Facebook for Android to get a lot faster with an upcoming major update [UPDATE: It's live]

Well, it looks like the policy of stimulating its employees to adopt Android smartphones has yielded results for Facebook. An update for the social network’s Android app scheduled for later today, is bound to significantly increase its speed and overall performance.

In order to achieve the above result, Facebook’s app developers have done away with HTML 5 coding.Instead, they have used native code to speed up loading of images and browsing through the News Feed.

The update will also bring to Facebook for Android some features, which were previously available only on the iOS app. The most notable among those is the “new story” banner. Naturally, a slew of other, not so visible, improvements such as improved memory efficiency and a new custom scrolling engine have also been added to the popular app.

Update: So the new updated Facebook app for Android has hit the Play Store. Must say, It’s not the barnstormer we expected it to be. Scrolling still doesn’t feel as smooth as it should be and the new animations just feel superfluous. The only thing that’s noticeably faster now is opening images, which is instantaneous.

Perhaps, the fault wasn’t with HTML5. Perhaps, Facebook just can’t make good apps.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch Optimized for Windows 8

Lenovo ships the touchscreen version of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook and gives it a precise name – ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch. Optimized for Windows 8′s touch-friendly UI, the Ultrabook has a 14-inch 1600×900 capacitive display with 10-point multitouch. The laptop is built with carbon fiber material that provides strength and durability and is as strong as aluminum at 1/3 the weight.

The X1 Carbon Touch is powered by Intel’s Ivy Bridge processor up to Core i7, up to 8GB of RAM and integrated Intel HD graphics. It comes standard with 128GB SSD that can be upgraded to 256GB. The Carbon Touch is also the first Ultrabook optimized for Microsoft Lync, featuring HD face tracking 720p HD camera and dual array microphones for high-quality video and voice chat. It also sports Dolby Home Theater v4 for enhanced audio output.

Lenovo’s touch-capable Ultrabook supports Bluetooth, Bluetooth and optional 3.5G connectivity. You can find a USB 3.0 port, a always-on USB 2.0 port for charging mobile devices, Mini DisplayPort, a 4-in-1 SD card reader,  a progressive backlit keyboard with island-style keys and multi-gesture glass touchpad. Also included is Lenovo RapidCharge technology that can provide 5 hours battery life on a 35-minute charge. For advanced security, the touchscreen Ultrabook comes with integrated fingerprint reader, Trusted Platform Module and BIOS encryption.

Measuring just 17mm thin and weighs 3.4 pounds, Lenovo calls the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch as the world’s lightest 14-inch Ultrabook. Lenovo has released the Ultrabook and two models are available – the $1499 X1CARBON_TOUCH_UPGRADE1_SAP model with Core i5-3427U and 4GB RAM, and the $1649 X1CARBON_TOUCH_UPGRADE2_SAP model powered by Core i7-3667U and 8GB of memory.

 

ROCCAT ISKU FX GAMING KEYBOARD

German gaming peripherals maker ROCCAT Studio ships its Isku FX multicolor gaming keyboard worldwide. To deliver a complete personalized gaming atmosphere, the studio adds a new multicolor lighting system to Isku FX, one of the world’s most intelligently engineered gaming keyboards. Gamers can have key backlighting in 16.8 million colors with 6 adjustable brightness levels.

What’s more, the gaming keyboard also includes ROCCAT Talk protocol that can automatically adjust lighting of the kyboard with in-game actions. The protocol can even sync the lighting of Isku FX and ROCCAT mouse such that they will flash in white whenever a new round starts, and allows them to talk to each other to execute mouse macros right from the keyboard. The multicolor keyboard also features the Easy-Shift[+] technology, offering 36 easily-customizable macros strategically positioned in 3 spots in the WASD zone; and the Macro Live! technology with a dedicated Macro Live! Recording button for easy in-game macro recording.

The ROCCAT Isku FX has off-white UV-coated medium-height keys with optimum keystroke, and advanced anti-ghosting and 1000Hz polling rate. There are extra-large granular wrist rest, integrated cable channels, non-slip base. They gaming keyboard is priced at $99.99.

 

VLC Player developers talk about a version for Windows Phone 8

Recently, the developers of the popular VLC Player started a Kickstarter project to fund the development of their Windows 8/RT application. So far, their progress has been pretty good and they have managed to raise over $20,000.

Now they have announced that they are also working on a version of the app for Windows Phone 8. Thanks to the new common kernel shared by Windows RT and Windows Phone 8, porting the app from one platform to another has become quite easy.

Microsoft also seems thrilled about this version of app for their mobile platform. Regarding that, the VLC team had to say:

“We’ve been in touch with Microsoft representatives, who are thrilled about our endeavor and ready to collaborate with us. They are looking into ways of supporting us directly through non-financial matters, notably hardware, technical and design help. This is great news.”

VLC developers have also been in touch with several designers and hardware chip vendors regarding this.

If VLC wants to distribute its applications on Microsoft’s store, they will need to closely stick to the store guidelines, something they say they are trying hard to. They can also legally publish the app on the Windows Store as it’s terms and conditions seem compatible with GNU GPL. Eventually, they are hoping to distribute codecs through the Store.

If this works, both Windows RT and Windows 8 will finally have a worthwhile video player to play all your content.

Microsoft releases SkyDrive app for Xbox 360, over 39 other titles to follow

The official SkyDrive app for the Xbox 360 launches today as part of a 40-app suite specially designed for Microsoft’s gaming console.

The current version of the app does what you’d expect – bridging the gap between your TV and the cloud. SkyDrive for Xbox 360 will allow you to watch photos, videos and slideshows directly from your SkyDrive account on your TV.

Additionally, you can stream photos just taken with your Windows Phone right on the TV thanks to SkyDrive’s automatic sync feature.

The Redmond guys even made a promo trailer of the SkyDrive Xbox app showcasing some of its features. Check it out.