iPhone/Android: Facebook pushed out some updates to their mobile apps today, adding Groups to both applications and adding Deals to the iPhone app. The Android app also gets the Places feature, and both phones have a Facebook Connect-like connection with other apps.When Facebook updated its Groups feature a few weeks ago, you could only access it from your browser, but now those features are available in both the iPhone and Android app—so you can message a predefined group of friends at any given time right from your phone. They've also added the Facebook Places feature to Android, as well as a new Deals feature to the iPhone that helps you find deals from your favorite nearby businesses (US users only, at the moment).One of the cooler parts of today's update is "single sign on", which is similar to Facebook Connect on the desktop. Now, instead of logging into all your phone's apps separately, the Facebook app will automatically log you in using your Facebook account to apps like Flixter, Groupon, Yelp, and others. This works on Android or any multitasking-compatible iOS device.Lastly, the Android apps sucks a little bit less (again). They added the notifications drawer last time, but it directed you to the touch.facebook.com site every time, which was a little ridiculous. Now, if there's an appropriate page to send you within the app, clicking on a notification will send you there. It still doesn't support system-wide notifications for anything beyond the same events, messages, and friend requests, but it is one step closer to being on par with the iPhone version.Facebook is a free download for Android and iOS devices.
Making Mobile More Social [Facebook Blog]
Tarah's Digital Voice
Strategy. Creative. Content.
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Oscar All Access - watch the show through the cameras of your choice
In theory, this is pretty impressive: for $4.99, ABC lets you stream the entire Academy Awards online, including the Red Carpet and backstage content. Even better, they claim that you'll be able to control the camera you're watching and its angle. This is probably accomplished by having essentially 360 degrees of camera coverage of the event at all times, allowing you to digitally zoom, rotate and switch angles through the interactive experience - trust me, you're not actually moving the cameras in the theater. I'll be checking it out tomorrow, as part of my multi-screen immersion into the event, but it will all come down to how good the stream and the user interface are.
Hope you join me in the real time conversation tomorrow. I'll be tweeting from @TarahFO.
Also, check out these apps that have been launched to accompany the show:
- Oscar Backstage Pass from ABC Digital (iPhone/iPad)
- Live From the Red Carpet from E!, which supported the Grammys and other shows as well (iPhone/iPad/Android)
- Vanity Fair Hollywood: Oscars® Edition - see nominees, watch traiilers, make predictions, keep score (iPhone/iPad)
- Obsessed With Hollywood - Movie Trivia Game (iPhone/iPad)
For more information, check out NY Times' "Oscars on Several Small Screens" (via Ashmi Dang, whose tweets you should be watching tomorrow night on @AshmiNYC).
Only Oscar.com cameras let fans follow their favorite stars every step of the way as they walk the Red Carpet LIVE. Starting at 7|4p, YOU, the viewer get to be the director. Choose from multiple cameras spread throughout the Kodak Theatre and walk with the stars as they journey down the Red Carpet!
For updates on all things Oscar 2011 and to learn when Oscar All Access is available, sign up for Oscar alerts. It's the ultimate Academy Awards experience!
via oscar.go.comThis Week's Best Apps (Gizmodo) with My Top Choices
Out of the iPhone apps, I suggest checking out Precorder and PBS, as well as Time Shutter if you're a SF enthusiast.
All of the iPad apps look pretty cool, but I don't use TiVo and am not a graphic designer, so I'd say don't miss World of Goo and AirView (video below) is pretty incredible, especially for a free app.
This Week's Best Apps
In this week's thank-goodness-it's-the-end-of-the-week app roundup: Goo, sculpted; TiVo, controlled; places to eat, discovered; Twitter, relaxed; history, revisited; PBS, appreciated, and much, much more.
iPhone
To view these on one page, click here
iPad
To view these on one page, click here
Android
To view these on one page, click here
We are so crazy about apps right now you wouldn't believe it. If you have recommendations, tips, or just want to let us know about your own app, drop a note in the comments or shoot me an email.
The author of this post can be contacted at tips@gizmodo.com
via gizmodo.comVerizon's Offering Unlimited Data on the iPhone...yeah, that worked out great for AT&T
I woke up this morning to about a million tweets, articles on my rss feed and other shouting about the speculation that Verizon is going to offer unlimited data to subscribers that use iPhones on their network. Are our memories really that short? AT&T did that at launch too...and we all complained endlessly about the overloaded networks. I'm not saying it's not a great marketing ploy, but do we really believe that Verizon's network is THAT much better than AT&T's that this will go off without a hitch?
Are you going to switch/finally get an iPhone when Verizon launches it? Let me know in the comments.
Jambox Mobile Bluetooth Speaker Looks Amazing: Video, Links & Review
Wow, this looks amazing. Wireless, small, powerful, multi-functional. I know I'd love to have a speaker like this with me for music, presentations, conference calls, watching movies in bed on my iPad...at $199.95, I might just have to go for this.
Solid review with photos and videos from SlashGear here: http://www.slashgear.com/jawbone-jambox-review-04112151/
Thanks to Tommy Padula (@tommypadula) for the tip.
It's simply the smallest, best sounding wireless speaker and speakerphone on the planet.
Visit jawbone.com to see the beautiful images, learn more, buy it, or click to check out these features:
BIG SOUND, SMALL PACKAGE
AMP UP YOUR MUSIC, MOVIES, GAMES
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS
IT GETS BETTER WITH TIME
GO ANYWHERE, GO WIRELESS
CONFERENCE ON THE GO
Reviews, thoughts, images, articles and other content about digital media, real-time content, apps, advertising & technology that resonate with me.
