GoPro app reaches Android, captures reckless Nexus adventures

GoPro left its Android-using audience hanging (from a paraglider) when it posted an iOS app for remote controlling its cameras, but the group won't have been in suspense for long. The action video camera maker has posted a Google-native version that covers roughly the same feature spread as its Apple-oriented counterpart, including remote control, video previewing and daily highlight clips. Any aspiring movie makers will have to fit a narrow set of criteria to start shooting, however -- on top of an HD Hero 2and a WiFi BacPac, Android 4.0 is a minimum requirement to start shooting without hiccups. Hero 3 support won't be coming until later this month. Despite the limitations, it's nice to know that we won't need an elaborate Google Glass setup to record our next skydive in a Mountain View-approved fashion.

[Source: Engadget]

Google bags patent for directions based on cell coverage

Want to get somewhere, but don't want to miss an email, or risk a break in the directions on the way? A patent granted to Google suggests it's been thinking about the very same thing. Read through the details, and it all sounds fairly familiar -- receiving origin and destination, planning a route etc. But, this time, there's the added hop of accessing wireless coverage data, and stirring that info into the returned directions mix. The flow charts in the literature suggest that this could be a user input option. So, along with the choice of fastest and most economical, maybe some day we'll be seeing one for "fastest data" too. Someone resurrect the term "information superhighway," and quick.

[Source: Engadget]

SugarSync releases version 2.0 beta with new UI, drag-and-drop sharing and cross-device search

SugarSync's popular cloud sharing app just got a complete web and desktop makeover. Version 2.0 beta is now available in desktop, web and Android app flavors, bringing a handful of new features to subscribers on multiple platforms. Mac and Windows users will have direct file system access to all of their cloud content, letting you transfer documents and other data without launching the app or web interface. You'll be able to store files within individual folders, and you can hop over to the activity feed to see a list of items in the order they were added, making it easy to locate a file transferred recently.

A new search tool indexes all of your remote content, while also letting you locate files stored locally on computers and other devices. You can also drag and drop files to specific contacts or to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, without any need to copy and paste a download link. Apps will be available for Android at launch, and while BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows Phone users will need to hang tight for now, they'll still be able to use previous versions alongside 2.0 in the meantime. As always, you'll be able to sign up for a free 5GB account, with paid monthly plans ranging from $5 for 30 gigs to $40 for a monster 500GB plan. Grab the new version now at the source link below.

[Source: Engadget]

Updated Google Map Maker accents neighborhoods, shows changes in Activity Strea

Google wants you to think locally with its new Map Maker update featuring neighborhoods and an Activity Stream to track mapping changes. The site now launches into My Neighborhood mode, suggesting places you've rated or searched on Google Maps and allowing you to add and edit your own haunts. From there, a list of your changes (or those of other users) can be viewed in the left-hand pane and filtered by review, date or category. You can also see additions anywhere in your current map view by panning, zooming or searching and even help other users out by reviewing pending edits. If you're ready to channel your inner cartographer, check the source.

[Source: Engadget]

Apple now asking potential Genius Bar customers to reboot iPhone before making an appointment

So, your new iPhone 5 is acting quirky, and you want to make an appointment at the Genius Bar to see what's wrong with it. You go to the Apple website, enter the location of your local store and let the concierge know what device you want to get help with ... and you're promptly greeted with the window seen above, asking you to reset your iPhone before continuing.

This little trick often does help, and it's not surprising that a lot of new iPhone customers don't know about this. As Reddit user ehsteve23 pointed out in the first of 368 comments on brewstah's post of this screen on imgur.com, "Suddenly the number of Genius Bar appointments fall by 30%.

[Source: TUAW]

Apple to allow employees time off to work on special projects

If you walked into your boss's office and asked for two weeks off to work on an unspecified side project, what would their reaction be? The Wall Street Journal is reporting that if you happen to be one of a select group of Apple employees, you'd be granted the ability to do just that. Tim Cook has introduced an initiative nicknamed "Blue Sky," which allows certain employees the privilege of taking time off to work on special projects not necessarily related to their duties at Apple.

The concept of giving employees the freedom to work on side projects isn't new to tech companies. Google has had a similar program in place for a while now, but what is new is Apple's willingness to embrace this approach.

Blue Sky is apparently designed as a type of benefit addition, allowing some of Cupertino's staff more freedom than they are used to. The program, which was introduced earlier this year on an internal basis, is yet another sign of the cultural shift taking place within the company.

Keeping its top staff happy has become a renewed goal for Apple since Cook took the reins in August 2011, and giving employees some additional breathing room might help prevent the company's hottest talent from looking elsewhere.

[Source: TUAW]

Xbox SmartGlass app turns your iOS device into a remote control

If you have an Xbox 360 and an iOS device, congratulations, Microsoft has offered you a free touchscreen remote control! Well, not literally, but the new Xbox SmartGlass app turns your iPad or iPhone into a do-it-all control center for your game console, and it's actually a pretty slick experience.

Once you've connected your SmartGlass app to your console -- by syncing the devices via the Internet using a short code -- you can do pretty much everything using your iOS device that you would normally do with your controller, aside from playing games. You can compose messages, browse your achievements and launch apps such as Netflix with just a tap.

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

iPhone 5 ship times improve from online Apple Store

If the three- to four-week wait time for a new iPhone 5 has kept you from placing your order, you'll be happy to know that some progress is being made. TechCrunch noticed that as of today, the wait time has been cut down to two to three weeks. OK, it's not much, but at least it's something!

Just last week, Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou spoke about the manufacturer's struggle to meet the massive demand for Apple's new smartphone. In fact, he made it sound like producing the allegedly difficult-to-assemble iPhone 5 was a losing battle. Though now it appears that supplies are beginning to meet demand a tad quicker, the day when Apple can boast the new iPhone as "in stock" is likely still a ways off.

[Source: TUAW]

Sky+ app update brings remote control features to iPhone, iPod touch

It's been a few months since UK TV operator Sky added remote control features to its iPad app, and now it's brought similar controls to the iPhone and iPod touch. The v4.2 update gives users brings remote control with support for gestures, DVR scheduling and management, a new guide as well as revamped navigation and search on the smaller screens, as long as they're connected to the same WiFi network as the box. The Android app is still without the new features, however they're promised to arrive there "in the coming months."

[Source: Engadget]

Google Play Music adds gapless playback, automatic Instant Mixes

Google is expanding its media umbrella to cover more countries, and it's marking the occasion with a new version of the Google Play Music app for Android and Google TV. While there's no explicit mention of the newly opened regional access, the update does add long-requested support for gapless audio playback: Jelly Bean users will hear smooth transitions between tracks, although it works best when all the music is offline. The tweak also turns listening into more of a hands-off process, as it now automatically generates Instant Mixes (instead of requiring input) and lets us cache free, purchased, recently added and thumbs-up songs. If you've refused to sully that DJ set or Pink Floyd album by playing it through Android's stock music player, it's time to give the app another chance.

[Source: Engadget]

Android 4.2 reaches some Galaxy Nexus phones early, grab the GSM version here

As Google Play groans under the clicks of early shoppers, Google's apparently got its software sorted too. A new Android 4.2 file for the Galaxy Nexus over at XDA-Developers matches reports we've had from users who have already been gifted the latest version of Jelly Bean over-the-air. Now, this is the 'takju' version, meaning it's meant for GSM devices ordered directly from Google, although the phone meddlers at XDA-Developers already have all the details needed to make the switch to this specific iteration. Sure you've got the right GSM Galaxy Nexus? Then, once you've read all the instructions and warnings from those aforementioned developers, you can pick up the download at the source below.

[Source: Engadget]

Internet Explorer 10 preview for Windows 7 could be available tomorrow

Microsoft may well be releasing the preview version of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 tomorrow, if tech blog ifanr has got it right. A Weibo post from the Chinese site claims that Roger Capriotti, Director of Product Marketing for IE, announced the news during a press event in Beijing today. It wouldn't come as that much of a surprise, as it fits nicely with the mid-November slot Microsoft penned in last month. There's still no word on when the final version might be ready, but if you'd like to try a little MetroWindows 8 style browsing on that Windows 7 machine, expect your chance tomorrow.

[Source: Engadget]