There are very few things more annoying about using a smartphone than being right in the middle of a task - and somebody calls. The fact that they've called isn't perhaps the most irritating thing, but because your entire display is interrupted by the call, you're basically obligated to stop what you were doing and answer. If you're looking for a more subtle, unobtrusive notification of an incoming call, a new app by the name of CallHeads may well have you covered.
There are many vendors battling for supremacy in the mobile market. Nokia and BlackBerry are both trying to reinvent themselves on new and overhauled ecosystems, while the likes of LG and HTC continue to plug away on Google's Android. All these companies have enjoyed varying levels of success over the years, but they all have one thing in common in today's market - they're all playing in the shadows of Apple and Samsung. Two of tech's biggest names, they sell devices in the tens of millions every quarter, and the Q2 mobile device revenue figures once again illustrate how far ahead the bickering titans are when compared to the chasing pack.
This fall, we're expecting to see many new and exciting products out of Cupertino. As well as the possibility of Intel's Haswell processor hitting the MacBook Pro and iMac, we're also likely to see a next-gen iPhone, perhaps a cheaper iPhone, and according to a recent WSJ article, a Retina iPad mini. Of the main releases, that only leaves the fifth-gen iPad, and a leaked video that has just hit the Web allegedly offers an idea as to what the forthcoming Apple tablet will look like when it hits the stores.
Microsoft's Xbox One will serve as one half of the next-gen games console battle, and while many fans of the powerful upcoming machine have been busily deciding which launch titles to select as the holiday release draws ever closer, the folks of T3 have instead been dreaming of a smartphone built with the new console in mind. Justifying its 'Xbox One smartphone' concept, T3 imagines a device born through lack of Windows Phone apps and CEO Steve Ballmer's "one Microsoft" mantra, and with a typically solid-looking Nokia build and a set of eye-watering features to match, we actually kind of wish this were a real product.
Whenever Samsung drops a new flagship device, the company always seeks to outdo itself and indeed its rivals with a plethora of new and exciting software features. When the Galaxy S4 hit the market earlier on this year there were more such implementations than ever before, and the eye sensing feature, Smart Pause, which pauses video clips when a user looks away, has proved a solid gold hit with consumers. With Apple seemingly unlikely to add this kind of functionality to iOS anytime soon, iPhone users probably won't be able to enjoy the same video viewing experience of their S4-owning rivals, but thanks to a new tweak by the name of FaceHalt, they now can, on a system level.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the FBI employs a secret tactic in its quest to keep up to speed on suspects: a hacker-like feature that allows the Bureau to remotely activate the microphone of any laptop or an Android smartphone. From there, the FBI can listen in on activity without the knowledge of the device's owner.
With the Galaxy S4 having been comfortably established in the market for a good while now, most recent press pertaining Samsung's smartphone division has encircled the release of the highly-anticipated Galaxy Note 3. Reports today suggest the device could be unveiled in just a month's time, and to up the ante just a little further, it also appears we may finally see evidence of Samsung's elusive smart watch effort, or the Galaxy Smart Watch as the tech world loves to call it.
Apple recently dropped a pretty significant update to its official Apple Store app, and one of the key implementations made was its ability to distribute free content to users for promotional purposes. Far from being an empty feature, the freebie mill has already been kicked into action, with the usually 99 cent app Color Zen now available for free via the Apple Store app.
If you're looking to expand your current supply of Apple gadgets, you'll be more than aware that the costs involved can be something of a stumbling block. iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and such are among the priciest in their respective fields and as such, heading over to Apple.com and picking up a brand-new device or machine isn't always an option. For those looking to save a little on used products, Apple runs a refurb program designed to sell off products that aren't gleaming new but still fully operational and covered by warranty, and if you want to keep track of these deals, well, there's now an app for that!
Not so long ago, a computer was a computer, and a smartphone was a smartphone, but as the digital boom has continued to make strides, we've seen many a feature cross platform to ensure a more streamlined overall experience to the end user. Recognizing that checking one's device constantly whilst at the desk can be somewhat counterproductive, developers have sought to find ways to bridge the gap, bringing seamless controls of certain mobile features without the need to look away. Dialogue, a new app for OS X, follows this motif to the book, allowing you to control your smartphone while using your Mac.
