Tag: software
Shock! Macs can get viruses too. Apple advises antivirus
Hands up all you Mac owners who don’t run any antivirus software on your computer?
Thought so.
The message that’s been drip-fed to Mac users, and is now self-perpetuating, is that Windows PCs get viruses while Mac users don’t.
Leaving aside the self-righteousness issue, it’s fair to say that there are currently a lot less viruses for the Mac, partly because it hasn’t been such a big target (Windows variants take around 90% of the operating system market) and also because it is built on a more solid, but not invincible, framework…
Good OS launches gOS Cloud – a tiny cloud operating system
Good OS, or gOS, is a company that makes custom Linux distributions, and it’s just released gOS Cloud – a very stripped-down distro that promises to load a web browser (which looks suspiciously like Chrome) in a matter of seconds. You get an OS X-style dock launcher for opening web apps, and Skype’s being mentioned too – which seems to indicate that it can load non-browser-based applications, too.
The OS is designed to boot alongside Windows, and the company is working with netbook makers to produce an ultraportable which runs both this and XP. Look out for that early next year, and perhaps a release of the OS in the meantime.
Good OS (via DownloadSquad)
Related posts: Apple exec unintentially leaks new OS X ‘Snow Leopard’ release date | What the hell is Microsoft Azure?
Apple releases iPhone firmware 2.2: better maps, Mail, Safari, podcasts, call quality
I realise that this is fairly irrelevant news if you don’t own an iPhone, but for die-hard Apple handset fans, the big news of the day is that firmware version 2.2 is finally here and ready to download.
As usual, it’s a fairly hefty download, so beef up your broadband connection for the 246MB ride.
Once done, you’ll get some nifty new features. How useful they are depends on how you use the iPhone, of course…
Microsoft to launch free antivirus product in the middle of next year
Hoorah! Another sign that Microsoft still knows what it’s doing, and ‘gets’ it, despite evidence to the contrary. Microsoft will, as of the second half of next year, stop selling its ill-fated and unpopular OneCare security software, and instead offer a completely free security suite.
The package will support XP, Vista and Windows 7, and will be ‘suited to smaller and less powerful computers’. It’s unlikely that it’ll come installed by default on computers – Microsoft has learnt that lesson – but it should prove popular with technophobes worldwide, who normally struggle with security software and lapsed subscriptions.
Asus develops 'world's fastest smartphone' – the P565
Smartphones aren’t usually rated by their speed – they usually get reviewed on how bloated their set of features is. Unfortunately, that bloat can really slow phones down – I know that when I tested out the N96 it crawled compared to my zippier N95. Asus, however, has just launched what it claims is the world’s fastest smartphone – with an 800MHz processor.
I remember back in the day (though surprisingly not that long ago) when that was a chip in a zippy PC, perfectly capable of playing Quake III, when paired with a decent graphics card. That said, it’s probably not going to be as zippy as an old Pentium III, due to its much smaller form factor.
Mobile Internet Explorer 6 not available as an upgrade
The problem with massive companies like Microsoft is that while some bits of the company can be doing great, forward-thinking stuff, other bits of the company can spectacularly drop the ball.
That’s what’s happened at Microsoft over the weekend. On Friday, Microsoft announced sweeping changes to Windows Live. Today we find out that Mobile IE6 won’t be available as a download – you have to upgrade your handset to get it.
It’s a ridiculous, idiotic move from Microsoft that’s only going to annoy and frustrate its users, who’ll turn to piracy to get the software they want on their handset. Microsoft says, in explanation:
REVIEW: Wacom Bamboo Applications
Following my preview of the new applications available for Wacom’s “Bamboo” PC input tablets the other week, Wacom has sent me a tablet to have a play with, and test out the new apps. Here’s what I think.
Bamboo Scribe
I was originally going to try to write this whole post just using the tablet and bamboo scribe to convert my handwriting into text, but then I realised that it would take me hours. I don’t have hours, so you’ve got a keyboarded post instead.
3 to release INQ handset with massive Facebook integration
Continuing in 3’s long tradition of trying to shake up the established phone industry, the network is planning to launch a new phone next week called INQ. It builds on the direction that the Skypephone started, and features very close integration with social-networking behemoth Facebook.
Although info about the phone has been floating around for a little while, we’ve got the official confirmation from 3 now, and they’re holding a press event next Thursday to announce the handset. It’s a not-particularly-pretty-looking slider phone, but where it really shines is in the software. Your Facebook contacts are your phonebook. Your SMS messages are Facebook messages. IM is handled over Facebook chat…
Apple BANS Opera from the iPhone
Opera, the little browser that could, has developed a version of its software that would run on the iPhone, but Apple won’t let them release it, claims co-founder and CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner. Opera has a mini-browser built for many mobile platforms, but because it competes with Apple’s own Safari browser, the iPhone makers won’t let it onto their platform.
It’s a damn shame, because although the iPhone browsing experience is acceptable (unlike a lot of phones), it’s not perfect, and Opera has a track record of significantly improving the mobile experience on almost every platform it’s available on. The iPhone might be a great device, but its closed nature and uber-controlled user experience has its downsides, and this is one of them.
Opera (via NYT)
Related posts: Opera releases 9.6 beta | Opera Mobile 9.5 beta launched for Windows Mobile devices
Qik mobile video-streaming application comes to BlackBerry
Qik, the popular mobile video-streaming service, has just launched a client for BlackBerry devices. Qik allows users to stream video from their mobile device to websites and blogs over a 3G, Wi-Fi or GPRS connection. As of sometime this morning, it now works on RIM devices running BlackBerry OS 4.5 and above, including the Pearl 8120, Pearl 8130, and the recently released BlackBerry Bold. Qik clients for the BlackBerry Curve and Flip 8220 should be available soon…
