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iOS 6 review
More Info iOS 5 review Apple unveils iOS 6 at WWDC, launch apps with Siri, Facebook integration, Maps iOS 6 coming to iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod Touch on September 19th Starting tomorrow, iOS users will be prompted to update their devices to the newest iteration of Apple's mobile operating system. As difficult as it is to believe, we're already onto the sixth version of the OS, which continues to be updated with new features on a yearly basis. After pushing out so many upgrades critical to plugging a few major feature holes, the vast majority of its 200 advertised enhancements are strictly granular, as Apple continues to polish its popular OS. That doesn't mean, though, that this build is coming to the masses without any jarring UI changes: Apple has declared independence from Google by adopting its own Maps, added a few nice features to Mail and iCloud, thrown Facebook integration into the mix and introduced the Passbook for paperless tickets. The question is, how does it stack up against previous refreshes? Read on to find out.
Ubuntu 12.10 adds Photo Lens for searching photos stored locally and online
If Ubuntu is your OS of choice, you've already been enjoying so-called lenses to help you search through your music, videos, apps and documents. So why not a search filter for photos? Why not indeed, said the folks at Canonical. The dev team has just updated the operating system (version 12.10) with a Photo Lens that lets you search your pics by name, tag or EXIF data. What's more, in addition to searching photos stored locally, you can pull in pictures stored on sites like Facebook and Flickr, because who knows how many of your cameraphone photos bypassed your computer and went straight to the web?
Apple OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 review
More Info Apple OS X Lion 10.7 review OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 in-depth preview OS X Mountain Lion: arrives on Macs next month, priced at $20 A lot has changed since early 2001. We've got a new president approaching the end of his first term, the US has embarked on two major wars and the words "Lady Gaga" have become much more than just gibberish. Some things, however, don't change. In nearly each of these intervening years, Apple has issued a major update to its desktop operating system, OS X. This time last year, the company issued OS 10.7 Lion, a king-of-the-jungle moniker many thought would mark the end of Apple's big cat naming scheme and, by extension, the OS X lineage. In February, however, the old operating system showed she still had some life left in her, when the next edition was revealed, arriving over the summer and called Mountain Lion. Based on the name alone, you'd think 10.8 would be a modest improvement over its predecessor -- not unlike the baby step between Leopard (10.5) and Snow Leopard (10.6). But Apple insists that this latest build is more than just a seasonal refresh -- in all, it boasts more than 200 new features. Some are major, including things like a new Notification Center, AirPlay Mirroring and a desktop version of Messages. Others, such as full-screen mode for Notes... not so much. What seems to unite the vast majority of the 200 features, however, is a nod to iOS. So, how easily can Mac users justify that $20 download? Follow along after the break, as we put those 200 features to the test.%Gallery-161032%
Apple releases Mountain Lion Preview 4 and iOS 6 for developers, iTunes 10.6.3 for everyone else
Looking to tame Apple's Mountain Lion? Step right up, Cupertino's latest build of OS X is ready for consumption -- assuming you're a registered developer, of course. Following WWDC's reveals and teases, Apple has released an updated preview of its desktop and mobile operating systems, serving up Mountain Lion Preview 4 and an iOS 6 beta to developers. The rest of us will have to console ourselves with iTunes 10.6.3, which adds support for the mobile and desktop OS' those fancy devs are getting their hands on. Don't worry, the updated music management software will be able to make full use of Mountain Lion next month, but you'll have to wait until this fall to sync with iOS 6. Hit the source link below to get your update.
OS X Mountain Lion: arrives on Macs next month, priced at $20
You got it. The latest version of Mac OS X is coming in a matter of weeks, and will set you back just shy of twenty bucks. If any of those new beastly, Ivy Bridge-decked machines made you reconsider your bank balance, breathe a (small) sigh of relief -- you'll be treated to a free upgrade if you decide to buy one before Mountain Lion arrives in July. For more coverage of WWDC 2012, please visit our event hub!
Apple introduces Power Nap OS X feature that updates your Mac while it's sleeping
Apple just introduced a new OS X feature here at WWDC 2012 called Power Nap. It lets your Mac update email, notifications and photos in the background, as well as back itself up while charging. Whether or not Apple ever drops the word "Ultrabooks" (and trust us, it won't), this addition is a clear retort to all those Windows-based ultraportables that promise to keep web-based apps up to date. In addition to the new MacBook Pros announced today, the feature will work with the second-generation Air, which makes us think all other legacy Macs might be excluded. Supposedly, too, the technology goes easy on the battery and won't stir up the fans, though Apple claims they're quieter on the new Macs anyway. For more coverage of WWDC 2012, please visit our event hub! Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Chrome OS review (version 19)
It seems like yesterday that we reviewed the inaugural Samsung Series 5 Chromebook running Google's Chrome OS, an operating system for laptops based on Chrome. It was, from the start, a world in which everything from music playback to document creation happened in browser tabs. Since we last checked in a year ago, Google has addressed some early complaints -- the browser can actually stream Netflix now! -- but it's only just getting around to ticking off some other long-standing grievances, like multitasking. The company just announced two new Chrome OS devices -- the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 and Chromebox Series 3 -- and both run a spanking-new build of the OS that ushers in a simplified desktop with customizable wallpaper and the ability to minimize, maximize and close windows -- oh my! More importantly, you can now view multiple windows onscreen, edit docs offline and pin shortcuts to the bottom of the screen -- a combination that promises some seriously improved multitasking. Other goodies: built-in Google Music, Google+ and Hangouts, along with a basic photo editor, redesigned music player and enhanced remote desktop app. So does all this add up to an upgrade meaty enough to make the skeptics give Chrome OS a second look? Could it be time for you to get the low-tech person in your life a Chromebook? Let's see.%Gallery-156285%
EVO Shift 4G owners start manually upgrading to Gingerbread
Right on schedule, EVO Shift 4G owners should be able to step on up to Android 2.3. Yesterday, an anonymous tipster gave us a heads up that the upgrade was nigh, and indeed, we're seeing reports that people are manually downloading the update, which includes not just Gingerbread, but Swype, a downloads application, and a fix for apps that haven't been able to stream media. In fact, we've heard some folks say they received the update last night, when we had heard it was scheduled to drop today. If for some reason you want to wait until Sprint pushes the update to you, that should happen on Monday. As always, proceed with caution and let us know how it goes. [Thanks, Jeff]
EVO Shift 4G getting Gingerbread, Swype on June 20
Shift owners, you didn't think you were chopped liver, did you? On the heels of blessing the EVO 4G with Gingerbread, the Shift 4G is about to get some Android 2.3 lovin' of its own. According to this leaked page of instructions sent in by an anonymous tipster, the package includes not just Gingerbread, but Swype, a downloads application, and a fix for apps that haven't been able to stream media properly. Officially, the update's coming on Monday, though it looks like impatient folks should be able to manually update their phones starting tomorrow. Let's just hope it's a smoother transition than when the EVO 4G stepped up to Android 2.3 -- we got a deluge of tips from disgruntled readers who found the update had rendered Netflix unusable.
HTC Flyer quietly gets over-the-air software update, promises to 'improve system performance'
No, it's not an upgrade to Honeycomb, but the HTC Flyer is getting some tweaks nonetheless. Over the weekend, owners of the 7-inch tablet should have seen a prompt for an over-the-air update making the vague promise to "improve system performance." We're naturally all kinds of curious, particularly given that the battery life and overall performance were already pretty solid. Flyer owners, are you noticing any differences? Do tell.
Happy EVO 4G owners get Gingerbread update, right on schedule (updated)
Right on schedule, Sprint made Gingerbread available to any and all EVO 4G owners willing to check for the update manually (and if you're a fan of this site, we suspect you are). As a PSA, you won't just be getting Android 2.3, but also Gmail and SMS fixes, and a tweak for the phone's power management software. We've been getting a flood of tips from delighted readers in various markets who report the upgrade went smoothly. Can't be bothered to check for updates? You'll likely get a prompt to download it on Monday. So, Froyo, good night and good luck, and to everyone else, happy Friday! Update: Many of you are reporting that the update rendered Netflix unusable. The company just tweeted that it's aware of the incompatibility and is "investigating" the issue. No word on a fix just yet. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Confirmed: T-Mobile blocking GTalk video chat over 3G on Nexus S
Many Nexus S owners received a rude surprise when attempting to initiate an Android 2.3.4 video chat on T-Mobile's 3G network. Rather than being greeted by a smiling friend on the screen, a terse message explained "You must be connected to a WiFi network to start a video chat." Ouch. Doing the responsible thing, we tested the issue and were able to confirm that T-Mo is blocking this headline feature -- which worked just dandily over Sprint's 3G network on the Nexus S 4G. While the latest Gingerbread update includes built-in support for 3G video chat, Google has left the decision to mobile carriers whether to implement the functionality. We know choice is great, but when it ultimately hinders consumers, we'd really prefer an iron-fisted display of strength from Mountain View.
OpenPaths lets you visualize your iPhone location data, donate it to science (video)
What use could science possibly have for your iPhone location data? Well, you won't be curing cancer, but you could theoretically be contributing to epidemiology, land use surveys, or a study proving that people move around just as quickly on foot in New York as they do inching down the 405 in LA. At least that's the idea behind OpenPaths, a web-based tool that lets you securely and anonymously "donate" your cache. If you've upgraded to iOS 4.3.3, your iPhone will no longer store your location, but there should be plenty of coordinates spinning around on your hard drive to play with. After downloading the OpenPaths Uploader, you'll be able to visualize your own location information, and even if you've somehow deleted the data from your computer, the tool will search Time Machine backups (for Mac users) -- a little scary, no? Of course, there's always potential for misuse with any such service, but a researcher probably won't care that those late nights at the office were actually spent in Cindy's home office, unless that researcher also happens to be your wife.
iOS 4.3.3 is out, location tracking 'fix' in tow
Apple's promised update to iOS to rectify what it perceived as a set of bugs in the system -- namely, an excessively large cache of location information that was backed up to iTunes and hung around even after you switched Location Services off -- is now being distributed to iPhones, iPads and iPod touches out in the wild. To exterminate those problematic aspects of your OS, you know what to do -- hook up to iTunes and get downloading. And yes, it's the full 666.2MB file as usual. P.S. - iOS 4.2.8 looks to be out for Verizon iPhones as well, though we haven't verified this for ourselves yet. Still, it's the same set of changes and the same method to obtain the latest firmware. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nexus One gets Android 2.3.4 over the air, but no Gtalk video calling fun
Good news: Android 2.3.4 is en route to your Nexus One. Bad news: it lacks the Google Talk video and voice chat options that Nexus S users will get to enjoy in their slice of the same Gingerbread iteration. You might think this predictable, given that the Nexus One lacks a front-facing camera, but then it might have been nice to at least have voice calls integrated into Gtalk. Anyhow, if bug fixes are your thing, you can go grab your build number GRJ22 at the download link below or enjoy the anticipation of getting it over the air like everyone else. [Thanks, Tom]
Nexus S 2.3.4 update now available to early adopters via manual install
The Nexus S is due to receive an over-the-air update to Android 2.3.4 over the coming weeks, but Google earned a +1 from eager fans and devs hoping to get the extra Google Talk functionality sooner. Instead of hopelessly checking for updates until the time is right, the Powers That Be are now offering the upgrade as a manual download to anyone who is already running 2.3.3 on the i9020T (the AWS-equipped model). We urge you to proceed with caution here and double-check that your phone is compatible, since those are the two requirements for the download to install properly. We've happily bumped one of our devices up to 2.3.4 this way without any sweat or tears, so we hope it will be a smooth experience for others as well. If you choose to be adventurous and update your Nexus S, click the source link below to download the necessary ZIP file. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Android 2.3.4 heading to Nexus S over the air, bringing video and voice chat to Gtalk
For an update with such a modest name, this is actually quite a major step forward. Google's about to start delivering Android 2.3.4 to Nexus S devices out in the wild, and in among all the bug fixes and optimizations, users will find the addition of video and voice chat to Google Talk. You'll be able to do it anywhere you can get a web connection going, whether by virtue of WiFi, 3G, 4G, or the force, and other Gingerbread handsets are expected to get the same improvements in time. For now, however, Google's own-branded device is the only one enjoying the very freshest Gingerbread around.
WebOS 1.4.1.1 now available for Verizon subscribers
Hardly the most exciting Palm news you're gonna hear this week, but the company that still owns itself for the time being has just updated its WebOS software on Verizon to the extremely granular version 1.4.1.1. The helpful changelog informs us there are no new apps, but pinch-zoom now works correctly in Doc and PDF views, a lag in the camera shutter sound has been rectified, and forwarding videos uploaded to YouTube on to your friends via email has also been made to work as it should. The most important fix of all, though, is to a keyboard input issue whereby a single key press would generate a letter twice -- both Pre Central and one of our readers report that this problem appears to have been consigned to the past. Good stuff, now let's see it go global, shall we? [Thanks, subzero and Sam F.]
