Skype for iOS 4.6 brings new interface, improved calling

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Social Networking, App Updates, iPad Apps, Free Apps,

Skype, the popular video and VoIP calling service, has updated its iOS apps for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad to version 4.6. It includes a revamped user interface and improved calling experience. Here's the rundown of the changes:

What's New in Version 4.6

• Beautiful new calling experience
• Mark all your recent chats as read with just a few taps.
• General fixes and improvements

iOS iWork apps updated with bug fixes: Keynote, Pages and Numbers 1.7.2

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Productivity, App Updates, iPad Apps, Apple, $9.99,

Apple has updated its iOS iWork apps with stability improvements and the usual bug eliminating maintenance for Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. You can grab the updates now, or if you don't own them, each app is $9.99 in the App Store.

Fantastical 1.1 for iOS brings time zone support, multiple alerts, custom app badges

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Productivity, App Updates, Sales, $3.99,

Fantastical 1.1 has hit the App Store, and with it, our favorite iOS calendar app brings a bunch of great new features. The new version includes things like time zone support, the ability to set multiple alerts for calendar entries, event invitations, and  you can even have the app badge itself with the current date or to show how many more calendar events the users has left for the rest of the day. It's a big update, one that Flexibits co-founder Michael Simmons wanted to show users that the company was paying attention to all the feature requests out there. If you aren't a Fantastical user, we urge you to give it a try--it's on sale for 20% off, so you can get Fantastical 1.1 for $3.99.

Read More | Fantastical for iOS

FreedomPop Burst router offers 1 GB of free 4G data per month

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Internet, Wireless / WiFi,

FreedomPop provides free 4G data to mobile customers, and has now launched the Burst home router. The FreedomPop Burst provides a free 1 GB of WiMAX data each month to buyers, after they pay an $89 deposit to get the router itself. Users can purchase additional buckets of data if need be, but FreedomPop also allows you to earn more free data by adding friends to their network through email and social media, as well as through signing up for partner promotions. It's an interesting approach. Check out the video after the break for more on FreedomPop.

Click to continue reading FreedomPop Burst router offers 1 GB of free 4G data per month

Roku 3 arrives with new Interface, faster processor, remote control with audio output

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Accessories, HDTV, Home Entertainment,

Media streaming enthusiasts have a new toy to play with! The new Roku 3 has launched and is ready to wage war for its place in the living room against other streaming alternatives like the Apple TV. The Roku 3 has improved internals, new glossy hockey puck hardware look and a much needed revamped user interface to navigate those 700 channels. However, it still doesn't have YouTube!

As far as internal hardware specs go, the Roku 3 is now housing a dual-band Wi-Fi, assuming it now runs in the 5 Ghz frequency. Inside, it has a new faster processor which is said to be much faster than its other variant predecessors, like the Roku 2 XS. Additionally, it has a USB port, ethernet, HDMI, SD card slot, and digital in.

Click to continue reading Roku 3 arrives with new Interface, faster processor, remote control with audio output

Read More | Roku

Report says iPhone 5S coming in August, new iPad & iPad mini in April

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

The big rumor today is that Apple is set to launch the iPhone 5S in August, with a new 5th generation iPad and 2nd generation iPad mini appearing in April. Rene Ritchie at iMore has received reports that Apple is seriously considering the launch of the next iPads next month, including a redesigned iPad, and an iPad mini that may possibly see a Retina display. Meanwhile, the iPhone 5S will carry the same outer design that the iPhone 5 sports, but with a faster A7 processor, and improved camera (we're hearing 13 megapixels.) One rumor also says that the iPhone 5S may also coming in multiple colors, similar to the iPod touch. For now, iPhone 5 users need to rely on services like AnoStyle to get custom colors on their smartphones.

Read More | iMore

SimCity now available for PC

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Electronic Arts, PC, Simulation,

If you're a child of the 80s or 90s, then you probably remember SimCity. What you may not know, though, is that Electronic Arts has re-imagined and re-envisioned what SimCity could be for our modern world (and modern computing power!) You can get your hands on the revitalized SimCity today in North America if you want the PC version, while the OS X edition will follow along soon. You can get a physical disc copy, or download a digital copy from EA Origin.

Read More | SimCity

Google Maps for iPhone 1.1 update brings contact integration, points of interest

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Navigation, App Updates, Google, Free Apps,

Google has released an update for Google Maps for iPhone, adding new search icons to make it easier and faster to find points of interest, as well as integration with your Google Contacts, which makes it easier to find friends. The search icons include things like restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and other typical POIs. The way the contacts work is, if you have your friends address saved, then you can search for their name and have their address pop up on the map--it isn't meant to find your friends by location in real-time. You can download Google Maps for iPhone 1.1 now in the App Store.

Read More | Google Maps for iPhone

Sonos Playbar review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Home Entertainment, Music, Product Reviews, Videos, Wireless / WiFi,

The Sonos Playbar is a product that filled us with excitement when it was announced, and we are back with our Playbar review. With the Playbar, Sonos enters the home theater market with a pretty sound strategy--provide a soundbar that puts out a 3.0 sound signal, and allow it to be paired with the Sonos SUB for those who want 3.1 sound…then, make it even better by allowing two Sonos PLAY:3 speakers to be used as a full on 5.1 surround sound system.

Of course, for the ultimate Sonos 5.1 setup, you'll have to pay an additional $699 for the SUB and $598 for the two PLAY:3 units, an additional $1,397 above the $699 price of the Playbar. So, while we will touch on the 3.1 and 5.1 configurations, we are here to bring you a Sonos Playbar review that focuses on the standalone abilities of the ambitious soundbar. Has it been worth the wait? We explore the answer in our full Playbar review--read on.

Click to continue reading Sonos Playbar review

Does Apple have an iWatch under its sleeve in 2013?

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Wearables, Rumors,

It is highly speculated that 2013 is the year that Apple's Tim Cook, or Phil Schiller, will walk on stage at an Apple event rocking something special under his sleeve. Something that you quite possibly couldn't live without. An iWatch.

Rumors are at an all-time high as speculation that Apple is getting serious about getting into the nascent smart wristwatch game, taking on the likes of upstart Cookoo watch and the KickStarter funded Pebble smart watch. Many agree that smart wearable computing is the way of the future. For instance, companies have given their take on wearable computers like, Nike's FuelBand, Jawbone's Up, Fitbit's activity trackers and, most recently, Google Glass. Perhaps, Apple can make them all obsolete with the iWatch. Bloomberg has written a fairly ridiculous essay as to why it might be more lucrative and, more likely, in Apple's best interest to ship an iWatch first rather than an iTV television set.

Click to continue reading Does Apple have an iWatch under its sleeve in 2013?