News & Reviews:   Android

A feature that can be replicated by either web services or downloaded apps, Android notifications will soon able to be addressed by Windows users straight from their desktop. Just download the Cortana app, and your notifications will be popping up on your desktop in no time.

If you do not like the presence of ads in the Android apps you download from the Google Play store, the next time you want to download an app, look out in the descriptions. Google recently activated a feature that tells if the app you are downloading comes with ads or not.

Have you ever wished you could turn your smartphone into a laptop? Well, apparently you can do that with Superbook, a laptop shell that transforms your Android smartphone into a working laptop. Just attach your smartphone to the Superbook via an MHL cable that can utilize either the USB Type-C or microUSB port. Superbook itself includes an 11.6-inch LCD screen running at 1366x768 resolution, a battery that can last up to 8 hours, a multi-touch trackpad and a full-size keyboard. 

As we predicted back when the Geeksphone Revolution was first announced, it was only a matter of time before someone else would come up with another dual-OS smartphone that would probably use a mix of Windows Phone and Android. This has proven to come true as Karbonn has just announced that it will be coming out with smartphone that will use the two aforementioned mobile operating systems. The Indian company says that the dual-OS Karbonn device will target office users and techies but there was no mention of other tech specs or features. The device is expected in June 2014 but there is still no specific Malaysia release date or pricing just yet. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted as to any new developments.

While initially Microsoft was rumoured to have approached HTC about loading Windows Phone on Android, it appears that HTC wasn't the only one Microsoft talked to. According to reports, Microsoft have also approached Samsung and Huawei with Windows Phone OS for smartphones and Windows RT for tablet for free as an incentive. They have also supposedly added on compensation for the required adaptation costs. While none of the above parties have really confirmed anything, a rumoured 12.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab which can dual-boot between Windows RT and Android is supposedly on the way. Tech specs for this device include very high pixel resolutions, a super thin plastic chassis made to look like metal (probably a chrome finish) and is supposedly very fast. Most of this info comes from Russion blogger Eldar Murtazin, who has mostly been accurate when it comes to Nokia - Microsoft related rumours. However, he was wrong about Tizen so take this rumour again with a pinch of salt. No Malaysia release dates or pricing just yet though.

Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd has recently launched the EBiz Power Hosting plan targeting SME Users looking to take advantage of the growing boom in mobile and smartphone customers. The new EBiz Power Hosting plan is designed for businesses looking to create robust eCommerce capable online solutions that are secure, easy to manage and affordably priced. It allows users to set up a mobile-ready business domain, run eCommerce using the built-in tools and provide comprehensive IT security of their main Internet site in one shot. Tools and features available to EBiz Power Hosting plan users include:

• GoMobi - for easy Online Website set-up, management and development
• SiteLock - for comprehensive Web security protection measures
• cPanel - for intuitive control panel GUI management dashboard and management interface
• OpenXchange - groupware tool enabling scheduling, tasks, contacts and email management for companies with teams of multiple users
• Attracta SEO - automatic Search Engine Optimization tool for making placing number 1 in major search engines minus the hassle
• SiteBuilder - for manual customization of your online site, portal or solution with this extensive online DIY web design application 

Previously you could only view things on your HDTV from other devices like your computer if it had WiFi and was DLNA compatible. This also meant you had to have a DLNA compatible server, NAS or device to stream from and you'd still have to use the HDTV's remote control and interface to navigate all the media you'd like shown on your big screen. Now, Google have released Chromecast, a rooted Android-based HDMI dongle that plugs into your HDTV and lets you stream media from practically any device that can connect to the Internet.

Combining everything you could need as a Muslim, Muslim Pro is an Android and iOS app designed to keep you in touch with Islam and your faith through your smartphone. With more than 5 million downloads in various Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United Emirates, Turkey and Morocco the app offers many features in one app. These features include:

• Accurate prayer times based on user location
• Worldwide Qibla directions
• Foursquare integration to find Halal restaurants or Mosques
• Built-in Full Audio Quran with translations
• Islamic Hijiri calendar
• and many more...

Celcom and Mobiroo are partnering up to offer Celcom subscribers who are using Android, the ability to download unlimited amounts of paid Android apps to their Android devices (smartphone or tablet) for just RM9.90 per month. This price has been lowered from the standard RM18.80 per month for the initial introduction period. According to Mobiroo, they currently have 750 paid Android apps available for download which you can then share between two devices from a single account. The monthly fee is charged to subscribers monthly postpaid bill or prepaid account.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition and HTC One Google Edition recently went on sale on the US Google Play Store. Both run Android 4.2.2, however, both of them also seem to be carrying new versions of the camera app, some different boot animation and wallpapers. The camera app in particlar enables these features:

• Arc shaped menu
• Ability to use Volume Rocker as dedicated camera button