I don’t get why the app should or would check the mode that the device is connected to the internet. It’s none of its concerns. That’s borderline malware – it is reading out system information that the user did not in an obvious way agreed to have the app use. Yes, you would agree to the relevant permissions when installing the app, but only with the thought and intent of letting the app perform its function – messaging and calling.
I’m using Fabrik on Android which does exactly that, but via Dropbox. Syncs all files and reading progress etc. across devices. Just drop the eBook (mobile/epub/PDF) in the folder or select via the app. Best thing is, it caches automatically offline, so you access any book offline without the need for “pinning” it or something.
I never understand the people’s problems with the OS, be it Windows, MacOS, or Linux. I use programs 99% of the time, and the OS has the simple task of running them. Yes, some things like window arrangement, shortcuts, driver support, or speed are relevant to me – but either of those systems is good enough in that. I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8, the only thing I personally notice when working is a faster resume from sleep and hibernate. Everything else is the same what.
The downside of WP is, in my opinion, not so much the lack of ‘big’ apps, but rather the ones that are of the local/smaller kind. For instance, I could neither use my banking app, public transport app, or university app if I switched to WP – and I live in a tech-centric metropolis. Those apps I use a lot, and no instagram or vine would help me to replace them.
Content locked up in a proprietary app bound to a specific user account bound to one OS bound to specific hardware bound to one manufacturer? Sounds tempting.
No, the eGPU was a failure, and didn’t live up to expectations. It was mostly causing all sorts of annoyances. But the Z series existed before that model, they should just include an internal GPU.
Sony should really release some high-end hardware. Their current lineup is just not cutting it. The T cannot compete with ultra books like the Series 9 or the Zenbook, the Z was killed, the S13 comes with a lousy screen, the S15 with a slow GPU and mediocre battery life even with the sheet battery. I have a VAIO from 2008 and I’m really happy with it, but Sony doesn’t even offer anything competitive to replace it with. At the moment, only Asus, Samsung and Apple offer interesting laptops that don’t suck in any category of screen, CPU, GPU, battery life, and weight.
One of the main issues is not about the engines that would have to be modified in order to use biofuels (which are mostly minor modifications), but the source from which you actually generate those fuels. Sugar is already a very valuable resource in itself, and past experience shows that competition from the energy market leads to more expensive food in the third world. Currently, the two most viable approaches are to use either lignocellulose or photosynthesis to overcome this problem. Both ways are feasible already, but are not effective enough to compete with regular fuel prices.
