September 2013

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Apple releases Chrome and Firefox extensions for Windows for iCloud bookmark syncing

19 September 2013 7:07 PM
iCloud Bookmarks - Firefox

iCloud Bookmarks – Firefox

Apple has quietly released extensions for the Chrome and Firefox desktop browsers for Windows. The extensions allow Windows users to sync their Safari iOS bookmarks across the two browsers. Prior to the Firefox and Chrome extension release, iOS Safari bookmark syncing was limited to Windows Explorer via the iCloud Control Panel (v2.1.2) for Windows app.

Users can download the Chrome extension from Google’s Chrome web store. According to its release notes:

Keep your Chrome bookmarks up to date with the Safari bookmarks on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.

iCloud stores your website bookmarks, so they are everywhere you go — on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC. So when it comes to your devices, you can switch things up without mixing things up.

Note: iCloud Bookmarks extension for Chrome is for Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Similarly, users can download the Firefox extension from Mozilla’s Add-Ons site. Its release notes read:

Keep your Firefox bookmarks on Windows up to date with your Safari bookmarks on iPhone, iPad and Mac with the iCloud Bookmarks extension for Firefox.

Unfortunately, it looks like these extensions are Windows-only for the moment and will not work on Chrome or Firefox for the Mac.

Story: tuaw / aol

Rumor: Leaked GTA V Config Code Reveals PC, PS4 Versions?

17 September 2013 12:45 AM

Grand Theft Auto V isn’t technically out until tomorrow (it’s out **), but it hasn’t stopped pirates from getting their grubby little hands on it. And pirates, being the crafty little buggers they are, aren’t just playing the game, they are disassembling it and poking around in its guts. As such, code from a configuration file allegedly coming from a pirated Xbox 360 version of the game has appeared on pastebin, and apparently points towards a PC and PS4 version of the game. Here are two screen-grabs of the relevant sections of code:

GTA V Source-code?

GTA V Source-code? (full size version)

The PC code is fairly obvious, and if you’re wondering what the hell “Orbis” is, it was the original code name of the PS4 back when the dev kits were being handed out to developers. Take this all with a grain of salt however, it is after all, the word of a pirate, and could have been entirely faked. But given GTA’s history of releasing on PC, and the fact that the PS4 and Xbox One are right around the corner, it does seem pretty likely that we will see a next-gen release of the game at some point.

* The code comes from a pirated version of Grand Theft Auto V for Xbox 360.

** The cheapest place to order Grand Theft Auto V currently is Amazon and eBay. – As of the time of writing.

Source & Images: Dualshockers

Apple Reveals iPhone 5S

10 September 2013 7:10 PM
iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S

Apple unveiled the next-generation iPhone at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. on Tuesday. The iPhone 5S — revealed alongside a low-cost iPhone model, the iPhone 5C — keeps the same overall physical design as the previous-generation iPhone 5, but it also has a number of upgrades.

Calling it the most “forward-looking” iPhone it’s ever launched, Apple equipped the iPhone 5S to run 64-bit apps (all previous models ran at 32 bits) thanks to a new processor: the Apple A7. It packs more than 1 billion transistors into a 102mm chip. Apple has re-engineered all the built-in apps — such as the Email, Calendar and iPod — for 64-bit architectures.

Apple says the new chip makes the iPhone 5S five times faster than the iPhone 5 and 56 times than the original iPhone. The A7 chip supports OpenGL 3.0/ES Version 3.0 for console-level 64-bit graphics. The coming game Infinity Blade 3 will be one of the first games to take advantage of the upgrade to deliver improved graphics.

The iPhone 5S introduces a CoreMotion API for developers, consolidating sensor data from the accelerometer, gyroscope and compass. Apple says it’s “optimized for contextual awareness,” such as when the user is in a moving vehicle. Apple says the system will empower a new generation of health and fitness apps.

Major Camera Improvements
The iPhone’s camera is also improved with new sensors that have 15% more area. The Apple-designed lens has five elements with an f/2.2 aperture. The larger sensor translates into bigger pixels, and they’re backed by upgraded image-processing software that automatically sets white balance and exposure level in a dynamic, local tone map of the image.

As predicted, the camera is equipped with a dual-LED flash. The two LEDs have different color temperatures, illuminating a scene with warm and cold light to draw out more natural color. The iPhone’s camera also now includes a burst mode that snaps 10 still pictures in one second, panorama photos go up to 28 megapixels, and there’s automatic image stabilization.

Finally, the iPhone 4S camera is capable of capturing HD video at 120 frames per second (fps). The video camera also has a slow-motion mode.

Gold!
Battery life is rated as follows: 10 hours 3G talk, 8 hours 3G browsing, 10 hours LTE or Wi-Fi browsing, 10 hours video playback, 40 hours music playback and 250 hours standby.

Apple is injecting a little more color into its flagship phone as well: The iPhone 5S will be available in white, black and now champagne gold as well. That marks a change from previous generations, which were available only in white and black.

Rumors have been swirling around the iPhone 5S for the past year. Although competition in the smartphone space has heated up considerably in that time, Apple kept to its annual schedule of releasing the new iPhone in the fall. The big question is: Will consumers still buy Apple’s signature product like they used to?

This story is developing…

Source: Mashable

iOS 7 release date: On your iPhone next week!

10 September 2013 6:59 PM
iOS 7 - Design

iOS 7 – Design

Ready for iOS 7? The latest version of Apple’s smartphone software was first revealed back in June, but now at long last we have a release date for it. Read on to find out when you’ll be able to install it on your iPhone or iPad – really soon!

Apple software boss Craig Federighi has revealed live on stage that you’ll be able to download iOS 7 on 18 September for the existing iOS gizmos in your house. It’s the first version of the software to be overseen by legendary Apple hardware designer Sir Jonathan Ive, and the first major visual revamp for the hugely successful mobile operating system.

We already knew to expect a flatter design as well as a redesigned Notification Centre, and a new Command Centre that swipes up from the bottom to give you quick access to settings from anywhere, but Federighi also showed off several as yet unheard of features in iOS 7: you can now search from anywhere just by pulling down from any panel on the home screen, while Siri has also been improved and can also search through Twitter. Apple’s even added even more standard ringtones for you to choose from, while notifications and alerts have been given a complete facelift too. As we’ve seen before, the camera has also been updated with built-in filters like Instagram, while scrolling through photos has been made even easier, as they’re now sorted into “moments” and even years if you pull back far enough.

iTunes Radio, which made its debut at Apple’s last WWDC event, is also a huge part of the latest iOS update, and brings with it Pandora-like radio stations and free music streaming. It’s out 18 September, and it’s coming to iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini, and iPod touch 5th gen.

Will you be downloading it on the day? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Google releases revamped Google Drive 2.0 for iOS

8 September 2013 6:59 PM
Revamped Google Drive App

Revamped Google Drive App

Google has released Google Drive 2.0 — a total revamp of the cloud-storage app that lets you edit and share documents and spreadsheets. The new version of Google Drive features Google’s signature “card” layout, which lets you view documents and photos as tiled grids. However you can still view them in list view if that’s your preference.

Other changes to Google Drive 2.0 include the ability to edit documents in landscape view, an easier to access the search function, better logic when grouping folders and improved ways to copy and share files. Google Drive 2.0 for iOS is a free download.