Words with Friends Now a Facebook Game
image from tuaw.com
Zynga with Friends, the company that has created the ever-popular games such as Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends, has created an online version of Words with Friends that is playable on Facebook.
This version does not require flash and look virtually identical to the iPad version. What’s really neat is that you can play mobile users! And, if you have your devices logged in though Facebook, updates will appear very quickly.
So if you’re a Words with Friends fan, check out the Facebook version for free.
Three Reasons Apple Should Fear Google+
One of silicon Valley’s biggest rivalries these days is the one between Google and Apple. Their battlegrounds? Hand-held mobile, cloud computing, and traditional hardware. While Apple has jumped out to an early lead in the mobile devices – and is an established player in traditional hardware – Google is gaining ground in every direction.
While it's nothing new that Apple has challengers, Google's new social network – dubbed “Google+” – represents a fundamental threat to Apple in three key ways:
Steve Jobs and MobileMe
MacStories is chiming in today with an anecdote that steps into the mind of Apple’s head honcho Steve Jobs for a bit. The story was made first available as an in-app purchase through the Fortune magazine subscription on the iPad (later made available on the web on print copies).
The story shares some interesting information about Steve Jobs and the launching of the MobileMe web service. Specifically, the article shares the reaction Jobs had to the initial bogged networks and downtime of the service.
Amazon Makes Cloud Player iOS Compatible
iFans chimed in and gave some information on changes made with the Amazon Cloud Player. Among the changes, one of them was noted as Amazon making their Cloud Player software iOS compatible.
“While it isn’t quite as nice as an actual app, it provides nearly all of the functionality that you could ask for. Even the multitasking music controls work flawlessly. Sound quality is said to be ‘great,’ and the only part of it that is a little buggy seems to be the scrubbing capability”
WordPress for iOS Updates to 2.8
WordPress for the iPhone and iPad has updated to version 2.8. Here’s what the update text states:
Besides crash and bug fixes, the higlights for 2.8 are:
- Quick Photo button: only available on iPhone for now.
- Stats
- Added translations to Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Bosnian, Hebrew, German, Dutch, French, and Croatian.
The Quick Photo button allows you to quickly take a picture and attach it to a new post on any of your blogs with one tap. Also added is a Stats tab that works in tandem with the official WordPress stats plugin. Be sure to add that plugin to your blog before using this feature. If you haven’t, the app will walk you through the process.
Tweetbot Updates to 1.1
Tweetbot, the new bird on the block when it comes to Twitter clients for the iPhone and iPod touch, has recently updated to version 1.1. This much anticipated update comes packaged with the following:
- Landscape support for media, compose and web views
- Added User/Hashtag buttons to compose toolbar
- Improved accuracy of displayed locations
- Tweet gaps now load above instead of below
- Lists now sorted alphabetically
- Login now handles email address or username
- CloudApp image/video support
- Improved hashtag picker
- Fixed translation issue with British English
- Improved saving behavior for older devices
Fandango Movies Updates to 4.3.1
Fandango’s movie app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch is now available in the form of 4.3.1. Here’s what the update text states:
- Now available for iPhone/iPod touch, view details about movie casts and crews via our “Performer” pages
- On the iPad you can now “favorite” actors and other cast members in addition to movies and theaters.
- Also on the iPad, signup for Showtime Alerts to receive notification when tickets are available for the movies you want to see
- Other general usability enhancements
Google Search Updates to Version 0.8.2.6553
That’s a long version number! Google has updated its iOS search app yet again! Here’s what the update description says:
Speed Improvements
- App is more responsive and launches faster.
Look & Feel
- Bigger fonts.
- Tappable search results!
Other changes:
- Voice search via gesture optional. Can be turned on via settings
Minor bug fixes.
This update makes the app snappier and more quick to respond as well as improves the UI with bigger fonts and tappable search results. If you want to quickly search for something with your voice, a gesture can be turned on in the app’s settings. Minor bug fixes are also included.
Instagram Updates to 1.7
Instagram sure has been busy shipping out updates for their Photography/Social Networking app – Instagram. 1.7 brings the following to your iPhone and iPod touch:
- Grid View for Profile Pages
- Optional Bio Field in Profiles
- Manage which push notifications you receive (on Edit Profile screen)
- Choose Profile Picture from Facebook & Twitter
- Stability Improvements for iOS 4.1
- Bug Fixes & Speed Improvements for Older Phones
Apple “Reading List” To Compete With Instapaper And ReadItLater
Apple is currently working on a new feature in Safari that allows for a different kind of bookmarking. “Reading List,” as the company calls it, allows user to save web pages for later reading in a innovative way.
Reading List lets you collect webpages and links for you to read later. To add the current page to your Reading List, click Add Page. You can also Shift-click a link to quickly add it to the list. To hide and show Reading List, click the Reading List icon (eyeglasses) in the bookmarks bar.
The icon for the software.
