With Microsoft making the announcement that they would be closing down the Windows Live Messenger platform and recently confirming that closure date; there will undoubtedly be a lot more attention paid to Skype. Windows Live Messenger users will automatically have their accounts migrated across to Skype to allow them to simply download the software, log in and begin sending IMs, making video and audio calls to their contacts.
Another day, another Apple patent story, but this time there's no sign of Samsung, Motorola or Google. Surely that cannot be? Yes, yes it can, actually. Wonders never cease!
Mozilla has delivered the latest of its ongoing, sixth-weekly updates to Firefox, pushing the browser up to version 18.0. As you may expect, the company has packed in a whole bunch of new features, and while most concern the overall running and general performance of the app (read: under the hood housekeeping), there are one or two which many will notice from the get-go. Details, and info on where you can grab the new Firefox, are available after the break!
OS X Mountain Lion may have only been publicly available for the last five months or so, but according to statistics and analytics; it has quickly managed to claw itself to the top to become the most popular Mac operating system which Apple has ever released. Mountain Lion was released in July of 2012 with the philosophies of being a fully functional desktop operating system that took more than a little inspiration from iOS running on an iPad. The intention seemed to be to usher in the beginning of a new era that would see OS X and iOS become increasingly more converged over time.
When it comes to rumors pertaining any one of Apple's vast Mac range, we often find ourselves churning up the same reported specifications as the previous year, minus the one or two exceptions that actually made the cut last time around. That is certainly the case with the latest report, which suggests the Cupertino will pack a new chipset into its updated Mac models this year, offering ridiculously-speedy 802.11ac network speeds. For those of you that remember, a similar notion was present prior to last year's refreshes, and although it never did materialize, it's none too surprising to see the same rumors crop up once more.
It's been an extremely hectic year in the digital industry, but if you cast your mind back to January, you may fondly remember the Mr. Android infographic. Provided courtesy of BlueStacks, it offered detailed information (as well as something of a visual representation) of your typical Android user, and ensuring the lonely singleton doesn't see the new year tick over without a suitor, BlueStacks has come through with Ms. Mac. Naturally, Ms. Mac has a very obvious Apple bent, and represents all sorts of weird and wonderful information - gathered by BlueStacks - of the average Mac user.
BlueStacks’ mobile app player has long since allowed Windows users to run Android apps on their PCs, and with that service receiving positive reviews to date, it’s fair to say that it’s a big hit. Today though, Mac users too can now enjoy just about any Google Play app thanks to the latest beta of BlueStacks for Mac, and with such a wealth of content now available for those on Android, the update will be more than welcomed by many.
Apple has always been based in the USA, employing a vast array of engineers and support staff in or around Cupertino and Texas. Since 2004, however, the fruit company has not manufactured a single device in its own country, yet according to recent reports, this is about to change, with the Mac mini being the first to be produced in the United States.
If you are into fast cars, and regularly find yourself tuning into the Formula 1 races taking place across the globe, there's a high chance you also enjoy playing F1 games on your console, computer, or mobile device. If you're an F1 fan whom happens also to be in possession of a Mac, you're in luck, as Feral Interactive - the firm behind the annual F1 titles on a variety of platforms - has announced that F1 2012 is now available to those on OS X, which was announced back in October.
It has already made a huge impact on the console gaming world, with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions proving to be extremely popular, and now the fantastic Borderlands 2 game from 2K Games is available to purchase and download on the Mac App Store. The game has been published by well-known developer Aspyr Media who is currently offering a festive price reduction for those who grab the game during the holiday season period, meaning that potential gamers can grab Borderlands 2 for the Mac now, with 25% off the standard price going forward.
