3 Ways Android Should Change In 2013 If It Wants To Destroy Apple

Android is the world’s most popular mobile operating system. However, in the United States, Apple remains closely tied with Android in both market share and cultural influence.

But we think that will change. Android sales have been rising sharply over the past few years, and unless Apple includes a killer feature on the iPhone 6 (instead of just making it thinner), then Android should overtake Apple once again in the near future.

But Android manufacturers and Google will need to keep innovating if they want to hold the throne. And here are 5 important ways Android needs to change as soon as possible if it wants to improve its chances of success:

3) SUBPAR BATTERY LIFE

Androids are incredibly powerful smartphones and tablets. But in just about every test, they lag behind Apple’s line of products – particularly in the tablet market. Some have said this is because of features like widgets – which drain small amounts of battery life in the background. Others have said it’s the way Android and its devices are designed.

To the user, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is. If Android smartphones and tablets can start consistently beating Apple devices in battery life tests, our favorite mobile OS will start attracting a whole new group of customers.

If you’re looking for ways to conserve battery life on your Android, check out this article.

2) UNINSTALLABLE BLOATWARE

Nobody likes bloatware. It’s one of the main reasons for slow computers and unfortunately, Android users aren’t able to avoid bloatware on their device without rooting it. Bloatware comes in the form of manufacturer-exclusive apps that are designed to be really cool, but actually do a subpar job.

For example, on my Samsung Galaxy S3, I have apps like S Memo, S Planner, S Suggest, S Voice, and Samsung Apps. I’ve opened these apps once or twice. Meanwhile, superior apps like Google Calendar and Google Now provide better service for free. If I downloaded something like Google Calendar, I’d have two calendar applications on my phone. But can I uninstall this bloatware from my phone? Nope! Fix it, Google, and customers will start treating Android with the respect it deserves.

1) UPGRADE FRAGMENTATION

This is arguably the most serious problem facing Android today. The upgrade fragmentation across Android devices is basically a joke. Google announced Jelly Bean 4.1 back in spring of 2012, and it took until late December 2012 for most users to have access to that update on their top-of-the-line smartphones like the Galaxy S3.

But even more surprising, the majority of Android users are stuck with Gingerbread 2.3. With users spread out across Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and Gingerbread, it’s a massive food fight that nobody wins. Developers have trouble creating apps that cater to the widest number of Android users and customers who buy top-tier smartphones aren’t receiving the full Android experience.

Google needs to solve its fragmentation problem in order to expand its influence as a mobile OS. And fortunately, Google is well aware of the problem of fragmentation. Look for Google to address this issue in the near future by pouncing on manufacturers and carriers that delay updates. Until then, we’ll just have to keep eating our gingerbread while the guy across from us on the train munches on jelly beans.

Australian carrier Telstra pushing out Jelly Bean update to Samsung Galaxy S3

Australian Samsung Galaxy S3 owners on the nations Telstra network have cause for celebration today. The carrier has begun what is a staggered Jelly Bean rollout that will see all devices become 'eligible' over the course of the next 14 days. Over on the Telstra support forums the details of how the update will roll out have been posted.

Just a quick one to let everyone know that the Galaxy S 3 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 update has commenced deployment early (as at 2:30PM EDT today). As with all Samsung updates the FOTA deployment is staggered. The “staggered” deployment means that the FOTA update will be progressively rolled out to customers over a two week period. The deployment schedule is:

Day 1-3 : 10k of devices selected at random to be eligible for update, users are either alerted via FOTA Push Message or by manually checking

Day 4-13: An additional 10% of devices are selected per day

Day 14: All devices are now eligible for update

The FOTA update should be downloaded via Wi-Fi as data usage charges will apply if downloaded via the mobile network. The update will be available to all customers via Kies from 2:30PM EDT Wednesday 19 December.

If you're rocking one of these, be sure to check your updates in the settings menu on your Galaxy S3, or plug into Kies. If you manage to grab the update, drop into the comments below, or our Samsung Galaxy S3 forums and share your thoughts with us. 

Source: AndroidCentral

LG ‘Optimus G2′ rumored for May launch with 1080p screen

LG's Optimus G isn't even available in some countries yet, but already it seems a successor could be in the works. Reports from Korea's MK Business News suggests that the "Optimus G2" (said to be a provisional name) could be scheduled for launch as early as next May. Key upgrades are said to include a a 5-inch, 1080p display, up from the 4.7-inch 1280×768 panel in the original, and a 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm CPU. LG will reportedly pit the G2 against the successor to Samsung's Galaxy S3.

But here's the kicker — the article also claims the "Optimus G2" will come with Android "Key Lime Pie" on-board. KLP is the widely-expected name for the next major iteration of Android, presumably either version 4.3 or 5.0. We'd be very (very) surprised to see a fresh version of Android so quickly after 4.2, especially considering the short interval between the two flavors of Jelly Bean.

Nevertheless, as a Nexus partner, LG would have privileged access to code ahead of time, which might help it get devices running newer versions of Android to market more rapidly than other OEMs. Stranger things have happened, but we're still inclined to take this part of the story with a large pinch of salt.

The 5-inch screen size and 1080p resolution looks set to become the new standard for high-end phones in 2013. HTC has already launched the Droid DNA on Verizon in the states, while Sony's next high-end device, "Yuga," is rumored to sport a similar display. Likewise, Samsung is rumored to be hard at work on a 4.99-inch 1080p SuperAMOLED panel.

Whatever form it takes, the Optimus G's successor will find itself among plenty of competition.

Source: MK; via: TechCrunch

Jelly Bean rolling out to more Samsung Galaxy S3 versions across Europe

The Jelly Bean Samsung Galaxy S3 reporting bonanza continues for the fourth day in a row, with good and bad news frantically blending in a bittersweet mix for tech users around the world.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update pops all over Europe

Samsung Galaxy S3 customers are irked by the delay in the Jelly Bean update

Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update has been popping up in various European countries after its release in Korea and Poland. The Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update appeared in France, Spain, Romania, Sweden and Austria indicating that it will reach the UK and US soon enough. The update is alleged to release in the UK and US by November.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update arrives in Korea, UK release date unknown

Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update has made its way to Korea after being released in Poland. Galaxy S3 update has been much awaited in other countries since the release of the Android software update. Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S3 made its way to Poland last month via the Kies desktop software or through an over the air (OTA) update.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini officially announced

Rumors of a smaller version of the Galaxy S3 have been floating around for a while now.