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Android introduces content rating
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
The Android marketplace has often been called the wild west, as compared with the more organized Apple App Store. It's hard to always know which apps are available, and if those apps are suitable for everyone. Providing users with more information about the apps they download has apparently been a top request, and now the Android team at Google is introducing a rating system which all apps will have to adopt going forward. Starting next week, developer who want to sell software in the Android marketplace will need to signify if their app is intended for All, Pre-Teens, Teens or Mature people only. For those already in the marketplace, the developers will have to add a rating, or they will be marked as Mature.
Read More 
| Android Blog
Gallery: Android introduces content rating
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Android phones overtake Symbian in Asia
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
It's no secret that Android phones are growing in popularity at an amazing rate, with new phones being introduced all the time. In North America, it's already the most popular smartphone platform, beating out iOS and Blackberry. However, in the rest of the world, it's a different story. Phones based on the Symbian system rule the market, but Symbian marketshare has been going down steadily. This week, the research firm GfK reports that in the third quarter, Android overtook Symbian for the first time in Asia.
According to the firm: "Our Q3 report shows that Android has recently overtaken Symbian as the most popular smartphone OS in the context of Asia as a whole, in both value and unit sales. However, it is interesting to note the difference in OS trends when we look at findings in North and Southeast Asia separately."
Definitely nice to see that the mobile OS competition is heating up across the globe.
Read More | GfK
Gallery: Android phones overtake Symbian in Asia
iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak available with redsn0w 0.9.6b4
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Mods / Hacks, Software,
If you're waiting for a jailbreak before updating to iOS 4.2.1, you might be happy to know that redsn0w 0.9.6b4 will do the trick. It uses the Limera1n exploit that worked with iOS 4.1, however this is currently a "tethered" jailbreak. In other words, once you jailbreak using the current method, if you ever need to reboot your iPad, fourth-gen and third-gen iPod touch, iPhone 3GS (later models) or iPhone 4, you must have the device connected to your computer and use redsn0w to do the reboot, otherwise the phone simply won't boot up. Definitely not something we'd feel comfortable doing with our main device, but hey, we know there are many out there who are more daring than we are. If that's you, go for it and let us know how it went!
Read More | Dev Team
Gallery: iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak available with redsn0w 0.9.6b4
Turn your Windows Phone 7 into a USB mass storage drive
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Mods / Hacks, PC / Laptop, Software,
Looking to add media to your Windows Phone 7 device by simply dragging and dropping? The second week of WP7 reveals a new hack that a quick registry modification will fix. After you complete just three entry modifications in your Windows registry, you'll be able to use your WP7 as a USB mass storage device. This will only work on the computer where the registry changes were made, but it's better than nothing, right? Check out the link below to learn how to edit your PCs registry.
Read More | Windows Phone Central
Gallery: Turn your Windows Phone 7 into a USB mass storage drive
Google Docs now editable on iOS and select Android devices
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Google, Handhelds, Software,
Google Docs has been available on mobile devices for several months now, but there was no way to edit Google Docs documents on the go while in the browser. Now, Google has announced that over the coming days they will push a new version of the mobile service on their servers, and suddenly all your docs will be editable on the go from some Android devices, and iOS devices running version 3.0 or higher. When opening a document, you will be able to turn edit mode on, and add text, bullet points, edit spreadsheets and so on. Changes will be shown in "near realtime" on the web, and changes that other people do to shared documents will be reflected on the mobile device as well. This should be very good news for everyone who've come to depend on Google Docs for productivity.
Read More | Google Docs Blog
Gallery: Google Docs now editable on iOS and select Android devices
Netflix coming to “select” Android devices next year
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Smartphones, Home Entertainment, Software,
Netflix posted an interesting blog entry this weekend on which they went behind the scenes as to why there isn't an Android Netflix app just yet. Apparently, it has to do with the fact that Android devices are fragmented, and there isn't a single DRM system across the board, unlike the iPhone and Windows Phone 7 (which both have a Netflix app.) This means that, according to the blog, it's much harder to ensure security of the video content provided by Netflix, which is something that's required by publishers. Still, they are working on it, and now say that they will be able to release an Android app for "select" devices early next year. While there is no mention of which ones, more updates are said to be upcoming.
Read More | Netflix Blog
Gallery: Netflix coming to “select” Android devices next year
iTunes 10.1 now available with Airplay and iOS 4.2 support
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Music, Software,
Wanna finally get in on that AirPlay video action with the new Apple TV? iTunes 10.1 is what you need, and Apple just pushed the update out a little while ago. You can download it right now. Oh, and the release also includes iOS 4.2 support, which should be launching sometime within the next week or so.
Read More | iTunes
Gallery: iTunes 10.1 now available with Airplay and iOS 4.2 support
Apple releases Mac OS X 10.6.5 update
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,
Apple just released Mac OS X 10.6.5, the latest update to Snow Leopard. Hit Software Update to get the 680 MB download now. Here's a sampling of some of the changes and improvements this update brings:
- improve reliability with Microsoft Exchange servers
- address performance of some image-processing operations in iPhoto and Aperture
- address stability and performance of graphics applications and games
- resolve a delay between print jobs
- address a printing issue for some HP printers connected to an AirPort Extreme
- resolve an issue when dragging contacts from Address Book to iCal
- address an issue where dragging an item from a stack causes the Dock to not automatically hide
- resolve an issue with Wikipedia information not displaying correctly in Dictionary
- improve performance of MainStage on certain Mac systems
- resolve spacing issues with OpenType fonts
- improve reliability with some Bluetooth braille displays
- resolve a VoiceOver issue when browsing some web sites with Safari 5
Let us know how it goes!
Gallery: Apple releases Mac OS X 10.6.5 update
Skype for Android update fixes some issues, ignores others
Posted by Jazz English Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
Skype update it's Android application today with version 1.0.1.
The first thing addressed is the support for screen resolutions common to more Android phones. Skype also announced that the hardware back key will now send the application to the background, while still allowing calls and IMs. Skype stated that this fix should also lesson battery consumption. Other fixes include:
- Signing out from Skype now exits Skype.
- Improved login stability and behavior.
- Improved performance with large contact lists.
- Reduced application size.
Problems having to do with the Galaxy S line of phones remain and Skype simply states that they "do not recommend installing Skype 1.0.1 for Android on this device with Android 2.1 and below."
Read More | Skype Blog
Gallery: Skype for Android update fixes some issues, ignores others
iPad acts as game console with The Incident 1.3
Posted by Jazz English Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Software, Video Games,
App developer Big Bucket Software posted a blog yesterday that details how their iPad game The Incident can be played "like your old gaming console from the 80s only widescreenier."
Version 1.3 of The Incident will allow owners of both iPads and iPod touches or iPhones to link their devices. Doing this allows the iPad to display the game on a television while the iPhone/iPod touch is used as the game controller. We'd love to see more devs add this type of functionality to their titles.
Click to continue reading iPad acts as game console with The Incident 1.3
Read More | Big Bucket Software
