelings known.
Translation apps are very popular among travelling enthusiasts because of, well, their ability to near instantly translate snippets of foreign languages into your language of choice with a good amount of accuracy. Apps available on smartphones and tablets reflect this, with them being among the top apps under Lifestyle / Utilities.
The invention dawn of the App Store meant that many thousands of developers were able to get their apps and creations seen by millions of people all over the world, and in some instances the apps turned over a very nice and welcome financial profit. One of the most successful and immediately recognizable apps, as well as being one that has left the developers in an extremely handsome financial position has to be Instagram, which has notched up millions of regular active members.
Porting big name games to modern smartphones and tablets is something we hear about every now and then; whether it’s in the form of a professionally done port of Call of Duty, games that simulate other games or ports of older PC games done as a side project. We discuss such ports quite regularly here at Redmond Pie, and the latest of such ports is the latest game in the Doom series of video games. Check it out after the jump.
There's little doubt Sony's PS Vita is a powerful bit of kit, and having played on one for quite a while, the quality of gaming and visuals is astounding for a mobile device. Having said that, the market has moved on from the days of the PSP and 3DS, with consumers now getting their gaming fix from their smartphones, and while Sony had hoped the Vita would be a revelation, most of us are none too surprised to see it unable to muster the kind of following previous handheld consoles managed.
The San Jose leg of the ongoing, worldwide battle between Apple and Samsung is really heating up, with pivotal members of both companies now taking the stand and offering their take on proceedings. For those of you who've been living in a cave for the past few months, Apple is claiming up to $2.5 billion in damages from Samsung regarding a wide range of alleged patent infringements, mostly circulated around the design of the Korean outfit's Galaxy design and form factor.
Although the Samsung vs. Apple trial has a decent amount of show time left before the jury is sent to deliberate on what they have heard during its entirety, it seems that Apple has a lot to be positive about. Although judge Lucy Koh has been less than happy so far with the behavior of both legal counsels, it has been the Samsung representatives that have taken most of the judicial negativity thus far, but we should know by now that anything can - and usually does - happen in cases such as these.
