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Latest Gear Live Videos
iCloud is now live in the App Store
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Software, Storage,
iCloud, Apple's new cloud services that Steve Jobs told us about during his WWDC 2011 keynote this morning, has already made its way into the purchase history area of the App Store. Above is an image from my iPhone 4, showing apps that I have purchased, but that aren't installed on the device. I can tap the iCloud icon to download the content right from there.
Gallery: iCloud is now live in the App Store
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iOS 5 to bring major improvements to Camera app
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cameras, Smartphones, Corporate News, Software,
During today's WWDC 2011 keynote, Apple's Scott Forstall introduced some major upgrades to the Camera app that will ship with iOS 5. Some of the features that have us excited are things like direct access to the camera app right from the lock screen. Next to the swipe to unlock is a camera button that you can tap to take a picture quickly. Secondly, when you're in the camera app, you'll be able to use the volume-up button to snap the photo, rather than having to tap on the screen. Third, you'll be able to edit your photos right in the photo app. Apple is aiming to make their Camera and Photo apps your one-stop shop for images on your mobile devices.
Gallery: iOS 5 to bring major improvements to Camera app
Apple’s iOS 5 launches this fall
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Software,
As part of the WWDC 2011 keynote, Apple's Scott Forstall announced that iOS 5 will be available to all users this fall. It'll work with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 5 (although they didn't mention the next iPhone, it's a no-brainer) as well as iPad and iPad 2, and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation iPod touch. The fall release date is a good indicator that we won't be seeing the launch of new iPhone hardware until the fall as well. We will have a wrap-up of some of the best iOS 5 features that were demoed today in just a bit!
Gallery: Apple’s iOS 5 launches this fall
Mac OS X Lion launches in July for $29, Mac App Store exclusive
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Software,
We've been updating you on the progress of Lion as the updates have been fairly often in the Developer Preview. Today at WWDC 2011, Phil Schiller announced that OS X 10.7 Lion will be launching next month, exclusively on the Mac App Store, for the amazingly low price of $29. An updated Developer Preview of the next big operating system from Apple will be available later today.
Gallery: Mac OS X Lion launches in July for $29, Mac App Store exclusive
Just in case you weren't sure how influential iCloud would be next week at WWDC 2011, here's a look at one of the banners that is going up at the Moscone Center. Yep, iCloud gets top billing, right next to Mac OS X Lion and iOS 5. Apple must see iCloud as a pretty big deal, and it already told us as much. Now, we wait.
Gallery: Lion + iOS 5 + iCloud = WWDC 2011
Windows 8 reinvents Windows interface by bringing in Windows Phone 7 shell
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, Software, Videos,
Microsoft finally figured out how to effectively bring full-blown Windows to tablets: make it look a lot like Windows Phone 7.
In the first public unveiling of the upcoming Windows 8 interface, Microsoft's president of Windows, Steven Sinofsky, showed off a radically altered Windows start screen that features user-configurable tiles and looks almost nothing like Windows 7. The demo took place during this week's D9 conference in southern California.
The new interface supports gestures, snap, pin, cloud apps, new concepts like a basket for files you'll want to share between apps and services, and a hidden task bar on the right side of the screen. The updated OS is designed to work on "the hundreds of millions of PCs already out in the market," Sinofsky said.
Since it's still Windows, all devices and apps that work with Windows 7 will run on Windows 8, said Sinofsky, adding that consumers will only have to choose which device to run it on. "The interface scales from about 7-inches to a wall-screen display," explained Sinofsky.
In addition to the development screen, Microsoft showed Windows 8 running on tablets from Samsung and Lenovo.
Click to continue reading Windows 8 reinvents Windows interface by bringing in Windows Phone 7 shell
Gallery: Windows 8 reinvents Windows interface by bringing in Windows Phone 7 shell
Apple iCloud officially debuting at WWDC
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,
This morning, Apple put out a press release letting the world know that they'll be showing off iOS 5, OS X Lion, and iCloud, their long-awaited cloud service/MobileMe revamp, next week at WWDC. Oddly enough, Apple only went as far as naming iCloud, and called it an "upcoming cloud services offering." Now, we aren't expecting them to go into full detail in a press release, but why even name it at all? We're guessing it's because Apple really wants to set the expectation that WWDC will be focusing on software, softening the blow that will inevitably come when the masses are complaining about the lack of an iPhone 5 hardware reveal. The press release lets us know Apple's WWDC intentions and plans, and sets the expectations accordingly.
WWDC kicks off in six days, and of course, we'll have details of all the announcements as they're made. By the way, the press release also confirms that the incomparable Steve Jobs will be taking the stage at WWDC.
Gallery: Apple iCloud officially debuting at WWDC
Amazon launches their own Mac App Store
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Hot Deals, Software,
Following up on the Lady Gaga album sale earlier this week, Amazon continues their digital download battle against Apple with the launch of their own Mac app download store. They've got quite a variety of available titles (though, not as much as the Mac App Store of course,) which include big games like Civilization V, productivity suites like Microsoft Office, and a bunch of others. Right now they are offering Airport Mania for free, and your first paid download will be $5 off. We like it.
Gallery: Amazon launches their own Mac App Store
Motorola addresses slow Gingerbread rollout, updates coming in Q3
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
A Motorola employee says Droid phones running Android 2.2 (Froyo), will be updated to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) by the third quarter of the year—as long as Verizon gives it the go-ahead.
In response to impatient customer questions on the Motorola Support forum, an employee responded that the company "cannot provide exact dates."
"I can say that the Droid X update is currently scheduled to be released before the end of the second quarter of this year or sooner. The other updates are currently scheduled to be released before the end of the third quarter or sooner."
"The above estimates are dependant on Verizon approving the OTA (over the air) updates," the spokesperson continued.
Click to continue reading Motorola addresses slow Gingerbread rollout, updates coming in Q3
Gallery: Motorola addresses slow Gingerbread rollout, updates coming in Q3
Square launches Square Register, which turns iPad into a cash register
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Software,
Square CEO Jack Dorsey is on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt right now, and he just announced a new product from the company called Square Register. It's an app for the iPad that prety much turns the device into a full on cash register on steroids. It also includes a bunch of analytics, which lets users see all sorts of data. For example, a coffeehouse can see how many lattes they sold last Tuesday, how many customers also bought biscotti, or what trends happen when it's rainy out. The product works with a consumer app called the Square Card Case which acts as a digital loyalty card, menu, receipt holder, map, and payment card all in one. The new Register and Case Card service is debuting with 50 merchants spread across San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. These include bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants, salons, flower shops, and more.
