One of the great things about having devices like smartphones and tablets is the ability to constantly update the standard functionality of the gadget by downloading and installing additional apps which are available through marketplaces like the iOS App Store and Google's own software market, the Google Play Store. In some instances it is possible to acquire installations from other sources, but for the mainstream user, the official app hubs prove more than sufficient with over 1.2 million combined apps available on the two largest sales platforms.
There is one big story in Mac software right now, and that's OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion. Available for less then twenty dollars via the Mac App Store, the update to Mountain Lion is all geared around building on top of your current, working system. If you're like us though, you probably like to have a nice clean install of your operating system every once in a while, but the Mac App Store doesn't always make that the easiest thing in the world.
Android Jelly Bean (4.1) seems to have gone down a treat among those using it, and it certainly seems as though Project Butter - a movement to make Android a lot sleeker and lag-free - has done the trick. With any new operating system, the temptation for many is to simply mod and tweak in order to decipher just what it's capable of, and for those having done a little - maybe too much - modding on their Nexus device, you'll be pleased to know you can grab a fresh, stock copy of your mobile OS.
Apple has finally given the people what they want by taking the plunge and releasing OS X Mountain Lion onto the Mac App Store. And judging by the mounting reviews, it seems to have been greeted with extreme positivity. With that being said, we all know that you can't please all of the people all the time, and it was always going to be the case that there would be some unhappy campers with certain aspects of the release. As part of Mountain Lion 10.8 and also as part of the OS X Lion update, Apple has made a few changes to their Safari web browser taking it to version 6 and in turn removed some much loved features.
Although Microsoft has announced its Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system, only a few of the key details were revealed, with some kept back for added intrigue. There have been murmurs for a while now with regards a screenshot function, and now details have emerged portraying just how such a feature will work.
Android Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) has now been superseded by Jelly Bean (4.1), but that doesn't mean to say some consumers are not waiting for an OTA update of the older iteration for their device. HTC's Desire HD is a pretty useful device in terms of specs - despite its age - thus most owners presumed their treasured device would inevitably see the new firmware.
Apple maintains a tight grip on the smartphone, tablet and premium notebook market with the iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air/Pro. They make their own software for these gadgets; controlling the whole “widget” as Steve Jobs used to say. Yet, there are markets where Apple is hardly relevant. One such market is online social networking. Microsoft has investments in Facebook, Google of course has their own Google+ while Apple has nothing at all.
The tablet market is one which is arguably already sewn up. It's already done. Dead. Finished. It's already Apple's. Or is it? With Apple undoubtedly heading the charts in and around the $500 price bracket, there is plenty of room for manufacturers to play below that mark. As the netbook market showed years ago, if you can make something cheap, people will buy it, regardless of whether it's any good or not.
OS X Mountain Lion, Apple's most recent operating system for the Mac, has sold in excess of two million copies in just two days - on par with the release of OS X Lion last year, which shifted 1 million copies in its first 24 hours. The new operating system includes many new features - some of which have been borrowed from the company's iOS mobile ecosystem. Things like Reminders, iMessage and Notification Center made a name for themselves on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, but now take pride of place on the desktop.
Although now two years old, the iPhone 4 still continues to sell in great numbers, and having recently dropped down to the low price of $99, the device has now been made permanently cheaper at Best Buy - shipping for $49 on contract.
