Over-the-air, or OTA updates make the process of reeling in new features and security patches a great deal easier on mobile device users. The rigmarole of connecting a device to a computer while the magic happened was a common occurrence just a few years ago, but such is the fast-moving nature of the mobile field, that any update can now easily applied with a few simple taps - whether at home or on the fly. For those rocking the Galaxy Nexus or a Nexus S, an airborne bundle of joy is heading your way, and if it hasn't already reached your device, we'll show you how to pluck it from the skies.
Mobile gaming has evolved in leaps and bounds over the past five or so years, and although our smartphones and tablets now offer vast libraries of titles on a scale surpassing any other platform, the likes of iOS and Android still struggle to shake off the "casual" gaming tag thanks to the high volumes of simple-yet-addictive pick-up, put-down offerings.
Every now and then a rather unique and gorgeous looking installation comes along for mobile operating systems that seems to be a must have download. That would certainly seem to apply to the Real Widget offering on the Google Play Store that is available for Android smartphones running Android Ice Cream Sandwich or above. The widget itself promises to offer the look, feel and styling of Windows Phone directly on the home screen of an Android device.
Although a lot of developers are yet to accept it, it isn't a coincidence that the most popular and well-received apps for mobile devices are ones that look great and are simple and intuitive to use. Smartphones and tablets generally provide a limited landscape and usage area, and it is important that the user-interface lends itself well to the functionality of the app to provide a great experience for the user. After all, they are the ones who matter most. The HoloNotes note-taking app for Android-powered devices is one such example on Google's mobile platform that definitely ticks those boxes.
When it was introduced last year, the Galaxy Note created a big divide among the general online community of technology enthusiasts because of its polarizing display size. At 5.3-inch, it was too big to be a smartphone and too small to be a tablet*. Reviews from popular publications reflected this, with some calling it an awesome, category-defining device, while others felt it was the worst mix of smartphone and tablet features.
The last few months have produced a veritable feast of fantastic and powerful smartphones for consumers to choose from, and the fast-paced industry shows no signs of slowing down as the world's largest smartphone vendor has lifted the lid on their latest creation. In a press announcement coming straight from Seoul, Samsung Electronics have officially announced the Galaxy S III mini smartphone that we have been hearing so much about over the last week, with it being billed as "compact yet powerful smartphone".
It was only yesterday when the Android 4.1.2 update was officially released to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and began showing up as an over-the-air update to Nexus 7 devices in certain territories. The relatively short timescales involved between then and now hasn't stopped the guys over at CyanogenMod from working their magic and updating their custom ROM to offer the latest Google update to Android.
The smartphone industry is currently enjoying a much appreciated and welcome boom at the moment with various manufacturers pushing out multiple handsets to the market that allow a whole host of choice for consumers. If the iPhone 5, Galaxy S III, One X+ or the Windows Phone 8 powered Nokia Lumia 920 doesn't entice you in, then maybe the next Google Nexus smartphone is the one you have been waiting for.
Microsoft is going through an extremely busy schedule at the minute with their next major release of Windows about to hit the marketplace on October 26th, as well as their much-anticipated Surface tablet slated for a first public outing on the same day. The old saying of there's no rest for the wicked definitely applies here, as it turns out that the Redmond-based software giants are also hard at work on producing mobile versions of the Office suite for iOS and Android users.
The Galaxy S III has some of the best specifications in the smartphone market with a Super AMOLED 720p HD display, super-fast quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but there is one thing about it that me and many other technology enthusiasts, particularly owners of ‘smaller’ smartphones like the iPhone 4S, just don’t like: the huge 4.8-inch display. It’s great for watching videos and playing games, but it’s just terrible for using everyday apps with one hand.
