When the Apple and Samsung legal wrangle first began, it was new and exciting for those watching from the outside. Keeping an eye on the situation and seeing how events unfolded turned into something of a technology based voyeuristic sport, but that was a long time ago. Although it hasn't been publicized as much of late, the bitter legal battle is still continuing, with the latest twist seeing the ITC ruling in June that Apple were guilty of infringing on Samsung's patents, with the potential punishment being a total ban on the sales of offending iOS devices in the United States.
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.
Well that didn't take very long, did it? Following on from the launch of the Google-Motorola Moto X smartphone, the deliciously vibrant stock wallpapers from the new device have already been plucked away, packaged up, and are now ready for distribution. There are 16 wallpapers in all, and you can check the preview - as well as that all-important download link - after the leap.
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.
While Android continues to go from strength to strength in offering consumers a better all-round user experience, there are still some noteworthy trade-offs when comparing with the likes of iOS. Malware remains a significant issue on Google's mobile operating system, and with this week being the week of the Black Hat Security conference, new threats and possible solutions pertaining to Android security have been coming to light. One, outlined by Director of Kindsight Security Labs Kevin McNamee, involves the installation of a malicious app by the name of SpyPhone, which, once it infiltrates your device, can essentially keep tabs on all of your activity.
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.
Finding a misplaced smartphone can often be a losing battle, but with technology being what it is in this Digital Age, there are all manner of tools available out there to help you track it down. Most of these apps offer some sort of alarm, vibration, tracking system, and even security features like screenshotting the faces of those typing failed password entries or remote wipe. Yet while Apple has offered this feature to its customers for a long time now with Find My iPhone, the same cannot be said of Android - until now.
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.
The upcoming next-gen console battle is so very nearly upon us and in anticipation of the release of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this holiday, both Microsoft and Sony are naturally trying to score as many points with the gaming world as they possibly can. Recognizing that the graphics performance of its Xbox One is, at least on paper, inferior to that of the PS4, Microsoft has been working on pushing the boundaries further in this department since the console's announcement back in May.
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!
