Android 4.2 vs iOS 6 vs Windows Phone 8

Android 4.1, iOS 6, and Windows Phone 8, none of the operating systems were publicly released. Last week Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8 and Google revealed the next incremental. update to Android, version 4.2. Android and Windows Phone 8 have planned mid-November releases in the United States. Google will release Nexus devices with Android 4.2 and Microsoft’s manufacturing partners will release Windows Phone 8. It’s still unknown if people will move to Windows Phone 8 because of the new hardware requirements and the lack of information about Windows Phone 7.8's release.

iOS 6 was released on September 19 and saw rapid adoption, but suffered consumer backlash for Apple Maps and the removal of YouTube. Apple publicly apologized for Apple Maps, but users are still waiting for Google to release a standalone Google Maps app.

The big three are going head to head again with official releases so how do they compare?

Interface

It was interesting to see Microsoft take a jab at Android during their Windows Phone 8launch event. Windows Phone 8 improves on Windows Phone 7 by allowing users to further customize the home screen.

While I applaud Microsoft allowing users this massive level of customization, it’s actually pretty basic. The Live Tile idea makes the interface interesting because allows users to quickly view important information. The Windows Phone 8 interface is just another way to present information, as Android has widgets that do much the same.

As opposed to setting apps on specific grids, Windows Phone 8 is a consistently scrolling set of boxes. How does this apply to the user who prefers a very simple screen with minimal icons? Windows Phone 8 won’t work for them because the interface is focused on providing lots of tiles with information.

Stock Android 4.2 doesn’t change anything visually but include internal improvements. Android still offers an excellent amount of customization while offering an easy to use interface. If you don’t like the stock experience, the Google Play store also features a lot of launchers that can replace the stock one.

iOS 6 changed nothing about its interface, which can be good and bad. If you picked up the new iPhone 5, you were given another row on your screen for more icons or folders. The interface in iOS hasn’t changed much since its release and there isn’t any expected change.

Features

Windows Phone 8 offers a lot of interesting features that are comparable to other operating systems. The ecosystem that Microsoft is trying to present sounds excellent because it bridges Windows Phone 8 users together while allowing non-Windows Phone 8 users to participate. In the launch event, VP Joe Belfiore directly mentioned iPhone users would be able to see shared calendars.

Data Sense is a lot like Android’s Data Usage setting. It monitors how much data is used and adds Wi-Fi hotspot search. Microsoft’s claim that it will compress webpages for more site browsing is only a slight bonus because most data usage comes from apps. It’s nice of Microsoft to condense the amount of data used on mobile browsers, but I can’t see people browsing site to site once app developers release their native apps for Windows Phone.

Kid’s Corner is an interesting addition because it creates a sub-user account for kids on the device. It’s a great way for parents to control the usage of their device, but it's more likely that the majority of users will only have one user.

The Android 4.2 update adds more function to Google Now, which is available for anyone running Jelly Bean (Android 4.1). It adds Gmail scanning for flight info and package tracking as new cards. Google plans on continuously adding more cards for Google Now.

Another big feature added to Android 4.2 is the use of Knowledge Graph to provide better answers to searches. In terms of search, Android’s link to Google Search has been good, but Knowledge Graph will help improve the quality of results. Smaller updates include tablet-only multiple account support, gesture typing, and more functionality with notifications which don’t dramatically change the experience on Android.

iOS 6 hasn’t really shown the usefulness of the apps that Apple was proud to announce.Maps is still a work-in-progress and Passbook doesn't have many supporting apps. Siri received an update for more accurate results and you can use voice to post to Facebook, but there wasn’t anything drastically different. The latest OS does allow you to share photos in your Photo Stream and iCloud, but the cloud backup service isn’t transparent for most users.

Supporting the Cloud

Microsoft is pushing Skydrive integration with Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. Content is automatically uploaded to Skydrive allowing you to access it through a browser. It’s great to see Microsoft starting to use Skydrive as a service bridging Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. The auto uploads will help photophiles a lot and the ability to create and edit documents in Office 2013 will be a benefit for users. Skydrive offers 7 GB of free storage, but still hasn’t defined exactly how well Skydrive will work between devices. Microsoft is really starting its push towards more a more seamless ecosystem for first party services.

Though Microsoft is pushing Skydrive as the best cloud-based system, Android has been cementing itself in cloud productivity with Google Drive for years. The focus on cloud syncing in Android makes it possible to easily switch from device to device with the same account and still have all your info and files. You can use the different productivity apps in Google Drive and see the updates push to the webapp with almost no delay. Android’s cloud service is built into the majority of its apps.

Apple’s cloud presence is a lot more minimal. There isn’t much cloud productivity inside any of the first party Apple apps because you have to buy the various iWork apps on both iOS and OS X. Google offers Google Drive apps for free, but syncing between Apple devices requires you to buy multiple versions of the same program on different devices. iCloud backups on iOS devices is still very convoluted. You can choose which app data to backup to iCloud, but all apps are set to backup by default which can fill your storage quickly.

Having data backups for certain apps is great like game data or user settings, but the 5 GB that Apple offers feels very small even compared to the same amount of space that Google offers. Apple claims having easy backup solutions, but there are issues with what Apple decides what will or will not count against the 5GB of storage. If you have a lot of apps, those 5 GB could be filled quickly without you even realizing it.

Who's winning now?

Windows Phone 8 has the most to prove among the three operating systems. Since the device and OS is an entire step forward from Windows Phone 7.5 because it requires new hardware to experience, Microsoft has to sell the usefulness of the device and the connectivity between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

Android 4.2's small update adds smaller features and functionality. If you use a lot of Google services, 4.2 will improve your Android experience. Tablet users will enjoy the ability to create multiple accounts, but there hasn’t been a good demo of this yet. Google is still leading on the cloud productivity front and it looks like they’re going to stay that way for the moment.

iOS 6 isn’t the jump forward like Apple claimed. It felt more like a smaller update to improve features already on the device. Apple Maps’ beta status at launch didn’t help much with the perception of iOS 6, but Apple is working hard on improving the experience. Google could still steal users away from Apple with its superior Google Maps app, but since it’s impossible to change the default apps in iOS, Apple will still maintain control.

Each operating system offers something for each different kind of user. Android is still the best for people who enjoy customization and iOS is great for those who are used to the experience. It’s Windows Phone 8 that needs to prove itself. Releasing alongside Windows 8 and highlighting the connectivity between each OS, Microsoft has an uphill battle convincing users to switch from Android or iOS.

There isn’t a clear “best” OS because they speak to different users. But Windows Phone 8 could be the change that people tired of Android and iOS are looking for.

Android vs Windows Phone

Android is open source and is made by almost all phone manufacturers. There are currently 7 Android operating systems with Ice Cream Sandwich being the latest and currently waiting for the 8th, Jellybean. Most developers strive to create apps that work with 80% of Android phones. If you go high end this should not be a problem. Download apps from developers you trust and keep an antivirus installed on your Android phone.That being said a high security version of Android is being developed for U.S. Government use. 

Windows Phone 7 live tiles instead of icons allow the user to find all their information quickly. The only customization available is pinning as many live tiles as you would like to your home screen that move and change to show you information or entertainment. All apps are listed in alphabetical order on the app screen and may be found by search, alphabet touch, or scrolling. Dedicated hardware makes for a very smooth and easy experience regardless of manufacturer. 


Android has much the greater market share, and this is reflected in the amount of handsets from which you can choose. There are literally dozens of Android smartphones you can buy in the UK, and at the last count only five Windows Phone 8 handsets, with a few more now outdated Windows Phone 7.5 phones kicking around the remainder bins in phone shops. (You can grab a bargain here, but they will never be updated to Windows Phone 8.)

10 things a Windows Phone 8 user misses about Android

1. In-Depth Personalization Options

I often struggle to interpret the sounds that my Nokia Lumia 920 makes, and it's not because of low-quality speakers (far from it, in fact). The problem is that, unlike Android, Windows Phone 8 doesn't allow me to set individual notification sounds on a per-app basis. A Twitter mention alert sounds the same as a Facebook one, and there's nothing that I can do to change that.

Similarly, Windows Phone 8 also does not allow one to set individual sound levels, for notifications, apps and multimedia content. Android does -- you can have music playing at half-volume and, when someone calls, the smartphone rings at full-volume. Or, mute notifications when you want to hear your favorite tune playing quietly in the background. A simple control panel would get the job done but, at least for now, no such option exists.

2. LED Notification Light

Most (if not all) Android smartphones feature an LED notification light, which starts flashing in various colors whenever there is a new notification. This way, folks do not have to constantly check their smartphones just to see if there's a new email or SMS message. It's a minor feature, but one that has a major impact over the user experience.

By contrast, no such counterpart exists on Windows Phone 8 handsets. That said, the HTC Windows Phone 8X features an LED notification light but, sadly, it only lights up whenever the smartphone is running low on battery or the charging is complete. Smartphones like the Lumia 920 offer no such hardware feature.

3. Control Toggles

Android makers, like Samsung, allow users to quickly toggle between various states for built-in software and hardware features through dedicated widgets or panels. Disabling Wi-Fi, for instance, takes only a couple of seconds.

On Windows Phone 8, one has to go through the Settings menu and look up the adjacent sub-menu and then flip the switch. It's not as straightforward. Admittedly, there are third-party apps for this but they only provide shortcuts rather than actionable toggles.

4. File Manager

Even though file managers may not be as essential as social networking apps, they do hold a special place for Android enthusiasts. Such offerings allow users to handle (move or delete, for instance) locally-stored files, without connecting the smartphone to a computer and performing changes from the outside.

While it may seem like an unneeded app, there's a case to be made for it on Windows Phone 8 as well. Any incoming transfers, or downloads that are made on the internal storage cannot be managed without, again, connecting the smartphone to a computer. This oversight also makes sharing files a bit more difficult, as one has to navigate to an app which can handle such content.

5. Browser Sync

One of my favorite things about Android was the fact that the Google Chrome app would sync with its desktop counterpart, which made the browsing experience more enjoyable. All my desktop bookmarks, passwords and even tabs would make their way onto my smartphone as well. I could pick up what I was looking at on my laptop on my Android handset, on the go.

After switching to Windows Phone 8 I had to give this feature up. When compared to Google Chrome on Android, Internet Explorer is quite basic, only offering basic features like the ability to locally-save passwords, manage tabs and improve the browsing security through external services.

6. App Feature-Parity

Popular Android apps rarely come without features which are available on other platforms. Evernote, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, to name a few, always bring the latest and greatest to the green droid operating system, while on Windows Phone (if the apps exist) users have to wait months even to get the most-recently added features.

Evernote cannot be used to create notebooks, Facebook does not have a security code generator and Twitter has yet to implement any two-factor authentication-related functionality, just to give you a couple of example as to how major developers implement the latest features in their Windows Phone 8 apps.

7. Timely App Releases

Similarly to the aforementioned point, Android also gets most popular app and game titles (well, at least shortly after iOS), while Windows Phone 8 users have to wait quite a bit of time until even the first installment in the series is released. Older offerings like Pandora arrived on the tiled smartphone operating system only earlier this year, while on Android the app was offered since 2009.

Case in point to the late game releases is Temple Run, which was launched on Windows Phone 8 two years after the game made its way on other platforms. And, what's worse, newer titles have also been launched in the meantime.

8. Contextual And Local Search Results

Android users have Google Now and Windows Phone 8 users have... a robotic-sounding male or female voice that does not respond back. The former provides comprehensive features, from replying with the outside temperature to giving indications to a nearby shop. Meanwhile, the latter can only power up Bing Search and perform a query and, at best, allow users to dictate some voice controls to the few apps that support this.

What I find the most troublesome is that Google Now works decently well in the land of Dracula, while the Windows Phone 8 counterpart can't even show me nearby coffee shops, let alone point me to a mobile operator's store in a new city.

9. Extensive Browser Sharing Options

Various Android offerings can integrate into the browser's built-in sharing menu, allowing users to send links to read-it-later type of apps (like Pocket). When stumbling upon things that I wanted to check out later, I could save the webpage's link for an in-depth reading with Evernote or Pocket.

On Windows Phone 8, Internet Explorer only allows users to send the links to someone else or another device, via emails, messages, social networks or Xbox, but not to an existing app like Evernote or Pouch (a third-party Pocket client). As a result, I find that it's best to rely as little as possible on Internet Explorer for such tasks, which is a shame as the browser should allow users to do more things rather then limit them to an established path.

10. Notifications Center

Android, in my opinion, is the best smartphone operating system at aggregating and managing all notifications from various apps and games, into a single place. Notifications are actionable, users can individually dismiss them and, generally speaking, it's a very well though-out system.

Windows Phone 8 does provide some notifications via toasts and live tiles, but it's difficult to pinpoint the source of one at times. The smartphone rings and, if it's not a lockscreen-enabled app (which can show a counter), I have to scroll through the Start screen just to find the information that I need. Sometimes I have to wait a bit for the live tile to update or flip, in order to see what I came to find.

Microsoft is undoubtedly working on a notification center, but until that day when us, Windows Phone 8 users, can actually use it we are stuck with lesser functionality. Similarly, Android switchers will have to adopt to the different (and older) way of doing things.

Ashplat 8: Airborne

Asphalt 8: Airborne is the successor to Gameloft's incredibly popular racing game, Asphalt 7: Heat. It carries on the tradition of providing an exciting racing experience on your mobile device with an added twist.

The title of the game is a pointer to the biggest change compared to its predecessor. Asphalt 8: Airborne rewards for tricks you perform while you are in the air, like doing Barrel Rolls or Flat Spin jumps. You can do Barrel Rolls by driving onto one of the many angled ramps present on the track, letting a mix of gravity and momentum do the rest. In most cases you can trust that you'll land safely, unless you really messed up the approach. Flat Spin jumps are a bit tricker to perfect, as they require you go off a ramp while drifting (braking the car at high speed while steering it), and the success or failure depends on the angle of your approach.

You can play Asphalt 8: Airborne in various modes including World Series (Multiplayer over the Internet), a local Wi-Fi race, a quick Solo race, or the Career mode. The main screen of the game can be a little intimidating, and it takes a while to figure out the various options.

In Career mode, you start with a car and a pretty minimal budget, and try to earn more money by winning races and performing tricks. As you go along, you also have the opportunity to pick up stars that unlock the next racing events within the season. You can pick up to five stars at each event, with 3 based on where you finish (1 star for finishing third, 3 stars for winning the race) and two additional stars for achieving event-specific objectives like doing the specified number of Barrel Rolls, Knockdowns, Perfect Nitro Triggers etc.

Asphalt 8: Airborne features excellent graphics though you may need the latest devices to enjoy them to the maximum. The game stuttered at times on our iPhone 4S, though our third-generation iPad handled everything without any hiccups. However, we liked the fact that we could seamlessly switch from one device to the other and the game was able to sync our progress via the cloud using the Game Center ID for authentication.

Coming to the actual gameplay, the default controls for Asphalt 8: Airborne feature tilt to steer, auto-acceleration, with taps on the left and right edge of the screen to brake (drift) and nitro-boost respectively. You can of course change the controls to get tap-to-steer and manual acceleration, if that's what you prefer. The in-game music is pretty good, with an option to choose between Bass, Rock, and Electronic music.

It's quite easy to start playing Asphalt 8: Airborne, but surprisingly difficult to actually win a race, especially with the crummy car you start with. You can upgrade your car by making an in-app purchase, or by working your way up by winning races - did we mention how difficult that is? You can drive a near perfect race, and still find yourself unable to overtake the five AI-controlled cars. Maybe that's just us, and the petrolheads out there would do a better job.

Each event in a season is associated with a city. So you can be driving across the desert in Nevada in one event, and find yourself speeding through the streets of Tokyo in another. You'll go through tunnels, avoid oncoming traffic, and even discover a shortcut or two along the way. We personally liked the ability to take a different route compared to the other racers, though it does come with mixed results - sometimes you gain an edge, and at other times you end up going around in circles without getting anywhere.

Asphalt 8: Airborne is just $0.99 for iOS (universal app for iPhone and iPad) as well as Android. At the price, the game is a must download, especially if you have the latest hardware and don't mind slowly working your way to the top.

iBall Andi 4a Projector smartphone

                                               

iBall Andi 4a Projector key specifications

• 4-inch IPS WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution and a pixel density of 233 PPI
• 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor
• 512MB RAM
• Dual SIM (GSM+GSM)
• 4GB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• 8-megapixel rear camera
• VGA front-facing camera
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• 1,500mAh battery
• Built-in 35 Lumens Projector 

iBall has launched a projector phone, the Andi 4a Projector for Rs. 18,999. The company has listed the new smartphone on its official website. Online retailer, Flipkart is taking pre-orders for the phone at a discounted price of Rs. 17,999.

The iBall Andi 4a Projector comes with a 4-inch IPS WVGA display with a 480x800 pixels resolution and boasts of a pixel density of 233 PPI. The device is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor along with 512MB RAM. It sports an 8-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. The iBall Andi 4a Projector runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card.

Connectivity options include EDGE, GPRS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G. It is a dual-SIM device with support for GSM+GSM. It also packs in a 1500mAh battery.

The iBall Andi 4a Projector comes with a built-in 35 Lumens Projector that can deliver up to 480x640 pixels resolution. It can project up to a size of 8 to 10 feet and comes bundled with free tripod stand.

Recently, iBall had unveiled the Andi 4a Radium for Rs. 6,990. The iBall Andi 4a Radium features a 4-inch IPS display with a resolution of 480x854 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor and has 512MB RAM. It offers 2GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. The device sports an 8-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a VGA front facing camera. The iBall Andi 4a Radium runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It is a dual SIM handset with support for GSM+GSM with dual standby. Other features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EDGE, GPRS and 3G. The device includes a 1450mAh battery.

Apple iPhone 5S

Apple unveils iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S

Apple introduced its latest flagship iPhone, the iPhone 5s. The new iPhone retains the designs and dimensions of last year’s iPhone 5, but adds a faster processor, an improved camera and a new feature called Touch ID, which allows the owner to secure the iPhone with a fingerprint. 

Apple also introduced the cheaper iPhone 5c, available with a plastic backing and in multiple colors.

Apple’s new flagship iPhone 5S includes a biometric fingerprint reader, a simple way to unlock the phone with a touch -- but don’t assume that means it will be more secure than other smartphones.

 “Touch ID” sensor, calling it little more secure than the ordinary password.

“When you go to a bar and get a beer, you leave them your fingerprints. Biometric data makes a really poor security feature for that reason,” explained Dave Aitel, CEO of security firm Immunity Inc.

“Your fingerprint is not a secret,” he added.

'Your fingerprint is not a secret.'

- Dave Aitel, CEO of security firm Immunity Inc.

The new iPhone 5S, unveiled at an event Tuesday at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. headquarters, has the new sensor built into the home button. It uses a laser-cut sapphire crystal together with a capacitive touch sensor to take a high-resolution image of your fingerprint and can recognize it to unlock the phone.

All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5S; it’s never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud, the company says.

But the best security features can be changed, Aitel said -- a password you can alter every few months, or a pattern you can periodically revise, as on phones powered by Google’s Android operating system.

“The Android lock pattern is actually an amazingly good security feature. People like using it, it’s semi-interesting, it’s easy to remember,”

 “It’s fun, it’s cool, but it’s not a game changer,” agreed Ehsan Foroughi, director of research at Security Compass. “You still worry about malware, you still worry about your iTunes account getting hacked, you still worry about all the other stuff,”

Foroughi said Apple’s “big brother” approach to apps -- the company vets and verifies all apps that enter the Apple Store -- makes for better security than on Android, and limitations the company places on how apps also helps. Biometric data won’t add much to that.

The real issue isn’t losing a gadget anyway -- it’s you, Foroughi said.

“Many people use bad passwords, which is the root of all evil in security.”

If the Touch ID sensor could let people replace those “1234” and “password” passwords with a fingerprint, that would boost security a bit, he said. It's unclear whether Apple will allow such functionality.

But the experts agree: biometrics aren’t a standalone solution.

“Not one ever relies solely on biometrics in the real world,”