Androidifying

Apple has been on quite a buying spree as of late, scooping up companies like Locationary and transit-app maker Embark to name a couple. The latest acquisition from the Cupertino-based tech giant is a Swedish data-compression company by the name of AlgoTrim. A company rep from AlgoTrim told AllThingsD, “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.” Of course, as you can see in the statement, all parties involved were mum about the details of the acquisition. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as this is the standard Apple protocol: say nothing. There was also no word yet on what Apple paid to buy AlgoTrim. Although we’re sure those details will probably surface in due time. AlgoTrim develops data-compression technology that simultaneously shortens processing times and reduces file size, which is perfect for a mobile operating system like iOS . This will help the company be more efficient with the shrinking of pictur

An Android fan imagined what Android 5.0 could look like, showing various elements in design renders posted on his Google Plus account. Jinesh Shah, an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Michigan, has posted four images in which he imagined the new Android 5.0 environment (see gallery below). We’re looking at an interesting, minimal design, with colors that are easy on the eyes. Some translucency effects are present – we have no idea whether it’s iOS 7-related or not – like that transparent task bar and on-screen buttons. The home screen features a redesigned clock and Google Search widgets, with Shah giving prominent placement to Hangouts and Camera apps. Interestingly, the lock screen is a bit more cluttered, even though it includes only two elements, a “scrollable Google Now lockscreen widget integrated with Notifications,” and Voice Search. According to Shah, this new Google Now widget is “already open,” and you don’t have to swipe down to activate it. Presumably t

It is sometimes very frustrating if you have devices that are incompatible and you can’t sync your files because they have different formats. If you have a Mac computer and an Android tablet/phone, for instance, you will most likely have your music organized on iTunes. Android is not really iTunes-friendly, and iTunes is not exactly Android-friendly.  Thus, you may have a hard time synchronizing your music between the two devices. Fortunately, we have a great tutorial for you, guaranteed to sync iTunes with your Android device. Requirements Don’t get too excited on how to sync your Android device with iTunes just yet. Before anything else, you have to download two apps that you are going to use later. You are required to download and install: iSyncr (available for Windows or for Mac users).  Get the Windows version  here , and the Mac version  here . PlayerPro Music Player, which you can get from  here . USB drivers for your Android phone (so that you can connect your phone as a USB Ma

Earlier today we shared a tweet through the  @wpcentral  account on Twitter. Basically the yellow wireless charging cover (CC-3066) for the Lumia 1020 came back to Amazon, but only had a 4 left in stock. You had to be quick to grab them. Now it looks like Amazon has a bigger supply up. In the Lumia 1020, wireless charging was omitted to keep the device as thin and light as possible. Or so we’ve been told by Nokia. Although a recent DIY hack with the Lumia 925 makes a few of us think otherwise. Either way, you’re going to need the wireless charging cover from Nokia to add the ability to your Lumia 1020. It’s been a hard piece to find over the past few weeks with limited stock wherever you went. However, if you go to Amazon you’ll find what looks like an ample supply for both the black and yellow versions. Both show as “in stock” and go for $39.99. If you’ve been meaning to grab one you might want to do so before we see another crazy fluctuation in availability. Have one already? What

The Nexus 4 by LG and Google has always been a steal at it’s low price of $299. Now El Goog is sweetening the deal even further with a price drop down to a mere $199 for the 8GB model and $249 for the 16GB model. At that price, you’re getting a phone that still has relatively great specs, stock Android and is blessed with the Nexus name, thus ensuring speedy software updates in the future. If you’re on a GSM carrier, you have absolutely no reason not to buy one of these at this bargain price. Now to the other thing that most likely accompanies this price drop. We’re fast approaching that time of the year when Google comes out and launches a new Nexus phone which means that this price drop on last year’s Nexus 4 is probably to make room for the successor. So what will the successor be? That’s not quite as cut and dry of an issue. Differing reports are everywhere with some claiming that the new Nexus will be made by Motorola. Others are saying that it will be a stock version of the LG G2

Looks like Apple will officially start rolling out iOS 7 updates on September 10th. A developer named Owen Williams received an email from Nuance with this information, and since Nuance is an important partner of Apple – we tend to believe this information. It is said that Tim Cook & Co. will hold a special event on this day when we should see the new iPhone 5S announced alongside the more affordable iPhone 5C model. Of course, nothing is official until it’s official and we’ll be on the on the lookout for additional details in the days to come…

If there’s one thing that truly sets Android aside from everyone else, like the iPhone, Windows Phone and BlackBerry, it’s customization. No platform offers the same amount of customization as Android does and it’s this that many of us love about the platform. It’s not just that Android itself gives us more options to make our devices feel our own but, the vast amount of apps that are available out there. With so many out there, what sets Sparky Lock Screen aside from the rest? Can it really help make your lock screen feel unique? Read on as we try to answer that question. Description : Sparky Lock Screen is  an app that’s still in beta that’s essentially what you think it is, it’s an app that changes the appearance of your lock screen. Essentially, Sparky Lock Screen is a collection of stunning lock screen themes and designs that bring something unique to your smartphone. The app is quick and well-designed to make it quick and easy to change your lock screen themes. Actions lock un