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WinZip comes to iOS, doesn't nag you to register
The days of ignoring WinZip's incessant nagging that you actually pay its registration fee may be long gone, but that isn't to say the file compressing firm hasn't learned from your failure to pony up. WinZip, the Windows user's go-to compression software since the early nineties, is now available on iOS -- free of charge. The mobile utility will let users open Zip attachments from email, browse compressed files and extract encrypted archives. Actual compression of an iOS device's files, however, will still need to be done on a desktop computer.
BlackBerry PlayBook update brings zip extraction, more storage options for attachments (updated)
RIM sure is working fast to bring its 500,000-strong BlackBerry Playbooks up to functional par. The tablet's been on the market for three short months and is already set to receive its fourth software update. This go 'round, RIM added the ability to save attachments to a removable SD card or your phone's internal storage, extract zip files from email (although you'll have to use Bridge and port from your BlackBerry smartphone), a pinch-to-zoom feature for video viewing and -- winner of the duh award -- portrait viewing for photos. Also, the software now supports 15 additional languages -- great news if you speak Galician. If you're planning on picking up this QNX tab, you'll receive the v1.0.7 update as part of the setup process. Current owners can wait for an update notification, or just pull it manually. So, what are you waiting for? Get downloading. Update: And it's gone. Seems some folks who downloaded the update were having connectivity issues using BlackBerry Bridge. RIM posted on Twitter saying users should expect a fix later this week.
A look at some of Chrome OS's latest bits of polish
The release of Chrome OS looms ever closer, but still there are a number of enhancements and changes being rolled in that should make for a somewhat nicer experience, and TechCrunch has highlighted a few. Perhaps most major among those changes is the ability to browse the internet without signing in, but if you want to update your bookmarks or save any form data you'll still need a Google account. There's a new side bar that appears to give access to other apps, replacing tabs on top, and it also adds in battery and WiFi strength indicators. There's also something of a debate going on regarding whether Chrome OS should have support for compressed archives (.zip and .rar files and the like). Right now the OS has no support for those files, which, as one contributor points out, is rather unfortunate given that Gmail itself generates zip files when you click "download all attachments." Let's hope someone at the Googs finds time to add that in so that future users aren't locked out of the joys of extraction.
