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Report claiming that Nexus 7 outsold iPad mini in Japan found misleading

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 12, 2018

In January of this year, market research firm BCN posted a report claiming that the Nexus 7 outsold the iPad mini in Japan during the holidays. Google's tablet accounted for 44.4% of all tablets sold in the study's 2,400 stores during the period, besting Apple (40.1% ) for the first time.

Fast forward to last week, when Google unveiled the new Nexus 7. Google's SVP, and leader of the Android team, Sundar Pichai, took the stage and began rattling off statistics about the platform. And of course he referred to the BCN report, which we have since learned is very misleading...

The horrible state of Android fragmentation

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

OK, so let's make this blatantly clear: Apple's iOS platform is by no means prone to device/OS fragmentation problems, but nowhere near like Android. In addition to just four screen resolutions, iOS developers, at best, must optimize their warez for a few percent customers who haven't yet upgraded to the latest and greatest version of Apple's mobile operating system.

Contrast this to Android, where Google's proclaimed openness and the multitude of device vendors, carriers and suppliers all contribute to the vast array of Android smartphones and tablets that come in hundreds of form factors, screen sizes and price points.

An extensive survey of some 682,000 Android devices has revealed the frightening scale of Android fragmentation and its impact on both users and developers...

Samsung caught cheating in Galaxy S4 benchmarks

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Cue the Lance Armstrong and Alex Rodriguez jokes, Samsung has been caught using performance-enhancing code to beef up the Galaxy S4's test scores. It's been discovered that the tech giant has programmed the handset to increase its clock speed during certain benchmarks.

The claims were initially made in the forums of popular 3D graphics site Beyond3D, and have since been confirmed by the hardware specialists over at AnandTech. The S4 specifically enables full speed GPU during testing, and then reverts to slower speeds for everyday usage...

Amazon updates Kindle app with free sample search, custom dictionaries and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

Folks with an iPhone or iPad invested in Amazon's ebook service will be happy to hear that it has posted a solid update for its iOS Kindle client today. The update brings the app to version 3.9, and offers a handful of new features and improvements.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is the new Free Sample Search feature, which allows you to search through Amazon's extensive Kindle library to download free samples. And the Bring Your Own Dictionary option pretty much speaks for itself...

Joy of Tech constructs hilarious Apple Status page

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 28, 2017

With all of the distractions and sensationalism in the tech media these days, it's tough to really understand how Apple is doing as a company. It seems like every rumor is followed by an 'Apple is doomed' report, and it probably doesn't help that it's so secretive.

But never fear, as usual, Joy of Tech is here to help clear up some of the confusion in a way that only it can. The comic creator has put together a Status page—yeah, similar to the one Apple made for its Dev Center—to show where Apple is at on a lot of things...

Control Unlocker: unlock your iPhone old school style

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

You probably already saw our preview for Control Unlocker, but just in case you haven't, let me fill you in on what it does. Control Unlocker is a new jailbreak tweak that brings an NES inspired controller to the Lock screen. Users can then use custom input commands to unlock their device.

Yes, it's entirely possible to use the Contra code to unlock your iPhone, though the controller lacks a Start (or Select) button. Have a look at our video walkthrough inside...

BuddyLock: an incredibly detailed Lock screen launcher

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 12, 2018

Earlier in the year, there was a deluge of Lock screen launcher releases to hit jailbroken iPhones. Off the top of my head, I can probably name about 5 of them that came out all around the same time. Since then, things have died down a bit, but there still appears to be a lot of interest in the category.

BuddyLock is the latest such Lock screen launcher to make its way to Cydia. Although its name sounds a bit on the goofy side, don't let its name fool you; BuddyLock is one of the deepest Lock screen launcher releases that we've ever covered.

Have a look inside as we touch on all of its features in our detailed video synopsis...

Apple chasing Control Center Android app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Did you know Android has its own Control Center? No, really - earlier this month developer Hi Tools Studio earned free publicity by releasing an app that brings the full iOS 7 Control Center user experience to Android phones and tablets. And boy, is it a pixel-perfect copy of the headline iOS 7 capability, down to all of the included features and then some.

Now, the iPhone maker rarely files app complaints with Google so they could have just as easily turned a blind eye on this one had this particular developer not crossed the line so obviously. Hence, Apple has asked the Internet giant to pull the software on the basis of copyright violation...

Splyce puts a DJ inside your iPhone

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

With the recent launch of Algoriddim’s new djay 2 app, it brings up the notion of mixing music on the fly so that, when you have friends over, you can play music that fits the mood.

Splyce is a deejay app that is not nearly as complex as djay, but it does mix your music for you on the fly and even makes sure that songs are played in compatible beats so you aren’t going nuts with your music…

Tim Cook spotted in China again meeting with local carriers

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2013

Tim Cook is back in China this week, according to a new report. The CEO is allegedly there on business, talking with the local carriers there about Apple's leveling iPhone sales in the country, as well as its upcoming iPhone launches.

Citing sources familiar with Cook's meetings, tech.ifeng.com claims that Cook met with China Telecom's senior leadership this week. The talks are supposedly over, but it is not yet known if the executive has returned to the US...

Foxconn reportedly hiring 90,000 workers to help with iPhone 5S production

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2013

A new report out of Taiwan this morning claims that Foxconn is going on a major hiring spree to help fill orders for Apple's next generation iPhone, believed to be the iPhone 5S. Production on the handset is said to be ramping up ahead of its fall launch.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Taiwanese publication Focus Taiwan reports that Foxconn is starting to heavily recruit for its Shenzhen plant, and it's looking to add as many as 90,000 people to its workforce as it begins to fulfill major 5S orders...

Sprint sold 1.4 million iPhones during Q2, launches 41 new LTE markets

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2013

Sprint has released its financials for its second quarter of 2013, and once again the carrier saw strong smartphone sales. According to the company, smartphones accounted for some 86% of its postpaid handset mix, and approximately 1.4 million of them were iPhones.

But not all of the numbers fell in Sprint's favor. The carrier lost nearly 2 million subscribers during the quarter, due in large part to the recent shutdown of its Nextel network. And it also posted a staggering $874 million operating loss due to charges related to the closure...