We simply cannot deny that we live in an extremely social world. As a society, we may not thrive on getting out and about and interact with one another face-to-face anymore, but you only have to look at the popularity of social networks and messaging apps to realize how import digital communication is in the modern world. It's almost a given that any accomplished app or tweak that focuses on messaging, sharing or communication is instantly going to be successful, which is why the developer of Compose for iOS 7 could be onto a winner.
The leap from Windows Phone 8 to Windows Phone 8.1 doesn't, on paper, seem like much of a big deal. In fact, such a '.1' update usually suggests a couple of decent new features, a few housekeeping enhancements, and a shiny new version number. But having already seen features like Cortana, the new Action / Notification Center, the Android-esque touch buttons and the Swype-like keyboard, Windows Phone 8.1 is shaping up as a very serious release indeed. Adding to the already exciting list of upcoming additions, a new leak has shown off one rather more simple feature that Windows Phone has been lacking to date - custom wallpapers.
With the recent announcements of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and the HTC M8 well on the way, it's fair to say that the Android boys have muscled in and dampened the rumors of Apple's next big thing. At present, we're under the impression that there will be two new, significantly larger devices hitting the scene later on this year, but while it looks like the iPhone 5c will be scrapped and forgotten about, one concept designer has come through with an interesting take on what we might end up seeing if Apple does decide to stick with the polycarbonate finish. Check it out after the leap!
Before iOS 7, when multitasking was basically a non-feature of Apple's mobile operating system, tweaks like Auxo made app switching a beautiful, functional experience. Even though multitasking boasts much more fluidity these days, we were no less enthused when A3Tweaks announced late on in February that Auxo 2 would be arriving for iOS 7 within a few weeks. Unfortunately, it's not quite ready for prime time just yet, but things are certainly progressing, as displayed by a new teaser shot posted to Vine.
We've already seen the many ways in which Android can run, process apps and push games on platforms such as Windows and OS X, but from later this year, we may see it make the jump to Windows Phone, in turn creating the very first dual-boot Windows Phone / Android devices on the market. At present, those with an affinity to both Microsoft and Google's respective mobile platforms need to own two mobile devices in order to enjoy using each, but according to The Times of India, native company Karbonn Mobiles will soon begin shipping Windows Phones that also support Google's Android.
We'd been hearing off-and-on about Apple's iOS in the Car since it was detailed at last year's WWDC. Today, the Cupertino officially unveiled it under the less wordy, more Apple CarPlay branding, and now, manufacturer Volvo has chimed in with a new video showcasing how the system looks and functions in practice. Check it out after the break!
Samsung really wants you to own the Galaxy S5. Its latest and greatest was unveiled late on during the first day of last week's MWC, and if you weren't already enticed enough by the gold color option and in-built fingerprint sensor, then perhaps the bundle of goodies that the Korean outfit is throwing in with every purchase will tip the balance. With every purchase of the company's flagship, users can claim up to $575 worth of free services, ranging from a six-month Wall Street Journal subscription to 50GB worth of free Box.com cloud storage.
With Samsung and Sony having already shown their respective hands with the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 at Mobile World Congress last week, much of the Android world's attention has turned to HTC. The Taiwanese outfit made waves last year with the One, and naturally, talk of the HTC One 2 - otherwise known under the 'M8' technical moniker - has been prevalent. Today, a brave kid has leaked a 12-minute video running through some of the device's tech specs, features, and design, and while, as displayed through a Twitter exchange with an HTC official, his actions may see him land in a spot of bother, we can now enjoy his fairly thorough walkthrough of the upcoming flagship device.
In an official press release coming out of the Geneva International Motor Show Apple today announced that it is in the process of rolling out CarPlay. CarPlay is Apple's official new name for the iOS in the Car technology that we have been hearing so much about over the last twelve months, bringing a whole new way for users to interact with their iOS device in a motor vehicle.
Hollywood's Dolby Theatre may have been packed to the rafters with the big screen's A listers last night, but for the technology conscious amongst us there turned out to be a better reason to tune into The 86th Academy Awards. As some of the most successful men and women in cinematic history were strutting up and down the red carpet in their uber expensive gowns and suits, one of the most successful companies in smartphone history was gearing up to show off its latest flagship device to a captive audience. Yes, that's right, South Korean based Samsung used last night's Oscars ceremony to air the first commercial for its soon-to-be-released Galaxy S5 smartphone.
