With Android 4.0 being publicly available since November 2011, users might be forgiven for wondering why their device can't benefit from the features that Ice Cream Sandwich brings. After all, when Apple releases an update to iOS, users can generally grab the latest version immediately as long as the hardware supports the update. Users of several premium handsets, such as the Samsung Galaxy S II have been waiting for a number of weeks for Samsung to finally announce when they will be allowing users to update to Android 4.0 ICS.
It seems that we are living in a world where the technology scene is under such close scrutiny, and has such intense public interest that we are already seeing speculation about the name of the 6.0 version of the Android operating system before we have even seen a public release of Android 5.0 Jelly Bean. Google executives have been hinting recently that we may see a public release of Jelly Bean in quarter four of 2012, but nothing has been officially confirmed yet.
Siri was introduced as one of iPhone 4S’ three major features late last year. As many of you will already know, it is a personal assistant living inside your iPhone that lets you do things like sending texts/emails, setting up reminders/appointments, starting timers, getting directions to local restaurants, shopping malls etc. etc. using the power of your voice. Now, while Microsoft is satisfied with its “TellMe” system on Windows Phone 7, Google is reportedly looking into a personal assistant for Android 5.0 Jelly Bean.
Don’t like Android’s stock messaging app? We aren’t too affectionate about it either. It has its share of shortcomings; shortcomings that can be made up for by a. getting a completely new messaging app such as Powow or b. installing plugin-like apps. We’ve covered a bit of both lately, such as the excellent Powow and SMS Enhancer. Today, we’ll be covering yet another app that enhances the messaging app on Android. It’s called SMS Popup and you check it out after the jump!
In the past few days, we’ve seen multiple simple-to-use file-transferring apps released for Android. First, we saw EZ Drop, then came DropSpot (which we couldn’t cover) and today we’ll be talking about X-Link.
GO Dev Team is one of the most respected developers of third-party alternatives to stock first-party apps already included on Android. Apps like GO SMS Pro, GO Keyboard, GO Contacts and GO Launcher EX are popular choices among enthusiasts. Now, GO has released another app today: it’s called GO Launcher HD and it is essentially a tablet-ready version of GO Launcher EX. Check it out after the jump!
Sony’s Xperia series of smartphones are one of the less popular Android smartphones around, but that doesn’t mean they get no love from the always-vibrant community. Developer paul-xxx over on XDA-Developers has killed not two, but three birds with one stone by porting CyanogenMod 9 (based on Android 4.0.3) to the Xperia X8, X10 Mini, X10 Mini Pro and we’ve got a handy step-by-step guide on how to flash the ROM to your device right after the jump!
Because of the FUD-creating information spread around by security companies such as McAfee, Android is thought of as a virus-prone mobile operating system which, like Windows, needs an antivirus. If you read my editorial on Android Security from 3 months ago, you’ll know that I believe that Android devices do not need any sort of anti-malware app provided that you follow a handful of common sense tips.
Samsung's Galaxy S III is, without a shadow of doubt, the most eagerly-anticipated Android smartphone release of this year. With 1080p full HD visuals, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and a revamped ceramic encasing reckoned to be amongst the new features - it's hardly difficult to see why.
In the past few days, we here at Redmond Pie have (generally) been reviewing apps that replace pre-included, first-party apps; apps that replace the stock launcher, music, gallery, browser etc. etc.
