News about beta:
Swiftkey X beta available for download – it’s Personal!
Swiftkey is already hugely popular on Android devices, with many users paying the $2 just to get the full version, because it’s just that good! Now, Swiftkey has been listening and watching user feedback for some time, and based on those comments and ideas, they have released Swiftkey X beta for Free in the Android Market.
Microsoft Kinect Beta Invitations Are Out: Did You Get Yours?
Rumors mills are working again. Microsoft is doling out invitations via Connect to the users for testing its “Xbox LIVE and Kinect 
Beta Program’. If the screen captures of the said invitations are genuine, then Microsoft is going … [visit site to read more]
Apple to add Email-Based FaceTime Support?
It’s probably the worst kept secret in Apple land, but quite a few people in the know think that we are about to get a new iPod touch & eventually an iPad with FaceTime. This is all because of the iOS4.1 beta, which has seen a new option to call a contacts FaceTime through … [visit site to read more]
Windows 7 SP1 public beta now ready for download
Slightly ahead of schedule, Microsoft has dished out Service Pack numero uno for Windows 7. The hot-selling OS has been a revelation since its release and it’s therefore no surprise that this update pack does nothing remarkably new or important. It collates all of Microsoft’s patches since launch into a neat little (well, not really, it’s 1.2GB in size) package and throws in a few other hotfixes to boot. Microsoft treats its betas rather unceremoniously, however, so don’t expect any support with this thing until it goes final — which we’re hearing might not be until early 2011. We’d say that’s a long way out but it’s not like Windows 7 isn’t treating us well enough already. Hit the source to obtain the download, if you must.
Swiftkey beta brings new keyboard, world class predictive text to Android
The software and language engineers at Swiftkey have been toiling on this app for the past two years, and at long last, it’s being made available for precisely nothing to anxious Android users. Hot on the heels of Swype’s own beta, the Swiftkey beta is now available to download directly from the App Market, and once installed (along with language packs of your choice), it can be used in place of your stock Android soft keyboard. We’ve never been the biggest fan of Google’s factory keys, and while we still feel that Swiftkey’s letters are a tad on the skinny side, it’s definitely an improvement. But that’s not where the magic’s at — this software has an uncanny ability to guess what your next word will be, and it actually looks at your prior SMS list (if allowed) in order to “learn” how you converse. In our early tests, we’re pretty darn impressed, and yes, it’s definitely worth the $0.00 price tag. Get your download on right now, or hop past the break for a video demonstration if you still need convincing.
Firefox 4 Available to Download Now
Mozilla have proved they aren’t sleeping on the job; late yesterday version 4.0 of Firefox was finally released (currently in beta mode.)
Apple’s MobileMe iDisk App updated for iPad, redesigned Calendar goes beta
Too lazy to cancel your $99 MobileMe automatic subscription renewal and make the jump to one of the many free alternatives? Don’t worry, your lethargy has paid off this morning as Apple introduces its new MobileMe iDisk 1.2 app and a beta version of its new MobileMe Calendar. iDisk is pretty much the same app you know and ignore only now it’s optimized for the bigger iPad screen, tweaked to support iOS 4 multitasking, and offers the option to open iDisk documents in compatible apps — like using iBooks for PDFs for example. The faster loading MobileMe Calendar beta (login to MobileMe to request an invite) features redesigned day, week, and month views; calendar sharing amongst friends, family, and predators (if you like); the ability to publish a calendar to a team or group; and event invitations to anyone holding an email address (me.com or not) with RSVP support and automatic change notifications. Best of all, the Calendar beta uses the CalDAV standard, you know, just like that free Calendar from the company that rhymes with frugal. Read the rest of this entry »
Firefox 4 Beta 1 now available for download
Whoa, Nelly! Is that a Firefox 4 download button we’re looking at? Why yes… yes it is! We can’t think of a much better way to wrap up one’s workday than by finding out that Mozilla’s own Firefox browser has finally made the official leap to 4.0, with Beta 1 going live for the adoring public today. It’s ready to be sucked down and installed for those with Windows, Linux and OS X-based machines, and the changelog itself is far too lengthy for this space (though it’s linked below for your perusal). You’ll obviously notice an overhauled look hitting you front and center, with a new add-on manager, support for the new WebM format, improved privacy settings and crash protection headlining the “big chart o’ features.” Give ‘er a download and toss your thoughts on the new build down in comments below, cool?
