Galaxy Note 3...Is It A Big Deal?

My review of the Galaxy Note 3

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/news-editorials/galaxy-note-3is-big-deal/#more-2343

ChromeCast

My ChromeCast review:

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/chromecast/

App Review: Cyanogenmod Voice+

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/cyanogenmod-voice/

App Review: Desktop Notifications

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/desktop-notifications/

App Review: Waze

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/waze/

App Review: Google Music

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/google-play-access/

T-Mobile- My Story of Frustration

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/news-editorials/tmobile-story-frustration/

App Review: Vine

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/vine/

App Review: Sonic the Hedgehog

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/sonic-hedgehog/

App Review: Clean Master

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/clean-master/

My latest article:

Pinterest, it is now safe for men

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/pinterest-safe-men/

Apple is a hardware company, but…

As I see numbers posted for Mobile OS market share, Android numbers keep going up.  Apple is still a distant second place and the argument by Apple fans is that Apple is a hardware company.  If that is true (and we know it is), then I would be very concerned as an Apple supporter.  The operating system shipping on their hardware isn't wooing fans and frankly, the stale hardware designs aren't either.   

I am tired of hearing the excuses that Apple is not selling operating systems.  Let's face it, they are.  They have to sell their OS because they refuse to let anyone else do anything with their hardware.  I can buy a Samsung Galaxy SIII and put anything I want on it.  Samsung won't support it but they don't stop me from doing it and there is a community around alternate OSes that could support it.  Ubuntu or WebOS may actually run on it.  If I buy an iPhone 5 it is running IOS.  There is no intention of it running anything else.  Your options for alternate OSes for Apple hardware is nonexistent. Yes, you can jailbreak it but that is still running a variant of IOS.

Now I know that there are hundreds of manufacturers selling Android so the percentage of sales is slimmer for most hardware companies outside of Samsung, HTC and maybe Motorola.  But the fact remains that Apple's hardware excuse isn't selling as many hardware devices as they once did. And they certainly are not winning fans over with the included OS. No matter how you slice it, Apple is not succeeding at its core market (puns intended).  Android hardware makers like Samsung are selling more hardware than the self-proclaimed true hardware company. Even some Apple faithful have recently jumped ship to Android.  Should Apple be worried? Will IOS7 turn that around? Thoughts?

Google changes their products, get over it!

There has been a big uproar this week about the announcement of Google shutting down the Reader service.  Like many companies, Google has made the hard decision that a large company needs to make from time to time.  They are pulling the plug on a service that many of us use, but not enough to keep it running.

I use Reader as my feeder for the DoggCatcher podcast app. Many users use it for news feeds. But the fact of the matter is that another company will step up and fill the need.  Knowing that the world won't end when Google shuts Reader down, we can move on.  There have been several articles questioning if we should continue to trust Google.  No one was questioning Microsoft when they announced they were shutting down Messenger recently and we didn't say we were going to stop using Windows and Office because of it. But like Google Reader, many people use and love Messenger.

If Apple cut iTunes the sheep users would justify it by saying that they really didn't need it. No one would protest or cry over it.  Google did it and tech journalists are ready to ditch all Google services. This is ridiculous.  That's it. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Let's not overreact.

I will admit that it scares me that Google might cancel a service that I depend on (Google Voice I am looking at you) but if they do I am sure it will be because they either have a better product or I will find something else.  Life moves on.  So should we.

Google Keep

Look at Google's new note taking app Keep.  See how it stacks up against Evernote and OneNote

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/app-reviews/google/

Zedge

Looking for free wallpapers and ringtones? Look no further!

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/zedge/

LockScreen Policy

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/lockscreen-policy/

Apps to setup a new phone

The apps that will make your bloated non-Nexus more Nexus like.  All the apps you need to get started.

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/setting-phone/

Swapps

Another side launcher that works well.

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/swapps/

FlipLauncher

Try a new way to launch apps

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/fliplauncher/

GooManager - Root

Stay up to date with your favorite ROM

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/goomanager-root/

Vibrate During Meetings

Stop annoying notifications automatically:

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/vibrate-meetings/

Trello

My new favorite web app.  Organize projects or lists.

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/trello/

The Game Of Life

Your childhood favorite on Android

http://www.theandroidvibe.com/game-life/

CarHome Ultra

Another Car dock app review:
http://www.theandroidvibe.com/carhome-ultra/

Catching up!

I have been slacking on the site lately.  I am going to catch up tonight.  I am adding the articles from theandroidvibe.com.  Catch all of the latest articles there.

Steve

App Review: Car Dashboard Pro

Check out review 1 of 2 for car dock apps:


http://www.theandroidvibe.com/car-dashboard-pro/