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Netflix’s Downloads For You grabs shows and movies it thinks you’ll like
The feature, which automatically downloads recommendations, is available worldwide on Android.
YouTube Premium can automatically download your favorite videos
YouTube is reportedly offering automatic downloads to its Premium subscribers. The opt-in feature should make it easier to watch content offline. As Android Police notes, some Premium subscribers now see a pop-up banner offering to automatically download favorite topics. In the "Downloads" section, users can pick channels and subjects to save for offline viewing, and each card indicates how long the videos are, so you have an idea of what you're saving.
Mac 101: How to enable or disable automatic app downloads
Just like iOS, OS X now has an automatic update feature that allows you to install updates from the Mac App Store without lifting a finger to click. This feature was added in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and remains the latest version, OS X 10.9 Mavericks. Though Apple has embedded the option in the system preferences, you can easily toggle it on or off, depending on your preferences. Open System Preferences and select the "App Store" icon shown above Uncheck the "Install app updates" to disable automatic updates or check it as shown below to enable automatic updates
PlayStation 3 update brings automatic downloads to all PSN users, more Vita sharing options
Sony's next-generation console may be nearing its launch date in some parts of the world, but the Japanese company isn't forgetting about its aging PlayStation 3 just yet. With an update that's due to roll out in the next few hours, the PS3 will no longer limit automatic firmware downloads to PlayStation Plus subscribers, a definite plus for non-paid PlayStation Network users. What's more, version 4.50 also brings additional privacy settings to trophies and the ability to transfer data from the PS3 to PS Vita via a WiFi connection. It may not be the beefiest of updates, but sometimes keeping things short and sweet is just what the doctor ordered. Update: 4.50 is now available.
Mountain Lion update includes automatic Mac app downloads
Apple is set to bring automatic app downloads to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion when it debuts later this summer. As noted by 9to5Mac, the latest build of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion only has a partially working Automatic Downloads feature, but users can expect to see a finalized working version when OS X 10.8 ships. Automatic Downloads is currently a feature of iOS which allows the same app to be downloaded instantly on all a user's devices (iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad) no matter what device the user chooses to download the app on. The feature is an easy way to keep all your devices in sync with any new apps you may have purchased. Automatic Downloads in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion could work in a similar manner. When you first download an app from the Mac App Store a notification will appear asking if you want to enable Automatic Downloads. Doing so will install any app purchased on the Mac App Store to any Mac that is logged in with the same Mac App Store account (provided those Macs are also running OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion). Automatic Downloads in Mountain Lion is just another way Apple is bringing the user experience of OS X and iOS closer to parity.
iTunes 10.3.1 fixes sync issue
iTunes 10.3.1 addresses the error some users are experiencing after enabling automatic downloads in iTunes 10.3. Those encountering a "-50" error when syncing an iOS device after the automatic downloads will need to upgrade to iTunes 10.3.1 to take care of it. iTunes 10.3.1 is a 74.02 MB download and is available through Apple's download site or through Software Update.
Automatic Downloads now live for iOS devices
WWDC has just kicked off for 2011, but you can get a little bit of the Apple iCloud newness right now in the form of automatic Application, Music and Book downloads. Launch Settings on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, scroll down to Store and wait for the new options to load (you'll need to be connected to the internet to see them). Once you've checked them, the next time you purchase or download an app, a music track or a book, it'll automatically be pushed out to any device you've activated Automatic Downloads on. Brilliant. Be warned though, if you activate Automatic Downloads for one Apple ID on a device and then attempt to activate another Apple ID on the same device (US and UK iTunes accounts for instance), you'll get a pop-up notification saying: This Device Is Already Associated With an Apple ID. If you turn on Automatic Downloads with your Apple ID, you cannot auto-download or download past purchases with a different Apple ID for 90 days. A screenshot of said warning is past the break. You have been warned.
iTunes leak suggests 'Automatic Download' over-the-air updates are coming in iOS 5
In the lead-up to this year's WWDC, we so far know three things for sure: Apple will unveil OS X Lion, iCloud, and... automatic, over-the-air app updates for iOS 5, apparently. While searching for updates in iTunes, a MacRumors reader stumbled upon this page, which alludes to an "Automatic Download" feature that allows for wireless syncing. Also, the fact that Apple went out of its way to say "...if your device has Automatic Download enabled for apps" makes us wonder what else we'll soon be able to update over the air. The company has since pulled the tattletale page in iTunes, but MacRumors grabbed a screenshot while it was still live. Looks like the cat's out of the bag, but we'll let you know when Jobs & Co. make it official on Monday.
Microsoft's files Zune patent for "automatic delivery of personal content"
Worried that you weren't getting any phantom downloads to your Zune? Fear not, readers, as Microsoft has plans to get you seriously covered. In a new patent application unearthed last week, the boys in Redmond outline a scheme wherein new media -- whether it be podcasts, individual tracks, or albums -- would be downloaded to your Zune via WiFi if relevant new content appeared on the company's servers. What's relevant content, you ask? Well, say you had a number of Foo Fighters records in your playlist, and you had set your preferences to grab any new music by the band that was put online. Tracks (or maybe just freebies like singles) might be downloaded directly to your player and added to a playlist. The system might also make suggestions for downloads based on your listening habits, possibly suggesting a Probot record, or Queens of the Stone Age. Whatever the implementation may be, we can all be assured of one thing: Dave Grohl will somehow be involved.[Via ZDNet]
