Software : Official Gmail app for iOS released

Official Gmail app for iOS released
Exclusive: RealPlayer still sees 10,000 UK downloads per day
Google Street View adds parks
GarageBand arrives on iPhone and iPod touch

Posted:

Google has released its official Gmail app for iOS, so you can enjoy official access to your Google webmail on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The free app promises push notifications, efficient search, email address autocompletion, a handy attachment button to easily upload photos and a split-view inbox for iPad users.

Priority Inbox has also made its way to the app, so your most important emails will be given greater importance and easier access in the inbox, with a number of touch-sensitive interface enhancements allowing you to easily navigate your mail.

Gmail fail whale

Sadly for Google, the first reviews of the app are far from brilliant.

Noted tech commentator Robert Scoble tweeted his disappointment, "The Gmail app is really a piece of crud. Not worth loading. Very disappointed."

Other early app adopters have taken to Twitter to complain that notifications are failing, there's no support for multiple accounts and a number of users are also encountering error messages.

Check it out for yourself by downloading the Gmail for iOS app from iTunes here.

Exclusive: RealPlayer still sees 10,000 UK downloads per day

Posted:

RealPlayer hits the grand old age of 16 this year and RealNetworks' managing director revealed to TechRadar that between 8,000 and 12,000 UK internet users now download the software every day.

The company is on track to shift 100 million copies of RealPlayer globally this year – which may surprise anyone who abandoned the software after its liberal attitude to changing users' settings without asking for permission and making itself the go-to software for, well, basically anything.

But where RealPlayer was once the go-to programme for streaming video online, it's now largely been replaced by Flash; these days, users are opting for the RealPlayer's video downloading know-how, which makes it easy to save DRM-free video from online to your desktop, as well as easy sharing and converting for use on smartphones and tablets.

RealUsers

"In any given month we have over 25 million unique users," said MD Ken Murphy. When asked if these are recurring users or one-off downloads, Murphy couldn't say exactly because – he told us – the company doesn't track how people use the software.

The surprising figures come at a time of change at RealNetworks, having just announced the appointment of a new CEO in the shape of Thomas Nielsen, previously of Adobe.

And with the new leadership comes a new version of the RealPlayer software, RealPlayer 15, which launches on 15 November.

Although we couldn't eke any official details about exactly what's new, head of consumer software and services Johan Hansen told us, "It's an exciting new free product, and it offers something that no one else has on the market."

Past times

When quizzed on how difficult it is for RealPlayer to shake off its dodgy spyware-esque associations, Hansen conceded that it's a tricky one.

"We're internationally recognised but not for what RealPlayer is now," he said.

"A lot of people don't realise what RealPlayer is capable of now, but that's changing and we're really seeing a renaissance as people realise the ease of use the software offers for downloading video."

RealNetworks is also branching out, having recently launched Rinse, a programme that cleans up your iTunes media files at the click of a mouse button.

Google Street View adds parks

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Next time you feel like taking a stroll through one of the world's most iconic parks, you can do so from the comfort of your favourite easy chair, thanks to Google Street View.

Google says it has sent its Street View Trike to 22 different countries around the world and captured every detail of famous landmarks like Kensington Gardens in London.

Among the other parks you can visit using the Google Maps-based tool are High Line, which sits 30ft above the streets of New York City and Koganei Park in Tokyo, Japan.

World landmarks added to gallery

There are six parks in total, but Google has also added hundreds of new collections to a gallery featuring landmarks all over the world.

You can now get up close and personal with the Colosseum in Rome, Big Ben in London as well as touring the beaches of Hawaii and take a virtual glide down the ski slops of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada.

You can check out the gallery on the official Google Maps page, and see the video below to discover how Google was able to capture High Line park in New York.

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YcNm6eVGlg

Via: Official Google Blog

GarageBand arrives on iPhone and iPod touch

Posted:

Apple has added support for the iPhone and iPod touch to the GarageBand app, which arrived on the iPad earlier this year.

The massively successful home music creation tool costs just £2.99, but if you've already downloaded it for the iPad it's free to bring the app over to your other iOS devices.

The app's universal nature means all of the features that made the iPad iteration one of the most popular of 2011.

Smart instruments

With virtual guitars, basses, pianos, keyboards and drum kits and more, it's easy to record your own multi-track tunes and you can also plug your instrument into the device's headphone jack.

If you've never played an instrument before, Apple has you covered thanks to the "smart instruments", which will allow you to play chords and create beats with the minimum of fuss.

Once you've created your musical masterpiece, it's easy to share it online or send it to iTunes.

Apple's Senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing said: "GarageBand on iPad has been a big hit and we think customers will love using it on their iPhone or iPod touch.

"The innovative Multi-Touch interface combined with Smart Instruments makes it easy to create great sounding music, even if you've never studied music or played an instrument before."

Via: PC Mag

Yahuui Blog

Wednesday, November 2, 2011