Hasta La Gadget!

While Windows 8.1 saw its first major update roll out last week, word on the street has it that this will not be the last, as the second has been rumored to make its way to the masses later this coming August. ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley claimed that her sources do point to a second major update for Windows 8.1 that will arrive then, being part of Microsoft’s efforts to speed up the release cycle for its flagship operating system.

It remains to be seen whether the second major update to Windows 8.1 will also include the refreshed Start menu, although there are indications that this would seem rather likely. Recently, whispers have been going around, touting that the Start menu itself will make a return before the year is over. What it will most likely not come with, however, would be the ability for Windows 8.1 to run Metro apps windowed on the desktop.

The windowed Metro apps might make its way to the masses when Windows 9 rolls around, which has been targeted for an early 2015 release. It does seem as though the upcoming updates are part of Microsoft’s efforts to be able to better distinguish between PC and tablet users. As with all rumors out there, we will take this with a pinch of salt and wait as time will reveal this to be true or a dud.

Second Windows 8.1 Major Update To Arrive In August (Rumor) , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Computers, Rumors, Microsoft, windows 8.1,

There is just something about charging up your devices wirelessly – this seems to be the new way of getting things done, especially as we move onwards and upwards in a technologically advanced environment. From paperless to wireless, the latter certainly makes life a whole lot more convenient since there aren’t any more pesky cables or wires to worry about. Ossia has demonstrated the ability to charge smartphones via two walls at a distance of 40 feet, bringing non-line-of-sight wireless charging to the world.

Another breakthrough was announced by Ossia today for its groundbreaking Cota remote wireless power system, which so happened to be five years in the making. Originally demonstrated publicly to over 2,000 people in September last year at the Disrupt SF conference, back then it powered an iPhone from a distance of 10 feet away from its charging station.

Ossia’s engineers have not rested on their laurels since, having worked on miniaturizing and improving the circuitry of the thousands of power transmitters that are contained within a Cota charging station. Apart from introducing the ability to simultaneously charge multiple devices and following each device with a pocket of energy as it makes its way around a room, Cota’s non-line-of-sight capability is also worth taking note of.

I do wonder whether there are any long term side effects to the human body with so many wireless waves going around, and I guess we will only be able to find out a few decades from now. [Press Release]

Cota Wireless Power Solution Works Even Beyond Walls , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Gadgets, wireless,

We reported last week that Apple was working on a new incremental software update for iOS. It would be the first such update after the company released iOS 7.1, the first major release since iOS 7.0 was pushed out to the public last last year. Just now Apple has released iOS 7.1.1 for compatible devices. It primarily brings bug fixes, as well as improvements for Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 5s.

Prior to this update a lot of iPhone 5s users had complained about Touch ID performance. They experienced gradual worsening of the sensor’s ability to recognize registered fingerprints. Today’s update brings improvements which means that users should no longer face those issues when trying to gain access to their device through Touch ID. It is not surprising at all that Apple has included improvements for this problem in iOS 7.1.1 since it was expected to do so.

The update also includes a bug fix which makes keyboard in iOS 7 more responsive. Apple overhauled the keyboard in iOS 7, giving it a much flatter user interface that is in line with major UI changes made to iOS. An issue that affected use of Bluetooth keyboard when VoiceOver was enabled has also been fixed.

iOS 7.1.1 release will be staged, meaning that it won’t go live across all regions at once. Once it does go live a notification will pop up on all supported devices. The update can be downloaded and installed on the device itself.

iOS 7.1.1 Update Brings Touch ID Improvements , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Apple, Cellphones, Tablets, iOS 7, iPhone 5S, touch id,

It’s time for the big GameSpy Technology transfer. With GameSpy multiplayer servers going offline, groups like 2K are having to either transfer services for legacy games or make the hard … Continue reading

Candy company Lollyphile has given us quite a few less-than-appetizing suckables in the past (blue cheese or breast milk lollipop, anyone?), but their newest creation comes at the request of the masses. Your beer flavored lollipop has arrived.

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