Apple's iOS 7 said to be visually different, flat

A new report says Apple's next version of its iOS will look very different from previous iterations, though stay largely the same.

It's no secret Apple plans to show off the next major version of iOS at its annual developers conference in June, though what exactly will be different about the new software has been fuzzy.

Citing multiple people who have actually seen Apple's next iOS endeavor, 9to5Mac says Apple's making big changes in the look and feel of the software. Specifically making everything -- from app icons to interface features -- "very flat," as opposed to the bubbly and oftentimes realistic interfaces that have stayed mostly unchanged since 2007.

On top of this, the report adds that Apple is looking into additional ways to access basic information with gestures, similar to what it currently uses with a one-finger swipe to bring up Notification Center, and a four-finger swipe on the iPad to pull up the multitasking menu.

Apple is viewed as being at a point of transition when it comes to its own design. The company reshuffled its top management last October, ousting iOS software chief Scott Forstall, and putting both iOS and Mac software under the guidance of former Mac software chief Craig Federighi. Those moves were underscored with hardware designer Jony Ive taking on "leadership and direction for Human Interface" across all of Apple. A report last month claimed the industrial design and software teams were already working more closely, as a result.Design changes are nothing new when it comes to Apple software. OS X in particular, has undergone major revamps every few years. That includes a storied history of pinstripes, brushed metal, and glassy windows, which -- at various points in the last few years -- could be seen right next to one another in different apps, in the same major release. iOS, on the other hand, has seen plenty of changes in interface elements, but not the look and feel of the home screen itself.

In taking a flat approach to its system software, Apple would join Microsoft and Google, which have gone that route with their Windows Phone and Android software. In both of those cases, the changes reflect part of a larger design language that can be found in other products and services.

Apple's WWDC, where the software is expected to debut, begins on June 10. The show, which is typically attended by about 5,000 developers, sold out in two minutes last week.

Facebook launches FB Home ad, starring Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook has launched a new ad for their Android-based launcher called Facebook Home. Unlike any of their previous ads, however, this one features the company CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself, along with other members of the team that worked on Facebook Home and is shot in their headquarters in Menlo Park, California. 

The new ad carries forward the theme from the previous one, where users of Facebook Home start seeing events from their feed happening around them. In this video, Mark is congratulating his team on the work they did on Facebook Home, while one of the employees – Joey – is checking his feed on his HTC First.Soon, the events from his feed start taking place within the office, including a screaming goat, go-kart races and one guy cannonballing into a pool. Of course, Joey is the only one privy to these events while everyone else goes on about their business. The ad is well executed and gets the point across of immersing you completely in your Facebook content, which is what Facebook Home aims to do by removing everything else out of the view and focussing on your feed. You also get a peek at the HTC First in action, although the only real mention of the phone comes towards the end with the AT&T logo. 

 Facebook is no stranger to people but with these new ads Facebook might just end up owning a significant part of your smartphone experience.

Google Reveals Specs of Upcoming Glasses on Support Page

Ever since the Glass was announced back in 2012, the exact specifications of Google Glass had been a mystery. Well, not anymore. Google has updated its support page for Glass and added some basic specifications, which gives us a better idea of what the device would be like.

TECH SPECS

Fit

• Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face.
• Extra nosepads in two sizes.

Display

High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away.

Camera

• Photos – 5 MP
• Videos – 720p

Audio

• Bone Conduction Transducer

Connectivity

• Wifi – 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth

Storage

• 12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total.

Battery

One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive.

Charger

• Included Micro USB cable and charger.

While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use.

Compatibility

• Any Bluetooth-capable phone.
• The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging.

Source

Microsoft Integrates Outlook.com Inboxes with Skype

The integration of the video chat and messaging service with Microsoft’s free e-mail service is rolling out to U.K. users now and will be available in the U.S. “in the coming weeks.” Microsoft is delivering Skype to Outlook.com users’ inboxes. A preview, which combines the video chat and messaging service with the tech giant’s free e-mail service, is being introduced now to users in the U.K. and will be rolled out to users in the U.S. and Germany “in the coming weeks.” 

Further international expansion is expected this summer, the company announced Monday evening. Microsoft promotes the integration as “less typing, more talking”: “Even with the best email service, sometimes text isn’t enough,” Simon Longbottom, Skype’s director of global marketing, wrote in a company blog post. “We all face those situations where it’s just easier to jump on a call to talk something through. Sometimes that quick call can accomplish more than a long email reply. 

That’s why we are bringing Skype audio and video calling to your Outlook.com inbox.” The integration seems a natural progression for Skype, which Microsoft acquired in October 2011. Microsoft announced last November it would soon retire its instant messaging client in favor Skype. Skype executives said in late October that Skype would most likely replace Messenger someday but had declined to provide a public timetable.

 Skype has published the video below to demonstrate how the integrated products will function.  

Souce:CNET