TomTom for Android available, but not for any smartphone
Do you find the standard Android maps app to be lacking? There is a solution -- the popular navigation software TomTom is now available for Android smartphones.
Unlike cloud-connected software solutions, TomTom relies on offline maps to offer guided navigation on Android smartphones and considering the 2.3GB free storage requirement the download is consistent to say the least. The app comes with a number of useful features, such as live traffic information via HD Traffic, lane guidance, spoken street names, eco routes to save that extra bit of gas or electricity, automatic day and night modes, as well as other features. There are maps for United States, Europe, United Kingom as well as other geographical locations.
Now in its 28th year, Quicken finally goes mobile
Software company Intuit on Wednesday announced Quicken 2013, the latest version of its long-running financial management software, will have mobile companion editions for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android smartphones and tablets, and the Kindle Fire. The application gives users mobile access to their checking, savings and credit card account information, budgeting and expense management information, and projection data.
Intuit says these are the first-ever mobile versions of Quicken, which is technically true. However, the company had a number of apps that offered an approximation of Quicken's functionality. In 2009, for example, the Web-based version of Quicken, appropriately named Quicken Online, launched its own iOS application. Additionally, Intuit's Mint provides elegant budgeting and account management apps for iOS and Android.
Is Apple's app Maptastic?
Apple has received pointed criticism for its own Maps application used in iOS 6, which eventually forced CEO Tim Cook to issue a public apology for delivering a less that competent alternative to Google Maps that until the latest mobile operating system iteration was the default app. Wanting to divert from the Mapplegate mishap, Onavo Team calls the app "Maptastic" -- and the pot will likely be stirred yet again...
Onavo Team, recognizing the faults of the built-in app, takes a different approach to Apple vs Google mapping by comparing a set of data that wasn't analyzed until now -- data consumption. According to the blog post, standard and satellite map views were used to provide a basis for comparison between the two, and the result is staggering. Which one came out on top?
Apple maps reveals the difference between Steve Jobs and Tim Cook
I have followed Apple for over 20 years now in various ways as a consumer, an employee, a consultant and as a developer. These are my thoughts about the Maps debacle and what it says about the state of Apple overall.
The core of Apple (pun intended) is the seamless integration of hardware and software. Whereas Microsoft’s play in personal computing is purely software and companies like IBM, Dell, and HP were purely hardware, Apple wants to control the entire process. As a result, the integration is tighter, everything works better and the lines blur between the two.
iPhone 5 now available in solid gold
The way some people covet the new iPhone 5 you’d think it was made out of solid gold rather than glass and aluminum. Of course if it was available in that precious metal you’d have to pay quite a bit more than $399 for a 64GB model. Somewhere in the region of $35,411, in fact.
If you’re wondering how I arrived at that figure, the answer is that’s how much British designer Stuart sells his limited edition 18ct gold iPhone 5s for. Yes, that’s right -- targeting the "more money than sense" market, Stuart has decided to create a new solid gold chassis for the phone, hand-finishing it, and adding an apple logo made out of 53 diamonds (amounting to 1ct) for good measure.
RIM releases BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1
PlayBook may be more than one-and-a-half years old, but that isn't stopping Research in Motion from improving the aging tablet: BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1.
The update focuses on business users, which is underlined by a number of new features, such as Print To Go across Wi-Fi networks that allows users to transfer documents from a PC to a BlackBerry Playbook even among different networks, Folder and Sync Management permits individual synchronizing of ActiveSync-connected folders within an email account or OTA (Over the Air) enrollment with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion for directly pushing email, Wi-Fi, VPN profiles or enterprise apps to the tablet by IT administrators.
T-Mobile and MetroPCS to merge, become the 'value-focused' 4G network
Wednesday, United States wireless carrier T-Mobile USA officially announced it will merge with "baby national" wireless carrier MetroPCS. The combination of the two companies will result in a single carrier with as many as 42.5 million subscribers. Third-place national carrier Sprint had approximately 56 million subscribers at the end of the second quarter in 2012.
The combined company will continue to be called T-Mobile, and will be controlled by T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom, who will take a 74 percent stake in the merged entity. MetroPCS shareholders will receive $1.5 billion in cash and a 26 percent controlling stake.
Lightroom 4.2 supports 22 more cameras, 37 new lens profiles
Adobe has unveiled Lightroom 4.2, a welcome maintenance release that extends the program in a number of areas.
In particular, the new build adds extra camera raw and lens profile support, makes tethered capturing (the ability to take shots directly from your computer, once it’s connect to the camera) available for more devices and provides a number of bug fixes.
Chrome 23 Beta improves HTML5 video support
Google has updated both Beta and Dev pre-release channels of its open-source, cross-platform browser, Google Chrome to versions 23 and 24 respectively.
While Google Chrome 24 Dev is a minor update, Google Chrome 23 Beta introduces support for a number of APIs and HTML5 technologies that, while superficially of most interest to web developers, will improve both web-based video playback and real-time audio/video communications over the internet for end users.
Skype offers free WiFi across the UK
If you live in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, you’ll soon be able to access free WiFi through cafés, restaurants, hotels and shops, courtesy of Skype and wireless provider Wicoms.
The new WiFi network initiative, called Free Skype WiFi, will be available to all Skype users and accessed using the free Skype WiFi app. This already allows users to connect to over a million hotspots around the world, but for a fee. Users who don’t currently have a Skype account will be able to sign up on the spot by entering their email address.
Everything Everywhere launches 4G LTE on October 30
Six weeks ago, United Kingdom communications regulator Ofcom granted Everything Everywhere the right to roll out 4G LTE over its existent 1800MHz wireless spectrum. Starting October 30, the new brand along with its 4G LTE services will launch in the UK market.
The carrier will deploy 4G LTE in 10 cities, a number increasing by six before the end of the year, which equates to one-third of the UK population. Everything Everywhere also revealed a longer-term plan to reach 98 percent coverage by 2014.
Emsisoft’s Online Armor 6 supports Windows 8
Emsisoft has announced the availability of Online Armor 6.0, the latest release of its versatile firewall.
And while there’s no revolutionary additions to this build, the program does benefit from several worthwhile tweaks and enhancements.
Nokia takes a weak stab at iPhone 5 with latest Lumia 920 ad
Is the iPhone 5 a victim of its own success? After Samsung posted a new video ad from its "The Next Big Thing is Already Here" campaign, the former largest smartphone manufacturer, Nokia tries to pull the same trick with its latest video, marketing the company's first Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Lumia 920.
Named "Nokia Lumia 920 - Time to #switch," the cartoon-like ad portrays iPhone 5 future owners queuing to purchase the latest smartphone bearing the fruit company logo, which is similar to the Korean manufacturer's approach, yet unlike Samsung, who played the better featured/already have it card, Nokia uses colors trying to market its own product against the iPhone 5. Is color differentiation going to have an impact on Windows Phone and Nokia's fate in a market that has consolidated around Apple and Android smartphones?
Adobe Digital Editions 2.0 is now available
Adobe has released Adobe Digital Editions 2.0, its freeware application for managing ebooks on a PC or Mac. Digital Editions is required for transferring protected eBook files to compatible mobile eBook Readers using Adobe’s EPUB and PDF standards.
Version 2.0 includes accessibility support for the first time, plus includes the latest reader mobile technology for managing ebooks between computer and mobile readers.
US smartphone market consolidates around Android, iPhone
In a move appropriate for another two-party presidential election season, there is now little room for three dominant smartphone operating systems. The US market is now decisively consolidated around just two, Apple and Google platforms, as rivals -- including BlackBerry and Windows Phone -- make brisk retreats.
For the three months ended in August, Android and iOS had combined 86.9 percent smartphone subscriber share -- that's up from 82.8 percent at the end of May, according to comScore. August 2011: 71 percent. As combined share approaches 90 percent, a third-party contender looks less likely. Both potential candidates lost share during the three months, all gobbled up by the leaders.
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