Woz: Apple 'somewhat behind' on smartphone features

Woz he talking about? Steve Wozniak recently gave an interview with German business weekly Wirtschafts Woche in which he contended that the company he co-founded has fallen behind its competitors when it comes to its flagship product, the iPhone. According to Woz, Apple is "somewhat behind with features in the smartphone business," adding that "others have caught up. Samsung is a great competitor. But precisely because they are currently making great products."

Unfortunately, there's no additional context for Woz's comments, so we're left wondering precisely what he believes iPhone is lagging behind in. Since he mentions Samsung outright, we're thinking that maybe he's referring to things like screen size, since he has opined in the past that he's not exactly a fan of the iPhone 5's taller-but-not-wider format -- but who knows?

What are some things the iPhone is "somewhat behind" the competition on, in your opinion?

[Soruce: TUAW]

LibreOffice kicks it up to version 4.0, promises leaner performance and greater interoperability

It's been a little over a week since Microsoft unveiled its big Office 2013 suite (along with that Office 365 subscription option) to the world, and right on cue the Document Foundation has released version 4.0 of open source alternativeLibreOffice. The latest update promises to be cleaner and leaner according to devs, but more importantly to you and me is that it brings greater interoperability between different file formats such as DocX and RTF documents. It also integrates better with content and document systems like Alfresco, IBM FileNet P8, OpenText and Microsoft Sharepoint 2010. Other notable improvements include an Android app for controlling presentations, several new features to the Calc spreadsheet app (like chart exports and ODF OpenFormula functions), UI upgrades and a performance boost across the board. For a full run-down on what the new LibreOffice can do, have a gander at the source or download it yourself at the rightmost link.
[Source: Engadget]

Apple releases AirPort Utility 6.2 for Mac with Guest Network extension capabilities

Apple has released AirPort Utility version 6.2. The new update adds the ability to extend guest networks if you have multiple AirPort routers. Additionally, Apple has added improved international support and the ability to add WPS printers to your AirPort WiFi networks.

[Source: 9to5Mac]

Monopoly Board Game Gets a Cat Token Thanks to the Internet

Leave it to the Internet to bring its obsession with cats to the classic board game of Monopoly.

Hasbro, the published or the Monopoly board game, started a campaign last month on its Facebook page to vote out one of the old game pieces and introduce a new one. The token to get removed from the game was the iron, a token that had existed since the original patent was submitted in 1935.

And the winner to take its place? A cat.

Oh, Internet. Why are we not surprised?

The other options were a diamond ring, guitar, helicopter and a robot. The last one was probably the only one with a real shot against the cat, but seeing as LOL Cats are still a prominent meme on the Web, the outcome was inevitable.

The cat token is expected to replace the iron in mid to late 2013, so if you want to get the last run of the retiring piece, you may want to head out to the stores soon.

It could have been worse. A strip of bacon could have been put up as a suggestion and then we all know what would have happened.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Wunderlist 2 task app hits Android tablets, comes to iPad soon

How quickly they grow up: 6Wunderkinder's near-ubiquitous Wunderlist 2 only just reached native app status as 2012 wound to a close, and it's already being optimized for Android tablets. The task management app should now offer its to-do lists and reminders on Google-powered slates of any size, with new layouts and artwork just for the bigger screen. Every Android user gets a handful of meaningful upgrades in the process, including list sharing between apps, the ability to save links and test as well as automatic syncing. Android fans wanting to get things done can hit the Google Play link to get the new version today, but they won't be the only ones getting the larger experience -- the developer is teasing an iPad equivalent in the near future.

[Source: Engadget]

PressReader will bring you the news on your iOS device

PressReader has a unique take on the news. They've partnered with thousands of newspapers to bring you daily newspapers in a format the mimics the dead-tree version of the publications.

It also adds some neat features, such as translating any newspaper into other languages, printing articles, and letting a computer voice read the news to you. A SmartFlow feature lets you follow the story that improves on just the plain newspaper layout. Fonts can be resized and the typestyle can be changed to taste.

While the app is free, downloading any particular newspaper will cost US $0.99, or you can subscribe to everything for $33.99 monthly. That's not a bad deal considering the amount of news you can take in.

My only gripe about this app is that it is very newspaper centric. By that, I mean the layouts try to preserve the look and feel of a daily paper. In this electronic age, I'd like to see the news formatted for the device, rather than trying to bend the device around to the old newspaper style. There is a lot of flipping and tapping to get through an article, and I just don't think it is necessary. Some people will like the preservation of newspaper design, and I must say it is very complete. You can even read the classifieds or the obituaries. but there is no search facility, which in some ways makes this app not much better than the daily paper you hold in your hand. Even on a fast connection, the app is slower than I would like, but I understand there is a lot of rendering going on.

The app gets generally good reviews, and it is a nice piece of software if you buy the premise of wanting to duplicate the newspaper on an electronic device, along with all the ads.

[Source: TUAW]

Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 6.1.1 to Developers

A little over a week after the public release of iOS 6.1, Apple today seeded the first beta version of iOS 6.1.1 to developers. The beta arrives as build 10B311.

The new version also arrives just two days after the Evasi0n jailbreak for iOS 6.x devices went live, although it is so far unknown if iOS 6.1.1 patches any of the bugs exploited by the software. 

Update9toMac has release notes listing major improvements to Maps for Japanese users.

iOS 6.1.1 beta 1 includes the following improvements to Maps for Japan: 

- Improved pronunciation of roads during turn-by-turn navigation 
- Optimized directions to more strongly prefer highways over narrower roads 
- Now indicates upcoming toll roads during turn-by-turn navigation 
- Added labels for junctions, interchanges, on-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections 
- Added indicators for transit station buildings, subway lines, and traffic lights 
- Updated freeway color to green 
- Updated icons for some location categories including fire stations, hospitals, and post offices Added 3D buildings including Tokyo Station, Japan Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Tower

[Source: MacRumors]

Apple Seeds Build 12D65 of OS X Beta 10.8.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded build 12D65 of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.3 to developers, marking the tenth beta iteration of the newest version of Mountain Lion. 10.8.3 was first seeded to developers in November 2012. 

Build 12D65 comes exactly one week after build 12D61. As with build 12D61, build 12D65 continues to ask developers to focus on AirPlay, AirPort, Game Center, Graphics Drivers, and Safari. 

Registered developers can download the update on Apple's Developer Page.

[Source: MacRumors]

Apple to Refresh Mac Pro this Spring

Apple will stop selling its Mac Pro in Europe starting on March 1, and while there was a bit of speculation that this meant the company was going to drop the PC altogether—especially as the company’s laptops and iPad continue to dig into the market share—it appears that’s not the case. We already had an idea that Apple was going to update the computer, and now there’s a bit more of a confirmation.

 Mac4Ever recently noticed that an Apple distributor in Europe has confirmed that a new model of the Mac Pro desktop computer will indeed launch at some point this spring. The news comes in the form of a newsletter written in French, and we’re not sure what sort of specs the new computer will have at this point.

In the meantime, we can all rest easy knowing that a new Mac Pro is allegedly on the way.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

Apple: 25 Billion Songs Sold Through iTunes

Apple just announced that it has sold more than 25 billion songs through iTunes. That’s incredible. The 25 billionth song downloaded? Monkey Drums” by Chase Buch, Apple said, and the song was bought by a user in Germany. The user will receive a €10,000 iTunes gift card as part of the celebration.

“We are grateful to our users whose passion for music over the past 10 years has made iTunes the number one music retailer in the world,” Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue said.

Cue also noted that Apple sells about 15,000 songs every minute. We have a feeling the 50 billionth download isn’t too far off.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]

BlackBerry Says Z10 Launch Was “Best Day Ever,” While Analyst Remains Skeptical

The BlackBerry Z10 is reportedly doing quite well in the U.K.—where the device was made available following the device’s announcement—but one analyst suggests initial sales don’t necessarily mean demand is high. In fact, Canaccord Genuity’s Michael Walkley says supply constraints are the reason some stores sold out so quickly.

“Limited initial supply was cited as a reason for early post-launch stock-outs at some carrier stores versus overwhelming demand,” Walkley explained. According to Walkley’s report, most U.K. locations received about 15 units, which then sold out over the first two to three days.

“BlackBerry has only closed the gap with more mature smartphone OS platforms and offers limited differentiating services or features to win back customers from more mature ecosystems,” Walkley said.

However, BlackBerry on Wednesday released a statement to suggest the company’s sales have eclipsed anything it’s done before.

“In Canada, yesterday was the best day ever for the first day of a launch of a new BlackBerry smartphone.  In fact, it was more than 50% better than any other launch day in our history in Canada,” said Thorsten Heins, President & CEO of BlackBerry.  “In the UK, we have seen close to three times our best performance ever for the first week of sales for a BlackBerry smartphone.”

We haven’t given our final verdict of the company’s BlackBerry Z10, but we’re enjoying it so far. Enough to pry our attention from Android and iOS? You’ll have to wait to find out. In the meantime, it seems sales a doing very well—at least according to BlackBerry. Those anticipating the device here in the U.S. still have another month wait until the Z10 becomes available, so we’ll see if the company can continue its “best ever” streak.

[Source: TechnoBuffalo]


Connected Data Secures $6M in Financing and Sets Out to Revolutionize Private File Sharing with Launch of Transporter

Online and Off-Cloud Storage Device Eliminates Privacy Concerns and Recurring Fees Normally Associated with Cloud Storage.

Santa Clara, CA – January 31, 2013 – Connected Data launched from stealth today to reinvent the way consumers, professionals and small businesses securely share, access and protect their data. In addition to general availability of Transporter from a national network of online and retail partners, the company also announced it raised $6 million in funding during a recent Series A Round, led by Floodgate Fund and Northgate Capital.

Unveiled via a successful Kickstarter project in December 2012, Transporter is a private data sharing and storage solution that gives users ownership and complete control of their data and files. What sets Transporter apart from all other solutions is the ability to communicate and share files with other Transporter devices located anywhere in the world. This ability eliminates all complexity associated with syncing files and delivers fast, local copies of data without having to move it into or out of the cloud.

“Connected Data’s technology is poised to disrupt the cloud storage market and evolve the way individuals and businesses share and interact with their data, both personally and professionally,” said Mike Maples, Jr., managing partner of Floodgate. "The increasing number of high-profile security issues with cloud storage have created an opportunity for off-cloud solutions like Transporter, so we're excited to join Connected Data in its mission to become the leader in private social storage solutions.”

Connected Data is led by serial entrepreneur and storage industry veteran Geoff Barrall and an experienced team of professionals previously responsible for the high-performance BlueArc Silicon Server and the popular Drobo storage array.

“Connected Data allows users to maintain privacy and control of their data, while enabling them to share and protect that data with other locations,” said Geoff Barrall, Founder and CEO. “We're thrilled to be leading the way in social storage with the Transporter device. The fantastic response and uptake from our customers and beta testers is allowing Connected Data to set the standard for what peer-to-peer storage can and should be.”

Transporter is addressing the main concerns of shared storage, namely:

Complete Privacy. Users own and control the device. Shared files are transferred directly between authorized Transporter devices, computers, and mobile devices and are never stored in the cloud.

Unlimited Sharing and Access Anywhere.  Users can securely share thousands of files of any size or type with anyone. All files stored on Transporter are available from any computer or mobile device that has access to the Internet, and files can also be cached for offline access.

Always Protected and Always in Sync. A full copy of shared files is kept on each Transporter regardless of location and changes are automatically reflected on all shared devices.

No Monthly Fees. Users own their Transporter, so the one-time cost of purchase eliminates recurring fees.

In addition to a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Transporter was recently named a 2013 Storage Visions Visionary Award Winner in the Art of Storage category that recognizes innovations in design for customer ease of use and industrial design in digital storage applications and devices.

Transporter is available for immediate purchase starting at a suggested retail price of $199 (U.S.) from a national network of partners including Adorama, Amazon, B&H Photo, Datavision, J&R, New Egg, and PC Mall.