Facebook Adds Save For Later Feature To iOS App

Providing a service similar to that offered and available via a number of other iOS applicationssuch as Instapaper and Pocket. Facebook has this week rolled out a new feature to its iOS application and website, that allows Facebook users to save posts to read at a more convenient time.

Once you have started saving posts within the Facebook iOS application you can browse them as their own feed at a later date, when it’s ore convenient to catch up on their content

To start saving posts to read later within Facebook iOS application simply hold down your finger on the article you would like to save, and a pop-up will appear prompting you to save the article for later.

Once you have read the article you will then need to mark them as “unsave” to remove it from the saved folder. All articles within your saved folder are private and personal to you, and no update is needed to receive the new save feature. You will simply see a notification within your Facebook iOS application as in image above. The save feature is now also available on the main Facebook.com website.

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Rovio releases Amazing Alex for iOS and Android

Life after Angry Birds can get frankly quite ‘angry’. Well, Rovio begs to differ and it thinks that it make it quite ‘amazing’. Today, Rovio has released its follow up to the Angry Birds franchise called Amazing Alex for both Android and iOS. Rovio has also said that it will be launching Windows Phone, Mac and PC versions of the game very soon.
Amazing Alex is a puzzle game and is the first new game the Finnish developer has rolled out since 2009, when it released the original Angry Birds game. The game features 100 challenging levels and Rovio is promising free updates to the game like the way it has provided updates for the Angry Birds franchise.
Amazing Alex is actually a rebranding of Casey’s Contraptions. Rovio had acquired the rights for the game back in May from its creators, Snappy Touch and Mystery Coconut. Rovio had previously stated that it would rework Casey’s Contraptions and it would enhance the game by way of new content and better graphics.
The gameplay of Amazing Alex revolves around chain reactions that are needed to complete a level. The game features over 35 interactive objects, which can be used to design and publish custom levels.
The game is offered in three varieties for Android – A free Trial, a Premium version that costs Rs 54.90 and a HD version for Rs 165.82. The iPhone version of the app costs $0.99 and the iPad friendly HD version of the app costs $2.99.

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Nikon D3200's connectivity with iOS

Nikon's latest DSLR Nikon D3200  is one of the best-specced entry-level cameras we'ev seen. it sports a 24.2 mega pixel CMDS sensor, uses the same image processing engine as the flagship D$, and can now shoot 1080p 3D, HD video. Using an optional module, it can transfer images Wirelessly to an Android phone or tablet, with iOS connectivity coming soon

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Must Have iOS Games ForThis Week

Project 83113 — Universal ($0.99)
Project 83113 is an action-packed platform game that features intuitive touch controls and really great visuals. You take control of “mankind’s last hope,” Belle, a special unit agent who has been created for one purpose: to “bring an end to the reign of the machine.”

Make your way through four intense worlds, tapping on enemies to take them down with deadly attacks. Be sure to collect the crystals you come across along the way, which you’ll need to upgrade your weapons. I’ve always been a huge fan of platform games, and I’ve been enjoying Project 83113 a great deal since its release.

 
Golf KingDoms — iPhone ($1.99) / iPad ($1.99)
If you’re as terrible at golf as I am, then I believe the best way to enjoy it is in the form of a good video game. Golf KingDoms is definitely that. This unique take on golf isn’t another Tiger Woods PGA Tour clone, but rather a 2D side-scrolling puzzle game unlike any other golf game I’ve played.
Use your finger to adjust the direction and the power of each shot and try to make your way to the green. You’ll have to avoid obstacles like nasty crevices, sheets of ice, and molten lava. It’s often incredibly frustrating, yet hugely enjoyable and addictive.
There are two game modes to choose from: Practice Tee, where you can perfect your game; or Tournament, which needs little explanation. And there are 3 kingdoms, with 27 holes. For me, the only bad thing about Golf KingDoms is that it’s not a universal app, so you’ll need to pay $1.99 to play on your iPhone, and another $1.99 to play on your iPad. 

Euro Soccer — Universal ($1.99)


Euro 2012 is finally underway, and while they may not mean much to those of you in the U.S., us Brits can’t get enough of it. Which is why one of my must-have games this week had to be a soccer sim. Euro Soccer comes from First Touch, the developers behind Score! Classic Goals, and it promises to be the “soccer app you can’t afford to miss!”

It features an intuitive defensive and attacking player AI — which aims to provide a challenging and addictive experience — coupled with powerful touch controls and impressive visuals. Pick your 23-man squad from a database of over 4,000 players, then lead them to European victory, unlocking as many achievements as you can along the way.


Catapult King — Universal ($0.99)
Catapult King, as its name suggests, is a first-person catapulting game in which you must destroy forts, castles, and fire-breathing dragons in an effort to rescue a helpless princess, who has been kidnapped by dragons and nasty knights. It’s a little like Angry Birds, but from a first-person perspective.

There are 64 challenging levels for you to enjoy, all of which take place in gorgeous 3D worlds. Every level you complete brings you magic, which you can use to upgrade your catapult.

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Apple releases iOS security guide

In an unprecedented move, Apple, a company known for its blockbuster products as much as keeping their technological feats a closely guarded secret, has quietly released a document detailing the security features supported and hidden inside its iOS mobile operating system which runs on iPod Touch, iPhones and iPads.

Security watchdogs are hailing Apple’s move in releasing the iOS security guide as a watershed moment in the history of Apple’s public disclosures on matters relating to their software architecture. Much had been guessed about Apple’s mobile operating system in the past, but never confirmed by Apple, until the iOS security guide was floated in public domain late last month.

The iOS security guide is fairly detailed, giving businesses and iOS developers much-needed insight into the security features inherent within theiOS platform. The idea seems to be to educate third-party developers so that they develop secure apps for iOS users and the entire ecosystem benefits from Apple’s revelations.Broadly, the iOS security document deals with the following topics:

• System architecture: The secure platform and hardware foundations of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
• Encryption and Data Protection: The architecture and design that protects the user’s data when the device is lost or stolen, or when an unauthorized person attempts to use or modify it.
• Network security: Industry-standard networking protocols that provide secure authentication and encryption of data in transmission.
• Device access: Methods that prevent unauthorized use of the device and enable it to be remotely wiped if lost or stolen.

There’s some interesting revelations from the iOS security guide. For example, the fact that at every stage of an iOS device’s boot process, the different software components involved in booting (kernel, etc.) have to be digitally signed by the relevant hardware components. This makes iOS security one of the best out there.
Researchers have been busy reverse-engineering and second-guessing iOS’ features for several years, and for them most of the features discussed by Apple in the iOS security guide aren’t new.
According to a Kaspersky Lab news website, Charlie Miller, co-author of iOS Hacker’s Handbook, suggested that while there isn’t a lot of new information in the Apple security guide, its publication is still an important event.
If you want to download the PDF document on iOS Security, click here.

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Jailbreaking of Apple iOS 5.1.1

The latest Absinthe untethered jailbreak for iOS has finally been released. After months of waiting, you can download the Chronic Dev Team’s free Absinthe tool to jailbreak your iOS device in a matter of minutes.

We’ll show you how to jailbreak iOS 5.1.1 the right way in this guide.



Step 1: Make sure you have your SHSH blobs backed up using the free TinyUmbrella app. It’s available on both Windows and Mac. Saving your SHSH blobs is essential for downgrading back to your previous iOS firmware version if something should go wrong during the jailbreak process. Basically, if you don’t complete this step, you could end up — worst case scenario — with a bricked iPhone.



Step 2: Back up your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to either iTunes or iCloud before you go any farther. You want to make sure you have a recent setup to restore to if something goes wrong. While jailbreaking isn’t that dangerous, you can never be too careful.

Step 3 (Optional): Now that you have a backup (we recommend using iTunes and not iCloud to backup for the quickest results), clear the iOS device you want to jailbreak. Only do this if your device does not already have a tethered jailbreak installed. Erasing your device will make the jailbreak process much faster. You can manually clear your iOS device by navigating to Settings > General > Reset > Erase all Content and Settings.

We also recommend that you backup your Cydia apps if you were previously jailbroken.

Step 4: Download the free Absinthe jailbreak tool.

Step 5: Connect your iOS device to your computer via a USB cable and open Absinthe.

Step 6: Click “Jailbreak” and let Absinthe do its thing. It may take a little while. Your iOS device should say “Restoring in Progress.” Make sure not to disconnect or quit Absinthe while this process is happening. Cydia will then be installed on your Home screen.

Congrats! You now have an untethered iOS 5.1.1 jailbreak!

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Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil Speakers Touch Yanked Because It Duplicates Functionality In iOS 6?

Update: According to our tipster, Airfoil Speakers Touch wasn’t yanked arbitrarily, but instead because it duplicates functionality in the still unreleased and officially unannounced iOS 6. Our source says that in iOS 6, an Apple TV, for example, can pipe sound from a movie to an iPod touch, iPhone or iPad, and any iOS device will be able to beam audio to another. We’re trying to get more details, and have reached out to Apple and Rogue Amoeba for comment. Original post is below.
Rogue Amoeba are some of the good guys. They’ve released some of the Mac’s coolest audio apps, including Airfoil, Audio Hijack Pro, Piezo, Pulsar, Nicecast and Fission, and we’ve long been a fan of their version of Airfoil for iOS. Called Airfoil Speakers Touch, the app allowed you to stream audio over AirPlay from your Mac, PC or iDevice to any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. We’ve been rocking it since 2009.
Now Airfoil Speakers Touch is dead, killed for unspecified reasons by Apple’s App Store review team while Rogue Amoeba scratch their heads.

Writing on the company blog, Rogue Amoeba’s Paul Kafasis writes:

Since 2009, Airfoil Speakers Touch has made it possible to send audio from your Mac or Windows machine to your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, using Airfoil and its audio streaming capability. Last month, we introduced Airfoil Speakers Touch 3, which added the ability to receive audio directly from other iOS devices, as well as iTunes. Users and reviewers alike have loved Airfoil Speakers Touch, particularly the new version. For our part, we’ve been thrilled to be able to provide this much-desired functionality.
Today, we’ve been informed that Apple has removed Airfoil Speakers Touch from the iOS App Store.1 We first heard from Apple about this decision two days ago, and we’ve been discussing the pending removal with them since then. However, we still do not yet have a clear answer on why Apple has chosen to remove Airfoil Speakers Touch. Needless to say, we’re quite disappointed with their decision, and we’re working hard to once again make the application available for you, our users.
As far as we can tell, Airfoil Speakers Touch is in full compliance with Apple’s posted rules and developer agreements. We’ve already filed an appeal with Apple’s App Review Board, and we’re awaiting further information. Unfortunately, Apple has full control of application distribution on iOS, leaving us with no other recourse here.

Is this justice?!? Attica! Attica! Attica!
It seems like a pretty arbitrary and unfair move on Apple’s part, but as Kafasis notes, it’s possible that this is just the strange whim of some gray, nameless cog in the App Store Review team. In fact, Airfoil Speakers Touch has been rejected from the App Store for fairly arbitrary reasons before, only to be let back in when Rogue Amoeba posted about it. Let’s hope something similar happens here, eh?
Either way, it really highlights one of the unavoidable problems of the App Store: you might do great work, you might play by all the rules, but Apple has no problem changing the rules on you, and then never explaining itself or telling you what you can do to make it all better.
Source: Rogue Amoeba

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Free Apps To Track Your Stocks

Bloomberg (Free; iPhone, iPad, Android)

A recognizable name amongst the mainstream public by any measure, Bloomberg has come out with an official app on both iOS and Android to give users instant access to its vast and comprehensive database of business news, market data and portfolio tracking tools.

Get market-moving news from a broad swath of categories -- 35 in total -- ranging from Economics, Politics, Technology, Health Care, Currencies, Emerging Markets and more. The Bloomberg is sure to satiate whatever hankerings you have to learn finance, giving you a perspective of the subject from multiple angles. It even supports live Bloomberg TV and videos on the top business stories in-app.

Yahoo! Finance (Free; iPhone, Android)

Yahoo might be in the process of slowly slipping into obsolescence, but in all fairness, its Yahoo Finance app is still doing pretty well and packs some rather robust features. Consistently one of the highest rated apps for stocks in the app store, it serves up details ranging from broad market indices to details on a specific commodity, and boasts a target market of both amateur hobbyists and serious finance heads.

Organize at-a-glance stocks, a summary of market conditions, a daily ticker video, real-time and after hours data, statistics and graphs. Some handy features within the app even let you deal with smart pagination and shake navigation (shaking your phone to take you back to the menu screen) for less hassle.

CNNMoney (Free; iPhone, Android)

When you have an app that's been put out by the triumvirate of CNN, Fortune and Money, you can expect quality. CNNMoney delivers both breaking business news and comprehensive market coverage from one of the most authoritative sources in business and financial news.

So what features can you enjoy within the app exactly? With CNNMoney, you'll get a proprietary news feed, full articles, breaking news alerts, video, a stock ticker, customized stock quotes and tracking, market updates, and content you've handpicked yourself.

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Upcoming iOS 5.1.1 Jailbreak Will Support iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 3rd-Gen

Earlier this month, iOS hacker Pod2g released an FAQ for his upcoming iOS 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak, which stated that the iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch would not be compatible. He did say, however, that this situation “may change,” and it has.

In a recent tweet, Pod2g confirmed that he has now discovered “a way through for iPod 3G and iPhone 3GS users.”


Good news. We’ve found a way through for iPod 3G and iPhone 3Gs users. Upcoming jailbreak will be compatible.

That means you can now update these devices to iOS 5.1.1 safe in the knowledge that the next jailbreak will support you. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the third-generation Apple TV, however, which is still yet to be cracked.

iJailbreak has put together a handy list that makes compatibility a little clearer:

iPhone 4
iPhone 4S
iPad 1
iPad 2 Wifi
iPad 3 Wifi
iPad 3 CDMA
iPod 3G
iPod 4G

Here is the list of devices that won’t be supported :

AppleTV 3
Remains to test (but that should work) :


iPhone 3Gs
iPad 2 GSM
iPad 2 CDMA
iPad 2 Wifi, R2
iPad 3 Global
AppleTV 2

There’s still no release date for the jailbreak just yet, but it seems Pod2g is certainly making some progress.

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Apple has now been blocked the term Jailbreak from its iTunes app and music store.

Apple has now been blocked the term Jailbreak from its iTunes app and music store.

Such is Apple's concern over the jailbreaking phenomena that it's apparently censored references to it in content on the App Store.
The censorship was first picked up by an iOS hacker who noticed cetain music tracks with the term, such as rock band Thin Lizzy's ‘Jailbreak', appeared with their name partially blocked by asterisks.
At the time of reporting, the censorship appears to be somewhat inconsistent. It hasn't blocked out every search result on iTunes, and the ones it has see the title blocked but the description left unscathed.
It seems a bit extreme if you ask us - but then we know how Apple likes to keep its walled garden just that, walled, so it's not entirely surprising.
Interestingly, the censorship isn't affecting every version of the App Store in different global regions, so perhaps this is some kind of error.

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Apple releases iOS 5.1.1. update to fix bugs

Apple today released an update for iOS to fix bugs and add some security patches. The update is applicable for the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and third and fourth generations of the iPod touch. Devices running on iOS 5.0.1 can do a simple delta update from Settings>General> Software Update. It’s approximately a 50MB download. Read on for details of the update.

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:
• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

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Facebook updates its messenger app to make messaging more modern

Facebook updates its messenger app to make messaging more modern.

Product Manager Peter Deng tells “SMS has been around for 20 years, built it was for these T9 phones. We’re focused on leveraging all the capabilities of today’s devices to create a new messaging experience.” He also says these are just the start of app updates designed to make mobile conversations feel more real, as if you had body language cues and more to go by.

Unlike iMessage, which requires that read receipts be explicitly turned on by the receiver, Facebook doesn't provide a way to disable read receipts -- but the company will let users hide their location.

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