Though Google has a commanding market share in the Android space, it is not taking things lightly any longer owing to the cut-throat nature of the competition in the smartphone market. It is ensuring that users are kept aware of its contribution with regard to the tweaking it does of the application designs. Through changes such as making splash screens part of the Android landscape, it is sending out clear signals that it will compete against the likes of Microsoft in providing cloud…
With the development of the Android Studio in full swing, it is now certain that Android will no longer support any more activity on the ADT or Android Developer Tools currently happening in Eclipse. Instead, this shift from the Eclipse will see the arrival of the Android NDK within Android Studio. The future will also usher in the migration of high end performance tools like the Trace Viewer and DDMS that are also stand-alone in their ability to deliver optimum results. It is clear that Google…
The Android Lollipop promised a lot and delivered on many of its promises, but it failed hard when it came to one all-important feature – battery power. This remains one of the most wanted and sought after improvement by every user of a smart phone to date. The expectations of users from the Android Lollipop were sky high on this front when it was announced as an update. Unfortunately, their hopes have been belied with many complaining of faster battery drain when they use mobile data and not…
Those of you familiar or have seen the Commodore PET and remember it as a chunky computer of the 1970s will relate immediately to the latest Android smart phone. Yes, a new model with the name Commodore is all set to be launched and this one will double up as a phone and a console that is handheld. You can thus play Commodore 64, Amiga with emulators and get whisked back in time. Old warhorse and a leader in the PC market The Commodore was a US company that established an early lead in the PC…
Android M is promising to bring in some new stuff that was not possible in earlier versions of the OS. The Lollipop did bring in the Material Design but has not been able to generate a lot of enthusiasm among users to upgrade in a hurry. Currently only 12% of users are on Lollipop with a majority still on Kit Kat and earlier versions like the Jelly Bean. A key differentiator on the cards One feature that will differentiate the Android M will be the visual voicemail that would be built into…
Microsoft looks like is losing steam and market share in the mobile business of late. But their enterprising Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Satya Nadella, has dismissed reports of it getting out of the mobile race altogether. Instead he says the strategy has shifted from the phone to the OS Windows 10. He cites the example of the health app of Microsoft that has been shoehorned on both the Android and the iOS as an example of what direction the company wishes to take with its OS. Intention is to…
It was on the cards for some time now and has finally become a reality. Google has teamed up with BlackBerry to become a formidable force in the enterprise segment. Their enterprise version of the OS with heightened security features will surely help them face Apple and other competitors with greater command and confidence. Significant tie up meshing two technologies The Android OS has been picked upon for its relatively loose security architecture and that was a sore point with many…
Being at the top comes with its own pitfalls. The Android OS, by virtue of having a market share of over 80%, has been facing threats from hackers and other cyber criminals for many years now. One of the most positive and unique features of Android is its uber-flexible open source build that enabled many developers to create so many wonderful apps. However, this is proving to be a double-edged sword as malicious attacks by unscrupulous hackers are multiplying by the day and making the OS…
If despite all precautions such as only using Google Play Store to download apps, having an anti virus app installed and so on, you still find your Android infected with a virus, then don’t panic. You can and have to take steps to eliminate it at the earliest from your device before it can cause any further damage. They are as under: Put the device into the Safe mode. On many of the gadgets, you only have to press the power to get to the safe mode option. If that does not work, you need…
One of the main reasons for the continued progress and user loyalty for the Android OS is the number of third party apps and launchers that you can find here. This has helped Google to capture over 85% of the smart phone market share and despite Apple doing its level best in coming out with equally good apps, it has not been able to achieve mass penetration for its products like Google. Third party launchers on the Android system like Apex and Nova have improved user experience a great deal…
