A “Facebook phone” is one of the longest-running rumors in the technology world, but a number of observers think such a beast is actually going to make an appearance next week. But do users actually want one? Read more »
Apple continues to tweak the upcoming version of its Mac desktop operating system, OS X Mountain Lion. The changes made recently to the developer preview are good indications of what we’ll see when the final version goes live this summer. Here’s an overview of those changes. Read more »
Microsoft debuted its Windows 8 Consumer Preview on Wednesday at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona. Although people think “desktop” when they hear Windows, there are several mobile features to be found in Windows 8 that will get Microsoft back in the tablet game. Read more »
Rapid adoption of OS X Mountain Lion would clearly threaten Microsoft. But after digging into Apple’s new operating system, Edward Aten of Swift.fm thinks it poses a threat to another, less obvious, company — the current leader in the consumer cloud, Facebook. Read more »
Path has updated its app for the iPhone with the debut Wednesday of version 2.0.5. The key new part of the update is the addition of a new effect called “Depth” that brings what’s known as tilt-shift capabilities to Path’s photo taking feature. Read more »
A week ago, it seemed like Google TV was back on track after announcing new partners. But if Google finally is gaining the trust and support of the consumer electronics industry, there was little evidence of it at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Read more »
Delivering on a promise, HTC is offering a software tool to unlock its Android devices that launched after Sept. 2011, allowing users to install custom software. The supported phone list doesn’t include AT&T or Verizon models, but the tool is working on some from these carriers. Read more »
The Samsung Galaxy S smartphone and Tab slate won’t see an upgrade to Android 4.0, leaving owners to decide between buying a newer device, sticking with Android 2.3 or installing a custom build of Google’s latest mobile operating system. Here’s a suggestion to make everyone happy. Read more »
Apple won a victory against HTC on Monday that could signal the beginning of a long war of attrition between iOS and Google, and a new patent granted to Apple Tuesday potentially gives it more ammunition to chip away at the Android user experience. Read more »
Viewsonic launched its ViewPad 10pro tablet, a unique slate supporting both Google Android and Microsoft Windows 7. Android apps run in a unique virtualization mode, so there’s no need to shut down Windows to use mobile apps. But at this price, the display resolution is lacking. Read more »
Joyent has open-sourced its cloud operating system. Called SmartOS and already utilized in Joyent’s public cloud and SmartDataCenter private-cloud software, it will be available via an open-source license much like the Joyent-led Node.js effort is, says Joyent CTO Jason Hoffmann. Read more »
Skype just dropped an update for its Mac client. Version 5.3 includes support for HD video, so long as your Mac is equipped with one of the new FaceTime HD cameras introduced in MacBook Pros earlier this year, or a third-party camera that supports HD resolution. Read more »
Folks experiencing a major laptop crash might be dead in the water: Without operating system DVDs and an optical drive, it’s a potential problem. IsoStick, a Kickstarter project, aims to solve this issue with a small flash drive that appears as an optical drive to computer. Read more »
The wait is over. Lion is here. But are you (and your Mac) prepared? Here are five things you need to really, really need to do before you upgrade to Mac OS 10.7 (and links on how to do them). Read more »
When you’re getting ready for a major OS upgrade — say, from Snow Leopard to Lion — it helps to know the exact specs of the Mac that you have. Here’s a simple way to figure it out, plus a list of resources to get additional help. Read more »
With the next major release of Mac OS X, 10.7 Lion, on the way, it’s a good idea to start preparing your Mac for the transition soon. Here are some steps to make sure your Mac is ready for Lion. Read more »
OS X Lion is set to arrive sometime this month, and new reports suggest that it could be here as soon as next Wednesday at 9 AM. Will you be buying when it does arrive, and if not, why are you unsure about upgrading? Read more »
Apple’s iOS (software and devices) is responsible for about 75 percent of Apple’s profits as of last quarter, while OS X is responsible for only about 20 percent, according to a new report from market intelligence firm Asymco. Still, the Mac is doing better than ever. Read more »
In my recent post about pairing SSD and HDD storage in a Mac, I used a little-known command line feature to redirect some of my user folders between the drives. I’m talking about symlinks, which can be a very powerful tool for Mac users. Read more »
In addition to the numerous refinements that Snow Leopard brings, among the first you’ll notice is an easier installation experience. Some options that experienced Apple users have come to know and love have been changed or relocated, resulting in an experience that is far less intimidating […] Read more »
