Facebook has released a new version of its iOS app, one that the company rebuilt from the ground up using Apple's Xcode integrated development environment. In doing so, it got rid of HTML5, on which the previous version of its iOS app relied. The move to native iOS has sped up the app's performance, Facebook stated. While HTML5 allowed the social network's devs to leverage much of the same code across iOS, Android and the mobile Web, among other things, it wasn't especially fast. 
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First Firefox 6 build next week, Firefox 7 by May, and aurora channel introduced originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Rolling sneak. 
World news is thick with stories about flying drones spying on an unsuspecting public. These are largely reports of military or law enforcement drones flying over the Middle East, Africa and the Southwestern United States. But what about terrestrial drones that can spy on your big sister or hassle your pets? If you don’t have access to a multimillion dollar machine and your flying skills are a bit rusty, the Rover 2.0 spy tank is here.
Don’t tell your sister.
Brookstone’s Rover 2.0 is an iOS and Android-controlled camera-enabled spy tank. The sneaky little pod transmits video and sound to the smartphone apps controlling the device. It’s the high-tech surveillance equivalent of sitting next to a door with a water glass pressed against the wood. We got our hands on a pre-production version of the Rover 2.0 and took it for a spin around the Wired office.
See with your hands and your eyes.
The Rover 2.0 offers some minor improvements over the previous model. It still captures photos, just like its predecessor. But the new Rover also brings video capture to the mix. The photo and video quality isn’t the greatest, but considering the shooting angle of the photos and video are from shoe level you’re not exactly going to use the footage as Facebook profile pics. The new app uses sliders instead of buttons to steer and accelerate the tank. The sliders are better than the buttons of the previous app but offer very little in the way of speed control. The tank has two speeds: Stop and go.
One of its best features was also in the original Rover: night vision. The Rover 2.0′s stealth mode turns off all the devices lights and turns on infrared night vision. It’s the ultimate in sneaky, assuming your intended target is hard of hearing. The little tank still makes quite a bit of noise rolling around. So, it’s more of a mostly stealth mode.
Hall trek.
Rover’s biggest issue is a short battery life. The little tank isn’t rechargeable; it runs on AA batteries. And because remote vehicles are power hungry, after just a few sorties, you’ll need to head down to the store to buy more batteries.
But those shortcomings don’t ultimately matter very much. The Rover 2.0 is a toy, not an actual spy device. You won’t see them roaming the halls of embassies stealing state secrets. Instead, it’s a fun way to hassle roommates and siblings, and of course your cat. And the bottom line is that it’s fun, even if James Bond never had to buy packs of AAs.
The Rover 2.0 will launch in October and will cost $150.
How Secure is My Password lets you know just that originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/05/how-secure-is-my-password-lets-you-know-just-that/
Words With Friends for Android updated, promises "smoother game experience" originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Cerulean Studios has just released version 2.0 of their popular instant messaging app Trillian. The biggest addition is native iPad support. Trillian has been re-written to take advantage of the iPad's screen real estate by not only making things bigger but by making the app more functional and tailored for use on an iPad.
Even though iMessage has gained some traction and become a fast replacement for some people in regards to instant messaging, IM still has its place due to cross-platform collaboration. Trillian has long been a large contender considering it combines all your instant messaging networks into one easy to use streamline client.
Cerulean Studios could have easily added iPad support by scaling everything up but they chose not to in favor of creating a better experience for iPad users:
Trillian 2.0 features a beautiful new interface designed exclusively for your iPad. Because Trillian’s primary element is a collection of small chat bubbles, simply “making things bigger” felt awkward to us; worse, large windows with small text snippets sometimes required a slight turn of the head while reading. Our solution keeps chat windows sanely sized and uses the rest of the screen for tabs, swiping, and in-app notifications!
The overall user interface has also been updated as well as other security enhancements. You can head on over to the App Store now to check it out.
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/oiIVE4ZvUFk/story01.htm
Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/windows-home-server-2011-released-to-manufacturers/
Rolling sneak.
World news is thick with stories about flying drones spying on an unsuspecting public. These are largely reports of military or law enforcement drones flying over the Middle East, Africa and the Southwestern United States. But what about terrestrial drones that can spy on your big sister or hassle your pets? If you don’t have access to a multimillion dollar machine and your flying skills are a bit rusty, the Rover 2.0 spy tank is here.
Don’t tell your sister.
Brookstone’s Rover 2.0 is an iOS and Android-controlled camera-enabled spy tank. The sneaky little pod transmits video and sound to the smartphone apps controlling the device. It’s the high-tech surveillance equivalent of sitting next to a door with a water glass pressed against the wood. We got our hands on a pre-production version of the Rover 2.0 and took it for a spin around the Wired office.
See with your hands and your eyes.
The Rover 2.0 offers some minor improvements over the previous model. It still captures photos, just like its predecessor. But the new Rover also brings video capture to the mix. The photo and video quality isn’t the greatest, but considering the shooting angle of the photos and video are from shoe level you’re not exactly going to use the footage as Facebook profile pics. The new app uses sliders instead of buttons to steer and accelerate the tank. The sliders are better than the buttons of the previous app but offer very little in the way of speed control. The tank has two speeds: Stop and go.
One of its best features was also in the original Rover: night vision. The Rover 2.0′s stealth mode turns off all the devices lights and turns on infrared night vision. It’s the ultimate in sneaky, assuming your intended target is hard of hearing. The little tank still makes quite a bit of noise rolling around. So, it’s more of a mostly stealth mode.
Hall trek.
Rover’s biggest issue is a short battery life. The little tank isn’t rechargeable; it runs on AA batteries. And because remote vehicles are power hungry, after just a few sorties, you’ll need to head down to the store to buy more batteries.
But those shortcomings don’t ultimately matter very much. The Rover 2.0 is a toy, not an actual spy device. You won’t see them roaming the halls of embassies stealing state secrets. Instead, it’s a fun way to hassle roommates and siblings, and of course your cat. And the bottom line is that it’s fun, even if James Bond never had to buy packs of AAs.
The Rover 2.0 will launch in October and will cost $150.
TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS
Select Microsoft Connect partners -- major players like HP -- have been given their first taste of Windows 8. According to various sources, the build string currently sits at 7971.0.110324-1900, which is the third milestone build of the successor to Windows 7.Windows 8 now available to OEMs via Microsoft Connect originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/windows-8-now-available-to-oems-via-microsoft-connect/
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VP7Qfr8f-As/how-microsoft-designed-its-new-logo
Get ready, Seattle, we're coming for you! You asked for it and you've got it -- we'll be in the Emerald City in October, hosting a meetup as part of the annual Seattle Interactive Conference (SIC), the self-described "intersection of technology, creativity and emerging trends." Whether or not you're a show attendee, you can join us on October 29th, for an evening of Engadget-led events, including conversations with tech luminaries, product demos, giveaways and lots, lots more.
We'll be revealing more information about the festivities in the very near future. In the meantime, if you're interested in sponsoring the event, drop us a line at sponsors [at] engadget [dot] com, and for more information on SIC, check out the source link below.
Filed under: Announcements
Engadget's next reader meetup happens in Seattle on October 29th! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Seattle Interactive | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/27/engadgets-next-reader-meetup-happens-in-seattle-on-october-29th/
VEECO INSTRUMENTS VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES UNITED ONLINE
