3.4

Headache-inducing

A successful project management program can help you pull together all of the pieces to ensure that a project runs smoothly from start to finish. PlanningForce Express Planner tries to be that program, but it suffers from a lack of direction and frequent error messages. It leaves a lot to be desired.

Red flags appeared right away when we started the program, or tried to: it wasn't readily apparent how to get started with PlanningForce. The program's Help feature only offered links to About and Welcome pages and a way to check for updates, and the Welcome Page … Read more

Kyocera Echo gets Android 2.3 Gingerbread update

The dual-screen Kyocera Echo has become the latest Android smartphone to receive Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. The update includes many of the standard Gingerbread features, along with pinch-to-zoom support, a Swype 3.0 virtual keyboard, and an improved downloads application.

Kyocera also is including a new Eco mode that's specifically designed for the Echo, which gives users the ability to better manage battery life. The application will change various power settings on the handset once it hits a preset, user-determined point. So for example, when the device reaches its chosen battery percentage, it will begin to conserve power … Read more

Cut the Rope goes to comics

About 19 percent of respondents to a recent study say they have dropped their phones in the toilet, the Facebook for iPad app is hidden inside of the iPhone app version 3.4.4, and the popular iOS and Android game Cut the Rope makes its way to comic books.

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Cut the Rope goes to comics Netflix and Dreamsworks deal in the works 19% of people drop phone into toilet Facebook iPad app in iPhone app Dolby rolls out consumer 7.1 Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (HD) |  … Read more

Apple's iOS 4.3.4 jailbroken

Apple last week released its latest iOS update to fix a security flaw exploited by a jailbreaking tool, but the new version--4.3.4--has itself already been jailbroken.

Detailed by the folks at Redmond Pie, the custom PwnageTool now lets users jailbreak any iOS device running iOS 4.3.4 with the exception of the iPad 2. The jailbreak was created and launched Friday, not too long after 4.3.4 was released.

Offering a step-by-step guide for those either brave enough or foolhardy enough to jailbreak their device via the PwnageTool, Redmond Pie says it tested the jailbreak to … Read more

Apple delivers iOS 4.3.4 to patch PDF security hole

Apple rolled out a minor security update to iOS this morning that fixes a vulnerability with the software's PDF-reading capabilities.

iOS 4.3.4 (and 4.2.9 for those on Verizon) is available as a free update to iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users. A description of the update says it "fixes (a) security vulnerability associated with viewing malicious PDF files." That's the same one used by JailbreakMe.com, a site that re-launched earlier this month to allow users to jailbreak their phones without using a computer or any special software, giving the owners a … Read more

Brain Trainer

BrainSpeeder Brain Games is a free trio of seemingly simple brain games that you can play on your PC or online against other players. It tweaks your topknot by challenging your memory and math skills with games that are easy to learn and quick to play yet become more challenging as you progress through their levels. The games are Arithmetic, which tests basic math skills like addition and subtraction; Mnemonic, which requires players to quickly memorize and recall numbers; and Speedoku, in which players must complete number sequences.

BrainSpeeder's simple log-on and control panel involves three actions: choosing a … Read more

Freelancers' free time clock

Free time clock programs tend to fall into one of two categories, those that track a self-employed individual's time and those that keep track of a number of employees. MRO WorkingTimeClock is optimized for individuals such as freelancers, but it's suitable for small businesses, too, as well as organizations, clubs, or anyone who can use a free utility that accurately records and reports daily working hours. You can evaluate any period and save and export report data as HTML for use in other programs or online. It includes a stopwatch, countdown timer, and an optional screensaver that displays … Read more

Hot spot coming to AT&T iPhone 4

After it unveiled the new iPad 2 today in San Francisco, Apple also announced that iOS 4.3, the latest software version for the iPad and GSM iPhones, will be available for download March 11.

Compared with iOS 4.2 the update doesn't bring a lot of new features, but it offers all iPhone 4 owners the personal hot-spot feature that debuted on the Verizon iPhone 4. We've expected as much since we saw the beta release of 4.3 in January, and AT&T has yet to confirmed that it will support the feature on its … Read more

Copy tool

Copy managers have long been popular third-party utilities, offering to speed up, schedule, or simplify the process of copying files and folders, singly or in batches, compared with the built-in Windows tool. WinMend File Copy's developers claim it boosts copying speeds by up to 300 percent over the Windows command. It adds the ability to pause and resume downloads, display skipped files, and other features typical of aftermarket copy managers.

WinMend File Copy collects the basic functions of copying files and folders in a colorful, easy-to-use interface, with a list view for batches. Tabs labeled Our Products and About … Read more