The red hot news in the world of smartphones right now is what Apple is doing to redesign its iPhone and iPad software, with iOS 7 proving to be quite the change from the norm. Placed in charge of iOS less than a year ago, Jonny Ive has overseen the biggest change in an operating system we've seen since we first got our eyes on Windows 8.
Digital SLRs provide the most enhanced level of photography in the entire industry, but their almost inherent lack of Wi-Fi capability has seen lower-level point-and-shoot devices to fill in a gap for those serial sharers. Those familiar will recall the DSLR Controller app, which bridged the gap between Canon EOS shooters and the world wide web via an Android device, and now, Chainfire has come through another hacker's special involving a create-your-own Wi-Fi Stick.
Owners of smartphones powered by Google's Android have not had a great time of it of late, especially if they're the kind of users that worry about security. First, news came that a potentially major Android security flaw had been unearthed, leaving the vast majority of Android devices vulnerable. Good news followed in that Google was aware of the issue and had even managed to get a patch out to carriers and OEMs. Great stuff.
It's been a time for Android users and OEMs alike of late, specifically with the news that Google's mobile operating system has had a major security flaw ever since the Android 1.6 days. Considering that's quite some time now, it has left many feeling somewhat uneasy about the state of security on the platform, and rightly so.
As we discovered just a short while ago, the Google Maps for Android app has been afforded a tidy update bringing with it a plethora of new and exciting features, but although we're impressed with the work Google has put into this overhaul of the Android app, you may have noticed that the feature allowing you to save maps for offline use is strangely missing. Luckily, there's a quick workaround to the issue, and in following the steps below, your shiny new Google Maps for Android will be storing maps for offline caching like there's no tomorrow.
Google not only vends the Android operating system, but also a lot of quality apps for smartphones and tablets running the said OS. Time to time, Google keeps bringing a much-anticipated and completely radical update to one of its apps that usually prove to be a game changer in most cases. This time around, the app to receive such an update is the famous Google Maps, pushing the version number to 7.0 and gradually rolling out globally for Android (iOS update still to follow).
Facebook Home, the Android launcher replacement and HTC First pusher has received an update in the last 24 hours, with users receiving a very important new feature, and one we're sure they'll be using extensively in the days to come. That new feature, only just making its way to Home, is the ability to create folders on the device's home screen.
New and interesting ways to take Android and turn it on its head are part of the reason that many people prefer the platform over the more uniform, tired down iOS or Windows Phone. It's the reason that XDA-Developers exists, and it's the reason that very forum often plays host to some of the best Android apps and tweaks around. With that in mind, it's perhaps no surprise that the tweak we're about to tell you about is the brainchild of an XDA-Developers forum member.
Having remote access to your mobile device can be an invaluable tool, particularly if you happen to misplace or lose said device and wish to increase the probability of its safe return. We've featured many such apps here at Redmond Pie, and another interesting effort for Android users has just popped up over at the XDA-Developers forums. Called SMS Tasks, it offers much more in terms of functionality than other such apps, and all this control can be yielded by sending basic SMS commands. Full details after the jump!
Twitter today went on the update offensive, with both its mobile and desktop apps receiving new version numbers. Not content with giving the Mac version of its app some new features, Twitter has also seen fit to update both its iOS and Android apps also. Twitter on the web is also on the receiving end this time around.
