When talking about the mobile market and assessing its strengths and weaknesses, conversations and debates usually take an Android versus iOS format. Each of the two major mobile operating systems has its own perks and limitations, and in the case of Android, one of the key issues for a long time has been that of malware. Its open source nature leaves it naturally more susceptible than its Cupertino counterpart, but according to security research firm Lookout Mobile Security, things could take a turn for the worse in 2013.
Samsung’s smartphone-tablet hybrid, known as the Galaxy Note II, has managed to turn many heads since its announcement this last August. Should your bank balance be way too uncomfortable to get your hands on one, no worries: there’s a new knockoff in town that might actually be convincing enough to trick your less tech-savvy friends.
The Nexus line up of devices has always received the prime cut of all that is Android, be it OTA updates, developer attention, mods and custom recoveries, root procedures and whatnot, and that, too, before the rest of the Android lot. This holds true not just for the smartphone showcase, but the tablets, too, since Google decided to enter that market itself. Generally, all the Nexus devices have been at the top of the Android food chain, as it was at the times of their respective releases. Their Achilles’ Heel, however, has always been their cameras, where the units mounted atop the Nexus devices were either inadequate or low performing, resulting in a loss of the battle in the mobile photography arena. Indeed, even mid-range droids had a better camera sensor as compared to the one built into, say, Galaxy Nexus.
There’s a pretty reasonable and easy to understand explanation for the popularity of AOSP-based Android ROMs like CyanogenMod or AOKP, or even MIUI – these firmware often give you a chance to try out a version of Android that’s either not yet available for your device, or that might not have been official supported by the manufacturer at all. I am rocking unofficial CM 10.1 on my Huawei U9200 just to get a taste of Android 4.2, and had I stuck with the stock operating system that came from the manufacturer, I’d still have been at 4.1 Jelly Bean. This is not just me – a lot of people go for unofficial builds so that they can try out new features and improvements without having to upgrade the device itself. Thus, it makes complete sense that a device like the international Galaxy S III I9300 would receive a CyanogenMod 10.1 build, even if its unofficial.
Samsung's "phablet" Galaxy Note series has proved a surprise hit with consumers, and with the second iteration boasting one of the largest displays in the smartphone industry, its successor - according to a report from Samsung's native South Korea - will set a new benchmark in terms of screen real-estate. The Note II may already be enormous with its 5.5-inch offering, but as TheKoreaTimes reports, the Galaxy Note III could boast an eye-watering 6.3-inch display upon its release next year.
Jaws definitely dropped when Apple launched the first iOS 6 beta with no Google Maps support, but we have moved on since then through the Mapgate scandal and now we have the official launch of Google Maps for iOS through the App Store, that comes with a reported admission from within Google that this latest launch for Apple devices provides a better experience than its Android based counterpart.
There’s no doubt about the fact that the true power of Android operating system comes from the freedom of being able to use various custom ROMs – firmware that have been cooked directly from the AOSP portal, or that differ from the stock ones in features, or those that incorporate elements from other devices. Not only does that bring diversity to your otherwise-boring smartphone or tablet, but also unleash its full capabilities for your usage. However, not all custom ROMs might sit well with your smartphone, and from time to time, there might be a need to go back to stock software to start afresh.
China may have garnered itself the unwanted label as one of the knock-off capitals of the world, but there are an increasing number of companies - particularly in the mobile - looking to establish themselves alongside the global big boys like Samsung, LG, and Apple. One such outfit is Oppo, and if its just-announced Find 5 smartphone is a sign of things to come, the aforementioned market-leaders should be more than a little concerned. The device packs in the kind of features we're expecting of the Samsung Galaxy S IV, with 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC, and a whopping 2GB of RAM. To top it off, it runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean!
Samsung Galaxy S III has been one of the most successful devices that the Korean company has come up with to date, and the Android beast boasts everything that is worthy of a flagship, and then some more. The massive 4.8-inch smartphone packs quite a punch when it comes to raw power, and for that reason, it was quick to receive root, custom firmware, custom recovery and lots of developer love in general. However, it’s no hidden fact that the device is perhaps too large for some users, and while manufacturers seem to be generally headed for large screens with lightweight armor, a tad lesser real-estate would be more comfortable for some. To cater to that crowd, Samsung has released the younger, smaller sibling to Galaxy S III, the Galaxy S III Mini I8190.
Yahoo! may have been bullied from its once-prominent web position by the likes of Google, but the Sunnyvale-based company still has something to offer. Today, Yahoo! has released a glut of new mail apps targeting those on iOS, Windows 8 and Android, as well as revamping its web-based offering, and we've got all the details after the jump.
