Cult of Android - page 20

Beat this, Apple! Google conquers El Capitan (on Street View)

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Thanks to iOS and Android, Apple and Google have been locked in a battle with each other for years now.

Which is why it’s all the more ironic that Google would choose to unveil its latest Street View feature by letting users scale Yosemite’s “El Capitan” — the vertical rock formation which just so happens to also be the name of Apple’s next OS X iteration.

5G is up to 20 times faster than LTE and headed right for us

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Having 4G connectivity when you want to stream music or download a game is awesome, but when 5G gets here, your LTE smartphone will feel like dial-up on Windows 95 all over again.

The new standard, which is officially named “IMT-2020,” can reach speeds of up to 20 Gbps, which is 20 times faster than the 4G we have today. With data that fast, you could download a 25GB Ultra HD movie in just 10 seconds.

iPhone 6s fear could make Samsung rush to release Galaxy S7

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Samsung may crank out new smartphone models by the bucket-load, but up until now its flagship Galaxy phones have only arrived at a rate of one generation per year.

That may be about to change, since a new rumor claims that fear of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6s could drive the panicked South Korean tech giant to rush forward its Galaxy S7 — in order to coincide with the expected September launch of Apple’s next-gen handset.

Because rushing products out so as to be able to yell “first” always works out well for you, right Samsung?

Surprise! Rich people still aren’t buying Android phones

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Are you rich? Do you live in one of the world’s richest countries? If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, guess what: you probably don’t have an Android phone.

A new report reveals that Android market share worldwide is almost directly correlated to how rich each market is. The richer the market, the lower the market share for Android. iOS market share is also related to wealth, except it’s polar opposite. So if you’re rich or in a rich country, odds are you own an iPhone instead.

Apps that you can stream is Google’s newest dream

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Downloading apps to your smartphone could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a software streaming service reportedly being developed by Google.

A new report claims the search giant wants to make apps available on-demand without the need to install them locally first — and Google has already acquired the company that could make it happen.

Paris or Bangkok? Holiday searches reveal a lot about iPhone and Android users

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Would you rather have weekends away in Paris and Dubai or Bangkok and Koala Lumpur? According to U.K.-based hotel search tool Trivago, your answer may have a lot to do with whether you’re an iPhone or Android user.

Looking through its searches, as made from both iOS and Android devices, Trivago concludes that iPhone users opt for popular, pricier destinations averaging £113 ($180) per night, while Android users are more likely to seek out cheaper, offbeat destinations with an average price of just £92 ($146).

Samsung’s shameless attempt to be as popular as Apple laughably backfires

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Another day, another Samsung PR error that tries to knock Apple but winds up just making the South Korean tech company look a bit foolish.

This time, Cleveland baseball player Trevor Bauer tweeted out a list of demands, similar to the joke ransom note Tim Cook showed off at the start of last week’s WWDC. As you would expect, the demands this time were for a variety of Samsung products instead of Apple devices.

The problem? The tweet was sent from an iPhone.

Bring Skynet to your smartphone with the Terminator’s Waze directions

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The Terminator may have struggled to find John Connor, but he’ll know exactly where you’re going the next time you need directions behind the wheel.

To celebrate the launch of Terminator Genisys, Arnold Schwarzenegger has lent his voice to Google-owned navigation app Waze, so you can get voice-guided directions from the Terminator wherever you go. Just don’t let him talk you into murdering anyone.

What it’s like to get a cup of coffee with CarPlay and Android

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CarPlay and Android Auto are Apple and Google’s first attempts to slowly invade the automobile, but finding a car that supports them hasn’t been easy the past year. If you’ve been curious what it’s like to drive around with either system, the folks at Consumer Reports put the two systems head-to-head during a morning drive to get coffee.

Each interface has its promises, but the report also highlights a lot of areas that need to be worked on — like how you can’t change your car’s FM radio while using Apple Maps. Unlike your car system though, CarPlay and Android Auto will probably be upgraded every year, giving you new features each year, just like your smartphone

Here’s what it’s like to ride with CarPlay and Android :

Samsung outranks Apple where it really hurts… in the patent department

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In an effort to prevent rivals from stealing its ideas, Apple patents everything it invents — from the iPhone and the iPad, to app icons and even “magic” tactile gloves. But compared to its biggest competitors, Apple’s patent portfolio from 2015 looks surprisingly bare.

Microsoft, Sony, Google, and LG have all outrank Apple in the patent department this year, while arch rival Samsung has absolutely crushed it.

Root mod brings Apple’s Force Touch gesture to Android

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A new Xposed module for rooted devices brings Apple’s new Force Touch gesture to Android-powered smartphones and tablets.

Dubbed Force Touch Detector, the mod offers 7 different force gestures, and users can customize each one to perform different actions, such as opening up the app launcher, expanding the notifications pane, or navigation back to previous pages.

How Google measures up to Apple in all things software

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At its I/O conference last week, Google laid out the roadmaps for its most important platforms. It has already made its way into your pocket, but over the next few years, the search giant hopes to find a place on your wrist and in your home as well.

Things aren’t so straightforward as that, though.

Apple is fighting Google for territory in a variety of areas, with iOS competing with Android, Apple Watch battling Android Wear, and HomeKit trying to beat out Brillo.

But which one has the edge that will help it reign supreme? Here’s how they stack up against each other.