Although Matias Duarte earlier said that Facebook Home is impressive, even he would agree that there’s more work to be done on the app which still has only managed just 2.2 average rating at Google Play. But Facebook seems to have big plans for Home for the future, according to Vice President of Mobile Engineering Cory Ondrejka and Director of Product Adam Mosseri.

There is good news for those who are worried about the disappearance of Docks and Folders in Home. A future update will bring those features into Home’s application launcher. Mosseri says, “We want to ease the transition from your old launcher to the new launcher“. But support for widgets will take more time to arrive. Home users will also get to play with a new Buddy List feature which will allow Chat Head conversations to be started directly from Cover Feed.

Furthermore, they will also introduce the so called “Blues Clues” which will guide users through the application via directions and clues, not unlike the pop ups received by Facebook’s web users.

Other developments for the future include support for Home on more devices including tablets, although they are currently just focussed on improving the app than introducing it on more hardware. And as for an iOS version, Ondrejka says, “If there are hooks available, we’ll take advantage of them—I don’t think we see a way to do something like Cover Feed just yet“.

And you can also look forward to seeing advertisements, after the app is improved a great deal. But they are promising that the ads will go well with the Cover Feed.

So far, Facebook Home has been downloaded almost a million times. They have just released an update that will fix a few bugs, but no hints regarding when the above said features will arrive.

[Source]

[Image Source]

The post Facebook Home Updates To Bring Big Changes In The Future appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Source code found in a recent build of Windows 8.1 might hint at a new boot up option for the latest Windows update. Currently Windows 8 users are forced to boot to the tiled menu screen before heading to the desktop to get some actual work done. On a touch screen device this isn’t really an issue, but if you are using a track pad or mouse it’s an unnecessary extra step.

Russian site Windows Portal claims that code they have found might allow users to jump directly into the desktop in Windows 8.1. Those browsing through the code say that “twinui.dll” can be disabled and reactivated depending on which screen you wish to start from.

Already current users of Windows 8 are excited by this prospect, and those currently on Windows 7 have said they would be more likely to update if this feature is included in 8.1.

[ Source ]

The post Windows 8.1 could let PC’s boot directly to desktop appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

It’s no secret that I have fallen out of love with the iPhone and am very much an Android phone user, but for tablets I still can’t get enough of the iPad Mini. It’s small, fast, has very little bezel and just outperforms anything else in its class, but perhaps not for long.

Google and Asus are preparing a new version of the Nexus 7 and are rumoured to be taking a few styling and feature cues from Apple’s tiny iOS tablet. The new Nexus 7, which could go on sale as early as July, is reported to offer a larger screen but with less bezel than the current Nexus tablet.

Further reports claim that a higher resolution display will be in place on the new Nexus 7 along with a faster processor and more RAM. I don’t know about you guy’s but if Google and Asus throw in a decent rear camera and Android Key Lime I’ll be sorely tempted to ditch the iPad Mini.

What do you think of the current Android tablets out there on the market? How to their compare to their rivals in the Windows and iOS world?

[ Source ]

The post High Resolution Nexus 7 Update Coming in July? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

iOS 6 has been on Apple iPad and iPhone devices for a good while, and fans of Apple’s mobile products are looking forward to seeing what new features iOS 7 will bring to the table.

However, it’s not going to be just new features that iOS 7 promises, but the possibility of a much overdue makeover. From the original iPhone back in 2007 to the latest iPhone 5, there haven’t been any real significant changes to the OS. In comparison Android, and even Windows Phone, barely look anything like their originals.

Ever since Jonathan Ive took over the roll of human interface development, he has promised to bring a more modern look to iOS, one which could see the faux post-it look of notes disappear. In fact each of iOS’s apps could see a more simple redesign, which may not necessarily reflect their real world counterparts.

As you would imagine, with such a big change for iOS, Apple is rumoured to be working overtime on iOS 7 and might actually be behind schedule.  No firm release dates or details of the new version of iOS have been announced but we can expect to get a first official glimpse at it during this years Worldwide Developer Conference.

[ Source ]

The post Reports say iOS 7 is Behind Schedule but Will be the Biggest Change to Date appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Flipboard is a great app to have on your iPad. The app allows you to add content from your favorite feeds and converts it all in to a great looking magazine. While the function and form of the app is great, it was a little limited in what it would allow you to do. Enter Flipboard 2.0.

The latest version of Flipboard is now designed to allow users to create their own virtual magazines using content from various sources. You can then name your E-zine how you like, add a description and even allow it to be viewed publicly. Other feature updates include better search and faster loading of images along with smoother transitions.

Have you tried out the latest version of Flipboard yet? If so, what do you think?

[ Source ]

The post Flipboard 2.0 for iOS Lets You Become an Editor appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

A number of unlucky Sony Xperia Z phone owners have been struck with a problematic bug which apparently kills the new phone for no apparent reason. While some owners report that resetting their phone fixes the issue, others haven’t been so fortunate.

The issue has become such a problem that Sony have posted a statement saying that a fix is currently in the works and should roll out with the next Xperia Z update. Although it never looks good to have serious bugs like this surface, keep in mind it isn’t all that uncommon for flagship devices to have such problems. Think back to some of the iPhone 5 and Lumia 920′s problems, for example.

Have you suffered from this problem, if so did you resolve it and how? Is this a deal-breaker or do you still love your Xperia Z as long as Sony gets the bug fixed? Let us know in the comments section below.

[ Source ]

The post Sony Announces Fix for Bug that Shutdowns the Xperia Z appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Google has rolled out an update for the Gmail app so that now includs new actionable notifications for Jelly Bean phones and tablets.

Basically the update offers users a number of new features from inside the Android notification window, rather than actually having to open the Gmail app itself. Deleting, archiving and replying to emails from the Gmail app will now be that much faster and more convenient.

While actionable notifications is only coming to users on Android 4.1 and 4.2 Jelly Bean, ICS also gets faster searching and a few bug and performance upgrades. Froyo users aren’t completely without luck here either, as they a few performance updates added to the mix as well.

You can update Gmail via Google Play, but be warned that some users are experiencing problems with the updated app and the Light Flow LED notification app. Have you downloaded the update yet? What do you think of the changes?

[ Source ]

The post Gmail Update Allows Jelly Bean Users to Reply to Emails from Notification Bar appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 launch was really more about the improved software of the new phone rather than the design or hardware. Cool new features such as dual-camera, S-Translator and S Health might have some current S3 and Note 2 owners reaching for their credit cards.

But, hang on! Step back from your flexible friend and take a deep breath as you might not need all the new hardware to run those great updates. According to Nick DiCarlo, Samsung’s VP of Portfolio Planning, software updates which don’t require new hardware might be pushed on to other flagship Sammy phones!

Anything that we can do that’s not dependent on hardware like infrared, we’ll definitely bring to all the flagship devices.

By no means a guarantee that it will happen, but at least Samsung is saying it could happen. What did you think of the new software features announced with the Galaxy S4, impressed or not?

[ Source ]

The post Galaxy S4 software updates could trickle down to S3 and Note 2 appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

If you are looking for a job then Microsoft is hiring. It looks like they need engineers to help them prep the latest version of their Windows Phone mobile OS.

A job posting states that Microsoft is looking for a software development engineer to work on a Windows phone update scheduled to release during the holiday season:

“This is a great time to join us as we’re completing our current release and getting ready for our next release targeting the holiday of this year.”

While we the details don’t mention a major release, the time frame certainly indicates this could be the case. Previous Windows phone updates have been released in September and October, perhaps Windows phone 8.5 is heading to phones for Christmas 2013? Considering all the previous rumors about Windows Blue and Windows Phone Blue, this could certainly end up being a job related to that effort. What do you think?

[ Source ]

The post Windows Phone Update Hinted at in Microsoft Job Posting appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Recently Apple attempted to answer a common user complaint regarding Wi-Fi issues in iOS 6. The new iOS 6.0.2 update was geared towards the iPad Mini and iPhone 5 in particular, but applied to the iPad and other devices with iOS 6 issues as well.

While it is debatable as to whether this even solved the intended problem, now we have reports that this update might be causing a new issue as well.  Shortly after this update, owners have been complaining of that their batteries are draining at a much quicker rate than before upgrading to 6.0.2.

Twitter was inundated with reports from users complaining of the battery drain on their devices.  The battery drain does not seem to be earth shattering, but it is a significant different.  One user stated, “I was able to go to bed with my phone at 100% charge and wake up with 100%, since updating I wake up with it around 90% charged.”

Apple has yet to release any news or statements regarding this problem, but with the iOS 6.1 being right around the corner, they may just ignore it and make sure the new update doesn’t have the same issues of battery drain as the 6.0.2 update.

Have you experienced this increased battery drain or is your device getting the same battery performance as usual?

The post iPhone 5 and Mini Having Battery Issues After Receiving Update appeared first on Mobile Magazine.