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Back in my day we used to ask “where’s the Android app?”.

Remember those days? Android is getting closer an closer to app parity with Apple but Windows Phone is on another planet. Unfortunately Windows Phone users you’re going to have to endure a few years of misery. It’s a rite of passage. Patience.

about 14 hours ago on Flickr launches redesigned Android app for smartphones and tablets 3 replies 2 recommends

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Fair comment, really.

2 days ago on Where Google needs to go from here, after I/O

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Please tell me the Nexus 7 will get the tablet optimised version of the new Maps and not a blown up phone version…

5 days ago on Google redesigns Maps for Android, iPad version coming this summer

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I think you’ll find a lot of people agree with me – namely many of the staff of this wonderful site.

5 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android

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I won’t get used to it because I won’t be buying a compromised device.

5 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android 1 reply

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Something similar to the last “developer” conference that bombarded both consumers and developers with exciting announcements.

As a non-developer tech enthusiast I’m massively bummed out over the keynote because it seemed overly geared towards Chrome OS and desktop systems. Maps (which isn’t actually even ready) and Google+ both have updates but not for Android despite device consumption patterns strongly trending towards mobile. Google Music seems ok but unless you live in the US (the majority of the world don’t funnily enough) you’ll be waiting. It just feels like the whole thing is half baked… for consumers.

Yes, I’m aware IO is meant to be a developer geared affair and Google reps even warned not to expect much for consumers this year – but that still hasn’t cushioned the blow of my disappointment. I wanted big things for Android. For Chrome mobile and all the core mobile Google apps. Now, not “soon”. There were so many rumours of an imminent 4.3 launch it felt guaranteed. And I can’t overstate how mu have Android genuinely needs an update. 4.2.x is broken. It’s a shambles in terms of butter and performance.

Hangouts has got to be the biggest hoo hah over nothing. No one is going to use it, especially with no SMS integration. When I fired it up on my N7 it resembled a baron wasteland compared to Facebook messenger in terms of contacts. It might gain traction over time but this will take months, if not years. Google+ looks nice but again, it’s a desktop update only. Don’t get me wrong, I love my PC rig but the fact remains that I’m using it less and less because tablets and phones are more convenient instant communications tools.

This post is a bit of a garbled, unstructured rant so apologies. But yeah, really disappointed. To think I nearly stayed up all night to watch the live stream.

5 days ago on Google I/O a disappointment? 1 recommend

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The button layout is ridiculous. The multi-task button is on the left despite the multi-tasking thumbnails in stock Android appearing on the right. Then there’s the lack of upward swiping for Google Now due to Samsung’s Apple inspired hardware home button.

Sigh. This is still a compromised device. The wait continues.

5 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android 1 reply 1 recommend

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And Samsung laughs all the way to the bank. Now they have mainstream consumers and a large portion of the Android faithful in the palm of their hand.

HTC just got kicked while it’s down.

5 days ago on This is the new Nexus: a first look at Samsung's Galaxy S4 with stock Android 1 reply

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This is absolutely shit. The Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus are essentially broken thanks to Android 4.2.×. The single thing I most wanted to see at Google IO this year was a fix for the utterly rubbish performance of my two most used devices – and it’s not happening. Instead we’ve seen updates that seem primarily focussed on desktop.

No Android update at all. Surely not. This is massively disappointing.

6 days ago on Android 4.3 confirmed by Google developer website

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Is this some kind of sick joke?

6 days ago on Android 4.3 confirmed by Google developer website

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I’ve just woken up. Where is Android 4.3?

WHERE IS IT?

6 days ago on Android 4.3 confirmed by Google developer website

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-LbvFckptY

6 days ago on Google Maps overhaul leaks ahead of I/O conference 11 recommends

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Marques is a great YouTuber. Really enjoy his stuff and this video is no exception.

7 days ago on So, About that X-Phone

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Most likely…

But seriously, Google needs to bleeping sort it out. And that includes the pitiful performance of Chrome mobile.

7 days ago on Google I/O 2013: what to expect in gaming, Glass, and more 1 reply

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Spend to save.

7 days ago on Google unifies Gmail, Drive, and photo storage: all users now get 15GB of shared space

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I just want the butter back on my Nexus 7. If I don’t get this I’ll shriek like a banshee.

7 days ago on Google I/O 2013: what to expect in gaming, Glass, and more 1 reply

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Which pretty much reinforces my feeling that upgrading my dual monitor desktop to Windows 8 isn’t worth it at this time.

8 days ago on Microsoft responds to Windows 8 criticism, defends upcoming changes as 'a good thing'

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I know I don’t need to switch to a track pad but given Windows 8 is very much a touch based operating system I’d be going against its UX philosophy. I don’t want to swim against the tide if I don’t have to.

9 days ago on Microsoft responds to Windows 8 criticism, defends upcoming changes as 'a good thing' 2 replies

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Ditto.

It’s difficult as a tech enthusiast to sit back and not install the latest offer from Microsoft, but my hardware set up really doesn’t lend itself to Windows 8 in its current form. Do I really want to shelve my excellent Logitech MX5500 bluetooth mouse for a track pad? It’s tempting but hard to justify the money when the experience may prove simply different rather than superior. I’m curious to give Windows 8 a try and surely will eventually. But for now, the wait continues.

10 days ago on Microsoft responds to Windows 8 criticism, defends upcoming changes as 'a good thing' 1 reply 2 recommends

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I don’t know if BlackBerry are making great hardware, but certainly Nokia and HTC are. But really, issues with hardware in the mobile wars are nothing compared to software. The only company doing anything innovative and genuinely useful in this space is Google but most of their work is being hidden or destroyed by Samsung, Amazon, etc.

11 days ago on Amazon building smartphone with a 3D screen, says WSJ

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Children of Men is one of my all time favourite films so I’m pretty excited to see how Gravity turns out.

11 days ago on Panic in space: Alfonso Cuaron returns with terrifying 'Gravity' teaser 1 reply 4 recommends

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The mobile wars are in such a sorry state. There’s much potential but so many of the big players insist on ignoring this potential in favour of gimmick bs like hand waving and 3D.

Listen phone manufacturers. Listen telcos. Just do what Google says because you don’t know what you’re doing. Please.

12 days ago on Amazon building smartphone with a 3D screen, says WSJ 1 reply 1 recommend