Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, iPhone

Windows Phone may join Android in a race to the bottom for cheap hardware

One reason that Android has spread so quickly is that Google allows anyone to use the bare bones of the platform for free. This has allowed venders in emerging markets such as Xiaomi and Micromax to crank out dirt-cheap Android handsets that have killer specs and that generate razor-thin margins for manufacturers. Of course, many of these cheapie handsets don’t have access to Android essentials such as the Google Play Store since Google actually does charge a licensing fee for manufacturers that want to use those features, but that doesn’t seem to matter to many buyers who just want an ultra-affordable smartphone.

Microsoft has observed how Android has thrived under these conditions and it’s apparently determined to win the race to the hardware bottom with new policies aimed at getting manufacturers to churn out cheap Windows-based smartphones, tablets and PCs. Paul Thurrott writes that “Microsoft’s real strategy to promote Windows going forward starts where it must, with the hardware makers,” a.k.a., “the companies that abandoned Windows in the smart phone market to focus on the cheaply-licensable (but not really free) Android OS from Google.”

This means that Microsoft has dumped licensing fees for all Windows devices with displays of 9 inches or lower, it’s “removed restrictions and requirements that made it difficult for Android device makers to use their handsets with Windows Phone too” and it’s made it possible to run Windows on low-end hardware.

While this has certainly help get more device manufacturers onboard with making Windows Phones, there are some questions whether this strategy will actually be successful. The biggest issue is whether consumers actually want to buy Windows Phones at all —Richard Yu, the head of Huawei’s consumer business group, said last month that his company has no choice but to stick with Android simply because it’s seen no evidence that there’s any demand for Windows Phone yet.

“We have tried using the Windows Phone OS,” Yu explained to The Wall Street Journal. “But it has been difficult to persuade consumers to buy a Windows phone. It wasn’t profitable for us.”

As we’ve observed in the past, while Windows Phone is a very nice operating system, Microsoft hasn’t really given people a reason to use it other than saying it’s an alternative to iOS and Android. Microsoft can flood the market with dirt-cheap Windows products all it wants but it might also want to think about giving more people a reason to buy into its ecosystem as well.

Smart Phones Programming Using Android Operation

How to Install CyanogenMod Android 4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M10 Custom ROM on Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE

The prolific custom mobile software developers, CyanogenMod team, has released the new Android v4.4.4 KitKat CM11 M10 to the Samsung's 2013 flagship phablet Galaxy Note 3 LTE (SM-N9005) model.

The new CM11 M10 custom ROM is based on the AOSP (Android Open Source Project) v4.4.4 KitKat OS and is said to bring customisation options to boost device performance, new visual interface, shortcut for easy access to key apps and loads of personalisation options such as:

• Settings: Add soft reboot option
• Settings: Add scramble pin feature
• General bug fixes (many)
• ANT+ Support for various hardware
• Privacy Guard: Control NFC permissions
• Theme Engine: Themes support for additional UI elements
• Frameworks & Core Apps: CAF and other upstream updates
• Frameworks: Long press recent apps to switch to last used app
• Add smart cover support
• Add glove mode support
• Add bug reporter and crash log uploader
• Multi-SIM updates
• Performance tweaks and many more improvements to enhance user experience

Prerequisites (things to remember before installing Custom ROM)

• Though installing custom ROM improves the device's performance and UI experiences, it makes the company warranty void and they will no longer be liable to provide updates in the future [users can restore warranty by flashing the device with stock-ROM].
• Make sure the device is rooted before going forward for custom ROM installation.
• This new CyanogenMod Android 4.4.4 KitKat firmware has to be installed on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N9005) LTE model only; if tried on other devices, it might get bricked [To check your device model: Go to Settings >> About phone >> model number]
• Installation of custom ROM requires clearing of memory in the smartphone, so make sure to back all the data by installing Clockwork Mod (CWM) Recovery/ TWRP in the smartphone.
• Users make sure they have installed USB drivers on the PC, or else your (Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE) smartphone will not be recognised by the computer.
• Make sure your device has more than 80% battery, or else there is chance of smartphone getting temporarily bricked if the installation process is interrupted mid-way.

[Disclaimer: This procedure is very technical and should be performed by a person with sound knowledge of rooting (or manual software installation) Android devices. If the step-by-step installation process is not followed properly, there are chances of the smartphone getting bricked or being permanently irreparable. International Business Times, India Edition cannot be held responsible for any damage or claims from readers if the procedure does not yield the required results or if the smartphone is bricked. Hence, users are advised to proceed with caution.]

Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand for Smartphones

Consumer Reports tests Apple's iPhone 5 and 6 for bends against Android rivals

Yesterday The Verge took you inside one of the buildings where Apple stress tests its devices, including iPhones, for wear and tear. The company's line is that the iPhone is more than tough enough to exist in your pocket, as well as undergo potentially worse rigors of activity. NowConsumer Reports has published its own comparison using one of the same tests we saw — the three-point bend test. That's when phones are held up at two points, while a bar comes down on the middle of the phone, and pressure is applied to see how much it can take before bending.

The product reviews company did this to one model of each the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, along with an HTC One M8, LG G3, and Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The goal was to see how much pressure each model could take before bending, as well as completely separating from the case. The big takeaway, it seems, is that 2012's iPhone 5 held up better than both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Apple's two newest iPhones required less pressure to both deform and completely separate from the case, however all the phones in the test held up for at least 70 pounds of pressure before showing any signs of bending, which is more than what Apple's publicly said its phones can handle. It also appears that Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 is built like a tank, beating every other phone in this particular test.

 

(Consumer Reports)

The bend point for the iPhone 6 came in 70 pounds, while it took 100 pounds to separate it from the case. It was actually more for the iPhone 6 Plus, which took 90 pounds of pressure to bend, and 110 pounds to separate. To put those figures in perspective, the amount of force Apple showed us in its lab yesterday for the same type of test was 25 kilograms (or 55.1 pounds), with the caveat that the phone is actually rated for more than that before it hits its bend point.

"Our tests show that both iPhones seem tougher than the Internet fracas implies," Consumer Reports'Glenn Derene says. "While nothing is (evidentally) [sic] indestructible, we expect any of these phones should stand up to typical use."

While these tests add an extra dimension to the story, Apple's pitch yesterday was that this is just one of hundreds of different ones the company does on its phones before they hit production — a process that involved testing on 15,000 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 models each. Three other tests we saw included simulated stresses to phones in pockets on various surfaces, a similar three-point test that puts pressure on the center of the phone instead of along a bar, as well as a torsion test that twists the device from its top and bottom.

5 Ways to Save Money Using Your Smartphone

Apps can be the quickest way to save a buck.

The device in your hand could save you some serious cash.

We all want to save a little money, but sometimes our busy schedules get in the way of our budgets. However, there’s no excuse for overspending when most of us have a great money-saving tool in our purses and pockets. Here are five ways to save a ton using your smartphone:

Compare Prices

It’s easy to spot a good deal, but wouldn’t you rather have the best deal? Apps like RedLaser allow you to scan the barcode on an item to see if it’s offered for less at another retailer. It’s as easy as taking a picture with your smartphone, and it can save you a ton.

Park for Less

If you live in a city, you know parking can add up quickly. When I made the move from a small town to a big city, I was completely unprepared for parking expenses. The obvious way to cut down on parking costs is to carpool and split the cost. But another great way to save is to use apps like SpotHero to find cheap parking spots around your city. I used this app while vacationing in Chicago and parked for $5. Most of the garages charged $25 at the very least, so I saved $20 by parking in a spot only a few blocks from the expensive lots. Most people use apps like this when they’re on vacation, but why not try it in your city? It could end up saving you hundreds of dollars on your work-week and recreational parking.

Be Loyal to Your Favorite Retailers

If you find yourself shopping at the same stores over and over again, your loyalty can save you money. All you have to do is add your favorite store to the pile of social media apps and games on your smartphone. Many stores have their own apps that help you save time and money while shopping. For example, Target’s Cartwheel app allows you to shop sales and coupons and add them to a shopping list. It then creates one barcode hosting all your coupons to scan at checkout. If you ask me, that sounds much more appealing than cutting coupons, bringing them to the store and rummaging through the bag to figure out which ones you need.

Another way to stay loyal is to follow your favorite brands on social media. Most of us use our smartphones to check social media throughout the day anyway. If you’re following your favorite stores and brands, you’ll be included in chances to save. Many companies host special coupons and savings opportunities for their social media followers.

Save on Gas

We all know that saving a little can go a long way. Every cent counts when it comes to buying gas. You can save $500 or more every year simply by choosing the lowest gas prices in your area when you fill up. I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit lazy when it comes to filling the gas tank. Sometimes it’s easiest to use a convenient gas station on my way home from work, but the convenience ends up costing a bundle. The good news is there are other, convenient options that don’t waste your money.

You can download apps like GasBuddy to find the best prices on gas near you. It’s as easy as opening the app and typing in your zip code. Take the extra two minutes and check your fuel app before filling up. Just think of all the things you could buy with that $500.

Use the Calculator

The calculator on your smartphone might not seem too significant, but it can save you a bundle at the grocery store. We all know that products are packaged in different quantities for our convenience, but we don’t always think about the cost. Buying pre-packaged produce can be the biggest reason you waste money at the grocery store. It looks easy and convenient, but most of the time your wallet suffers the consequences. Whip out the calculator on your smartphone, and see if the price of pre-packaged fruits and vegetables are really worth the convenience. All you have to do is figure out how much each option costs per pound. This works for shelved items too. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll save by checking the price per unit.

Smartphones make our lives easier in so many ways and saving money is no exception. With all of these apps at your fingertips, there’s no reason to pay full price for anything.

Cell phones and smartphones - Reviews - CNET.com

Android Tablet PC Performance: What To Look For In No-Brand Tablets

No-Brand Tablets better than PCs?

Apparently, the latest in consumer patterns for Tablets reveal that No-Brand Tablets, now-a-days being called as 'white-box' tablets are growing in sales by a whopping 19.6% (source DisplaySearch a renowned consumer analytics firm). Some of the reasons attributed for this are as varied as slow economic growth to lower prices of these manufacturer-direct tablets, especially from China and local providers. However, what No-Brand Tablets deliver is on the technology adoption, with close to 44 percent worldwide shipments, more so from China, the cradle of No-Brand tablet manufacturers. PCs sales have plummeted drastically while No-Branded Tablets entrench themselves more in expanding consumer base.

No-Brand Tablet Performance is similar to PC performance

PC is yet considered as the measuring dip for most of the modern devices making their debut. PC is perhaps on its last few laps before newer, faster and more capable technology will replace it entirely.

Ever since tablets have debuted, the debate of the end of PCs with the arrival of the final rival has been making the rounds. However, this is likely to happen only in a few years time. This is because the tablet brigade does not yet match the cost-effective hardware and processor capacities available for PCs.

However, the storage, and other core features such as CPU, RAM, screen resolution etc in PCs are considered more powerful, yet the superlative performance of tablets cannot be denied either.

This is largely because of the mobility factor that Tablets have while PCs seem rather restrained. Nevertheless, the present status quo is that Tablets augment core PC computing time by being able to use more conveniently and has greater number of applications are possible in comparison to sedate PCs.

Besides, software delivery across platforms for the PC is higher in comparison to Tablets. However, No-brand Tablets remain favorites as these come with Android 2.1 ver, the latest in tablet OS.

Cutting- edge Android Tablets Technology

Android Tablet PC uses Cortex A-8 and A-9 processors. These are stand-alone chips that any of the Smart Phone/Tablet manufacturers can source and assemble. Even Samsung Galaxy tablet, the present viral smart tablet, uses the same Cortex A-9 architecture to offer those rave features that is increasing its user base by the thousands every week.

No-Brand Tablets are giving you this core architecture, along with the same technology sans the expensive price tag of Samsung Galaxy tablet or a Motorola Xoom and other leading names in the segment.

Lower specifications will further reduce Non-Branded Tablet costs

Additionally, 'Whitebox' Tablet have another advantage, you could choose to own a Tablet that is perhaps at least one version lower than the current version of the OS presently in use and make a substantial savings (almost to the tune of half the cost price). You will continue to experience all the eulogized features of Branded Tablet PCs but without the exorbitant prices.

IPHONE 6 LIVE STREAM

Spider Revolution Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4K Gaming Review

Top Two Game Apps On IOS And Android Using Crossbows

The top two game apps on iOS and android that use a crossbow are Defender II and Shoot the Zombirds. These two games both generally fall into the Tower Defense type genre of games.

Defender II by Droidhen is the sequel to the successfully Defender. The main objective of the game is to defend your castle from waves and waves of enemies. To attack, you simply touch and point it to the direction of your targets. It will automatically shoot when your finger is pressed so no need to tap constantly. Aside from it, you will also gain access to spells which can decimate your foes. When enemies reach your castle, the castle's life is lessened. The game is over when it reaches zero.

Each level increases in difficulty and also the number of enemies to defend from. Some levels have bosses which will prove to be an additional challenge. As with its predecessor, you will gain crystals and coins after each level completed. These will enable you to upgrade your weapon. You can upgrade its various stats. Increasing strength will increase your damage. Increasing agility will increase arrow frequency. By unlocking also these stats, you will gain access to more skills and types of crossbow as well. Upgrading the mana tower will increase your mana for spells and it now also shoots your enemies.

New to this version too is the ability to deploy a lava moat before your castle. The lava moat will incinerate and torch all those enemies which fall to it. The biggest addition to Defender II is Battle mode. Now you can challenge other players to whoever survives the longest. Defender II is available free on iOS and Android with options to buy virtual currency to upgrade your skills and weapon.

Shoot the Zombirds by IDream is the successor to Shoot the birds. The gameplay involves you as Pumpkin head or boy shooting the undead birds in the sky and saving little pumpkids along the way. You tap to the direction where you will shoot.

Unlike Defender II which does not run out of arrows, this game does. It forces you to focus more on precision and timing rather than just careless shooting. You will not lose an arrow when you hit a target but will be lost when you miss. The level is over when you reach the number of pumpkids you can afford to lose.

There are fast and slow birds. Aside from birds carrying pumpkids, there are flying skulls which you can hit for gold coins. These gold coins can be used to purchase upgrades such as one time use powerups such rain of arrows or freezing all enemies on screen. You can use them also to increase the amount of arrows and the number of pumpkids you can afford to lose. Costumes are also available to be purchased if you want to change the look of your character.

CopSonic - Payment between 2 Smartphones

With New iPhones, It's What's Inside That Counts

The new Apple iPhones going on sale this week, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, have crisper screens, faster processors and sharper cameras.

And, as you might have heard, they are also bigger than previous iPhones - the 6 Plus by a long shot - joining the stampede toward bigger handsets. But after almost a week of trying the phones, it became clear that the hardware was not the best part of the package. In its quest to deliver bigger phones to a market clamoring for them, Applehas made one phone that is actually a little too small and one that's a little too big.

The best part of the new phones is actually the new software inside, which is available for some older models, too, starting on Wednesday. The software, iOS 8, combines some of the advanced features of Android with Apple's ease of use and reliability.

Because of the software, it's hard to see many iPhone fans straying from Apple, even if they don't buy new iPhones immediately.

The iPhone 6 is a 4.7-inch device, up from 4 inches on the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. It's a little wider than those phones, too.

Those dimensions make it slightly smaller than the top Android and Windows devices on the market, helping it fit easily in jeans pockets. Compared with a Samsung Galaxy S5 or the HTC One (M8), though, the iPhone 6 screen feels constrained. The iPhone 6 starts at $200 with a new contract.

The iPhone 6 Plus is a behemoth. It has the same size display as the LG G3, at 5.5 inches, but is significantly taller. It's longer even than the Galaxy Note 3, which has a 5.7-inch display. It starts at $300 with a new contract.

Both the 6 and 6 Plus get thinner, flatter and more rounded shapes than their predecessors, losing the squared-off sides on the more recent models. The effect looks sleek, but feels slippery. Dropping seems imminent as you stretch your thumb across the larger screens.

Apple takes some small steps to mitigate the finger stretch with a feature called Reachability, which lets you touch (not press) the home button twice to shift the screen down to the bottom half of the display.

The feature works nicely for one-handed scrolling and finding app icons, but it doesn't do much else. If you're in an email, for example, you can't get access to any actions like Reply or Archive.

Apple could have taken a cue from other makers of so-called phablets (a blend of the words "phone" and "tablet") and come up with powerful ways to take advantage of those bigger screens.

For example, the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will let users resize app windows using a finger or stylus and view multiple windows simultaneously on its 5.7-inch display, as on a desktop computer. The 5.5-inch LG G3 lets you open two apps at once and resize them as you like.

The iPhones do include some tricks created for bigger phones, like a zoom feature that lets you subtly increase the size of app icons and text in native apps.

And when you turn the phones sideways, into landscape mode, the keyboard in the built-in apps like Mail and Messages has more options - a microphone, undo key, period and comma and others on the iPhone 6, and even more on the iPhone 6 Plus, like dedicated copy and paste keys.

Those extra iPhone 6 Plus keys disappear if you choose the zoomed display, however. And the iPhone 6 Plus is so big that in landscape mode, I had a hard time reaching the keys to type.

Even the built-in Apple keyboard doesn't get any extra keys when holding the phone upright, the way the Samsung and LG keyboards include number keys above the letters, and period and comma keys.

As for the features that people love about their iPhones, they only get better. The iPhone 6 cameras, for example, are outstanding.

Both rear-facing cameras have new sensors that deliver faster autofocus, better face detection and the ability to capture high-resolution panoramas. The faster focus is immediately obvious, even in casual use.

The iPhone 6 Plus in particular uses optical image stabilization to deliver better photos in low light and reduce overall shake and blur. Sadly, that nice feature is not on the iPhone 6.

And filmmakers are swooning over the iPhones' high-definition video, faster frame rates (which lead to smoother video) and higher-quality slow-motion capture. Cinematic video stabilization helps smooth out video taken while moving and a time lapse mode snaps a shot every second or so and stitches them together.

Of course, all the videos and photos look great on the bigger screens, especially the iPhone 6 Plus. For camera buffs, that bigger phone is likely to be a must-have.

Call quality on the new phones is excellent and I found battery life on the smaller iPhone 6 to be impressive. I went almost two full days without a charge. Battery life on the iPhone 6 Plus is more like a day of constant use and not much more, but that's not terrible on a phone that size.

The real magic, though, happens because of Apple's new operating system.

The iOS 8 software doesn't look greatly different, but many refinements make it more powerful and flexible. Some of the features catch up to competitors and some are totally new.

The upgrade adds iCloud Drive, for example, which lets you more easily share documents across devices, as you can with Dropbox or Google Drive. A Family Sharing feature will let you share your purchased books, movies, music and some apps with up to six family members, so they don't have to log in to your account to watch a movie or use an app you have purchased.

After OS X Yosemite, the new operating system for Macs, is released in October, Apple's Continuity feature will let you view incoming text messages across all devices, hand off documents between a phone and computer and send a text or make a call from your Mac.

Smaller improvements - expiring messages and voice memos, Spotlight searches that include Web results, and recently used contacts that show up when you double-press the home button to switch between or close apps - add up to a refined mobile OS.

Some of the features aren't perfect, and many of the sexier features are still down the road. Right now, for example, the Health app simply doesn't do much. It depends on integration with third-party apps (scheduled for release with the phones) and the coming Apple Watch.

The new operating system comes on the new phones and can be installed this week on the iPhone 5s, 5 and iPhone 4S. People who have those phones and whose two-year cellphone contracts have not yet expired can rest easy. They will get many of the best features of this year's upgrade cycle.

The slim new iPhones aren't a big-screen slam-dunk, but they work well, as we have come to expect from Apple. Ultimately, it's what's on the inside that keeps them just in front of their competitors.

4 Inch Windows Camera Unlocked Phones White

Android One launched; Google enters the low-cost smartphone game

Google launched their much-awaited sub-$100 Android One smartphones on Monday, and in India would be available through domestic cellphone makers Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. Prices for the Android One would start from Rs. 6,399.

Looking to penetrate further into the mobile market in developing nations, the Google plans to roll out the Android One in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka in the coming months. The Android One would also be available on other platforms, including Acer, Xolo, HTC and Lenovo.

The Android One dual-sim smartphone would sport a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1 GB RAM, 4.5-inch screen, and a 5 MP rear camera. Though the internal storage is just 4 GB, it can be expanded up to 32 GB.  It would be available for purchase on major online shopping portals, and can be bought in retails stores from early October.

Spice Dream UNO (Photo: Flipkart)

Micromax will sell its Android One powered Canvas A1 on Amazon, Spice would sell Dream UNO on Flipkart and the Karbon Sparkle V would be available on Snapdeal. The Android One will face fierce competition in the under-Rs.10,000 smartphone market in India.

Online shopping portals are going all out to lure customers to buy the Android One. A host of gift vouchers aside, Snapdeal, Amazon and Flipkart are also throwing in an 8 GB memory card. Meanwhile, Airtel has partnered with Google to provide 100 MB/200 MB of data per month for 6 months for software updates and app downloads so users can stay updated with the latest version of Android.

Sony Xperia smart phones 2014_2015

Xiaomi could topple the smartphone budget market in India

Xiaomi has caused a wave in the smartphone market in India. Ever since they have launched themselves in India, Xiaomi has already sold over 1.75 lakh units.

The Xiaomi Mi3 has made a mark in the Indian smartphone market with a high-end hardware under a budget price. The Mi 3 has a good performance and also features a great 13MP camera.

The next handset introduced by Xiaomi was the Redmi 1S. This is a super-budget handset with an above-average hardware. At just Rs 5,999, Xiaomi offers the Redmi 1S with a sufficiently large 4.7-inch Dragontrail display, a quad-core processor, 1GB or RAM, 8 GB internal storage (expandable) and a good 8MP rear camera and a 1.6MP front camera. The Redmi 1S directly competes with Motorola’s Moto E, which retails at Rs 6,999.

The Moto E is priced Rs 1,000 above the Redmi 1S. It offers only a dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch display, a dual-core processor, 4GB of internal storage (expandable) and just a 5MP camera with no front camera. Compared to the Redmi 1S, the Moto E fails to impress the money-conscious and budget smartphone fans. However, there are a few too many who believe in well-known brands that have existed for long. This is where a Motorola product stands strong, as compared to the Xiaomi. After all, Xiaomi is considered a new comer, and has the ‘Chinese’ tag to it.

Well, Xiaomi has already sold 80,000 units of the Redmi 1S in two weeks. On the 16th of September, Flipkart has another 40,000 handsets for the flash sale. Flipkart has posted on their website that 3,00,000 customers have already registered for the flash sale for the 15th of September. With only 40,000 handsets this time, the flash sale will last less than four seconds.

By selling handsets from a single website and manufacturing and shipping smartphones as per required, Xiaomi has a smart sense of marketing their products. Single point of sales makes it easier to track their sale and turnover and makes it easy to know the demand of the product. By knowing the demand, they manufacture only limited number of handsets. This reduces wastage of smartphones by overproducing. Shipping handsets immediately, when manufactured, also cuts down on storage and shipping costs. Lastly, least advertising or almost no advertising also increases the profits.

However, Xiaomi manages to keep the handset prices lower as they cut the profit margin down to a great extent. This is the main reason why Xiaomi handsets are cheaper than other brands who manufacture in bulk, spend on advertising and overcharge the customer by three to four times the original costs to cover up for unsold units.

Xiaomi has put up a tough competition for Indian smartphone manufacturers and branded budget smartphones in the Indian market. With above-average quality and performance from their low-priced handsets, they seem to win hands-down. Xiaomi has been applying this theory all around the world, making sufficient profits and selling huge number of handsets. This has made them the number five smartphone manufacturer in the world in just four years of existence.

So will you buy a Xiaomi or prefer to hold on to a branded smartphone? Do the after-sales really matter on low-priced smartphones? Are you actually happy with the service centres of other brands? With people usually upgrading their smartphones at least once a year, it looks like disposable smartphones are here to stay.

We want to know your comments.

Do let us know, which smartphone you presently own, how often do you upgrade your phone, did you ever visit a service centre for a smartphone problem and what would you rate the service centre you visited (give star ratings from 1 – 5). This would be a big help to those hunting for a good smartphone. 

Portable Aluminum Tablet Stand Holder Support for iPad iPod Smartphones Tablet

Android 5.0 L Update Plan Leak: Sony Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, Z2 & More

A big question in the minds of most Android users currently is when their device will receive the Android 5.0 L update. We don’t know when every OEM will start pushing the Android L update but we do know what plans Sony has in store for its models. Our sources have informed us about Sony’s Xperia Android 5.0 update plans and which models would be receiving the update.

Android L is the most recently announced Android version and brings a lot of major changes to the Android platform, including the jump to 64-bit. It includes a redesigned user-interface with more simple layout and new notification system. It also comes with full ART runtime support by default for better system performance.

Sony Xperia devices eligible for the Android L update

Let’s start with details on the models that are scheduled to receive the update. The Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, Z3 Tablet Compact, Z2, Z2 Tablet, Z1 Compact, Z1, and T2 Ultra are said to be the ones that have been shortlisted to receive the update. The other mid-range devices released this year as well as the Xperia Z series range that includes the Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z will not be receiving the 5.0 update and support for these devices will be terminated with 4.4.4 KitKat.

Expected rollout dates

Now you must be wondering when exactly the updates would roll out. Well, our source tells us that the Android L update won’t hit Xperia devices until around the time the next Xperia flagship is announced – Z4. That is expected to happen sometime in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. That’s when the update would first start rolling out for the Xperia Z3 family of devices. The other products on the list will be receiving their update in the second phase of the rollout which would extend through March and April. The update will bring all the Android 5.0 goodies with it, along with a redesigned user interface and some significant changes to the Media apps Sony bundles with its Xperia smartphones. The Xperia camera app will also see a number of changes in terms of layout and features, and a new automatic mode as well which should be better than the Superior Auto mode that is currently present on Xperia devices.

P.S. – This leak has been provided to us by the same source who leaked the full spec sheet of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact well before the IFA event, and it turned out to be 100% correct. This new leak should be considered as good as confirmed.

Use smartphones the right way in professional operations

Spider-Man Unlimited Now Available for Android, iOS and Windows Phone

Gameloft has released Spider-Man Unlimited for Android, iOS and Windows Phone, as it promised in June with the announcement trailer. The game has been developed in partnership with Marvel and is set in New York City in over 5 different environments.

The game is free on all three platforms (Android, iOS and Windows Phone), but comes with in-app purchases. Spider-Man Unlimited game app requires devices running Android 4.0 or higher, iOS 6.0 or higher, Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 OS. It was released on Wednesday on Google Play and App Store, and on Thursday on Windows Phone Store.

Unlike the recent Amazing Spider-Man 2 game for smartphones and tablets, Spider-Man Unlimited uses Marvel's past variations of the superhero and has incorporated 23 different avatars, such as Iron Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Future Foundation Spider-Man, Ben Reilly Spider-Man and more. The users can upgrade to all 23 of them. It shares the same comic-style animation used in Gameloft's Captain America, which was launched in March.

Spider-Man Unlimited would let gamers face off The Formidable Sinister Six, a team of villains including Doctor Octavius, Vulture, and Electro and others. The game is based on episode-styled story design and Gameloft says it has made the gameplay more challenging by introducing the villain's dimensional counterparts, just like those of Spider-Man's. The story mode includes 5 boss battles and 25 missions per Issue. Events mode gives new daily and weekly events with rewards, while in Unlimited mode users can climb up the leaderboards.

In April, Gameloft had in April released the Amazing Spider-Man 2 for Android and iOS users. The game was tied with the latest movie version.