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 »

It’s tempting to think that Apple launched the very first tablet with its creation of the original iPad, but the truth is that tablets had been around for year prior. Before the first iPad, though, tablets had a very specific purpose, generally intended for industrial environments. Apple changed this by removing many features while enhancing those that would appeal to the general public – features like video playback and casual gaming. Since then, many have been going in Apple’s direction, and today, we’ve put together a list of the best tablets on the market. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems we can’t even go a week without hearing about a new Android phone coming to the market. Just the other day, the Nexus S 4G was released on Sprint. Shortly before that, the Droid Charge hit Verizon Wireless.T-Mobile got in on the action with the G2x prior to that, and AT&T had the Atrix 4G and Inspire 4G to compete with Verizon’s Thunderbolt released right around the same time. The Droid Incredible 2 came out somewhere between all of that too. Well, as you’d expect, more Android phones are due to hit the market soon, and we have a list of some of the most anticipated.
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Whether we like it or not, tablet computers are going to start dominating the mobile market this year. Our ever-growing thirst for data connectivity everywhere we go is quickly outpacing the capabilities of our Smartphones. We want bigger screens to watch our HD videos and browse the web, more powerful hardware for extra productivity, and the battery life to make it through the day. Tablets meet these demands, and that is why there will be nearly hundreds to choose from by the end of the year. But in case you don’t want to wait, there are tablets available today; however, can they hold up against the new tablets of tomorrow?
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