Results for "Android OS"
Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4 get Android Kitkat 4.4.4 Update...What's New?
The tech World is still amused by the newly released Apple iOS 8 and Google's forthcoming Android L (Android 5.0) OS. Amidst this we almost forgot about the Android Kitkat 4.4.4 update, which a couple of fortnights back was speculated to bring a slew of exciting features to Samsung smartphones such as Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 handsets.

Samsung being instrumental in proliferating Android like wildfire Worldwide, democratically among phones of status, had started seeing the Kitkat 4.4.4 update on its Android compatible phones. Only left out of this party were the Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2.

Android Kitkat 4.4.4 Update has finally arrived to these Samsung devices. The Android 4.4.4 Kitkat update was released recently together with the 4.4.3 update. The Android Kitkat 4.4.4 fixes bugs on the 4.4.2 update in Galaxy S3.

What new or exciting latest Android Kitkat updates brought to Galaxy S3, S4 and Note 2?

1) Bug fixes to the problematic 4.4.2 update.

2) The 4.4.4 update brings to the Galaxy S3 , the modification for TouchWiz. A big disappointment is the absence of the Galaxy S5 design that many wanted to have. People want to see their S3 look and behave like S5 as well. Human tendency you see :) .

3) The update brings the new lock-screen music controls, finally providing users the option to control music playback from the lock-screen, A feature which has been missing since the original 4.0.4 release of the Galaxy S3. A handy feature especially when you listen to songs before sleep, while one bed.

4) All notification bar icons are now gray. Previously they had three colors: green, orange, and gray.

5) A few stock apps see either an upgrade or a total user interface overhaul.The new update reintroduces the gradient on the taskbar of the settings app, similar to 4.1.2 and 4.0.4.

6) A few of the icons have been changed.

7) The menu has been altered to make accessible the new Kit Kat features.

8) Calculator App changed, which now features a rectangular button layout, instead of the circular button layout of 4.3.

9) The new features introduced are : the location settings, the ability to choose the user's default launcher and messaging app. A great addition for young people who chat and locate.

10) Gone is the "Powered by Android" logo in boot-up. Google seems to shedding some Ego.

11) GT-I9305 users can finally play with the Kit Kat Easter egg.

12) Reviewers noted that the Galaxy S3 4G is faster than before with the new Kitkat 4.4.4 update. The reason for this is the reduction of the firmware's RAM requirement.

Visible changes after the new Kitkat 4.4.4 update

Faster animations and absence of lag making them smooth. Especially while playing games.

Frame dropping on graphic-intensive games such as Riptide GP2. Hope these bugs will be fixed in coming days.

Dramatic improvement in battery life compared to the battery-draining 4.3 update. Battery draining is a big issue with new updates. It's not surprising that a mere tweak in the software can make battery run miles.

Compatibility and Resources needed :

For the Galaxy 3 the update needs a large 1.6GB. 
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Anil Singh Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Motorola takes advantage of 3LM to make Android more secure
One count where Android devices don’t stand in front of the iPhone and the Blackberry line of smartphones is the security features. While Apple (the company is focusing on security specially) and RIM devices are know for robust security, making them attractive to the most pricky of all users -- the corporations, who need to be able to manage devices closely; the Android OS lacks that kind of robust security. In InfoWorld’s estimation, the level of security currently on Android isn’t enough for the device to be trusted.

Now although Android as such doesn’t need to address this particular security requirement, as the devices running on it are proliferating fast among, non-sensitive users, who hardly complain the lack of those; Motorola who also runs android in its devices, wants the issue to be addressed.

To take care of it, Motorola is summoning the services of 3LM, a startup that it purchased some time ago.

3LM is an enterprise security and management tool development firm. Motorola plans to create APIs that Android is missing to control security and management capability at the OS level; making its devices attractive to corporates too. ---------

Anil Singh Monday, February 28, 2011
Apple working on two New Handsets to challenge increasing Android dominance
In order to cater to the market where Android is increasingly dominant, Apple is working on two new handsets; a low cost iPhone and a dual version of the handset available without a contract, reports Bloomberg.

Quoting people familiar with the projects, the report says that the first handset is a scaled-down version of the iPhone, costing around $200 and be available without a data contract. The prototype of the phone, lacks a Home button and uses less advanced components than the top range phones.

The company is also working on a dual-band version of the phone, which is capable of being used on GSM and CDMA networks, although this may not be included in the low-end iPhone. Apple is also working on the Universal SIM card technology to back up the new handsets. This technology could allow a handset to be automatically switched between 3G carriers if the user wants to switch contracts. ---------

Anil Singh Saturday, February 12, 2011
Sprint Unveils Dual-Screen Echo Android Smartphone
In its bid to bring out a worthy heir to replace its two marquee phones, the HTC Corp. Evo and the Samsung Electronics Co. Epic, Sprint Nextel Corp. unveiled late Monday, Echo, a smartphone with a twin set of touchscreens.

The company hopes that Echo's unique design will drum up more attention for the company's products and services at a time when the carrier needs more high-end devices to replace its two marquee phones.

Echo, is made by Kyocera Corp.'s U.S. unit, runs on Google’s android operating System and features two 3.5-inch touchscreens that can be stacked side by side to form a false tablet design. Users can accomplish multiple tasks or programs on the two screens, or drag items from one screen to the other.

But unlike Evo and the Epic, which are 4G phones in the market; Echo is 3G.

Evo will be available in the spring for $199.99.

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Anil Singh Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sony PlayStation Phone revealing ad focuses on Thumbs
Sony revealed Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, better known as Playstation Phone, during Super bowl ad.

The ad is interesting; and focuses on Asia and well “thumbs”, obviously to play the phone.

The final caption reads: "Android is ready to play."

Check it out:

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Anil Singh Monday, February 7, 2011
Huawei unveils two new android handsets - Ideos X5 and Ideos X6
Chinese network supplier Huawei Technologies has unveiled two new Ideos brand Android-based smartphones - the Ideos X5 and X6, during CES2011.

Specifications: Running on the Android OS version 2.2 like its predecessor, which is simply called the Ideos, the new rounded-edged Ideos X5 has a bigger, 3.8-inch WVGA touchscreen, a better 5-megapixel camera, and 720p high-definition video playback.

Ideos X6 has slightly higer specs. It features a bigger 4.1-inch touchcreen and runs Android 2.2 version. The phone is powered by the innovative 1GHz processor. Similar to the Ideos X5, - it also has a 5-megapixel camera which is capable of handling 720p video recording; and boasts an HDMI output, to allow users to export what they see on the handset to an HD television.

Price & Availability: The phones will be launched in Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand this month i.e. January 2011. The phones will start selling in US. The new handsets will also be selling around the same time in Western Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East.

The Ideos X5 will cost between $250 and $300; while, the Ideos X6 is a handset with slightly higher specs will cost more than X5. The Ideos X6 will be priced between $300 and $400. ---------

Anil Singh Monday, January 10, 2011
Spot brings Satellite Add-On For Android Phones
Gone are the days when Satellite phones were a thing to show off; now any phone can be a satellite phone. SPOT today announced a satellite add-on for Android cell phones which can turn any Android 2.0 or greater phone into a one-way satellite messenger(can't receive messages) to call for help, send text messages (up to 41 characters) or post the same on social networks like Facebook, Twitter or MySpace, or sent to email or SMS addresses.when you're out of cell-phone coverage.

About the new SPOT Add-on:

SPOT Connect weighs 3.7-ounce or just over 100 grams, costs $169.99 and connects to your phone wirelessly using Bluetooth and a special Android app. Latest from Spot, a division of the Globalstar satellite firm which specializes in SOS devices for adventure loving people.

Spot previously offered dedicated SOS beacons and a combination beacon/GPS unit that also sent text messages. But SPOT Connect works with many existing phones, making it much more accessible.

As the device is made for emergency situations, its battery lasts for up to 4 months on a set of AA lithium batteries, and it can send an SOS beacon for seven days on one set of batteries. It's tough and waterproof.

To use the service SPOT connect, a user has to sign a contract, after purchasing the device, the least-expensive one, at $99.99/year. For this price a user gets, unlimited SOS(Satellite Office Service) and pre-programmed "I'm OK!" messages, along with five text messages per year.

The company plans to bring the service to iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. ---------

Anil Singh Tuesday, January 4, 2011