Hello everyone, and welcome to another week of T&R!
This week, we’ve got lots of awesome breaking news. First, the world’s most popular social networking site rolls out a major overhaul. After that, some popular Apple products are receiving new updates soon. Finally, we’ve got hot news on the latest round of Android phones to be released – including one from mother Google herself. It’s been a hectic Thursday, but let’s get to it!
Facebook Timeline is Released for the Masses of… Faces – Tremor
Your worst fears have been realized. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is now easier than ever to creep on your entire life, from beginning to end, with the new Facebook Timeline released today to the general public. Previously available only to developers (or anyone who wanted to sign up as a developer and not actually develop anything), the new Timeline interface makes it easy to highlight special life events and check out your past by year (and by post). It’s very questionable as to whether or not people will like the change – due to past experience with Facebook releases, I’m going to err on the side of “heck no” – but whether you like it or not, Facebook will make the changes they think will best fit their service. So… if you don’t like it, move to Google+. Facebook is currently rolling out the update in different areas, but you can opt-in now (you get a seven-day “look over” period which you can use to hide things) by heading to Facebook’s Timeline page.
Apple TV and iOS 5 Receive Updates – Tiny Tremor
A couple of noteworthy releases today regarding Apple TV and iOS 5 (beta) – Apple TV has been updated to 4.4.4, which, aside from being three four’s, is simply a bug fix. Apple has stated that there is no special release associated with this update aside from stability increase (which is fine). On the flip side, iOS 5.0.1 has been tweaked slightly as well, though that is still not a substantial-enough update (apparently) to justify an iOS 5.0.2. MacRumors suggests this may be for a set of new international releases coming soon.
Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound Released – Mobile Tremor!
The HTC Rezound
THEY’RE HERE! It’s about time, Google and HTC. Two of the most widely anticipated Android devices of 2011 (and certainly two highlighted phones for Android thus far) have been released. The first is Google’s “own” Galaxy Nexus, running the much-anticipated and much-needed Android 4.0, known as Ice Cream Sandwich – or ICS for the tech-lingual. The HTC Rezound is HTC’s latest Android offering, running on the older Gingerbread but promising to bring Ice Cream Sandwich goodness in the start of 2012. Both of these phones are available on Verizon and both have LTE capabilities. The Nexus is going at $299.99 with a new contract, while the Rezound is being sold for an identical profit margin at $299.99 as well.
