Google has an iOS 6 Maps app – awaiting approval.

21 September 2012 5:27 PM


If you are missing Google Maps after updating to iOS 6 over the past 24 hours, good news may be just around the corner. As previously rumored, The Guardian suggested this afternoon that the folks at Google built a separate Maps app for iOS 6. The report further added that it will “appear in time,” to which well-known developer Steve Stroughton-Smith seemingly confirmed with a “Yep.”

“The same sources say that Google is preparing a Google Maps app for iOS6, which will appear in time. No official statement has been made and there will inevitably be questions over whether Apple will approve it in the App Store. (Apple might not, on the basis that it “competes with existing functionality”, but would invite a further backlash if it did.)”

Separately, we’ve heard Google has been building separate versions of a iOS Google Maps app for quite a while that goes back years. Additionally, we’ve learned an updated iOS 6 version of the Google Maps.app has been submitted to Apple. It is awaiting approval, however, and that could take some time. It took a year for Apple to approve Google Voice, for instance, and Apple could technically likewise claim Google Maps “duplicates a native service” even though there are quite a few mapping apps already in the App Store (like Google Earth). Last month, it looked as if Apple were putting an update to Google Voice that featured Siri-like functionality through purgatory.

Over the past 24 hours, Apple’s Maps application has received a ton of negative feed back from the press and some users. Sure, Apple’s Maps has great functionality like turn-by-turn navigation, Siri integration, and more, but many have found Apple Maps to be sub-par without key mapping data (that Google once brought to iOS). The Guardian claimed the folks at Google are enjoying the bad press thrown at Apple:

Google, I hear from roundabout sources, is enjoying the bad press Apple is suffering. It would be surprising if its mappers could resist some schadenfreude, since they are very proud of their work; having it rejected wholesale must be galling.

TechCrunch says that Google hopes to have the app approved in the next few months:
“Debunking the diabolical theory that Google will take as long as it likes to release its Maps App, in an effort to convert people to Android, I’ve got a source telling me that the Google Maps team is taking this as a crisitunity, doubling down on staff, lining up the team and resources to have a standalone iOS app in the App store “before Christmas.””

via, 9to5mac.com

Apple’s iOS6: 5 New Features You Should Know

19 September 2012 8:36 PM

Apple is starting to roll out iOS 6 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The new version of the OS brings lots of new features — including Apple’s brand new Maps app, deep integration with Facebook and enhancements to Siri. As of iOS 5, Apple is making the the update available as an over-the-air (Settings > General > Software Update) download. If you don’t have access to the download now, check again in a few minutes. You will also have the option of upgrading from within iTunes, if you prefer.

1. Apple’s Very Own Maps App (RIP, Google Maps)
Getting around with your iPhone will be an experience by itself now, with spoken directions and turn-by-turn navigation, real-time crowdsourced traffic updates, Quick routes and re-routing options, Yelp-powered details on nearby businesses and more. One of the highlights of this feature would be Flyover, a 3D rendition of buildings and major landmarks for a close-up interactive 3D view of cities around the world.

2. Facebook Integration
It’s easier than ever to share on Facebook with the new iOS6. Share photos and locations straight from your device and get your updates about what’s happening on Facebook in your contact and Calendar. Profile information will be integrated into Calendar so you won’t get to miss a thing, especially since you now get notifications for both Facebook and Twitter updates from the notification centre. The App Store is now Like-friendly.

3. Siri’s Smarter
Siri is now savvy in sports stats, restaurant reviews and rotten tomatoes (imdb movie ratings). You can make reservations with Siri through the OpenTable app, and check out movie schedules and ratings. Have a lot of apps to sift through, look up and launch? Launch it the new way by asking Siri to launch the app for you. With the iOS6, you can even dictate your posts for release on Facebook and Twitter.


4. Photo Stream Over ICloud
Share photos with the people you want to share with via the iCloud on an iOS 6 device or Mountain Lion OS. Photos will sync in real-time via iPhoto or the Photos app and are also available on the Web. Commenting is enabled on the albums and you can share as much as you want with no effect on your iCloud storage.


5. Passbook App
Tickets, boarding passes, movie tickets and store cards are things of the pass. Scan in your details to get on that plane, into that cinema or that concert and keep constant tabs on your store card balance all from your iOS devices.

Updates are in real-time so that when flight details have been changed, you get informed of the latest updates straight on your device. This app can turn your iPhone into a GPS-enabled virtual wallet, keeping your cards, coupons and tickets safe, convenient, handy and fuss-free.

What do you think of iOS 6? Let us know in the comments down below!

Pssst! Don’t forget YouTube is no longer part of iOS remember to download the new YouTube app from the Apple App Store.

YouTube for iOS is Compatible with; iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

It’s officially here – the iPhone 5.

12 September 2012 6:37 PM

Apple finally took the wraps of its latest iPhone, and it’s called the iPhone 5.

From Mashable.com:
“The iPhone 5 has a larger screen than previous versions, at 4 inches, with a resolution of 1,136 x 640 or 326 pixels per inch — which is still a “retina” display, as Apple defines it. The larger screen has a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and has lengthened the phone overall, but it also allows for a total of six rows of apps on the screen — five rows on the “pages” along with the permanent single row along the bottom.

Apps designed for previous iPhones won’t scale to the new screen — they’ll appear with black bars on the two ends of the screen.

The phone, which is said to be made entirely of glass and aluminum, is also thinner overall. It’s just 7.6 mm thin, 18% thinner than the iPhone 4S. It also weighs 112 grams, 20% lighter than the 4S.”

Camera & Sound;
Front facing camera is now full HD, FaceTime over cellular, a panoramic shot with the iPhone 5 will be 28-megapixels, one mic on the front, one on the bottom, one on the back, earpiece has more noise cancellation.


Apple has also shrunk the dock connector of the iPhone, replacing the aging 30-pin connector with a much smaller jack, which it dubs the “Lightning” connector. – you will also be able to buy an adapter to convert it to a 30-pin to charge older devices. (not included when you buy the iPhone 5)

iOS 6 will be released on 19th September however expect slow speeds and high levels of downloads as many will be using the iTunes service to be first to update to iOS6 which will work on all phones and tablets back to the 3GS iPhone.

Cost – 16GB @ $199, 32GB @ $299 or 64GB at $399
When – Pre order on Friday (14th). Ship one week later, Sept 21.
Where? US, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, all on the 21st.

“Today we’re announcing some exciting changes with iPod and iTunes.” Eddie Cue is up to demonstrate a brand new version of iTunes – dramatically simpler, with the cloud build in for PC & Mac The new iTunes looks nearly identical to the music player on the iPad and will be available in late October.

iPod Touch;

the Retina display is now in the iPod Touch and the headphone jack on the bottom same height as the new iPhone 5 iPod Touch gets the cool Panorama feature too. And the shared photo streams with 40 hours of music playback, 8 hours of video on the new iPod Touch battery iSight camera is going to be built into the Touch for the first time. It’s 5 megapixel, with autofocus, flash and Sapphire lens 1080p and even able to do videoing editing.

iPod Nano;

the new Nano is $149, the old Touch is $199 for 16GB, 32GB for 32GB ships with the new EarPods colors? black, white, blue, yellow, red.


EarPods; “we’ve spent 3 years designing an entirely new headphone … EarPods.”
EarPods headphones with little speakers on the side, basically. “We scanned hundreds of ears, looking for a commonality …” – says Jony Ive they are designed to intentionally direct sound, right into the ear “and of course, we want to make them available as soon as possible … today.” get your EarPods at the Apple Store now and of course, they’ll ship with the new Touch and the iPhone 5.

That’s it from us on the iPhone 5 Live, for a full recap of the iPhone 5 announcement including the full new line-up check out Mashable or watch the re-cap by TysiPhoneHelp / TysiHelp (Ty Moss) or SoldierKnowsBest (SKB) Apple will likely post the event on Apple Events page shortly.

Links:
Apple Shows Off More of iOS 6 at iPhone 5 Event – Mashable
Apple Adds Facebook Integration Into iTunes, Effectively Kills Ping – Mashable
Apple Announces Thinner iPod Nano – Mashable
Lightning: Apple’s New iPhone Dock Connector is 80% Smaller – Mashable
Apple Unveils New iTunes, Coming in October – Mashable
Meet EarPods, Your New Apple Earphones – Mashable
Apple Kills iPhone 3GS, Makes iPhone 4 Free – Mashable
iPhone 5 Compared With Competitors – Mashable
Apple iPhone 5 Event Coverage (Recorded) – YouTube, SoldierKnowsBest
iPhone 5, iPod touch 5G & New 2012 iPod nano 7G! – YouTube, duncan33303
Recap: Apple iPhone 5 Event – YouTube, SoldierKnowsBest
New iPhone 5, iPod touch 5G and iPod Nano 7G! – YouTube, tysiphonehelp
iPhone 5: Should you upgrade? – YouTube, tysiphonehelp
iOS 6 Panorama Mode – YouTube, SoldierKnowsBest

Apple iOS 6 (Beta 4) Kills Built-In YouTube App

6 August 2012 9:23 PM

Apple on Monday released iOS 6 beta 4 to developers, and one of the most notable changes is the removal of the built-in YouTube app.

According to users in the MacRumors forum, the YouTube app is not included in the list of apps on the iOS home screen, where it has resided since the iPhone launch in 2007. Apple said the license with Google to include the YouTube app on the home screen has expired and Google is now working on a standalone app for the Apple App Store.

The updated iOS app will not be available until the fall, when Apple rolls out iOS 6 (presumably with its next-gen iPhone). But when it arrives, the Maps app will replace the Google Maps app that currently comes pre-installed on all iOS devices.

The good news is i think Google (YouTube) will be able to pull this one off, if they add a YouTube app to the App Store rather than built in as it will be updated more often. I myself hardly use the YouTube app due to lack of features and design is a little out-dated.

According to iLounge, meanwhile, iOS 6 beta 4 also includes Bluetooth sharing. Last month, there were reports that users will not be required to enter a password when downloading free apps in iOS 6.

check out 92 New Features in Apple’s iOS 6 by pcmag.com.

How to bypass Live Messenger (WLM/MSN) 2011 Update

20 June 2012 3:28 PM

As you may or may not know Microsoft yesterday started forcing upgrades to Windows Live Messenger (sometimes abbreviated WLM/MSN) 2011 on Windows 7. Unfortunately the 2011 (It’s 2012 where’s version 2012?) version drops several key features, adds several annoying features, and is not that impressive of an upgrade. Certainly many just prefer to use Live Messenger 2009 and now you can!

When you try and sign in to Messenger 2009 you will see one of theses;

“A newer version is available. You must install the newer version in order to continue. Would you like to do this now?”

or “A newer version has been downloaded and is available. You must install this newer version in order to continue. Would you like to do this now?”

Annoying right? Yes I think so we’ve two ways you can bypass this (I personally recommend option two)

Option 1
To bypass the forced upgrade for Windows Live Messenger 2009, you can download My Messenger Reviver utility however this isn’t recommend, unless they somehow patch option two.

Option 2
1 – Right Click on your “Windows Live Messenger” Icon (either from your desktop or start menu)
2 – Click/Select “Properties” you will see many such as tabs, Shortcut, Compatibility, General, Security, Details and Previous Version.
3 – Click on Compatibility Tab in This Tab you will see “Compatibility Mode”
4 – Check in front of Run this Program in compatibility mode for:

If you use Windows XP, Select Windows NT or 2000 (MSN+ can’t run on this mode) if you use Windows Vista or 7, Select Windows Server 2003(SP1) – MSN+ can run on this mode.

5 – Apply and OK this setting
6 – Restart Messenger (Task Manager) and end msnmesgr.exe
7 – You’re done – Enjoy!

Tried and tested on Windows Vista, 7 & Windows 8 only – please let us know in the comments below if it works on your OS, do you like Messenger 2011 or will you be using this to avoid it?

Note; We take no responsibility in this software or the guide (option o2), The software (“program”) wasn’t developed by us please use at your own risk, Thanks!

UPDATE 21 – 06 – 12
We have noticed doing option 2 in Windows 7 it will no longer show two windows in your task-bar and when you minimize WLM 2009 it will now go to ‘notifications’ area not taskbar it hasn’t closed click the “^” arrow in notifications.