iOS 6 was launched a few days back and while feedback overall is positive, its Apple-made Maps app has received a lot of negative feedback. Users dislike the distinct lack of transit directions, inaccurate data, lack of points of interest especially when compared with Google Maps on iOS 5 and especially with the even stronger Maps app on Android smartphones.
For those Android lovers out there who were big fans of the original Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, then be prepared for that joy to come around once again as it looks like Samsung could be close to officially unveil the next-generation Nexus handset. A new set of images have started emerging today that show the model number of the camera used as GT-I9260, a number that we have seen on a number of occasions in the past and that has been repeatedly linked with the new Galaxy Nexus II.
It has long since been known that Google could be offering as many as five new devices to its Nexus range this Fall, and seeing as Google brands rather than builds hardware, it teams up with reputable manufacturers in order to bring such new and exciting products to market. The Galaxy Nexus, for example, was made by South Korean mobile device glutton Samsung, while the much-lauded Nexus 7 tablet was hooked up thanks to the engineering work of ASUS.
Although iOS 6 didn't exactly pack in a mind-blowing level of new features, quite a few significant alterations were made to what existed with the previous version. For example, the rather awful YouTube app was removed as a stock feature, but iOS users could grab a much-improved iteration over at the App Store, so everything in the garden was rosy.
Although a large number of people were a little disappointed when the news came through that Apple would be removing the native YouTube app with the launch of iOS 6, but the blow was softened a little with the news that Google would release their own official app that would offer all that video viewing goodness to iPhone and iPod touch users. We are still waiting for the official launch of iOS 6, but Google have made good on their promise, with their official YouTube app landing in the iOS App Store today.
Google's Project Glass has certainly wowed the technology world over the past year or so, and with gadgetry often crossing over into the world of fashion, it shouldn't be of too much surprise to see the Big G's intriguing, futuristic invention make an appearance on the catwalk this week.
It's been a pretty big day in mobile space, with two of the big guns both showcasing new products and innovations to be released in the near future. Motorola's "On Display" event saw a glut of new devices slide into the fold, including the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD and RAZR M Android smartphones, while the Nokia and Microsoft partnership saw the birth of a couple significant new Lumia devices, as well as more details regarding Windows Phone 8.
If you were one of the many people around the world who took the plunge and purchased the Google Nexus 7 when it was first announced during the annual I/O conference back in June, then congratulations on making a great decision. Google has managed to work together with ASUS to design and develop a rather fantastic little tablet that really manages to sit in a class of its own within its size category. Google may not be everyone's company of choice, but they have managed to release a product that has immediately become one of the best tablets on the market for the price point it sits at.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what is going on with Apple and Samsung as they continue to battle it out with each other over the alleged infringement of various patents. We've already had the major trial and verdict in San Jose, with Samsung being told they are liable to the tune of $1.05 billion for breaching a number of Apple patents, as well as a Japanese court ruling in Samsung's favor in a separate case regarding a utility patent that centers around transferring data between two devices. Court rulings and alleged infringements in different markets all over the world make this a difficult one to get your head around.
According to a report over at Reuters, Apple's head honcho Tim Cook and Google CEO Larry Page have been discussing possible ways to resolve patent issues between their two respective companies. The pair (Apple and Google, that is), make up the majority of the mobile OS market, and in light of the recent ruling in favor of Apple over Samsung, the Cupertino outfit and the Android maker are said to be "keeping the lines of communication open."
