The good people at Google have been getting their heads down, with their Director and Managing Counsel of Telecoms and Media, Richard Whitt filing a 'special temporary authority' application to the Federal Communications Commission which will let them test their new next-generation personal communication device outside of a laboratory environment. It all sounds very technical, but just what is a 'next generation personal communication device'?
While popular Android smartphones and tablets received unofficial ports to the latest version of Android i.e. 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich a long time ago, manufacturers are only now gearing up for the official release. HTC has officially stated that most of their top-of-the-line devices will be updated “later this year” and Samsung did say that the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note will receive ICS in Q1 2012 with updates for other devices to “soon follow”.
While technology, by definition, is meant to solve society’s problems, its proliferation into our daily lives has, arguably, made things more complex than simple. We now spend less time having actual “face time” with our friends and family than we do with technologies like Apple’s FaceTime, Facebook and Twitter (to name a few). We are glued to our smartphones 24/7: constantly looking for information and entertainment, whether it is from checking up on social networks, reading email, texting, playing casual games etc. etc.
Malware on mobile platforms is slowly but surely becoming a real issue. Its existence was basically ignored in the days of weaker smartphones, but with today’s multi-core, multiple GBs of RAM-toting smartphones with “open” operating systems such as Android, it simply can’t be ignored. Because of its flexible nature and lack of strict app-policing by Google, malware is a bigger issue on Android than it is on iOS and Windows Phone 7. A new malware has been discovered for Android, Redmond Pie has learned. This one more dangerous than usual, because it affects between 10,000-30,000 Android smartphones everyday. Details after the jump.
The Android-using world had reason to rejoice in the last few days thanks to the release of the Google Chrome browser for Android devices which many users feel has taken far too long to reach the public. Now that the dust had settled, and users have had time to get Chrome for Android installed and browse their favorite sites using it, the inevitable comparisons and tests between this Chrome browser for Android and Apple's Mobile Safari for iOS are starting to filter through.
Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire is one of the best tablets money can buy for under $300. Besides offering tight integration with Amazon’s services and doubling as a great eBook reader, it is hacker-friendly: the device is rooted, has lots of great ROMs available and is heavily supported by a vibrant community of skilled developers. Earlier today, we received news of the official release of MIUI for Kindle Fire. The good news is that it is based on Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and is pretty stable (for a ROM in Alpha state). Things like USB tethering, static wallpapers, hardware acceleration and themes don’t work, but they will be in the future. Check out our step-by-step guide after the jump!
One of the most reasons why Android enthusiasts keep sticking to Android is its relative flexibility and vibrant developer/hacker community. While wireless carriers try to ensure a controlled user experience, talented folks from forums like XDA-Developers, Rootzwiki etc. keep coming up with ways to set Android devices free from the shackles of these wireless carriers. This setting free is called “rooting” and what comes after rooting is what makes Android… Android. You can change every single aspect of the software on your device to make it look and work just the way you want it. Of course, to do this yourself you need some pretty l33t hacking skills, but thanks to a newly released app called Omega Files Kitchen, you can customize and “cook” your own ROM. Check it out after the break.
Regardless of whether you are a fan of the Apple iPhone or not, it is very difficult to argue with the freight train momentum and success that the mobile smartphone has achieved in the last five years. Judging by the statistics that surround the sales of the phone, and the record breaking financial results posted by Apple for the end of 2011, it seems that the popularity of the iPhone is set to rise and rise with every release.
While most people I know prefer sites like 9GAG, my personal favorite social news website is Reddit for one very simple reason: its community is, undoubtedly, the best you can find on the internet. Whether its helping you out when you’ve lost hope in everyone you know or making you laugh out loud at the mundane-est of topics, these guys will always be there for you. I love you, Reddit. With that awkward bit out of the way, let’s get into this awesome Reddit app we came across recently. It’s called RedditSync and, as the name suggests, it lets your sync posts on Reddit to view offline when you don’t have access to internet. Check it out after the break.
As an Android user, there are many reasons why you might like to check out the goings-on of Apple's rivaling App Store. Although apps are often released contemporaneously on the two leading OSes, iOS tends to get priority on the major releases, leaving many an Android user to gaze longingly at App Store gems such as Instagram.
