Tag: Facebook

Instagram updates apps to 3.0 adds Photo Maps, infinite scrolling and speed improvements

Instagram has updated their iOS and Android Apps to major V. 3.0 . Now Using the geotagged images Instagram allows you to look at your photo map. It overlays photos with a map underneath, giving people a far more visual look at what they were seeing at a given point on Earth.

The app now displays bigger grid photos to make it easier to browse large collections of photos and see them too. You’ll find bigger grid photos on user profiles, the Explore tab, as well as on hashtag and location pages.

Also a lot of UI changes allow users to enjoy the new refreshed upload screen, and security allows you to moderate comments and flag users.

August 17, 2012
Facebook Will Force Timeline Onto All 955 Million Of Its Users This Fall

If you’ve been keeping it old school on Facebook with the previous generation single-column profile page, your days are officially numbered. Big Blue says it is preparing to move all 955 million of its users over to the newer Timeline-style profiles this fall.

Timeline, which organizes all of your wall posts and status updates into a continuous two-column stream dating back to the day you first joined Facebook, was first introduced late last year. Since then, many users have already been forced to make the switch, but some others have managed to fall through the cracks.

Until now, the change to the new-look Facebook has been voluntary, but the site’s users around the world no longer have a choice as Timeline will be made compulsory from August 8.

Before being moved to Timeline, users have a 7-day grace period where they can configure their new profile (and presumably clear out those beer bong photos from 2005) before it is published.

August 3, 2012
Facebook improves image compression to allow larger images (PR)

The website that started massive image uploading has now given its image service yet another makeover. The new Facebook Image management will be a new tool for thumbing through galleries across the site, presenting photos in a new square format with the option to “highlight” certain shots to increase their footprint on the page.

The new system is yet to go live, But, Facebook has already made the announcement so expect it soon.

Today we’re announcing improvements to the photos section that make viewing photos more enjoyable.

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See bigger photos

Now when you click Photos at the top of your timeline, you’ll see larger pictures that fill up the page. You can use the menu to find shots you’re tagged in, pictures you’ve shared and albums you’ve created.

Showcase photos you like

With your Facebook photos all in one section, it’s simple to show friends your favorites. Click the star button to make important photos stand out.

We’ll continue to improve the experience and then begin rolling out globally. To learn more about the tools you can use to make your photos look better, visit the Help Center.

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July 31, 2012
Sony Xperia Neo L goes up for Pre Order – Rs 18,499 Coming End July

Sony Xperia Neo L is a revision to the Xperia Neo V launched last year. This smartphone is the first Sony handset to arrive integrated with ICS. Hardware components include a 1GHz processor, a 5MP autofocus camera, a 4-inch screen with a 854 × 480p resolution and a front-facing VGA camera for video calling.

The phone has a microSD expansion slot, 1GB of internal memory and 512 MB RAM, a1500mAh battery is expected to provide the juice for about 8 hours of talk time and approximately 575 hours of standby on 2G.

Unlike its siblings like Xperia S, Xperia U and Xperia Arc S, the Neo L runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system straight out-of-the-box, which gives it a slight edge over others as most phones being sold in market are still based on Gingerbread. However, in an already flooded Android market, the question remains whether Sony Xperia neo L will stand out at a price of Rs 18,499, especially when HTC One V is available at Rs 18,599 and the similarly-priced dual core-powered Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is scheduled to hit India in a few months.

Expect A full review post launch.

July 24, 2012
Facebook acquires Mac, iOS app developer Acrylic

Facebook has acquired Acrylic Software, a Vancouver-based developer of Mac and iOS apps.

The small firm is known for the RSS app Pulp (a personalized newspaper) and the secure database app Wallet (for securely storing passwords, credit-card numbers, etc.).

The company has decided to cease development of the two apps, which Facebook itself has not acquired. This means that the apps will continue to be available for download and purchase, but will no longer be updated.

Acrylic has two employees and both are moving to work on the social-networking giant’s design team in San Francisco. Additional details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but this appears to be mainly a talent acquisition; Facebook will not be getting the technology behind the service, or its user data.

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Facebook is an invaluable service that we all use daily, and a company I believe is one of the most innovative and important around today. After visiting late last year, I discovered that we shared many of the same core product design goals and principles, and it soon became obvious that it was a natural fit. Simply put, there’s an opportunity at Facebook to have a big impact in many people’s lives. More importantly, Facebook is full of extremely talented people who will be able to help realize its full potential in the years to come.

Our products and services have not been acquired by Facebook, and while there are no plans for further development on them, Wallet and Pulp will continue to remain available for download and purchase in their current form. We’ll certainly be the first to let you know of any updates or changes here in the future.

A special thanks to all of our customers and supporters who have helped us grow and build the best products possible throughout the last four years. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.

Dustin MacDonald
Acrylic Software

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July 23, 2012
Facebook want your mobile number! – to improve security

Skeptics believe this is just another tactic used by Facebook to gain private details

In wake of the recent leaking of passwords of LinkedIn and eHarmony accounts, social networking giants Facebook started promoting security tips at the top of each user’s home page, with a link to information about scams, passwords and how to stay safe on the social network.

Users are urged to give Facebook their mobile phone numbers, which the company says it will use to text them a new password in the event of a data breach. Facebook said the desktop security message, already seen by millions of users in the U.S., will be on all accounts in the next few days. Skeptics are far from pleased with the move, suggesting that the Menlo Park web giant is taking advantage of the recent leaks to prise yet more personal data out of their users under a benevolent guise. Admittedly, it’s unlikely to be something that appeals to the Internet’s more paranoid surfers, assuming they even use Facebook to begin with.

June 17, 2012
iOS 6 announced at WWDC, launch apps with SIRI, Facebook integration, Apple Maps (PR)

Apple at the World Wide Developer Conference 2012 has unveiled a new revision to their most popular OS, calling it iOS 6. Siri has been updated with more ability, most notably Siri will now launch Apps, talk about sports, restaurants and movie times, it’s also coming to iPad 3rd Gen. Apple is also finally expanding Siri’s local search functionality from just the US to no less than 60 difference countries which includes India.

Siri will also even come to cars via Apple’s new Eyes Free integration, but this is at least a year away.

There’s better Facebook integration with photos, websites, maps and instant share option. Other tweaks on the phone side of things let you dismiss incoming calls with swipe, or send a pre-written SMS, even set it to give you a reminder once you change location.

iOS 6 will also get the new version of Apple’s own Maps, Google maps is dropped from the equation. The new maps app is based on a vector base so is more vivid, Maps gives you turn-by-turn spoken directions and interactive 3D views.

We like “Do Not Disturb” which holds off all those notifications, You’ll still get them, but the won’t alert, or light up the screen. For FaceTime lovers, they will be happy to know that it will be now available over 3G and Cellular as well.

Apple has Social networking built right into the new iOS 6 with Photo Streams — choose the pictures, choose the friends and send. The new iOS 6 is supported by iPhone 3GS through iPhone 4s, that includes the second and third generation iPads, plus fourth-gen iPod touches.

Beta is going out today, with a full release in the fall.

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Apple Previews iOS 6 With All New Maps, Siri Features, Facebook Integration, Shared Photo Streams & New Passbook App

Available to iPhone, iPad & iPod touch Users This Fall

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today previewed iOS 6, introducing over 200 new features to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, and released a beta version to iOS Developer Program members. iOS 6 will be available to iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch® users this fall as a free software update. New iOS 6 features include: an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and an amazing new Flyover view; new Siri® features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari® and Maps; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud®; and Passbook, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place.

“iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device”
“iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device,” said Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president of iOS Software. “We can’t wait for hundreds of millions of iOS users to experience the incredible new features in iOS 6 including the new Maps app, expanded Siri support, deep Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams and the innovative new Passbook app.”

iOS 6 includes an all new Maps app with vector-based map elements that make graphics and text smooth, and panning, tilting and zooming incredibly fluid. New turn-by-turn navigation guides you to your destination with spoken directions, and the amazing Flyover feature has photo-realistic interactive 3D views. Real-time traffic information keeps you updated on how long it will take to get to your destination and offers alternate time-saving routes if traffic conditions change significantly. Additionally, local search includes information for over 100 million businesses with info cards that offer Yelp ratings, reviews, available deals and photos.

Siri, now available for the new iPad as well as iPhone 4S, includes language support for English, French, German and Japanese, and adds support for Spanish, Italian, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese. Siri is optimized for use in 15 countries and helps you get even more done with just your voice, whether it’s finding the latest sports scores or making restaurant reservations. You also can ask Siri to update your status on Facebook, post to Twitter or launch an app. Additionally, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further with a new Eyes Free mode, enabling you to interact with your iPhone using nothing more than your voice.

Built-in Facebook integration is the best ever in a mobile device, allowing you to sign in once and post from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps, including Photos, Safari and Maps. Your Facebook friends’ information is kept up to date across all your iOS devices, automatically updating details in Contacts when they change, and scheduling events and birthdays in your Calendar. You can also “Like” content directly from the App Store™ and iTunes® and see what your friends recommend.

With more than 125 million users already enjoying iCloud, iOS 6 introduces new ways to share photos with friends and family using Shared Photo Streams. Simply select the photos you want to share, pick which friends you want to receive the album, and the Shared Photo Stream album is instantly available on their iOS devices, iPhoto® and Aperture® on their Mac®, via the web or even through Apple TV®. You and your friends can leave comments on or “Like” any photo in a shared album.

The new Passbook app is the simplest way to get all your passes in one place, such as boarding passes and baseball tickets. Passbook lets you scan your iPhone or iPod touch to use a coupon, get into a concert or check into your hotel. Passbook automatically displays your passes on your Lock Screen based on a specific time or location, so when you walk into your favorite coffee shop your loyalty card appears and you can scan it to buy a coffee or check your balance. Passbook can even alert you to last minute gate changes or flight delays at the airport.

Building on Apple’s commitment to provide innovative solutions for education and accessibility, iOS 6 introduces Guided Access. This new feature allows a parent, teacher or administrator to disable hardware buttons to lock an iOS device into a single app, especially useful for test taking or helping someone with a disability stay focused on learning. Guided Access also includes the ability to confine touch input to certain parts of the screen.

Additional new iOS 6 features include:

• enhancements to Safari, the world’s most popular mobile browser, such as iCloud tabs, offline reading lists, photo uploads and full screen view;

• support for FaceTime® calls over cellular networks;

• the ability to set up a VIP Mailbox, making it easier to quickly view messages from important people you designate as VIPs;

• the option to decline incoming calls with a quick message, set a callback reminder and enable a new Do Not Disturb option; and

• a whole new set of improvements and services specifically for iOS users in China, such as improved text input and built-in support for popular Chinese services including Baidu, Sina Weibo, Youku and Tudou.

Availability

The iOS 6 beta software and SDK are available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. iOS 6 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, the new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth generation) this fall. Some features may not be available on all products.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

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June 12, 2012
Facebook launches App Center

The App Center will be made available for Android and iOS

Facebook on Thursday launched it’s App Center to enable it’s billions of users to find and play games and use other apps. The App Center will be made available on it’s website and to Android and iOS, where users can send apps to their phones and then get redirected to the App Store / Google Play to download it if necessary.

Most users are introduced to new apps through the irritating requests that fill up the notifications panel, but looks like that will change now. The app center helps you find new games based on searches or your preferences.

The new App Center will initially feature about 600 Facebook apps, mostly games, which will undergo a quality check first by the company to maintain a particular standard. Games, such as Zynga’s “CityVille” and Electronic Arts’ “The Sims,” are the most popular types of apps on Facebook.

It will be made available to users from the US first, with the rest to follow later.

June 8, 2012
Facebook now trying to make another Smartphone

Facebook is back to building smartphones, and this time around its no ChaCha. According to the New York Times Bits blog, the company is hiring old Apple iPhone and iPad engineers and employees to develop phones exclusive to Facebook

[quote]Mark is worried that if he doesn’t create a mobile phone in the near future that Facebook will simply become an app on other mobile platforms. – Said one of the Facebook employees[/quote]

With Facebook’s IPO now out, this unique move may actually help the company gain some movement, when they seem to be slowing down.

May 28, 2012
Facebook Pages Manager gets soft launch in select iOS App Stores

If you are a Page owner, you will know the importance of stats, then the new app from Facebook on the Apple iOS AppStore might just be what you need. If you live in Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, or have an account in any of those countries, you can download the app which was secretly launched yesterday.

Page Manager app lets administrators keep an eye on page-specific notifications and Page Insights, including likes, reach etc. The app is currently only iOS specific, and we are unaware when the app will be fully launch.

[iTunes Store]

May 18, 2012
Facebook iPhone messenger to get Video Chat, plus new version for iPad

According to various sources, the new upcoming Facebook iPhone messenger will have inbuilt Skype/video chat integration, to allow you to video chat with online Facebook friends. What’s more interesting is the fact that the company is supposedly working on a dedicated app for the iPad, since they have got huge back-appeal for the sloppy in-built chat in the iPad app.

[9to5Mac]

May 3, 2012
Google Co Founder : Sergey Brin : Internet is under attack by governments, Apple and Facebook

In an interview with the Guardian, Google’s Sergey Brin said he was worried about the state of the internet and that Google could not have flourished in an online ecosystem like today’s.

The threat to the freedom of the internet comes, he claims, from a combination of governments increasingly trying to control access and communication by their citizens, the entertainment industry’s attempts to crack down on piracy, and the rise of “restrictive” walled gardens such as Facebook and Apple, which tightly control what software can be released on their platforms.

He said he was most concerned by the efforts of countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and Iran to censor and restrict use of the internet, but warned that the rise of Facebook and Apple, which have their own proprietary platforms and control access to their users, risked stifling innovation and balkanising the web.

“There’s a lot to be lost,” he said. “For example, all the information in apps – that data is not crawlable by web crawlers. You can’t search it.”

Bold move Mr. Brin!

April 17, 2012
Facebook will buy Instagram (PR)

Talk about big acquisitions! Social networking giant Facebook will buy popular imaging app Instagram for $1 billion in cash and shares. This comes soon after the app was developed for Android.

We think the fact that Instagram is connected to other services beyond Facebook is an important part of the experience. We plan on keeping features like the ability to post to other social networks, the ability to not share your Instagrams on Facebook if you want, and the ability to have followers and follow people separately from your friends on Facebook.

-Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom

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Facebook to Acquire Instagram

MENLO PARK, CALIF.-April 9, 2012-Facebook announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire Instagram, a fun, popular photo-sharing app for mobile devices.

The total consideration for San Francisco-based Instagram is approximately $1 billion in a combination of cash and shares of Facebook. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close later this quarter.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, posted about the transaction on his Timeline:

I’m excited to share the news that we’ve agreed to acquire Instagram and that their talented team will be joining Facebook.

For years, we’ve focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family. Now, we’ll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.

We believe these are different experiences that complement each other. But in order to do this well, we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook.

That’s why we’re committed to building and growing Instagram independently. Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people.

We think the fact that Instagram is connected to other services beyond Facebook is an important part of the experience. We plan on keeping features like the ability to post to other social networks, the ability to not share your Instagrams on Facebook if you want, and the ability to have followers and follow people separately from your friends on Facebook.

These and many other features are important parts of the Instagram experience and we understand that. We will try to learn from Instagram’s experience to build similar features into our other products. At the same time, we will try to help Instagram continue to grow by using Facebook’s strong engineering team and infrastructure.

This is an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the first time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users. We don’t plan on doing many more of these, if any at all. But providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love Facebook and we knew it would be worth bringing these two companies together.

We’re looking forward to working with the Instagram team and to all of the great new experiences we’re going to be able to build together.

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April 10, 2012
Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing on the social networking patent !

This is possibly going to be the biggest battle since the Apple vs Samsung saga began, Yahoo has allegedly filed a lawsuit to sue social networking giant Facebook for infringing on several patents that are owned by Yahoo. These patents include a series of things Facebook is famous for, ten patents in all, which cover everything from advertising and privacy measures to messaging and social networking itself.

Yahoo claims that the company licenses its patents to several other companies but the matter of Facebook remains unresolved.

Yahoo! has invested substantial resources in research and development through the years, which has resulted in numerous patented inventions of technology that other companies have licensed. These technologies are the foundation of our business that engages over 700 million monthly unique visitors and represent the spirit of innovation upon which Yahoo! is built. Unfortunately, the matter with Facebook remains unresolved and we are compelled to seek redress in federal court. We are confident that we will prevail.”

– Yahoo Spokesperson

Facebook on the other hand claims that there has been no real discussion when it comes to the matter of Facebook infringing Yahoo Patents.

We’re disappointed that Yahoo, a longtime business partner of Facebook and a company that has substantially benefited from its association with Facebook, has decided to resort to litigation. Once again, we learned of Yahoo’s decision simultaneously with the media. We will defend ourselves vigorously against these puzzling actions.”

-Facebook

[AllThingsD]

March 13, 2012
Angry Birds Comes to Facebook

The overly popular mobile platform game Angry Birds has come to overly popular social network Facebook. The Facebook variant features the same game play as the original mobile app along with added social components, new power-ups and exclusive new levels. The game itself is free to play, with a 20-use power up costing $1.

“Angry Birds” on Facebook — which uses Flash Player 11 — supports 3D graphics, according to tech news site ZDNet.

Angry Birds has been downloaded more than 700 million times since its release for Apple’s iOS in December 2009, and with Facebook’s 800 million users, it’s bound to hit 1 billion soon.

Thanks to the success of Angry Birds, game maker Rovio emerged as a gaming powerhouse, and it’s looking to go public as soon as 2012. Right now, the company is worth more than $1 billion, according to CMO Peter Vesterbacka.

Click Here to Play the Game

February 15, 2012