Android may be free, but it’s worth a huge sum to Google. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Android has reportedly earned Google $31 billion since the mobile operating system’s inception, according to a stat revealed during the company’s ongoing court battle with Oracle.

Google is already squashing the latest Linux/Android bug to be discovered. Image: Mazeo/OpenClipArt.org

Since early 2013, a raft of Linux servers, machines running embedded Linux, and even some Android devices have been open to an attack that could allow an unprivileged user or application to execute code as a root user, according to a new report.

Security researchers at Perception Point have outed an issue that was originally introduced when Linux kernel version number 3.8 was released almost three full years ago. It has yet to be patched.

More downloads doesn’t translate to more revenue, unfortunately. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Google Play may have trounced iOS in terms of sheer downloads, garnering twice as many as the Apple Store did last year, but it’s Apple’s digital storefront that rakes in the cash, according to a new study from App Annie.

In 2014, Android already had a 60 percent lead over iOS; it’s now at 100 percent, marking what could be some major changes in how marketing dollars are spent across the big two mobile platforms.

Both Android and iOS grew, revenue-wise, but iOS still holds the clear lead in the race for consumer spending.

Legendary metal bands and mobile games, oh my. Photo: Roadshow Interactive

Are you willing to die with your boots on? Do you know the number of the beast? If so, you’ll want to keep an eye on this upcoming mobile game from heavy metal band extraordinaire, Iron Maiden.

In conjunction with Roadhouse Interactive and 50cc Games, the legends of metal are putting together a free-to-play role-playing game, due out this summer, on iOS and Android. It’s called Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (naturally), and will apparently include characters from the long history of Iron Maiden album art, as well as a soundtrack that has previously unheard live recordings from the monsters of rock.

Will it be these two? Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo’s first smartphone game was nowhere near as exciting as we all expected it to be, but the Japanese company promises it has greater things up its sleeve for 2016.

Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima has confirmed plans to bring the characters we know and love to mobile titles this year, but we’ll have to wait to find out which faces we will see.