Apple released version 6.0.1 of the Apple TV software today, capping a week of new product updates. There is no indication yet about what has changed in the new release.
The last Apple TV update occurred back in September following the public release of iOS 7 for the iPhone and iPad. That release added support for iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud and new podcast functionality...
Read the full story here... Source: Mac Rumours
Apple today released an update for Find My iPhone, adding a newly redesigned iOS 7-style icon. The new icon was first introduced on the iCloud.com beta page, which was updated in mid-August with a new set of iOS 7 icons.
It appears that the newest version of Find My iPhone may have been released prematurely, however, as the update gives an error message to anyone who attempts to use it without a registered developer account (paid or free)...
Read the full story here... Source: Mac Rumours
A member of the Deutsche Telekom support team has confirmed on the company’s forum that the Galaxy S3 will jump directly to Android 4.3.
The Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 have been rumored to skip the Android 4.2.2 and get Google’s latest Android update instead, although Samsung is yet to confirm it. An Australian carrier (Telstra), answering to questions about the Galaxy Note 2 updates, has also hinted that the device will go straight to Android 4.3...
Read the full story here... Source: Android Authority
As expected, Microsoft has ditched the "Blue" codename for its forthcoming free Windows 8 update. Windows 8.1 will be available "later in the calendar year", but a preview version will be opened up for public download on 26 June.
Revealed during JP Morgan's Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in the US, Windows 8.1 will address many of the issues users of Windows 8 have put forward since its launch last year. Its release confirmation was discussed by Microsoft's chief financial operator Tami Reller, who previously spoke about the update on a Microsoft blog posting.
She revealed some of the features of Windows 8.1. "It will deliver the latest new innovations across an increasingly broad array of form factors of all sizes, display, battery life and performance, while creating new opportunities for our ecosystem. It will provide more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play," she said.
"The Windows Blue update is also an opportunity for us to respond to the customer feedback that we’ve been closely listening to since the launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT. From a company-wide perspective, Windows Blue is part of a broader effort to advance our devices and services for Microsoft."
Reller also dropped the hint that the Windows 8.1 update will allow for smaller devices, as Microsoft has long been rumoured to consider 7- and 9-inch tablets.
As reported on Engadget, she said that Windows 8 was great for everything from the "smallest tablets" to desktops.
Source: Pocket-Lint
MENLO PARK, Calif. -- Facebook is releasing a new version of Facebook Home, the social network's software suite for Android, the company announced at its headquarters here Thursday.
The new product will go live on Google Play at 1 p.m. Thursday as an update to the Facebook Android app, but users probably won't see it till about 3 p.m., Facebook said.
Facebook VP of Engineering Cory Ondrejka said the company is planning on several improvements to the product in the coming weeks, but today's update will have bug fixes. Also, for any Android devices that don't support Home, Facebook won't block users who want to transfer Home -- in a process called sideloading -- from supported devices. More than 10,000 people were using this method to get Home on unsupported devices shortly after Home launched, Facebook said...
Read the full story here. Source: CNET
The YouTube iOS app was updated today to version 1.3, adding a variety of new and improved features.
According to the update notes listed in the App Store, version 1.3 brings these new features:
This is the first major update to the YouTube app since the end of February, when Send to TV and the ability to record and upload video via YouTube Capture were added.
Access to live streams and better branding for creators means YouTube is an even more attractive destination for content creators.
[Source: TUAW]
Facebook announced new design elements to engage users more effectively on Facebook on Thursday. The new design rolls out today, facebook.com/newsfeed, for some users, but the roll-out will be gradual. The most notable changes include: larger images, videos, more prominent check-ins, more detailed information from publications (like TechnoBuffalo), a greater display of possible friends without having to click on the profile. You could even view highly trending content.
Facebook claims, this allows for “a richer, simpler, more beautiful feel” as well as more choices on what shows up on the news feed. You can determine what feed you want to view from choices such as photos, news content/likes, music and games.
Facebook’s new navigation menu is very mobile-inspired and allows a continuous look and feel across devices (desktop, tablet, phones). The company claims you get the most out of “smaller screens” to gain a greater experience. New notifications, that Facebook calls “new stories bubble,” show updates across your feeds, that float on the top of your screen.
While Facebook is excited about this new format, they are planning on rolling it out on a gradual basis to certain users and spreading the new format to a wider audience. So far we’re excited to see what we can do with the new format of Facebook, from a visual design, it looks cleaner and thus far seems easier to navigate. Take a look for yourself at the video demo below.
[Source: TechnoBuffalo]
Nintendo released a brand new system update for the Wii U this morning. The update’s been labeled Version 2.1.3 U, and it’s available through the settings menu within the Wii U UI.
I’ve personally completed the update; a process that only took about 5 minutes, thanks to the ethernet cable and USB dongle duo I’ve recently installed. If you frequent the site, you might remember an article I ran back in December of last year. It was then that I spent a week trying to update my Wii U with no luck. I wound up calling Nintendo and, get this, they told me to move my console closer to my router.
It worked, oddly enough.
Regardless, today’s update is only a minor one. Here’s the full text from Nintendo’s support site:
Version 2.1.3 U available via an Internet connection includes the following improvements:
Further improvements to overall system stability have been made.*
*The previously announced system update, which adds new features and further improvements to the user experience, will be released in April.
The previously announced system update, of course, is the one that Nintendo promised back during a Nintendo Direct presentation a few weeks ago. That update will supposedly speed up UI performance and reduce load times.
We’ll have more on these updates and the Wii U as it comes.
[Source: TechnoBuffalo]
YouTube for iOS received a small upgrade this week that essentially turns a user’s device into a controller. Basically, users can now pick which video to watch from within the YouTube appand it’ll start playing through either a Smart TV, Xbox or PS3.
It’s almost like AirPlay; to see how it works, YouTube has a page setup that you can interact with. When you start playing a YouTube video on your device, a small TV icon will appear. Tap on that, and it’ll beam to your TV and resume playing there. From your device you can do things like play or pause, rewind or fast-forward, choose a different video and toggle between your phone and TV.
Additionally, other users can join in with their iOS device to create a playlist of Kid President videos to watch.
[Source: TechnoBuffalo]
The next version of Apple's mobile operating system could launch next week, according to a report, and will fix the bugs found in iOS 6.1.1.
German blog iFun cites checks with different mobile networks as evidence iOS 6.1.2 will touch down before Wednesday. That might not be concrete proof, but 9to5Mac says the same site nailed the launch of iOS 6.1.1 using info from these sources. The PS4, HTC One, and iOS 6.1.2 all in the same two days? I can think of worse weeks.
The next version of Apple's mobile OS promises to fix a couple of flaws found in 6.1.1. Namely the fact that iOS devices won't sync with Microsoft Exchange servers, as well as the fact anyone can bypass the iPhone's passcode with a few simple steps, letting them use the phone and listen to your voicemails. Apple has said it's aware of both and is working on a fix.
iOS 6.1.1 launched this week to fix the bugs in 6.1 (which is only a couple of weeks old). Here in the UK, Vodafone warned customers using an iPhone 4S not to upgrade to 6.1, due to 3G performance issues. Then it went ahead and gave it the green light to 6.1.1. But not all was fixed, as this upgrade proves. Many complained that 6.1.1 drained the battery on their iPhone 4S much faster than previous versions. Seriously, it's like whack-a-mole, fixing these bugs.
Our very own Richard Trenholm opined on the matter at this time last year, lamenting how nowadays phones seem to be sold in an unfinished state. So what if it doesn't work? There's an update coming that'll sort all that out. I'd feel more than a little annoyed if I downloaded the latest update only to find it screwed my phone's battery life. I thought updates were supposed to improve performance, not hinder it.
[Source: CNET]
Apple has released the MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.7. The update addresses a very specific issue owners of the MacBook Pro (15- and 17-inch models, Early 2011) and MacBook Pro (15- and 17-inch models, Mid 2010) were having. Though rare, the issue would cause the laptops to unexpectedly shut down or stop functioning after more than 1,000 battery charge cycles.
The firmware update can be downloaded through Software Update on the select models, or users can download it directly here. Last month Apple released the MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.6, which addressed asimilar issue on other models.
[Source: TUAW]
Pinterest has just updated its app offering to improve the experience of managing community boards from your Android device. The new update -- version 1.3.1 -- lets users properly view the contributors to a community board, so you can see who is pinning items with you. The update also lets you accept or reject board invites, as well as leave boards you're already a member of.
You can grab a download or update of the new Pinterest app from the Play Store link at the top of this post. Users looking to grab the update on the Amazon Appstore will see the update appear soon.
[Source: AndroidCentral]