Facebook App Update
Facebook just posted a significant update for its iOS client, bringing the app to version 6.4. The update brings about a number of new features and improvements, including support for the social network’s new hashtag feature.
Here’s your full 6.4 change log:
• Search for hashtags or tap them in posts to see what other people are saying about a topic• Make restaurant reservations directly on participating Pages in the US• Faster loading and a cleaner design for timelines on iPad• Fixed a bug that was causing some people to see red notification badges when there weren’t any new notifications
The OpenTable integration is part of a bigger relationship between the two companies that allows Facebook users to make restaurant reservations right from within the mobile app using ‘Nearby Places,’ as well as restaurant fan Pages.
A possible release date for iPhone 5S
There is no official release date on the iPhone 5S, but AllThingsD believes it’s coming Sept. 10. The site says it got its information from “sources,” but doesn’t go into any further detail. If true, this would put the iPhone announcement almost precisely a year after the iPhone 5 event, which was held on Sept. 12 last year. That event was a Wednesday last year and is a Tuesday this year. This means that pre-orders could start on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 and it could ship sometime around Sept. 19 or 20 (the following Thursday or Friday).
This isn’t a rumor, but when you see iOS 7, you might think it is. At WWDC in June, Apple unveiled iOS 7, which is the first big design shakeup for iOS since the iPhone debuted in 2007. The new version is flatter, brighter, and full of white screens.
Dev Center Fully Back
After a three-week absence, Apple's developer site has been restored to working order.
Apple had said last Monday that it was just days away from restoring the remaining down services at the site, which was taken down on July 18, following what Apple described as asecurity intrusion. While it acknowledged that there was unauthorized access to some developer information, Apple said the site was "not associated with any customer information."
The downtime also came as Apple is pushing developers to test and create software for upcoming versions of iOS andMac OS X, both of which are expected in the fall.
Apple began to bring back many key services on July 26, after more than a week of downtime. Among those services were the developer sites for iOS, Mac, and Safari development, alongside downloads for upcoming versions of Apple's desktop and mobile software.
Mozilla Phone to hit eBay soon
Mozilla and ZTE announced today that the ZTE Open running Firefox OS will be available "soon" on eBay
The companies didn't specify exactly when the handset will hit the e-commerce site, but did say that it'll come in the color orange and will be unlocked, allowing it to run on the carrier network of the customer's choice.
The ZTE Open will cost eBay customers in the U.S. and U.K. $80. The handset's FirefoxOS installation relies on the Web to power the mobile experience. The platform allows for the standard smartphone apps, including messaging and e-mail, and includes access to applications through the Firefox Marketplace.
The Beauty behind 'GOOGLE GLASSES'
Martin Missfeldt created the following infographic that lays out all the details on how Google Glass works so you can enjoy the art behind Google's new toy
Microsoft patches 2 major flaws through today's update
Microsoft has released two critical security updates for Windows and Internet Explorer as part of its latest round of Patch Tuesday updates.
The first critical bulletin affects versions of Internet Explorer 6 and above on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. It also affects Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8 and Windows RT-based tablets.
It addresses two separate flaws, one that allows remote code execution -- such as a malware injection -- if an affected user views a specially crafted Web site. This would allow the attacker to access an infected machine at the same user rights level.
The second critical bulletin, which affects the Remote Desktop Client, could allow another such malware injection, giving the attacker the same user rights as the logged-in user.
Both patches fixing the two critical vulnerabilities require the machine to be restarted.
Also today's fixes include a bevy of patches for the Surface RT tablet.
This edition of Patch Tuesday comes at a time when Microsoft is warning that Windows XP support is coming to an end in a year's time. Beginning April 8, 2014, the software giant will no longer provide security updates for the aging 12-year-old operating system.
All patches are available through the usual update channels, including Windows and Microsoft Update.
Apple has an As under...the finger??
Now it looks like Apple is working on some interesting fingerprint sensor-related hardware off the coast of Florida.
A recent job listing posted on Apple’s website seeks a software engineer to work at the Melbourne Design Center. Melbourne, Florida also happens to be the home of AuthenTec, a company Apple recently bought for $356 million that specializes in fingerprint sensors. This job listing is the only one currently available for Apple’s Melbourne division. Among other skills, ”the individual must be capable of writing low-level code to configure and control hardware,” according to Apple.
Several analysts have predicted that the iPhone 5S will have a fingerprint sensor below the Home button. One would theoretically be able to unlock the iPhone without entering a passcode and possibly use fingerprint verification to process mobile payments.
Apple hasn’t owned AuthenTec for very long, so it’s hard to believe that this kind of hardware would be coming this year—but hey, who knows. Rumors are pointing to a late summer iPhone 5S announcement. And what’s to keep fingerprint sensors from coming to the Mac?