BBM For Android, iOS Reputation Crunch Time

There was quite a bit of shock initially when BlackBerry announced it was going to make its BBM messaging service available to rival platforms Android and iOS, as the service is one of the main features that has historically pulled users to the platform especially teenagers. It could be a bit of reputation crunch time though with the upcoming BBM for Android and iOS.

It is thought that the BBM for Android app could be released next month following comments from the managing director of BlackBerry India, Sunil Lalvani. While BlackBerry owners love their BBM service it may not have the same appeal to as many Android and iOS users though as there are already lots of other options available.

These include the likes of WhatsApp, Viber, and iMessage to name but a few but the move could also impact sales of its handsets going forward as they haven’t exactly been breaking records recently despite the launch of BlackBerry 10.

The biggest issue the new operating system has had is no matter how good it is many users are unwilling to give it a try based on their experience with the older firmware. We will know how popular the BBM application is only when it has been released and we get to see download figures for the app on both the Android and iOS platforms.

There have been suggestions that it would be a good idea for BlackBerry to charge a token price for the BBM app as it would likely see the company raise considerable amounts of cash. The release of the BBM app for Android and iOS is obviously getting closer as invites to some users were recently sent out to test the application beta.

Do you think that BlackBerry’s reputation will serve them well with the release of BBM for Android and iOS and will you be installing it?

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie Makes Way For 4.4 KitKat

For some months now the next major iteration of Google’s Android operating system has been dubbed Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. There has just been surprising news though, as in this instance much of the tech world has got it wrong. Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is now making way for 4.4 KitKat instead.

At present Android 4.3 is the latest OS version on the platform, and it’s currently rolling out to various devices. Android 5.0 KLP had been tipped to release in fall and the highly anticipated upcoming Nexus 5 smartphone looked likely to be the first device that would launch running it.

Many readers will already know that traditionally Google’s Android versions are dubbed with sweet nicknames. For example the last few versions were Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and the current Jelly Bean. Key Lime Pie was virtually already accepted as being the next name, but a real curve ball has now been thrown.

Android 4.4 KitKat will also be the first version to be commercially tied to a particular confectionary product, and KitKat has now released an amusing ad regarding this, pulled off in the tech style. You can see the ad below this story, and the company will also add the Android logo to 50 million KitKat bars.

Android Head Sundar Pichai announced the new name via Google+, and if that wasn’t enough for you a KitKat statue has now joined the previous Android statues outside Google HQ. Nestléhas also made an announcement. So far though, no actual details about 4.4 KitKat have been revealed, and that of course is what everybody would like to hear about.

The name reveal certainly suggests that Android 4.4 KitKat will be here soon, and this will reassure those waiting for the Nexus 5 as that is now likely to be run KitKat 4.4. Of course, we’ll bring readers more news on Android KitKat as we hear it.

Are you surprised at this new development? Do you like the sound of the Android 4.4 KitKat name? We’d also like to hear what you think about Google tying the platform name to a market product? Let us know by sending your comments.

Two CyanogenMod Security Features Android 4.3 Needs!

If you are reading this, you probably know what CyanogenMod is. In case you don’t, here’s the official description.

CyanogenMod (pronounced sigh-AN-oh-jen-mod), is a customized, aftermarket firmware distribution for several Android devices. Based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), CyanogenMod is designed to increase performance and reliability over Android-based ROMs released by vendors and carriers such as Google, T-Mobile, HTC, etc. CyanogenMod also offers a variety of features & enhancements that are not currently found in these versions of Android.

In other words, CyanogenMod is the answer to any question that begins with, “what can I do to make my Android phone truly different?”

CyanogenMod might not be everyone’s choice of ROM, but it’s unquestionably one of the most important. In my opinion CyanogenMod is to the custom community what the AOSP is to Android. It’s the platform that gives developers more tools and functionality to improve their own projects and ROMs. Over the last couple of weeks, a couple of Android “vulnerabilities” have come to light, and as if by divine intervention, the CyanogenMod team were already looking at improving the security for their users by introducing two new features, Secure Messaging and Privacy Guard.

PushSMS

During an interview with Geek.com, Koushik Dutta (the man behind ClockworkMod recovery) decided that Android needs a more secure messaging solution, something more along the lines of iMessage, as opposed to a third-party app like WhatsApp. And that is exactly what he has started developing. The additional bonus of an all-encompassing messaging solution is that PushSMS integrates Google Voice SMS as well. Yes, you remember correctly, that is what everyone thought the Hangouts update would bring to stock Android, but as with “swipe to clear” notifications, CyanogenMod has pipped the Big G once again.

If you fancy having a go with PushSMS all you need to do is download a CM nightly posted after 1 July 2013. Or if you’re brave enough, you can grab the files directly from GitHub. The app will eventually be a standalone app downloadable via the Play Store for everyone to use, which as far as I can tell would be the first official CyanogenMod app to make its way from the ROMs to the mainstream Android user on the Play Store. Very exciting.

Privacy Guard

This, however, is the big one for me. Privacy is a massive talking point at the moment in the tech world, and I am very impressed that CyanogenMod has taken the safety and security of its users’ data this seriously. What has been incorporated into the nightly ROMs is Privacy Guard and its sole function is to deny apps (of your choosing) access to your personal information. So say you want to use the Facebook app, but you don’t want to give Mark Zuckerberg all of your information, CyanogenMod has made it as easy as opening the Privacy Guard, selecting Facebook and voila, now Facebook has effectively been sandboxed and your information can’t be transmitted back to their servers.

User privacy and control of information is of paramount importance, perhaps even more so at the moment than it has ever been. Well to me it is, but only because our information is scattered more widely across the internet. We’re signed up to more services, and by using native apps on your smartphone, you open all of those services up to previously unreachable information. Think your friends, their contact details, addresses, etc. I love that the custom Android world is pushing the boundaries of user privacy, without making it complicated, meaning that it would be easy for anyone to pick up and use.

Hopefully these kinds of services will be announced as part of Android 4.3, but if they aren’t at least you know that CyanogenMod has you covered. I know I’ve written posts about why custom ROMs aren’t really necessary anymore but with developments like these, I may have to eat my words sooner rather than later.

Top iPhone And Android Apps For Stargazing The Orionids Meteor Shower

On Oct. 21, the Orionids meteor shower will reach a crescendo, delivering as many as 20 shooting stars an hour.

Stargazers need only look toward the "club" in the Orion constellation. Not quite sure where that is? Your smart phone can point the way.

Here are four astronomy applications that help make sense of the night sky.

Star Walk: Hold your phone toward the heavens and this $2.99 app will show you exactly which stars hang overhead. As you turn, the image spins with you, revealing constellations, planets, comets, and satellites in every direction. The team at Vito Technology has continuously improved this iPhone and iPad app. The current version lets you search for specific objects, double-tap to reveal detailed information, and turn back the clock to see the position of stars hours or centuries in the past.

Google offers a free equivalent for Android devices called Sky Map.

Starmap: This $4.99 astronomy app digs deeper. Its "tonight" news feed points out the most notable features each day. You can narrow the selection to certain hours of the day; what celestial bodies interest you; or whether you'll be stargazing with binoculars, a telescope, or just the naked eye. Starmap works on iPhone and iPad.

Hubble Top 100: The European Southern Observatory has collected a gorgeous gallery of images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. This iPad-only app takes full advantage of the tablet's bright, high-resolution screen. Colors and details really pop in this free app. While there's no clear Android counterpart, you can always check out spacetelescope.org for the ESO's full gallery.

Spot the Station: The International Space Station is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon. On a clear night, it glistens like a shooting star. Spot the Station will send you a text message when the ISS flies over your town, giving you a chance to catch it with your naked eye or make out some details with a pair of binoculars. Head to spotthestation.nasa.gov to sign up for the free service. Text message rates still apply.

Android Apps – Try before you Buy

But what happens if the app is expensive and you are not sure whether it will be of actual use to you. Our mentality while buying expensive items is always that we need to see the product functional before our eyes so that we can make an informed decision about whether or not we should buy the item. That is just how customers think when it comes to investing money into expensive products or items. So apps can be very expensive and can cost almost 200 U.S Dollars per app.

 

 

Amazon

This problem does not arise in the Amazon app store. Amazon Appstore is the app store for all amazon smartphones and tablets that run on Android operating system. The amazon appstore gives the option of trying the app before buying it. All the paid apps on amazon appstore can be first tested by the customers who have amazon android devices and then buy the apps if they feel that the apps will be beneficial for them or if they like the app.

Other Android Devices

The Google Play which is the appstore for Android by Google does not have the option to test the devices. So there is no way for the customer to know whether the app is actually useful for him or her before buying. To buy the expensive apps customers might get a little apprehensive before trying out the apps themselves.
There is a way however to avoid this problem. If the following steps are followed one can test apps on Google Play also without spending the money. First step, go to the Google Android market from your device. Next step is to reach the paid app that you want on Google play. Then install the app and test it for a few minutes. If you do not want the app after testing you just ask for a refund. To ask for a refund go back to the Google Android Market and to “My Apps”. There will be a list of the apps you have installed. The app which you have just installed will have a refund button. Once you click on it, there will be a question asked as to why you want a refund. Next step is to select “I’d rather not say” option. The refund process will start and you will be refunded your money in a few minutes and the app will be uninstalled.
Trying the app before buying is always beneficial as it helps you save money that you would spend on apps without checking them out beforehand.