Hasta La Gadget!

Google has just released a stable version of Chrome OS, and while it’s (sadly) not as huge as Chrome OS 32, it still comes with feature boosts for your device. Perhaps most notable is its newly added initial support for USB-connected Braille displays. Other than that, this stopgap follow-up to OS 31 tweaks the platform’s looks, starting by letting you drag the Shelf (or the app dock) from the bottom to either side of the screen. The company has also moved the launcher icon to the bottom left and made it, along with the app icons and status tray, more touch friendly for Pixel users. What’s more, if you use an avatar for either Chrome OS or Google+, you’ll find your profile picture preferences synced between the two. Almost everyone can now download these changes, which come bundled with the usual security and performance fixes. If you own an Acer C7, an HP Chromebook 11 or an HP Pavilion Chromebook, however, you’re going to have to sit this update out — better luck next time.

Filed under: Laptops, Google

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Source: Google Chrome Releases

With Windows 8.1 officially launching today, refreshed operating systems are on the minds of a lot of computer users. If your tastes lie in an operating system other than Windows, you may be interested in the latest version of Ubuntu Linux that launched yesterday. Ubuntu 13.10 launched on October 17 bringing a number of improvements […]

Microsoft has finally released Windows 8.1. You can go download it now, Start button and all.

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With iOS 7 due to land tomorrow, Apple seems to have decided to look after users with ageing hardware, too. It now offers a ‘last compatible version’ of iOS apps if you attempt to download an app not supported by your current firmware.

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As smartphone sales stayed well ahead of feature phones with 225 million sold in Q2 2013, Android was by far the greatest beneficiary, according to stat analyst Gartner. That OS lept from a 74.4 percent share in Q1 2013 to 79 percent, while iOS declined sharply from 18.2 to 14.2 percent. Samsung helped that along by moving 6.4 million more smartphones this quarter than last, while Apple sold 6.6 million less over Q1 2013. Of course, Samsung has a wide range of inexpensive devices that still fall into the “smart” category, which may explain why Apple is rumored to be launching a more budget-oriented iPhone.

Meanwhile, there’s further evidence of a BlackBerry decline (as if more were needed), as Gartner‘s stats now have Microsoft’s Windows Phone well ahead. Last quarter, BlackBerry’s OS share was larger by a hair, but Redmond’s OSes gained significantly in Q2 with a 3.3 percent share compared to 2.7 percent for Waterloo. Another notable stat had Lenovo elbowing Huawei and ZTE down the chart for a fourth place finish in smartphone sales — quite a feat, considering that unlike its rivals, Lenovo sells almost all its handsets in China.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

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Source: Gartner