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Mobile

Battle of the SmartPhone OS

Now a days there are a plethora of options when you decide to buy a SmartPhone. Some are cheap and some are priced hefty. But when you deice to buy a SmartPhone, price is not the only thing that you need to consider. The most basic thing that every SmartPhone buyer needs to pay attention to is the Platform or the SmartPhone OS. This decides the usability of the Phone. Unlike PC the OS of a SmartPhone can not be changed whenever you wish, therefore OS selection need to be done very carefully.

smartphone-os

The operating system not only decides the user  Interface but also which apps you can run or how you can connect with your friends and a lot of other things. It’s like a boutique, where you go to buy clothes u will wear. Some boutique can have the best clothes in town with a wide range and variety, while some offer very few varieties of clothes. Some OS will offer you a wide range of apps to select from, while some offer a very small apps store, some are easily customizable while some are rigid.

Currently there are various Operating Systems available for SmartPhones like iOS(Apple), Android(Open Source and baked by Google), Blackberry OS(RIM), Windows Mobile 8(Microsoft). The basic difference in all these OS comes down to apps and customization. Android is user friendly and easily customizable while Apple’s iOS is rigid but it provides with a very varied and large app store. While these two leads the pack, Blackberry OS and Windows phone falls behind, but still they have their own personalized fun options. With introduction of Lumia range of Phone by Microsoft-Nokia partnership the Windows 8 OS is gaining some traction.

Apple iOS

iOS gives the feeling of elegance with Simplicity. The home screens come with a simple grid of icons which are moveable. The OS provides a very user friendly interface with simple, logical and consistent design. The built-in apps are a delight to use as they are really well designed, facebook and twitter integration is included in the latest version of OS, with the passbook virtual wallet, robust notifications, built-in video chats with other iOS users.

The primary delight to an iOS user will be the usage of the best app store in business. The third-party applications typically come to iOS first, it offers the best selection in books, movies or even the music store is really good. The problem with this iOS is the hardware compatibility, very few hardware can access all iOS 6.1 features. The OS though is very rigid and thus is not open to customization. The Apple’s iOS is no doubt one of the best OS currently present in the market.

Android OS

Android is Open Source and is backed by Google. Being Open Source one can find various flavors of Android like Samsung has customized it’s own version, LG it’s own. Android is the most widely used OS throughout the world, also it is one of the most compatible OS currently present in the market. This OS can be found on every range of phone; from the low-priced to the high-end phones. The most important feature of an android phone is its customization ability. The android interface offers a wide range of customizing options, you can arrange home screens, add live widgets. The Google’s play store, Android’s app store offers a wide range of apps for every mood.With introduction of Google Now in Android 4.1 it has created a new frontier.

Windows 8 Mobile

The erstwhile Windows Mobile has been replaced with Windows 8 Mobile which brings a seamless integration of Desktop and Mobile. Microsoft has partnered with Nokia and produce Lumia line of Windows 8 powered Mobile. Windows 8 has got one of the most creative interface in the market. It has the perfect balance of simplicity and customizability. The home screens consist of live tiles, which can be rearranged according to the user’s preference or priority of people or information he wants in front. It has the windows features and works brilliantly with Microsoft office, Microsoft exchange and Xbox live gaming. The drawback of Windows phone is fewer apps and hardware options, though it has its own apps and games. On the whole it is good, creatively different and fun to use OS.

Blackberry OS

Blackberry is generally regarded as n enterprise platform. So this OS has very less consumer appeal. Because of the market segment it caters to, it is the most secured OS. The most important feature of Blackberry OS is the Communication. The excellent email and Instant Messenger available in this platform are the default choice of corporate users. It is a God’s gift for those who are only interested in messaging and communication. It has a very cool interface which is easy to use and really helpful at times as everything u want is just a swipe away. Even though it has lots of apps of its own it still falls short of the big names in apps that are provided by Android or iOS.

 FeaturesApple iOS AndroidWindows 8Blackberry OS
InterfaceIt has a very user-friendly interface with simple, logical and consistent design It provides very smooth and fast UI response and thus it is also very easy to useIt has one of the most creative interface. It is perfect balance of simplicity and customizabilityIt comes with a normal yet creative user interface.
Interface detailsThe home screens come with simple grid of icons which are moveable The home screens has been left to be customized by the user himself with a wide range of widgetsThe home screen is a array of live tiles, which can be arranged according to user’s preference or priorityIt comes with an universal inbox which saves all your messages and texts together and thus are made available a swipe away 
 App store optionsIt provides one of the best and very large app store. It offers the best collection of books , movies etc. It also offers wide range of apps on its store, and is just behind the apple’s iOS.It has very fewer app options as compared to the leading apple and android OS.It does not have a good range of apps and is mostly good for communication.
CustomizabilityWhen it comes to customizability the apple’s OS is very rigid and does not offer much options for it.It offers one of the best customizability options and a lot of things are left to the user to customize and use. The windows phone also offers good options for customizability.The options for customizability are very few.
CompatibilityIt is not compatible with most of the devices.It has the best compatibility with hardware in the market and is thus seen with in a lot of phones. It also offers good compatibility with hardware.It is very rigid and is not compatible with most of the devices.
Best featuresOffers a large app store and the built in apps are designed well.Very simple and smooth UI with great customizability options.Very creative interface and a good compatibilityVery good OS for messaging and communication.

Introduction of New OS like Firefox OS and Ubuntu Mobile in recent future is going to make the battle more intense and in future only the fittest with highest flexibility will survive in the long run.

Categories
Apple Mobile

10 most popular games for your iOS device

An iOS device without games is like a computer without software. With release of iPod touch the demand for music has been suppressed by the demand for Games. Thanks to high quality 3D games in App Store.  There are scores of new games being launched everyday with some big brands battling on the app store. If you consider yourself an avid gamer and you are lucky to posses an iDevice, you can’t ignore the following games from App Store. Get ready to experience the iOS gaming pleasure.

Epic Astro Story

App Store user rating: 4.5
Developer: Kairosoft

The Epic Astro Story is a simulation game from the Japanese mobile games publisher Kairosoft. The game is set in space and the idea is to construct a flourishing colony in an untamed planet by building houses and roads while sending members of the team away to conquer new planets. The battle with cosmic creatures heats up the challenge. A sure buy for the strategy fans!

Beat Sneak Bandit

App Store user rating: 4.5
Develop: Simogo

Coming from the magic hat that has already created two of the most uniquely warm and compelling iOS games, Beat Sneak Bandit is a rhythm-action stealth puzzler. Your goal is to stealthily enter the mansion of Duke Clockface, the wicked clock thief, and give back the world all the timepieces he has stolen. On your way, you must dodge enemy guards and objects. Planning, working out puzzles, and predicting hazards will help you win the game. The smart design and Looney tune visuals are a definite plus.

Beat Hazard Ultra

App Store user rating: 5
Developer: Cold Beam Games

Beat Hazard Ultra is a fast arcade-style, music generated shooter game. The intense visuals and beat detection in the game are outstanding. The soundtrack in the game is based on the user’s iTunes playlist. Each track represents one stage and the arrangement of enemies depends on the song. As the intensity of the music goes up, the foes get faster and furious. If you are aching to get your hands on a pair of virtual sticks and let the bullets fly, Beat hazard Ultra is the game for you.

Pizza vs. Skeletons

App Store user rating: 4.5

Developer: Riverman Media

What can a custom-made giant pizza do? A lot of things, as you will in find out in Pizza vs. Skeletons. The three common elements for making a pizza – rolling, jumping, and pounding the ground are done by tilting your device, tapping the screen and hitting the deck by tapping again. These are also the moves that crush the skeletons and dodge their spears. The game includes a mighty 100 levels. A weird yet ridiculously entertaining game!

Spin Up

App Store user rating: 4.5
Developer: Nenad Katic

Spin Up is creative high score game that brims with brilliant graphics, plot, and music. The game is based on a clever gameplay mechanic where the user has to spin the outside rings of a rapidly deteriorating space elevator to guide their astronaut avatar climb out to safety. Adding to the fluidity and challenge, the elevator is filled with vicious, man-eating office supplies, broken ladders, and hostile machines. Spin Up joins the line of endlessly addictive games.

Bee Leader

App Store user rating: 4.5
Developer: Fightless Limited


Bee Leader is a relatively peaceful game that is simplistic and highly polished. In this game, you take up the role of an over-sized bee responsible for collecting nectar and honey for the hive. You navigate through a circular landscape and search flowers, honey pots, and even honey barrels. Filling the hive with honey will earn you points and move you up to the next level. It is humor combined with simple facts that makes the game interesting and different.

The King of Fighters – i 2012

App Store user rating: 5
Developer: SNK Playmore

The King of Fighters – i 2012, yet another fighting game on the app store, comes with some interesting enhancements over its previous version. The content-rich single player mode offers hours of never-ending gaming experience. New characters join the 2012 team and your player ranking changes depending on the number of victories and losses. With 32 playable characters, gamers can battle against the strongest players across the Wi-Fi network.

Swordigo

App Store user rating: 5
Developer: Touch Foo

Swordigo is an appealing side-scrolling action-RPG that includes iCloud support as a novel feature. Recalling the basic elements of established console games, Swordigo is set around genuine yet familiar characters and conventions across challenging forest, cave, and dungeon environments. Bad creatures return to cause havoc. The player takes up the sword and sets on a journey to recover powerful weapons to defeat the creatures while slashing eerie bats, crawling spiders, horned monsters, and dangerous forces on the way.

Chaos Rings II

App Store user rating: 5
Developer: Square Enix

Chaos Rings II can easily be called one of the best JRPGs available on iOS. An apocalyptic force that is threatening the world into doom pushes Darwin into the role of a nominator. Darwin’s job is to complete the Rite of Resealing task to seal away the destroyer and save the world. With an expanded battle system and amazing environment, the game is robust enough to justify its slightly high price tag.

Kitten Sanctuary

App Store user rating: 5
Developer: Clockwork Pixels

With Kitten Sanctuary, Clockwork Pixels seem to have taken a slightly new route differing from the conventional bare bone approach that most iOS puzzlers are based on. The plot of the game revolves around rescuing 50 kittens kidnapped by aliens. Progressing through a series of levels, you must play the match three game to accomplish the rescue task. The items that you will match are resources that you will collect. The well-crafted layout and attention to detail makes Kitten Sanctuary an interesting play.

Sindhuja Sandeep is a blogger who writes on mobile phone, computers and other technical stuff. Also she is keen in updating about latest technology. At present she blogs for convergence catalyst, a Telecom consulting firm offering Indian telecom market forecast & operational strategies across entire Telecom value chain