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Don't bother buying Adobe Photoshop CS6 for your 32-bit Mac
Look, how many bits you choose to process in the privacy of your own home is entirely your business, but don't expect the latest Photoshop to work on anything less than a 64-bit multi-core Mac running a minimum of Snow Leopard. Adobe's update brings a compute-heavy 'Mercury Graphics Engine' as well as better 3D and video manipulation, with the sacrifice of 32-bit support unless you're running Windows -- although even then certain features will be limited. The message is clear: jump on the upgrade treadmill or sacrifice 65 user-feedback-inspired features and a new crop tool.
Users take to iOS 5.1 surprisingly quickly
Developer David Smith has posted upgrade stats for his users in terms of their adoption to iOS 5.1, and as you can see above, the curve is pretty steep. iOS upgrading has always been sort of an issue for Apple -- in the past, users (I mean outside of the elite readers and staff of TUAW, of course) haven't been quite so willing to upgrade so quickly, and Apple is always trying to push users towards the newest iOS versions for developers' sake. But clearly iOS 5.1 has made a big splash, especially since it's the first big update that's available to download right over the air onto your device, rather than requiring a link up to iTunes on a computer. And outside of the Apple ecosystem, this is still pretty phenomenal: Smith says that in 15 days, the latest version of iOS has just as many users as any single version of Android. That's the fragmentation that developers are trying to avoid with iOS, and that Android is suffering from. The more you can unite your users onto the same platform and operating system, the better chance you have of supporting them all with whatever resources you have. [via MacRumors]
Jolicloud Me opens in beta, brings together shares in the cloud
For as small as Jolicloud is, the company sure knows how to hang around. After renaming its cloud-based desktop operating system to Joli OS (and subsequently open-sourcing the thing), the outfit is taking a somewhat different approach with its latest offering. Jolicloud Me is a new type of cloud organizer -- think of it as a mashup between Pinterest and Dropbox, among other things. It's a high-level aggregation tool that pulls together cloud-based information and shares; things like music, images and video -- regardless of where they came from -- are grouped together. We've certainly seen social sharing aggregators before, but there's a certain level of elegance to this one. Beta invites are going out today (see the source link), with platform support for Android, iOS and the world wide web via HTML5. Something tells us we're just a few months out from yet another service that aggregates the aggregators.
Microsoft aiming for October 2012 release of Windows 8, tablets and PCs on deck
We knew good and well that Microsoft was aiming for a 2012 launch of its latest and greatest operating system, and if sources reporting to Bloomberg are accurate, it looks like we'll have a date with Mrs. October. Purportedly, work will wrap on Win8 this summer, with PCs and tablets (!) to ship in October carrying the newfangled OS. We're told that the initial rollout will include devices running Intel and ARM processors, and not surprisingly, this positions Microsoft to make a serious play for holiday dollars. Still wondering if it's for you? Give the Consumer Preview a run, won'tcha?
Linux kernel 3.3 released with merged Android code and more
The latest refresh of the Linux kernel, 3.3, is now available, and the second release of 2012 brings with it the long-awaited merging of code from Google's little side project. While that is particularly interesting to developers looking to boot Android or run apps on the stock Linux kernel (FYI: optimized power management and other infrastructure that didn't make it this time will arrive in the next release, 3.4) and represents a resolution to the issues that kept the two apart for so long it's not the only new feature included. There are improvements to file systems like Btrfs, memory management, networking, security and much, much more. Hit the source link below for the full changelog or grab the code and from the usual locations and get your compile on directly.
BlackBerry 10 coming to the PlayBook, RIM confirms
RIM's handsets won't be getting BlackBerry 10 until later this year, but once they do, the PlayBook will be next in line. That's according to Rob Orr, RIM's VP of product management, who confirmed the news to TechRadar. "We've said publicly a number of times that our first BB10 handset will be available towards the end of 2012, and that's still firmly the case," Orr said. "At some point after the launch we'll bring BB10 to our PlayBooks, yes." Orr apparently didn't get any more specific than that, though he did mention that RIM has seen a spike in updates to PlayBook OS 2.0, which came out just last month. According to the exec, about 50 percent of all users made the jump on the day it came out, which just goes to show how great e-mail is.
Samsung considering Android-based digital camera
Android on a mainstream digital camera? Yes, you could live to see the day. We're at Samsung's Korean headquarters this week, where we had an opportunity to sit down with the company's research and development team to talk about the past, present and future of digital imaging. One interesting bit of discussion: Samsung is considering an "open" camera operating system. It's still early days and nothing is confirmed but, given the company's support for Android on other platforms, that OS would be a logical choice. What we know is that Samsung R&D has been researching bringing Android to its digital cameras -- a move that would be far from shocking, considering that development teams do tend to collaborate, and the company clearly has experience with the Google OS. And while there are likely to be such open OS prototypes buried deep within Sammy HQ, they're mere experiments at this point -- at least from a production perspective.What exactly would an OS like Android mean for digital camera users? It could be a major breakthrough from a usability standpoint, opening up the in-camera ecosystem to third-party developers. We could see Twitter and Facebook apps that let you not only publish your photos directly with a familiar interface, but also see photos shared by your friends. A capacitive touchscreen would let you type in comments directly as well. You could publish to web-based services, utilize apps that enable post-capture creativity or receive firmware updates directly over WiFi. That hotshoe or USB port could accommodate a variety of different accessories, like a microphone or 4G modem that could be used with several models, including those from other manufacturers. While there's nothing making Android integration impossible from a technical standpoint, there are obvious disadvantages as well -- especially for camera makers. Stability would become an issue -- your camera could need a reboot just as often as your smartphone -- and such a powerful imaging device could theoretically cannibalize tablets and smartphones, though on a limited scale. Sadly this is merely educated speculation at this point, pending a product announcement from Samsung, though we wouldn't be surprised to see it come to fruition -- perhaps even before the next CES.Update: Samsung reached out to us asking to clarify that this is simply something under consideration; nothing is confirmed yet. We've updated the post above to match.
MSDN Windows Help blog plays on our love of keyboard shortcuts, tells how to navigate Windows 8 like a pro
If you didn't get the gist of our Windows 8 Consumer Preview run-down, it's a bit clumsy on the desktop front. Fortunately for power-users, the budding operation system is introducing a suite of keyboard shortcuts to help them manage its classic and metro interfaces. We mentioned a few in our early impressions of the consumer build, but Rob Margel's MSDN Windows help blog has a full list of 30 shortcuts for you to master before Windows 8 makes its final debut. Craving a shortcut to cycle through your toast notifications? Need to switch to the classic Windows desktop while simultaneously pulling up the Run box? Hit the source link below and let Morgel drop some hotkey knowledge on you.
Poll: Did you download the Windows 8 preview?
Microsoft's finally unleashed its consumer preview of Windows 8 and while we're sure plenty of your questions were answered in our highly-detailed overview, nothing beats giving it a blast for yourself. So what are your thought so far? Is this the future destined for that Ultrabook you've had your eyes on? Let us know in our poll. And if you have even more thoughts, be sure to let us know in the comments section below. %Poll-73786%
ASUS claims it may be among first to get Android 5.0, confirms Jelly Bean moniker
We've seen some pretty incredible smartphones and technologies at MWC, but it goes without saying that one of the hottest topics at the show was Android, and speculation over the release and alias of its next-gen operating system. Based on Google's update schedule, it's within reason to expect Android 5.0 to hit within the next year -- but which popular confection will bear the honor or representing the latest OS flavor? There's been little doubt that the jelly bean will fill that role, and now ASUS has confirmed to TechRadar not only that delectable moniker -- Jelly Bean -- but also that the company will likely be among the first to get the new OS. That claim came from VP Benson Lin, who said "Asus is very close to Google, so once they have Android 5.0 I think there will be a high possibility that we will be the first wave to offer the Jelly Bean update." So, there you have it. Now go get to scooping up every variation of the Je!!y 8ean domain.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits one million downloads in a day
How pumped are consumers about the release of a Windows 8 preview that they can call their own? Quite, according the million downloads the build has marked in just a day. That number comes from Microsoft's Building Windows Twitter account -- of course, it's important to note that the number doesn't necessarily mean one million individuals downloaded Consumer Preview. Still, not bad for a day's work.
Microsoft Windows 8 on 82-inch touchscreen hands-on (video)
We don't have 100 fingers -- theoretically the supported limit of Windows 8 on the 82-inch capacitive touchscreen display we just had a chance to go hands-on with at the company's latest OS demo at Mobile World Congress -- but things looked pretty impressive even with just 10. The display we saw is manufactured by a company called Perceptive Pixel, and it may even look familiar -- it's the same glass screen used by television news networks like CNN. But, unlike the giant touchscreens you've seen on TV, this guy is connected to a standard off-the-shelf PC running Windows 8 Consumer Preview. The glass panel is constructed of optically-bonded Gorilla Glass, so there's very little space between the picture and your hand, making for a much more realistic user experience. Naturally, this monitor is all about the visuals, so you really need to see it in action to get an accurate impression of just how slick the experience can be. Jump past the break for our hands-on.
Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview detailed impressions
The early days of Windows were inauspicious ones. Sitting on top of DOS, it was hardly a revolution in personal computing -- instead it felt like a disjointed platform perched uncomfortably atop a command prompt, ready to come crashing down at any moment. That's what it was, and often that's what it did. The early days of Windows required constant jumps from GUI to shell as users ran a wide assortment of apps, only some of which played nice inside a window.It was over a decade later, after Windows 95, that the operating system would truly ditch its DOS underpinnings and feel like a totally integrated system. Why are we reminiscing? Because we're reaching that same point again. With the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft is showing off the most complete version of the company's most modern operating system, yet in many ways it feels like 1985 all over again -- like there are two separate systems here struggling to co-exist. How well do they get along? Join us after the break to find out.
Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 press event at Mobile World Congress 2012!
Today's the day! It's been months since we tested the Windows 8 Developer Preview, and now Microsoft is finally ready to let the general PC-using public give it a whirl. While we already have a feel for the overarching interface, which mashes together the traditional desktop and Metro-inspired tiles, we haven't yet had a glimpse of the native apps that will ship as part of the OS. And think of the untold number of tweaks Redmond must have made since the Developer Preview dropped! Will we get to poke around the Windows Store? Will switching between apps be any less jarring this go 'round? And what's the fate of the Start button? Stay tuned to find out what the OS will look like in its (almost) final form. February 29, 2012 9:30 AM EST
Mountain Lion developer preview changes file renaming options
One of my pet peeves with Mac OS X always appears when I'm in the process of opening a file from an app and want to either make a duplicate of an original or just want to rename the file. With Lion and previous versions of OS X, that meant that I'd have to close the "Open" dialog, open a Finder window, make the name change, and then go back to the dialog. AppleInsider noted today that the Mountain Lion developer preview adds some changes that will eliminate this pesky issue. Mountain Lion now includes "new and improved" Save and Open dialogs (see above) that finally let users rename files from the dialog -- no trip to the Finder required. With a double-click on the name, it becomes editable in the dialogs, exactly what you see in the Finder now. Files can also be renamed from the title bar of apps. The Versions pulldown currently displays options to lock, duplicate, revert to last saved version, or browse all versions. In Mountain Lion (below), the pulldown is changed so that it now adds Rename, Move to iCloud, and Move To items. While this is just a small change to the operating system, it's something that a lot of us have wanted for a long time.
Join us for Microsoft's Windows 8 press conference tomorrow at 9am EST!
If you're Microsoft and in the process of overhauling Windows so that it's equally at home on PCs and tablets, it would make sense to unveil a semi-final version at the world's premier wireless show. That's exactly what's going to happen tomorrow, when the company's executive team takes the stage here in Barcelona to show off all the changes it's made to Win8 since we got hands-on with the Developer Preview five months ago. Though we still won't know tomorrow what the final version will look like, we'll have a much firmer idea, as this will be the first version available to the general Windows-using populace. So what does Redmond have up its sleeve? Will the Windows Store open for business? A first look at some native touch-friendly apps? And what's to become of the Start button? Bookmark this page and come back tomorrow at 9am EST (3:30pm local time), when we'll be firing off up-to-the-minute updates. See you then! February 29, 2012 9:00 AM EST
Mozilla Boot to Gecko hands-on (video)
Here it is, folks: Mozilla's assault on the smartphone. Known as Boot to Gecko, the OS is geared toward hobbyists and consumers alike. Mozilla tells us that all Android users (with unlocked bootloaders) will be able to install the operating system onto their phones, and for less tenacious individuals, the non-profit group has begun lining up partners. We were given a quick demo of Boot to Gecko on a Galaxy S II, which included peeks at the dialer, messaging system, system preferences and, yes, the Mozilla Marketplace. Our initial impression? Boot to Gecko doesn't seem quite ready for prime time, as the operating system froze as we merely tapped through the settings and apps, which then required us to pull the battery. On the upside, the interface seems incredibly slick and the phone booted astonishingly fast -- it was good to go in about two seconds. Be sure to hop the break for the demo video of Boot to Gecko.
Mozilla partners with Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom to further Boot to Gecko project
So far, we have seen neither hide nor hair of that rumored LG-built Boot to Gecko developer device. Mozilla hasn't exactly been keeping quiet, though. The company announced a pair of partners on the web standards-based mobile OS: Telefónica and Deutsche Telekom. The German parent company of T-Mobile will be lending members of its Innovation Labs team to the development of the project. Telefónica will be bringing hardware to the equation. It revealed plans to build "open web devices" based on B2G for release this year. Qualcomm and Adobe are also throwing their weight behind the HTML5 platform. Before the week is through we should be able to scrounge up a few more details and spend some hands-on time with the OS.
Ubuntu for Android: more details and prototype hands-on (video)
Canonical's announcement of Ubuntu for Android kicked up quite a stir, but it also left us with a few unknowns. The idea is that your phone becomes a mobile PC, switching from Android into full desktop Ubuntu mode when you dock it to a bigger display, keyboard and mouse. But just how well does it perform? When is it coming? How is it coming? And will tinkerers be able to install it for themselves? Canonical let us into its London office today to try out the software and pepper one of its engineers with questions. First, the good news: Ubuntu for Android is everything it's been claimed to be. It's a functional desktop OS that sits alongside Android, shares the same kernel and has full read / write access to everything on your phone (the connectivity hardware itself plus contacts, emails, videos, apps and pretty much everything else.). It's also ready for ARM-compatible Ubuntu apps, potentially expanding the range of things your phone can do. The bad news? It needs to be faster -- a lot faster. The prototype we saw was running on a TI OMAP 4430-powered Motorola Atrix 2 that had primarily been chosen for its ready-made docking accessory. The software hadn't been customized for that handset and neither Motorola nor TI have so far been involved in the project. Despite this, some tasks ran surprisingly well, like watching a video or adjusting a photo. However, surfing on the Chromium desktop browser suffered too much hanging and it was also clear that multi-tasking would be a serious burden. According to Canonical, better performance will come when manufacturers tailor the software to their newest handsets and offer it pre-installed. The company is doing everything it can to make that happen -- meeting with big players at MWC next week and trying to persuade them that it's not too late to offer Ubuntu on models scheduled for launch this year. We asked if Canonical would make the OS available to us ordinary folk sooner than that, so we can play with it and give our feedback, but that just isn't part of the company's game plan right now -- everything hinges on manufacturers seeing the 'differentiation' value and climbing aboard. To tide you over in the meantime, click past the break for a hands-on video.
Raspberry Pi wears a new Fedora (video)
If you've been keeping an eye on this tasty little computer, you'll know it's a pretty exciting concept already. To further sweeten the deal, it just got its own version of Fedora. A special "remix" edition has been ported over to the micro-machine by a team at Seneca College. Although there's already a Debian release for the diminutive device, the project's official blog states that Fedora Remix is the distribution it'll be recommending to users. The OS image fits on a 2GB memory card, and comes complete with a GUI, programming and system administration tools, web browser and other essential apps to get you going. If you want to see the Pi in action, there's a video after the break demonstrating the OS, along with a look at that user interface. As for that February 20th release date, sadly that seems less reliable.
