Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop

Recent reports reveal that Google has unveiled its latest version of Android known as Android Lollipop at its I/O Developer Conference in June this year.

There seems to be a lot more with regards to the updated operating system which features a redesigned user interface referred to as Material Design together with improved lock screen as well as notification menu. Moreover it also delivers an improved battery life together with great performance. Google’s latest entry is a big release and is the most significant visual Android update since 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich which was released in the year 2011.

It provides the foundation for the growth of Android as a platform beyond smartphones and tablets and Google is making headway in pushing Android forward as the future software. Its focus lies in making Android connected to every device where the users interact with and Lollipop is the first plunge in getting there.

Google’s latest announcement of the world’s most popular mobile platform came up after an extended testing and preview period and Android 5.0 Lollipop has been debuted on three new Nexus devices namely the Nexus 6 smartphone, Nexus 9 tablet and Nexus Player streaming media device. These will be available on the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 as well as Google Play Edition devices,this forthcoming week.

Largest And Ambitious Release on Android 

Google has described Lollipop as its largest and most ambitious release on Android, touting its flexibility and states that it would want Lollipop to excel across several platforms. Lollipop’s noted features are in the form of visual enhancement as well as user interface changes and the platform has new and more fluid animations together with cleaner design accompanied with a bolder colour palette and revamped multi-tasking menu.

 It also offers new methods to interact with your voice. The Material Design initiative is for the purpose of unifying the software’s look and feel across a variety of form factors. Several new Material Design features are seen in recent updates which Google has launched for its own Android apps like Google+.

Besides visual overhaul, Lollipop also brings over 5,000 new APIs to be tapped into for developers and enables multiple different Android devices with several form factors for improved performances.

Protection Against Resetting Phone to Factory Defaults

Google states that songs, apps, photos as well as recent searches could also be seamlessly synced across a variety of Android devices. Moreover Lollipop includes new notification controls in limiting alerts at the time of meetings etc. new battery saver mode which are capable of running through ninety minutes more of life between charges, multiple user accounts, new ways to secure the device through trusted Bluetooth connections and guest user modes.

Protection against resetting phone to factory defaults is also included in Lollipop which has been created to make it difficult for phone thieves in using stolen devices. All these features have been installed by several Android device manufacturers on their smartphones and tablets though Google is ensuring to make sure that they are part of the core Android experience

Apple TV – Hub of Digital Home with Twitter and Facebook Integration

Developer notes connected with the updated beta software for Apple TV relates to the device used to `test HomeKit with the help of iOS apps’, with implication that the Apple TV will now become the hub of the digital home.

Moreover an analyst has also stated that Apple will be working with Twitter and Facebook in bringing about these apps to the Apple TV. HomeKit had been working with Apple TV from the time of the first iOS 8.0 update as per an unknown source.

On testing the HomeKit protocol, the app developer had stated that when the Apple TV was turned on, the interactions between the iPhone and the simulated devices were quicker, reliable and smoother than with the Apple TV turned off. iOS developers have the potential to play around in the simulator that Apple provides them due to the fact that HomezKit does not work along with any present connected devices since there are no HomeKit certified devices in the market.

Viewers can expect to see HomeKit certified devices likely to show up in the forthcoming year. Apple had also announced a series of official hardware partners who were keen on building their devices to suit Apple’s HomeKit specifications at the forthcoming iOS developers’ conference in June and some of the official partners include August Smart Lock, Honeywells’s Lyric thermostat and Philips Hue light bulb.

Remote Access Point for Devices in the Home

Apple TV is a tiny box which plugs to the TV and connects wirelessly to the internet to enable access to films. iTunes music, TV programmes and much more features. The Apple TV seems to be the device which can be used to control all the devices in the home and the latest beta software includes `support for Family Sharing’ and can also be used for testing Airplay and HomeKit with iOS apps.

Apple TV would probably be a remote access point for devices within the home which could be accessed through iCloud from any location. We are all aware that Apple TV features HomeKit support but this is the first time that Apple has make a reference to it with regards to Apple TV and a Forbes source revealed that the 7.0 update Apple TV provides added support for HomeKit. The source also claims that the Apple TV would be serving as the central hub of the HomeKit features stating that the `HomeKit support is built in the Apple TV firmware.’

Access to Facebook & Twitter via Apple TV

Rumours are on that Apple will also be offering access to Facebook and Twitter through the Apple TV. Chowdhry of Global Equities Research Trip is of the belief that Apple is on its way working with Facebook and Twitter in bringing those apps to the Apple TV and the addition of these apps would be part of a Social TV.

The purpose is that some TV channels would be showing Tweets using a particular hastag at the bottom of the screen when the program will be aired and with limited live content available to watch on the Apple TV, tweets could be timed so that they tend to appear at the right time schedule.

How to Free up Memory Space on iPhone

Sometimes one may run out of space on iPhone and face difficulties in taking new photos or to install apps, download music and would want to install iOS 8 but may not have the 6GB memory storage for the said purpose.

Some of the strategies mentioned here would help in resolving issues with regards to free up memory space on the iPhone. Users are aware that the new operating system contains a 1.1GB download which cannot be installed unless the iPhone has free space of around 6GB. If the iPhone storage limits are used to the maximum, users need to engage in some housecleaning in order to make space for iOS 8.

They need to identify what has been consuming the storage space which can be done by going to Setting>General>Usage which gives the user a clear indication of what has been utilising the gigabytes.

iCloud for Photo backup

To find the actual spare capacity available and to check which apps are using the maximum space, you could go to settings app and click on the` general’ tab and then select `usage’. This function would undergo some summing process indicating a list of app and how much storage space each of them has been utilising.

This will enable the user in identifying where to draw the line to limit the storage space and use it whenever it may be needed. If the user has been using iCloud for photo backup, they could delete them from the camera which would provide and create more space on the phone, though by doing so, you tend to rely on iCloud to keep them safe.

For precaution measures, a backup on a home computer would be advisable. One could delete them in bulk or one by one by clicking `select’, from the camera roll screen, whichever needs to be deleted.

Accumulation of Unused Musical Albums/Videos/Podcast 

Often unused app tends to accumulate over a period of months or years utilising a lot of storage. One could scroll through the menu and check on unwanted games which are not being used. By tapping and holding the icon, a small cross appears at the top left. On pressing the cross, the app can be deleted and provide more space.

Musical albums which are of no use can be deleted to make more space, which can be made available on the computer should the user feel the need of wanting them back at a later date,. While deleting music, swipe a song from right to left where a `delete’ button would appear and complete the process. Besides photos and musical albums, videos too tend to take up plenty of storage space while some app also tend to download files as in the case of iPlayer which can download programmes that can be viewed later on.

If the user has video download which are of no use to them, it can be deleted by going to the app. The usage list provides the information on any app which may be taking up large amount of storage space. Podcast accumulate swiftly and the new content gets regularly delivered to the phone automatically. In this section of the setting, one can tweak certain setting to keep a tab on the space they may be utilising and under `limit episodes, one can opt to have the recent needed episodes and can also choose to delete played episodes automatically.

New iPad Air Leaks

New images displaying parts for the new full sized iPad have been leaked much ahead of its forthcoming Apple event, wherein photos re-published by apple.club.tw blog portrays a full logic board for the new iPad Air together with parts for the new Home button with Touch ID, glass screen cover and audio control components.

The new iPad Air logic board, at first glance does not show anything new though adjusting colours of image indicate an unexpected addition, an A8X system on a chip. The new Apple iPad Air 2 shortly to be announced is rumoured that the slate is powered by an A8X chip. The A8X variant of Apples’ chip like the earlier A5X and A6X, will probably have improved GPU performance which is also an indication that Apple would be putting the display resolution to the forthcoming iPad Air 2 to the Retina HD.

This has been discovered in the updated iOS 8.1 Beta which showed user interface elements designated as `3x-ipad’. The A8 chip seems to be a powerful processor which can handle larger iPhone screen and hence it seems that the A8X would be bringing the iPad much ahead of the iPhone with regards to specifications for the first time in a few years, if legitimate.

RAM increased to 2GB – Heavy Multitasking

Though the specifics of the resolution in question are unknown, there is a possibility of Apple shipping a sharper display than the present 2048 x 1536 pixel panel. Besides, additional GPU horsepower is not the only thing the A8X would be bringing to the table, it is alleged that the RAM would also be increased to 2GB, enabling heavy multitasking.

Other novelties for iPad user would be thinner profile at 7.5mm, 720m FaceTime camera together with Apple Pay besides the Touch ID. The internal storage option is also said to be of 32GBm 64GB and 128GB.There could also be various other reasons for Apple to choose to move to the A8X on its latest iPad Air, in making the iPad far better at graphics processing than the iPhone.

Some analyst reports together with indications from the iOS 8.1 beta software development kit shows that Apple would be moving to higher resolution Retina HD displays on the iPad Air later this year, shows that the screen would be 30-40% sharper on the iPad Air.

Need of a Much Stronger Graphic Processor

With the addition of pixels across 9.7 inches screen space, the iPad Air would need a much stronger graphics processor in order to keep the device functioning smoothly during operation. The new volume control component was also leaked wherein the audio volume up and down buttons are seen on the lower end of the image displayed, but in line with some leaked shells, a dedicated mute switch though is not shown on this particular part.

At the moment, there is a lack of leaks with regards to the new iPad mini which could be due to the constraints of shipping of the new model through 2014.The event on October 16th,will also be covering sharper iMacs and MacBook together with final details on OS X Yosemite.

Hidden Graphical Assets In iOS 8.1

The newly launched iPad Air 2 boasts the possibility of achieving a higher resolution Retina Display. The renowned developer Hamza Soodhas made a remarkable discovery by sighting the hidden features within the precious Apple’s codes. His discovery has shed light upon the new iPad’s ‘@3x assets’, which has the ability to provide a higher resolution ‘Retina Display’ screens for the upcoming new iPads.

The feature of @3x assets

The assets discovered by Sood are concerned with the Clock app’s interface in iOS 8.1 beta 2 that includes the clock’s face, hands as well as the center.Sood asserts that these graphical assets are generally offered in the ‘3x iPad’, ‘2x iPad’ and ‘iPad’ designations. The presence of the ‘3x’ PNG files specifically hints at super high-resolution iPad displays.

The graphical assets of normal ‘1x assets’ and ‘@2x assets’ are necessary for building the Retina displays but the new highly evolved and advanced ‘@3x assets’ are indicative of providing a higher resolutions display screens.

The Availability Of New Retina HD Panels

While introducing the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in September Apple had revealed a new pixel dense screens which were dubbed as ‘Retina HD’. The Retina HD screen does require the presence of the ‘@3x assets’ for delivering the extra resolutions in a dignified manner.

• The new Retina Display panels would be made available in 
• 1334 by 750 pixels at 326 ppi for the 4.7 inch iPhone 6& 1920 by 1080 pixels at 401 ppi for the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus. 

The iOSdeveloperSood which has discovered the frameworks which contained the graphical assets labelled ‘3x ipad’ also suggest that it is highly possible that Apple would be gearing up to update its tablet with the Retina HD display panels in upcoming days.

The Current Display Panels of Apple Ipads

Apple is also rumoured to introduce the next generation iPad Air models with this upgraded display technology. However, the exact pixel density for such is kept under wraps but it would be greater delight for its consumers.

Currently the Apple iPads are loaded with the Retina Display devoid of the so called ‘@3x assets’as in:

• a. iPad Air with its 9.7 inch Retina Display with a commendable resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels at 264 ppi. 
• b. The Smaller variant iPad Mini have 7.9 inch Retina Display with similar resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels at 326 ppi.

The Future Prospects

The iPads available in the market even in its current form are already delightful, bright and colourful in terms of the display it offers to the consumers. If the Apple tends to decide upon using the Retina HD in the iPads then it would certainly take its pole position in tablet market with grace and applaud.The use of Retina HD display panels would be considered as a very intuitive and cunning move by Apple if it is done.