The first big Xbox One system update, which arrived earlier this month, was released in order to prepare gamers for the release of Titanfall, but there were other key implementations besides. Twitch, the streaming service that allows gamers to capture and share their progress with the rest of the world, also rolled out onto the latest and greatest Microsoft console, and with the Game Developers Conference having just kicked off in San Francisco, Twitch has outlined its plans to hit the mobile gaming world - beginning with Asphalt 8 on iOS.
Satya Nadella, the recently-appointed CEO of Microsoft and the third since its inception, was chosen for the role by the board for a variety of reasons. One of his core strengths - his heavy involvement in the company's cloud services - was seen as the vital tool needed to carry the company forward into the cloud-based era, and already, we're seeing evidence of the rationale behind his appointment. Today, Microsoft released a new, free OneNote app for Mac, a further free OneNote utility for its own Windows OS, and notably, a cloud-based API facilitating the integration of both first and third-party apps with with OneNote.
The colorful iPhone 5c is widely regarded as a flop, and the fact that Apple remains tight-lipped about sales of its polycarbonate-clad handset speaks volumes. But while many are tipping it for the axe later on this year by the time the iPhone 6 comes around, there may still be life left in the handset yet, with leaked documents from O2 Germany appearing to suggest that an 8GB model is in the offing; and at a cheaper price point.
As well as offering some big improvements upon existing features, iOS 8 is expected to deliver some significant new implementations of its own, and with fitness and tracking-related devices and applications currently in vogue, it is thought that Apple will hop aboard the bandwagon with a new, native app called Healthbook. As the name implies, the app will be to fitness and wellbeing what Passbook is to vouchers and tickets, presenting the health-conscious with an all-in-one hub for tracking key aspects such as exercise, diet and activity. 9to5Mac first shed light on Healthbook a while back, and is now back with some more in-depth tidbits regarding the forthcoming app.
Love them or hate them, rumors will never cease. With the next big thing just around the corner and everyone doing their best to second guess what the big thing to come out of the likes of Apple and Samsung will be, speculation and conjecture will always be on the tip of the internet’s collective tongue. Unfortunately it doesn’t always get it right.
The final version of iOS 7.1 download links have just been released by Apple for those on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. As well as bringing support for the Cupertino company’s recently-unveiled CarPlay feature, iOS 7.1 brings a host of smaller enhancements, as well as the usual supply of bug fixes and general performance enhancements. Full details and download information, as well as the full change log, can be found after the break.
You may or may not have been aware, but since the introduction of iOS 7, users have been able to control certain aspects of the mobile OS using only head gestures. The implementation is designed to make the iOS device range more accessible for those who mightn't be able to interact with the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch in a more traditional manner, but is also, as I think you will agree, a pretty cool little feature.
As well as bringing forth some exciting new changes and features, including the likes of CarPlay and the enhancement of Siri in some markets, iOS 7.1 has also ironed out and refined a few gripes and snags of iOS 7.0.x. Having made some big changes with the seventh version of its mobile OS released back in September, there were always going to be a few issues to work on in the first major update, and with iOS 7 offering many of the UI elements a translucent finish, iOS 7.1 also allows you to reduce the transparency, or depth, of the interface to better suit your tastes.
Samsung has announced a series of "specialized usability accessories" designed for its Galaxy Core Advance smartphone - a device that the company recently released for those with special usability requirements. The new roster of add-ons, which includes a cover that can help visually-impaired users to navigate without hitting obstacles, is part of a concerted push from Samsung and other vendors to focus on accessibility, and with more devices and peripherals planned beyond the current low-end Galaxy Core Advance, the range looks set to expand in the coming months.
Apple TV, as has been demonstrated over the past year through various software updates and the introduction of multiple new streaming channels, is much more to its Cupertino-based maker than a "hobby" - a word that Tim Cook used to describe the little black box back when he was COO. But while new content partners, from Red Bull to Crackle, have been aplenty, the set-top's software hasn't really been improved for a couple of years, and one of the key features it lacks at the moment is notifications. This may be all about to change, though, and with Apple TV users having been notified of certain artists performing live shows at this week's iTunes Festival, we may just have our first glimpse of Apple TV notifications.
