Android apps twice as stable as iOS ones, study shows

The latest report coming out of mobile app management company Crittercism indicates that in looking at app behavior recent versions of the two most popular mobile OSs, Android and iOS, it’s the Google OS that’s actually the more stable one.

The study is done by measuring the crash rate of app across both platforms, which Crittercism has published in its first ever Mobile Experience Benchmark.
The report, which studied crash reports from 1 billion mobile users over a one month period, heartily dismisses the stigma that iOS apps are the most stable. While iOS 6, 7.0, and 7.1 saw a crash-rate of apps of 2.5%, 2.1%, and 1.7% of the time, respectively, Android versions performed better across the board, going back to Android 2.3 with a 1.7% crash rate, and all versions since 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich had just 0.7% crash rates.
Crittercism says that tablet versions of apps tend to be less stable than their smartphone counterparts, an area where Android developers are lagging behind iOS ones. This means that Android should see even more of an improvement as more developers optimize their apps for tablet usage.
When it comes to actual devices, Samsung droids had the lowest crash rates among both tablets and smartphones, while the iPhone 5 surprisingly beat out the iPhone 5s as the more stable device.
Source | Via

Benchmark-boosting High Performance Mode officially confirmed in HTC One (M8)

HTC officially confirmed that the One (M8) features benchmark score-boosting High Performance Mode. The word arrived hot on the heels of yesterday’s story about the inflated AnTuTu scores of the Android flagship.

In a response to an inquiry made by CNET, HTC confirmed that its engineers optimize the device to produce the highest possible performance in certain scenarios, including benchmark tests. The Taiwanese manufacturer however, does not consider such tweaks as cheating, as, it views that benchmark tests are designed to show the maximum performance of a chipset.
HTC went on to confirm that the M8 features dedicated High Performance Mode which can be switched on and off in the device’s developer settings. The function is not yet available on US devices, though it will arrive via a future software update.

Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air review

The FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air sits on top of Logitech’s range of cases designed for Apple’s slate. The cover combines a Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard and magnetic cover in a lightweight, solidly-built package.

Founded in Apples, Switzerland more than thirty years ago, Logitech is a leader on the market for computer peripherals and mobile accessories. The company’s products are synonymous with superior design and ergonomics, so I have nothing but high expectations towards its iPad Air case.
Design and build quality
The design of the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for the iPad Air is dictated by the pursuit of durability and ergonomics. That considered, the cover looks ready for business, and almost completely free of unnecessary visual flares.


The cover looks understated
The FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is available in three color schemes – black/light gray, orange/light gray and dark gray/yellow. The black/light gray version I got to spend time with is undeniably the most serious looking from the bunch.
Build quality of the cover is in line with Logitech’s usual standards. The FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is made of water-repellant, soft-touch material which is ideal for handling heavy use without hiccups. Logitech also backs its offering with a rarely-seen, full two-year warranty – a major plus in my book.
The cover does a flawless job of keeping the iPad Air intact during an accidental drop, as it extends around all edges of the slate. Powerful magnets keep the case from opening by accident, while a duo of proprietary corner clips keep the slate firmly in its place.
Ergonomics
The Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for the iPad Air offers easy access to the tablet’s buttons and ports in both tablet-only and keyboard mode. It also allows you to enjoy the superb tactility of the iPad Air by partially exposing its edges.
The full QWERTY of the cover is one of the best around. It offers perfectly-spaced, full-sized membrane scissor type keys with iOS shortcuts and good tactile feel. It requires practically no time to get used to. To top things off, its buttons are sealed and splash proof to protect it from accidents, as well as allow you to easily clean it.

The full QWERTY is really good
There is only one viewing angle which the case offers in keyboard mode. More options would have been welcome, though I didn’t find their lack to be a dealbreaker.
The keyboard folds below the display in tablet-only mode. Thanks to the magnet functionality, you can use the case as a regular smart cover when desired – the keyboard doesn’t activate unless docked to the tablet.

The cover in tablet-only mode
Logitech claims that the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio offers up to three months of battery life on a single charge. Charging takes place via a supplied microUSB cable.
Wrap up
Solidly-built, feature-packed, and ready to handle just about everything life throws at it – the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is one of the best QWERTY-equipped covers available for iPad Air at the moment.
The case isn’t the prettiest one around, but more than makes up for it with its superior ergonomics and splash-proof construction. It is better equipped for heavy use than any of its rivals.
The FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air is priced at $149.99. You can pick one up in Logitech’s online store over here.

Have you ever used a free application in Android, and then found yourself clicking on an ad in the app, even though you could have sworn you never touched the foul pop-up?

Well that’s because there are some applications that give you the illusion of choice when it comes to not selecting an ad; they register any press on the screen as an ad-click. Google wants to put an end to that and other tricky in-app add practices.
Google has laid out some new rules for Google Play applications that specifically call out this kind of application behavior. They are also laying the smack down on “promotion or install tactics” by halting undesired downloads, redirects to the Google Play store, and unsolicited SMS advertisements.
Also banned from the Play store under the new guidelines are advertisements that use “erotic content” to promote porn. Google has also called for more clearly defined behaviors as to when and how developers use their in-app purchases.
Developers who are not compliant with Google’s new rules have 15 days to clean up their acts, or else Google will pull their guilty applications from the Play Store. Do you think that there is anything Google can do to make a significant dent in the number of shady applications on the Play Store? Or do you think it’s a losing battle? Sound off in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 official photos leak

Thanks to evleaks we can take a first glimpse at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0. Samsung’s fourth-generation 7″ tablet sports a look similar to the Galaxy Note 3. It sports the classic three button configuration under the display, too.

As with the previous Galaxy Tab 7.0 slates, the latest one is going to have a SIM-card slot enabling users to make calls. If you feel like it, you will be able to use the earpiece above the display. In addition, the Power/Lock and volume rocker keys are on the right hand side.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Samsung has given the Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 a faux-leather back as it did with its most recent tablets – the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.1 and Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1. In terms of specs, we have a solid idea what the tablet will be like thanks to a previous leak.


The Galaxy Tab 4 7.0′s display is said to have WXGA resolution (1280 x 800 pixels), 1.2GHz quad-core CPU (unknown architecture at this point) ,1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and run Android 4.4 KitKat. At the back, there’s a modest 3MP snapper, while a 1.3MP front-facer takes care of video-calls.
The tablet weighs 320 grams and measures 106 x 187 x 8.9mm, which is 1mm thinner than the previous generation. Below the battery cover lies a 4,450mAh battery. Judging by the date on the display, the Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 will go official on April 24. Pricing and launch date aren’t available at this time.

Twitter introduces photo tagging and multiple image upload

Taking a page from Facebook (pun definitely intended), Twitter has added two new features to its service regarding the way you upload and share features. Now you can tag people in photos and also upload up to four at once.

Before, you had to manually add usernames in a tweet to tag people, which took up precious characters (some of which were already taken by the photo). Now, you can tag up to 10 people in a photo without using any additional characters for the usernames, leaving more room for your tweet. You can also choose who can tag you in a tweet from the Settings.

Secondly, you can now also upload more than one photo at a time, which was so far impossible on Twitter unless you used a third party image uploading service and added links manually. Now, you can choose up to four photos at a time to add to your tweet.
The feature currently is available only on the iPhone and will be available soon for Android and other platforms. Even on the iPhone, the feature may not be available immediately after downloading the update, so you’ll have to wait for some time for it to roll out in your region.

Samsung unveils LED Smart Bulb that works over Bluetooth

Not to stay too far behind its domestic rival LG, today Samsung unveiled a smart LED bulb of its own. It’s called simply “Smart Bulb” and unlike most of the competition, it’s utilizes Bluetooth in order to connect to smartphones and tablets.

Samsung says you can control up to 64 bulbs via the dedicated app without any additional equipment or set-up. The bulbs can be dimmed down to 10% and lasts up to 15,000 hours or 10 years if used normally.
Home automation is possible if you use a ZigBee Bluetooth hub, but Samsung doesn’t seem to be including it in the bulb’s package. The Smart Bulb has already been awarded a Design Plus award by iF Design, which is noteworthy if you care about the design of your bulbs.
Pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed. We hope going for Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi will allow Samsung to place its Smart Bulb below the $32 threshold established by LG’s Smart Lamp.

Vox populi: HTC One (M8) vs Galaxy S5, Xperia Z2 and One (M7)

Earlier this week, we asked you what you thought about the new HTC One (M8) flagship, which was announced by the Taiwanese company on Tuesday. First, we had it face the former HTC One flagship, to see whether the company did enough to warrant getting an upgrade. Then, we put it head-to-head against other upcoming flagships, to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Well, you have spoken! Let’s take a look at how you rated the new One against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2.
First up, how much of an improvement is HTC’s new flagship over the previous model? Well, over 70% of you voted overwhelmingly that the new HTC One (M8) is a worthy improvement over its predecessor.

What about the competition? Although it doesn’t have a the same advanced shooter, fingerprint sensor or heart rate monitor, the HTC One handily outclasses the Samsung Galaxy S5. Whether it’s the metal chassis or the Duo camera the new One came out victorious by nearly two thirds of all votes.


Finally, the Sony Xperia Z2 also features a premium design, and is a marked improvement over its predecessor in almost every aspect. But is it enough to beat the M8? Yes – although it’s not as much of a landslide as the Galaxy S5 vote was, the Z2 is clearly your favorite winning just over 60% of the votes against the M8.

Well, it appears that the hierarchy is in place, although that may change once these devices get into consumers’ hands. HTC promises its largest smartphone release yet to over 230 carriers across the globe. We’ll see how it fares sales-wise in the coming quarters.

Microsoft Office for iPad is now is now available in the App Store

After months of rumors and speculation, Microsoft Office for iPad got officially released. The productivity suite is available in the App Store as three separate apps – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

As initially expected, editing documents on an Apple iPad with the new app will require Microsoft Office 365 subscription. Users with no subscription will only be able to view documents via the productivity suite.
Microsoft released a promo video to mark the release of the new app. Check it out below.

Android 2014 all-star showdown: HTC One (M8) vs Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Sony Xperia Z2

Today marked the unveiling of another of this year’s anticipated smartphone flagship announcements, the HTC One (M8). At today’s launch, HTC hailed the device as their best smartphone ever, and it’s truly a beauty to behold with its full metal chassis and slick design. But does it have what it takes to hold its own against the other upcoming flagship-grade competition?

The new HTC M8 sports a quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset running at 2.3 GHz, with Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM. This is very similar to what powers the Xperia Z2, except the Sony device has an additional 1GB of RAM. The Galaxy S5 also runs on a Snapdragon 801 chip, but is clocked higher than both devices at 2.5 GHz.
We’ve broken down each device to give you a side-by-side look at all of the specs. Which one do you think is the better flagship? Vote below and let us know what you think in the comments.

	HTC One (M8)	Samsung Galaxy S5	Sony Xperia Z2
OS	Android 4.4.2 KitKat	Android 4.4.2 KitKat	Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Display	5.0" Super LCD3	5.1″ Super AMOLED FHD	5.2″ IPS LCD Triluminos display
Resolution	1920 x 1080px (441 ppi)	1920 x 1080px (431 ppi)	1920 x 1080px (424 ppi)
Height Width Thickness	146.4 mm 70.6 mm 9.4 mm	142.0 mm  72.5 mm  8.1 mm	146.8 mm 73.3 mm 8.2 mm
Weight	160 grams	145 grams	158 grams
Processor	Snapdragon 801 chipset Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400	Snapdragon 801 chipset Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400	Snapdragon 801 chipset Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 330	Adreno 330
RAM	2GB	2GB	3GB
Storage	16GB/32GB	16/32GB	16GB
microSD card slot	Yes, up to 128GB	Yes, up to 128GB	Yes, up to 64GB
Primary camera	Dual 4 MP, 2688х1520 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, automatic simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama	16 MP, 5312 x 2988 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, HDR; 2160p video recording at 30fps	20.7 MP, 5248×3936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, image stabliziation, 2160p@30fps, HDR, video stabilization Simultaneous HD video and image recording
Front camera	5 MP 1080p@30fps	2.1 MP 1080p@30fps	2.2MP 1080p@30fps
Battery	Li-Po 2600 mAh	Li-Ion 2800 mAh	Li-Ion 3200 mAh
Battery life	Standby: 496 hours 3G talk:20 hours	Standby: 390 hours 3G talk: 21 hours	Standby: 370 hours 3G talk: 17 hours
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	Yes, v4.0 LE with A2DP	Yes, v4.0 LE with A2DP	Yes, v4.0 LE with A2DP, EDR
Network	Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad-band UMTS/HSPA LTE support, LTE-Advanced	Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad-band UMTS/HSPA LTE support, LTE-Advanced	Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE Penta-band UMTS/HSPA LTE support, LTE Advaced
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speakers	Stereo	Mono	Stereo
Distinctive features	• Dual UltraPixel cameras • Aluminum body design • Front-facing dual speakers	• Fingerprint sensor • Heart Rate monitor • IP67 water and dust resistant	• IP58 certified – dust proof and water resistant over 1 meter and 30 minutes
Availability	Currently available in select markets	April, 2014	March, 2014

Now it’s your turn to pick your sides:

Take a look at the HTC One (M8) accessories

The new HTC One (M8) flagship has just gone official – if you’ve already taken a look at our quick hands-on impressions of the device here, join us as we go more in-depth regarding the new accessories that come with the device.

These include three cool cases, a car kit, keychain locator, BoomBass speaker, external battery bar, and an HTC Mini+ remote that lets you take calls and trigger the phone’s camera.
Protection for the HTC One (M8) includes the HTC Dot View, Flip, and Double Dip cases. The Flip Case lets you protect both sides of the smartphone, and also toggles the screen on/off when the flap is opened.


The Double Dip case lets you play around with various color combinations, by mixing and matching the top and bottom sections of the case.

Finally, we were able to get our hands on the Dot View vase, which displays various notifications through small holes in the front cover, simultaneously letting you protect the screen and see notifications.

Moving on, we have the HTC Car Kit, that lets you mount the phone onto your car’s dashboard to use for navigation and such. A similar accessory exists for the original HTC One, that connected via pogo pins, while here it connects to the phone’s USB port.

HTC Fetch is another straightforward accessory that attaches to your keychain and lets you quickly locate your device, and both will sound an alarm if they are more than 15 meters apart.

The HTC Mini+ pairs with the One and is a miniature smartphone in its own right. It lets you get calls and notifications, and even take calls while using your phone for something else. It also doubles as a remote control and has a built-in laser pointer for presentations and such.

The HTC BoomBass speaker and Battery Bar both let you extend the functionality of the HTC One (M8). The first is a compact Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a smartphone stand. It pairs via NFC and has a 1,200mAh battery that lasts for up to 6 hours. The Battery Bar provides up to three full charges to the One thanks to its 9000mAh capacity, and even supports 2A fast charging.


Speaking of fast charging, the HTC One is rated to support Quick Charge 2.0 capable of accepting up to 60 watts of power – an increase of almost 100% compared to phones with Quick Charge 1.0. The 1.5amp charger bundled with the HTC One (M8), however, does not support Quick Charge 2.0. HTC is planning on releasing an optional 1.67amp charger accessory that will come with the technology later this year.
For more on the HTC One (M8), check out our detailed first impressions, and be sure to stay tuned for our imminent review!

NSA bulk data collection may come to an end

President Obama is proposing a bill that will end the NSA’s current cell phone monitoring methods: namely bulk data collection.

This means that the NSA will no longer be able to have access to all people’s cell phone and call records at all times. The new bill propose a whole new slew of regulations.
User call and text data would be safeguarded by cell phone companies, and they wouldn’t be forced to hold onto the records for extended periods of time so the NSA can have access to it later. The only way the NSA can access user data is unless there was hard evidence that a user’s call had terrorist links.
The bill comes a little over a month after President Obama gave a speech on NSA reformation, which promised three significant changes in the way the NSA collects data: that personal user data would not be stored indefinitely, that all data gathered must be pertinent to a current investigation, and that user metadata would be taken out of NSA hands.
Although this new bill will make good on these promises, there are still some other current NSA bulk data-gathering practices that aren’t addressed.
For example, the CIA can still get their hands on money transfer records, personal user web data, and hack into Google and Yahoo networks carte blanche.
But some progress is better than none, right?

Mozilla gets new CEO, wants to focus on mobile

Mozilla’s getting a new CEO: Brendan Eich.

He’s replacing Gary Kovacs, who announced that he would be stepping down about a year ago. Hit the jump to find out what Eich’s vision for Mozilla is, now that he’s calling the shots.
Eich knows the Mozilla brand, or at least he should, because he’s been with the Firefox browser from the very beginning. He helped to catapult Firefox into web-browser prominence and set the groundwork for Firefox OS. He also pioneered Javascript in 1995 when he worked for Netscape as a developer, so his development roots run deep.


Eich’s got two goals for Mozilla: making Firefox OS a success, and getting more people to use the Firefox browser on their mobile devices. To assist with this, he’s appointed Li Gong as Mozilla’s new COO. Gong has been a major player in the development of Mozilla’s mobile OS, so this move doesn’t come as too big of a surprise.
Anyone excited to see what tricks Mozilla has up their sleeve? With Eich at the helm, do you think that the Firefox OS has a chance? Let us know in the comments!

Google Now Launcher from Nexus 5 now available for other Nexus devices

One of the features that was exclusive to the Nexus 5 so far was the Google Now Launcher, that allowed you to go to the Google Now screen just by a swipe on the homescreen and to bring up the voice search simply by saying “Ok Google”.

Google has now released the Google Now Launcher on the Play Store and made it compatible with a wider range of devices, For now this includes only the Nexus devices and the Play Edition devices. Which means you can officially install it on the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 10, Galaxy S4 GPe, HTC One GPe, Moto G GPe, Xperia Z Ultra GPe and the LG G Pad 8.3 GPe.
The launcher is identical to the one on the Nexus 5, so other than the aforementioned two features you also get things like bigger icons and widget menu that was moved to press and hold on the homescreen instead of a separate tab in the app drawer. You still won’t get transparency effects on the Nexus 10, however.
You can download the Google Now Launcher from the link below if you have one of the supported devices.

Futuremark relists Samsung Galaxy S4, Note 3 after company fixes benchmark boosting issue

After Samsung’s recent benchmark boosting situation came to light, a lot was talked about how it made the process of benchmarking devices and comparing scores with other handsets irrelevant. But out of all the benchmark software developers out there, Futuremark, developers of 3DMark, were the only ones who delisted the offending Samsung devices from their benchmark scores to keep things fair.

However, in the latest Android 4.4.2 update issued to the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3, Samsung removed the code that allowed the benchmarking apps to run faster than any other normal app on the device. Following this decision, Futuremark has decided to relist the Samsung devices that are running the latest update.
It’s unclear how much hand Futuremark had in changing Samsung’s opinion on these tactics; for all we know, it could be all the negative publicity that the company received in the days following the exposé but either way, it’s good that Samsung corrected its ways.

Minor update for Facebook Beta on Windows Phone is out

The Facebook Beta app for Windows Phone devices has received a slight update bringing it to version v5.2.4.1. The release brings some bug fixes and minor changes.

The company hasn’t specified what are the exact fixes, but we are sure they killed a bug or two. As WMPoweruser reports, many users have been complaining to bugs related to photos in the app.
Microsoft released v5.2 of the app back in May. Then, the Facebook Beta app for WP received a major visual overhaul and a plethora of new features bringing the experience closer to that of the social network’s website.
In case you want to check the update out, follow the source link below.