Apple proposing new Bonjour sharing standard

In order to remedy the woes many universities are experiencing using Apple's Bonjour zero-configuration Multicast DNS technology on large scale networks, NetworkWorld reports that the company is proposing a new standard that can be built to support huge numbers of users at once.

"We targeted Bonjour at home networks, but over the last 10 years Multicast DNS -- what Apple calls Bonjour -- has become very popular," explains Apple engineer Stuart Cheshire, speaking at an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting this week. "Every network printer uses Bonjour. TiVo, home video recorders and cameras use it. iPads and iPhones use it, and we are starting to get a lot of demand from customers that they won't be able to print from iPads to a printer in the next building."

Universities have been quite outspoken about their desire to have Apple step in and offer new solutions, and the wishlist of new functionality is long. Things like smooth communication between separate IP subnets and added security and encryption features are at the top of the list.

But Apple won't be doing it alone, and the IETF will play a big role in building the new standard. The task force will be meeting again in March 2013, and by that point it is expected that work on the project will be well underway.

[Source: TUAW]

AT&T to allow FaceTime on non-shared data plans, but only on LTE devices

After ruffling plenty of feathers back in August when it announced that FaceTime over cellular would only be available to users on its Mobile Share data plans, AT&T has decided to loosen those restrictions a bit. Today, the carrier announced that customers on its new tiered data plans will be able to use FaceTime on its network, but only if they have LTE-capable devices.

This means that customers who still have grandfathered-in unlimited data plans are still out of luck if they'd like to FaceTime without using WiFi. Also, owners of non-LTE devices -- so, basically anything before the iPhone 5 and the third-generation iPad -- need not apply. You don't need to have LTE service for your device, however, which is at least some good news for those who don't live in AT&T's LTE coverage areas. If you meet the new criteria, you'll be able to start using FaceTime over cellular on AT&T in eight to 10 weeks.

[Source: TUAW]

Arduino Micro shrinks your favorite DIY platform down to ridiculous proportions

With the Arduino Leonardo, everyone's favorite hackable microcontroller turned a new page. Now it's time to bring that simplified design and slightly expanded feature set to the rest of the family, including the itty-bitty Arduino Micro. The tiny, embed-friendly board was designed with help from Adafruit Industries, one of the biggest players in the DIY market. At the heart of the Micro is the same 16MHz ATmega32u4 chip that powers the Leonardo, which means all the necessary USB controls are baked into the processor. Obviously, the layout here is different, so you wont be mounting the Micro to any shields, but with 20 digital I/O pins, 12 analog input channels and seven PWM channels, there's plenty of room for wiring up your own expansions. Amazingly it crams all that capability in a package just 48mm long and 18mm wide. The Arduino Micro will be available exclusively through Radio Shack and Adafruit first before becoming more widely available next month. The board is available with headers for €21 (roughly $27) and without headers for €18 (about $23). For more, check out the PR after the break.

[Source: Engadget]

Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall

Although Hitachi was one of the first in line to promise support for Roku Streaming Sticks through MHL, it didn't have much more to say without the TVs to back up the claim. The second half of the puzzle is complete now that the company's fall TV revision is underway. Snag its new UltraVision UltraThin S606 TV in its one of its 42-, 46- or 55-inch sizes and you can discreetly (if optionally) hide the equivalent of a full Roku box in one of the HDMI inputs. The S606 sits strictly in the mid-range, however. Its 120Hz, edge-LED LCD design is superceded by the W806, which comes only in 48- and 55-inch sizes while carrying 3D, IPTV support and WiFi. Those who can get by on 60Hz refresh rates can opt for the Value line, where the H306 and S406 offer 720p in 29- and 32-inch dimensions; a third H316 line brings 1080p to those same sizes while adding a 39-inch panel. Hitachi hasn't said whether stores are stocking the TVs today, but it sees pricing ranging from $329 in the smaller Value sets to $1,399 for the largest W806 variant.

[Source: Engadget - Click here to read the full story]

FedEx makes shipping packages to Facebook friends easier with new 'Ship to Friends' app

What's better than saving some precious and valuable time, right? Well, if you're a power Facebook resident and FedEx is your carrier of choice, then you'll be be happy to hear all about Ship to Friends. With this new Facebook app, the company previously known as Federal Express will make it easier for you to send your friends packages without ever having to virtually step out of Zuck's social network. Essentially, this means you'll be able to simply select a user from your Friends list, add the necessary shipping info and, finally, choose the delivery speed (i.e. Premium Choice or Best Deal) and pay for the service -- naturally, however, you'll still have to get the package ready and drop it off at the nearest FedEx shop. Unfortunately, Ship to Friends is only available to Stateside folks for shipments within the US, and FedEx made no mention of when, or if, it plans to start offering its new handy service elsewhere.

[Source: Engadget]

Skype announces new 'In the Workplace' platform for small businesses

Skype has made itself present in many different areas around the globe, but the Microsoft-owned service is now looking to enter (and hopefully be a part of) a more business-oriented field. With the launch of its newfangled, adequately-named In the Workplace platform, Skype says it's hoping to keep small businesses connected and help them grow by giving them a free platform where they can easily communicate with potential customers, partners and even suppliers. According to Skype, this novel service has been tested in beta form for nearly six months now, and today it's officially opening its virtual doors to all business owners that are interested in giving it a go -- the link to sign up can be found down below.

[Source: Engadget]

Tumblr for iOS goes native: now with redesigned Dashboard, improved notifications and more

Just as Facebook did a while back, Tumblr, too, has decided to rebuild its iOS application from the ground up. Inside this new version (3.2), daily users of the blogging service will find a completely redesigned Dashboard, which displays larger pictures and offers faster overall speeds when loading posts. In addition, Tumblr's also added "spiffy" notification previews to its iOS application, allowing folks to see when other users reply, like or reblog their posts -- oh, and better yet, GIFs now automatically play on the all-new Dashboard. The new Tumblr app's now live on Cupertino's App Store -- all you have to do is either hit the source link below or snag it directly via your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

[Source: Engadget]

Pulse 3.0 update for iOS and Android brings new design, better search and more

Pulse might have launched that browser-based app back in August, but most of its customers still use its mobile app. Lucky for them, both iOS and Android versions of the app have been updated to Pulse 3.0. The update promises a sleeker and more user-friendly interface, along with a new category sidebar, a search feature that lets you cull news from a wider variety of sources (from Tumblr, Youtube, Reddit, Facebook, Google, Flickr and Blekko just to name a few), infinite scrolling, and unlimited pages. The new iOS app is now universal and can be used across all iOS devices -- previous versions were divided into iPhone and iPad camps. On the Android side, users get a redesigned Pulse widget that displays top stories in a resizable view. Customizable notifications on both platforms will ensure you always stay on top of the news -- perhaps now you can finally score a win at your favorite pub's quiz night.

[Source: Engadget]

GameFly's digital distribution client officially exits beta, celebrates with free copies of Bioshock

After nearly a year of testing, GameFly is ready to pull the beta qualifier off of its PC game distribution client. The desktop software serves not only as a digital storefront for PC games, but also as a queue management program for subscribers to GameFly's game-by-mail service. Active members get free access to a few hundred "Unlimited PC Play" titles as well -- offering subscribers a wide range of games from Diner Dash to Assassin's Creed. The official release doesn't differ from the beta in any significant way, but GameFly and 2K games is celebrating its launch by doling out free copies of Bioshock to anyone willing to give the platform a test drive.

[Source: Engadget]

Microsoft outlines Internet Explorer 10 differences between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 together mark a rare confluence for Microsoft: they represent the first instance of the company's desktop and phone platforms sharing the same browser base, and that has wide-reaching implications for what developers can do. The Redmond team doesn't want anyone plunging headlong into web apps without knowing what to expect, however, and it just reminded us in a blog post that there are still a few off-limits areas for Internet Explorer 10 on the mobile side. Not surprisingly, elements that demand a truly big screen or a windowed interface won't fly -- there's nowhere to drag-and-drop from or open a new window to. A few other aspects are more likely to catch web developers off-guard, such as the lack of in-line video, a handful of touch inputs, ActiveX and the level of file access. The most important common ground stems from simply having a modern rendering engine whose HTML5 and CSS3 support will prevent any rude shocks. There's much more at the source link, although Microsoft and designers may just be happy that any Windows Phone web development is a question of finding those few things that won't work, rather than reinventing the wheel.

[Source: Engadget]

TweetBot for Mac updated to 1.01, adds support for Reading List and j/k navigation

TweetBot for Mac has been updated with just a .01 version, but the update still adds in some pretty powerful functionality. First of all, the update makes TweetBot compatible with Apple's Reading List service, so you can now add content to your Safari Reading List directly from the Twitter client.

There are a number of improvements added as well, and finally, TweetBot has added in something called "j/k navigation," where you can use your j and k keys to head up or down your tweet list. I am actually a big fan of this kind of navigation -- I use it to go through Google Reader all the time, so having it available on TweetBot will be a nice bonus. TweetBot for Mac is available on the Mac App Store right now for $19.99.

[Source: TUAW]

Apple Store update allows use of Siri with app

The latest update to the Apple Store app isn't huge, but it does contain a couple of neat perks. Version 2.4 allows you to buy gift cards and email them to family and friends from the app. Those with iOS 6 will be able to use those gift cards with Passbook.

But the neatest thing about the update is that it integrates Siri into the app. You can now ask Siri to find prices and shop for Apple products. The urge to find the cost of a Lightning cable by voice alone ever strikes, now you can do so through the Apple Store app.

[Source: TUAW]