| Facebook updates iOS app, says it's 'rebuilt from the ground up' to be twice as fast Aug 23rd 2012, 17:09  There's no visual overhaul as it just did yesterday with Facebook Messages, but Facebook has now announced an update for its iOS app that promises some fairly big improvements of its own. According to the company, the app was "rebuilt from the ground up," and is now twice as fast as the previous version. That includes a faster opening of the app itself, smoother and faster scrolling, and photos that are said to load "instantly." Unfortunately, we're not able to test those claims ourselves just yet, but Facebook says that the update (version 5.0) will be available later today. Filed under: Internet, Software Facebook updates iOS app, says it's 'rebuilt from the ground up' to be twice as fast originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Facebook, iTunes | Email this | Comments | | Apple seeks patent for hearing aids that deliver speech at an even keel Aug 23rd 2012, 15:50  Although they're called hearing aids, they can sometimes be as much of a hindrance as a help. Catch an unfamiliar accent and the attention might be on just parsing the words, let alone moving the conversation forward. Apple is applying for a patent on a technique that would take the guesswork out of listening by smoothing out all the quirks. The proposed idea would convert speech to text and back, using the switch to remove any unusual pronunciation or too-quick talking before it reaches the listener's ear. Not surprisingly for a company that makes phones and tablets, the hearing aid wouldn't always have to do the heavy lifting, either: iOS devices could handle some of the on-the-fly conversion, and pre-recorded speech could receive advance treatment to speed up the process. We don't know if Apple plans to use its learning in any kind of shipping product, although it's undoubtedly been interested in the category before -- and its ambitions of having iPhone-optimized hearing aids could well get a lift from technology that promises real understanding, not just a boost in volume. Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables Apple seeks patent for hearing aids that deliver speech at an even keel originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments | |
