The standout feature of the upcoming Windows 8 operating system from Microsoft has to be the sumptuous Metro user-interface, and with the Release Preview having arrived in the past few days, Google has added to the anticipation of end-user release by giving us a little preview of how its popular Chrome browser will look once it's been Metro-fied.
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Google has recently announced big changes to its mobile mapping services, with upcoming features including an interesting-looking offline mode, and with Apple set to ditch Google for its own, in-house iOS maps offering, Google quite clearly needs to remain on its toes in the mobile game.
Yesterday, we covered a rather dubious looking spec print supposedly detailing the next 13-inch MacBook Pro, but today, courtesy of the guys over at 9to5Mac, we have something a little more legitimate looking. With WWDC next week, the talk of a MacBook refresh is really hotting up, and this latest leak details the prices - in US and Australian dollars - of the Mac range, as well as other associated peripherals.
Google has just announced some significant changes to its mobile Maps apps, with both offline mode and 3D maps heading to Android and iOS in the not-too-distant future. Given the Big G's purchase of Quickoffice - just after it was revealed Microsoft would finally bring its Office suite to mobile - we are under no illusions that Google will fight its competitors tooth and nail in every market going. Talk has been rife for several months of Apple's plans to ditch the stock Google Maps app within iOS in favor of its own, in-house solution, and with 3D mapping - courtesy of C3 Technologies - being one of the main features, Google is looking to up its game in order to retain dominance in the mapping market.
Although Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is undoubtedly Google's strongest mobile OS iteration to date, the length of time it has taken to trickle out to the many hundreds of Android devices has shrouded the release. With quite a few improvements plus a beautiful visual makeover, it was supposed to bridge the gap between tablet and smartphone, but with the majority of devices still awaiting that elusive OTA update, the release - if not the OS itself - has to go down as a fail.
In terms of Microsoft's market-leading Windows operating system, this year has rightly been dominated by Windows 8. The Metro-smothered interface of the upcoming OS has proved to be a huge hit among early samplers of the Consumer Preview released in February, and with Windows 8 tablets expected soon after the imminent launch, there's plenty to be excited about if you're a PC user.
Missed the recent media event in which Microsoft detailed SmartGlass, Kinect Voice, Internet Explorer and much more for the Xbox 360? Well, if you weren't around for the live stream, you'll be pleased to know that replays of the event are now available to view online.
When it comes to chopping up fruit, a simple kitchen knife will usually do the trick, and although some fruits have particularly tough skin, the Samurai sword is seldom necessary. Luckily, nobody told that to Halfbrick Studios, who, two years ago, created the immensely-addictive iOS marvel that is Fruit Ninja.
Although Facebook has been a web success story surpassed only by Google, its shortcomings in the mobile space have been plain for all to see. The Facebook mobile app is below par on every ecosystem and device going, and the inability to monetize the growing mobile market has been the elephant in the room for a good few years now.
Exciting news for those who like their gadgets to be as sturdy as technology will allow; Liquidmetal Technologies CEO Tom Steipp has come out and confirmed that Apple has licensed the metallic glass composition for future use in its range of devices, and although he hasn't stated the Cupertino company is yet working on a product specific product featuring Liquidmetal, the comments certainly suggest Liquidmetal Apple products could be making their way to market in the not-so-distant future.
