iTunes 10.6 now available for download, includes support for 1080p videos

March 7th, 2012, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

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AppleCare+ extended to new iPad, adds two years of support for a fee

March 7th, 2012, 23:29 Posted By: wraggster

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Android Market rebranded as Google Play

March 7th, 2012, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

A new consolidated media hub called Google Play has replaced the search engine giant’s Android Marketplace service.From today, Android smartphones will connect to the Google Play store when their users choose to go shopping.Google Play also combines several other entertainment services into its online network, such as books, music and movies. The service is elementally Google’s fully-branded alternative to iTunes, accessible to most existing Android devices.Purchased games will automatically be carried over between services, Google said.http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/andro...le-play/092380

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iOS game Mass Effect: Infiltrator gets £34.99 DLC

March 7th, 2012, 23:21 Posted By: wraggster

Consumers are clearly winning to pay in excess of £40 for a copy of Mass Effect 3, but are they willing to do the same for its companion iOS title?
EA certainly hopes so. Mass Effect: Infiltrator was released on iPhone and iPad yesterday. It costs £4.99 to download.
However, as spotted by Eurogamer, the title also offers an array of in-app purchase options. And the most expensive one weighs in at an eye-watering £34.99.
For the money players will receive 200,000 in-game credits that can be spent on an assortment of digital goodies such as weapons and armour.
Credits can be earned in-game, of course, though at a far slower rate.
Other options for those who’d prefer to buy their success range from 75,000 credits for £17.49 all the way down to 2,500 credits for £1.49.
Mass Effect 3, which offers a certain amount of interactivity with ME: Infiltrator, will be released in the UK this Friday.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ios-g...-99-dlc/092387

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Single US store stocks Apple TV ahead of iPad reveal

March 7th, 2012, 21:58 Posted By: wraggster

Imminent iPad 3 announcement sees set-top box unavailable for immediate pick-up

The Apple TV is out of stock at all official Apple stores other than in South Hills Village, Pittsburgh, according to a report.
Macrumours claims that with the anticipated iPad 3 announcement just hours away, and speculation a new Apple TV will also be shown, stores are reporting a the product is unavailable for immediate pickup.

The device is still available for advanced order however, although customers may have to wait up to delays of around a week to get their hands on the set-top box.
International stores are still quoting ‘in stock’ although the site reports that there are still some shipping delays of up to four days in countries such as the UK, Ireland and Norway.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...ingle-US-store

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Apple unveils new iPad for March 16th release

March 7th, 2012, 21:50 Posted By: wraggster

Latest tablet to include New 3.1 million pixel retina display, 1080p HD video recording and 4G internet connection

Apple has unveiled the third generation of the iPad to release as soon as next week on March 16th.
At a press conference in San Francisco, the tech giant claimed that its new tablet boasts a high resolution retina display of 3.1 million pixels, four times the number of pixels than the iPad 2, and “one million more than a HDTV�.

Other features include a five megapixel camera, iSight, offering the ability to record videos in 1080p HD, 4G internet connection, whilst also retaining a ten hour battery life.
The latest iPad is powered by a new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, which Apple claims is double the power of the previous A5 version, and four times is powerful as the Tegra 3.
“The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology,� said Apple’s SVP of worldwide marketing Philip Schiller.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...h-16th-release

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iPad 3: A resolutionary round-up of the news

March 7th, 2012, 21:42 Posted By: wraggster

Apple has made a raft of announcements, with the new iPad 3 taking centre stage.
If you weren't watching live, along with half of the technology world, here's a round-up of what we've found out so far.

• * There is a new iPad - woohoo!
• * It will be available from March 16th. Yes, including the UK.
• * It has what Apple calls a 'Breakthrough Retina display'. The device will have a hi-res secreen, with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels. Four times the pixels of the iPad 2, apparently.
• * It will have a 5-megapixel iSight camera with face detection that can record 1080p video.
• * It's got a better processor under its skin - the quad-core A5X.
• * Voice dictation is a new feature.
• * There's a new iPhoto app - a picture editor.
• * There have been updates to iMovie and GarageBand too - Apple is keen for users to film, edit and publish without having to leave the iPad.
• * Can act as a wi-fi hotspot for other devices.
• * Will be able to run on 4G networks where available.
• * Same battery life as on previous model whilst using 3G (slightly less on 4G).
• * Alongside shiny new features, the iPad 3 is also thicker and heavier than its predecessor.
• * It's called... drumroll please... the 'New iPad'.
• * The new iPad will start at £399 (for the 16GB, wi-fi version), up to £649 (for the 64GB, 3G/wi-fi version).
• * iPad 2 will continue to be sold at a reduced price.

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Apple to secure 70 per cent of world's tablet market with 'iPad 3'

March 7th, 2012, 21:41 Posted By: wraggster

Next generation device expected to drive total iPad shipments to 70m in 2012.
The tech world will wait with bated breath tonight as Apple holds a conference in San Francisco, which is expected to reveal the iPad 3, or alternatively, the iPad HD.
The firm held a 62 per cent share of the tablet market in 2011, which will grow to 70 per cent in 2012 when the iPad 3 is released, according to IMS Research.
The UK-based analyst says the iPad 3 will lead total iPad shipments to around 70 million, creating a 71 per cent year-on-year rise.
Apple's next-gen tablet is expected to include a quad-core processor, retina display, 8MP camera and 4G connectivity, which is what IMS says will help leave competition behind, despite an estimated price tag of $549.
Gerry Xu, PC market analyst, IMS Research, says: "There is a large customer base loyal to Apple products that have been waiting for the latest tablet. Many owners of the iPad 1 are also expected to upgrade to the latest release. In addition to this consumer demand, growth is also forecast as a result of sales into enterprise and education."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-ipad-3/017308

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52 percent of mobile app use is powered by gaming

March 7th, 2012, 21:39 Posted By: wraggster

Social networking is the nearest competitor with under a quarter share.
iOS and Android mobile devices have caused a fall in the sale of handheld games devices, so it's probably not such a large surprise that more that gaming accounts for over half of this year's 64 billion app sessions so far, across Apple and Google platforms.
While mobile gaming dominates, app analytics firm Flurry says social networking is the second most used app form with 22 per cent, presumably largely driven by the near half billion Facebook mobile users.
Additionally, game sessions across Android and iOS are expected to rise by more than 20 times in Q1 2012, compared to Q1 2010.
In Q1 2010, independent developers that started on iOS and Android were at 60 per cent, falling to 56 per cent in Q1 2011, rising again to a predicted 68 per cent.
The dip is put down to the consolidation of developers, though the emergence of new publishers is set to boost numbers again this quarter.
Earlier today, we reported that Google has renamed its Android Market as Google Play in an attempt to make the home of its games, movies and other apps seem more appealing, while trying to further compete with Apple's iTunes.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-gaming/017312

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App Of The Day: COMA

March 7th, 2012, 21:37 Posted By: wraggster

It's the Cost Of Meetings App, created to save businesses from unnecessary expenditure.
Marketing and tech agency LBi believes the meetings that businesses hold aren't always required, which is why it has launched the Cost Of Meetings App.
COMA has been designed to calculate the cost of running meetings, in order for firms to determine how much money they can save from cutting back on their group confabs.
Users need to enter the average hourly rate of the attendees in either sterling, dollars, or euros, the number of attendees and the app will then calculate the total the meeting has amounted to.
For example a meeting of three mid-level creative directors would cost around £600 per hour in billable hours or £10 per minute.
Chris Clarke, chief creative officer, LBi, said: “It’s frightening how much time we spend in meetings, the same is true of any business - the contention is of course that its often time wasted. Putting a value on this time is a real shocker, it will make you think twice before over-staffing a meeting or letting it drag on too far."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ay-coma/017313

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iPad 3: What to expect tomorrow

March 7th, 2012, 02:21 Posted By: wraggster

Wednesday March 7^th at 6:00pm GMT – that’s when we’ll finally find out what Apple has in store for the third generation of its iPad.
There are many sites devoted to nothing but Apple rumours, but for those without a spare two weeks to catch up with every morsel of information, here’s a run-down of what may (or may not) be on the cards for the new machine.
The only sure-fire bet is that the iPad 3 will have what Apple calls a ‘Retina Screen’. That means that, as with the iPhone 4 and 4S, pixel density will be so high that the human eye will be unable to see them individually, meaning rich and detailed visuals.
Specifically, you can be almost certain the resolution will be 2048x1536, taking it beyond 1080p territory.
It’s also a sure bet that the new A6 chip will be the brains behind the brawn. Whether or it will be a dual-core or quad-core version, however, seems more uncertain.
You can also expect the almost prerequisite camera upgrade, with the front-facing lens and sensor likely to be upgraded to HD quality. LTE network compatibility is a likelihood, too.
Beyond that we’re heading into more speculative waters.
Siri functionality is very possible, making the iPad 3 the first device aside from the iPhone 4S to feature the phone-activated assistant. But don’t expect any radical visual makeovers in terms of hardware – though speculation persists about the removal of the physical Home button.
We can also anticipate a global launch in key territories this month, perhaps as early as next week.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ipad-...omorrow/092306

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Google sharpens its memory, brings recent search history to Android and iOS

March 7th, 2012, 02:15 Posted By: wraggster

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After 25 billion downloads, Apple unveils the App Store's greatest hits

March 7th, 2012, 02:11 Posted By: wraggster

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GDC: PopCap hints at iPad HD reveal

March 7th, 2012, 02:04 Posted By: wraggster

During his GDC talk on Bejeweled Blitz, PopCap's franchise manager Giordano Bruno Contestabile hinted at the Apple news that everyone is expecting, the reveal of the iPad HD.
"I think that tomorrow every game developer will have to scramble to get a new higher res version of their Apple games on the store," he said, while discussing plans for the premium version of Bejeweled.
"It will be very important to do so, and that's something we absolutely want to address."
GDC is currently wild with rumours about the Apple event tomorrow, with the iPad HD at the centre of discussions.
The comments came as Contestabile was talking about the success of Bejeweled Blitz, and the challenges of releasing and managing a premium and a freemium product alongside each other.
He also compared the game's performance on iOS and Facebook, with surprising results.
"Every single important metric on iOS is performing 2X what it does on Facebook," he said.
This is despite the fact that the iOS version (which was launched some time after the Facebook version) has 33 users for every 100 Facebook users.
"People spend on average an hour playing Blitz on iPhone. In retention, percentage of paying users, they're all double."
He said this was partly due to the omnipresent nature of mobile, and gave out a statistic that 20 per cent of mobile gaming happens on the toilet, but also the bite size nature of the game. He also suggested that Apple's billing system was a crucial factor, every player already has a credit card attached to the game, making smaller purchases easier.
Bejeweled Blitz currently has around 10.8 million monthly active users on Facebook and is at number 13 in the chart for top grossing iPhone apps. Contestabile predicted this would rise to top five tomorrow with the release of a new promotion for the game.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ipad-hd-reveal

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X Server Now Available For Android

March 7th, 2012, 01:51 Posted By: wraggster

The open-source X Server for Android has hit beta and is now available for download through the Android Market. On Australian networks at least, smartphones are assigned publicly-accessible IP addresses, so it should be possible to display many Linux applications on an Android smartphone simply by setting the DISPLAY environment variable to the phone's IP address followed by:0"The source is available under the MIT license (or Apache; the project page and story disagree) over at Google Code. It doesn't support all of the X protocol and there's no Xlib implementation (i.e. no X11 apps on the device yet except via the NDK if you're lucky), but it is a reimplementation of the X server in Java for Android. You can run remote applications at least.

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/03...le-for-android

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Google, Motorola Ordered To Provide Android Info To Apple

March 7th, 2012, 01:48 Posted By: wraggster

A U.S. judge has ordered Motorola Mobility and Google to turn over information to Apple on Google's acquisition in 2005 of Android, its development of the Android OS and the proposed acquisition of Motorola. According to Motorola, the information Apple seeks regarding Google's acquisition of Motorola and Android is not relevant to any damages asserted in the case."This comes alongside news that Apple has offered licensing deals to Motorola and Samsung that would resolve some of the patent litigation. Apple is reportedly asking for $5-$15 per device sold.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...-info-to-apple

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Maximum Android app size rises 8,000% to 4gb

March 7th, 2012, 01:38 Posted By: wraggster

File limit expanded to make room for 'high-quality 3D interactive games'

Google has extended the maximum size limit for Android apps up 8,000 per cent from 50mb to 4gb.
Revealing the move on the Android developers blog, the move has been made to accommodate “high-quality 3D interactive games� that require more resources than typical apps.

APK files will still be limited to 50mb, but up to two expansion files can be attached, with a limit of 2gb each. All files would be hosted by the Android Market.
New Android devices will pick up the expansion files automatically, whilst users on older systems must start the app to download them.
“While you can use the two expansion files any way you wish, we recommend that one serve as the initial download and be rarely if ever updated; the second can be smaller and serve as a ‘patch carrier’, getting versioned with each major release,� read a statement on the blog.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...es-8000-to-4gb

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Google bundles content under new Play brand

March 7th, 2012, 01:32 Posted By: wraggster

Internet giant Google announced that the Android Market would be renamed as the service is brought under the umbrella of a new Google Play brand.
Google described Google Play as a "digital entertainment destination" which will incorporate the Android Market, Google eBookstore and the cloud-based Google Music service.
Despite the brand consolidation, not all of Google Play will be available in each territory - most notably Google Play Music will remain a US exclusive. Other than the rebrand under the bland generic name and a new coloured triangle logo, little will change.
We speculate that one of the reasons Google has done this is to bundle also-ran services such as Google Music with the star performers such as the Android Marketplace. By lumping it all under one banner, Google might be in a better position to convince record labels to climb on board to launch Google Play Music worldwide.
That said, right now Play to most consumers will mean music. The one thing Google Play doesn't offer to Google's worldwide audience.
Google's marketing video suggests that the rebrand also aims to compete better with Apple, focusing on cloud-based storage.
"No cables, no syncing, no storage costs. Just pure entertainment," concludes the Google Play video advert.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...y-brand/028046

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Samsung reveals Galaxy Pocket smartphone

March 7th, 2012, 01:30 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung's Pocket is the newest device to join the burgeoning Galaxy series. The Android Gingerbread-powered phone is smaller than the top-end devices and features a 2.8-inch touchscreen.
Additionally, the Pocket comes with Samsung's instant messenger ChatON, which enables group chatting, content sharing and one-on-one messaging. The Pocket's Social Hub allows users to see IMs, social networks and emails in one inbox.
Other features include:
* 3GB – expandable to 32GB
* In-built FM radio
* Wi-fi and 3.5G connectivity
* 2MP camera
Simon Stanford, VP, UK & IRE telecommunications & networks division, Samsung: "With the Samsung Galaxy Pocket, we are building on the features we know our customers enjoy and get the most out of.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...rtphone/017289

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Tablet wars: iPad restricts Android tablet market share to five per cent

March 7th, 2012, 01:27 Posted By: wraggster

Apple destroys competition with almost three-quarters of the market.
Tomorrow Apple will hold a conference for what is expected to be theunveiling of the iPad 3, but in the meantime, research from Forrester shows the popularity of Apple's tablet, which dominates with a 73 per cent share of the tablet market.
While Android-powered tablets are the second most used after iOS, no Android tablet maker has more than a five per cent share against the iPad with Samsung on five per cent, Motorola on four per cent and Acer on three per cent.
Unless, of course, you include the now defunct HP TouchPad, which was reduced to $99 on its way out, helping it to secure six per cent of the market.
However, the data was found in September 2011, before Amazon and Barnes & Noble had released their respective Android-powered Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet (both launched in November). This is a significant point to highlight, given that the Kindle Fire currently occupies the number two tablet spot after selling a reported four million devices.
In a telephone interview, Sarah Rotman Epps, analyst, Forrester, said: "Tablets are about services. That is where Amazon has succeeded where others have failed."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...er-cent/017293

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