What will be new in iOS 6

As is always the case with every Apple event, there's really no way we can know what the company will announce at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference keynote next Monday, June 11.  Apple is set to show off its latest mobile operating system next week, iOS 6. According to reports, Apple will focus primarily on major improvements to apps, while most functions of iOS will remain unchanged. iPad 3 owners will be happy to know that Siri is expected to launch on their devices with the release of iOS 6. So what does iOS 6 have in store for the rest of us?

• Camera and Photos App Upgrades
  Perhaps to dovetail with expected iPhone 5 camera improvements, Apple will make significant changes to iOS 6 default Camera and Photos apps. Not only will videos synchronize with iCloud, but photo sharing and social networking functionality will be added to the apps. Apple will also add Facebook sharing functions directly into the apps for easy posting to friends.

• Do Not Disturb
  Notifications will feature a simple toggle to indicate the iOS user does not want to be bothered. This is different from silencing the device or entering Airplane Mode. A do not disturb switch could hide all incoming notifications and cut off sounds until a later time, after the user switches the mode off to catch up.

• Facebook Integration
  System-wide Facebook integration was rumored in previous versions of iOS, but now the addition is confirmed for iOS 6. Apple has made a deal with Facebook to add the social networking service to iOS much like Twitter came to us in iOS 5. Expect similar functionality, with Facebook features starting small and ramping up over time.

• Google Maps Replaced by Apple 3D Maps
  Believe it or not, Apple is ditching Google Maps with iOS 6 and replacing the Maps app with its own mapping software developed in-house. These maps include fully 3D renderings of places and may even include turn-by-turn navigation instructions. The new Maps is certain to be a major focus of Apple's demos at WWDC next week.

• Mail VIPs
  Several Mail app improvements are coming your way. Most notable is an iCloud-synced list of VIPs that would screen your email automatically. Messages coming from a VIP will be starred so they can be easily found among other incoming mail.

• Redesigned Stores
  The App Store, iBookstore and iTunes Stores will all get redesigns. Besides Facebook integration coming to the iTunes Store, other social features will accomodate content sharing and interaction across the board. The new designs are also intended to improve the purchasing experience, and are expected to land on Apple's Mac OS X stores after the iOS 6 launch.

• Safari iCloud Tabs Support / Omnibar
  Mobile Safari web browsing will get more convenient, with an iCloud Tabs button provided on iOS 6 devices. Clicking the button will sync your browser tabs to iCloud, so they can be picked up later on another mobile device or a Mac OS X computer. Also, Safari will get an all-in-one search/address bar just like Chrome. Pretty handy.

• Siri Improvements
  Apple is always working to make Siri better, but there have been sporadic reports that the company plans to allow third-party app developers to interact with Siri's servers. This could provide a whole new take on what makes Siri useful with new apps across the board. Although this feature is not certain, we can be sure Apple will improve Siri beyond simply letting iPad 3 owners in on the fun.

New and secure Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4

Apple has released a new version of OS X Lion: 10.7.4, bringing an updated Safari as well as the usual bug squashes and stability improvements.

The 730MB update also fixed the FileVault bug, which in certain cases left your login credentials out in the open.

The new Safari 5.1.6 doesn’t bring any important new features, except for stability improvements.

Other improvements include better Internet sharing of PPPoE connections, RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras, and a fix for the issue in which the “Reopen windows when logging back in” setting is always enabled.

To download the update, choose Software Update from the Apple menu.

You can find the full list of fixes and improvements here.

[Courtesy: Mashable]

Apple releases FLashback fix for OS X Leopard

After issuing similar fixes for Lion and Snow Leopard in April, Apple has now released an Flashback removal security update for OS X Leopard.

Apple describes the update as follows: “This update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware. If the Flashback malware is found, a dialog will notify you that malware was removed. In some cases, the update may need to restart your computer in order to completely remove the Flashback malware.”

Flashback is a malicious program which uses a Java vulnerability to track Mac users. At one point, more than 600,000 Macs were estimated to be infected.

The 1.23MB Flashback removal update can be found here.

Apple also released a 1.11MB Leopard update which disables versions of Adobe Flash Player which don’t have the latest security updates. You can find this update here.

[Courtesy: Mashable]

Galaxy S3 photogallery

Samsung Galaxy SIII has been launched in 145 countries, on 296 mobile operators around the world making it the biggest launch in Samsung history. Here is the Photo gallery. You can view the entire album here.

GALAXY S3 Official video

Read entire Samsung Galaxy S3 news here. Galaxy S3 photo gallery can be found here

GALAXY S3 Finally Unveiled

Finally, Samsung has released the most awaited Galaxy S3.

We’ve been hearing the rumors for months, and now Samsung has gotten official with the newest member of its Galaxy line of smartphones, the Galaxy S III.

Samsung announced the most anticipated Android handset of the year Thursday at an event in London. The phone is the third-generation in a line of popular smartphones created by Samsung.

The phone has a 4.8-inch touchscreen, 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.9-megapixel forward-facing camera, and comes running the latest version of Android — Ice Cream Sandwich. Much like the HTC One X, the camera has zero shutter lag so you can capture photos instantly. The camera is also capable of taking 20 photos at once in burst mode, and a feature called “Best Photo” will pick the best shot out of a group of eight.

The NFC-capable Galaxy S III has a Super AMOLED HD (1280×720) screen, offering more subpixels than other screens, resulting in improved colors as well as better visibility in bright situations.

New Features

A new feature called ‘Smart Stay’ on the phone detects your voice and motions, and recognizes how you are using the phone –for instance reading an e-book or browsing the web –and keeps the phone on while you’re using it. So, if you’re reading a book you don’t have to worry about having to constantly wake the screen up.

If you’re texting someone and decide to call them instead, a feature called ‘Direct Call’ will call that person as soon as you lift your phone to your ear.

A new feature called 'S Voice’ enables the phone to listen an respond to your words, and provides Siri-like search and voice control. You can ask the phone to “snooze” when your alarm goes off in the morning and you need a few more Zs, can be used to play your favorite songs, turn the volume up or down, send text messages and emails, organize your schedules, or automatically launch the camera and capture a photo.

A feature called 'Buddy Photo' Share will recognize your friends faces in a photo, and offer to send them the photo automatically.

With the Galaxy S III Samsung is unveiling a new ‘S Beam’ which expands on Android Beam, allowing you to share a 1GB mobile file with a friend in just 3 minutes, or transfer a 10MB music file in just 2 seconds—without using WiFi or a cellular signal – by tapping your phone together with another Galaxy S III.

A feature called “AllShare Cast” lets you connect your Galaxy S III wirelessly to your television to view content. The service can also be used to share files between your galaxy S II and your tablet, PC, and televisions regardless of the distance between the devices.

The Galaxy S III will be available in 145 countries, on 296 mobile operators around the world., making it the most largest launch in Samsung history. Available in ‘Pebble Blue’ and ‘Marble White,’ the phone will be available from the end of May in Europe before rolling out to other markets globally this summer.

Read specs and review on GSMArena [direct link]

[Source: Mashable]

Spotify has come to iPad

Spotify has received plenty of attention since it arrived 10 months ago in the US, and it was already quite popular in Europe prior to that. But they are far form being alone in the music streaming market, with Rhapsody, Slacker, Pandora, Rdio, MOG, and a few others battling it out for a piece of the pie.

Spotify users are finally getting the native iPad application they've been clamoring for some time. The app is available for free on the App Store, but like the company's existing mobile apps, it requires a $9.99 per month Premium subscription to use. That said, those without a Premium subscription can still try it free for 48 hours and also sign up for a further 30-day trial if they haven't done so in the past.

As you would expect, the app is optimized for the new iPad's Retina display and makes use of the extra screen real estate with high-resolution cover art images that can be scanned with a swipe, as well as menus and playlists presented in a layered UI that's somewhat reminiscent of Twitter for iPad.

Spotify for the iPad also comes with gapless playback and crossfade, two features the streaming music service launched in February, while supporting Apple's AirPlay technology for streaming music on compatible iOS devices and speaker systems. Check out the promo video above for a quick glimpse at some of these features.

The company wouldn't comment on whether an Android tablet version will follow any time soon.

For those unfamiliar with the service, Spotify offers free, ad-supported music streaming on the desktop from a catalog of over 17 million tracks. A $4.99 monthly plan gets rid of the ads and playback limitations, while the $9.99 per month plan enables streaming from mobile phones, tablets and other compatible devices.