BlackBerry Playbook Update 1.05

Good news for all the BlackBerry playbook users as the New update brings in a lot of upgrades and some much needed improvements.

Research In Motion has announced yet another update for its BlackBerry Playbook devices, named as V1.05.

Aimed at adding more functionality to the devices apart from fixing some bugs, the update comes as a welcome summer gift for the BlackBerry Playbook users. With this update, the Playbook also takes a giant step towards social networking. The Facebook app, for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, has been updated to include video uploading, message deletion, Search enhancements and more.

Easy to check in and easier to rate: Google Places

Google's latest Google Map update for the Android devices adds easy check in facility for the users along with a one touch access to rate the place as well.

Google has announced yet another update for its Maps service which enables easier check in and rating of places. Google Places is a service in which users can access Google Maps to find out information about a particular place or places near them. 

The new Google Maps 5.5 allow users to get one touch access to check in and rating the place in Google places with up to 5 star rating.

The location history database, which was added to the Google latitude check in sometime back, has also been improved. Also included in the history dashboard are buttons that allows users to quickly change their office and home location with just a single touch. 

Xperia Arc, Play get Android update

Sony Ericsson rolls out first update for Xperia play and Xperia arc fixes bugs, adds Facebook Inside and updates the core system to Android version 2.3.3.

Sony Ericsson has officially announced the launch of its first update for the users of Xperia Play and Xperia Arc smartphones, which will now be upgraded to Android Gingerbread version 2.3.3.

Besides, they will also get the recently launched feature 'Facebook inside Xperia' that was introduced during the launch of the new range of Xperia Mini's. The feature allows users to share, like and connect on Facebook in a faster and easier way that is not possible through an application or through website. 

Mango update for Windows Phone demoed

The update shows Windows Phone multitasking beautifully, easily switching from one app to another. The browser, Internet Explorer 9, is also zippier compared to other phones' native browsers.

The much talked about Mango update for Windows Phone has finally been announced officially by Andy Lees, president of Microsoft's Mobile Communications business. 

He said the main idea behind the Mango update is to make Windows Phone operating system smarter and easier to operate.

New version of MeeGo OS unveiled

Another version of MeeGo, called the 1.2 developer edition, announced particularly for Nokia N900 devices. It is expected to aid in development of better apps for the upcoming N9 smartphone from Nokia.

A new version of the MeeGo operating system, which was ditched by Nokia in favour of Windows Phone 7, has been released. The new version 1.2, which was launched during the MeeGo conference in San Francisco (May 23-25), is available for Nokia N900 devices and provides advanced functionality to the users or developers to get creative. 

Just few days ago, Nokia has accidentally revealed its new smartphone based on the operating system. 

Google fixes security flaw

The security flaw in Android 2.3.3 or older versions allowed hackers to gain user's login ID and passwords when unencrypted was sent by the user over a public WiFi network.

A flaw in the Android operating system, which allowed hackers to gain unencrypted data of a user over public WiFi networks, has been fixed up by the Google, the maker of the OS.

The security flaw was highlighted by a group of German developers and was reported by The Mobile Indian earlier too. 

It was found that Android devices running on 2.3.3 or older versions are particularly susceptible especially when the one uses services such as Google Calender and Google docs to be sent over-the-air unencrypted over a public WiFi network. This may allow hackers, present in the network, to gain the user's login ID and password. 

Samsung rolls out Gingerbread upgrade

Galaxy Tab and Galaxy smartphone users can now upgrade to Android 2.3 as Samsung announces Android Gingerbread upgrade for various devices.

Samsung Electronics has officially announced that its Galaxy Tab and other Galaxy smartphones will soon start getting Android Gingerbread upgrades. The devices chosen for the upgrade are not few and include Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, and Galaxy Ace, Gio, Fit and mini smartphones.

The upgrade, from Android Froyo (Frozen Yoghurt) 2.2 to Android Gingerbread 2.3, will offer users faster performance with a low CPU consumption rate, while supporting powerful 3D Graphics for enhanced mobile gaming.

Angry Birds Rio Beach Volley update

As promised by the company Rovio mobile, Angry Birds Rio gets the update extending the game play adding a few new characters.

Angry Birds, the popular mobile game, has now got a whole new avatar. The updated game, named as Angry Birds Rio Beach Volley, has been released by its creator, the Rovio Mobile.

After fighting inside the warehouses in the first two versions, Angry Birds and Angry Birds Rio, the birds have now come out in the bright and beautiful beaches. 

The game-play basics still remain the same but to compliment the beach theme many new elements like inflatable tubes, beach plants umbrellas and much more have been added. 

Adobe launches Flash player 10.3

Android devices get the latest version of the Adobe flashplayer ahead of all the other smartphone platforms.

Adobe has released the Flash Player version 10.3 for Android based devices. With speed and reliability being the keyword for Android now-a-days, the new update of the Flash player focuses on adding more speedy operations while managing and fixing the bugs. 

The new Adobe 10.3 or 10.3.185.21 version, according to the company, is a general availability release which means that while all the other devices will have its Beta version, Android 2.2 and above devices will enjoy its full functionality. 

The new release enables ARM Neon optimisation for devices running ARM system on chip with the Arm cortex 9 processors. ARM Neon technology accelerates multimedia and signal processing algorithms such as video encode/decode, 2D/3D graphics, gaming, audio and speech processing, image processing, telephony, and sound synthesis.

Nokia reader gets updated

The new update to the Nokia reader updates the software making it faster and fixing the known bugs.

The Nokia OVI team has released an update for the Nokia Reader that aims to fix some bugs in it apart from bringing some improvements. 

The upgrade, that has been released on May 9, is the upgrade to Ovi Notifications Support Package (ONSP) for Symbian^3 devices. ONSP v1.1.11118 upgrade contains multiple fixes that provide improvements for Reader. The update fixes issues with the Nokia reader application on devices running Symbian^3 OS including the Nokia N8, C6-01, C7, and the newly launched E7 too. 

With this update, three major bug fixes are being provided for the Nokia Reader which include better connectivity as compared to earlier version. Besides, it has brought a solution to "sign in" issues with the Nokia Reader that needed the user to log in to the Nokia account time and again to access the service even after the details being remembered by the device. 

Also, the problem that required the software to be reinstalled has been eliminated by this update.

HTC Desire smartphones to get Gingerbread update

But, HTC Wildfire owners will not be so fortunate as the company has no plans for the Gingerbread update for the smartphone for now.

In yet another reason for the HTC Desire owners to rejoice, the handset maker has decided to give a Gingerbread update to its Desire HD and the recently launched Desire Z smartphone. However, these updates will only be available only sometime before the end of June this year. 

Notably, both the smartphones, HTC Desire and Desire Z, still runs on the older Android 2.2 Froyo operating system.

When asked by 'The Mobile Indian' about the reasons for the delay, HTC said, "We optimise the experience for each handset separately. For example, HTC Desire HD and Desire Z have different screen sizes. Hence, the delay in rolling out updated for both the devices." 

It is also expected that HTC is looking for a multi device update roll out during the given time period. 

But, HTC Wildfire owners will not be so fortunate as the company has no plans for the Gingerbread update for the smartphone for now.

Meanwhile, the updates for the Desire smartphones will start rolling out in the UK first. All other countries, including India, are expected to get the updates in June or in July.

Google Maps for Android gets update

Additional details for places, search history, and many more such features are included in the new update of Google Maps.

Google Maps, a free navigation service on Android, has added Search History functionality in a bid to give users an enriching experience. Along with that, now all the places of interest marked on Google Maps come with added information detailing the areas.

Google Maps has recently added a host of other functionalities such as Latitude information and Turn by Turn navigation.

The beta version of Google Maps has also come up with a Destination Not There feature that allows users to report issues with the navigation system. This will help other users and will also help Google to give more accurate navigation in future.

Other functionality like Latitude, 3 Dimensional View and Hotspots will continue to be part of Google Maps.

There is no news on the offline version of Google Maps that, like Nokia Ovi maps, would allow users to browse navigation without having an active internet connection.

Ovi Maps' updated V3.07 version available for download

After offline navigation, Ovi maps bring in a host of new features with the experimental beta release available on the Nokia Beta labs.

After bringing offline navigation through its 3.06 version, Nokia's Ovi Maps has now been updated that brings a host of other new features. 

The Ovi Maps 3.07 version brings a new feature, Predictive Text for Place and Location Search, which even works in offline mode. The feature speeds up the navigation process by giving suggestions to the user. For example, if you type De, Ovi Map will suggest you places' name matching with the word combination such as Delhi, Dehradun etc.

The home screen of the application has been revamped with shortcuts for Drive, Maps, Places and Check In for easy one touch access. In the navigation mode, users can toggle between then map modes (Drive, Maps, Places and Check In) too.

Users can also review the whole course of travel within the route overview area. 

The Ovi Maps 3.07 version comes with a new page design and contents such as reviews, picture, opinions and much more from websites like TripAdvisor, HRS, Expedia additionally to Lonely Planet, Michelin guides, TimeOut, which were providing content earlier. 

All this and better integration with social networking websites, such as Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter, and Friendster, allow users to share information with their friends.