Xperia Z Ultra, Z1, and Z1 Compact owners get KitKat updates

Sony announced that Android 4.4 KitKatupdates are out for its Xperia Z Ultra, Z1, and Z1 Compactsmartphones. Also, KitKat will grace owners of the Xperia Z, ZL,Tablet Z, and ZR in mid-May, while those owning the older Xperia T2Ultra, E1, and M2 are promised chocolatey goodness as well.

The current Android 4.4 updates offer aserving of KitKat's performance and UI tweaks along with Sony's ownworks on the platform. For example, the Status Bar and Quick Settingsmenus have been reworked to become clearer and more intuitive. Also,the new launch animation and live wallpaper have been borrowed fromthe Sony PlayStation 4 and will up the game for the home andlock-screens. 

Furthermore, Sony's native Android apps, such asMessaging, MyXperia, Smart Connect, Small apps, TrackID, TrackID TV,Sony Select, Smart Social Camera have received updates as well, whilethe Media apps (Walkman, Album, and Movies) are now integrated withSony Entertainment Network and PlayMemories. The update should bringa better UI and faster download speeds.

Finally, Sony's Xperia Themes withdownloadable UI packs from Sony Select will let you customize up to280 items from the Xperia Android interface in a variety of styles.

If you have received the update, feelfree to share your experience with it.

source: XperiaBlog via AndroidCentral

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FiftyThree Updates Creativity App Paper For iOS 7 To Improve Navigation And Control

FiftyThree has thrived over the last few years, due to the massive popularity of its drawing and creativity app Paper and the release of its complementary Pencil stylus. Today it’s taking a big step to improve the creation process with an update to its Paper app, which has been updated to be faster and more responsive, and to provide even more tools for its users.

Paper was already one of the best-designed tablet creation tools out there, and has won awards and received accolades ever since it was launched in 2012. But the new version of the app is even better, with a new look for iOS 7 that FiftyThree hopes will make it easier to read and improve the overall creation flow for users.

Re-releasing the app enabled FiftyThree to improve on the general design in both big and small ways. “We wanted to take this opportunity to make everything a little cleaner, a little brighter, a little fresher,” co-founder Andrew Allen told me. That includes improved navigation with faster menus, a simplified icon menu, lighter colors, and improved readability.

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Sony's upcoming Alpha 7 and 7R updates will speed up your photo shoots

Sony's Alpha 7 cameras shook up the photography world by offering full-frame shooting in a small body, but they also have their fair share of quirks, such as slow startup times and subpar JPEG images. Some of those problems may vanish very soon, though, as Sony plans to roll out big firmware updates for both the Alpha 7 and 7R on March 19th. The two cameras should start faster, and they'll also get a nebulous "image quality improvement" -- hopefully, that means better JPEG output. The upgrade will also unlock more features when using the PlayMemories Mobile app to control either camera, and there's better support for a recent 70-200mm telephoto lens. We're not seeing any attempts to speed up the Alphas' sometimes pokey autofocusing, but the updates should still help early adopters who've had to live with some noticeable flaws for the past few months.

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Via: Engadget Chinese (translated)

Source: Sony Japan (translated)

Tags: alpha, alpha7, alpha7r, camera, firmware, mirrorless, photography, sony, update Next: Samsung's Milk Music internet radio service is only for Galaxy devices (video)
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Ouya Updates Hardware With $129 16GB Console, 8GB Edition Remains At $99

Ouya’s original hardware featured just 8GB of storage onboard, but a temporary Limited Edition all-white version launched during the holidays doubled that to 16GB. Now, the game console startup is making that a permanent feature of its newest hardware, an Ouya console with a solid matte black finish that also offers better Wi-Fi connectivity and a “refined” controller design.

The new 16GB version adds $30 to the MSRP of the original, coming in at a total of $129 for the console and one controller. It goes on sale at Ouya.tv, as well as Amazon and Amazon.ca starting immediately, and the original 8GB model will continue to be sold as well at its original $99 price point (which is discounted to $69.99 currently on Amazon.ca)

As for what’s been improved about the controller, Ouya says that the joysticks and buttons are “better” and that the controller has less lag time overall. We’ve asked for more specifics around the improved Wi-Fi, but have yet to hear back with any details. The new console also ships with the latest Ouya firmware, which is said to improve all-around performance for the Android-powered hardware.

Ouya has faced some challenges lately, including the departure of one of its key founding team members, VP of Product Muffi Ghadiali. The company has not released any sales data recently, so there’s no telling how it’s performing, but the introduction of a new SKU seems a little unusual given the relatively modest nature of the tweaks.

Developers on the platform recently shared some numbers regarding their software sales on the console with Gamespot, which could be an indicator of hardware sales strength. Feedback was mixed, but overall the impression given was that sales by no means represent runaway success. Ouya has raised $23.6 million in funding to date, including its initial crowdfunding campaign and a Series A round led by Kleiner Perkins.

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SoundHound's music search app turns its focus to the Grammys with real-time updates and more

Awards nights tend to give rise to slews of app tie-ins, and for this year's Grammys, SoundHound's tossing its hat in the ring. In addition to being able to recognize songs by "listening" to them, the refreshed app comes with a dedicated page for the event that currently lists performers and nominees. Anyone who clicks SoundHound's orange button during the live broadcast on Sunday night, though, will see real-time info, the list of winners and relevant Twitter posts instead. Chances are, music lovers don't exactly need SoundHound to identify "Just Give Me A Reason" and other nominated songs. Those who find these special features useful, however, can download the app from the source links below.

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Source: Google Play, iTunes, BlackBerry World, Windows Phone Marketplace

Tags: android, app, BlackBerry, grammys, hdpostcross, IOS, mobilepostcross, music, soundhound, WindowsPhone Next: Easter egg-filled panorama of Seattle is Microsoft's latest Photosynth art project
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Sonatype Updates Component Lifecycle Management Platform To Protect Open-Source Components

Software components are a vital aspect of app development. They are the pieces of code that make the software what it is, and they can come from thousands of sources. But they can be subject to tampering. For example, last summer, Chinese hackers exploited vulnerabilities in Struts, an open-source framework for developing Java-based web applications. Struts has been managed under the umbrella of the Apache Foundation. It was recently announced that Struts had reached its “end-of-life” and will no longer be supported.

To help address this issue, Sonatype has updated its component lifecycle management (CLM) technology to protect software developers from using rogue open-source components that could be used to attack any kind of software, including an app for your phone or even your car or heart monitor. The technology then automates the process for enforcing policies that help provide assurances to the software developer that the components are okay to use.

Sonatype allows for components to be fixed through the software development cycle to help identify flaws such as those that surfaced when Struts was hacked.

Features in the new version include an inventory that notifies developers about the potential issues of the components that might include security risks and what components are out of date or might have potential licensing liabilities. It also includes the ability to replace unsafe components with the appropriate version. It’s that ability to identify components that becomes important as software integrates into everyday things, said CEO Wayne Jackson in a recent phone interview.

Sonatype also announced that it has hired well-known security expert Josh Corman as its chief technology officer. Corman, who is known for his work at 451 Research, Akamai and IBM, tells me in an email that the work at Sonatype correlates to his focus on defensible infrastructure, application security and how to make the Internet of Things less vulnerable to attack. A preventive approach is needed with the spread of connected things. In many respects IT is growing faster than the ability to secure it,  as he discussed in a TED talk this past December.

So does the risk of open-source software components unleash an unhealthy dose of FUD? No. Instead, it’s a good reason to give thought about how to prevent security exploits instead of just continuing reacting to crises as they inevitably arise.

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Nike updates Training Club app to help you keep those New Year's resolutions

You know what always comes after pigging out during the holidays: a New Year's resolution to get fit, this time (you swear!) for sure. Well, Nike's hoping to kickstart your quest to fitness by updating its Nike Training Club (N

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GTA Online starts pushing user-created missions, mobile updates arrive for San Andreas and Chinatown Wars

Ready for a slew of Grand Theft Auto updates? We sure hope so. First up, developer Rockstar Games has put its stamp of approval on ten of the GTA Online community's million-plus custom-match submissions. Because these races and deathmatches -- including a NASCAR-style circuit atop a skyscraper and a melee-weapon prison-yard fight -- are now Rockstar Verified, they're available on both PS3 and Xbox 360, regardless of which platform they originated from. If your magnum opus didn't make the first cut, relax: The outfit says there's more verified missions coming ahead of the multiplayer heists and single player DLC due next year.

If you fancy mobile mayhem however, GTA: San Andreas' Grove Street Families arrived on Android late last week. Check the reviews before clicking that buy button though, performance issues and glitches have been noted even on high-end flagships like the Galaxy S4. While San Andreas' appearance on Google's mobile OS may have been tardy (and buggy), it's still MIA on Windows Phone 8 despite the simultaneous release we were expecting. Last but not least, GTA: Chinatown Wars is back on iTunes, and now compatible with iOS 7 and your iPhone 4 or 4s' Retina display -- should you favor a Liberty City built specifically for mobile gameplay to SA's ported faux-SoCal. We've reached out to Rockstar about the Android issues plus a timetable for our WP8 ride with Big Smoke, and will update this post if we hear back. Until then, happy car-jacking.

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Via: Joystiq

Source: iTunes, Google Play, Rockstar Newswire (1), (2)

Tags: android, GrandTheftAuto, GTA, gtaonline, hdpostcross, IOS, mobilepostcross, RockStar Next: Feedback Loop: frustrating applications, form factors vs. operating systems and more .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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Microsoft updates Yammer with option to add outside users via email and forward emails to post messages

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Microsoft today announced it has started integrating email functionality into Yammer. Over the past quarter, the company has developed two features: the ability to loop in non-Yammer users and the option to forward emails into Yammer.

The former means you can now add someone to a Yammer conversation, even if they’re not a Yammer user. Anyone in your organization can be added to a Yammer discussion by typing their email address into the CC bar of any message:

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Valve updates Steam Mobile for iOS with new UI and more social options

Since Valve introduced Steam Mobile last year, you didn't need to be tethered to your desktop to purchase games or stay connected. Now there's a new version for iPad and iPhone, with the UI specifically tweaked for iOS 7. Notable features include offline chat, improved push notifications, and a streamlined friend interface that makes it easier to see invites, nicknames, mobile or Big Picture status and Facebook friend suggestions. There's also the ubiquitous stability and performance fixes, so if you just can't interrupt that Half Life 3 discussion while out buying milk, hit the source.

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Via: AppAdvice.com

Source: Valve (iTunes)

Tags: friends, iOS, iOS7, Steam, SteamMobile, UI, update, Valve Next: Google's Play Books now supports e-book uploads from any Android device

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Nokia Promises Its Amber Update Will Come To All Windows Phone 8 Lumia Devices By The End Of September

Today Nokia promised owners of its Lumia Windows Phone 8 devices that its “Amber”update will reach all phones by the end of September. The Amber upgrade is a mix of feature improvements that will improve Nokia’s handsets, further setting them apart from devices built by other smartphone OEMs.

Amber contains a photo-editing tool, improved image processing, the ability to snag motion in sequence with “Action Shot,” the acceptance of double-tap input to wake the phone, and improved internal storage reporting.

However, the most important new piece delivered by Amber is “Glance Screen,” a tool that makes your phone’s inactive state more interesting. When your handset is inactive, it will display a clock and battery information. So, you can more quickly interact with your phone without having to do anything at all. You can turn off Glance, of course, or have it switch off after a set amount of time.

In past years, we would now discuss how Amber puts Nokia ahead of Samsung, HTC, and other Windows Phone OEMs (remember Dell?). We don’t have to do that anymore, as Nokia control sessentially the entire Windows Phone market. Thus, the changes are not as much changes to Nokia’s Windows Phone handsets as they are adaptations to the Windows Phone platform itself. Given that Nokia sells nearly 90 percent of Windows Phone devices, any changes that it makes become de facto official changes.

This is a problem for Microsoft, as it initially ceded flexibility to make changes to Nokia in partial exchange for it adopting the platform. This saved Microsoft’s mobile life, but in the process cost it control: If Nokia can essentially skin Windows Phone to its own contentment, Microsoft is in a material way not in charge of the Windows Phone user experience and design.

I doubt that sits well in Redmond. Thus, Microsoft either builds a phone itself (there have been rumors), or it bolsters HTC (the only remaining OEM partner with more than a scrape of market share that isn’t Nokia) to get a better grip on its platform.

Whatever the case, if you are a Nokia handset owner, the Amber update will be rolling out depending on your handset and country and likely carrier over the next month. Get ready.

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