Apple

commentary The PC world still hasn't come up with an awesome design to challenge the iPad. The clock's ticking.

Google Glass has a number of hidden features not normally available to users, giving a hint for what is in store for future iterations of the onboard software. Hidden inside the firmware of the Explorer Edition headset are a number of "Labs" items that were left behind by Google in the device, including options to keep the "Ok Glass" voice command function always listening, and the ability to launch a browser....

Shortly after hints of an Android app redesign hit the Internet, new screenshots appear to show that a similar redesign is in the works for Gmail's web version. The redesign, discovered by The Next Web, show a significantly redesigned interface, one that is tailored to help users better organize their emails. The major feature in the redesign appears to be the addition of a tabbed interface that categorizes emails....

There's intense interest blooming around reports that Apple plans to revamp the look of iOS 7 with a flatter appearance. But there's more reason to believe that Apple is - or should be - focusing on features, not a radical new appearance.

Apple is set to unveil a preview of iOS 7 for the first time on Monday, June 10 at the annual Worldwide Developer Conference. Though Apple has been typically tightlipped about any features or changes with the upcoming iOS update, some rumors have surfaced from traditionally reliable sources that help to paint a picture of what to expect. You’ll find that most of the current rumors surrounding iOS 7 suggest it will primarily be a visual overhaul, aiming to modernize the appearance of the core OS and default apps, and adding a few features or changes that users have long wanted. We’re going to do a rundown of some of the more realistic possibilities of iOS 7 based on pieces from 9to5mac (1) (2) and Bloomberg, in addition to little tidbits we’ve heard, and also drawing some fairly obvious conclusions based on clues from Apple and just plain common sense. Black, White, & Flat Interface Elements Expect “black, white, and flat all over”, according to 9to5mac’s sources. Some are expecting a huge change with this, but it’s likely to be more subtle. We have probably already seen a hint of this in various aspects of iOS, like the mysteriously unmatching Account Settings panel accessible from Settings and from the App Store and iTunes, which features UI elements that are black, white, flatter, texture-free, all of which are distinctly different from other parts of iOS: For some comparison, here’s the “Account Settings” before and after the change: Simpler, Refined App Interfaces Simplified interface elements are expected to expand to apps, with reduced or removed skeumorphism in apps from Game Center to Calendar. 9to5mac suggests many of the style changes to be similar to how the Podcasts app was toned down recently, which sounds reasonable: Color-Coded App Icons & Interfaces 9to5mac suggests the refined app interfaces will expand to other applications, with different color themes per application: “While the core elements of those apps are mostly white, each app has been given a unique button color. Essentially, each app has a white base with a respective color theme.” That has also been hinted at with the official WWDC logo: Quick Settings Access Panel An easily accessible panel to toggle things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and other frequently used basic settings is apparently in the works, perhaps as part of Notifications Center, or accessible from elsewhere like the multitasking tray. Here’s an example of such a panel, coming from the Android world: Such Settings panels have long been popular in the jailbreak world as well. Improvements to Notification Center Whether it’s the addition of the Quick Settings panel, a total refresh, or something else, we can expect Notification Center to get a refresh, at least visually. Icon shine and gloss is out Expect flatter default icons on the Home Screen, removing the bubble gloss that has been around since the original version of iPhone OS. Default app icons are perhaps closer to what various Google apps, Skype, and Vine icons look like: It’s also likely the default gloss on any Apple Touch Icon from webpages and apps will be gone too, without having to label the file “apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png”. Panorama wallpapers Swiping from the Home screen over to another screen of icons will move the wallpaper with it. This is a visually pleasant feature that has been around in the Android world for a long time, which is demonstrated in the video below: Don’t expect this to be an exact replica of the Android feature, and it’s probably going to look and behave a bit differently than what is demoed in this video. New Multitasking UI Multitasking is apparently set to receive an overhaul to show app thumbnails instead, much like the HTC app switcher. This idea that was first included in builds of iOS 4 but was shelved by Apple for some reason or another before s

  The iPhone 5 is the best mobile phone ever made, in my opinion. And the iOS platform has the best mobile apps. Unfortunately, this doesn’t add up to the best phone experience anymore. What Apple lacks is the best experience with using Internet-based services. And Apple will fall much further behind on June 26. Here’s what Apple needs to change in order to offer the best overall mobile phone experience. How the smartphone market has changed since 2007 I’ve used nothing but Apple iPhones for the past five years and I’ve bought every new iPhone Apple shipped. I even stood in line for a couple of them. Android fanboys are always pestering me to try an Android phone. When I did, I couldn’t stand the user interface or the available handsets. In the past few months, however, the Android handset makers have been stepping up their game. Meanwhile, the best Android user interface out there is the one made by Google. The Android world is producing great designs, great feature sets and great platforms. However, these three attributes never appear on the same device. The Galaxy S4 has the best feature set of the Android phones, including one of the only cameras that comes close to the iPhone’s in picture quality, at least in bright light. In fact, it’s hard to think of any technology or sensor ever put into any handset that isn’t in the S4. But the plastic handset design is fugly as hell. The HTC One has a beautiful handset design and materials — it looks like an Apple phone in an alternative universe in which Apple made phones to look like MacBooks. But the camera isn’t as nearly as good as the iPhone’s in bright light. The Nexus 4, which is made by LG and sold by Google, has the best Android user interface because it’s Google-designed and therefore Google-centric. The distance between the user and making things happen with Google Now is almost non-existent, as is the distance between one Google service and another. One shocking example: swipe your thumb from the bottom of the screen and up one inch, say “Google: Navigate home” and you’re getting Google Maps turn-by-turn directions in about two seconds after your thumb started moving. Plus, the Nexus costs only $300 unlocked. Unfortunately, the Nexus has a crappy camera and less-than-best components all-around. Of these three Android phones, the worst phone handset gives the best experience because the user interface is optimized to access Google’s killer Internet-based services rapidly, including Google Now, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google+, YouTube, Google Drive and all the other usual Google suspects. Note that Google’s version of all these services are significantly better than Apple’s alternatives, except for the social network and video service which Apple doesn’t have. Yes, you can use all things on Apple, but the integration with the phone and with each other is far higher on the Nexus. Of course, some Apple fanboys will want me shot for treason. I would have agreed with you a month ago. But I’ve been using the Nexus 4 as an experiment for the past three weeks, and I can tell you as an iPhone loving fanboy that the Nexus was something of a thrill to use because of the integration of Google apps — especially Google Now. Here’s the event that changes everything: On June 26, Google will start selling an unlocked “Google Edition” of the Samsung Galaxy S4 on the Play Store for the same price as an unlocked iPhone: $649. This phone will be plastic and ugly and, as an Android device, offer an inferior user interface and App Store. But it will provide a much better overall user experience because of the integration with and of Google services. (A “Google Edition” of the HTC One is rumored.) This is the new reality that Apple must come to grips with: The days when Apple had the only great hardware and App Store are over. And the days when hardware and apps determined the overall user experience more than services are also over. Apple has got to step up its game

For only US$0.99, the OS X Farensius app is just adorable. It adds a current weather indicator to your menu bar, and offers an optional 5-day forecast in its drop-down. It's exactly what I've been missing on my desktop. I have it set to update every five minutes, and with a tiny glance up and to the right, I can keep track of the current temperature. Farensius is one of two related apps. Its big brother, Farensius Desktop ($1.99) adds the forecast to your desktop wallpaper. For me, my bland white desktop background is a necessity -- so I'm sticking with the basic app for now. Those looking for a whimsical weather-themed backdrop, however, will enjoy this. Not everything was, unfortunately -- and if you forgive the pun, sunny. Farensius Desktop struggled with my multi-monitor set-up, insisting on placing its background only on my secondary monitor. What's more, when I tried adding custom backdrops, the app crashed several times. I had no issues with the menu-bar-only version, which is even now running on my desktop.Farensius adds weather to your Mac menu bar originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dungeonland—a cooperative action game that sends three players to a theme park made specifically for heroic adventurers—has new features for the brave gamer. It now features an achievement-style Star System and Infinite Dungeon mode (a never-ending level that challenges visitors to keep fighting and looting until they die), and it’s now available on the Mac. You can play as the rogue, the warrior, or the mage and work together as a team to get past the evil overseer of this tragic kingdom: the Dungeon Maestro. Or, you can take on the role of the Dungeon Maestro and wreak havoc on your friends with killer rabbits, drop some exploding frogs in their path, or whip up a…Continue reading Dungeonland is now open for OS X gamersRelated posts:Crusader Kings II takes Mac gamers to Medieval EuropeAppidemic: Elven Legacy Collection for OS XLeviathan: Warships is a turn-based tactics game for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android

Yahoo has reportedly entered a bid to buy Internet television service Hulu, according to reports. The web giant submitted a bid for Hulu on Friday, sources tell AllThingsD, though the dollar figure for Yahoo's bid was unknown. Should Yahoo win the bidding process, Hulu would mark the second large acquisition the company has made since CEO Marissa Mayer came to the helm of the firm....

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