Sunday Debate: Android vs. The Competition — How Can Android Secure Victory?

Android has had a good run these past couple of years; Google made sure their mobile platform remained at the forefront of emerging markets through optimized Android releases starting with KitKat.

The company also invested in Android One, and due to Android’s nature, it was also the top choice for OEMs tackling the new demand. Now there is no shortage of Android smartphones for all sorts of people on all price brackets — “be together, not the same” is something Android lives by. But despite all the options, and the amazing potential of each and every Android phone, there are giants looming in the horizon attempting to grab Google’s pie. Microsoft and Apple, and their own mobile platforms, have also been growing significantly in various ways.

With Windows 10 spanning across Microsoft products and Apple keeping a tight hold on their ludicrous profits, how can Android – and its loyal OEMs – secure victory and/or healthy revenue?

• What is Android’s biggest threat right now?
• What are Android’s strengths over the competition?
• Are those enough to secure victory?
• What features and services should Android prioritize?
• What is the next step for Android in such a competitive context?

Join the discussion!

A Connected World

Microsoft’s Windows 10 attempts to unify various Microsoft devices and services with a vision that is slightly different from Android’s. Google is also trying to stay on top of the internet of things, emerging markets, and what not, but Microsoft’s approach is different as it offers an even more homogeneous solution that also allows products like phones to serve other purposes. Meanwhile, Google keeps splitting Android into separate products with Android TV, Android Wear, Android Auto, and the like — all good in their own right, but arguably not as polished as Microsoft’s vision.

Google is also coming forth with Marshmallow, an OS upgrade that focuses around Google Services more than any other. Things like Now-on-Tap prove to be ingenious and useful offerings that few companies can truly match, but Google is also falling behind in terms of traditional functionality to enhance multi-tasking and continuity. Apple and Microsoft see this as a big deal, and both companies have adopted productivity-oriented approaches to both software and hardware in 2015. This is very clear when one takes a look at the three companies’ tablet offerings — the iPad Pro, Surface Pro 4 and the Pixel C.

Finally, the competition doesn’t miss a chance to flaunt over its advantages. Despite Google’s efforts, Microsoft and Apple still have the upper hand when it comes to software updates, an issue that Google is still trying to address through their security patches amidst periodic vulnerability findings. Apple also retains the high-end flagship market and continuously makes advancements in key areas consumers care about, like performance, battery life and camera quality. Microsoft, instead, attempts to offer a package that creates perfect synergy with various other products. Google’s approach to the internet of things and mobile is promising nonetheless, but one must reckon that the competition is picking up.

Debating

Google is still evolving our favorite platform, but after a rough year for Android flagships and a no mainstream adoption for other Android branches like Wear (once again), some are skeptical that Google might be slowing down on Android in favor of its Google Services. The platform itself remains highly relevant, and Marshmallow brings legitimate improvements. But it can’t be ignored that Microsoft and Apple keep ramping up as well, and big releases like Windows 10 have the potential to change the battlefield in the long run.

• What is Android’s biggest threat right now?
• What are Android’s strengths over the competition?
• Are those enough to secure victory?
• What features and services should Android prioritize?
• What is the next step for Android in such a competitive context?

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Ported Xperia Z5 UI For Samsung Galaxy Grand 2

XDA Senior Member Apexpredator has worked on bringing the Xperia Z5 experience on Samsung Galaxy Grand 2. The procedure requires CyanogenMod 12.1 on your device. Thankfully, the guide also speaks of the steps to get that in place, making it easier to get started.

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Advanced Framework For Xperia Z2

XDA Member idid idamrep has posted an advanced framework for the Xperia Z2. Using this framework, you can get Sony UI in non-Sony apps. The mod is available in a flashable zip, and will work on stock roms, both odexed and deodexed.

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A Detailed Tutorial to Flashing WP8/10 on Your Lumia Devices

Ever had a botched system update on your Lumia device, or wanted to downgrade for a reason or another? If so, then you’ve probably heard that you need to flash back the Windows ROM.

While there are various device-specific or OEM-specific tools to do so for you, it can still be a daunting task for a new user trying to understand what all those terms and programs are for.

Fortunately, XDA Recognized Contributor Omamendih has put together a well-detailed tutorial that covers everything about flashing Windows Phone 8.x or Windows 10 Mobile on your Lumia device. It’ll start off by explaining what you’ll be doing by defining ROMs and flashing, then continue to walk you through all the prerequisites. Every single step is covered, from finding the ROM to installing it (using Windows Phone Image Designer), with annotated screenshots to help you all along the way. And if you still happen to encounter some problem that isn’t covered in the FAQ section, you can always ask the community in the thread!

If you’re in a situation where you need to restore your Lumia phone back to stock, or maybe downgrade back to an earlier Windows version, then head over to the tutorial thread to learn more and get started.

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Alpha Build of CM13 Released for the ASUS PadFone S/X

XDA Recognized Developer Quarx has just released an alpha build of CM13 for the ASUS PadFone S and X. Remember though, this is an alpha build, so things like the Dock/PAD do not work and the camera can’t save any photos that are taken. Quarx admits that there could be some other bugs as well be sure to leave a detailed bug report for him.

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LG Flagship Evolution: What Should Change and What Should Stay

LG’s Android-powered smartphones date back to 2009 and since then, they have been consistent in bringing forth new devices with some of the latest specs and software. One of the most successful smartphone series from LG is the “G” series devices.

The first ever “G” series device was the LG’s Optimus G which was announced back in 2012 and since then LG is in quest of finding new methods to up their smartphone business. There have been some radical transformations, however, and LG’s smartphones changed in many ways as they created and subsequently abandoned trends for new features.

A Mix of Tradition and Innovation

LG G2

Since the Optimus G and the Optimus G Pro, LG wanted to take their smartphone manufacturing to the next level. This made them think completely out of the box to produce a device known as the LG G2 in 2013  — since then, LG has dropped the famous “Optimus” branding on the surface. This was an exciting device on that year due to the different aesthetics that the phone brought to the table: the G2’s sides were button-less, and all the hardware buttons were moved to the back of the device. Such design strategy helped LG to minimize the side bezel size and make a sleeker device overall — one which kickstarted the “bezel-free” trend with an impressive screen-to-body ratio. Something LG G2 owners will happily remember is the fact that this phone packed the amazing Snapdragon 800, and with its sizeable battery, the G2 delivered excellent battery life for its time, only rivaled by juggernauts like the Note 3.

LG G3

To top the G2, LG had to produce a device which met new consumer expectations, and the G3 did just that. It had a premium albeit fake brushed-metal look, removable battery, expandable storage, a beastly camera with Laser Auto-focus, a 2K display, wireless charging, a somewhat slimmer UI, LG Knock code and updated specs — more than enough reasons for consumers to upgrade their G2. Even though there were a few software issues, LG was fast enough to fix them with OTA updates. The G3 made some mistakes, though: first of all, it jumped to a QHD screen too early, as the Snapdragon 801 and its Adreno 330 were simply not strong enough to power the additional pixels. The new screen was not the most efficient, and coupled with the processor, the phone was notorious for overheating and throttling. Finally, the sharpening in the screen made it look worse than the pixel density would otherwise suggest, and LG slightly increased the bezels.

LG G4

Even though LG devices were mostly on par in the camera department, LG was not satisfied with their main shooter, which led the company to adopt a F 1.8 / 16 MP sensor for the G4. That and additional improvements made for one of the best camera experiences in 2015. The device updated its specs with a faster processor and an improved display with few design changes. The one that caught most people’s attention is the fact that the device still has a removable back and battery with expandable memory up to 2TB, yet it did keep a somewhat-premium design due to its genuine leather back. Things like wireless charging were omitted, but other than that, the G4 offers a compelling package with a good processor, a nice screen, a great camera, and useful (albeit somewhat gimmicky) software features.

LG V10

When you compare the V10 to its predecessor you cannot see much of a difference except a different back panel, a fingerprint sensor and a bigger display on the front of the device. Other than that, the device sports similar specs as the LG G4 with the notable bump of additional RAM. Nevertheless, the V10 has a small additional screen at the top which is a main selling feature, as it allows for a new way of multitasking and glancing at notifications. The V10, however, finalized the abandonment of the small-bezel tradition LG had going with their flagships, as each iteration saw bigger bezels, and the V10 is particularly large.

What could improve:

All 4 generation of the device has seen improvements and have proved that they are worth an upgrade from the previous generation.

• Even though LG constantly updates their devices with newer hardware and software, they show little love to the battery capacity. From G2-V10, all 4 devices have the same 3,000 mAh battery capacity, which is not weak by any means. However, the G2 was praised for its battery life in ways that its successors were not, and it’s sad to see LG not reclaim that crown when the competition tries to move forward as well.
• Software experience: LG UI is one of the most feature-packed OEM offerings out there, with added features like knock code, etc. But what consumers do not like is the cartoonish feel that it has, and each new release has fans hoping LG makes it more appealing.
• LG’s radical button placement allowed for thinner bezels, yet their devices have been getting worse in this department. The G2 had an exceptional screen-to-body ratio, but the G3 and G4 regressed on that, and the V10 is extremely large in comparison to its direct competition in the phablet segment.

What should stay:

• One of the most beloved features of current LG phones is the ability to remove the back and the battery, which gives the option to carry an additional battery to swap on the go. While other manufacturers are moving away from this option, LG is seemingly sticking with it.
• The addition of expandable memory makes LG’s flagships future proof and cheaper when factoring in the expensive storage upgrades of other OEMs.
• LG’s camera is considered as one of the best in the industry features such as manual mode, and hardware additions like laser auto-focus and OIS+. LG’s camera software has also improved with the V10, which makes the camera package even better for content creators.
• Finally, the buttons at the back of the device make sense and I believe that it should be kept in upcoming flagships as well (unless they come up with a radical new idea).

What would you like LG to retain and to replace in their future devices? Let us know in the comments!

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Comprehensive Index For Moto X Play

XDA Senior Member Art Vanderlay has compiled a comprehensive index for the Moto X Play. The thread serves as a one-stop shop when you need to quickly locate something without hunting through the entire forums.

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