In the world of Android, rooting a device is what jailbreak is to Apple’s iOS creations, although the former is much easier compared to the latter, thanks to Android’s open source nature and direct Linux-based kernel base. Nevertheless, it does take quite some skill to achieve that for all the new devices that are released, and here, we owe thanks to the highly dedicated and active developer community that exists for Android, putting in tireless hours to make lives easier for us. This is symbolized in many cases. Take Google’s Nexus 4, for example, that got rooted just a few hours after its release, showing how much potential the platform has for community support and developers’ love.
Samsung's Galaxy series has taken to Google's Android platform like a duck to water, and the release of the Galaxy S III earlier this year was by far the biggest Android release of the year. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that, after just a few months, the rumor mill is now picking up tidbits on its eventual successor - the Galaxy S IV.
Google has a knack for doing things other companies have already done, but doing them better, or cheaper, or in an easier manner to understand; or any number of the above. Android took the iOS format and made it accessible for everybody; Chrome delivered a faster and more efficient and dynamic browsing experience than most; the list is endless. Every company fears Google when it decides to sink its teeth into a new project, and in news that is sure to have the head honchos over at Apple on red alert, it looks as though the search giant may be about to implement its own AirPlay-esque local streaming service.
Today’s smartphones are arguably the best portable media players in the market, beating at times even dedicated offerings from renowned manufacturers. Don’t believe me? Pitch the iPhone 5’s audio chip with decent earphones against anything that the competition might offer, or bring in the HTC Sensation series with its Beats Audio offering for some really heavyweight competition. With powerful hardware and capable software to go along with it, mobile phones provide massive digital music libraries that we can carry around anywhere with little or no hassle.
We may be fast approaching the fabulous holiday season which the majority of us are looking forward to throughout the year, but it would seem that the latest version of Android Jelly Bean simply does not want Android users to be celebrating. Version 4.2 of Google's industry leading mobile operating system has been shipped with a rather startling flaw in the date picker control that prevents users from selecting the month of December when adding date information in apps that use the native picker. It might not be the biggest bug we will ever see with shipped software, but it is certainly one that should never have gone live.
The world of technology is in a state of shock with the impromptu release of several significant apps that claim to be from Apple on the Android Play Store. Without any prior warning, it would seem as though Apple had finally decided to drop the likes of GarageBand, iPhoto and Keynote for Android, but our better judgment leads us to suspect they are big, fat clones.
The biggest problem with text-based conversation or communication is the lack of all other elements that help in conveying the correct message. For instance, you might jokingly make a remark over something, and the tone of your voice and the emphasis of syllables will tell the listener exactly how you intended it. Likewise, a joke might not really be a joke, which will be demonstrated by your body language. According to communication experts, 70% of the interpretation of our messages is defined not by words, but by how they’re delivered. This is a serious hurdle when you use text messages, IM, email, or any form of the written word.
Android 4.2 might not be Google’s next major update, as most people hoped it might be, but it’s still the latest smartphone/tablet operating system from the search giant, and that’s enough for most people to desire it more than perhaps anything else. Add to the mix the fact that the latest Google Nexus 4 comes preloaded with the new Jellybean version, and that the device is being sold at an exceptionally reasonable price point of $300, and users will be lining up to buy the device as soon as they can.
Whether you love or loathe the larger screens Android vendors keep churning out with their smartphones, there’s no denying the quality of the AMOLED displays Samsung continues to manufacture for some of its foremost products. Rumor now has it that the panel-making extraordinaire is working on a 4.99-inch Full HD Super AMOLED ready to be showcased CES and on top of that, may well give consumers a glimpse of the display to be fitted into the Galaxy S IV.
Facebook has today released relatively major updates to its two biggest mobile apps, with iOS and Android users being treated to a bevy of new features and fixes.
