The success of a smartphone these days depends on a lot of factors, and for that reason, it’s hard to single out devices that have been successful with all sorts of crowds. For Apple, success comes mainly from the immense ease of use that their phones and tablets deliver, and from the fact that the company sells on its brand name, too. When it comes to Android. a lot of other factions come into play. For instance, the device’s hardware specifications, the Android version that it’s running, and equally importantly, how much customization friendly it is. On the last front, advanced users are more concerned with how much hackable the device is. Recently, Samsung’s high-to-middle range phones have been on a roll, not just receiving rooting methods, but also, a lot of community support.
Android is a lot about control. Most of the smartphone platforms are, to be honest. For instance, Apple is also about control, but the Cupertino company prefers to keep that control in its own hands. What the users installs on their device, how they can use their phones, what apps are even allowed to run on the said platform. Google’s Android, however, puts most of that control in the users’ hand, staying true to its open source nature. Of course, manufacturers choose to restrict certain areas, but that’s only for stability and prevention of user accidents. Overall, a user has much more control over almost all areas of the smartphone when it’s running Android, which is further enhanced by a very active developer community.
Hewlett-Packard disappointed many with its impromptu decision to ditch webOS, but as many others who got the opportunity to use it will vouch, it's a very useful operating system. It's clean, functions nicely, and as such, it should come as no surprise that some folks are trying to resuscitate it with the Open webOS project. Having already made its way to the Google-branded Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the webOS team has now managed to port it to the Nexus 7 tablet, and although it's not as smooth as one may have hoped, there are a lot of positives - notably the full functionality of the Wi-Fi and browser.
Have you ever really thought about customizing your Android device to its fullest? I know I have, and I also know that a lot of casual users at least think about it millions of times, even if they don’t really do it. Whether it’s the effort behind the whole deal or the attention to details that such a process demands, a thorough revamp of how your Android-based smartphone or tablet looks is definitely not a piece of cake. Then, there’s no standard element that you’d need; customization comes out of a combination of various tools and packages all working in tandem with each other. One necessary component of any such method is a full-screen launcher setup.
If you have ever used a smartphone, a tablet, or a branded PC, you must be familiar with the term “bloatware”. Essentially, the term is used to denote those software and applications that the manufacturer of your hardware has deemed necessary to include with the native operating system, often packaged as free versions of various apps. Some people really find this helpful, as they get out-of-box solutions for a lot of scenarios, but most of the advanced users would advise you against that, because truth be told, these “free” apps are usually promotion-ware that the manufacturer has only included to market the work of its partners, thereby making money off of them. Why bloatware is specifically bad is that it slows your computer or phone down considerably, and in other instances, may take up valuable storage space (which is a real concern for most smartphones).
Instant messaging has been one of the most revolutionary developments when it comes to written communication. While SMS came into existence long before IM did, the concept caught on so well with users that today, even SMS conversations got arranged into “threads”, to give an experience closer to how you’d expect an instant messaging client to behave. Popular IM clients like Yahoo Messenger, MSN (now Windows Live) Messenger, ICQ etc, have seen their days of glory, and still have a pretty loyal user base. Then, there were mobile specific clients, like Nimbuzz, Jabber, IM+, even mig33, that became a true hit with the on-the-move community. The trend carries on even today.
Despite having been around for considerably less time than the App Store, Google Play has grown to house almost as many apps as its Cupertino rival. With 2012's conclusion nigh, the Big G has released a list pertaining its favorite apps and games released this year in two separate lists. "Games We Love" focuses on those addictive, exciting, and thought-provoking releases this year, while "App Focus" gives an insight into the rich, diverse quantity of apps available.
It is being reported that the Samsung Galaxy S IV, the next generation of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, will hit the shelves in April 2013 and include features from the Samsung’s mini-tablet, the Galaxy Note, such as the infamous ‘S Pen’.
Android is constantly a target for those looking to spread malware, and the latest - discovered by Russian security outfit Doctor Web - is probably one of the more significant to date. Arriving in the form of a trojan, it can aid the loathed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, while also housing the ability to send spam SMS messages and receive commands from the criminals behind them.
Galaxy S4 Concept Features An Edge-to-Edge 1080p Display, Laser Keyboard, Android 5.0 & More [VIDEO]
The Galaxy S IV is yet to be announced officially by Samsung, but given the popularity of Android's most successful smartphone series, it's not too surprising to see the blogosphere abuzz with speculation regarding the features of the Galaxy S III's eventual successor. We've heard various talk of 1080p unbreakable displays, CES announcements, and April release dates, but as yet, we haven't much of an idea of its aesthetic form. As we await our first leak, Russian blog rozetked has thrown up a very intriguing concept design featuring a laser keyboard, super-svelte form factor, and an edge-to-edge display, all topped off with a delicious helping of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Sound intriguing? We've got more juicy details - and a sumptuous demonstration video - right after the break!
