Could Google’s Chrome browser ever come to iOS? At least one analyst seems to think so today, and they seem confident that the search giant may even have a final version of the app waiting for Apple’s approval in the App Store. There’s not much to dislike about Mobile Safari, but choice is always a good thing — even though Apple isn’t likely to ever voluntarily let us change the default browser on our iOS devices. Meanwhile, here’s a look at everything else making news for Tuesday, May 15, 2012.
The Wall Street Journal has published a followup report on the recent smattering of lawsuits attempting to get class action status against Apple over claims that Siri “doesn’t perform as advertised.” Today, Apple is fighting back with a motion to dismiss that claims the Siri technology may only be a beta, but she’s still cutting edge. “They offer only general descriptions of Apple’s advertisements, incomplete summaries of Apple’s website materials, and vague descriptions of their alleged — and highly individualized — disappointment with Siri,” Apple’s motion argues. “Tellingly, although Plaintiffs claim they became dissatisfied with Siri’s performance ‘soon after’ purchasing their iPhones, they made no attempt to avail themselves of Apple’s 30-day return policy or one-year warranty — which remains in effect. Instead, they seek to take an alleged personal grievance about the purported performance of a popular product and turn it into a nationwide class action under California’s consumer protection statutes. The Complaint does not come close to meeting the heavy burden necessary to sustain such claims.” Your move, Siri users.
Adobe kicked off their annual Digital Publishing Summit on Tuesday by announcing a series of new features for the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite (DPS). “Among the new features are Content Viewer for iPhone, social sharing, expanded font licensing and enhanced integration with Adobe Creative Suite 6, a milestone release, creating an unbeatable combination for media and corporate organizations,” the company revealed in a press release. “As readers voraciously consume mobile content, they’re demanding dynamic, shareable reading experiences across tablet and mobile phones,” explains Jim Guerard, vice president and general manager of Creative and Media Solutions, Adobe. “Adobe’s digital publishing innovations propel the industry forward by allowing publishers to reach and monetize an unprecedented number of consumers hungry for dynamic, one-of-a-kind mobile reading experiences.” For more details on Adobe’s DPS improvements and how the company’s customers plan to implement them, check out a live blog of the Digital Publishing Summit on the Adobe website.
Business Insider is reporting that Google’s Chrome browser may soon make the leap to iOS, where Apple currently makes 50 to 60 percent in revenue sharing from Google on searches made with Mobile Safari. According to Macquarie analyst Ben Schacter, Google Chrome may arrive sooner than we expect. “Apple may already be reviewing Google’s submitted code for a Chrome browser for iOS,” the analyst says, and expects the app to be released in the second quarter if not “definitely this year.” Of course, for Google, a Chrome browser would help level the playing field where search revenue is concerned — although Apple doesn’t currently allow third-party apps to act as a default browser on its iPhones, iPod touches and iPads. Schacter notes the tide could turn, however, should the Federal government go after Apple in the same way they did with Microsoft, who made Internet Explorer the default browser on its Windows PCs. “All that said, the most important thing to consider is whether or not Google’s Chrome will be better than mobile Safari,” the report concludes. “Google has failed to deliver solid applications for iOS in the past.” No kidding…
Facebook may be on the verge of a historic stock offering, but that doesn’t mean diddly squat to automaker General Motors, who’s pulling the plug on million worth of paid advertisements with the social network. According to Forbes, GM “is definitely reassessing our advertising on Facebook, although the content is effective and important.” The company will continue to “post relevant content about the company and its brands on GM’s Facebook pages” — and why not, since that kind of advertising is pretty much free? “In terms of Facebook specifically, while we currently do not plan to continue with advertising, we remain committed to an aggressive content strategy through all of our products and brands, as it continues to be a very effective tool for engaging with our customers,” GM explained in a statement. Of course, that doesn’t exactly look good for Facebook, whose 5 billion IPO is coming at the end of the week.
Let’s take a break from all these crazy MacBook Pro rumors and turn our attention back to the fabled seven-inch iPad, shall we? AppleInsider is reporting that the fabled 7.85-inch junior iPad will launch in Q4 2012, complete with “G/F2” thin-film touch technology. According to DigiTimes, “the G/F2 structure places the electrode on the top and bottom ends of the ITO film, which will then be laminated onto the cover glass. The iPad Mini will also be more transparent and will have good sensitivity despite current skepticism with thin-film touch panels in the industry.” Since we only yesterday reported that DigiTimes tends to have a spotty track record when it comes to Apple rumors, we’d say readers would do well to approach this one with a big ol’ grain of salt as usual…
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
Ever wonder what happens to your email after you hit the “Send” button? If so, you’ll be fascinated by Google Green’s latest entry, which promises to “take a journey through Google’s data centers by following an email along its path.”
Google Green has posted an interesting new look at how email gets transferred from sender to recipient with “The Story of Send.” Ironically, following the story takes far longer than actually sending and receiving an email in the first place, but it’s a pretty entertaining way to kill some time — not to mention learning something new.
“Ever wondered what happens when you send an email? Take a journey with Gmail and find out,” the website reads. “Along the way, discover our data centers with videos, photos and more. It all begins when you click send.”
Needless to say, clicking the Send button begins the journey with a cutesy animation as the email passes through your broadband connection and on to the folks at Google HQ.
“Once your message leaves your Internet Service Provider, it enters an Internet backbone router. Here’s where Google picks up your message and guides it to the closest Google data center,” the site explains. “To provide the best possible user experience, we try to pick up your requests as early as possible from the local ISP, so we’ve built an extensive Internet backbone across the U.S.”
Along the path, users will be treated to details on the security of your Gmail and even videos that show how it all works — needless to say, with a particular focus on how eco-friendly the whole process is, given this is the Google Green site, after all.
To take the journey yourself, head over to the Google Green website and enjoy!
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with the Google-powered Maps app we’ve had since the original iPhone, it could be argued that it’s time for Apple to shake things up and go their own way — and that could indeed be happening with iOS 6.
9to5Mac is reporting that Apple may introduce “an incredible headline feature” with iOS 6 in the form of their own Maps application — one that finally breaks from Google Maps and is created entirely in-house.
Of course, the Maps app itself is already Apple’s own creation, but the technology that powers it comes from the Googleplex. Apple has widely been rumored to introduce their own solution over the years with the acquisition of Placebase, C3 Technologies and Poly9, which is plenty more than enough technology to create their own mapping solution.
According to “trusted sources,” that could be exactly what we’ll see when iOS 6 hits the streets later this year — a complete rewrite of the current Maps app, using C3 Technologies-based street view and what’s described as “a powerful new 3D mode.”
“The 3D mode does not come enabled by default, but users simply need to click a 3D button that is conveniently and visibly stored in the app,” the report reveals. “Perhaps under the fold like the current traffic, pin, and map view buttons. This 3D mode is said to essentially be technology straight from C3 Technologies: beautiful, realistic graphics based on de-classified missile target algorithms.” (Sounds like a much better use of that technology, if you ask us.)
With Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference now only a month away, it’s widely expected that Cupertino will at least preview iOS 6 at the event, although no one knows for sure if a redesigned Maps app will get a nod there. The report also doesn’t mention anything about turn-by-turn navigation, which is sorely lacking in Apple’s built-in app compared to the pretty awesome Google Navigation included free with Android devices. Let’s get on that, shall we, Apple…?
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
(Image courtesy of 9to5Mac)
Seems like this is the kind of Wednesday that the term “hump day” was designed for. Apple kept us on our toes by releasing updates to OS X Lion and Safari today, and the rest of the tech world has been hard at work doing the same on what’s generally a ho-hum day of the week. In case you happen to be downloading those aforementioned updates and need some reading material, here’s the latest for Wednesday, May 9, 2012.
If you’re frustrated with your current bank, a new service called Simple aims to alleviate your pain and suffering — assuming you have the patience to get through the company’s long waiting list, that is. However, if you’ve already managed to successfully acquire an invitation, Simple today released their iPhone app to the App Store. “Today, everyone expects their bank to have a mobile app,” the company notes. “However, too many banking apps feel like an afterthought. We took a different approach and put the mobile app first. With the Simple mobile app you can view your Safe-to-Spend balance, search and browse your entire transaction history, pay bills, deposit checks, and get help from our customer relations team. No matter where you are, you’ll have all the same tools that are available on the Simple website.” Judging from the demo video embedded below, Simple looks to be a pretty slick way to go — though we’re not entirely sure we’d trust them with the amount of money the hipster in the video has on hand, at least not yet…
Simple iPhone App Video from Simple on Vimeo.
Your momma may have taught you that there’s no reward for being angry, but apparently the same does not apply for virtual fowl. Rovio announced today that its Angry Birds games have now collectively been downloaded more than a billion times. An impressive landmark, to be sure, but the mobile gaming giant claims “this is only the beginning of our story” and asks that we keep our eyes peeled for what’s coming up next from Rovio. Um… even more Angry Birds? Seems logical…
Seems as if Google is going to continue to ignore the iPad with many of its iOS apps, but at least it’s trying to pretty up the ones it already has. The Google Official Blog announced a new update to the Google+ iOS app today, which brings “sense and soul” along with a more attractive UI and full-bleed photos and videos. “But you know what’s really cool?” the blog asks. “Content so immersive it remakes your mobile device into a rich carousel of beloved memories and breaking news. That’s the Google+ experience we aspire to, and today’s release helps us get closer.” The version 2.0.0.5888 update is rolling out now, and it’s kind of significant, considering that the search giant won’t be offering the same look and feel with its Android app for a few more weeks — although it does tease “a few extra surprises” to come, when it finally does arrive.
Ars Technica is reporting that an iPod-related lawsuit dating back to 2004 has finally been blessed with class action status. The antitrust lawsuit covers customers who purchased an iPod between September 12, 2006 and March 31, 2009, with owners just starting to be notified about the updated status. The suit came about as a result of RealNetworks’ efforts to free music purchases made through iTunes from being played exclusively on iPods — a problem that is no longer an issue now that Apple offers DRM-free music for its entire catalog. But that isn’t about to stop the attorneys from seeking out due compensation for those afflicted by the problem over the aforementioned 2.5 years — if you’re one of them, keep your eyes peeled for a notification about the class action, which you can choose to opt out of entirely, should you so desire.
Bolt Creative has released Pocket God Comics 2.0 today, featuring issue number 16 with “Gem Cell Research: Part 2 of 4,” a “sharktastic, laserific” edition. The app also gets itself a sweet new design with Featured, Just Added and Top Titles buttons now on the menu. But what about part two of “Gem Cell Research”? Turns out the only way to fix it is with a laser, and the only laser around is the one on the Laser-Shark — which, as you can imagine, will lead to all kinds of hilarity as the girls try to catch it. The app also includes free extras such as No. 16 of The Pygmy Peril Newsletter, an exclusive remastered version of the first Pocket God animated short and much more! The 16.2MB update is now available for existing users, and can be purchased for a mere 99 cents for new users in the App Store.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
It’s hard to believe in the 21st century that train conductors are still punching tickets, but it appears that era has finally come to an end for Amtrak, who is rolling out iPhones to 1,700 conductors for a digital check-in process this sunny summer. Hey, that makes us want to book a ticket to some far-off destination — until we realize it’s actually cheaper to do that on a plane, and you’ll get there a whole lot faster. Oh well. In the meantime, here’s the rest of the tech news for Monday, May 7, 2012.
Riding the rails may be one of the oldest modes of transportation in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean it can’t be modernized, just a little. The New York Times is reporting that Amtrak has started using the iPhone as a portable ticket scanner, with conductors trained on the handset as far back as last November. The company expects that number to reach 1,7000 conductors by this sunny summer, with the service reaching coast-to-coast. “You don’t even need to print the document and bring it with you,” said Matt Hardison, the Amtrak rep who helped initiate the program. “We’ve made a number of important improvements for both our customers and Amtrak, all in one fell swoop.” Does this mean Tom Hanks will be out of one of his many jobs from The Polar Express? Guess he can start tapping messages to the kiddies on the iPhone’s virtual keyboard from now on…
As Twitter continues to push users toward its own photo hosting service for the microblog, the folks at Twitpic are fighting back. Announced today on the Twitpic Blog, the company has released a free, official Twitpic app for the iPhone, with an Android version promised “within the month.” In addition to having an easy way to share photos and videos, the Twitpic app allows you to view content from other users, add comments and see daily popular content, along with a built-in photo editor that offers simple editing tools and photo filters to apply to your work before sharing. The app is now live in the App Store, so you know what to do.
The Verge is reporting that the courtroom fireworks between Oracle and Google remain partially unresolved, even after the jury had a weekend to break their deadlock. The jury has found Google “liable of infringing Oracle’s Java-related copyrights,” but the issue of whether or not Google made fair use of Java APIs appears to be stuck. Needless to say, Google is calling for a mistrial, while Oracle seems to already be breaking out the victory champagne in an official statement. “Oracle, the nine million Java developers, and the entire Java community thank the jury for their verdict in this phase of the case,” the Oracle statement reads. “The overwhelming evidence demonstrated that Google knew it needed a license and that its unauthorized fork of Java in Android shattered Java’s central write once run anywhere principle. Every major commercial enterprise — except Google — has a license for Java and maintains compatibility to run across all computing platforms.” We may have to wait until May 14 to see how this plays out, when both sides must submit responses to Judge William Alsup, who will have the final word.
It should go without saying at this point, but take the following rumor with an enormous grain of salt — we’re not sure we buy this one at all, but pass it along like so many others for readers to make of what they wish. Cult of Mac is reporting that an anonymous source claims to have seen a prototype of the fabled Apple HDTV, and actually lived to squeal about it. So what’s it look like? Think of a current LED-backlit Cinema Display, only “much bigger.” (Well, yeah… duh.) The set reportedly comes with a built-in iSight camera for FaceTime chats from the comfort of your couch, and performs a wide variety of its television duties with the help of Siri. None of that sounds too completely unbelievable, but we figure Apple’s going to have to do better than that to get most of us to toss out the HDTV currently mounted in our home theatre systems…
Looks like Microsoft is trying to get one last gold rush out of its Xbox 360 before the new model (eventually) arrives. According to Joystiq, Microsoft Stores are now offering Xbox 360 deals for a mere , including Kinect, Xbox Live Gold service and a two-year warranty. But there’s a catch: You’ll have to shell out .99 per month for the next two years to get it at that price. As the website notes, that’s about 0 spread out over the next two years, which doesn’t sound so amazing when you can get the same package for 9 (or less) by paying upfront. Hit the link to grab a coupon, should you want to take Redmond up on the deal.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
(Image courtesy of The New York Times)
