IBLOG SPACE

Remember all the way back this morning when we reported on the leaked version of the official Facebook app for iPad? Turns out the folks at Facebook were none too happy about that leak and have taken some action. This leaked version was available to jailbroken iPad units (jailbroken being the iOS version of “rooted” for those of you on the other side of the spectrum, all of these terms essentially meaning “hacked.”) This Monday afternoon, however, the fun was fully over (at least for the time being) as Facebook officials blocked logins through the app, so says CPU Engineering Undergrad Marvin Bernal. This fellow who releases updates on his exploits through Twitter announced at approximately 12 NOON Central Standard Time that he’d discovered the Facebook app in question to have logins disabled. This referring to the version found buried deep within Version 3.4.4 for iPhone, an update that appeared on the App Store this past Friday. Other than having a hidden iPad version of itself embed

The HTC Bliss was first rumored back in May to be an attempt at targeting females, a demographic that Android devices haven’t been as popular with. Some renderings and details were first revealed by Thisismynext, who speculated that the device was to sport a “Sea Foam” green among many other supposedly feminine features. Today, the very first blurry cam image of the HTC Bliss has leaked and supports previous rumors. PocketNow obtained the image and claims it to be the first ever shot of the HTC Bliss sitting in what appears to be a charging dock. At first glance, you might mistaken the image for that of an ugly alarm clock, but no, that’s the HTC Bliss laying in a dock that’s rumored to be a wireless charging station—and all in matching colors. That does support previous claims that HTC plans several matching accessories for the phone. And we mustn’t forget about the charm indicator that will come in tow. Although the image could be an older rendering, there’s other evidence that sugge

ASUS had great success with the Eee Pad Transformer tablet/notebook hybrid that’s surely a good sign for its upcoming Eee Pad Slider. Both devices re-imagine the basic tablet form factor with unique keyboard components that boost functionality and productivity without sacrificing the portability that tablets are known for. The Eee Pad Slider has experienced several delays, but today’s FCC documents show that it should be on its way for fall. The ASUS Eee Pad Slider was introduced around the same time as its Eee Pad Transformer sibling, but has since been delayed from April to May and now to fall. No reasons have been given for the delays, although many speculate that ASUS had to work out kinks in the Eee Pad Slider’s unique sliding and tilting hinge design. Other reasons could be a switch from NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chipset to Intel’s new Oak Trail Atom Z670. However, none of those details have been confirmed, and the FCC filing also doesn’t shed any light on any interior changes. Instead, t

Less than two weeks ago, Apple released an update to iOS 4.3.4 to address the security loophole found with downloading PDFs as well as to block the JailBreakMe tool for unlocking iPhones. Today the company has released yet another update bringing iOS on GSM i-devices up to version 4.3.5 to fix some additional security concerns. iOS 4.3.5 is a small update that seems to address only a security issue pertaining to certificate validation. The update document reveals that previously, an attacker with a privileged network position could capture or modify data in sessions even protected by SSL/TLS. Other possible attacks could be launched via X.509 certificate validation, hence the update also improves validation of X.509 certificate chains. The 4.3.5 update is available to the GSM iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, both versions of the iPad, and the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, whereas the CDMA iPhone gets its own version of 4.2.10. You can get the update by plugging your iOS device into iTu

AT&T had some good news today for its Android phone customers who have been eagerly awaiting a platform update. The carrier confirmed that all of its 2011 Android handsets will soon be getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which has so far only been available on the recently launched HTC Status. The updates, however, will not be rolled out altogether, with one kicking off today and others within the coming weeks. The first one to get the over-the-air roll-out of 2.3 Gingerbread is the Motorola Atrix 4G. It was noted that this update for the Atrix will allow users to download apps from third-party stores. Another device highlighted was the HTC Inspire, which should get the update sometime in August. Other Android handsets in the 2011 AT&T lineup include the LG Phoenix, Pantech Crossover, and the giant Samsung Infuse 4G. The pre-2011 Samsung Captivate is also included. However, to access the updates, users must be connected via Wi-Fi. If this proves difficult at home for whatever reas

Adobe will be shutting down its two app stores, the AIR Marketplace and the InMarket. The decision shows signs of defeat as well as wisdom, as Adobe reasons that developers now have many newer and more popular marketplace platforms to which they can distribute their apps. And given that, Adobe feels it should refocus resources on making it easier for developers to publish to multiple platforms rather than continuing to support its own platforms. The announcement was posted on Adobe’s Developer Connection website stating the decision to discontinue development and support for InMarket was based on developer feedback. And that along with discontinuing InMarket, it would also shutter AIR Marketplace, which was built three years ago when there were few distribution channels available for AIR developers. Specifically citing Apple App Store, Android Market, BlackBerry App World, Intel AppUp center, Samsung Apps, and Toshiba App Place, Adobe admits these “newer popular” app stores are better

Microsoft’s Avatar Kinect, unveiled at CES 2011 earlier this year, has landed in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for download. A free app, Avatar Kinect allows you to control your Xbox avatar using the motion-sensing Kinect controller for Xbox 360, with facial expressions and movements all mimicked on-screen. Those moving avatars can be used in 3D stages of Xbox 360 games to chat between friends online, as well as to “produce your own TV shows.” Whereas other apps have used general gestures tracked by Kinect to move on-screen players, Avatar Kinect goes as far as recognizing individual facial movements: the way your mouth moves during speech, frowning, smiling and other expressions. There are also 15 virtual environments within which groups of up to eight avatars can collaborate. Microsoft has thrown in plenty of special effects, too, and if you “film” the scene it can be posted up to the Kinect Share site for others to view. Avatar Kinect is available now, as a reasonably hefty 660MB downlo

Multiple iOS apps have been updated this weekend to remove in-app purchasing links, with the WSJ, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Spotify and others apparently complying with Apple’s stricter rules. Apple quietly updated its terms & conditions back in June, no longer preventing services from selling content outside of apps – as had been originally the case – but insisting that in-app links to external stores be removed. The Wall Street Journal has confirmedthat its iPad app “will soon remove all purchasing options in the app in response to Apple’s new rules.” Whereas before, would-be subscribers could hit a button in the app and be taken to a sign-up page in the iPad’s Safari browser, now they will have to call customer service or manually visit the newspaper’s site. Similarly, the Kindle for iOS app has been updated, with Amazon saying that v2.8 “removes the Kindle Store button.” Spotify too has an amended version, the changelist of which only includes “compliance with new rules

Qualcomm has acquired a bundle of gesture recognition technologies from developer GestureTek, promising to integrate the systems into current and future Snapdragon chipsets. While the exact technologies in question are not specified – Qualcomm only says “certain intellectual property assets related to gesture recognition, as well as key engineering resources” – the systems are likely to allow for motion-based control of future smartphones, tablets and home entertainment devices, similar to what Microsoft’s Kinect offers on the Xbox 360. “Applications processors are enabling a range of new ways for consumers to interface with their home entertainment and mobile devices. Our acquisition of key technology and assets from GestureTek will strengthen Qualcomm’s smartphone product portfolio and enable our customers to launch products with new and compelling user experiences” Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president and group president, Qualcomm Many of GestureTek’s publicly-known products a

AT&T is reportedly readying staff for a fifth-gen iPhone launch by the middle of September, according to the latest rumors, with management at the carrier warning retail store managers to be ready for a high influx of foot traffic. The message at management levels inside AT&T, BGR‘s source informs them, is that all staff training must be complete by early September, so that as many employees as possible are on hand to deal with a peak in demand. That would certainly fit in with previous talk of extra staffing, with recently spotted adverts in the UK suggesting Apple was looking for temporary staff with enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, the iPhone to work in the fall. Apple, too, has dropped some heavy hints about the iPhone 5, with CFO Peter Oppenheimer claiming that a “future product transition” during September would affect sales estimates that quarter. AT&T isn’t the only carrier ramping up for the iPhone 5, either. Verizon Wireless, too, is preparing for the same launch