In the world of Android, and modern smartphones in general, apps are what define how useful the device is going to be. The popular phrase, “there’s an app for that”, might’ve been notorious for Apple’s iOS platform, but it holds pretty true for the rapidly-growing Android operating system as well. No matter what the hardware capabilities of your device are, unless you supplement them with the right apps, it’s going to be pretty much useless. Android, as a mobile OS, has matured a lot over the years, adding features and useful gimmicks to the AOSP as the versions have evolved. One particular thing, however, that remained pretty much unchanged, was the way how you launch apps on your Android smartphone or tablet. Other than introducing the recent apps list in the newer iterations, Google hasn’t really changed app-launching method, and hence, you have to usually hit the Home button and start a new app from the launcher itself.
The technology industry seems to be overflowing at the moment with discussions related to whether or not smart watches are a particularly good idea and feasible piece of consumer tech that will stand the test of time. The Pebble E-Paper watch managed to raise a staggering $10 million through its Kickstarter funding, a total that all but confirms consumers are ready for an intelligent watch that can adapt and change depending on the owner and the devices that they own. Although we have subsequently seen a number of smart watches appearing in recent months, we now have a Google inspired concept design coming from design Adrian Maciburko.
Even though the iPhone 5 has only hit shelves a few months ago, Apple is for sure already looking a few generations ahead and getting ready to introduce the next iPhone model. We likely won’t hear a word from the Cupertino company for some long months, but it’s never too soon to start speculating.
My primary camera for day-to-day photos remains my smartphone, for various self-explanatory reasons. It’s portable, has a high-quality lens with reasonable detail and post processing, comes with significant storage space, can shoot high-definition videos, is easy to carry around, and stays with me no matter where I go, allowing me to capture moments wherever and whenever I want. The truth is, smartphones, especially the high-end ones, have revolutionized how we look at amateur digital photography. While nothing beats a true DSLR camera, or even a normal dedicated point-and-shoot one, smartphone cameras have upped the game a few notches recently, and if you consider Nokia’s PureView 808 to be any indicator of what’s to come, with its 41MP sensor and outstanding photo quality, things definitely seem to be headed in the right direction.
One of the most influential designers in the team behind creating the look of Windows 8, has showcased several early concepts which advanced into the look we see today. Marius Bauer's area of expertise was in the Start and lock screens, and notes of how designing wallpapers for Windows 8 was something of a "dream project" to him, and as you'll see below, the designs themselves paint pictures of somewhat dreamy, entrancing atmospheres.
Google offers a bunch of fantastic apps at stock level for Android users, and Calendar certainly falls into that category. However, it's far from perfect, and a third-party offering by the name of Agenda rather novelly helps you keep track of everything at a glance - presenting both your weekly and daily to-dos in the same convenient pane. Having been knocking about for iOS for a long while now, Agenda finally arrives for Android, and where a year or so ago, a port from iOS to Android or vice versa would result in a second-grade product, the version made for those on Google software is just as good.
The beginning of the new year is never really the best time to stop and take a hard look at the weather. There isn't a great deal we can do about the external conditions, so we will just have to let nature run her course but the latest weather app to hit the store - called Take Weather - is one of the best looking and feature rich ways of seeing what mother nature has in store for us no matter where we are located.
G-Form, case maker famed for putting some of the market's most sought-after gadgets under extreme tests is back with yet another such clip. A couple of months after Austrian Felix Baumgartner famously skydived from space, breaking all sorts of records including the sound barrier, G-Form has done likewise, only instead of sending a human down from over 100,000 feet, the company chose the slightly less-exciting iPod touch from Apple.
The beginning of any new year always brings with it a renewed sense of purpose in the technology industry, with excitable consumers impatiently waiting to see what their favorite companies will release into the wild. As always, we are expecting a lot of speculation and analysis to be lavished on Apple's Cupertino campus once again this year, and although the obligatory iPhone and iPad refresh will come at some point, speculation surrounding Apple's potential release of a streaming music type service is mounting.
With this year’s CES just around the corner, the world wide web is rife with speculation surrounding the possibilities of what we will see during the event. Various arms of Samsung Electronics are already confirmed to be exhibiting their works at CES, with a number of teasing videos whetting our appetites for a potentially big announcement during the trade-show, but could this leaked image show us exactly what to expect from the Samsung Galaxy SIV ahead of any possible announcement during CES?
