Apple to Unveil OS X Mountain Lion and new iCloud features at WWDC

Apple is set to start this years developer conference WWDC tomorrow in SF. Apple has historically unveiled new technologies and products at WWDC. Source have spotted banners of the next version of OS X Mountain Lion, and iCloud in the conference center.

The new version of iCloud is rumored to have additional applications like notes, and reminder available on the internet suite.

Apple to Launch iOS6 Tomorrow

According to sources, Apple is going to unveil the next iteration of its mobile operating system iOS 6. Apple is starting this years' WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) tomorrow, which has been historically one of the most important platform for Apple to unveil new technologies and products.

People have spotted iOS6 banners in the conference center.

Mountain Lion brings Photo Stream to Aperture

Apple's soon to be landing desktop operating system, Mountain Lion, would bring Photo Stream photos sync to Aperture as well. In Lion, photo stream sync was only limited to iPhoto.

Apple Allows to Sync Contact with iCloud and Google in Mountain Lion

Some of you might remember the strange issue that Mac OS X Lion's Address Book had. One could either sync contacts with iCloud or Google. For some reason Apple did not allow a scenario with sync with both services enabled. As usual, Apple did not care to explain reason behind such restrictions.

However, the good news is that Apple has removed the restriction from Mountain Lion. In Mountain Lion's Contacts App (renamed Address Book), one can sync contacts with both iCloud and Google at the same time.

Interestingly, Apple has removed sync with Yahoo! contacts.

Microsoft Releases Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Microsoft today released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Windows 8 is a crucial step going forward for Microsoft's strategy to merge the mobile and desktop. The new OS is available for free download, and includes the Windows store to download and install applications. 

One of the biggest changes in this version of Windows is the removal of Microsoft's long favorite start menu, which has been replaced with the Metro style start UI, where the traditional desktop is one of the many applications.






Microsoft is also doubling down on full screen applications like the internet explorer below, and cloud sync. It seems skydrive is going to find its niche in this version of Windows. From what Microsoft has explained about new sync services, it seems that not only Skydrive can compete head to head with Dropbox, iCloud and the rumored Google Drive, but also it might lead the game.

Another big change is that Windows 8 would be available for x86 as well as ARM CPUs. An ARM variant of the consumer preview is not available to download, which seems logical as there is not hardware to run it as of now.


The Verge has a further detailed cover of the story.

Canonical Launches Ubuntu for Andriod

Today, Canonical unveiled Ubuntu for Android. Yes, a full fledged unix operating system that would run from your smartphone when docked. 

They are calling for smartphone manufacturers to work with them. Aparantly in this new eco-system, both operating systems would run on the same kernel, and run together in coherence. 

"Ubuntu and Android share the same kernel, running at the same time, accessing data and applications."

 Canonical also means to imply (or atleast that's what the above picture says) that you'd be able to use Android apps on Ubuntu. 

I am not sure if it is very much viable (in terms of performance) on a smartphone given the limited resources and size, however, I am hopeful to see this technology coming through in tablets. We've always wanted out tablet to double as our PC's/laptops. 

Apple ripped off Messages icon from WebOS

Apple launched OS X Mountain Lion yesterday, and with this they launched many new applications. One of these new applications is Messages, which is available to download now. However, a lot of people have been wondering where does Apple got the inspiration for the shiny new icon (read: Who did Apple rip off???). Many of the techblogs around the interweb has been saying that apple ripped off icon off an online colloboration service hipchat. However, I think Apple blatantly ripped off the icon from WebOS's Message app. Here a screenshot from the original WebOS launch for your viewing pleasure.

Apple Killing Third Party Developers with Mountain Lion

OS X Mountain Lion is good and all. But with many built-in features apple is set to kill many third party applications. Here is a short list:


Notification Center: Growl  the famous open-source notification system is set to be slew by OS X Mountain Lion's Notification Center. They're even using similar pop-ups on the top-right corner of the screen. It seems like that was the point of the growl team to begin with, but they recently started selling Growl in the Mac App Store.


Notes: Previously, integrated into Mail, notes used to be a small feature and not many people used it. This is why the market was open to contenders like Evernote. But now Apple is finally launching a stand-alone app for Notes. It supports more things then just plain text, and it syncs across all you devices. 


Reminders: In case of reminders, there are many to-do and Reminders applications that it infringe upon (not as in copyright). 




Messages: The good ol' iChat used to support most third party services, which would still exist in the new version. However, iMessage + Facetime seems a deadly combination against Skype. Lets see.




These stock applications may not suffice everybody's needs. But I'm sure more and more people would stick with the default option. Also, over time Apple is sure to add more features to these applications.

Get a taste of OS X Mountain Lion now

You can get a taste of the next version of Apple's desktop operating system OS X Mountain Lion. The cupertino based company has released the beta version of the Message app from OS X Mountain Lion. Note that installing Messages Beta would replace your existing iChat application. The only two differences you'd notice are the new interface, and iMessage support. The app can be downloaded from this link.

Apple announced OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

Apple this morning unleashed the next version of its desktop operating system Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.The new operating system is set for release this summer, obviously through the Mac App Store. With this new OS, Apple is trying bring the desktop one step close the mobile. As they say, once again it is iPad back to the Mac. 

What's new?

To start with, OS X Mountain Lion has iCloud highly integrated. At first login, Apple let you set/sign in using your Apple ID, which is then integrated into most of the desktop apps. iCloud is doing some serious heavy lifting here. A lot of things like Notes, Reminders, Calendars get synced in the background. Safari tabs also sync between the desktop and mobile. There is also new APIs for Document in the cloud.


In the new OS, Apple has the traditional system built-in chat software iChat, has been replaced by messages. Messages is basically iChat renamed and updated to a new version. The new version supports Apple's proprietary messaging platform iMessage , along with the old features that iChat supported like gtalk, jabber ..etc. 


iCal has been renamed to Calendar, and the reminders have been pulled out of it and made into and independent app called Reminders. Similarly, Notes have been pulled out of the Mail application, and made into an independent app. The Notes app can sync with iCloud, and third party services like Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft Exchange.


One nice addition is Notification Center. Same as other features, Notification Center is very similar to the iOS Notification Center, and is a single place to get all your notifications. Third party developers can use Apple provided APIs to integrated Notification Center into their apps.


Apple is also head over heals on sharing. There is a new Sharing Sheet feature which lets you share almost anything from your computer on Twitter and in some case to services like Flickr, Facebook, Youtube and Vimeo etc. This sharing is very much similar to the Twitter integration on iOS, and you can share pretty much what you can Quick Look.


Apple is also debuting the Game Center of Mac with OS X Mountain Lion. Apparently you can play multiplayer games with iOS, and share scores your with friends. 


Another new feature is GateKeeper. It is a security feature which lets users choose whether they applications form outside of Mac App store can be installed on the Mac. This seems like a smart way of controlling malware.


This shiny new OS will be available in Summer 2012 through the Mac App Store.

The White MacBook bids adieu!

The white MacBook is gone for good. Though the notebook has been dead for the general public a while now (After launching the 11" MacBook Air last July, Apple restricted the sale of white MacBook to only educational institutions), today Apple pulled the plug for good. According to MacRumors, Apple informed the resellers today that it has put an end to the iBook legacy. 


Seems like the production had been off for a while, and the budget notebook was available only "while supplies last!". Farewell Farewell!!!

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Coming on Feb 29

To live upto its promise of releasing Windows 8 Beta (aka Consumer Preview) within Feb., Microsoft is going to unveil the latest preview of the upcoming operating system during MWC in Barcelona, on 29th of Feb. I wonder, had it not been a leap year, would Microsoft still make it. 

Paul McCartney -- Live in concert on iTunes for free stream

As the official artist's page on iTunes put it, Paul McCartney is one of the most successful solo artist out of the former Beatles.

It should be noted that because of the long standing legal dispute between Apple and the Apple Corps (parent company of The Beatles), The Beatles only arrived in the iTunes stores in Nov. 2010. In the first two months after that, Apple sold 5 million songs of The Beatles.


The singer-composer's event will take place on Thursday, 9th of Feb. at 10 PM EST, and can be viewed from within iTunes for desktop, or on Apple TV's iTunes live feature.

Microsoft Releases OneNote for Android with Skydrive Integration

Microsoft is very keen on entering the mobile apps market, and they have used OneNote as one of their first cross-platform application, after bing and hotmail. Today Microsoft made OneNote available for Android (2.3 or higher). Note that the app is already available on iOS, and comes bundled with office on Windows Phone 7.


Cloud storage on Skydrive is one of the many features included in this app. A detailed post on the OneNote blog lists all the features with screenshots. One important thing to note here is that the app is free but not for unlimited use. Whaaaaat???? Yes, the OneNote team explains that the app is free for upto 500 notes, but after that you gotta shell out US $4.99 for using the mobile application. 

Mac OS X 10.7.2 unnoticed (and very crucial) feature improvement

A very unnoticed under the hood feature of #Mac OS X 10.7.2..you can move spaces around in Mission Control… :)

Note Taking on a Mac

For a while, I have been searching for a best note taking app for Mac OS X. My only few requirements are:

1. It should be intuitive to use, without a lot of clutter,

2. It should be cross platform (between Linux and Mac..as I use Ubuntu on my Desktop). 

3. Free is good.

4. MUST: It must sync between my Mbuntu box, and Mac Book Pro.

I have tried Evernote, Nevernote, KeepNote, Day One (OS X only)..and a plethora of others. But in the end I settled with TOMBOY. It is free, intuitive, and syncs using Ubuntu One or Dropbox (folder sync). Added bonus, it supports many plugins.

How To?

1. Install Tomboy on Ubuntu: apt-get install tomboy or use git.

2. Setup sync Edit->Preferences. Either use Ubuntu One (Free 5 Gb) or use a folder sync and put it in Dropbox. I use Dropbox. Its easy and realtime. Plus it keeps a backup.

3. Install Tomboy on Mac. 

1. Install Mono. Make sure you install the LTS (long term support) version with CSDK. 
2. Install Tomboy. Use Git.
3. Point it to Dropbox Folder. Valla!!!

4. Enjoy!!!

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BTW, you can also use tomboy as blog editor and so… look in plugins.

Mac OS X Lion Tip 3: Lion Tips #3: Screwed up gestures!!!

A. There are just too many of them. And half of them are not intuitive. Where thou shall go Mr. Jobs, when some nut-job decided on screwing things around.

B. They are screwed up. [I know I said it already].

Easy to fix:

1. Go to System Preferences -> Trackpad

— Turn off stupid Launchpad gestures. 

— Turn off Mission Control gesture. (Fuck its totally not intuitive.)

— Turn off Show Desktop.. this one is purely insane… 

— Change all big gestures (like changing space) to four finger swipe.

— Most IMP: Make it Swipe with 2 or 3 fingers for page change. Otherwise, life is screwed up.

2. Download and install “Better Touch Tool”. Google it. (Bing fails!!! :P)

— Add GLOBAL four finger swipe up for “Show Desktop”.

— Add GLOBAL four finger swipe down for “Launch Application -> Mission Control”

— Add Chrome 3 finger swipe up and down to “Custom keyboard shortcuts ctrl+shift+T”: This would restore “Tab overview.”

Awesome!!!

Mac OS X Lion Tip 2: Show Status Bar

Another annoying thing in the whole clean UI concept of Lion is that it hides your status bar. That means, there is not way to see how many files, how much disk space letf…etc details just with a glace. You need to do a get info.

Easy to fix:

Just click on “View” in menubar, and click “Show Status Bar.”

Cheers!!!

Mac OS X Lion Tip 1: Show Path Bar

I don't know about others, but I generally like to manage a complex directory structure. In this mess, a path below below in the Finder window is very helpful. But, Lion hides it. It is very easy to get back though:

Just click on "View" in menubar, and click "Show Path Bar."

done!!!