Software & Apps - Page 104

Instagram is huge, I have so many friends who post their picture of the day on my Facebook wall, and to be 'cool', I've always wanted to get in on this, but, I have an Android phone. Instagram's co-creator, Kevin Systrom, used a presentation at South by Southwest's technology conference to showcase the Android-based version of Instagram.

The version shown was a closed beta, but should support multiple screen resolutions and should 'run very quickly'. Systrom did hint that there could be some features that the iOS version doesn't include, where he said to the audience "in some ways, it's better than our iPhone app".

Systrom didn't give a timeframe for when the app will hit Android, other than it is coming "really soon". Systrom also reiterated his view that Instagram had kept an iOS-exclusive app since launch its launch in 2010 in order to focus on the basics of scaling the platform, as well as coping with the insane number of users.

Apple's just-released iTunes 10.6 sports the ability for users to option higher quality audio conversion bitrates when syncing songs to iOS-based devices like the iPhone, iPad and iPod. Before iTunes 10.6, users were given the option to down-convert higher bitrate songs to a crappy 128kbps level.

This allowed more songs to be synced to devices, but some users would rather higher quality audio, than savings to their device's storage capacity. With iTunes 10.6, users now have two options: to down-convert audio to quality levels of 192, or 256kbps, giving users three options of bitrate when syncing music to their mobile device.

iTunes purchases are encoded at 256kbps, but CD rips are at 320kbps, this means that the new setting allows people the option to reduce the quality slightly down to 256kbps when syncing to a mobile device, whilst keeping the higher quality 320kbps rip stored on their main desktop or notebook.

Google is my browser of choice. Everytime I use it, I feel like a cowboy in the western era, pulling my gun out of my holster and swinging it around my finger and then shooting some tin can at 100-feet. More exciting news, though: Google have confirmed they're working on a version of Chrome that will run in the Metro environment found within Windows 8, says Mashable.

The Google spokesperson told Mashable that the new version of Chrome would be based on the desktop browser, as opposed to the Android-based version. The representative has been quoted:

Microsoft, in its venture to reclaim the love of its users, has started seeding its Office 15 technical preview to select, lucky partners, earlier than normal this year to get it ready for the public. The Verge has managed to spy some shots of Office 15, and its new features.

Office sports a large influence of MS's Metro, where it has a cleaner interface and touch mode, which makes working with your documents and presentations on a desktop, tablet or smartphone, that much easier. Word has also received some love, now including double-click to zoom, smoother scrolling, video embeds, and the ability to share documents online through a browser.

Excel has also received some upgrades, now including some formatting controls, as well as chart animations. PowerPoint wasn't left out, and is now easier to drop Excel charts into presentations without messing with formatting. Outlook now sports weather forecasts built-in, in-line replies, and greater multiple e-mail account support. One Note wasn't left out of the upgrades, and now has improved tables support.

Until now, Android applications have had to meet a strict 50MB size limit. Google have said that every megabyte you add to this limit, makes it harder for their users to download, and get started with their app, or games, or both.

Today, Google have increased this once puny 50MB limit to 4GB. Google also advise that the size of your APK file will still be limited to 50MB to ensure secure on-device storage, but you can now attach expansion files to your APK. Details on this are:

- Each app can have two expansion files, each one up to 2GB, in whatever format you choose.

As a loving Samsung Galaxy S II owner, I've been awaiting Android 4.0 ICS on my handset for what feels like, forever. But, news from Samsung's Israel-based division posted on Facebook with a date for the ICS upgrade to the Galaxy S II.

They're promised to end a 'patient' wait by delivering ICS to the flagship Galaxy S II on March 15. The upgrade would apply to both carrier-locked versions as well as unlocked versions bought directly from Samsung. At the moment, it's not known which countries would get the upgrade first, or at the same time.

But, as usual, Americans would most likely have to wait longer, as versions such as the Epic 4G Touch and T-Mobile's 42Mbps-capable HSPA+ edition will need their own, individual additional testing. Areas where the Galaxy S II stock is healthy, such as Canada and most of Europe, should get the upgrade pretty quick.

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview came out just a little over 24 hours ago, and has enjoyed an insane 1 million-plus downloads in those 24 hours. This is a runaway success for Microsoft, which is pretty much going all-in with their next-generation OS.

Considering that over 1 million people downloaded the OS, the servers handled it pretty damn well. I personally had no issues with the download, with it maxing out my 8Mbit connection. I also didn't notice a single person on my Facebook news feed whinging, so that's a good sign, isn't it? Or maybe I don't have enough friends?

Microsoft broke the news on their BuildingWindows8 Twitter feed, saying "One day later... one million downloads of the consumer preview.

Microsoft's timeframe for Windows 8 is not being discussed, and this worries not only the Bright Side of News*, but me, too. BSN* received some interesting news regarding the timeframe of Windows 8, with information pointing to all resources being poured into the x86-based version of the OS for notebooks, desktops, workstations and server, with no attention being given for the ARM-based version of Windows 8.

Microsoft didn't let anyone have any hands-on time with the ARM version of Windows 8 at CES 2012, and the repeat is happening now in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress. On top of this, Qualcomm have announced they've delayed their quad-core processors from summer 2012, to Q1 2013. This could of course open the flood gates for NVIDIA and their quad-core-based Tegra 3 SoC, but it looks as though their having issues with the 28nm process and not talking about opportunities.

BSN* have talked to "highly ranked executives close to the heart of the matter" that say Windows 8 for x86 processors will debut in Q4 of this year, with Windows-on-ARM debuting 12 months from now, at MWC 2013, with availability two-to-three months from it being shown off at MWC 2013. This information, of course, Microsoft doesn't want known. Microsoft are expected to unleash the Consumer Preview of Windows 8, but this will reportedly not be the only public version they release.

Opera Software have just released some new web browser goodies in the form of Opera Mini Next and Opera Mobile 12. The new browser introduces Smart Page, which is a new feature being previewed in the Opera Mini Next series of web browsers for feature phones, which will be launched on all Opera Mini browsers for feature phones later this year.

Smart Page will join Opera's Speed Dial shortcuts which give feature phones smarter access to social networks, the latest news and more. Social integration is built into the first screen of Opera Mini Next, including Facebook and Twitter. The smartphone versions of Opera Mini Next does not make an appearance in this version. Android's Opera Mini Next app will receive a smoother browsing experience, including hardware acceleration and a revamped Speed Dial.

Opera Mobile 12 also launched at MWC, and brings "more goodies" to owners of Android and Symbian, the following is included in Opera Mobile 12:

Microsoft have reportedly stopped compiling beta builds of their upcoming OS, Windows 8, and are said to be preparing to sign off on the Consumer Preview of Windows 8, tomorrow. The build (8250) is said to be unveiled at a special event that will coincide with Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next Wednesday at 9AM ET.

The public beta will usher in some huge changes, such as the updated Windows logo, and a new "Charms bar" which replaces the Start menu. The Consumer Preview is said to sport some preinstalled games, including Pinball and Solitaire, while the preview version of the new Windows Store will sport games such as Angry Birds.

Developers will have the ability to publish free apps through the Windows Store, or charge between $1.49 and $999 per download. Microsoft, at first, takes a 30-percent stake in the sales, which is reduced to 20-percent once the app exceeds $25,000 in sales. The OS is expected to include various social and multimedia applications. We should have a huge post on Windows 8 next week, so stay tuned!

Popular GPU overclocking tool, MSI Afterburner, has hit version 2.2.0 Beta 14 and is now available for download. It includes a fair amount of updated features, listed below.

The main updated features of MSI Afterburner 2.2.0 Beta 14

* Fixed sub-zero temperatures reading on certain custom design MSI graphics cards with LM96163 and NCT7718W dedicated thermal sensors.

Sony's official US launch for the PlayStation Vita sported LiveTweeting, Wi-Fi-only Netflix access, and Flickr's photo-based networking but missed out on Facebook and Foursquare apps. Well, today that is changed, my friends.

Sony have announced that Facebook is now available for the PS Vita in the form of a 12MB free download from the PlayStation Store. If you've got a PS Vita, first off, how do you find it? Secondly, you should be grabbing the Facebook app and posting your thoughts as a comment on our Facebook page, that would be, in the words of Beavis and Butthead, "cool".

I walked past my local JB Hi-Fi store yesterday (electronics retailer for you non-Australians) and was a bit too busy with my 11-month-old 'dada-ing' and pointing to everything to stop in and see the Australian launch stuff for it. I'm tempted, and I have a few friends who have said good things about it. But, it still needs a kick-arse killer-app in my opinion, for me to justify purchasing something I would only use every now and again.

Samsung has just put their school shorts on once again, you know those pressed, private-school, grey-in-color shorts that would be a complete stereotype? Well, yeah. Samsung are introducing something called 'Learning Hub', where they'll offer educational content including 6,000 textbooks and video titles from 30 different education service providers.

Learning Hub will hit Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9, and at the moment, Samsung have only teased us all with some screenshots, but with Mobile World Congress in a little over a weeks time, we should have some more information then.

The Learning Hub is set to offer an interactive learning experience and to encourage self-learning where it features an automatic scoring system as motivation. Note correction is included, as well as the ability to annotate documents. Samsung are obviously hoping this Learning Hub will give them a foot in the door to education-based institutions such as schools, universities, and more.

NVIDIA have just release some very special drivers in the form of the GeForce 295.73 WHQL Drivers. NVIDIA say they are essential for Skyrim, Diablo III and Mass Effect 3, and once you see these numbers, you'll probably agree.

The drivers sport numerous "game-changing", NVIDIA-exclusive improvements that have been baked into previous beta downloads, as well as a few other treats, all wrapped up in a nice WHQL-certified package. Skyrim gets a serious punch in frame rates with these new drivers, with performance on the GeForce GTX 560 receiving an amazing 44.5-percent increase in performance, and GTX 560 SLI performance seeing a boost of 44.1-percent. The GTX 580 sees a nice 36-percent bump, with GTX 580 SLI only receiving 17.3-percent. All of this testing is done at 1920x1080 with Indoor Scenes, Ultra Detail, 8xMSAA, 16xAF.

Diablo III Beta doesn't miss out from these new drivers, where the immersive Ambient Occlusion shadowing now featuring in Diablo III, which looks quite good. Instructions on how to enable this feature are available on NVIDIA's website.

BGR have gotten their dirty mits on "what is said to be" Apple's iOS 5.1 GM, which should hit users over-the-air (OTA) around March 9th or so, and BGR have thus confirmed two changes that have been baked into iOS 5.1.

First off, we have the lock screen for iOS 5.1 sporting a fixed camera button which is found next to the slide-to-unlock button, and instead of tapping on said button to launch the camera, in iOS 5.1 all you do is drag the entire unlock section up to reveal the camera finder - nifty.

Siri has also taken a trip to learn a new language: Japanese. BGR have confirmed this in the picture below where you can clearly see Siri now sports Japanese. BGR have learnt that there "are no roadblocks" and this is a release candidate that should hit in a few weeks time.

Just a few minutes ago we reported of the AMD Catalyst 12.1 pre-certified drivers, but the good news didn't stop there. AMD were also kind enough to release the Catalyst Application Profiles 12.1 CAP 3 which includes a bunch of profiles for some newly-released games.

First up we have Alan Wake, which gets "improves CrossFire performance", Syndicate which receives both single-GPU and CrossFire performance improvements, Darkness 2 gets just improved CrossFire performance. Lastly, we have Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which gets improved CrossFire performance for the AMD Radeon HD 6000 Series to avoid negative scaling at low resolution and finally, Natural Selection 2, where the 12.1 CAP 3 fixes shadow map flickering issues that are seen when CrossFire is enabled.

You can get all dirty with the Catalyst Application Profiles 12.1 CAP 3, here.

For those of you who don't want to dilly-dally waiting for the WHQL-certified drivers from AMD, you can jump on these newly-released drivers. They come in the form of the Catalyst 12.1 pre-certified drivers, and support the Radeon HD 2000, HD 3000, HD 4000, HD 5000, HD 6000, and HD 7000 Series cards.

They include quite the handful of support, features and enhancements, as listed below:

Windows 7 and Windows Vista support for the AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series and AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series

Android 4.0 arrived with quite the hard thud late last year, whilst it looks pretty cool, the Android-based smartphones and tablets just did not adapt quick enough. Most smartphone and tablet makers really dragged their feet, with even flagship products such as the phone that rocks along in my pocket, the Samsung Galaxy S II, not receiving it yet.

But, this could all [hopefully] change with the release of Android 5.0 "Jelly Bean". Google know that 2012 spells stronger competition in the OS market, with Microsoft releasing Windows 8 this year, and Apple will surely announce iOS 6 with the iPhone 5 (that's my guess, anyway). All of this is "according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers", thanks, DigiTimes.

Android 5.0 is said to be further optimized for tablet PCs, as well as having Chrome integration system functions to push dual-operating system designs. What does sound amazing, is that brand vendors can choose to adopt just Android 5.0 or add Android 5.0 to Windows 8 devices, allowing the ability to switch between the two OSes without the need to shut the device down. Take that, Apple.

Apple have just announced they've released a developer preview of their upcoming OS, Mountain Lion. Touted as the ninth major release of the 'world's most advanced operating system', Mountain Lion will introduce popular apps from the iPad to the Mac, such as Messages, Notes, Reminders and Game Center, as well as Notification Center, Share Sheets, Twitter integration and AirPlay Mirroring.

On top of these iPad-related features, OS X Mountain Lion will sport iCloud, which allows for easy setup and integration with said apps. The developer preview of Mountain Lion also intros Gatekeeper. What is Gatekeeper? It's a 'revolutionary' security feature that helps keep you safe from malicious software by giving you complete control over what apps are allowed to be installed on your Mac.

Because Mountain View includes Messages, this means that iChat is now gone. Messages will continue to support services such as AIM, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. If you want to try it out on your Lion-based Mac, you can download the beta of Messages, here.

Leaked images have floated onto the surface of the waves of the Internet in the past 24 or so hours of Research in Motion's next-generation BlackBerry 10 Operating System, and boy do they look nice. BlackBerry 10 OS will sport home screen "widgets" which will allow you to call up apps and mini-apps, video chat capability, improvements to the e-mail clients design, just to name a few.

CrackBerry.com are behind the images, where they've reported they received a 14-page presentation featuring BlackBerry 10-powered BlackBerry's from "a tipster". Of course, we have to question whether these images are indeed legit, but they do seem to be. BB 10 OS is shaping up to look quite swish, and it seems RIM have worked hard at this latest OS.

RIM aren't just dressing to impress, either, it seems they are baking in some useful features such as a clock icon that continues to show the time of the day, but also what time the alarm will go off. It is the detail in the little things that make it stand out. Another feature showed off in a screenshot is RIM's Universal Inbox, which is thanks to The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) which RIM acquired back in 2010.