As xkcd so thoughtfully composed a graph illustrating the awesomenss of Mac OS X cat names for each of the operating systems it’s released, the latest — Mountain Lion — seems to be the least awesome of the bunch, and could be taken out by a lion. Interesting observation (if not a little sarcastic).
For months now you’ve had access to Firefox for Android, but it was mostly quaint compared to the desktop version, whereas Chrome for Android very much feels like you’re using Chrome on a laptop, just much smaller.
That all changes. Starting today, Firefox 14.0 Beta for Android offers Flash support, a new starting page with top sites (very pro), secure Google searches and a slew of load time and responsiveness upgrades over the slower, XUL-based version from before — and it all runs like a native browser for Android. Nice change of pace, Mozilla.
Via: Google Play, Release notes
It took some time, but now Google has patented their “smart-glasses” (which evidently look like Ray-Bans), and now there’s nothing you can do to create an exact replica of Project Glasses, without getting served up with a lawsuit by Google. That being said, how about an FCC filing for a final version of the glasses, Google? Via: USPTO (1), USPTO (2), USPTO (3)
Fantastic news, even if minor. The Samsung Galaxy S III, just coming off of its big announcement earlier this month, has received the mandatory FCC certification in the United States, but LTE is not on-board, rather the handset would handle HSPA+ on AT&T or just EDGE on T-Mobile if it was (now legally) carried into the States by either one of the carrier. An interesting fact is that it also needed approval for its 2,100mAh battery, which for its size, is unusually large. The global edition is available May 29th, in case it was crucial in you knowing. Via: FCC
In the continuation of on-demand music streaming competition between Spotify, Rdio, and MOG, the must design-focused of the three since the start — Rdio — has redesigned their mobile and desktop apps (however Spotify is jumping up on amazing designers). I usually hate to cover or detail redesigns, because to truly experience a new design, you must either practice it or experience it. That being said, the new Rdio makes sharing easier and finding music as well as playing it more of a prominent feature than before. The update is live via both the desktop and web Rdio apps. Via: Rdio
Well, Minecraft makes news again by selling a million copies on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Mojang AB reports 5.2 million hours mining since launch, with 4 million multiplayer sessions played and more than 2.4 million hours spent playing multiplayer. Microsoft revealed that the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft was the fastest selling XBLA game to date, with more than 400,000 players in the first 24 hours, which is fantastic.
Even Marcus “Notch” Persson, creator of Minecraft, was surprised as he wrote on Twitter: “Uhhhh, Microsoft just sent out a press release saying Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition has sold a million copies in five days. Wow.”
“I feel stunned,” Notch added, despite having sold many millions of copies of the PC/Mac version of Minecraft, starting months ago.
It has been brewing for several months now, but Android 4.0 for the Sensation 4G is finally going to be pushed to devices by T-mobile, starting May 16th. Obviously, it’ll be a skinned version, however with Sense 3.6 on board rather than the new Sense 4 that’s included on HTC’s latest dual-core phones. If you’re fidgety for the Ice Cream Sandwich glory that is Android 4.0, you can speed up the update process by checking the HTC software updates option in the settings menu.
As for its pretty aluminum cousin, the Amaze 4G, it will see the very same upgrade, however in a few weeks after the Sensation 4G does — the exact date has not been set. Via: T-Mobile (1), (2)
Russia may have a thing for good space photos. Unlike NASA’s photos, which are usually composites of multiple shots, the Elektro-L weather satellite’s images display the entire planet (of Earth) in a ridiculously detailed shot from 22,369 miles away, measuring 121-megapixel. So, now you’re asking: why the odd colors? The real colors that NASA uses were deemed boring – the satellite image layers on near-infrared imagery that paints all of Earth’s vegetation in wide swaths of a rust-like orange.
Professional Russian photography. Nice. Video after the break.
Via: Planet Earth, Russian Federal Space Agency
Oh, it’s you!
Finally, the Adobe CS6 software suit (with new PhotoShop) was released, the new Incredible 4G LTE announced from Verizon, the Samsung Focus 2 in all-white, Google Play surpassing 15 billion apps downloaded, the HP Envy Spectre XT announced with Ivy Bridge technology (read: a laptop I most desperately want, HP), pricing for the EVO 4G LTE on Sprint, interesting news on Notch’s upcoming game, browser limitation enforced by Microsoft in Windows RT much to the dismay of Google and Mozilla, and the fantastic Assassin’s Creed III gameplay trailer.
After doing some of that suggested reading, you’ll be caught up with what occurred in the technology world for at least 7 days (also Happy Mother’s Day!).
This is Stefan, out. And yes, that photo is of me, keynoting.
This is Project Cars, a racing simulation endeavor by the same studio that created Need For Speed: Shift and Shift 2: Unleashed. The idea here is that the company broke away from EA for development of the game and turned towards the racing community, where they can provide input on a forum, test betas and alpha versions of the game, and practically build the game together on a daily basis. Now, video game screenshot artist Deadendthrills captured one of the recently added cars in the game: the Pagani Zonda C8.
This. Game. Looks. Incredible.
Via: Deadendthrills, Project Cars
Have you ever experienced a 3D TV like you get at the cinema? Lightweight glasses, cool effects and a great picture experience? LG 3D televisions bring it right into your home.