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Tuesday, December 31, 2013
LG's new Windows 8 PCs include Tab-Book 2 sliders, 'ultra' laptop and an all-in-one
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Windows 8 tablets show system's potential
Desktop users have grumbled about the "live tile" interface to Windows 8, but that's because it was designed for touch screens that most desktop and laptop users don't yet own. The live tile interface is admittedly, less than perfect for use with a mouse, which is why most desktop users want to go straight past the live tile start screen to the traditional Windows desktop. But when you use Windows 8 and the apps designed for it on a tablet, you see, immediately, how it's supposed to work. The gestures are a lot more intuitive and easy to remember on a touch screen.
The Nokia Lumia 2520, which I got to try out for a week recently thanks to AT&T, is such a device. It runs full Windows 8, which means it's basically a PC in tablet form. You can play with it like a tablet, but you can also click through to a genuine Windows desktop and run real Microsoft Office, or just about any of your favorite Windows apps that can be downloaded onto the machine.
Windows Phone 8 on the Nokia Lumia 920 potentially jailbroken
The idea with this jailbreak is that a third-party store could be included on devices letting people install non-approved apps, and there's a possibility for registry editing, device customization and the modification of low-level OS settings. In many ways the jailbreak would be similar to those available for iOS, like the recent one we saw for iOS 7.
At this stage there are no details on how the Windows Phone 8 jailbreak was accomplished. Users might potentially be able to install the jailbreak through running some software on a PC, but there's a chance something more complex might be required, like a JTAG with hardware access.
Apple Granted 43 Patents Today Covering the MacBook Pro's Unibody Design, a Micro SIM Smart Card and Much More
On New Year's Eve 2013, the US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 43 newly granted patents for Apple. In our overview summary of today's granted patents, we specifically cover five inventions including Apple's unibody MacBook Pro, their Micro SIM smart card and more. We also cover two design patents and conclude our report with our traditional list of the remaining patents that were granted to Apple today for those wishing to explore them further.
Apple Granted Patent for the Unibody MacBook Pro
Apple has been granted a patent today for systems and methods relating to creation of their lightweight and durable MacBook Pro having a thin unibody top case and thin profile. The design provides structural support that distributes applied loads through the top case preventing warping and bowing.
How to watch Google Play videos on your iOS device
Apple has iTunes, Google has Play, and never the twain shall meet, right? Especially when it comes to sharing videos between the two platforms.
Surprise, surprise: If you've purchased a movie or TV show from the Google Play store, it's actually possible to view it on your iOS device -- no jailbreaking or other hoop-jumping required. Here's how:
Step 1: Install the YouTube app on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.
Step 2: Run the app and sign into your YouTube account (which is the same as your Google/Gmail account).
Step 3: Tap the menu button in the top-left corner, or simply swipe to the right to reveal the menu.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Solitaire, Mahjong and Minesweeper games launched for Windows Phone 8 devices
You know some computer runs Windows if it comes with Solitaire and Minesweeper (and Mahjong) preloaded. As Microsoft is turning attention to mobile, it decided to launch the three popular games for Windows Phone 8.
As you would imagine, all three games are modified to work with touch interface and come with Xbox integration. This means you can earn achievements, compete with friends, submit scores to the leaderboards, and track your personal gameplay statistics. In addition, you are free to pause game at any moment and resume it on some other device.
Alleged Nokia Lumia 920 jailbreak promises a lot for Windows Phone 8
The Windows Phone 8 community has lacked the widespread options and support for unofficial tweaks and hacks seen on Android and iOS, but a developer has posted video of what they claim is a jailbreak that could lay the groundwork for offering that support.
Poandsoul claims to have jailbroken a Nokia Lumia 920. The claim has yet to be verified and he says he will not post the method for breaking the locks around the device until he feels confident that he can minimize piracy, so don't think you can change things right away. Poandsoul also plans to create a Cydia-esque store that could be bundled with the jailbreak and distribute software that is not sanctioned to go into the standard Windows Phone store, so this seems to be a work in progress.
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Google’s Chromebook Outsells Apple’s MacBook In US In 2013, But iPad Leads Tablet Sales
This year saw 25 percent more desktops, notebooks and tablets sold in the U.S. compared to last year, but it was not a pleasant one for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). The company’s flagship MacBook computers were outsold by Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Chromebooks in the U.S., and the iPad lost market share to its Android and Windows counterparts, according to a new report from the NPD Group.
The data in the report, published by the New York-based market research company, showed that a total of 14.4 million desktops, notebooks and tablets were sold in the U.S. in 2013. Overall, Chromebooks and Android-powered tablets collectively had the biggest impact on this jump -- selling 1.76 million units -- from January through November of this year, while Apple’s MacBook and iPad lines lost market share during the same period.
Archos announces iOS-compatible smart watches, health trackers & connected home devices
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The new Archos connected objects are compatible with devices running both Apple's iOS mobile operating system, as well as Google's Android platform. They connect to smartphones and tablets through Bluetooth Low Energy, and are "aimed at enhancing connectivity at home and improving personal health and well-being," the company said.
Most notably, Archos said it plans to unveil a "selection of smart watches" at CES 2014, with pricing starting under $50. The company said the wrist-worn accessories will feature a "pebble-like design."
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Fitbit's latest iOS update turns the iPhone 5S into a fitness tracker
Fitbit has updated its iOS app with a new feature called MobileTrack, which promises "basic" activity tracking on iPhone 5S even if you don't currently own a Fitbit device. MobileTrack likely taps into Apple's M7 chip — exclusive to the iPhone 5S (and new iPads) — which keeps track of a user's movements and allows easy retrieval of that data without sacrificing battery life. For Fitbit, direct on-device tracking serves as a powerful counterpunch to other iOS fitness apps that require no extra hardware.
It's also an enticing way to bring new customers into the Fitbit ecosystem; users can sample Fitbit's app before spending money on a dedicated tracker. Nike has adopted a similar strategy with the launch of Nike+ Move for iOS. The app offers an easy way to get started with Nike's fitness platform — even if you're reluctant to spend $150 on a FuelBand. In both cases, the hope is that users will eventually buy into the more advanced hardware. To see what else is new in Fitbit's latest iOS update, head over to the App Store now.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Windows 8.1 Update and Microsoft’s Worrying Plans
Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade for Windows 8 users, but $120 and up if bought brand new.
The new yearly Windows release cycle means that changes are necessary, but Windows needs to remain a big moneymaker for Microsoft. They should include about 5 years of free upgrades with any new Windows device or license sold, and maybe $25-30 or so yearly upgrades if you want to keep upgrading a device beyond that. If you want to start fresh with a new, non-upgrade copy, then the $120 price can remain in place but would then include the 5 years of upgrades.
This is the best way because I am sure that if each yearly upgrade were sold independently, as Apple has done until this point, most people would be running old software very quickly. They wouldn’t buy the upgrades even if they were as cheap as $20. However you can usually count on them buying a new device within 5 years or so.
The Best Phones and Tablets for Windows 8
When Windows 7 phones first launched back in 2010, there was little hope that it would beat out Android or the ever popular iOS since they had already had years to develop and perfect their products and marketing strategy.
But now, with the newest Windows 8 phones and tablets, there is hope yet that Microsoft will overcome their competition. The Windows 8 operating system was made specifically for mobile devices but, of course, it is also compatible to be used on the latest personal computers. Now that more and more new PCs are getting touch screen technology, the limits of the ordinary personal computer are far from what you are used to. The bottom line — you need to check out these new Windows 8 phones and tablets!
Acer's 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet called Iconia W4 now available for purchase
Back in October of this year, Acer unveiled a new 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet that features a slim and lightweight design and powered by Intel's Atom 1.8 GHz processor. You can now purchase the Acer Iconia W4 tablet on Amazon for $380 (64GB model) while the availability of the 32GB model is unknown at this time.
"The Iconia W4 features a slim and lightweight design at only 0.91 pounds and only 0.42 inches thick. On the inside, the Iconia W4 comes powered using 4th Generation Intel Atom 1.8 GHz processor giving this little tablet fantastic performance with up to 10 hours of battery life (8 hours if you’re watching a bunch of videos)," Microsoftoriginally stated in an official blog post back in October.
The tablet features a 1280x800 resolution and a 2MP 1080P front facing camera and a 5MP rear camera with autofocus that supports 720p/1080p at 60 FPS/30 FPS. There is also a micro-HDMI port and a micro-USB port. Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 is also pre-installed. The device also comes with 2GB of RAM.
Welcome to Windows 8
Hello and welcome to Windows 8, the new PC operating system from Microsoft. Now that you’ve successfully installed our new system – perhaps on the third or fourth attempt (sorry about that J) – we’d like to give you a quick tour of its many amazing new features and applications. Let’s get started, shall we?
As soon as you launch Windows 8 for the first time, one new thing you’ll notice right away is that your computer is now completely fucked up. Don’t worry. Shortly after we rolled it out several months ago, some minor technical glitches were discovered, which we quickly resolved in an update to all users.
U.S. Tablet Sales Led by iPad in 2013 as Chromebooks Overtake MacBooks
Meanwhile, sales of Chromebooks in the United States grew to 9.6% in 2013, surpassing the 1.8% share of unit sales held by Apple notebooks. Windows notebooks still held on to 34.1% of the market, but was down 8.8% from the 42.9% share it held last year.
The news follows a report in October stating that Mac sales were down 7% year-over-year for the full September quarter, as the decline of traditional PC sales as a whole is likely due in part to the rising popularity of tablets.
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Mac-Only iOS 6.1.3, iOS 6.1.4 Jailbreak Tool Set For Imminent Release
There may indeed be a jailbreak solution for iOS 7, but those running iOS 6.1.3 and iOS 6.1.4 are still waiting for a long anticipated release from iOS hackers @winocm and @iH8sn0w. Now, however, the latter hacker has announced that a Mac-only jailbreak solution for iOS 6.1.3 and iOS 6.1.4 is set to be released in the coming hours, noting that a Windows-compatible solution will be available a few days after.
First, @iH8sn0w noted in a Twitter update: “Lots of work done today. Judging by things, it will initially be a Mac-only release. Windows will be pushed days later.” From here, however, the hacker published an update in the last hour featuring the single word, “Tonight.” The indication, then, is that the iOS 6.1.3 and iOS 6.1.4 jailbreak solution, which @iH8sn0w co-developed alongside @winocm, is set to be released in the coming hours.
A month on Android, instead of iOS
This is a guest post by venture capitalist Brad Feld.
I’m going to spend January using an Android phone and tablet instead of my iPhone and iPad. My Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 are charged up and ready to go – all I need is a SIM card.
I’ve been an iPhone user since I ditched my HTC Dash running some version of Windows Mobile 6 oh so many years ago. I’ve struggled with battery life, broken screens, water damage, and this insatiable urge to upgrade to the latest iPhone the day it comes out. When I travel overseas, I’ve gone completely off the rails trying to figure out how to get a SIM that works even in an unlocked iPhone 4. But, overall the iPhone has been good to me and the companies I invest in.
Facebook Update Rolled Out for Windows 8.1 Users
New features include New Stories and 320 snap view
Windows 8.1 users who spend a lot of time on Facebookwill be delighted to find the social networking app has been updated with a slew of additional features. Given the fact that Windows apps often go ahead and complete updates in the background, these new features may come as a surprise to some users, but for the unenlightened, we'll outline what you can expect the next time you get the urge to look at photos of babies and cats. That's what Facebook is now, right?
The latest version of the Windows 8.1 Facebook app includes New Stories notifications to alert you when something new is going on, the option to create new albums straight from your Photos page. You can also utilize the 320 snap view for the app and a smileys sticker pack for messaging. Editing posts has been streamlined, as well as which news items show up in your timeline. If you've already read it, the update will also endeavor to delete older posts to de-clutter.
All in all, it sounds like a pretty efficient update for heavy Facebook users. Will you be checking it out to see if your overall social networking experience has been improved?
Nextgen Reader for Windows Phone 8 is free for one day, grab it while it's hot
For those that did not know, Nextgen Reader is a fast, clean and beautiful RSS reader app for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 that even has Feedly support. For one day only, you can snag Nextgen Reader for your Windows Phone 8 device for free. Grab it while its hot!
"Clean, beautiful & simple design, inspired from Windows Phone with offline support, multiple live tiles, image caching and a lot more. Dynamic subscriptions hub with featured section to find latest and popular feeds. Always read full articles without clutter (powered by Readability). Watch YouTube videos and share news on your social networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc.). Save articles to Instapaper, Pocket & Readability for reading later," the app description reads.
Nextgen Reader for Windows Phone 8 is currently at version 5.32.0.0 and has over three thousand reviews, with the majority of reviews being four to five stars.
Microsoft releases three classic Windows time-wasters for Windows Phone 8
Microsoft released three games for its Windows Phone 8 platform today, each a classic, productivity-killing title familiar to longtime Windows PC users. Now available to download for free from the Windows Phone store are new versions ofMicrosoft Minesweeper, Microsoft Mahjong and the Microsoft Solitaire Collection.
Microsoft Solitaire Collection includes a variety of modes, including Klondike, Spider and FreeCell.
All three titles are Xbox Live compatible and feature achievements, leaderboards and, if you're having a particularly good game of Minesweeper, boast "Play, Pause,Resume" support for continuing a Windows Phone game on another compatible platform, like Windows 8.
Google Chromebooks are Amazon’s holiday best-sellers; top-selling MacBook is 15th
Two of the three best selling laptops at Amazon.com this holiday season were Google Chromebooks: the Acer C720 11.6-Inch Haswell/Celeron powered Chromebook at $199.00 and the base 11.6-inch Samsung Chromebook at $192. The third best-selling notebook was the hybrid ASUS Transformer Book listing at $424.99, and Acer’s C720P 11.6-inch touchscreen Chromebook at $299.99 was in fourth-place.
Chromebooks are clamshell laptops that run Google’s cloud-based operating system based on the Chrome browser, with most Chromebook models selling for less than Apple’s entry-level iPads, and Amazon’s two-bestsellers going for one-fifth the cost of Apple’s cheapest MacBook Air. You need an active Internet connection to do much of anything with a Chromebook, but for users like my wife—98-percent of whose computer use is for email, Web surfing and social networking—an Internet connection is necessary anyway, regardless of device.
iOS 7 Jailbreak: Reasons You Should Jailbreak Your iOS Device
The long wait is over as an official jailbreak for the iOS 7 has recently been released. However, it is still buggy and lacks the official Cydia support. Some suggested holding the jailbreak temporarily until the Cydia support is updated.
Although there is a myriad of reasons jailbreaking is a bad idea, here are some pros that might make you consider jailbreaking your device. In some cases, the pros might even outweigh the cons and while the process is risky, it is still quite beneficial.
Customizations
One of the main reasons users jailbreak their devices is that they want to customize and make their devices truly their own. Basically, the iOS is really not customizable but with a couple of jailbreak tweaks, you can already personalize your device based on your preference. However, although the iOS 7 is already made available, there are no tweaks yet for it.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Opinion: The new Mac Pro makes the iMac the power user's desktop
As the lucky guy who got to review the 2013 Mac Pro, I’ve spent quite a bit of time with it over the past week. You can read that review for my formal evaluation of Apple’s new flagship workstation, but one thing that struck me while testing the Mac Pro is that in addition to radically changing Apple’s professional desktop line, it also illustrates the changing face of “power-user” computing for Mac users.
It wasn’t very long ago that the performance gap between consumer-level processors, such as those used in the iMac and MacBook lines, and the higher-end processors used by the Mac Pro line was vast. Affordable hard drives couldn’t yet provide the massive storage capacities we see today. And the performance of integrated GPUs (and even some consumer-level discrete GPUs) was relatively poor. As a result, if you wanted a really powerful computer, or one with a lot of storage, or one that could handle the latest games, you looked to the Mac Pro line—even if you never planned to work with video, perform 3-D rendering, or do scientific modeling. The Mac Pro, despite its name, was as much a computer for power users (including many performance-hungry home users) as it was for people doing “real”
This Year's 20 Must-Have Mac OS X Utilities
1Password ($49.99): After Dropbox, 1Password is the second application I usually install on every new device. The best password manager out there. Simply perfect.
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How to Set Up a New MacBook Pro or MacBook Air
People who received a new MacBook as gift or for themselves will need to set things up for peak performance. Let us offer some steps to get things running and to help avoid paying Best Buy or Staples to tweak settings and install software. Users can do it easily without the wait. Apple offers personal setuphelp with a new computer, but why wait in line or waste time at the store.
This may sound strange, but start by enjoying the unboxing experience. Apple spends a lot of time engineering the packaging process for a smooth and even elegant unboxing experience. See the video below to watch a MacBook Pro unboxing.
Windows 8.1 Update and Microsoft’s Worrying Plans
Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade for Windows 8 users, but $120 and up if bought brand new.
The new yearly Windows release cycle means that changes are necessary, but Windows needs to remain a big moneymaker for Microsoft. They should include about 5 years of free upgrades with any new Windows device or license sold, and maybe $25-30 or so yearly upgrades if you want to keep upgrading a device beyond that. If you want to start fresh with a new, non-upgrade copy, then the $120 price can remain in place but would then include the 5 years of upgrades.
This is the best way because I am sure that if each yearly upgrade were sold independently, as Apple has done until this point, most people would be running old software very quickly. They wouldn’t buy the upgrades even if they were as cheap as $20. However you can usually count on them buying a new device within 5 years or so.
Acer's New 8-Inch Windows 8 Tablet Now Available
Acer's 8-inch sequel tablet finally arrives.
Acer, the company that released the very first 8-inch Windows 8 tablet earlier this year, has quietly launched the sequel originally introduced back in October, the Acer Iconia W4 tablet. Previous rumors had the tablet pegged for a late January release due to a delay, but the 64 GB version is available now on Amazon for $380 USD, followed by a 32 GB model for $330 at a later date (January?).
Arriving with Windows 8.1, the new tablet sports an 8-inch LED-lit IPS screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution, a 16:10 screen ratio, and viewing angles up to 170 degrees. The screen is powered by a fourth-generation Intel Atom Z3740 "Bay Trail" chip clocked at 1.33 GHz, 2 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and a 2-cell Li-Ion battery promising up to 8 hours on a single charge.
Here’s how to find a yeti in Yahoo’s Weather app for iOS
As it turns out, using the iOS app, shake your device and it will start snowing — treat it as a snow globe and shake it as often as you like. The more you shake, the more snow accumulates on the bottom of the screen. Eventually, you’ll see a snowplow appear to clear the area. If you do it enough times, you’ll notice a yeti run across the screen.
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Friday, December 27, 2013
Best computing product of 2013: 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display
For some time now, the MacBook Pro has been the gold standard among laptops. With strong performance, battery life and a sleek design, it seemed to have it all – including a steep $1,499
introductory price tag that sent many aspiring buyers running for a cheaper PC equivalent. By opting for Windows, buyers could spend as little as $500 for a budget unit, or score a better equipped mobile business and gaming rig for their $1,499. Though Apple MacBook Pros have consistently scored well in reviews, the asking price simply made them less competitive.
This year, however, Apple set out to soften the blow on your bank account while also maintaining virtually every other quality that has made the MacBook Pro such a winner in the year. Though multiple new MacBook Pros were released this past October, our pick for Best Computing Product of 2013 is the 13-inch MacBook Pro 13 with Retina which costs $1,299; a $200 price cut when compared with the previous generation.
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Windows Phone 8.1: A fix or a flop?
Microsoft's position in the smartphone industry has never really been that strong. They had Windows Mobile, which wasn't exactly as polished as BlackBerry. Then they moved on to Windows Phone 7, which was notably better and certainly more functional than Windows Mobile but was still a far cry behind iOS and Android. When Windows Phone 8 came out, people started to take more notice.
Windows Phone 8 is a good platform. I really like the way it looks. I'm not really into minimalism, but Microsoft managed to pull it off and make it work in my opinion. Not only that, but the entire platform runs smoothly without needing outrageous specs to make it happen. You can have a smooth-running Windows Phone 8 device with just a dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM - those were specs that were high-end back in 2011, so it's impressive to see how well Windows Phone 8 can hold it up given that it's almost 2014.
Microsoft releases Solitaire, Mahjong, and a new Minesweeper for Windows Phone
Some people don't need a list of the best apps for their new phone. They simply need a classic game to keep them occupied. Realizing that, Microsoft has just added three of the most popular Windows PC timewasters ever made to Windows Phone: Solitaire, Mahjong, and a new version of Minesweeper.
Microsoft doesn't have any special claim to these games, and you can find plenty of other companies selling versions of them on Windows Phone and any other platform you can name. Still, Microsoft's versions have been a key part of Windows for many years now, and if these copies are any good they're likely to be very well received. Plus, each has Xbox Live integration, so you can compete with friends on Microsoft's leaderboards. The new Microsoft Solitaire Collection also has a "Play, Pause, Resume" feature that lets you take a game with you when you transition between using a Windows 8 PC and a Windows Phone.
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Microsoft doesn't have any special claim to these games, and you can find plenty of other companies selling versions of them on Windows Phone and any other platform you can name. Still, Microsoft's versions have been a key part of Windows for many years now, and if these copies are any good they're likely to be very well received. Plus, each has Xbox Live integration, so you can compete with friends on Microsoft's leaderboards. The new Microsoft Solitaire Collection also has a "Play, Pause, Resume" feature that lets you take a game with you when you transition between using a Windows 8 PC and a Windows Phone.
Read more...
Pro tip: Use an optical Recovery Drive in Windows 8.1
If you're wondering whether you can create a Recovery Drive on an optical disc in Windows 8.1, Greg Shultz says the answer is yes and no. Find out what he means.
A new feature in Windows 8 is the Recovery Drive, which allows you to create a bootable USB flash drive that contains a host of tools you can use to revive an ailing Windows 8 system. In order to retain compatibility with Windows 7 backups, Windows 8 also came with the Windows 7 File Recovery tool, which you can use to create and restore Windows 7 compatible backups. The Windows 7 File Recovery tool's compatibility features also include the ability to create the Recovery Drive on an optical disc.
PC makers plan rebellion against Windows at 2014 CES, analysts say
Fearing rapidly plummeting sales of traditional laptops and desktop computers -- which collapsed
by as much as 10 percent in 2013 -- manufacturers are planning a revolution against Microsoft and the standard Windows operating system, analysts say.
by as much as 10 percent in 2013 -- manufacturers are planning a revolution against Microsoft and the standard Windows operating system, analysts say.
At the mammoth Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January, multiple computer makers will unveil systems that simultaneously run two different operating systems, both Windows and the Android OS that powers many of the world’s tablets and smartphones, two different analysts said recently. The new devices will be called “PC Plus” machines, explained Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies.
BiteSMS Beta for iOS 7 Is Now Available [Update]
Users are reporting that there are lots of minor bugs present as this is a beta release, so if you're looking for a stable messaging app, we recommend you stay away for now. We also noticed that this beta replaced our messages app on our phone, instead of having two separate apps as in previous releases.
Frustrated with the built-in Messages app? Want more features? Wish it was much quicker to compose or reply to messages? Then biteSMS is for you, with lots of extra features like Quick Reply, Quick Compose, Scheduled Messages, Auto-Forward, Auto-Retry, Passcode Lock, Privacy, Contact Pics, Easy Pick Smileys, Templates, Signatures and much more! Simply use biteSMS as a complete souped-up replacement to the built-in Messages application on iPhone and iPod devices.
Obviously, this release won't work with the 5s, and you will have to reinstall MobileSubstrate each reboot (since it has not been updated for iOS 7 yet).
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Christmas Day shoppers spent twice as much on iOS than on Android
IBM took a look at shopping trends this Christmas and found what should already be clear: For retailers, iOS is where the money is.
According to IBM, iOS folk on average spent twice as much on Christmas Day as their Android counterparts – $93.94 per order versus $48.10. More, iOS also drove 23 percent of total online sales, versus Android’s 4.6 percent.
The numbers point to a particularly strong year for Christmas Day sales, which IBM says were up 16.5 percent compared to last year. That increase also comes with a big increase in overall mobile shopping, which commanded 29 percent of all online sales on Wednesday.
IBM’s numbers come from its Digital Analytics Benchmark, which tracks transactions from 800 retail sites in real time.
Windows Phone 9 will reportedly ditch Metro UI, launch in late 2014
Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, known for some of his accurate tips on the mobile industry in the past, said on Twitter that Windows Phone 9 will launch at some point in the second half of 2014 (third or fourth quarter) without the iconic Metro user interface that’s currently present on all Windows Phone handsets and Windows tablets. In several tweets that followed, he suggested that the tiled Metro UI will still remain as an option to users. More importantly, he said that Windows RT will cease to exist as a standalone OS fork, as it will be incorporated in WP9, which will become the “same system” for phones and tablets. A previous report said that Microsoft sees Windows RT merging with Windows Phone by 2015.
It’s unclear though whether Metro UI will also be removed from Windows 9, as Murtazin says there are a lot of internal debates on the matter within Microsoft. The blogger also seems to suggest that Microsoft may be inspired henceforward in Android rather than in iOS, and that the WP9 experience may be developed on a “clean slate.” Murtazin, who was also wrong with some of his predictions in the past, did not reveal where he got his information.
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