Download Mozilla Firefox 7 for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mozilla already released the final version of Firefox 7 a day before yesterday, just less than 7 weeks since it shipped Firefox 6.

And like the previous major release, Mozilla brings Firefox 7 with main focus on performance, pegging memory usage reduced between 20 and 50 percent. Such claim has been proven by Tom’s Hardware’s traditional Web Browser Grand Prix in which Firefox 7 is crowned as the new champion, for the first time, beating my personal favorite – Google Chrome!



If you’re curious how Firefox 7 is more efficient in memory usage this time, you may check the results of Tom’s experiment below. You should note though, that this could only be true in Microsoft’s platform, particularly the Windows 7.

Light Load

Heavy Load

Memory Management

I must admit I stick to Google Chrome in Windows even when Mozilla introduced Firefox 6 last month, this time however it seems that’s going to change with Firefox 7. As an internet power user, it would make sense to always use what’s the best web browser, right? There are lots of factors to consider though, nevertheless – I would give Firefox 7 a try. Of course until another contender beat it on a variety of benchmarks in the future.



If you’re also interested of giving it a try, just refer to the direct download links below.



Mozilla Firefox 6 for Windows

Mozilla Firefox 6 for Mac

Mozilla Firefox 6 for Linux



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Globe Telecom Offers BlackBerry Bold 9900, Reservation Up Now!

RIM is expected to release its newest BlackBerry Bold 9900 here in the Philippines next week, October 7th; and while you’re going to see it displayed in your favorite gizmo stores, Globe Telecom is giving you a chance to be among the first to get your hands on this handset.

Globe Telecom is offering the BlackBerry Bold 9900 FREE at Plan 3799, Plan 5000, or Plan 10K. Or you may choose your best Plan from the matrix below.

Globe Telecom is already accepting reservation only until next Friday, so if you’re interested – you may hit this link.



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Intel Gearing Up for Tizen, Says Goodbye to MeeGo

MeeGo, an open source mobile OS collaborated by Intel and Nokia to merge Moblin and Maemo projects is now partially dead.

As Nokia abandoned the MeeGo project to Intel in favor of Microsoft’s Windows Phone, the chip maker has decided to transition MeeGo to another open source project called Tizen.

We believe the future belongs to HTML5-based applications, outside of a relatively small percentage of apps, and we are firmly convinced that our investment needs to shift toward HTML5. Shifting to HTML5 doesn't just mean slapping a web runtime on an existing Linux, even one aimed at mobile, as MeeGo has been. Emphasizing HTML5 means that APIs not visible to HTML5 programmers need not be as rigid, and can evolve with platform technology and can vary by market segment.

Like MeeGo, the Tizen project is being administered by The Linux Foundation and is designed to support multiple device categories, including Tablets, Netbooks, Handsets, Smart TV, and In-Vehicle Infotainment systems.



Intel partners this time include Samsung, ACCESS, Panasonic Mobile, NEC Casio, NTT DoCoMo, SK Telecom, Telefonica, and Vodafone.



Nokia however, has already released its first MeeGo handset – the Nokia N9. And the first release of Tizen and its SDK is expected in the first quarter of 2012. [via]

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Android Apps in BlackBerry PlayBook Not All Supported

When RIM unveiled the BlackBerry PlayBook last year, we thought Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s first-gen Galaxy Tab got a serious contender in today's tablet warfare.



But because more and more tablet makers have introduced their own slates, even before RIM made the official launch of its tablet – the hype for the PlayBook started fading gray. Loyal BlackBerry fans however, might still have supported the PlayBook; but RIM sales figure pegged not even to hit the 1-million mark in the first half of this year suggests it would never be a winner in the entire competition.

Definitely, the BlackBerry PlayBook has its own share of the pie and RIM may have attracted consumers with the tablet’s unique QNX-based operating system being capable of running Android applications. Yes, RIM once announced Android apps will support the PlayBook and it’s undeniably a good selling point any buyer should consider. But wait… Android apps indeed will support the PlayBook; however, there’s a catch. Not all features of Android are supported. And again, that’s according to the Canadian tablet maker.

Key features which will be unavailable to Android apps running under the compatibility layer on the PlayBook and future BlackBerry devices include Android's famed battery-sucking Live Wallpaper, SIP and SIP VoIP, anything built using the Native Development Kit, apps containing only App Widgets, and apps containing more than one activity tied to the Launcher.



In addition, any packages which rely on Google Maps, in-app billing services, Android's text-to-speech engine, or the cloud-to-device messaging system will all be rendered unusable under the company's runtime system.

So what does this exactly mean? It’s obviously a compromise Android experience. Period! But yeah, in all fairness with RIM, it’s still a commendable job bringing that Android App Player which does all the magic so Android apps will run in BlackBerry PlayBook. And hopefully PlayBook users will see it anytime soon.



Got a PlayBook? So how do you feel about this? Quite disappointing? Say it loud in the comment section below. [via]

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It’s Official: Apple iPhone 5 Event this October 4!

Yes, that’s right! Apple is already sending invites to the press in the US for the much-anticipated media event in which the tech giant is expected to launch a refresh of its iPhone.

Apple’s press conference will be held on October 4th at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1:00 p.m. ET).



The image you see above is part of the invitation, and if I have to guess it right – Apple will announce just one (1) iPhone and the iOS 5 with 280 new features added to the iPhone’s firmware. But of course we’ll try to uncover what really Apple has in store on the gameday. Excited? Well, reserve the date.J



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Nokia N9 Philippines Price and Release Update

Our friends over at Espoo just announced the Nokia N9 is already heading to stores starting today, of course with an expected landfall in the Philippines soil, well, if I have to throw a wild guess -- sometime in October.

Just in case you missed it, the Nokia N9 is a Meego-powered smartphone announced during this year’s Nokia Connection event in Singapore. It’s the first handset I’ve ever seen to feature an all-screen display in the frontage, that is, a 3.9-inch AMOLED display without a Home button. It got a pretty decent 8MP shooter with Carl Zeiss lens, 1GB RAM, an optional 16/64GB storage, and 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and PowerVR SGX530 GPU packed in an OMAP3630 chipset. Also under its hood include the 3G radio, aGPS, Wi-Fi, USB OTG, NFC capabilities, front camera, and 1450mAh power source – all housed in a polycarbonate unibody construction.



Nokia N9 Specs



Meego 1.2 Harmattan OS

3.9-inch AMOLED screen @ 854×480 pixels, with curved Gorilla glass

1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 CPU (OMAP3630 chipset)

PowerVR SGX530

1GB RAM

8MP AF Camera with Carl Zeiss, wide-angle lens, dual LED Flash

720p HD video recording @ 30fps with stereo sound

2nd camera for video calls

16GB/64GB internal storage

MicroSD, up to 32GB

3G (HSDPA: Cat10, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA: Cat6, 5.7 Mbps)

Wi-FI 802.11 a/b/g/n

Bluetooth 2.1

NFC

GPS, A-GPS

MicroUSB v2.0, USB On-the-Go

3.5mm AV jack

116.45- x 61.2- x 7.6-12.1mm

135g

1450mAh battery



The Nokia N9 has Euro price tags of EUR 480 and EUR 560 for 16GB and 64GB, respectively, before applicable taxes or subsidies. So I guess based on the current ex-rates, Nokia Philippines will introduce this handset starting at Php 28,200 for the 16GB variant and Php 33,000 for the 64GB model. We still have to confirm the official prices from our Nokia friends though, at least by now you already have an idea how much to prep to get this device. Stay tuned!

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Samsung GALAXY S II LTE and GALAXY S II HD LTE Announced in South Korea

Samsung announced earlier today two new smartphones of the 2-cores GALAXY lineup, this time however, with 4G LTE support.

First up is the Samsung GALAXY S II LTE we first saw at the IFA event earlier this month. This Gingerbread phone features almost similar hardware specs as its 3G counterpart like 8MP camera, 2MP front camera, 16GB internal storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and DLNA support, among others -- only that it boasts an upgraded 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, flaunts a bigger and brighter 4.5-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display, and a massive 1850mAh battery.



The Samsung GALAXY S II HD LTE on the other hand is packed with the same internals as the GALAXY S II LTE, but with a bigger 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD (not Plus) screen with pixel count at 1280x720 or equivalent to 316 PPI. Though this handset is designed with support for 4G LTE, this actually will still work with HSPA+ and EVDO Rev A.



Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE will be available on all three Korean carriers – SK Telecom, KT and LG U+; while the Galaxy S II LTE will be available only through SK Telecom.

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BlackBerry Bold 9900 Philippines: Specs, Price, and Release Update

Those Blackberry fans who have been waiting for the latest Bold handset from RIM, here’s good news for you.

We got a word the BlackBerry Bold 9900 will be available here in the Philippines next week, October 7th with a suggested retail price of Php 31,690.



Announced back in May, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 shares the same hardware specs with the BlackBerry Bold 9930 except that each supports different wireless networks. The latter is a CDMA device while the BB Bold 9900 is GSM-based handset with support for HSPA+, so it can leverage existing HSPA+ coverage in the country either on SMART or Globe Telecom.



The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also among the new handsets from RIM to carry the Canadian phone maker’s latest BlackBerry 7 OS. The Bold 9900 flaunts a 2.8-inch capacitive touch screen display and full QWERTY keyboard. Packed with 768MB of RAM and is powered by a processor ticking at 1.2GHz, this handset also got 8GB on-board storage, 5MP camera capable of HD video recording and playback, NFC support, and 1230mAh battery which is a standard power source for high-end smartphones.



BlackBerry Bold 9900 Specs



1.2 GHz Processor

768 MB RAM

8 GB on-board memory, microSD slot supporting up to 32 GB

2.8″ capacitive touch screen display – VGA (640x480)

Full, wide QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad

NFC technology

5.0 MP camera with flash, 720p HD video recording and playback

Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer)

Digital Compass (Magnetometer)

Proximity Sensor

Built-in GPS / aGPS

Dual-Band Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n at 5 GHz

Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support

115 x 66 x 10.5 mm, approximately 130 g

1230 mAh removable, rechargeable battery



So any BB Bold users here are planning for an upgrade?



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MyPhone TW1 Duo vs. Samsung Punch: Dual-SIM Phones of Different Form Factors

Someone posted a query on CTB fan page asking for advice which of the MyPhone TW1 Duo and Samsung Punch is better.



I don’t think comparing two phones of different form-factors yet sharing the same main feature is absurd, so I decided to publish a short comparison of these two dual-SIM phones, basically just based on the spec sheets. Unlike the Samsung Punch, I never used or get my hands on the MyPhone TW1 Duo so I really have less to say about the entire experience of using this phone. But for the sake of this reader (or some of you too), perhaps we can provide a quick analysis which one really is better.



Before we get started, here are the specs of these two handsets for your perusal:

	MyPhone TW1 Duo	Samsung Punch
Type	Dual SIM Full Touch Phone	Dual SIM QWERTY
Network	GSM/EDGE/GPRS Class 12	GSM/EDGE/GPRS Class 10
Frequency Range	900/1800/1900 MHz	850/900/1800/1900 MHz
OS/Software	Proprietary	Proprietary
Display	3.2-inch resistive touch screen (240X400 pixels)	2.2-inch QWERTY (220 x 176 pixels)
Memory	microSD up to 8GB	54 MB internal memory microSD slot for up to 8GB
Camera	3.2 MP	1.3 MP
Wi-Fi	Yes	No
Browser	WAP 2.0	WAP 2.0
Messaging	SMS, MMS, EMS, IM, Email	SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
USB	Yes, micro USB 2.0	Yes, micro USB 2.0
3.5mm Jack	Yes	Yes
Battery	1000mAh Li-ion	1000mAh Li-ion
Dimensions	111x54x13.2mm	109.5x60x12.3mm
Weight	100g	95g
Other Features	MP3/MP4 player Sound recorder Stereo FM radio SRS WOW HD SNS (Facebook/Twitter)	MP3/eAAC+/MP4/H.264 player Voice memo FM radio Loudspeaker SNS (Facebook/Twitter)
Price	Php 3,999	Php 4,890

Okay. I’m pretty sure you’re aware these phones aren’t really among the latest in stores but could appeal very well to the masses simply because of its dual-SIM capability (good for eLoading, mind you); and of course because of its low prices – I think both of these handsets are selling well. Just recently several dual-SIM handsets have landed in the country, by now however; we’ll just have to talk about this two.

MyPhone TW1 Duo

Now, back to the comparison table above, among the most notable features on top of the two phones’ denominators include the display, camera, memory, Wi-Fi support, and the form-factor. Except for the memory, it’s very obvious MyPhone TW1 Duo got a better deal – particularly the higher camera resolution and higher pixel density for the display. The Wi-Fi support is really a plus for MyPhone TW1 Duo, of course only if you’re after of it. After all, GPRS and EDGE aren’t really that appalling for mobile web – thus both may be enough for a feature phone like the Punch.

Samsung Punch Ch@t 322

The phone’s form-factor is not really a big deal here since you can easily select the handset according to your preference, but it becomes part of your decision particularly if you see it has significant impact in the overall performance of the handset. MyPhone TW1 Duo’s full touch screen may be a winner for some over the Punch’s QWERTY, but technically having full touch screen could drain that 1000mAh power source faster. And note both of these phones are dual-SIM which keeps two radios active at a time, so I think it’s safe to say the Samsung Punch battery may last longer from last full charge.



The Samsung Punch is wider than MyPhone TW1 Duo yet still lighter, perhaps due to the slimmer dimension; however, I think it’s just too small to notice so not much of a big deal.



If I have to throw my verdict which of these two is better, it actually depends on how and what you want to use the phone for. Both are dual-SIM but I’d probably prefer a QWERTY phone over the other with full yet only of a resistive type touch screen. Of course it also has to go with something which includes a trusted and proven brand.

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Help Save the Environment by Downloading WWF-Philippines App on Your Nokia Phone

Where ever you go and whatever you do, saving Mother Nature should be on our top priorities today.

From the research and development of electronic devices we use, to manufacturing, testing and shipping of the final product – it becomes a necessity of the whole process having an innovation that will support the advocacy of saving the environment. And part of that is what Nokia is doing in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines).



As a response to the call to conserve the environment and its endangered species, Nokia has partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines to bring you the WWF-Philippines app, an application which “comes with a fun yet educational game to entertain mobile phone users while helping them learn more about local endangered species.” So how exactly Nokia help the World Wide Fund for Nature, you ask? Well, through monetary assistance. For every download of the WWF-Philippines app, Nokia will be donating P10 to WWF-Philippines to support its local programmes. Of course, that wouldn’t happen if you’re not going to take part of the cause.



So if you got a Nokia handset like the Nokia 5230, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5250, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia C5-03, Nokia C6, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, Nokia E63, Nokia E7, Nokia E71, Nokia E72, Nokia N8, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, and Nokia X7 – you may want to head over to the Nokia Store and download the WWF-Philippines app. It’s a free app after all so I guess it’s worth a try.



Click to Read Press Release

Do your share in saving the Philippine environment through your Nokia phone



Now more than ever, the call to conserve the environment and its endangered species has never been more strongly amplified and seriously pursued. People and organizations around the world are pooling their efforts and resources to bring these significant endeavors to fruition so that future generations might still enjoy a green and habitable planet. Nokia, the world’s No. 1 mobile phone brand, drives environmental and social responsibility initiatives across all areas of its operations.



Its most recent effort is a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines), the local office of the world’s largest conservation organization. WWF-Philippines was founded in 1997 to spearhead efforts in the conservation of endangered species and threatened habitats throughout the country. Nokia and WWF-Philippines collaborated to launch the WWF-Philippines app for Nokia phones – aimed at raising public awareness on various efforts towards conservation, environmental education and climate change action in the Philippines .



“Nokia’s partnership with WWF-Philippines signifies the company’s unwavering commitment to this important advocacy. With this educational app, Nokia will help spread the word on environment awareness and species conservation to its growing number of users here and around the world,” said Rhomel Marcojos, senior services marketing manager of Nokia Philippines .



The partnership is likewise a vital effort for WWF-Philippines in its pursuit to reach out to more people. “WWF-Philippines is constantly looking for new ways to help Filipinos understand how crucial it is to conserve the range of species and ecosystems here in our country,“ explained Lory Tan, chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board of trustees of WWF-Philippines. “Apart from maintaining our incomparably rich biodiversity, conservation allows us to work with communities to sustain the productive areas that we depend on for our basic needs.”



“Our partnership with Nokia has made it possible for us to reach millions of mobile phone users across the Philippines , and for those users to help WWF in its work here simply by downloading the app,” he added.



The WWF-Philippines app comes with a fun yet educational game to entertain mobile phone users while helping them learn more about local endangered species. Expect local species like the butanding (whale shark), pawikan (sea turtle), dugong (sea cow), Calamian deer, mouse deer, Philippine crocodile, Philippine eagle, tarsier, true giant clam, and warty pig to engage you in an exciting game that will keep you entertained and enlightened at the same time.



With this partnership as well, Nokia is extending financial assistance to WWF-Philippines. For every download of the WWF-Philippines app, Nokia will be donating P10 to WWF-Philippines to support its local programmes.



Let your Nokia phones be a valuable tool in helping save the environment and protect our local endangered species. The free app is now available for download from the Nokia Ovi Store on the following Nokia handsets: Nokia 5230, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5250, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia C5-03, Nokia C6, Nokia C6-01, Nokia C7, Nokia E63, Nokia E7, Nokia E71, Nokia E72, Nokia N8, Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, and Nokia X7.



Download the WWF-Philippines app now by going to www.store.ovi.com and searching for WWF Philippines or go directly to http://store.mobi.com/content/137635 using your mobile phone.

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Revert / Bring Back the Old Facebook Layout [How to]

Facebook’s layout just received a major facelift the other day and while the social network giant thought it would be another great improvement to offer better experience to its users, it may not always be the case.



Well, for me it is and I personally like the new layout; but there are really some users who got irked and aren’t that susceptible to the recent changes in Facebook. In fact some of them wanted to get back the old Facebook layout, which somehow can be done with a little catch. You can bring back the old layout; however that would involve changing your account’s local language setting. That is, changing the language to “Filipino” for Facebook users here in the Philippines. Yesterday, it still works for English UK but not until today. If you’re reading this outside the Philippines, you may try selecting your local language and see it for yourself if it works.



For the Pinoys, here’s how to revert to the old Facebook layout.



1.Logon to Facebook and go to the Account Settings.

2.At the bottom part, look for Language and click Edit.

3.Choose “Filipino” as primary language, then Save Changes.

Now go back to Facebook homepage and there you’ll see the old layout is back as shown below.

So, do you like it that way?



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Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) Update Coming in a Week or Two

Well, not much of a surprise ‘coz we already knew it’s coming this month; but yeah, Microsoft makes it even clearer this time the Mango update to Windows Phone will start rolling in a week or two.

With the anticipated release of Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) update, Microsoft reminds every Windows Phone user to refrain from installing unofficial or leaked copies of the software. This is to make sure you get the best of Mango and experience the features as designed.



If you got a Windows Phone handset and eager to install Mango, you will need to download the latest version of the Zune software or the Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac. You can grab it from here and here.



And while Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) is already on its way to existing Windows Phone devices as scheduled, am still more excited really with the fresh devices we’re about to see from phone makers like Samsung, LG, and Nokia – which I’m pretty sure will ship with Mango already on it. Of course CTB will let you know, so just stay tuned for updates!

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PlayStation Network is Down, Again! (September 21, 2011)

Well, if you attempt to connect to the PlayStation Network right now, chance is you probably would face trouble with Sony’s online service.

Yes, Sony PlayStation Network is down once again and if you think this is another part of that hacking episode that broke down the network in July – only Sony can tell. There’s no update on Sony’s official PS blog regarding this outage, however, they acknowledged the issue through its US and Europe Twitter channels.



From PS Europe Twitter account:

We’re aware that PSN is currently unavailable and working with the technicians to find out when it will be restored. Apologies.

PlayStation Network engineers are working hard on restoring the service. However, we have no news on when it will be back online.

And here’s an update from the US PS Twitter account:

We’re aware that some of you are having issues trying to log into PSN. We’re working to resolve the issue, and we’ll update you here.

We can recall that Sony did a maintenance of the PS Network last year (also on September 21st), but I don’t think it’s an annual schedule that today’s outage fall on the same date.



Sony just posted an update that it will restore the PS Network service in the next two hours, so let just see if indeed they can restore the service as scheduled.



Update: Sony PSN is now back online.

The PSN restoration is now complete and you should all be able to sign in. Again, sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

So, are you still unable to connect to the PSN? Do let us know in the comment section below.



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Install Windows 8 Metro UI in Windows 7

Microsoft’s Windows 8 developer preview is just around the corner, but for those who don’t want to download those bulky files for some reasons yet a bit curious about the real experience of the Metro UI built to the latest OS – this post is for you.

Metro Style UI in Windows 7

There’s this open source project called Newgen that brings the Metro UI similar to Windows 8 right on your Windows 7 machine. Technically, you won’t have to download the Windows 8 developer preview but rather just install the Newgen application like the usual way you install Windows programs. I’ve already installed it on my computer and the Metro UI launcher works seamlessly, although some widgets are still buggy.



Newgen Features:



•Support for HTML widgets

•Launch your favourite apps and webs in one click

•Customize as you want

•Switch to your opened apps, in just few clicks

•Get Windows 8 Metro UI to your desk

•Play your videos and music, view your pictures without opening them

•Get your tweets, mails and weather reports in front of your eye, just sitting

•Provides easy-to-use API for Widget developers

•Get updates from us without navigating our site



If you want to give it a try, you can download Newgen from here.

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How to Jailbreak iOS 5 and iOS 4.3.5 on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad Using Redsn0w 0.9.9b1

For those who are using IPSW firmware versions beyond iOS 4.3.3, you probably would like to jailbreak your device using the latest version of Redsn0w.



As I’ve said earlier, Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 brings several enhancements and new features including the ability to jailbreak iDevices (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPad 1) tethered or untethered, without bothering users to download manually the firmware files needed in the process. Thus, jailbreaking devices using Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 is now very much easier than previous versions. The only drawback for the time being though, this version of Redsn0w still can’t jailbreak iDevices untethered specifically those running IPSW firmwares beyond iOS 4.3.3. It can't jailbreak iPad 2 either.



In any case you still want to jailbreak your device using Redsn0w 0.9.9b1, here’s how to do it.



1. Download Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 from here.



2. Turn off your device and plug in to the computer.



3. Run Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 and select Jailbreak.

You’ll be prompted to prepare your device to enter into DFU mode, then click Next.

Just follow the steps as seen in the screenshots below:

If you failed to properly enter into DFU mode; Redsn0w will prompt a notification as seen below. Just click OK to enter into DFU mode for the second time.

If you successfully entered into DFU mode, Redsn0w will then automatically fetch all important files from the required firmware. Note that Redsn0w will only do this if you’re using final build of the firmware (mine is iOS 4.3.5). If you’re using a beta version of any firmware, you’ll have to provide the firmware manually.

When prompted, you may tick the option to Install Cydia.

And that's it. You’re done with Redsn0w! The rest of the process takes place in your device.



Please note that since Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 can’t jailbreak iOS 5 and iOS 4.3.5 untethered just yet, you will always need to use Redsn0w everytime you reboot your device before you can use any jailbreak programs.

To do that, just select the “Extras” option in Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 and click “Just boot”. There are also other options available which you can use like entering into DFU mode, kicking your device out of recovery, verifying SHSH blobs, and personal preferences like changing the boot logo.

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Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 Released! Jailbreak iOS 5, iOS 4.3.5, iOS 4.3.3, and More Without Downloading IPSW Firmware

The iPhone Dev Team has updated the very prominent Redsn0w jailbreaking tool, this time with bunch of new features which include the ability to jailbreak iDevices (except iPad 2) without having to ask users to manually download IPSW firmware files.

The latest version, Redsn0w 0.9.9b1, automatically fetches “pieces” of public IPSWs from Apple servers and then caches those “pieces” for future use. What this means for jailbreakers, particularly those who are using the Redsn0w tool, you won’t have to download anymore those bulky firmware files before you can jailbreak iDevices. You should note however, that the latest version of Redsn0w can only fetch those public firmware files or those which are already out from Beta, else you have to provide it manually. As a jailbreaker, this is certainly the most essential update to Redsn0w as far as time and bandwidth is concerned. I guess we should have to thank the Dev Team, right? And as I’ve said earlier, it comes with new features and in any case you’re interested to learn more, see quoted list below:

• uses DFU mode to try to automatically determine which device and FW you have

• fetches pieces of public IPSWs from Apple (once). Non-public IPSWs must be provided manually (once). It then caches those pieces for future use.

• “Just boot” is a tethered boot. Uses whatever “Preferences” you’ve set for boot logo and kernel boot-args

• “Pwned DFU” puts your device in a pwned DFU state for some of the iTunes stuff detailed below

• “Recovery fix” gets past 1015 types of errors (when baseband portion of restore fails). Should work on iOS5 beta too

• “Select IPSW” is for picking non-public IPSWs, or overriding auto-detection

• “SHSH blobs” has a bunch of options…

• “Fetch” - fetch current PARTIAL blobs on device. Should complete in under 10 or 15 seconds. Puts the set of PARTIAL of blobs on your computer as a plist. Checks if Cydia already has a full set for this device and build. If not, it submits this PARTIAL set and returns Cydia’s acknowledgement or rejection

• “Verify” - cryptographically verifies existing blob files from either redsn0w, TinyUmbrella, or Cydia server. You can select a whole bunch of blobs to verify at once if you want (like the TinyUmbrella directory)

• “Submit” - both verifies and submits one or more blob files to Cydia. This lets you copy your entire TinyUmbrella cache of blobs up to the Cydia server

• “Query” - queries the Cydia server for all available FULL or PARTIAL blobs for a given set of ECIDs

• “Stitch” - stitches either FULL or PARTIAL blobs to a STOCK or CUSTOM IPSW



1. Stitching is NOT yet supported on iPhones! Need to work out the baseband part of the restore process.

2. FULL blobs stitched to a STOCK IPSW gives you a completely self-contained signed IPSW that iTunes will accept without any tricks (no need to go into pwned DFU mode, no need to start TinyUmbrella TSS server, no need to redirect to Cydia server for blobs)

3. PARTIAL blobs stitched to any IPSW requires you to go into pwned DFU mode before running iTunes. No need to start TU or use Cydia though.

4. Stitching either FULL or PARTIAL blobs to a CUSTOM IPSW also requires a pwned DFU start before iTunes restores. No need to start TU or use Cydia though.

5. Will eventually support fetching the blobs directly from Cydia instead of a file on your computer

You can download Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 for Mac and Windows by following the links below (copy and paste in your web browser):



Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 for Mac download link: http://bit.ly/o2xHJG

Redsn0w 0.9.9b1 for Windows download link: http://bit.ly/o2xHJG



Update: How to Jailbreak iOS 4.3.5 and iOS 5 using Redsn0w 0.9.9b1



[via]

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Globe Telecom to Offer iPad 2 Plans

It seems like Globe Telecom won’t just offer exclusive plans for the iPhone handsets as I just got a word the telco will also offer dedicated data plans for iPad 2 (Wi-Fi + 3G version) in the coming weeks.

Last year, Globe Telecom offered prepaid and postpaid plans through its Globe Tattoo Micro-SIM only for those who got the first generation iPad from other stores. This time however, it seems these data plans will be bundled with the iPad 2 tablet.



It hasn’t yet been revealed what data plans are available for the iPad 2, but I guess that would be competitive with the local iPad 2 prices here in the Philippines. Will keep you posted for updates…



Update: Globe iPad 2 Plans, Now Official!

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Windows 8 Metro Style Apps Video Walkthrough

One of the many features brought to Windows 8 is the new Metro style UI inspired through Microsoft’s latest mobile OS, the Windows Phone 7.

The Metro style UI brings among the important information right on the Start screen in Windows with the help of live tiles. Basically, it’s just an addition on top of the improved and more popular Windows desktop in Windows 8, but could be a great option for users who prefer Touch functions; although the Metro still works fine using keyboard, mouse, or other input devices. And to put it into perspective giving you how Metro style apps look like in the new UI and how it exactly works, Microsoft posted a demo video showing off several communication connected apps in Windows 8 which include Photos with integration to Facebook and Flickr, Mail, People, Calendar, and Messaging. Go check it out after the break.

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Forget About Ovi, We’ll Use “Nokia” Starting Today

That’s right! Starting today, we’ll be using the “Nokia” branding in all products and services related to Ovi.



We can recall back in May that Nokia announced its plans to discontinue the Ovi brand and will go into rebranding all services under the main and more popular “Nokia” brand. Though this move won’t disrupt the entire service roadmaps, what this means is simply a rebranding. That is, your favorite applications like Ovi Maps will be called Nokia Maps, the Ovi Store will become Nokia Store, the Ovi Mail to become Nokia Mail, and etc. Of course that will also mean replacing Ovi logos with just Nokia.

Ovi Store Renamed to Nokia Store

This transition has already begun in July and Nokia said it’s expected to be completed by end of this year. In fact, when I visited the Ovi Store earlier today – I noticed it has already been renamed to Nokia Store and the Ovi logo was replaced as well. I’m pretty sure the site’s URL will soon redirect to a new one sans the word “ovi”.



So as early as now, I encourage you to make use of the new brand name for anything Ovi-related to avoid confusion. To be honest, I find it quite hard to explain to non-techie people what is “Ovi” and how it is associated to the phone maker, so I’m glad to see Nokia centralizing its services and unifying its identity just under a single brand. Nokia, that is.

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iPhone 5 Release Update: October 15th, Says France Telecom CEO!

This is never a leaked document, and by no means a slip of the tongue… If we are to believe the CEO of France Telecom, the iPhone 5 will launch in October 15th!

Speaking to the French press, France Telecom chief executive Stéphane Richard discussed Apple’s plans for the release of the next iPhone model and even confirmed the date when the Cupertino-based phone maker will unveil the device.

"If we believe what we have been told, the iPhone 5 will be released on 15 October.”

Now, this report coincides with earlier rumors involving the leaked documents from Best Buy in the US as well as the early announcement of iPhone 5 pre-orders at Deutsche Telecom AG in Germany. And if all of these information holds true, then we can expect iPhone 5 from Globe Telecom in mid-December this year -- of course, unless only if Globe and Apple change its roadmap, right? It may even come as a surprise if Globe Telecom will have it in less than a month. Anyway, October is almost there, folks – so let’s just see. [via]



Update: Apple iPhone 5 event is official, October 4th.

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Download Windows 8 [Official ISO Links]

Microsoft has already posted the official download links of the Developer Preview builds of Windows 8 for those who want to take the current flavors of the OS.

The Windows 8 Developer Preview is actually a pre-Beta version of the OS, showing off its features, pre-release software, and the entire build at its current stage. We’ve already seen several features of Windows 8 while being demoed at Microsoft’s Build Conference in California, and as some of you may already knew -- system hardware won’t be a problem if you got one running Windows Vista or Windows 7. Windows 8 will seamlessly run on these earlier builds of Windows! Although the Developer Preview of Windows 8 is technically designed for developers, it doesn’t mean you can’t get it unless you’re a coder. The preview is actually available in 3 different packages – the 64-bit version with various developer tools, another 64-bit version with just an OS, and a 32-bit version of just an OS – so basically Microsoft is offering us an option. Great!



Anyway, as I’ve said earlier, you can still install Windows 8 on system that powers Windows Vista and Windows 7; and as a refresher, here are those minimum hardware that should be running in your computer:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor


• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)


• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)


• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

And since Windows 8 is optimized with Touch functionalities, of course you’ll need a screen that supports multi-touch.



You should note however, that since this is still just a Preview version of Windows 8, it doesn’t guarantee 100% stability so you have to use it at your own risk. Nevertheless, if you want to give it a try, just head to this download page.



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HTC Sensation XE Specs: 1.5GHz CPU, 4.3-inch qHD Display, 16GB Storage, Plus Beats Audio

Forget about that Thunderbolt look-a-like HTC Vigor as the first phone to bring Beats by Dr. Dre audio experience ‘coz it’s not.

The first handset to feature Beats Audio has officially been announced straight from HTC’s Headquarter, and they are calling the device as HTC Sensation XE. And as you’d guess, HTC Sensation XE will carry the same hardware specs as the first dual-core smartphone of the company, except that it got a faster processor at 1.5GHz, which definitely more than just enough to power all your apps in Android Gingerbread. It flaunts the same 4.3-inch capacitive display; this time however, it’s more vivid with qHD resolution. Plus, there’s an option to add external storage up to 16GB through microSD, so you got plenty of space for your favorite multimedia files. And since this phone is expected to deliver Hi-Fi and studio quality audio on top of the powerful processor and vibrant display, HTC increased a few more Coulombs to HTC Sensation’s power source, this time with 1,730 mAh battery, so HTC Sensation XE won’t drain power that fast.



HTC Sensation XE Specs



Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

HTC Sense 3.0 UI

4.3-inch qHD (960x540 pixels) Capacitive Touchscreen Display

1.5GHz dual-core processor

768MB RAM

1GB Internal Storage

8GG/16GB MicroSD Card

8MP Rear Camera with dual-LED Flash

VGA Front Camera

1080p at 30fps Video with Stereo Sound Recording

4G capable (14.4Mbps HSPA+)

3G (14.4 Mbps HSDPA, 5.76 Mbps HSUPA)

GPRS/EDGE

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Bluetooth 3.0, A2DP

GPS, A-GPS

Micro-USB 2.0

HDMI

3.5mm audio jack

Accelerometer

Gyroscope

1,730 mAh battery



HTC Sensation XE will be available across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific from late September. Stay tuned for price updates!

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Windows 8 Features Preview, What We Know So Far…

We had our first sneak peek of Windows 8 back in June, and this time however, we’ll check out more what Microsoft are introducing on the next version of its OS.

As we learned before, Windows 7 and Vista systems can still run Windows 8. The OS received a huge overhaul in the entire UI so it will be optimized for low-powered devices particularly the tablets. Here’s a demo of Windows 8 running on an unofficial Samsung slate, courtesy of AllThingsD.



At Microsoft’s BUILD developer conference in Anaheim, California this week, the Redmond-based company highlighted a variety of new features of Windows 8, some of which are listed below:

Touch-First User Interface

• Metro style. Windows 8 introduces a new Metro style interface built for touch, which shows information important to you, embodies simplicity and gives you control. The Metro style UI is equally at home with a mouse and keyboard as well.

• Touch-first browsing, not just browsing on a touch device. Providing a fast and fluid touch-browsing experience, Internet Explorer 10 puts sites at the center on new Windows 8 devices.



More Ways to Engage With Powerful, Connected Apps

• Powered by apps. Metro style apps built for Windows 8 are the focal point of your experience, filling your entire screen so there are no distractions.

• Apps can work together. Apps communicate with each other in Windows 8. For example, you can easily select and email photos from different places, such as Facebook, Flickr or on your hard drive.

• Your experience syncs across your devices. Live roams all the content from the cloud services you use most - photos, email, calendar and contacts - keeping them up-to-date on your devices. With SkyDrive, you can access your files, photos and documents from virtually anywhere with any browser or with Metro style apps in Windows 8.



Enhanced Fundamentals

• The best of Windows 7, only better. Windows 8 is built on the rock-solid foundation of Windows 7, delivering improvements in performance, security, privacy and system reliability. Windows 8 reduces the memory footprint needed - even on the lowest-end hardware - leaving more room for your apps.

• Preserving power-user favorites and making them better. For those who push the limits of their PC, Windows 8 features an enhanced Task Manager and Windows Explorer and new, flexible options for multimonitor setups.



New Developer Opportunities

• Windows Store. The Windows Store will allow developers to sell their apps anywhere Windows is sold worldwide, whether they're creating new games or familiar productivity tools.

• Build using more languages. Windows 8 lets you leverage your existing skills and code assets to create great experiences using the programming language you prefer.

• Rich hardware integration leads to richer experiences - particularly for games. DirectX 11 gaming power underlies Windows 8, allowing the easy creation of full-screen games with smooth, flicker-free action.



New Generation of Hardware

• One Windows - many shapes and sizes. Support for ARM-based chipsets, x86 (as well as x32 and x64) devices, touch and sensors means Windows 8 works beautifully across a spectrum of devices, from 10-inch tablets and laptops to all-in-ones with 27-inch high-definition screens.

• Always connected. With Windows 8, new ultrathin PCs and tablets turn on instantly, run all day on a single charge and stay connected to the Internet so your PC is ready when you are. Next-generation system on a chip (SoC) support will also enable greatly extended standby and low-power states.

• Tap the full power of your PC. Windows 8 runs on PCs and is compatible with the devices and programs you use today on Windows 7, without compromise, to deliver the performance you expect of a PC.

I missed the keynote speech earlier today. Good thing though Lifehacker trimmed down the entire keynote video to cover among the important highlights of Windows 8. Check it out after the break! [via]

Update: Download Windows 8 Developer Preview



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Fusion Garage 10-inch Grid OS Tablet Price Update

Fusion Garage is set to launch its new Grid OS-based tablet by end of the month, presumably by October 1st in the US, and surprisingly the company dropped the prices of each variant $200 less than the initial announcement.

The Grid 10 tablet is originally priced starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi only version while the 3G-capable slate got a retail price of $599. This time however, those located in the US and UK can get the tablet at $299 (£259) and $399 (£359) for the 16GB Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G models, respectively. Pre-order is available here (US) and here (UK).



The price drop is obviously due to the tight competition against other tablet makers. And despite the Grid 10 tablet donning decent hardware specs on top of its unique Grid OS, Fusion Garage really has to do something strategically to win consumers and that could be by playing with the prices.



Grid 10 Tablet Specs



Grid OS with Android applications

Nvidia Tegra II 1.2Ghz Dual Core processor/chipset

10.1-inch TFT Capacitive Touch Display, 1366 x 768 pixels

512MB RAM

16GB, microSD expandable

1.3MP Front-facing camera

3G (HSDPA)

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

GPS, A-GPS

3-axis Gyroscope

Accelerometer

Built-in microphone

2 Loudspeakers (0.5W)

3.5mm Stereo jack (combined microphone and audio)

microSIM card slot

HDMI port

USB

274.2 x 173.5 x 13.9mm

690g

5,800mAh standard battery



Philippines is listed on Fusion Garage’s subscription page for those who want to register their interest for the tablet, but it’s unclear just yet when the company will begin accepting pre-orders for additional countries. Just stay tuned as we’ll just keep you posted. [via]

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Microsoft Apps Coming to Symbian This Q4

I think you got to believe that despite switching to Windows Phone for its future high-end handsets, Nokia won’t abandon Symbian fans out there that have been using the platform for years.

In fact, as a proof for its plans to push more updates in the future and continue providing software support until at least 2016, Nokia will bring Microsoft Apps to Symbian. These Microsoft Apps would be delivered as a software update to Symbian Belle handsets sometime in Q4 of this year. And if you’re wondering what apps you can expect on this update, these are actually free business productivity tools, majority of which were not included in Nokia’s business-centric smartphones like the Nokia E6 (which we are giving away!), including:

• Microsoft Lync 2010 Mobile – for cost efficient IM, presence, audio and web meetings on-the-go.


• Microsoft PowerPoint Broadcast – quick broadcast of presentations directly from PC to mobile.


• Microsoft OneNote – rich note taking with images. Syncs with Microsoft SkyDrive.


• Microsoft Document Connection – single view to documents stored on mobile, including email attachments as well as documents on Microsoft SharePoint 2010 sites.

And early next year, Nokia says it will release another update to Microsoft Apps for Symbian Belle, particularly Microsoft OneNote sync with SharePoint; and the Finnish phone maker will also make Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as native apps in the Symbian platform, the first time in history that these MS Office applications run outside MS Windows.



I, myself, wanted to get my hands on my first Symbian Belle device and am honestly pretty much excited about this. How about you?

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Android Jelly Bean Could Be Next to Ice Cream Sandwich

I, myself, can’t figure out any other names of a dessert which begins in “J”, so I have to agree by now that the next version to Android Ice Cream Sandwich could be "Jelly Bean".

What a sweet name Google has for its mobile platform, but no matter what – the folks over at This is my next got a pair of tipsters saying Jelly Bean is indeed the next flavor of Android. The name however, hasn’t yet been finalized by Google and so what version number will it get. ICS don’t have a version number yet either. Although nothing much have been revealed what specific features Jelly Bean would bring, the “source goes on to say that there are some fairly major architectural, functional, and design changes in Ice Cream Sandwich.”



While Ice Cream Sandwich is speculated for an October/November release, you certainly would be miffed after hearing that the “game-changing stuff” that was supposed to be present in the next Android version will be pushed back to Jelly Bean. Though this “game-changing stuff” being pulled from the upcoming ICS is relatively not specific, at least for Android users, it could be a bummer right? Of course the folks at Google know better than us so I guess they will do that for reasons.



Just a trivia particularly for those who don’t know yet, Google usually continue the legacy of giving names to Android versions after delicious things or desserts, and the names are ordered alphabetically relative to the release date (Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo or Frozen Yogurt, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich).



Is Jelly Bean could be next? I don’t know Maybe.J Anyway, let’s just wait until Google officially confirmed the authenticity of this rumor. Just stay tuned! [via]



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Download Official Blogger App for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

Wait no more, bloggers. If you’re using Google’s blogging platform, well, you should be happy to hear that the official Blogger app for iOS devices has already made its way to the App Store.

The new Blogger app which is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad running at least iOS 3.1.3, brings similar features as its Android counterpart including publishing of posts with photos, labels, and location information.

Blogger app will allow you to: Select account/blog if you have more than 1. Include pictures from the gallery or by taking a picture directly from the app Add labels Add location information Save as draft or immediately publish View list of saved/published posts

Though the UI is only available in English, the app supports blog posts written in all languages. The app doesn’t have some of the features available on the web-based version including video upload, stats, comment moderation, as well as formatting tools – but I’d guess Google will bring it all very soon. I can say though the app is still great after all. Go check it out here and do let us know what you think about it.



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Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay Website Hacked!

I seldom visit this website, but yeah – the official online portal of the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines has been hacked.



If you visit www.ovp.gov.ph, the homepage is completely blank (as of this writing) except for the Facebook logo in the upper left which will bring you to the FB fan page of the Vice President. It’s quite hard to believe though that the fan page only got a small number of fans for a government official like Binay, so I’m thinking it’s not really legit.

Cache homepage of the Philippine VP's website (click to enlarge)

The blank homepage leaves no clear explanation as to why the website is compromised; however, out of curiosity by checking cache pages of www.ovp.gov.ph, it appears most of its internal links redirect to an online gaming website, AmigoGames.com. Now this leads me to suspect two things: it could be a ridiculous website promotion by the gaming portal, or somebody just wants to screw the VP’s website while setting up AmigoGames.com.



Anyway, let’s just wait until we got the official statement from the Office of the Vice President regarding this incident. Any thoughts?

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Play Flash Contents in iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, Very Soon…

Finally, Adobe brings all the possibilities of playing Flash contents like videos and games to Apple devices with the release of the new versions of Adobe Flash Media Server and Adobe Flash Access.

The inability to play Flash contents through iOS’ native Safari browser is perhaps the biggest complaint among users as far as streaming media is concerned. Technically, it’s not an issue of the Safari browser but rather on how Adobe renders Flash contents to the device. Flash is described as too “resource-intensive” by utilizing much of the handset’s processor and battery, which has a significant impact in overall performance. With all of the anticipated issues which the great Steve Jobs outlined here, Flash contents are blocked in iOS devices. There are some apps though that made its way to the App Store like the Skyfire for iPhone and Skyfire for iPad, which does all rendering tricks on Flash videos, but still it’s not the complete solution just yet.



Not anymore. Adobe says with the new Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0, however, seamless delivery of Flash contents to devices like iPhone and iPad have already taken care of by these Adobe products; obviously, processing contents in the server side out of Apple’s control.

With Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers can extend their already broad mobile reach via Flash-enabled devices, with the new ability to deliver video content to Apple’s iPad and iPhone devices, enabling them to reach the widest audience possible. Adobe Flash Access 3.0, a robust content protection and monetization solution, will enable content owners to deliver on-demand content with massive scale and strict studio-level security across a broad range of devices, following the upcoming release of Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3.

This is certainly good news for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users; and of course to media publishers as well, as reaching more audience is not just possible. Read on more about Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0 products through the press release after the break.



Click to Read Press Release

Adobe Announces Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0



New Ways to Deliver and Protect High-Quality Video Online and On-device Simplify Streaming Media and Content Protection for Superior Video Experiences Across Desktops and Devices Including iOS, Android and Playbook



IBC 2011 September 08, 2011 10:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time



SAN JOSE, Calif. & AMSTERDAM–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced at the IBC 2011 Conference and Exhibition significant new releases of industry-leading streaming video solutions, including Adobe® Flash® Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access® 3.0 software. With Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers can extend their already broad mobile reach via Flash-enabled devices, with the new ability to deliver video content to Apple’s iPad and iPhone devices, enabling them to reach the widest audience possible. Adobe Flash Access 3.0, a robust content protection and monetization solution, will enable content owners to deliver on-demand content with massive scale and strict studio-level security across a broad range of devices, following the upcoming release of Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR® 3.



“Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we’re enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success”



At the IBC 2011 Exhibition, Adobe will demonstrate its streaming video solutions including the Flash Media Server family, Flash Access, the Open Source Media Framework (OSMF) and Adobe Pass, Adobe’s content authentication solution for TV Everywhere, at its stand (Hall 7 Stand 7.G27) in the RAI Convention Center, Sept. 9-13 in Amsterdam.



“Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we’re enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success,” said Pritham Shetty, vice president, Video Solutions, Adobe.



“When your business is based on delivering live, broadcast-quality video streams for high-profile events to massive audiences across the world, having strong technology backing you is vital,” said Ben Rolling, vice president of development for AEG Digital Media, the leading provider of complete webcast management and media services for live streaming events and online video. “Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 improves the stability of our video streams, decreases load times, and helps us better manage encoding and bitrates for an improved end-user experience on mobile devices and online. We can trust that it will deliver rock solid video streams and please our clients, advertisers and viewers, whether we’re streaming the royal wedding or the Grammy Awards.”



Premium Video Streaming with Flash Media Server 4.5



Flash Media Server 4.5 expands on its mobile delivery options with the addition of iOS support and enables content owners to create HTTP content on the fly to reduce costs brought on by device proliferation. New features of Flash Media Server 4.5:



Delivery to iPad and iPhone enables businesses to use the same media and live streams to deliver full adaptive bit-rate experiences to platforms supporting Flash, as well as Apple devices, including iPad and iPhone.



Integrated Content Protection simplifies deployment and reduces infrastructure cost, enabling seamless streaming for advertising-funded online video.



On-demand Stream Packaging eliminates the need to prepare and protect assets ahead of time, reducing complexity and storage costs and simplifying publishing for businesses so they can use one set of source video to reach multiple downstream devices.



Premium Video Monetization and Content Protection with Flash Access 3.0



Flash Access 3.0 builds on Adobe’s strong traction in video delivery by extending support to reach mobile devices. This allows content providers to securely deliver and monetize content with a single back-end workflow, delivering rich, engaging experiences on desktop, connected TVs, Blu-ray players, tablets and smartphones. New features of Flash Access 3.0:



Support on Mobile Devices will include Android tablets and smartphones, as well as other mobile devices, allowing video programmers to leverage the same content delivery, protection and monetization infrastructure to target mobile devices, following the upcoming release of Adobe Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3 (set to be available later this quarter).



Scalable License Delivery and in-band Key Rotation enables Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) and programmers to offer television experiences over IP, whether over the open Internet or on a managed network, at massive scale. With Flash Access 3.0, it is now possible to securely deliver multiple TV “channels” to millions of subscribers with a cost-effective premium content protection solution.



Compatibility with Industry Standards including UltraViolet, an industry-standard, cloud-based digital rights locker system that will allow consumers to create personal virtual video libraries and access them across multiple devices. Flash Access has been approved for use with UltraViolet, set to be released this fall. Flash Access 3.0 and the upcoming versions of Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 will be able to be leveraged by content retailers, service providers and device manufacturers to create full UltraViolet experiences, including playback for the UVVU Common File Format.



Pricing and Availability



Adobe Flash Access 3.0 is offered at per unit CPM pricing. Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 is offered at US$995. Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 is offered at US$4,500. Adobe Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 pricing can be quoted by contacting Adobe. Products can be ordered today at www.adobe.com/go/fms and are available immediately.

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