Sony has released its Version 2.0 firmware for their PlayStation Vita. This firmware comes equipped with the PS Plus and a number of new features. With this update, handheld’s browser can be used without quitting games and has also been sped up and upgraded with revamped rendering engine and optimized GPU performance. Its video application has now come to support 1080p video and and email app has upgraded with notifications and supporting up to 5 accounts. And also, user can can now transfer content wirelessly to and from computer.

[via Engadget]

We’ve been seeing a mysterious Android 4.1.2 update mentioned in conjunction with a few unreleased devices in the past few hours, so it’s only fitting that we’re seeing the official release today. Google’s Android Open Source Project lead Jean-Baptiste Queru has posted word that the 4.1.2 release should be available on Tuesday for at least those relying on pure AOSP builds of the mobile OS. While we haven’t seen the update reach our own devices yet, some Nexus 7 owners already report getting 4.1.2 on their tablets with a pleasant surprise in store: in addition to the expected bug fixes and performance boosts, the software lets the home screen rotate to landscape mode on the smaller Jelly Bean slate. We’re keeping an eye out for when other hardware gets the patch, although it’s expected that the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and Xoom will follow quickly enough.

SOURCE via Google Android Group

Mozilla knows how to keep on the fast track. Just weeks after the Firefox 16 beta first showed, the finished version is ready and waiting. Surprises are few if you were an early adopter, although the update still has some welcome changes for the right audiences. Mozilla is most keen to talk about preliminary web app support for the Mozilla Marketplace, but you’ll also find device-specific additions like a Reader Mode for the Android flock and VoiceOver support automatically switched on for Macs. More responsive JavaScript and on-by-default Opus audio playback give existing surfers extra reasons to upgrade. Firefox 16 is immediately available through all the usual channels, so hit the relevant source link if you’re ready to live on the not-quite-bleeding edge.

SOURCE via Mozilla

A frequent gripe of Lytro camera owners has been the hands-off nature of the photography, with that signature infinite focus about the only real fine-tuning that’s on tap. As of a fresh firmware upgrade, the light-field camera is much friendlier to demanding shooters. The unconventional point-and-shoot now lets owners manually adjust the ISO sensitivity (80 to 3,200) and shutter speed (1/250th of a second to 8 seconds) as well as lock the exposure or invoke a neutral density filter. Regardless of their precision demands, anyone who was already sold on the concept still gets a few perks with today’s refresh: the 8GB model now comes in Seaglass green and a Target-exclusive Moxie Pink, and there’s both a $30 sleeve as well as a $60, accessory-friendly case for those who’ve fully committed to the Lytro lifestyle. Neither upgrade will bring higher resolutions or video, but they’ll go a long way towards accommodating those who were at least on the fence. Check out an interactive sample of the shutter speed control’s benefits after the break. Read more…

Apple TVs of the second and third-gen variety are getting update 5.1 today, which brings two long-awaited features. Both shared photo streaming and iTunes account switching are now part of Apple’s set-top box — the combination of those two finally freeing parents from the potential nightmare of discovering their child’s “not safe for parents” photo streams, of course. The update, spotted by MacRumors, also adds some new AirPlay functionality, enabling users to “send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs).” Beyond those two biggies, however, the rest of the update is rather nuts and bolts oriented — head below for the full list.

• Shared Photo Streams: Accept invitations for Shared Photo Streams, browse photos and comments, and receive notifications of new content.
• AirPlay: Send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs). Also includes the ability to require an onscreen code to use AirPlay with your Apple TV.
• iTunes account switching: Save multiple iTunes accounts and switch quickly between them.
• Trailers: Search movie trailers. In the United States, see show times for local theaters.
• Screen savers: New Cascade, Shrinking Tiles, and Sliding Panels screen savers.
• Main menu: Reorder icons on the second page by holding down the select button on the remote.
• Subtitles: SDH support for the deaf and hard-of-hearing as well as improvements to viewing and selecting subtitles.
• Network configuration: Support for setting up advanced network options using configuration profiles. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5437 for more information.
• Stability and performance: Includes general performance and stability improvements.

SOURCE via Apple

Now that Samsung has commenced beaming Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OTA toward deserving Galaxy S III customers, it’s announced a raft of other devices set to receive the buttery OS in the near future. On the list are the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy S Advance, Galaxy S II LTE, Galaxy Music, Galaxy Chat, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy mini II and Galaxy S Duos. That should bring a bit of extra speed and smoothness to those devices, along with Google Now for search and Samsung’s own flourishes from the latest TouchWiz UX. As for the rest of us, there’s more than one way to skin a Smartphone — or avoid skinning one, as the case may be.

SOURCE via TechCrunch

There’s been some trepidation among Apple device users over the upgrade to iOS 6 given that it takes away some components while adding others. You wouldn’t guess it from the initial upgrade rate, however. Both ChartBoost and Chitika have determined that about 15 percent of iOS data traffic was already coming from Apple’s latest release within its first 24 hours of availability — not bad, considering that it took Android 4.0 roughly eight months to reach a similar ratio and iOS 5 about five days to hit 20 percent. ChartBoost adds that iPhone owners were the quickest to upgrade, which is only logical when the iPhone 4S gets the most new features. The contrast between Android and iOS was entirely expected, knowing Apple’s limited hardware pool and reduced carrier oversight. We’re more interested in the differences between iOS versions: they suggest that whatever advantages people see in iOS 6, as well as a widespread over-the-air update system, have been enough to spur on many early adopters.

SOURCE via ChartBoost

While the latest software for OS X Lion isn’t nearly as exciting as a couple of other updates that Apple released today, Lion users will find a few worthwhile improvements within the new OS X 10.7.5 update. Most importantly, the latest software introduces Gatekeeper, a security feature from Mountain Lion that makes it more difficult to inadvertently install malicious software. The update also brings improved WiFi reliability for the iMac (late 2009 and newer) and squashes a bug that’d caused Launchpad icons to become rearranged. You’ll find an even greater number of fixes / improvements after the break, and it’s also worth a mention that even Snow Leopard users have received a bit of love today in the form of a security update. Want to prove you’re a good cat owner? Go ahead and check for new updates right away.

OS X 10.7.5 improvements / fixes

• Resolve an issue in which icons in Launchpad could get rearranged after a restart
• Improve Wi-Fi reliability for iMac (Late 2009 and newer)
• Resolve an issue using Spotlight to search an SMB server
• Improve compatibility connecting to Active Directory servers
• Address an issue playing audio when a MacBook Air (Mid 2012) is connected to a Thunderbolt display
• Improve Active Directory clients updating computer password and DNS records
• Correctly update the keychain when changing an 802.1X password
• Address an issue that could cause text input fields to appear black in some applications
• Preserve iCal events when migrating to Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
• Enforce managed preference based on a user’s primary group
• Address an issue accessing secure websites when using a web proxy
• Improve compatibility with RSA token used to authenticate with 802.1X networks
• Improve compatibility with Centrify DirectControl authentication
• Enable automatically logging into an NIS account
• Support @icloud.com email addresses
• Resolve a video issue with some VGA projectors when connected to certain Mac notebooks

SOURCE via CNET

While Google Maps may have found itself on the outside looking in on the just-released iOS 6, it’s got a fresh update for Android devices that makes sure any locations you’ve searched are right at your fingertips. Rolling out now in Google Play, it includes results from your search and directions history (whether on your phone or on a PC that you were logged in to) whenever you start a new search, and in the search or directions tab under My Places. The other tweak noted in the changelog is the ability to zoom with just one finger — double tap the map then hold down your finger and slide. There’s no word specifically on what’s in store for Apple’s hardware but the final line of the blog post mentions improving the Google Maps experience across all devices — draw your own conclusions from that.

SOURCE via Google

If you didn’t already know that iOS 6 was out in the wild, Apple just delivered a torrent of mobile app updates to make it perfectly clear. Virtually every app that isn’t preloaded now has explicit iOS 6 support to keep it running smoothly, and some of the upgrades are thankfully more than just skin-deep compatibility tweaks. Among the highlights are Podcasts’ new subscription list syncing through iCloud, ringtone creation with GarageBand and iPhoto support for 36.5-megapixel image editing on the latest devices — you know, for that moment you need to tweak Nikon D800 photos on an iPhone 5. We’re including direct links to a few of the juicier updates, but we’d recommend checking AppleInsider’s comprehensive list to see everything that you’re missing.

SOURCE via AppleInsider