The Nexus line up of devices has always received the prime cut of all that is Android, be it OTA updates, developer attention, mods and custom recoveries, root procedures and whatnot, and that, too, before the rest of the Android lot. This holds true not just for the smartphone showcase, but the tablets, too, since Google decided to enter that market itself. Generally, all the Nexus devices have been at the top of the Android food chain, as it was at the times of their respective releases. Their Achilles’ Heel, however, has always been their cameras, where the units mounted atop the Nexus devices were either inadequate or low performing, resulting in a loss of the battle in the mobile photography arena. Indeed, even mid-range droids had a better camera sensor as compared to the one built into, say, Galaxy Nexus.
Google Maps for iOS is officially here, and aside from the fact that it brings a rather pleasant and powerful mapping experience to iOS built on top of Google's wonderful data, it also brings some goodness in the form of URL schemes that not only allow developers, but also standard users to invoke the Maps app with different functionality at will. URL schemes are nothing new, but one of the benefits to users using the Google Maps for example is that they allow users to launch the Maps app directly into different views or to begin using different aspects of the software without having to jump through hoops to get to where they want to be.
It may be one of Apple's newest product lines that has only been publicly available for a matter of weeks, but that hasn't stopped the rumors about the potential specifications of the second-generation iPad mini from circulating extremely early. Reports from hit-and-miss rumor site DigiTimes are suggesting that Apple already has one eye on the future of the new mini iPad and could potentially have plans to introduce a higher-resolution display to the mid-range tablet as well as making changes to the standard sized iPad to make it lighter.
Scarcely a week goes by without some mention of a patent dispute within the tech industry, and while we're used to catching up on the latest in the wave of disputes concerning Samsung and Apple, today's installment of The Patent Files concerns only the latter. The Cupertino-residing outfit is often a focal point of copyright infringement squabbles, and according to a report by Bloomberg, the company's iPhone has been found to violate three patents held by MobileMedia.
Following a mammoth wait and numerous delays, iTunes 11 finally released to the public some two weeks ago. Today, the revamped iTunes software has been updated to version 11.0.1, and as well as bug fixes for iCloud and AirPlay, it also helps you find duplicate content within your library.
It’s a generally accepted fact that first mover advantage exists in all fields of life, including the online world. If you look at the most famous web services and applications today, this indeed seems to be the case. However, there are almost invariably always some exceptions to the general principle, and Facebook happens to be one of those. When today’s social networking giant entered the market, there were already big players like MySpace, Orkut and Hi5 in operation, but Facebook offered something different, continued to improve on it, and thrived with it. Today, the online portal boasts enough active members that had it been a country, it would’ve been one of the largest in the world by population.
Christmas is coming, and as many prepare to order the turkey, put up the tree, and generally join in the festivities, the app developers are pushing out the holiday-themed apps on an hourly basis. This is a time of year when many families come together, and naturally, many photos are taken, With Xmas Camera for iOS, you can truly add that Christmas feel to your snaps, thanks to the deluge of stamps and borders offered by the app.
2012 is drawing to a close, and among the bunch of round-up posts we're going to be seeing throughout the blogosphere, Apple has piped up prematurely with its annual Best Of list. Every year, the Cupertino company hand-picks its favorite apps of the year alongside the bestsellers, and with hundreds of thousands of new entries every year, it can be easy to miss some of the very best. Here, we run through each and every one.
Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular series of a generation, and if general wrongdoing make up a staple part of your gaming experience, you will have, at some point, immersed yourself in one or many of the iconic GTA releases. The 10th anniversary edition of Vice City released last week for those on iPhones and iPads, reminding us of just how much fun we can have with a car, motorbike and free roaming, and Rockstar North's head honcho Leslie Benzies has even more good news for those that cannot get enough of GTA. He eventually envisages each of the respective worlds -Liberty City, Vice City, San Andreas et al - combining to make something of a megalopolis, with gamers having the ability to fly between each one.
The Instant Video app from Amazon released earlier this year for those on iPad, but today, the service reaches out to those running an iPhone or iPod touch thanks to an update. With the larger Cupertino iOS devices unarguably superior when it comes to watching streaming content, it's only natural Amazon felt it best to launch the iPad version first, but now, the app has been made universal; details after the break.
