Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is uses on just 1.5 percent of devices

Google has revealed the state of Android fragmentation this month and reported that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is now available on almost half of Android devices, although the latest iteration has yet to make its mark.

Google's updated Android dashboard figures show that Android Jelly Bean versions 4.1.x, 4.2.x and 4.3 are now on 48.6 percent of Android devices worldwide in total. This is up 3.5 percent compared to September's statistics, and reflects a rise of over eight percent compared to Google's August numbers.

However, while this paint a fairly positive picture of the Android ecosystem, Google's figures also reveal that just 1.5 percent of devices are running the latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean version.

It's also worth pointing out that there have been more iterations of Android Jelly Bean than any previous version of the mobile operating system, which has helped to push up the percentage of devices running it.

Unsurprisingly, Android 2.3.x Gingerbread is still the second most common version of Google's mobile operating system, running on 28.5 percent of devices. This is followed by Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich, which still has a 20.6 percent share. Android 2.2 Froyo and Android 3.0 Honeycomb still account for 2.2 percent and 0.1 percent of Android devices worldwide, respectively.

These numbers don't show the whole picture however, as Google only counts devices that have accessed Google Play during the month, rather than attempting to detect and analyse all of the one billion plus Android devices that exist.

It's likely that a new version, Android 4.4 Kitkat, will be added to the mix soon, with rumours claiming that Google's next mobile operating system release will appear later this month.

How to Reset Your Android Phone

Sometimes, you and your Android phone just don't get along: You want to watch a video and it won't stop pinging you with notifications. You have hundreds of apps installed on your phone and trying to figure out which one is incessantly bothering you would take too much time. In these situations, the scorched-Earth method works best—provided you don't mind losing all your personal data.

To reset your Android phone back to its pristine, fresh-from-the-factory state, simply head on over to your phone's Settings app and look for the Backup and Restore menu. Tap on it, and you should see an option labeled Factory data reset. Selecting this option will pop up a window asking you to confirm your selection.

At this point, note that if you choose to proceed, you'll lose all data on your phone, including your apps, photos, music, and any contacts that aren't backed up to Gmail's servers. If you're okay with starting over, hit the reset phone button and your phone will begin the process of resetting itself.

Resetting your phone can take anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on how much stuff you had on it. Some phones won't let you reset them unless you have over a certain percentage of battery, so it's best to perform this operation while the phone is plugged in and charging. Once the phone is done purging itself of all your data and apps, you're phone will be just like new—software-wise, anyway—and you'll be prompted to go through the setup process once more.

iPhone 5S vs Samsung Galaxy S4 specs comparison

APPLE AND SAMSUNG have been fighting for the number one best-selling smartphone title for years. In the past, Apple's latest iPhone has traditionally won the yearly grudge match. However, since the death of iconic Apple founder Steve Jobs, Apple's lead on Samsung has gradually waned, with each new top-end Galaxy smartphone boasting increasingly higher sales.

For this reason, prior to its unveiling many industry commentators had begun to quietly predict that the iPhone 5S might become the first ever Apple smartphone not to beat Samsung's flagship handset in head to head sales.

Now with the iPhone 5S and its specifications revealed, it's too still early to know the final outcome in 2013's Apple vs Samsung battle, but the two smartphones' specifications suggest that the fight might be the most heated to date.


Measurements and Weight
iPhone 5S: 124x59x7.6mm, 112g
Samsung Galaxy S4: 137x70x7.9mm, 130g

The Apple iPhone 5S design looks pretty much the same as that of the iPhone 5, but it comes with multiple colour options. This means, as before, that the iPhone 5S is significantly lighter and smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S4, so it will likely be a more popular choice for smaller-handed people.

Display

iPhone 5S: 4in 1136x640, 326ppi Retina display

Samsung Galaxy S4: 5in full HD super Amoled 1920x1080 display, 441ppi

The Apple iPhone 5S has a 4in Retina display. Back in the day, when Apple first rolled out the Retina display technology, it was a big selling point for Apple devices, making the screens the sharpest and crispest ever seen on smartphones or tablets.

However a few years on, while still great, Apple's Retina displays are no longer the best on the market and a few smartphones have been released boasting better screens.

Running the Galaxy S4 head to head with the iPhone 5S' predecessor, the iPhone 5, we found Samsung's flagship had a superior screen, with its 441ppi full HD display being one of the best we've ever used.

Processor

iPhone 5S: Apple A7 processor

Samsung Galaxy S4: Quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor

Apple made a big deal about its new A7 processor, claiming that it is the world's first 64-bit mobile chip and will make the iPhone 5S one of the fastest smartphones in the word, offering 40-times better CPU performance than the iPhone 5. However, as always, Apple declined to disclose the speed of its A7 processor, making it difficult to know how it will compare to the quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 powered Galaxy S4 in real-world performance.

Battery

iPhone 5S: 10 hours' 3G talk time, unspecified lithium-ion battery

Samsung Galaxy S4: 17 hours' 3G general use, 2,600mAh lithium-ion battery

Battery life is an issue for most smartphones in the present market. This remained true on the Galaxy S4, which, despite being listed as lasting “up to 17 hours” on 3G on one charge, generally needed a top-up after a regular day’s use, with an average life of about six hours when battery was in use. This means that if the unspecified battery used in the iPhone 5S lives up to Apple’s claim of 10-hour 3G talk time it should easily outlast the Galaxy S4. However, we’ll only know this for sure when we’ve had a chance to actually test the battery on the iPhone 5S.

Camera

iPhone 5S: 8MP rear, 1.2MP front

Samsung Galaxy S4: 13MP rear, 2MP front

While the iPhone 5S camera looks lower specified, as any camera expert will tell you, it's not just about the megapixel count. Because of this, while it doesn't capture as many pixels, the Apple iPhone 5S might prove better at taking photos, because it boasts custom technology designed to capture bigger pixels, meaning that, like the HTC One, it should be better than average at taking photos in low light.

Storage

iPhone 5S: 16/32/64GB storage, no microSD card slot, 2GB of RAM 

Samsung Galaxy S4: 16/32/64GB storage, microSD card slot up to 64GB, 2GB of RAM

Both devices are available with multiple storage options, however the Galaxy S4 comes with a microSD card slot, meaning that buyers who can't afford the upfront cost of the 64GB model can add to the phone's storage at a later date.

Overall

On paper both the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4 are good smartphones and both have definite enterprise appeal. Once we've had time to thoroughly put the two head to head in an in-depth, hands-on comparison review, we'll make a call on which is the best business smartphone.

* The iPhone 5S is set for release on 20 September.

Asus Transformer Book "Trio" combines both Windows 8 & Android

Trio combine the versatility of a keyboard for comfortable typing with the portability of a tablet for quick access, it also combines the power of Windows 8 with the simplicity of Android.

Hardware
Where many hybrid laptops consist of a tablet that attaches to what is effectively a dumb keyboard, the Trio has brains in both parts. So when the 11.6-inch, 1080p screen is detached and you wander off to use it as a tablet, the keyboard can be plugged into a monitor via Mini DisplayPort or Micro-HDMI, and someone else can use it as a desktop computer.

It's powered by a fourth-generation Intel Core processor -- up to i7 -- in the keyboard, with a separate dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2760 processor in the screen. The keyboard/PC station packs 4GB of DDR3 RAM with up to a 1TB hard drive, and the tablet/screen boasts 2GB of LP DDR2 RAM with a choice of 16, 32, or 64GB of storage.

The keyboardy bit offers 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and the tablety bit does 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. There's a separate battery in each half of the Trio, so not only can each part work on its own -- for up to 13 hours as Android and 5 hours as Windows 8 -- but when you bring them together one can provide a life-giving transfusion of power to the other.

Also in the tablet is a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus that shoots 1080p video, and a Webcam facing forward that shoots 720p high-definition video chat.

All this power doesn't come light. The keyboard dock measures 13.4mm thick and weighs 1kg, while the tablet is 9.7mm thick and weighs 700g. Overall it's a hefty package, but then the whole point is that you don't have to carry the whole thing around.

Software
The Trio offers the choice of Windows 8 or Android 4.2 Jelly Bean when docked. The screen only runs Android when it's detached, but when they're together or when the keyboard is plugged into a monitor, it runs Windows 8. To switch between them, press a little button next to the F12 function key on the top row of the keyboard. Switching can be instant, but can take a moment or two to go from one to the other. Even with a briefly blank screen, it's still pretty clever.

Why do you want both types of operating system available? As with the screen and keyboard, it's all about power versus portability. Windows 8 allows you to install almost any software you can think of when you have something intensive to do, while Android offers a simplified touch-screen experience that's easier on the battery, with apps designed to be simple to use when you're out and about.


Another advantage is that if you've invested in plots of Android apps from the Google Play store for your Android phone, you can use them on your Trio, too.

Both types of software are designed to use with a touch screen, so you can use either by tapping, swiping and using several fingers at once on the screen, even when it's docked as a laptop.

Hands on
In person, the Asus Transformer Book Trio is just as impressive as it is on paper. When connected to the dock, it seamlessly switches from Android to Windows 8 with the touch of a button, and responds quickly to swipes and gestures.
As a tablet, it's awkwardly long, but shockingly light. The slate is comfortable to hold -- using both hands of course -- but my outstretched arms made me feel like I was holding a map open instead of a portable electronic device.
The Transformer Book Trio features typical Asus goodies, like its calibration and audio-enhancing software. At full volume the tablet was pretty loud and the audio sounded fuller than most devices.

Performance wise, the Transformer Book Trio was fast as an Android tablet, Android laptop, Windows 8 laptop, and Windows 8 desktop (as an extended monitor). By far its most impressive ability is to seamlessly become three different devices with the choice of two different operating systems.

The Asus Transformer Book Trio is expected to go on sale in October and, according to an Asus representative, it will be "competitively priced." My guess is that the Trio will go on sale for somewhere between $700 to $800.

Reference : Cnet Reviews

Google Drive for iOS

The Google Drive for iOS app has been updated with an all-new look that mimics the card-style layout using across Google+ and the Google Drive for Android app.

The good: Google Drive for iOS offers a sleek interface for accessing, moving, and sharing your stored files. Also, the built-in document editors are easy to use and come with a multitude of formatting tools. Real-time collaboration is a nice feature.

The bad: The app doesn't let you create or edit Drawings or Presentations. There are no sorting or filter options to help sift through files. And an extra password-protect feature would be nice.

The bottom line: An elegant blend of Dropbox-like storage and mobile document editing, Google Drive is a must-have app, especially if you're a dedicated Google user.
An impressively powerful mobile productivity solution, Google Drive for iOS mixes Dropbox-style storage with on-the-go document editing. It lets you access and manipulate files in the cloud and do things like create spreadsheets and view presentations, all from its tightly designed interface. The app even lets you collaborate in real-time with other Drive users with whom you share files. As well, it lets you share links to files, so your friends can download items directly from your Drive.

With a recent update, Google Drive for iOS moved closer in line with other Google-made products. It now features a card-based interface like its sibling on Android, and larger thumbnails are available for quick previews of files. Quite frankly, with its sleek look and powerful features, this revamped app should be installed on every Google user's mobile device.

What many Google users may not know is that every Google account comes with 15GB of free storage space. Of course, this space is used for items saved on your Gmail and Google+ Photos accounts, as well as on your Drive, but still, the deal is a good one that's worth knowing about.

Cloud Storage: Thanks to the included space, you can use Drive to store not only your spreadsheets and text documents, but also any other file types you may want accessible from the cloud. From the app, you can upload photos and videos, and they'll immediately appear in your Drive, ready to be accessed from any of your devices.

Reference : Cnet Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (Review + Specs)

Samsung announced its new Galaxy Note 3 at its Unpacked 2013 event at IFA. The firm said that the Galaxy Note 3 will be released 25 September in more than 140 countries.


Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Image (Official):

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Video Review (Official):

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Specification (Official):

Network 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market) Processor LTE 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor 3G 1.9 GHz Octa Core Processor ( A15 1.9 GHz + A7 1.3 GHz) The selection of AP will be differed by markets. Display 5.7inch (144.3mm) Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) OS Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) Camera Main(Rear): 13 Mega-pixel BSI Sensor, Auto Focus camera with Smart Stabilization, LED Flash(High CRI), and Zero Shutter Lag Sub (Front): 2 Mega-pixel BSI sensor with Smart Stabilization, Full HD recording @30fps Dual Camera: Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call Recording: UHD 30fps, Smooth motion (FHD 60fps), Slow motion (HD 120fps) Camera Mode: Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports, Golf, Surround shot, Live effect Video Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p), UHD (*may differ by market) Audio Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(*), WAV(*) (*) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support S Pen Optimized Features Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window S Note, Multi Window, new Easy Clip, Direct Pen Input Additional Features Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games Story Album, S Translator Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly) Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring Safety Assistance, Samsung Google Mobile Services Chrome, Search, Gmail, Google+, Maps, Play Books Play Movies, Play Music, Play Store, Hangouts Voice Search, YouTube, Google Settings, Play Games, Messenger Connectivity WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) GPS / GLONASS NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.0 (LE) IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0 Sensor Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB Proximity, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Hall Sensor Memory 32/ 64 GB User memory ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB) 3GB RAM Dimension 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, 168g Battery Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh