Angry Birds Space now available to download from the App Store

We told you recently that those Angry Birds were going to make their way into space, and today Rovio released the new game for iOS gamers.

Angry Birds Space is pretty much what you would expect: Angry birds trying to finish those pesky pigs off, but with a distinctly starry flavour.

Available for both the iPhone/iPod touch and the iPad, Angry Birds Space takes to the skies, with planets and their own gravitational pull adding something very different to the tried and tested Angry Birds formula that has already made Rovio’s games extremely popular across a range of devices. From what we’ve seen, this space-flavored version will be just as popular…
“After a giant claw kidnaps their eggs, the Angry Birds chase it into a wormhole and find themselves floating in a strange new galaxy – surrounded by space pigs! Luckily the Angry Birds have super powers of their own.”

Gamers will be treated to 60 levels, with the usual additions set to come by the way of updates moving forward. New birds and their new superpowers are also on the agenda, giving gamers something even more unique than the plethora of Angry Birds games they have already been playing.

Angry Birds Space will set gamers back $0.99 on the iPhone and iPod touch, while Angry Birds Space HD is available for $2.99. Both versions are in the App Store right now!

Have you been enjoying some anti-grav-powered bird flinging?

Rumor: next iPhone to feature 4.6-inch display

Now that the rumors for the third-generation iPad are over, rumors regarding Apple’s next iPhone are kicking in full swing. Reporting on a rumor that’s been floating around for quite awhile, Maeil Business Newspaper (via Reuters) says that Apple’s next iPhone will feature a 4.6-inch display.

The upgraded screen size has been rumored to be featured in the iPhone for quite awhile. Many Android devices include a larger 4-inch screen, including Samsung’s popular Galaxy S II. The 4.6-inch display would be Retina quality and manufactured by Samsung and LG…
Many customers have asked for a larger screen in their iPhone, however, the iPhone 4S stayed with the iPhone 4′s form-factor. The iPhone 4/4S feature a 3.5-inch screen, that some say is too small compared to many Android devices.

Apple’s next iPhone, perhaps named the iPhone 5, has been rumored to feature an all new teardrop design. Many said it was going to launch last October, however that wasn’t the case. Many reports now say this is the year, most likely sometime this fall.

The iPhone 5 is also rumored to feature LTE — just like the new iPad that was released last week.

Would you like to see a larger screen on the iPhone?


Nano SIM pits Apple against smartphone rivals

When Apple was designing the iPhone 4, the company had adopted the smaller Micro SIM format for space constraints. Smaller in size compared to the standard Mini SIMs, Micro SIMs do the exact same job while using less space. But with mobile devices getting even slimmer these days, even Micro SIMs waste too much valuable space inside thin mobile gadgets.

Apple thinks smaller is better so last summer the company submitted a new requirement to the European Telecoms Standards Body for the use of even smaller SIM cards in mobile phones (AT&T followed suit). But the battle over the upcoming Nano SIM standard has put Apple once again on a collision course with its rivals in the smartphone space, namely the opposing group led by Android maker Google and joined by the ailing BlackBerry maker Research In Motion and Nokia of Finland, reports the Financial Times (subscription required)…
Roughly a third smaller than the Micro SIM utilized on the iPad/iPhone 4/4S, the new Nano SIM helps mobile devices shrink in size or implement additional functions. According to author Daniel Thomas, Apple is backed by most of the European carriers and both Apple and the opposing camp have tabled proposals to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

All handset makers would be able to use the design chosen under licence but the Apple-led proposal has caused some concern among its rivals that the US group might eventually own the patents. The Sim is crucial to the design of future handsets, with one person with knowledge of the committee saying that the Apple-backed nano-Sim could require a “drawer” to protect it. “Phones would need to be re-engineered with this in mind,” the person said. Nokia said that its proposal had “significant technical advantages”.

Conveniently enough, Apple filed multiple membership applications in order to become the largest voting group among the ETSI members ahead of the groups decision on the Nano SIM proposal, due next week. According to the publication, ETSI has come under scrutiny following Apple’s move to significantly increase its voting power. With 92 votes, Nokia is the largest ETSI voting body.

Eagle-eyed readers will remember that Apple at one point wanted to drop the SIM card altogether and instead bake its functionality directly into device electronics. This would let customers easily switch carriers and purchase plans on the device, without having to pop in another SIM card.

Unfortunately, the idea didn’t sit well with carriers over fear that Apple will own their customers. Carriers even threatened to cut or drop iPhone subsidies. As a result, the Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics powerhouse eventually relented.


Microsoft allegedly halting iPad purchases made with company funds

Just as the new iPad landed two weeks ago, taking off to a great start, software maker Microsoft is reportedly looking to put a ban on iPad purchases made with company funds. According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, a new policy is being put in place by Microsoft’s Sales, Marketing, Services, IT, & Operations Group (SMSG) which sent an internal email to employees specifically stating that iPads and Macs are a no-go.

Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit makes Office and other utilities for the Mac, but the company also makes iPad peripherals and a number of apps for iOS devices, such as the MSN and SkyDrive programs. They’re also rumored to have been working on bringing the full-blown Office suite to iPad, which would help Apple’s tablet penetrate deeper into enterprise world.

Even though SMSG encompasses 46,000 Microsoft employees worldwide, it’s unlikely that the ban Apple products will put a noticeable dent in the iPad’s performance. Apple shipped 55 million iPads as of last December and is projected to sell 12 million units of the new model in this quarter alone, excluding iPad 2. An alleged email to Microsoft employees is included right below…
From: Alain Crozier
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:17 PM

Subject: Apple Purchases

Within SMSG we are putting in place a new policy that says that Apple products (Mac & iPad) should not be purchased with company funds.

In the US we will be turning off the Apple products from the Zones Catalog next week, which is the standard purchasing mechanism for these products.

Outside of the US — we will work with your finance and procurement teams to send the right message and put the right processes in place.

The current purchase levels are low, however we recognize there will be a bit of transition work associated with this. Details of historical purchases in the US are provided in the attachment to help understand the changes that will be needed.Thank you for your support and leadership on this.

Alain Crozier
CFO | WW Sales, Marketing & Services Group
WW SMSG Finance

I don’t know about you, but if this email is legit it’s basically an admission of defeat.

As you know, Microsoft is expected to enter the consumer tablet market later this year with the release of Windows 8 for both ARM- and x86-powered mobile devices.

Here’s a nice side-by-side comparison of iPad 2 and a tablet driven by the recently released consumer preview of Microsoft’s forthcoming operating system.