Hasta La Gadget!

It’s iOS 7 release day, folks, and while we’ve told you about plenty of apps that have been updated to fit Apple’s new aesthetic, we’ve got another for you. This time, it’s Facebook, and instead of just giving its iOS app a fresh coat of paint, the team in Menlo Park has also delivered a new way to navigate its iPhone app. The upgrade brings an ever-present tabbed bar at the bottom of the screen that lets users seamlessly switch between News Feed, Requests, Messages, Notifications and More — meaning as you slide your finger along that bar, the screens quickly switch from one to the other.

And, each of those tabs saves your state, so if you’ve scrolled down a ways in your feed, then do some messaging and come back, you won’t have to roll through all the content you’ve already viewed. This function also transforms the More screen into a personally customizeable tab, as the app remembers whatever option you last chose. While this new option is a departure from the left-side nav users have grown accustomed to, the changes are very much made with you in mind. Developers went through 100 variants of the app tested by between 5-10 million users — who wanted less friction in the UI — and that feedback informed the redesign. Keep in mind, however, that iPad owners won’t be getting this new nav (Facebook found that the existing UI was better suited to the larger screen).

As for the iOS 7 paint job? Highlights include wireframe icons and a translucent nav bar at the top of the screen that allows underlying content to bleed through, along with a general flattening of the app’s appearance. However, users will only see this new look if they have upgraded to iOS 7. Folks sticking with iOS 5 and 6 will still get the new tabbed nav functionality, but the aesthetics will remain in line with the rest of their device’s appearance. Wanna give the new Facebook a try? You know what to do.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Facebook

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Source: App Store, Facebook

If you’ve been pining for the freedom of the Moto X Developer Edition, you can now pick one up. Motorola has started selling the Verizon model for $650; the company also lists a GSM version, although it’s currently out of stock. Regardless of which version you buy, you’ll get the same ROM-friendly unlocked bootloader, 32GB of storage and that unmistakable Developer Edition imprint on the back. That’s a lot to pay for a Moto X that you can’t even customize, but it may be worthwhile if you simply have to tinker with a smartphone made in the USA.

Update: Motorola has since mentioned that the GSM version will be available on Friday; a Droid Maxx Developer Edition is launching today. And if you’re a Sprint customer, you don’t have to worry — your version already has an unlocked bootloader.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Verizon

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Via: The Verge

Source: Motorola (1), (2)

BlackBerry’s effort to extend its messaging service beyond its own failed hardware has finally come to fruition. After some awkward false starts, plus a detailed leak, BlackBerry Messenger apps for iOS and Android will soon be available for download at the respective app stores, allowing members of those more popular ecosystems to do… well, chat-related things that they could largely do already, except now through BlackBerry’s BBM servers. The company has confirmed that the Android BBM app will launch at 7AM ET on Saturday, while its iOS equivalent will be available beginning at 12:01AM local time (in each market) on Sunday. More details at the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Blackberry

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Source: BlackBerry

Even if you don’t feel like coughing up the cash for either the iPhone 5c or iPhone 5s, those eligible for an update (that’s if you own an iPhone 4 or up, or an iPad 2 onward) can at least console themselves with iOS 7, which debuts today. Gone is the skeuomorphic design of the Forstall era, and in its place is a flatter interface that promises an entirely new experience for iOS devotees. As such, developers everywhere have been scrambling to get their apps redesigned to match the new mobile OS out of Cupertino. While we can’t possibly cover every update, we’ve compiled a quick list after the break of the more substantial app revamps that have come our way.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple

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Source: Evernote, Flipboard, Foursquare, Shazam, Vimeo, Mailbox, Twitter, OpenTable, Simplenote, about.me

That’s right, the iOS 7 refresh of the save-for-later app formerly known as Read It Later is now available with hyphens. The seemingly miniscule dash addition (which automatically adds hyphens for a more refined justified layout) is part of a redesigned reading experience that also includes automatic syncing. With “Instant Sync,” the company promises that content saved on any device will automatically be pushed to the iOS app, meaning you won’t have to waste precious minutes of your life waiting for that study on the rejuvenating effects of video games to appear. The update also includes full-bleed images, a fullscreen article view and an increased focus on typography and font adjustments. For more, check out the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Apple

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Source: App Store