Category: News

Parallels 7 released

Parallels has released the latest version of its virtual environment software. Current users can upgrade now and new users can purchase the full version on September 6th. You can download a trial however already and try it out for yourself. Note that you have to request a trial license key using the “Get Trial” button on the lower left side of the start-up dialog when you install the trial.

Parallels will also be releasing apps for iPhone and Android that allow you to control the virtual environment from your mobile device.

Parallels claims that version 7 streamlines switching between OS X and Windows so that it feels like a much more natural experience, blurring the line between the two operating systems. Paralells CEO Birger Steen said of version 7:

As Macs have become more popular than ever, a growing number of Mac users, including enterprises, find they need to run critical Windows programs on their Macs,” he said. “Parallels Desktop 7 lets you run popular apps like Windows Internet Explorer, Access, OneNote, Quicken and more, even the most demanding graphical programs, without rebooting and without compromise on speed and usability.

Parallels also claims that it’s 6o percent faster than version 6 with Windows sleep and resume now taking seconds. Other improvements include faster copying of files and a security protection feature to stop potential Window’s viruses from damaging files you want to use in OS X.

Users who have already purchased Parallels 6 after August 1st will be able to upgrade to version 7 for free. All other users will be charged $59.95 to upgrade. New users can buy a Standard version ($89.95) or Student Version ($59.95). There will also be a special “Switch to Mac” edition for $119.95 which will include a USB cable to transfer files and a 2 hour beginners guide for switching to Mac.

Download Parallels Desktop 7.

Tumblr 2.0 Android app released

The popular microblogging service Tumblr recently announced version 2.0 of its official Android app. This update comes with a completely new interface look as well as a handful of useful features to make posting content on the go even easier.One of the biggest issues with most mobile versions of Tumblr has now finally been addressed in this new version of the official app. Users can finally manage multiple blogs all in one app. In addition, Tumblr has added the ability to access your blogs’ drafts and queues folders, as well as respond to messages, all features that were visibly missing from previous versions. Users can also find people to follow now directly from their phone’s address book.

If you’re new to Tumblr, you can also opt to sign up for Tumblr directly from the app. This is a definite plus for people who don’t want to deal with signing up online from their phone’s browser.

Tumblr 2.0 for Android is available on the Android Market now. The latest version for iPhone and iPod users can be found here.

EA releases free Tetris game for Android

EA has today released a free version of Tetris for Android. The ad-supported free version will allow players to play the classic brick-dropping game in Marathon mode, where you must build as many lines as you can without getting too high.

Tetris Free for Android

It’s worth noting that aside from ads, the free version of Tetris also utilizes requests access to certain permissions within the Android OS that the full version doesn’t. This includes those that can directly call phone numbers and for monitoring GPS location. There’s not necessarily anything sinister about this but it’s worth checking the Permissions tab on the Tetris Free Android Market page to see what the game can access in your system.

Check out our full review of Tetris Free to find out more.

Amazing puzzler Sprinkle released on iOS

One of the most promising iOS puzzle games to date has been released today: Sprinkle is a universal iOS app, released today that approaches amazing in a slightly different way. A puzzle app, Sprinkle uses water as the main tool. From a fire engine you use a water cannon to solve environmental puzzles and try to put out fires before you run out of water.

The liquid in Srprinkle looks fantastic. Water pools, slides, and drains with astounding accuracy. While this could have been a one-trick app, the puzzles in Sprinkle are just as addictive to watch and solve.

It’s a different kind of puzzle experience because the water moves so realistically. This makes the puzzles feel slightly different every time, and you have to put more effort into finding the solution.

Sprinkle is a great example of an innovative puzzle game, and it’s excellent physics show there is still plenty of potential to be unlocked in iOS development.

Check out our review of Sprinkle for iOS.

Miramax launches Facebook movie rental app

People who jokingly claim you could use Facebook as your sole means of entertainment really aren’t that far off the mark. Now you can rent movies on the social networking platform via Miramax’s new eXperience app.

Currently in a beta version, Facebook users in the US now have the option to rent any of 20 movie titles available through the app, while users in Turkey and the UK have 10 movies to choose from. France and Germany are both expected to have access to the app in the near future.

Users simply install the app, browse the available movie selections and pick which one they’d like to watch. If you want more information about a title, you can read a synopsis and even play a short clip. If you decide you’d like to watch the movie, it costs 30 Facebook credits to purchase, or $3 in real-world money. Users then have 30 days to watch the movie before it has to be “returned”. Note that once you’ve started to watch the movie, you must complete it within 48 hours.

While this is a neat addition to Facebook’s growing wealth of apps, one has to wonder if it’ll really catch on and become truly popular. Users can already rent thousands of movies on iTunes for about the same cost. Then there’s also apps like Queued for Netflix, Hulu Desktop and HBO GO to contend with. Still, although 20 titles isn’t very impressive, there’s no denying how easy it is to install apps on Facebook. For many users who are less comfortable with the idea of installing software on their PC, this might just be the movie rental app they were waiting for.

Nokia releases Symbian Anna update

Even with the previous announcement that Nokia was going to focus on Windows Phone, it’s nice to see the company didn’t forget its existing Symbian users.

The new update, Symbian Anna, is available on Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7, and Nokia C6-01. The update brings a lot of good changes to the phones including:

  • UI changes – crisp icons, multiple usability enhancements, QWERTY keyboard available in portrait mode, and split screen viewing
  • Maps/Navigation – enhance Nokia Maps with better search, public transportation routes, check-in ability for geo-tagging apps
  • Browsing – faster browser, quicker page loads
  • Business – improved data encryption for business users to access company intranets with IPSEC and SSL VPN
  • NFC (Near Field Communication) – Nokia C7 users can tap their phones to share contacts, photos, video, pair NFC-enabled accessories, and read NFC tags

    • The delivery schedule of the new update has not been released, but will depend on the market that users are in.

    FIFA 12 for Android to be launched exclusively on Xperia Play

    FIFA 12 for AndroidFIFA 12 for Android will only be available via the Xperia Play device when the game is launched later this year.

    According to a Sony Ericsson press release, a timed exclusive deal with EA means that FIFA 12 will be released on the Xperia Play during the holiday season, while owners of other Android devices will have to endure a wait until February 21st, 2012.

    All in all, it’s been a good news day for Sony Ericsson. Earlier on, Minecraft Pocket Edition was released exclusively for the Xperia Play (often dubbed the ‘Playstation Phone’). Users of the device can go grab the sandbox construction game from the Android Market now. Everyone else will have to make do with watching this video of Minecraft Pocket Edition for now.

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO-y5wzmK4E[/youtube]

    Tropico 4 PC demo out now

    If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a dictator, the Tropico series has always been a good option. Tropico 4 is out soon, and you can check out the PC demo of the strategy game right now.  Once again you’ll play as ‘El Presidente‘, but you decide whether to be a benign… or less benign… leader of your undemocratic Caribbean paradise!

    Happily, the Tropico 4 demo includes everything that made Tropico 3 fun – over the top characters, tongue in cheek attitude, sun-drenched island and the excellent Latin soundtrack. It’s not the best looking game ever, but there’s lots to do and being able to play dictator is fun for all you megalomaniacs out there. Despite the cheerful tone, the Tropico games have always been deeper than they appear, and I’ve got  high hopes for this new installment.

    Download the demo here, and tell us what you think!