The alaTest Blog

Recently reaching a 51% market share, Android is undoubtedly the most popular smartphone platform. Its latest versions always offer innovative and compelling features, but unlike Apple’s iPhone, there is a disconnect between those who develop the Android OS and the manufacturers who build the devices.

Google develops Android such that anyone can build a device that runs it, but it’s up to the manufacturer to modify it and tailor it to run on the hardware they’re using. This process can take months, and it means that most Android devices out there are generally one or two versions behind. To get the most out of a new Android device, it’s important to know which are the most likely to be updated quickly. Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S.’s top cellular providers are often referred to as the “Big Four.” They consist of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, and odds are, you’re one of their subscribers. If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, you probably already know that they don’t all carry the same devices, and if you’re stuck with a particular carrier, you might like to know which devices are the best they have to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to smartphones, style is a big deal – it’s one of the reasons the iPhone is the single best selling phone on the market. Unsurprisingly, slimness is a major selling point for anyone who wants a stylish phone, but while the iPhone was the thinnest of them all for a while, it has become a bit of a fatty compared to current offerings (though that could change when the iPhone 5 comes out later this year). So what are today’s thinnest phones? Read the rest of this entry »

Smartphones don’t exactly come cheap, and most users expect their phone to last them about two years. Since even a short drop will almost certainly cause some unsightly cosmetic damage and potentially render a phone useless, it’s often wise to shield your smartphone with a protective case. Today, we’re taking a look at the most popular cases for our current top 5 phones. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to smartphones, it’s very easy to classify them by their operating systems, mainly Android, iOS, and WP7. Often times, the operating is the first criteria a person chooses when hunting for a new smartphone. So, have you ever wondered which phone is the best choice for each operating system? Read the rest of this entry »

As it would seem, the most popular devices of 2011’s holiday season weren’t tablets or laptops or even Rokus, but in fact, smartphones. On Christmas day, a staggering 6.8 million smartphones were activated, more than double last year’s 2.8 million unit figure. So just which smartphones deserve the spot light here? Read the rest of this entry »

At a joint event in Hong Kong hosted by Samsung and Google, the Galaxy Nexus was just announced. On the heels of the iPhone 4S announcement, the Galaxy Nexus has some big shoes to fill, but just like the 4S announcement, the Galaxy Nexus was met with mixed reviews. Read the rest of this entry »