The most downloaded Android app in 2023
I bet you won't guess what the most downloaded Android app was in 2023. Hint, it's not TikTok. It's not Facebook, nor Whatsapp. The most downloaded app of 2023 (for Android that is) was Instagram.
Fun with Kotlin: Calculate Hamming Distance between DNA strands
I've started having even more fun with Kotlin. One way you can learn Kotlin is by practicing and solving real exercises. That's how I discovered Exercism.org, a free way to learn dozens of languages by jumping head first into problems. One of their first exercises for learning Kotlin is calculating the Hamming Distance between DNA strands.
Fun with Kotlin: What is the double-bang (!!) operator?
This made me scratch my head a few times before understanding what those double-exclamation points mean in some Kotlin code references, but it seems it's not that difficult to understand. This is another post in the "Fun with Kotlin" series. Btw, I didn't explain before because I thought it's easy to spot, I chose "Fun with Kotlin" because the word fun in Kotlin is what you start the declaration of a function with and it also means having a great time. I know, a bad dad joke but I couldn't help myself.
Fun with Kotlin: String Templates
Coding your own Android app as a newbie dev sounds extremely difficult. Sure, there are a lot of platforms out there that allow you to create your Android app without any coding knowledge, but at some point if you need anything advanced you'll still need to look at the code. That's one of the reason I've recently started having a bit of fun with Kotlin to see where that gets me. In the worst case scenario I'll simply give up on learning it after spending a bit of time doing so - but even this scenario has the benefit of training my mind (learning something new helps) and in the end I'd still know something new. The best case scenario is the one where I manage to publish a small Android app built from scratch.
Google Pixel 8 wins best smartphone award in MWC 2024
The Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona is almost over, so as usual they give awards for groundbreaking innovations and revolutionary products. The MWC 2024 is a prestigious event and most tech-related innovations are launched or announced here. Thus, their awards are quite sought for because they truly recognize the best in class across various categories. Google Pixel won the best smartphone award, and I must say I'm a bit surprised that Samsung didn't steal that one. Here are the most important awards given at MWC 2024 this year.
MWC 2024: Galaxy Ring, Samsung’s first smart ring
Smart rings are not a new concept as they have been available on the market for quite some time, since the release of the first smart ring by Oura. However, it is the first time that Samsung announces a smart ring, called the Galaxy Ring. This was displayed live at MWC 2024, and even if visitors were not allowed to touch it, you could still see its main characteristics.
Yahoo Mail app down (both Android & iOS)
I also use the Yahoo Mail app for Android, and to my surprise today (February 27th, 2024) I couldn't open my email account using the app. Occasionally, Yahoo will have trouble opening up, but I do not recall it having issues for such a long time as they've had today - Yahoo Mail app is still down at the time of writing this, both for Android and iOS. I did check to see if it's a worldwide issue and that's the case, as they've posted a message on the official Yahoo Twitter account that the apps have issues and that those will be solved soon, as their technical team is currently investigating the cause.
AnCrypto: the ultimate multi-chain wallet experience
A multi-chain crypto wallet, like AnCrypto, is a type of cryptocurrency wallet that supports multiple blockchain networks and their respective cryptocurrencies all in one. Unlike traditional wallets that are limited to one blockchain, multi-chain wallets offer users the ability to manage various cryptocurrencies across different blockchains within from a single app. Basically you install an app such as AnCrypto and you'll be able to hold in it all your important crypto currencies. It works with all leading blockchains including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance, Polygon (Matic), Doge, Tezos, Litecoin, Nordek, Fantom, Bitcoin Cash, Tron & others (up to 12 different blockchains are available).
Android 15: Developer Preview is now publicly available
Google unveiled the first Developer Preview of Android 15, so that all interested devs could poke at it and see how this new release impacts their apps. Android 15 focuses on enhancing productivity, providing superior media experiences, optimizing battery performance, ensuring smooth app operation, and prioritizing user privacy and security.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra: the iPhone killer?
Xiaomi is preparing for the global launch of its new flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphone. Xiaomi 13 is an excellent phone, but v14 promises to bring a series of improvements that will provide to be a good rival for iPhone. Everyone seems to believe that Xiaomi 14 Ultra will be officially presented at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on February 25th, so we'll soon find out its exact specs.