Apple’s iOS 6 (almost) full list of 200 new features

You read it right, 200 new features has been introduced for the new iOS version that was on its 6th iteration. And to detail what are the big improvements and minor tweaks the update brought to the table, there’s a huge list of over 150 features in categories right after the virtual jump.

Notable enhancements with the iOS 6 were in Siri as the company said, there’s also Facebook integration and improved phone and mail functions. The iOS 6 will be compatible on iPhones later than the iPhone 3GS; the iPad 2 and later, and iPod touch 4th gen.

Siri

• Sports scores (baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer)
• Italian Serie A
• English Premier League
• MLS
• French Ligue 1
• Spanish la Liga
• Dutch Eredivisie
• German Bundesliga
• MLB
• NCAA Football
• NFL
• NBA
• NCAA Basketball
• WNBA
• NHL
• Sport player stats
• Sport team rosters
• Sports league standings
• Sports game schedule
• Updated restaurant searches (type, price, Yelp reviews, distance, map, hours, phone number)
• OpenTable reservations for restaurants
• Movie listings per theatre
• Rotten Tomato moview reviews
• Movie facts
• Movie trailers
• Search by actor/actress
• Launch apps
• Send Tweet
• Update Facebook status
• Listen to notifications
• Eyes Free car integration (in the next year)
• International language and local search (Canada, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Korean, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China)
• Siri for iPad (new iPad only)

Facebook

• Single sign-on
• Share from Photos, Safari, Maps, App Store, iTunes, Game Center
• Public API for developers
• Contact and Calendar integration

Phone

• Reply to incoming calls with message (preset or custom) or save reminder (timed or geofenced)

Notification Center

• Do not disturb toggle with fine-grain phone call exceptions, schedules, or allowing repeat calls
• Facebook and Twitter compose buttons

FaceTime

• Available over cellular
• Apple ID unified with phone number, enabling FaceTime or iMessage answering on iPad or Mac

Safari

• iCloud Tabs for Safari on other iOS devices and Macs
• Offline Reading List
• Photo uploads
• Smart App banners link to App Store or launches
• Fullscreen video in landscape

Photo Streams

• Shared Photo Streams with designated friends, includes comments
• Photo Stream pictures in Mac screensaver
• Photo Stream now a separate tab, not another album

Mail

• VIPs – designated contacts cause notifications, e-mails flagged with stars, separate inbox
• Flagged mailbox
• Attach photos in-line
• Open password-protected Office docs
• Per account signatures
• Fun new pull-to-refresh animation

Passbook

• Barcode collection for boarding passes, store cards, coupon, movie tickets
• Pops up on lock screen when you arrive
• Includes up-to-date-balance
• Boarding passes update with gate changes
• Cute deletion animation

Guided Access

• Disable certain app interactions with a circle
• Limit hardware buttons, touch, and motion control access
• Single-app mode

Maps

• Local search with 100 million business listings with Yelp reviews and pictures
• Crowd-sourced traffic data with incident reports
• Free turn-by-turn navigation with alternative route offers based on faster ETA
• Navigation viewable from lock screen
• Siri integration, finds spots along your route
• Flyover (3D buildings)
• Multitouch rotation, angle change, and zoom
• Powered by TomTom
• Pinch-out in maps goes to globe view

Game Center

• Game Center sync with OS X
• Cross-platform turn-based and realtime gaming between iOS and Mac
• Issue challenges to friends
• Find Facebook friends

Developer SDK

• Audio and video sampling during playback
• Pass Kit
• Rich text on labels, fields, and text views
• VoiceOver gestures
• Control camera focus and exposure
• Remote Web Inspector
• CSS filters
• Action Sheer
• Web Audio API
• Crossfade with CSS animation
• Game Center in-app experience
• Reminders
• Video stabilization
• Game groups
• Bluetooth MAP support
• Transit apps
• In-app Bluetooth pairing
• Face detection API
• Inter-app audio
• Frame drop data
• Map Kit
• Auto layout
• State preservation
• Pull to refresh on Table views
• In-app purchase hosted content
• Read and write image metadata
• Collection views
• In-app content purchases
• Multi-route audio

Other

• Location-based reminders for iPad
• Autocorrection for every keyboard
• Global network proxy for HTTP
• Manual reorder of reminders
• Lost Mode – send a phone number to lost device which can be called with single tap
• Kernel ASLR
• Manual location entry for reminders
• Custom vibrations for alerts
• VoiceOver improvements
• App in Safari search results
• IPv6 support for Wi-Fi and LTE
• HDR improvements
• French, German, and Spanish dictionaries
• Word highlights for speak selection
• Search all fields in Contacts
• New iPad Clock app
• Improved keyboard layouts
• Made for iPhone hearing aids
• Top title bar changes color with app
• New dialer layout
• New iPod app
• Granular privacy control
• iCloud-stored user dictionary
• Updated sharing menu with large icons
• Music ringtones
• Redesigned App Store and iTunes
• iTunes Match now streams music (rather than just download)

Extended functions for China

• Baidu
• Sina Weibo
• Tudou
• Youku
• Improved text input
• Dictionary

Source: iMore

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Max Payne 3 Local Justice DLC release date, details announced

Rockstar announced today that we'll be seeing the next DLC pack for Max Payne 3 very soon, and it will again be focused on the multiplayer portion of the popular noir action shooter.
The new "Local Justice" DLC will be arriving on July 3rd featuring new maps and weapons for the game's extensive (and continually more extensiver) online mutliplayer component. As the pack was originally announced for release in June, Rockstar has opted to offer it at an introductory discount, bringing the price down to 480 MSP down from 640 MSP. The PS3 and PC versions will cost $5.99 when they release on July 17.
According to Rockstar the pack will include:
• 55th Battalion HQ map for all game modes
• The Imperial Palace and Departure Lounge maps for Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Payne Killer
• Light Fingers Item for faster looting
• M4 Assault Rifle with attachments
• São Paulo Police Faction with related avatar customization options
Additionally, Rockstar will also be releasing all pre-order and retailer-specific bonuses for public purchase. That includes:
• Cemetery Map:  160 MSFT Points / $1.99 PSN
• Silent Killer Loadout Pack:  160 MSFT Points / $1.99 PSN
• Pill Bottle Item:  80 MSFT Points / $0.99 PSN
• Deadly Force Burst:  80 MSFT Points / $0.99 PSN
• Classic Max Payne Character:  80 MSFT Points / $0.99 PSN
Max Payne 3 released in May to rave reviews (including our own) and strong sales in several different countries. If you'll be jumping into MP3 multiplayer for the first time, or need a refresher when returning to multiplayer for the DLC, be sure to check out our multiplayer guide.

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"Meet the Pyro" TF2 video arrives and it's amazing, horrifying

Unfortunately, Meet the Pyro will likely be the very last of the official Meet the Team videos that we've enjoyed so much over the years. However, we're likely going to hear more about Valve's TF2 collaboration with Adult Swim soon. You may notice that the end of the video features the "Source Filmmaker" logo for Valve's machinima tools, which might possibly be related to the Adult Swim announcement. So perhaps we'll have more to look forward to after all. 

When designing the long-awaited Meet the Pyro video, Valve was likely faced with a dilemma: how do you make this person - who burns people alive while axing others to death - endearing and funny to a mass audience? Miraculously, Valve found a solution to that dilemma, and the results are priceless.

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Tomb Raider sequel already planned

According to comments made by Crystal Dynamics' Global Brand Director Karl Stewert, the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot wont be constrained to a single game. Apparently, the reboot will encompass at least one more game in the series.
"I have to be careful because I know exactly where she's going," Stewart said to Videogamer.com. "You have to look at the future, you have to look at where... It's not just one game."
"At the end of this game we want her to be that strong female character that is willing to go and seek out mysteries and seek out tombs. She's going to be going to plenty of tombs in this game, but we're going to have somebody who wants to go on that adventure, who wants to be the person that she now is. That's the goal."
The announcement is not entirely unsurprising given the lavish amount of attention Square Enix has given the title. It all makes a bit more sense now that we know SE has multiple games in mind. Can this renewed approach return Tomb Raider to the pantheon of the games industry's biggest hits? Square Enix seems to be betting that it can.

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Microsoft’s ‘iPad Killer’ really soon

Circulation of rumors that the Redmond-giant is launching its latest touchscreen slate running Windows RT a flavor of Windows 8 has just started to surface, particularly building a hype to rival Apple’s magical creation, the iPad.

Mashable Tech scooped Hollywood blog The Wrap reports “an individual with knowledge of the company”, who claims the software giant would be “making a foray into a new hardware category that would put the company in direct competition with rival Apple” –that’s iPad.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has planned to create a tablet device, if you’ll remember the company’s bulky laptop hybrid with stylus and recently a foldable dual-touchscreen tablet called Courier. Notably, both of them failed to keep up with iPad.

Now it seemed the software-giant is eying to build this device inhouse, much like the Microsoft’s Xbox which by far one of their most successful device for a decade.

Though we’ve seen the Windows 8 in action and there could be variety upcoming apps for the platform ready to be integrated on PC, phone and tablet, but are they good enough to have a close fight against Apple? Don’t also forget the Android devices.



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New iPhone 5 leaked parts assembled

The iOS 6 has been outed with 200 new features of big improvements and small tweaks to get the WWDC 2012 a little special for a while. However, the leaked parts purported for several weeks have gone into the world of iPhone 5 rumors, interestingly this time ‘assembled’ to mirror of what possibly lies ahead of the new iPhone esthetics and externally seen new features. But take consideration of manufacturers making multiple prototypes and dummy case to secure its identity to prying eyes of public, which most of the time only one will be official. Real or not we have the gallery after the break for you, check it out.

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Featured: Technology Essentials for a Business

Without at least some form of technology, it’s likely that your business is going to struggle. Whether it’s computing, machinery or even something like your phone number, you’ll want to get everything you need to get everything in your company running like clockwork. Some forms of technology are absolutely essential, as they can make everything you do much easier for both your business and your customer base.

One thing that every business could do with is a memorable phone number. 0844 numbers 08direct are free for customers to call and are more recognisable than ones which begin with a local area code. As they’re free to call, it won’t put people off enquiring about your products or services, and will also give some people the impression that your company is one with a wide customer base. Just about every major company around has a freephone number, which implies that they care about their customers.

A memorable and recognisable phone number is just one thing you’ll need to help publicise your business. Every company that’s worth its salt has at least some form of online presence. Ideally, your company should have its own website complete with an address that’s easy to remember. On top of that, it’s also worth having pages on social networking websites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, so that customers can let you know what they think of your products.

Something else that every business needs is corporate social responsibility (CSR for short). CSR basically means that a company commits itself to providing the best possible services to its customers as well as the wider community, while having its own code detailing what it stands for. It also involves businesses taking responsibility for their actions, no matter how good or bad they may be. Not having any sort of CSR could be bad for your business’s public image, so it’s important to implement one.

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New iPhone and iPad Mini by September, says analyst

September could mark the most exciting month for the Cupertino-giant Apple this year says Brian White from Topeka Capital Markets based from the consolidated confirmation from component suppliers in Taipei who’ve been all over on the ongoing Computex show.

Apparently, the new iPhone launch wasn’t the only one tipped by the suppliers but as well the new iPad Mini which features a a 7.85? screen with 1024 by 768 pixels of resolution. Brian’s source also claims that the recent rumors that Apple may house the new iPhone using Liquidmetal made by Foxconn —-we’re crossing our fingers tight for this one.
Tracking back last year’s launch of the iPhone 4S falling on October we can have close call on the timeframe, but Apple can send an Special Event anytime. While the new iPad mini comes a little bit salty, knowing that it’s unusual for company’s tablet cycle, though the idea for a much smaller and cheaper iPad could be considerable plus the fact that Microsoft is launching a formidable competition on same period.
AppleInsider via PhoneArena

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Skyrim's Dawnguard, BF3: Close Quarters expansions release today

It's a huge day for downloadable content today as the big new expansion to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim arrives alongside the Xbox 360 and PC versions of Battlefield 3: Close Quarters.
The much anticipated "Dawnguard" expansion to the 2011 GamesRadar Reader's Choice winner of the Platinum Chalice award, Skyrim, will see players taking sides in a war for the sun itself as a band of vampires try to do away with that pesky skylight once and for all.
BF3: Close Quarters was previously released on PS3 thanks to EA's exclusivity arrangement on that console, but is just now coming to Origin and Xbox 360. It features four new maps, and ten new guns themed around the close quarters theme. Later expansions will be focusing on the more large-scale combat that the BF series is famous for.

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The Walking Dead: Episode 2 release date announced

The first episode of Telltale's video game adaptation of The Walking Dead was a fantastic surprise when it launched back in April. Not only did it impress us quite a bit, but it also sold through the roof, becoming a million-seller in no time at all.
In a last minute surprise, Telltale announced today that the next episode in the series will be landing on XBLA tomorrow, while the PS3 and PC versions will arrive on Friday.
It will be really interesting to hear a bit about how the next episode in the series sells. Telltale is one of the only companies left in the business that still sticks to the episodic release structure (though games like Halo 4 are somewhat resurrecting it,) and we're curious how many users will stick around for future episodes. Or will the game's positive word of mouth actually increase the rate of sales over the last game? Who knows! We're interested to find out.
We'll have our review of Episode 2 posted as soon as possible.

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Rome 2: Total War announcement teased

The image below was taken by a reader of PCPowerPlay magazine, and it seems to tease at a reveal of Rome 2: Total War coming in the next issue of the magazine and spotted on NeoGAF by CVG.
Unfortunately, we don't have anything else to go on besides this single, relatively uncertain image. Then again, we're having trouble coming up with any other realistic ideas about what this might be.
Sure, there are some possibilities like Pompeii 2, Grand Ages: Rome 2, Gods and Heroes 2, History Channel Great Battles of Rome 2, The Republic of Rome 2 (for all we know it's a remake of Ceasar 2) but we can't see those games being teased on the back page of a magazine.
It's much more likely that we're getting a sequel to one of the most highly rated strategy games ever made. Which is awesome. July 18 can't come soon enough.


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Samsung Galaxy S III vs Apple iPhone 4S Drop Test: Which one is more durable?

The most entertaining testing for new and popular devices could be the drop test, no questions. And the new Samsung flagship isn’t exempted on this durability test fared along with the consider ‘yardstick’ of smartphone or shall we say dropping the new device with the latest iPhone version –just to build the perfect hype for the glass-breaking drop test. Check out the two video of we have after the break, featuring the AndroidAuthority concrete drop test and SquareTrade concrete drops, sliding from a car and thrown around by kids for their common mishaps the phone could encounter in its daily usage.


Source: YouTube (SquareTrade, AndroidAuthority)

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Latest Realtek HD Audio 2.69 WHQL audio driver

Realtek the leader in audio codec building released today the latest version of it's products driver the R2.69 supporting the latest hardware with new improvements and fixes, if you own one of Realtek HD audio this driver is a must to keep your system stable, bellow list of update and supported products.

Driver Package R2.69    Realtek HD Audio Driver support all of Realtek HD Audio Codec .
    1. Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 WHQL Supporting:
            ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC886, ALC887, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC899, ALC861VD, ALC660,
            ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC670, ALC671, ALC672, ALC676, ALC680, ALC221, ALC231, ALC260, ALC262,
            ALC267, ALC268, ALC269, ALC270, ALC272, ALC273, ALC275, ALC276, ALC280, ALC282, ALC283, ALC290
    2. Windows 2000/XP WHQL Supporting:
            ALC880, ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC886, ALC887, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC899, ALC861VC,
            ALC861VD, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC670, ALC671, ALC672, ALC676, ALC680, ALC221, ALC231,
            ALC260, ALC262, ALC267,ALC268, ALC269, ALC270, ALC272, ALC273, ALC275, ALC276, ALC280, ALC282, ALC283, ALC290
    3. HDMI Device WHQL Support: ATI HDMI Devices
    4. OS Supporting: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows7 - x86/x64
    5. Pack with Microsoft High Definition Audio UAAV1.0a(5013) For Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP1, XP SP2, Server 2003 SP1.
    6. Add/Fix
        1.) Driver :
            1. Customizations.
            2. Windows 8 WHQLed Driver.
            3. Add ALC283.

Download the latest Realtek HD Audio driver @ filehippo

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Alleged iPhone 5 backplate on video, 7.9mm thickness and HD front camera

Looks like the iPhone 5 or new iPhone has been on the run this week with compelling rumors filling up the thread of most fanboyish sites we’ve visited. The highlights goes to alleged iPhone back plate making tons of hits on YouTube that was seen from the previous image leaked suggesting same probable 4-inch Retina-display screen obvious with the added height compared with an iPhone 4S. The video also revealed the details of unibody, thinner casing of about 7.9mm with front-panel being the only glass part, smaller dock and SIM card slot that seemed to reflect the recently approved ETSI Apple’s nano-SIM standard.

Besides the significant redesign of the new iPhone build, Mingchi Kuo – an analyst for KGI predicts that the new handset will feature HD front-facing camera and placed center, like to the camera position of the iPod touch. If this will be in reality, the FaceTime chatters will have the 720p video instead of the VGA resolution on the current iPhone 4S. See the specs below:


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Acer Iconia Tab A700 sports 1920×1200 resolution and Tegra 3 for $449.99

Acer have just let out of its greatest tablet secret, meet the Acer Iconia Tab A700. Secret no more, as the major details such pricing and availability have already escaped wildly out in public.

The Iconia Tab A700 will feature 10-inch screen with a 1920×1200 resolution, a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 32GB of internal storage, plus a microSD card and will be on the latest Android OS with Ice Cream Sandwich flavor. Integration-wise, this tablet will have WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 radios are on board along with with microUSB and microHDMI ports. It’ll also sports a 5-megapixel and 1-megapixel back-front cameras. Accordinly, all these features can be handled by a 9,800mAh battery that Acer claims to withstand up to 10.5 hours of video playback, or 8 hours of web browsing.
There will be two models in black and silver, both in 32GB storage capacity for $449.99 that as we speak have already gone pre-order, you just need to head over Acer’s site or other online retailers.

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19-Pin “Mini” Connector Confirmed For iPhone 5

Welcome to the world of iPhone port-adapters! If the TechCrunch independent verification “Apple is working on adding a 19-pin port, replacing the current 30-pin port, to the new iPhone” will be officially confirmed, this will surely fire up iPhone accessory manufacturers –users that have multiple accessories utilizing current 30-pin port standard.
If you’ve been monitoring news and rumors for the development of iPhone 5, sure you’ve thought that the mini-port can be the same new port exposed in several leaked photos and a video earlier. The mini port present on the assembled backplate parts seemed to be close to a Thunderbolt port available on many MacBook devices however accordingly Techcrunch reported “I’ve been told by three independent manufacturers that the pin-out will be different”. Interesting points added were the MagSafe 2 port which bring a more space saving internal components for the device, Apple seemed to be more on this side.
Now, TechCrunch’s three independent manufacturers source all agreed that Apple is already prepping for a 19-pin dock port for the new iPhone. All we can do for now is wait until the new port standard gets official.
Source: TechCrunch via The Mac Herald

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Canon EOS-1D X review roundup

Canon has just unveiled “the one camera to rule them all” in the crowded market of digital photography, a revolutionary professional digital SLR named EOS-1D X. The ‘X’ signifies the 10th generation of Canon’s Pro EOS SLRs and as one of the company’s top-of-the-line eXtreme camera on their EOS line up. As the EOS-1D X became available on retailers, we’ll update this post with all the recent reviews that comes up. For the meantime, don’t stay too much here we already have reviews line up just after the cut, and if you’re curious too on how powerful this new beast from Canon we layout some of its key features and images through a gallery, just do a virtual jump.

Full Frame 18-megapixel CMOS image sensorNew mechanical shutter rated up to 400,000 cycles thanks to carbon fiber blades and new drive motorDual DIGIC 5+ imaging processors2nd Gen EOS Integrated Cleaning SystemThird DIGIC 4 processor for RGB Metering100,000 Pixel RGB metering sensorSensitivity settings from ISO 100 – 51,200; expansion available with Low (50), Hi 1 (102,400) and Hi 2 (204,800)Advanced new 61-point High Density Reticular Phase Detection AF system with 21 cross-type focusing points in the center of the frame; 5 of which are diagonal cross-type sensors for smaller aperturesNew intelligent EOS iTR AF Tracking and Recognition optionsBurst shooting at 12fps with AF (JPEG and RAW), or up to 14fps with no AF (JPEG only)Full 1080p HD video with new ALL-I and IPB compression format optionsAutomatic video file splitting when 4GB is reached; video keeps rolling, while new files is created3.2-inch wide LCD with 1,040,000 dotsSubject Recognition system (AF, Exposure, Auto Lighting Control, AUto Picture Style)Optical Correction functions for peripheral illumination, Distortion correction, and CA correctionEnhanced intelligent OVF with 100% frame coverage, .76x magnification, 20mm eye-point, and expanded ISO indicator; now 5 digitsBuilt-in USB 3.0 and gigabit Ethernet portsNew WFT-E6 Wi-Fi unit (802.11 a/b/g/n)New GP-E1 GPS unitDual CF (Compact Flash) card slotsLi-ion battery pack

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