Fring first to bring group video call to the iPad.

Last week, a video accidentally appeared online showing and confirming a version of Skype in the making for the iPad. The app will be launched on Tuesday - yes today but in another time zone - thus making Skype the first offering group video calls on the iPad. Well that is not so and Skype is only second as Fringland  has updated Fring with Group video chat. With this feature, owners of the iPad2 will be able to "call, jam. reunite, sing, dance..." with 4 friends.


See what's new in Fring 5.1.1.2
· NEW iPad optimized version!

The 1st GROUP VIDEO calling app for iPad. Use it for Video chat on 3G/WiFi to iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, Android and other smartphones.

NOW 4 friends see each other at the same time.

Fun drag & drop navigation. Unique combo communication with simultaneous voice/video + chat and more.



· iPhone now with BLUETOOTH support – I can hear you clearly now!

· Connectivity improvements so you stay connected.

· Bug fixes. It’ll be even smoother fringing now.


Download Fring on the Apps Store:
http://itunes.apple.com/mu/app/fring-video-calls-im/id290948830?mt=8#

TuneIn Radio Pro updated with ability to save songs to Presets.

TuneIn Radio is a nice app for you to listen to worldwide radio on your iPad. The app is present on every popular mobile OS and really helps you discover music from around the globe and beyond; provided some aliens decide to broadcast towards earth. 


Here's what this update offers:
• Added the ability to save songs to Presets. Songs can be saved by tapping the heart button on the Now Playing view.
• Search feature now returns results immediately while typing
• Added recommended stations list based on music library
• Added the ability to shake for related station
• The in-app web browser on iPhone and iPod touch is now disabled by default. A new setting is added to re-enable.
• Bug fixes


Download link: http://itunes.apple.com/mu/app/tunein-radio-pro/id319295332?mt=8#

Today's app updates on my iPad: CNN and Angry Birds Rio HD

Two updates have appeared in my AppStore this morning for CNN iPad and the now so very famous Angry Birds Rio HD.


With this update CNN app for iPad reaches version 1.0.4 with the following improvements:
- Fix to intermittent failure to load
- Improvement of audio experience on video stories - Minor infrastructure enhancements to improve stability


Download CNN app for iPad here.

Angry Birds Rio HD 1.2.1 has these new features:
- Improved visual effects
- Enhanced user experience

Download Angry Birds Rio HD here.

Apple releases iTunes 10.3; Cloud enabled.

What's new in iTunes 10.3?

Introducing iTunes in the Cloud beta. The music you purchase in iTunes appears automatically on all your devices. You can also download your past iTunes purchases. Where you want, when you want.

• Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your PC and iOS devices.

• Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music purchases again at no additional cost. Your purchases are available in the iTunes Store on your PC or in the iTunes app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.

iTunes 10.3 also adds Books to the iTunes Store, where you can discover and buy your favorite books on your computer and automatically download them to iBooks on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. This version also allows you to use Automatic Downloads with apps and books or download previously purchased apps and books from your computer or iOS device.

For information on the security content of this update, please visit:support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

iBooks for iPad updated.

I do not have much use for iBooks on my iPad now that I have the Kindle app. Not that I have spent some time with it to search through available books, but the Kindle is more useful as it also works on my Windows Phone and desktop. Therefore, Whispersync will automatically sync my devices and thus allowing to continue reading seamlessly not matter which device I'm using. Maybe Apple has a similar technology for iOS but I do not have an iPhone to verify that. Anyway, this post is not about the Kindle. 


An update is available for iBooks on iTunes with the following features, including some nice stuff for kids:


iBooks 1.3 adds several new features and improvements:
• Help your children learn to read with the new read-aloud feature included in select children's books from the iBookstore.
The read-aloud feature uses a real narrator to read the book to you, and in some books, it will even highlight the words as you read along.
• Enhanced books can now automatically play audio or video included with the book.
• Makes iBooks more responsive when opening very long books.
• Addresses an issue where some books may display the same page twice


Download here.

Apple announces iOS 5 and iCloud.

Visit Apple website today and the first thing you will see is this: "iOS 5 includes more than 200 new features for your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch". 200 features is a lot, but less than the 500 new features included in Mango announced by Microsoft. This post is not about Microsoft and Windows Phone 7 anyway but I cannot help notice that some of the new features of iOS seems to have been copied or borrowed from Mango. 


One of those new addition is the ability to "Capture the moment at a moment's notice". This feature lets you open the camera right from the lock screen and press the volume up button to snap your photo. 


iMessage lets you send unlimited text messages via Wi-Fi and 3G. This is just like Blackberry Messenger with the exception that BBM does not work on Wi-Fi.


Because of time constraint, I invite you to read more on Apple's website. 


iOS 5 is due this fall.