News & Reviews:   Apps

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

As promised when it was announced recently, the Apple iOS 7 beta 2 is now available to download for developers. Aside from the features announced previously, the new beta enables support for the Apple iPad and iPad mini along with Siri's decidedly better voices and other enhancements. Apart from this not much more has changed except for perhaps a combined iTunes and App Store settings menu, working Voicemail and better UI enhancements. The full version is expected to be released along with the next generation of iOS devices (Apple iPhone 5S, iPad 5, etc.) which may be due in Q3 of 2013.

Smartphone game maker Klab, Inc has made a deal with Microsoft that may soon allow us to play Xbox and Windows PC games (under the Microsoft banner) to be ported over to iOS and Android devices. According to rumours, these games may soon be available for iOS and Android later in 2013. So far the first game scheduled to come from this deal is rumoured to be "Age of Empires" and it is expected to be free to play (or perhaps just the first few levels).

While Windows Phone does have access to Xbox games in general, the selection of titles for the Windows Phone platform is relatviely limited. If this deal does go through well, and there are a whole bunch of things which can go wrong (too difficult to port over, bad port, too much like an emulator etc.) then we can expect even more games from other platforms or brands perhaps making their way to iOS and Android devices in the not so far future. Stay tuned, we'll keep you posted.

The Samsung ATIV Q Hybrid Tablet combines the best of two worlds from two different categories by combining a tablet with an ultrabook and Windows 8 with Android in one single device. Featuring a multi-mode hinge on the keyboard part, the ATIV Q can be used as a tablet, a notebook computer, a touchscreen desktop and a floating display. It is also no slouch in terms of tech specs which include:

• 4th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor
• Intel HD Graphics 4400
• 4GB DDR3L RAM
• 128GB SSD
• Camera (720p HD)
• 13.3-inch Touch display (3200 x 1800 pixels, 275ppi)
• Supports S Pen (1024 levels sensitivity)
• 327.0 x 217.8 x 13.9mm thick | 1.29kg
• Battery (Up to 9 hours)
• Supports 1x USB3.0, 1x USB2.0, HDMI, RJ45 (dongle), HP/Mic combo, micro SD
• Windows 8 + Android

Apple has always been more about their optimized software or operating system than other smartphone or device makers, so it comes as no surprise that the main reveal of WWDC 2013 was iOS 7. Coming with many new features, the new operating system will be available in Q3 (probably around August), for Apple iPhone 5 users. Developers and those with access can download the beta through the developer portal.

Rumours about what Apple is going to do extend even to their upcoming iOS 7 operating system, with many wondering what Apple have up their sleeves this time. With the impending Worldwide Developer Conference this 10 June 2013, we may not have to wait that long, but rumours about iOS 7, the next big version of Apple's mobile operating system are practically buzzing. While quite a few rumours indicate that iOS7 is going for a flatter look, a new bit of information is that the user interface or UI may be going for more black and white elements.

Samsung's Tizen mobile OS smartphones have been rumoured to arrive for quite some time. The Samsung  GT-I8805 Redwood and GT-I8800 Melius were initially estimated to arrive in September but we are now seeing the Samsung Redwood for the first time in leaked images.

While many have dismissed Google Glass as being just another fad, the likelihood of it staying on and growing just got bigger as a number of big names have announced apps (or Glassware as Google wants to call them) for the wearable computer glasses. These include Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, CNN and Evernote covering a range of social media, news and note taking applications. Granted, what you can do with each app is still rather limited but this should grow as the developers mature the apps even further.

Samsung recently released a new feature called SideSync that allows you to work between your Samsung Notebook and Samsung Smartphone through a USB cable. While it does work a lot like Syncing program it offers bit more by allowing you to work seamlessly between your smartphone and computer. This includes the ability to drag and drop text from your notebook computer to your smartphone and vice versa. Type an SMS on your smartphone from the keyboard on your notebook or just use your smartphone like a second display for your notebook computer.

Those looking to make the most of their not-so-smart cars with their smartphones will certainly get a kick from the Kickstarter project called Dash.

Plug The "Dash" into Your Car and Wirelessly Sync Your iPhone to Monitor Your Driving Profile

Consisting of a Bluetooth 4.0 enabled dongle and an iPhone app, the project looks to provide in-Car diagnostics on the fly while you're driving. While it is good to let you know about the small stuff that need replacing, the really cool feature about this is that you can set it so that you'll know when you're driving the most optimal and fuel efficient way possible.