ASUS Transformer Prime to receive update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on 12 January

News

  • January 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm

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ASUS Transformer Prime running Android Ice Cream Sandwich

ASUS has taken to its official Facebook page to announce that its Nvidia Tegra 3 tablet will soon be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). The update will start rolling out on the 12th of January to the 10.1-inch quad-core ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime, making it the first Android tablet to officially receive Android ICS. We are sure this will put a smile on all the lucky Transformer Prime owners out there.

Nevertheless, there has been a backlash from the developer community, as Transformer Prime owners discovered that the tablet’s bootloader is locked. ASUS explains that having a locked bootloader is a Google DRM (Digital Rights Management) requirement in order to allow users to rent videos. ASUS intends to provide an unlock utility. Use of the tool will void your warranty and make Google Video unavailable.
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B&N Nook Color 1.4.1 update brings additional functionality, Netflix and comics

News

  • December 12, 2011 at 12:17 pm

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Nook Color - Curvy back, speaker port and magnetic latch

There is no better way to start your day than to find out that you lovely tablet/e-reader has received a software update, making it, well, more awesome. The Barnes & Noble Nook Color has just received an update to version 1.4.1 which brings a number of enhancements and additional functionality bringing it closer to the recently released Nook Tablet.

First off the new version brings landscape reading with books, something we had noted was lacking when we initially reviewed the Nook Color — you can find our pretty lengthy review here. There is also a new category of books named PagePerfect, which are carefully put together electronic versions keeping with the original colorful print version; the category includes cookbooks, art books and the rest.

Those of you who prefer to sit back and be entertained, the Nook Color is getting Netflix movies and TV shows support. Marvel comic book fans should also be excited as the Nook Color joins the Nook Tablet in receiving Nook Comics. Finally B&N is claiming over 100 minor enhancement which should make the Nook experience better.

You can connect your Nook Color to a Wi-Fi network and wait for the update to be delivered to your device automatically or if your are the impatient type (and we would completely understand if you were), head over here and follow the instructions under ‘Get Version 1.4.1 Today’.
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HTC Flyer now receiving Android Honeycomb update

News

  • December 5, 2011 at 12:54 pm

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HTC Flyer Android tablet drawing

As much as we wanted to love HTC’s 7-inch stylus-friendly Android tablet, we couldn’t get past the fact that it was still running Android Gingerbread, and not a tablet optimized version of the OS. Thankfully for those who have put their faith in the HTC Flyer, the company has just started rolling out an over-the-air update to Android Honeycomb 3.2. The update, which is over 200MB, is initially targeted for the 32GB 3G version of the Flyer. HTC has confirmed that the 16GB Wi-Fi only version will be getting the update soon.

Of-course Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has already been officially launched, nevertheless, Honeycomb is a major step for tablets and we are sure users will love the upgraded functionality. Since Honeycomb operates with on-screen buttons, the tablet’s fixed touch buttons become inoperable once the update is applied, but the stylus continues to function as before.

If you have an HTC Flyer, be sure to connect to a nearby Wi-Fi access point and check for software updates.
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Windows 8 setup to be easier and faster, designed for online delivery

News

  • November 21, 2011 at 4:29 pm

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Windows 7 vs. Windows 8 time to upgrade

I still wake up at nights running cold sweat from nightmares of past Windows setup experiences. Installing Windows was an extremely time-consuming and painful experience, especially if you wanted to keep your files or settings instead of doing a fresh install. Although the process has been improving with each new version of Windows, with Windows 7 making the experience much easier, it’s still very time-consuming and you need to keep a tech-minded person handy for help.

Microsoft has been keeping us deeply involved in the Windows 8 development process through an official blog, and their latest post deals with improvements made in the setup and upgrade process. Microsoft promises that the new install process will be easier, faster and extremely stable.

Microsoft faces a huge challenge when it comes to managing the install and upgrade process for a new version of Windows. Windows is designed to run on personal computers with millions of different configurations. Users’ demands may also vary widely, someone might want to do a clean and customized install whereas another would just want to upgrade a previous Windows installation with the least user interaction.
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CyanogenMod team promises CM9 in 2 months, could be getting you to eat Ice Cream Sandwich in the dead of winter

News

  • November 15, 2011 at 12:03 pm

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Cyanogen CM9 Android Ice Cream Sandwich tweet

You might know of the team over at CyanogenMod (CM), which creates and publishes for free its own streamlined Android ROMs for over 50 devices. As manufacturers and mobile carriers linger on old versions of Android, CM was the best way for many to update their devices to the latest Android version.

As promised Google made the source code of Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich open yesterday. This means that developers can download the code and start tinkering.

Of course, the CyanogenMod team has followed suit and has announced via Twitter that we should be seeing an Ice Cream Sandwich infused CM9 in two months, more or less. This is great news, since most manufacturers will only start to officially update Android devices in the beginning of 2012, with attention placed on 2011 devices first, while some older devices might not be upgraded at all.
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iOS 5.0.1 update released: promises to fix your iPhone battery woes, includes new iPad multitasking gestures

News

  • November 10, 2011 at 4:48 pm

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iPhone low battery level

A lot of iOS 5 users have complained of poor battery life, and we’ve reported that Apple has been working hard to fix the issue. Devices that could be affected include the iPhone 4S and any iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS that has been updated to iOS 5.

iOS 5.0.1 has been released today and promises to fix any battery woes that you’ve been facing. The update, also available for both iPads and the iPod Touch, includes security patches and various other fixes, while the original iPad also gets some new multitasking gestures.

If the update hasn’t reached your device yet, check Settings > General > Software Update on your device or connect it to a computer and launch iTunes.
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Android Market 3.3.11 update brings update over Wi-Fi only, auto-update apps default

News

  • November 2, 2011 at 3:14 am

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Android Market 3.3.11 update

A new version of the Android Market is making the rounds, now automatically updating on select handsets, version 3.3.11. Although there are minor visual changes such as a new Market icon, more prominent star ratings, large apps have a small ‘Wi-Fi’ icon, a microphone for voice input on Market search and other interface tweaks, most major changes involve giving you more control. You can now choose to auto-update apps as a default, previously you had to select auto-update for each application, and there is an option to ‘update over Wi-Fi only’, which is a welcome addition if you want to avoid eating up your monthly data plan allocation just for downloading another Angry Birds update. Finally you can select to automatically add shortcuts for downloaded applications to your homescreen (like in Android Honeycomb).

If you are the impatient type you can download the Market .apk file (after the break) and try it out for yourself, or play it safe and wait for your device to autoupdate. Mind you, that this file doesn’t behave well with Honeycomb tablets. If you do install the file below, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Apps > Market and select ‘clear data’ if the Market is misbehaving.
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Android basics: What is Ice Cream Sandwich and why would I want it on my phone or tablet?

Guides

  • October 22, 2011 at 4:54 am

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Google employee putting up the Android Ice Cream Sandwich mascot

Having just had a discussion with a non-‘techie’ friend who owns an Android phone, I received the very logical question: what is Ice Cream Sandwich? My response was followed with the equally valid inquisitive look on why would Google name its mobile operating system after a frozen desert.

Our attention is caught up with new gadgets and technology that we simply skip past all the basic concepts. Well today is the inauguration of a new column, appropriately titled ‘basics’, which will go over fundamental terms and provide beginners with (hopefully) easy to follow and clear how-tos. After all we are claiming that our opinions and advice should reach real people.

First, a background on Android. Android is a mobile operating system, it runs on mobile phones and tablets and provides all the basic functionally needed, such as connectivity (to connect to a Wi-Fi network or your mobile carrier), multi-touch recognition, a phone dialer and some built-in applications, like an internet browser and email. It’s like Windows or Mac OS but for your phone or tablet. Competing mobile operating systems are Apple’s iOS, Microsoft’s Windows Phone and also BlackBerry OS and the now-defunct webOS.
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HP TouchPad gets webOS update for better performance and new camera app

News

  • October 18, 2011 at 10:40 am

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HP TouchPad webOS software update 3.0.4

HP had promised to continue to provide over-the-air updates for the now discontinued TouchPad and today we have the first proof of HP’s commitment.

HP has just released software update 3.0.4 for the TouchPad, which will be distributed automatically via Wi-Fi to all devices. The update is said to make the TouchPad snappier, something we’ve found was needed. The new software also includes a new camera app, again something that was lacking, improved messaging and several interface tweaks to make things look nicer.
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Amazon Kindle Keyboard a.k.a. Kindle 3 receives the cloud treatment with firmware update

News

  • October 16, 2011 at 8:54 am

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Amazon Kindle Keyboard a.k.a. Kindle 3

If you own the Amazon Kindle 3, which has now been renamed to Kindle Keyboard, you might want to take note. Amazon has just released a software update for the E-Ink e-Reader, version 3.3. The update brings to the Kindle Keyboard some of the new features found in the latest generation of Kindle readers/tablets such as Whispersync, to synchronize your annotations, bookmarks and last page read with all your devices, and cloud storage for all your documents so you can access them wirelessly anytime.
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iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 now available for download

News

  • October 12, 2011 at 12:49 pm

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Apple iOS 5 released

We’ve been expecting this day to come and you can now finally update your iOS devices — iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, all iPads, 3rd and 4th generation iPod Touch — to iOS 5. This is a major update to iOS with over 200 new features, including Notifications (at last), iMessage, Newsstand, Reminder and of course iCloud integration.

As we warned you yesterday, you will need to be running iTunes 10.5 to update your devices. So if you haven’t done already, check out our coverage.
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iTunes 10.5 up for download, becomes part of iCloud, paves the way for iOS 5 and iTunes Match

News

  • October 11, 2011 at 2:53 pm

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iTunes 10.5 becomes part of iCloud

The latest update for iTunes is now available for download, and it should make iTunes fans very happy, especially those anxious to update their iOS device(s) (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) to iOS 5 tomorrow.

Version 10.5 brings Wi-Fi syncing for all iOS devices and iTunes in the Cloud, which means that all your Apple Store music and video purchases will be available on all your computers running iTunes. Most importantly the latest update paves the way for iOS 5; if you want to update your device starting tomorrow, you must be running the latest version of iTunes to do so, so our advice is to get downloading.

Finally the update should allow you future access to Apple’s $25 a year iTunes Match service, coming by the end of the month. iTunes will scan your library and give you access to high quality copies of your local music stored in Apple’s servers, accessible anywhere.

If you already have iTunes installed, click on “Check for Updates” within iTunes or the ‘Apple’ logo and “Software Update” on a Mac. You can also get it from this link.

Just a heads-up, that tomorrow is a big day for Apple related services and software with the, as mentioned, release of iOS 5, iCloud and an update to OS X Lion 10.7.2.
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