Samsung's latest flagship will have the newest version of Android -- for about two months.
The new Galaxy S4 features cutting edge hardware.
Too bad its operating system will be out of date about four weeks after the phone hits store shelves.
Samsung Electronics' latest phone, which will debut in April at the earliest, will run Android 4.2.2, also known as Jelly Bean. It's also the latest version of Android -- for now.
The problem is another version of Android, widely believed to be called Key Lime Pie, will likely make its debut at Google's I/O developer conference in May.
It likely won't be called Motorola X-Phone when the project hits the prime time, but the project is at least very much real. A job posting on Linked In advertised an "X-Phone" product manager.
Plenty of other rumors swirl around the suspected device, including one that the X-Phone may offer hardware choices that resemble the Droid Razr Maxx HD, suggests a PhoneArena source.
Newly tipped rumors include that it will have up to 128GB internal storage, a 3,000mAh or larger battery, and a Kevlar body. Expected as the first Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie device, the X-Phone could also boast a 4.8-inch display and a Sony Exmor camera sensor. It's worth noting that most of these new specs line up with last week's speculation of an unbreakable case, extended life battery, and wireless charging.
Photos of the rumored HTC M4 surfaced earlier in the week, giving us a look at what may be in store for the midrange experience. As noted by HTC Source, the handset closely resembles an early mockup of the also-rumored HTC M7.
In a related note, Japanese tech blog Blog of Mobile (translate) pairs the same images with an HTC 603e. Expected to launch in China, the specifications mostly line up with previous M4 details.
One key difference would be the camera, which is listed at 5-megapixels. Early rumors tied the phone to a 13-megapixel camera, though a 5-megapixel shooter seems more likely for a midranger.
Other hardware for the M4 may include a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, a 4.3-inch 720p display, 16GB internal storage, and 2GB RAM. Powered by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the M4 is expected to feature a lighter Sense 5.0 interface.
Nearly half of all American adults now own a smartphone, and the innovation on display at CES showed just how far these devices have come. Handsets are getting thinner even as their screens are getting bigger, prices are coming down, and the threat of water damage is being conquered with new waterproofing technology. Read on for the most exciting smartphones unveiled at CES 2013.
Yota Phone: E-Paper Screen Shows Content on the Back
When we first heard about the Yota phone, a 4.3-inch Android phone with a grayscale e-Paper display on the back, we were puzzled but intrigued by the concept. But after seeing a working prototype at CES, we’re excited about the new range of use cases this second screen presents.The back screen can serve as an eReader, an always-present alert system or a post-it note for your digital life.
Sony Xperia Z 1080p: Smartphone Plays Music Underwater
The new Sony Xperia Z combines current superphone staples like a 5-inch, 1080p screen and quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with high-end imaging and the eye-catching ability to withstand being dunked in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It can even stream your favorite tunes to a nearby Bluetooth speaker while submerged. Add in a new stamina mode for improved standby time and easy one-touch sharing with NFC devices, and you have the winner of our Best of CES 2013 Smartphone Award.
Lenovo IdeaPhone K900: World’s First Intel Clover Trail Phone
Lenovo's IdeaPhone K900 is spearheaded by a 2-GHz Z2580 Intel Clover Trail processor, making it the first dual-core powered smartphone from the chip giant. With its 5.5-inch, 1080p display, it enters phablet territory yet still manages to stay slim at just 6.9mm thick.
Huawei Ascend Mate: World’s Biggest Screen and Battery
The Huawei Ascend Mate is so big that we had to step back to fit it in the frame when shooting this phablet at CES 2013. At 6.1 inches, the Mate (coming to China in February and other markets thereafter) makes the iPhone 5 look like a Tic-Tac. Equally large and in charge is its 4050mAh battery. Huawei says the Ascend Mate should last for 14 hours of Web surfing, compared to 11.5 hours for the Samsung Galaxy Note II. Pantech Discover: A Big-Screen Phone for the Masses
Big-screen phones used to be the sole domain of top-tier manufacturers like HTC and Samsung, but Pantech is flipping that paradigm on its head with its new 4.8-inch Discover. The Discover is about as budget-friendly as a smartphone can get, with a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM 8960 processor and 1GB of RAM for only $49.99 on a two-year contract.
Huawei Ascend D2: Crazy-High PPI, Shrugs Off Water
Huawei’s Ascend Mate is getting all the attention because it has a ginormous 6.1-inch display, but to us the Ascend D2 looks like the better of the two phones. Why? Because it crams 1080p resolution into a 5-inch display, giving this phone a crazy high 443 DPI. That’s higher than the iPhone 5 (326) and most Android handsets. This combined with attractive features like IPX water resistance, a 3000mAh battery and a 5-MP camera makes the Ascend D2 a highly competitive smartphone.
Alcatel One Touch Idol Ultra: World’s Thinnest, Lightest Smartphones
Alcatel unveiled a slew of products at CES 2013, starting with the One Touch Idol Ultra. Weighing a barely-there 4.1 ounces and measuring 5.29 x 2.7 x 0.25 inches, Alcatel says the Ultra is currently the world’s slimmest smartphone, beating out the iPhone 5's 0.3 inches. The Idol Ultra also boasts a 4.7-inch AMOLED display, a 1.2-GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). A 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and 8-MP rear camera round out the specs.
KDDI's funky au Infobar is back! Once again designed by the famed Naoto Fukasawa, this A02 -- co-developed by HTC -- brings the series up to date with Qualcomm's 1.5GHz quad-core APQ8064 (but with just 1GB of RAM), 4.7-inch 720p display, 16GB of storage, microSD slot, 2,100mAh battery, LTE radio (800/1500) and Android 4.1. Better yet, this phone also supports both CDMA2000 800/2100 and WCDMA 850/1900/2100, making it a great global phone. Judging by one of the demo clips after the break, it seems that this Infobar's 8-megapixel main imager (with F2.0 lens) and 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera take advantage of HTC's ImageSense chip for speedy burst shots. Likewise, you'll find Beats Audio built into the system. As per typical Japanese mobile phone, the usual NFC (with Osaifu-Keitai mobile wallet), 1seg TV tuner and infrared are also packed inside the 9.7mm-thick, 147g-heavy waterproof (IPX5 and IPX7) and dustproof (IP5X) body.
We're already fans of the iconic nishikigoi (meaning "brocaded carp") color scheme as pictured above, but what really caught our attention this time are the fluid animations and uniqueness of the "iida UI" 2.0 (iida stands for "innovation," "imagination," "design" and "art") by interactive designer Yugo Nakamura. As you'll see in the video clips after the break, the home screen here shares some similarities with Windows Phone 8's counterpart -- in the way items snap to grid and resize, even though the former is enhanced by plenty of bouncy animation, more colors and funny sounds (designed by Japanese musician Cornelius). Expect this A02 -- which is also available in blue or gray -- to hit the Japanese market in mid-February.
Discover the new Sony Xperia Z. According to the brand itself, it is by far the best Sony mobile phone ever made.
During this year CES, 2 brands are trying to have their comeback: Sony and Nokia. With the new Xperia Z, Sony is trying to strike strongly in the smartphone market
Here are the main characteristics of the Xperia Z, that make it as an outstanding smartphone:
Weight: 146 gr / 5.15 oz
Display: 5.0 inches TFT with 16 million colours
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Durability: Water-resistant and Dust proof.
OS: Google Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
1.5 GHz Qualcomm APQ8064+MDM9215M – Quad Core
Battery: Talk time up to 11 hours and standby time up to 550 hours
Camera: 13.1 megapixel camera with Auto focus
What are the interesting features to highlight?
Introduction for the first time of HDR to Video
Adding the world’s only Dual Exmor R for mobile camera (you can take self-portraits or chat in lowlight conditions)
Take pictures in Video mode
A screen as impressive as a HDTV
Super slim, only 7.9 mm
One touch connectivity, TV screen mirroring, sharing photos and music with just one touch with any other Sony Device.
Adreno 320 GPU, discover outstanding 3D games.
LTE/4G technology
HD Voice
What is interesting with the Xperia Z is that Sony has finally taken inspiration from what they achieve in the TV area in order to boost their mobile offer. All the technologic breakthroughs you may found in the Bravia TV, now they are available in the palm of your hand.
It's been noted today in the internet community that the latest beta release of Mozilla's Firefox browser for the Android operating system needs less memory to operate and its hardware requirements are also lower than older versions, something that should please most Android users.
Mozilla says that its newer mobile browser is now supported on devices with ARMv6 CPUs clocked as low as 600 MHz, down from the 800 MHz that was required previously. The news comes at a good time, just when CES 2013 is closing down.
According to Mozilla, this improvement allows the open source browser to run on approximately 15 million more devices than it could before. Examples of newly supported smartphones include the LG Optimus One, the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide, the HTC Wildfire S and the ZTE R-750.
The browser's other system requirements haven't changed, says Mozilla. It still needs 512 MB of RAM, a minimum screen resolution of 480x320, around 16 MB of free storage, and Android 2.2 or greater to run correctly.
However, it may not run on every single device that meets those requirements, warns Mozilla. Google only started making public beta builds of Firefox with support for the ARMv6 architecture in September 2012, when it said it would test a variety of hardware profiles. Like all beta software, these builds are not guaranteed to work perfectly.
Nevertheless, Mozilla still estimates that as many as 55 percent of the Android handsets in use today run on ARMv6 processors. The goal is for Firefox to support as many of them as possible, though Mozilla says supporting all of them is probably infeasible for now.
In addition to the reduced hardware requirements, the latest Firefox for Android beta also brings in new features. Most notably, the new release now supports newer user interface themes, much as the desktop version does, and it has also been localized for Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, something that wasn't possible before.
Users whose phones meet or exceed the new minimum hardware requirements can download the new Firefox for Android beta from the Google Play store. As usual, owners are encouraged to share their feedback about the browser and to report bugs to Mozilla
The Sony Xperia Z has stood out as one of the hottest gadgets of CES 2013. It’s plain to see why. It’s big, it’s bright, it’s bold, it runs the latest version of Android and this is what people seem to be looking for from their mobile phone at the moment, but what about the details?
Sony’s first phablet looks to be more than just the headline specs, so here are the real Sony Xperia Z details of which you should be taking note. Top of the line chip
Sony has previously been the guy tp bring a knife to a gun fight when it comes to raw processing power in the Sony Xperia range of phones. The company was adamant at MWC 2012 that the Sony Xperia S, T and P would do just fine against the quad-core competition with their single and dual-core CPUs. They didn’t.
This time, the Sony Xperia flagship device comes with a top-of-the-line 1.5GHz asynchronous quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 2GB RAM just to give it an extra kick up the backside. That’s as impressive a chip as in any mobile gadget at the moment and ensures that the Xperia Z will not be underpowered.
That 1080p Full HD screen
Who else has got 1080p on a mobile phone at the moment? Anyone? Anyone? Huawei, that’s who. There’s one on the Huawei Ascend D2 also announced at CES 2013. Both the Xperia Z and the Ascend D2 are 5-inch phones and, consequently, have resulting pixel density ratings of 441ppi. Let’s bear in mind here that Apple’s proud, industry-leading Retina Display comes in at 326ppi and has just officially been left at the start line blinking in the dust.
Of course, numbers aren’t everything but there’s no reason to believe that’s all the Xperia Z is about. The Bravia technology behind it seems just as impressive. The engineers behind the company's TV line have come up with the Bravia Mobile Engine 2 which is, of course, a generation on from the 2012 phones. Qualitatively speaking, it’s hard to tell what this will mean in full but we were seriously impressed by the video quality with our hands-on time.
Reliability
It’s not a sexy subject as far as mobile phone tech goes but, with more of us reliant on smartphones than ever before, how well our phones can deal with the daily grind is a potentially crucial area for success. Sony has included two features with the Xperia Z to sell this phone as something that will last.
On the one hand is the battery life. The battery unit itself is not enormous: a 2400mAh battery is fairly normal capacity for something with a screen of this size. It’s the Stamina Mode software that is hoped will last you from dawn till dusk. It promises up to nine days of standby time by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starts them up again when the screen is back on. If that sounds like a problem, you will be able customise it so that some of your apps are exempt from this treatment if they’re of particular importance to you. If this works as Sony says it will, it’s going to be revolutionary.
The other inclusion of note, as far as reliability goes, is the added bonus that the Sony Xperia Z will be waterproof. Many are the people who’ve killed smartphones in the past by accidental dunks in puddles or, worse, toilets, and the idea of a top device that comes with in-built protection to such a sticky end is very appealing indeed.
Low-light video power
Three was the new 1.5, five was the new three, eight was the new five and now it seems that they’re missing out 10 altogether and making 13 megapixels the new standard for top-end mobile phones. So, it’s of little surprise that that’s what the rear-facing camera of the Sony Xperia Z is all about. What should be of note, however, is that Sony’s new flagship heralds the arrival of the world's first image sensor with HDR (High Dynamic Range) video for smartphones. In real money, that’s going to mean far better results at lower light levels.
Currently, video on most mobile phones is good enough outdoors during the day but very grainy and often blurred the minute you step away from natural light. HDR should help to improve quality on this front. Quite how dramatically might make a significant difference to the Xperia Z’s success once the rest of the competition gets their act together. Speaking of which...
It’s ahead of the game
The final and really clever move from Sony is not only to make the Xperia Z as good as it can possibly be but to also kick it out of the door in very timely fashion. The Samsungs and HTCs of this world - Sony’s big competitors in this space - will wait until MWC 2013 in February to launch their top devices for the year. Now it might well be that they both bring out something similar but the fact that Sony has done it a month and a half early means that Sony got it in first and also did so when there was no one else shouting.
More importantly, the Sony Xperia Z will be on the shelf from the beginning of March and that’s going to give it at least a month or two’s head start on whatever the competition can come up with. We don’t have to tell you that gadget-lovers are an impatient bunch. Why wait until the late spring/early summer to get what you want when it’s already in front of you? A very timely move.
The Samsung Galaxy IV is expected to release in April 2013 after be announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2013. The Galaxy S IV will sport a 5-inch full HD display, a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 1.9-megapixel front facing camera, runs Android Jelly Bean OS.
ZTE Grand X will be released in Q1 2013
According to rumor, ZTE will release the Grand X in Q1 2013, ZTE is expected to announce the Grand X at CES 2013 in January. The Grand X will spot a 5 inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a quad core processor and feature a 8 megapixel camera.
Samsung Galaxy Young S6312 will be announced at MWC 2013
The Galaxy Young S6312 will be one of new Samsung smartphones announced at MWC 2013. The Young Duos S6312 will come with dual SIM support and run Android Jelly Bean. In addition, it will be the successor of the Galaxy Y Duos S6102 with a 3.14 inch QVGA display, 832MHz processor, and a 3.2MP rear camera.
Samsung Galaxy Premier i9260 will be launched in 2013
According to SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy Premier will go on sale in some European countries by the end of January 2013. The Galaxy Premier comes with a 4.65″ HD sAMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4470 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 8 megapixel camera, a 1.9MP front-facing camera, support for Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, a Micro SD card slot, a 2,100 mAh battery, runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.
Sony Xperia E will be released in early 2013
The Xperia E is the first Sony’s smartphone to run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It will be released in early 2013 with three color versions: black, white and pink. In additional, a dual SIM version called Xperia E dual will be also available in the same time with black and gold color flavors.
The Xperia E comes with a 3.5 inch HVGA display, powered by a 1GHz single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory, a MicroSD card slot, a 3.2MP rear camera, a VGA front-facing camera, a 1,500 mAh battery that supports up to 6.3 hours of talk time, support for HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS. The pricing have not been disclosed.
According to Xda-Developers, Android 4.2.1 ROM is now available for the Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T. This ROM will not support for GPS and Camera. Other features will good working such as WiFi, Bluetooth, SD cards, rotation,sound, OpenGL graphics, HW acceleration.
The Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T comes with a 10.1″ LED Backlight WUXGA 1920×1200 resolution display, a 1.6GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 8MP rear camera with auto-focus and LED flash, a 2 MP front Camera, a 25Wh Li-polymer battery, 2-in-1 Audio Jack,micro HDMI, Micro SD Card Reader.
ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T
Transform to FHD. Infinite entertainment awaits
The slimmest and lightest 1920x1200 resolution Full HD Android™ tablet
The Fastest NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 Quad-core CPU ever, @ 1.6GHz
Improved graphics performance with a 12-core GPU
Elevate your audio experience with SonicMaster technology for a superior sound range
Stunning stylish colors with a metallic spun finished design
Rear auto-focus 8MP camera with LED flash, 5-element lens, large F/2.2 aperture and back illuminated CMOS sensor for crystal clear shots
Super IPS+ panel for ultra bright outdoor readability with 178° wide viewing angles
Incredible audio experience with ASUS Sonicmaster Technology
Tuned by the ASUS Golden ears team, audio on the Transformer Pad Infinity is delivered with the most precise processing protocols and codecs, superior speaker construction and large resonance chambers for unforgettable audio enjoyment.
The Fastest NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 CPU Ever
Powered by the fastest NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 4-Plus-1™ chip around, the world’s 1st quad-core mobile CPU blazes at 1.6GHz, providing the Transformer Pad Infinity the power to browse the web and play 1080p HD video at lightning fast speeds. The snappier response time and better multi-tasking performance make the Transformer Pad Infinity a true mobile entertainment powerhouse.
The new Android 5.0 OS "Jelly Bean" is not even released by Android and yet Google is already cookin' their future Android 6.0 OS called "Key Lime Pie".
According to a report, "Key Lime Pie" is already in the works by the Android team.
In addition, a leading technology and gadgets news blog has this spicy report on Android's future OS:
"Google's Android 5.0 "Jelly Bean" is not even fully "cooked" yet, but we're hearing buzz that Google is again busy cookin' yet another OS to its collection. According to rumors, the new and upcoming Android 6.0 OS has a codename "Key Lime Pie".
The availability of Android "Key Lime Pie" and its features is yet to be announced at this time, but we're hearing that it might be officially introduced by Google in 2013.
For now allow us to take you back, as a sort of review, to Google's past and previous OS's and their times of release:
Android 1.5 OS (Cupcake) (April 2009)
Android 1.6 OS (Donut) (September 2009)
Android 2.0 OS (Eclair) (October 2009)
Android 2.2 OS (FroYo) (May 2010)
Android 2.3 OS (Gingerbread) (December 2010)
Android 3.0 OS (Honeycomb) (February 2011)
Android 4.0 OS (Ice Cream Sandwich) (October 2011)
Android 5.0 OS ("Jelly Bean") (Still Awaiting Release, possibly later 2012)
Android 6.0 OS ("Key Lime Pie") (Future Release, possibly in 2013)"
It appears that Google don't want to play sitting duck and just watch on the sidelines with rivals Apple and Microsoft in the OS wars.
In a blog post published on Monday afternoon (in lieu of a media event scrapped by Hurricane Sandy), Google announced two new Nexus devices, including the new Nexus smartphone, called the Nexus 4, and a 10-inch Nexus tablet called the Nexus 10. The company also announced that it has refreshed its popular 7-inch Nexus 7 tablets, lowering the prices for higher storage options and adding options for mobile data.
All in all, it's three new "Nexus" devices, in three new product categories, for Google going into one of the busiest times of the year for tech shopping: The Nexus 4 will battle the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3; the Nexus 7 will battle the iPad mini and Kindle Fire; and the Nexus 10 will battle the new iPad and Microsoft Surface in what will surely be one of the most rich and fruitful times to be a tech buyer in some time.
The Nexus line by Google, you may know, features gadgets built by Google in conjunction with another hardware maker and generally features the latest edition of Android without any software "skins" added on top. It is pure Android, and Google's chance to show device manufacturers what an Android device can look like and do.
So, let's take a look at what Android devices can look like and do in late 2012:
Perhaps the most notable of the three fresh Google gadgets is the Nexus 10, Google's first attempt at a full-sized tablet and its first tablet since the $199 Nexus 7 hit in mid-2012. Google built the Nexus 10 with Samsung, and this one appears aimed straight for the killer feature of Samsung's nemesis: Google boasts that the Nexus 10 is "the highest-resolution tablet on the planet"; it sports a 10-inch screen with a 2,560x1,600 resolution and 300 pixels-per-inch, which would, indeed, give it a crisper display than that of Apple's tablet (2,048-by-1,536 resolution and 264 pixels per inch).
The Nexus 10 is also thinner than the latest iPad (8.9 mm versus 9.4 mm) and lighter, too (1.33 pounds versus 1.49 pounds). It runs a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor and features a rear 5 megapixel camera and front-facing 1.9 megapixel camera. The Nexus 10 -- and all of the nexus devices announced Monday -- will run Android 4.2, an update to the Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" version announced by Google in the summer.
The new Nexus 7 is on sale now in the Google Play Store.
Watch this video put together by Google showing off the Google now feature on its three newest Nexus devices, the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10:
Android 4.2 brings improvements the Google Now virtual assistant, Google's powerful answer to Siri; new "gesture typing," which is similar to the Swype keyboard input familiar to most Android users; and a solution to wirelessly transmit the content of the phone onto an HDTV.
The Nexus 10 will cost $399 for a 16GB model and $499 for a 32GB model. It will go on sale in the online Google Play Store on November 13th. Those interested can learn more and sign up for more information on the official Nexus 10 page.
Also announced was the Nexus 4, a collaboration with LG and the followup to last year's Samsung/Google Galaxy Nexus smartphone. It will be one of the first smartphones in America with a quad-core processor and adds a large 4.7-inch high-resolution display. The Nexus 4 will also ship with Android 4.2 and brings a feature called Photo Sphere, which allows you to snap "3D Panorama" photos: You just continuously snap photos in any direction (not just side-to-side or up-and-down) and the Android software stitches those photos together after the fact.
Wireless charging without a case comes standard, following the lead of Nokia's Lumia 920. There is a rear camera (8 megapixels) and front-facing camera (1.3 megapixels), and the connectivity is the slower 3G HSPA+ instead of the now-standard 4G LTE; The Verge has a detailed explanation of why, though many are likely to be disappointed that the newest Nexus device does not take advantage of the newest mobile connection.
The Nexus 4 will be available in the Google Play Store unlocked for $299 for an 8GB model or $359 for a 16GB model starting November 13. The smartphone will also be available on T-Mobile for $199 on a two-year contract.
Finally, Google also announced changes to its Nexus 7 tablet to make it more attractive to buyers, as alternative handheld tablets from Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble hit the market. A 16GB Nexus 7 will now cost $199, and a 32GB Nexus 7 will cost $249 -- both prices having dropped $50 from their previous points. A 32GB Nexus 7 with HSPA+ connectivity will cost $299 off-contract.
Crafty commerce site Etsy has a thriving community of buyers and sellers online, as well as on iOS. Now its app is available on Android too, providing a window into its catalogue of 17m+ items for sale. A clean and elegant design keeps the focus firmly on the items.
Heroes of Order & Chaos (free):
Gameloft's Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA – a genre you'll be hearing more about on smartphones and tablets in 2013) game sees you forming gangs for fantasy battling, in a world based on the company's existing World of Warcraft-like Order & Chaos Online game. Expect heroes, monsters and upgrades a-plenty.
Finger Hoola (£0.69):
Finger Hoola is a different kind of game entirely: one that sees you tracing shapes on-screen hula hoop-style to the strains of ambient music. As much a way to relax for a few minutes out of sight of your inbox as a game, it's very good indeed.
Top Gear SSR (free)
Top Gear Stunt School Revolution has been a hit on iOS, and now it's available on Android too. It's a driving game based (loosely) on the BBC series, meaning the emphasis is on eye-popping stunts, often with a dash of the surreal.
Snapseed (free):
Photo-sharing app Snapseed's developer Nik Software was acquired by Google earlier this year, making this (sort of) Google's in-house rival to Instagram. By which I mean taking and sharing photos while applying visual filters and borders, with a strong tie-in to the Google+ social network.
Candy Crush Saga (free):
King.com's Candy Crush Saga has been a huge hit on Facebook, and recently made the leap to iOS. Now it's on Android too, albeit in beta – so don't be surprised if you spot the odd bug. The gameplay sees you matching sweets over more than 100 levels, with social features high in the mix to compare your efforts to your friends.
Clay Jam (free):
In what's already looking like another good month for Android gaming, Clay Jam is the latest title from Zynga, through its publishing deal with developer Fat Pebble. It's a claymation-style action game that sees you rolling and bouncing the hero down a series of hills. The visuals make it stand out from the crowd, but the gameplay delivers on this promise too.
Zenonia 5 (free):
Gamevil's Zenonia has become one of the biggest and best mobile-only RPG franchises over the last couple of years, with this fifth iteration deserving to win even more fans round. It has a huge world to explore, more monsters than you can shake a stick/sword/spell at, and global player-versus-player match-ups for a social spin.
23snaps - Family Photo Book (free):
More photo-sharing, but this time with a focus on families. It's an app designed to help parents share snaps of their kids with family and close friends, as an alternative to slapping them up on Facebook (although, if you're on top of your group settings, it's possible there too). This beta app works very well though, with its value as much about browsing back through the photos later, as the actual sharing at the time.
Slice Keyboard (£3.11):
There are a number of popular keyboard replacement apps on Android, so Slice Keyboard faces ferocious competition. But it's an interesting approach to the challenge of touchscreen typing: a blank "home row" to place your fingers on, determining where other keys appear
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