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Google to acquire Motorola Mobility

Adobe releases a new tools for designers to create websites with very little code called Muse, the San Francisco BART train service shuts down cellular phone service over fears of protestors, and Google shakes up the smartphone industry by acquiring Motorola Mobility.

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility Chrome 14 Beta gets Native Client San Francisco BART shuts down cell service Sprint drops BlackBerry Playbook Adobe debuts "Muse" for designers Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (HD) |  RSS (MP3) |  RSS (320x180) |  RSS HD

New Chrome beta goes Native (Client)

One of the biggest changes in how Chrome works has begun to make its way into the beta build of the browser, as Google Chrome 14 beta (download for Windows | Mac | Linux) now comes with the first beta release of Native Client. This is a major breakthrough in development terms, indicating that the NaCl project is moving ahead more or less on schedule. However, full NaCl support is still a long way off.

You're not likely to see any of Native Client, as it's a major reworking of how the code that powers Chrome functions. Basically, it changes … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1522: Is there ice cream for WiFi Day? (Podcast)

It's 8-02-11 (in U.S. style date parlance, we know), and therefore it's WiFi Day ... we don't know what that means, but Molly's planning to get some ice cream out of it! Plus, Android malware that can record your phone calls and free WiFi in London, thanks to Virgin Media. Plus, the New Yorker is a winner on the iPad and the MacBook Air is a winner with our show hosts.

Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (640x360) |  RSS (MP3) |  RSS (320x180) |  RSS (640x360)… Read more

Apple seeds iOS 5 beta 4 as over-the-air update

Just a week and a half after releasing a third beta of iOS 5 to developers, Apple has put out yet another version of the software.

This afternoon the company delivered the fourth beta of iOS 5 for developers to test their apps on. It's the first version of the software to make use of the over-the-air software updating feature that lets users update to newer system software without plugging into iTunes. Previous versions of the beta required that users first download the appropriate version of the system software, then run it as a full restore.

Along with the over-the-air updating feature, beta 4 brings Wi-Fi syncing to Windows users. That's the feature that lets users sync their iOS device with their iTunes library minus the cord, as long as the iPhone, iPod, or iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network, and plugged into a power source.

Apple has said it will release iOS 5 to users as a free update this fall. The company typically seeds several beta versions of its major software releases to developers ahead of time to work out any bugs and give the developers time to integrate new features and APIs into their applications.

iOS 5 made its debut at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last month. Its headlining feature is an overhaul of the notifications system, alongside a new messaging platform called iMessage that lets iOS users text and chat with one another free of charge. The software is also deeply tied to Apple's upcoming iCloud service, which will be used to ferry photos, applications, and settings back and forth between iOS devices, as well as serve as a free backup solution.

(via 9to5mac) … Read more

Control location access by system services on iOS 5

Locationgate was a good wake-up call for consumers who weren't aware that smartphones were accessing their locations for various reasons. Apple rolled out an OS update that took care of the location cache the iPhone was storing, and assured users that it was never accessing users' locations; the location was being stored only to improve the user experience.

Whether you believe that or not, Apple has stepped up its effort to help ease consumer fear concerning location information. In iOS 5, users can now decide whether or not to allow system service access to their location.

To access the … Read more

Chrome support comes to free Norton betas (video)

With around two months left before they debut, the beta versions of Norton Internet Security 2012 (download) and Norton AntiVirus 2012 (download) provide a solid glimpse of how Symantec wants to protect you in the coming year, including significant updates to its detection engines. See what else is new in this First Look video.

Most interesting of these under-the-hood improvements is the ability to scan downloads not just for viruses and malware, but also to determine if the file will adversely affect your computer's stability. Other new features include long-awaited Google Chrome support, online backup, and an Android app … Read more

Apple delivers iOS 5 beta 3 to developers

Apple released the third beta version of iOS 5 to developers today, a sign the company is getting closer to readying the software for its public release later this year.

The new version replaces beta 2, which was delivered to developers on June 24. Unlike that version, which added the Wi-Fi sync feature, the new beta of the system software for iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch appears to contain bug fixes and slight tweaks.

Along with the iOS beta update, Apple also released beta versions of its Apple TV software, iTunes, and Xcode.

Apple has said it will release … Read more

New Firefox beta enhances security and tablet viewing

The latest Firefox beta jumps to version 6 and lands with improvements made to security, tablet appearance, memory management, and Android fixes. Download for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, Firefox 6 beta comes with a laundry list of changes made to both desktop and mobile platforms.

Some of the changes were included in the developer's Aurora release of Firefox 6, such as the built-in verification tool for plug-ins like Adobe Flash, better memory management for the Panorama grouping feature, a Chrome-style Scratchpad for testing out JavaScript snippets, and a new window for fine-tuning Web site permissions.

Other changes are … Read more

Windows 8 pre-beta build to be revealed next week?

Microsoft could show off a pre-beta version of Windows 8 next week at its Worldwide Partner Conference, according to WinRumors and other sources.

With WPC 2011 officially kicking off July 11, WinRumors cited a tweet on Tuesday from an account called @MSFTtm, which said that "Microsoft will release a CTP [Community Technology Preview] build of Windows 8" at the conference. Though a single tweet from an unverified source hardly makes it a done deal, WinRumors says this particular tweeter has been accurate in the past with news about Windows 8 builds.

Adding further fire to the rumors, tech … Read more