As of yet, there have been very few Android tablets which have truly delivered everything we want to see in a tablet. That isn’t to say that they’ve all been let downs, fortunately there has been a few gems to pop their heads through, Galaxy Tab anyone? One of the best tablets to pass through our hands in recent times was the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which, when docked with the detachable keyboard, offered one of the best Android tablet experiences ever. So when we first heard about the Asus’ new version of the original Transformer, the Transformer Prime, needless to say we got a few goosebumps. So what is there to get excited about the new Asus Transformer Prime? Well, here are a few standout things!

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1. 14.5 hours of battery life

Previously a clamshell range, this new Android handset is now a more familiar large-screen slab, but it has retained its trademark thinness: measuring a mere 7.1mm for almost the entire length of its body (only at the very top, where the camera is housed, does it add a few extra millimetres).

In some respects it might even be too thin. The edges feel a little sharp in the hand, unlike the smoother, more rounded design of the Samsung Galaxy S2, of which this is so familiar. The RAZR is also taller and wider than the S2, despite having the same sized display, in order to fit in all the cutting edge tech that is here.

And there’s lots here. Android 2.3.5, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, a stunning 540 x 960 pixel Super AMOLED Advanced display, Bluetooth 4.0, front and rear cameras, plus a hefty (but non-replaceable) 1780mAh battery. The device also uses materials such as Gorilla Glass and Kevlar to protect it from day to day damage. This is a true flagship handset.

Step 1

Locate ADW.Launcher in the Android Market, then download and install it. When you press the Home button to exit the Market app you’ll be prompted as to which program you want to use as your launcher. Choose ADW to launch this app, and also tick the box to set it as the default app for this job. You can set it back again later if you wish, or uninstalling ADW will see your original launcher (such as the stock Android home screen or HTC Sense) reverted to your default setting.

Ding ding, round one! Specifications aren’t everything, but they can give you a pretty good idea of what the phone will run like. If you’re considering buying one of Samsung’s premier phones, or are looking for an upgrade, then read on as we compare the specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Lets face it, neither phone is going to win any ‘compact phone of the year’ awards, as both of them are behemoth devices. The Samsung Galaxy S2 measures in at 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49 mm, it isn’t a small device, but it isn’t too big either. Now if we compare that to the whopping dimensions of the Galaxy Nexus, 135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94 mm, it seems that Samsung have gone bigger in all areas. We do worry that the size may be a bit too big for the smaller handed among us, but bigger smartphones = better smartphone, right? The jury is still out on that one. The same can be said for the weight of both devices as well, the S2 weighs in at a flabby 116g while the Nexus breaks the scales at 135g, time to flex those muscles ladies and gentlemen.

We’ve had great experiences with the screens that Samsung have equipped to their phones, and these two are no exception. The Galaxy S2 boasted a Super AMOLED Plus screen, on a lovingly big 4.2″ display. We loved it, colours look vibrant and clear, and having a 4″ screen just feels right. The Galaxy Nexus has gone all out to improve upon that, and we’re going to see a HD Super AMOLED screen with a gigantic 4.65″ display, our mouths water at the sheer thought of it. Like we said previously, we’ve had a terrific experience with the screen on the Galaxy S2, and we hope that this carries over to the new Nexus.

Cast your mind back to July 2005, anything memorable happen that month? Well, it was the month in which Google acquired Android to its portfolio. During this time, Google had been buying several small start-up businesses, the majority of which never saw the light of day, but Android turned out to be somewhat of a rarity, a small business with a future. Co-founded by Andy Rubin, who is now the Google Senior Vice President of Mobile, Android was nothing more than a speck within the mobile industry, a small time company who made software for mobile phones, nothing special and nothing out of the ordinary.

For the first couple of years after Google’s acquisition, nothing much happened in the world of Android, as far as we know, they just kept doing what they were doing, making solid and reliable software. But then comes a certain Mr Jobs, who unveils the, at the time, hotly anticipated, iPhone. Thanks to the wonderful world of technology sites, there was several rumours flying about regarding whether Google would bring out a rival phone to the iPhone, a gPhone anyone?, but it didn’t come to fruition and instead Android soon hit the headlines for something entirely different. On the 5th of November, 2007, Google finally admitted they had been looking into developing their own phone, but that they had also fully developed an entire open-source OS to rival that of Microsoft and the rest. No prizes for guessing the name of this so called open-source OS.

So how did Android become the face, and name, of Google’s developed OS? Well, Apple and Microsoft’s success at the time was staggering, and to try become a rival by themselves, Google probably wouldn’t have stood a chance. Instead it was a major force in creating the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), something which is still running today, along with HTC, Samsung and several other big players in the industry. From that point on, the Android OS was to become a permanent feature in Google’s armory. After several glimpses of the OS in the next few weeks, developers started to get an idea of what could be achieved through the new OS, and in February 2008, Qualcomm, and a few other companies, announced they would be manufacturing chipsets for a very basic, and original version of the OS, Android was very much alive.

Source: Android

The feature 75 fixes and answers is the most comprehenisve guide yet to Android problem solving. From commonly asked questions to specific device concerns this is a fantastic resource that you will want to keep for reference in the weeks and months to come.

We also pick out the best widgets you can use to populate and enhance your home screens, enabling you to make the most of one of the best features Android has to offer.

Plus we attempt to demystify the often confusing App Permissions issue, showing you what your apps want to do and why, and highlighting those potentially suspect permissions you should look out for.