We have no idea how many people own a Mac and an Android-based Xperia smartphone (and not an iPhone), but in case you’re one of them, then this is for you. Sony has released a new Mac OS application called Sony Ericsson Bridge for Mac, which will let you connect and sync your Xperia phone with your Mac. Sounds like a simple task, but if you’re a Mac-and-Xperia user, then you’re already aware that Sony’s syncing software has been limited to Windows PCs in the past.

Using the app, you can use iTunes to load your Xperia phone with your stored media files, including music, movies, TV shows, podcasts and playlists. The app will also let users free up the Xperia’s memory by allowing them to drag and drop files to their Macs.

Bridge for Mac version 1.2 is currently available now for users running Intel Macs with OS 10.5 and up and iiTunes 7.0/ iPhoto 08 and later. Sony also promises a 2.0 release that supports software update functions on the Mac.

Download Bridge for Mac here.

Is ‘new’ always better? It depends on who you ask. New car owners would agree. And so would owners who traded in their old iPad for a new iPad 2. But if you ask professionals who work with software like Apple’s Final Cut Pro, and the software’s interface (among other things) was changed so much that they have a hard time dealing with it? Let’s just say they aren’t too happy with the changes on Apple’s latest version, which ironically comes with a tagline that says “Everything just changed in post.” Not the video editors at Conan though. According to the video clip they aired recently, they “actually like it.” Enough to actually make an awesomely edited fail clip with it. Check it out after the break.

Why? Because the BlackBerry 7 OS won’t work on BlackBerry 6 devices. On the bright side—for users who know what they’re doing at least—you can pick some of the advanced apps (like the BlackBerry App World v2.1.3.7 that comes with the BB7 OS) and install them into your BlackBerry 6 device to make a hybrid OS that’s a little ahead of the times.

Again, to sum it all up:

• BlackBerry 7 is out for free download.
• Yes, you can download it, no one’s stopping you.
• No, you can’t install it into your new BlackBerry 6 device.
• If you have to ask what to do with it, you probably don’t need it.

[via CrackBerry]

There’s going to be an Android 3.1? Probably not that much of a shocker since it always seemed like an eventuality after 3.0 Honeycomb, but the source for this bit of news is just a little bit… unexpected. Adobe revealed that there’s going to be an update to Android 3.0 in an update to Flash, of all places. Flash 10.2’s changelog originally showed that it’s going to offer hardware accelerated video presentation when running from Android 3.1, and then they removed it. Droid-Life managed to get a screenshot though, and that’s what you’re looking at up there.

As far as Android 3.1 goes, we don’t know much about it besides a faster Flash. But since it’s a “.1” update, a number of other bug fixes and optimizations should be expected.

If you’re itching to test out Windows 8 way before it’s officially unveiled, here’s your chance. A very early build of Windows 8 (it’s designated as “Milestone 1,” so this is really early) has leaked out across a number of torrent sources. But because this is, again, a very early version of the OS, it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles yet. In fact, it looks pretty much like Windows 7, but with a little extra.

The Milestone 1 build does come with a number of known Windows 8 features though, including the Windows App Marketplace, the SmartScreen Security Filter, Aero Auto-Colorization, a built-in ISO mounter, a built-in PDF Reader, and IE9’s Metro UI.

Again, it’s an early build, so don’t expect it to run smoothly. But if you want to check it out and you know what you’re doing, then it’s out there if you know where to look. [Windows 8 Center via DVice]

What’s New in Firefox 4:

Fastest Firefox Ever

• Performance: Firefox is up to six times faster than the previous release. With improved start-up and page load times, speedy Web app performance and hardware accelerated graphics, Firefox is optimized for rich, interactive websites.

Streamlined Interface

• App Tabs: give a permanent home to frequently visited sites like Web mail, Twitter, Pandora, Flickr.
• Switch to Tab: easily find and switch to any open tab from your Awesome Bar without opening duplicate tabs.
• Panorama: drag and drop tabs into manageable groups to save time while navigating many open tabs.

Private and Secure Synchronization

• Firefox Sync: access your Awesome Bar history, bookmarks, open tabs, passwords and form data across multiple computers and mobile devices.

Most Customizable

• New Add-ons Manager: easily discover and install more than 200,000 add-ons to customize the features, functionality and look of Firefox.

Private and Secure

• Do Not Track: Firefox is leading the Web towards a universal standard Do Not Track feature that allows users to opt-out of tracking used for behavioral advertising.
• Firefox puts privacy first, fixing flaws in some Web standards to prevent others from accessing your browser history.
• HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS): automatically establishes secure connections to stop “man in the middle” attacks and keep sensitive data safe from interception during the log-in process.
• Content Security Policy (CSP): prevent cross-scripting attacks by allowing sites to explicitly tell the browser which content is legitimate.

Cutting Edge Tools for Web Developers:

• The JavaScript engine incorporates the new JägerMonkey JIT compiler, along with enhancements to the existing TraceMonkey JIT and SpiderMonkey’s interpreter for faster page-load speed and better performance of Web apps and games.
• HTML5 support in Firefox includes hardware accelerated, high-definition video (WebM), 3D graphics, offline data storage, professional typography, touchscreen interfaces and the Mozilla Audio API to help create visual experiences for sound and more.
• Firefox 4 also improves existing tools like CSS, Canvas and SVG to enable developers to make exciting Web pages.

Firefox provides uninterrupted browsing when there is a crash in the Adobe Flash, Apple QuickTime or Microsoft Silverlight plugins. If one of these plugins crashes or freezes, it won’t affect the rest of Firefox. Simply reload the page to restart the plugin.

We all thought iOS 4.3 would be released on March 11 (also known as “iPad 2 Launch Day”), but here’s a pleasant surprise: it’s out now, for anyone interested in updating their iPhone 4/3GS, iPad and iPod touch (3rd and 4th-gen) to what the iPad 2 will be running on when it gets released. Also – and this might be something you’d be interested in –a jailbreak tool has already been released for iOS 4.3, which will allow you to open up the just-released firmware. Full release notes for the 4.3 update after the break.

The jailbreak, or at least the one that’s available now, is of the tethered variety though, which means that you’ll have to reboot in a jailbroken state for doing jailbreak-y things (such as accessing Cydia). You might want to wait for a more final version of the tool set if you want the full, hassle-free, untethered method. But if you don’t mind the extra work, you can check out Redmond Pie for the how-to if you want to crack or unlock iOS 4.3 now.

From Apple:

About iOS 4.3 Software Update

This update contains new features and improvements, including the following:

• Personal Hotspot*
  • Share iPhone 4 cellular data connection with up to 5 devices (combination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth, and 1 USB)
• iTunes Home Sharing
  • Play music, movies and TV shows from a shared iTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2)
• New AirPlay features**
  • Play videos from the Photos app including the Camera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps and websites on Apple TV
  • Play slideshows from Photos on Apple TV using  transitions available on Apple TV
• Faster Safari performance with Apple Nitro JavaScript engine
• HD video out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter***
  • View 720p HD videos from Videos app, iPod app, Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display
• Ping features
  • Push notifications for comments and follow requests
  • Post and Like songs directly from the Now Playing screen
  • Parental controls
• New Settings
  • Messages setting for number of times to repeat an alert
  • iPad side switch setting to lock screen rotation or mute audio notifications and sound effects
• Single tap conference call dialing with a pause to send a passcode
• Bug fixes

*Requires iPhone 4 with tethering data plan

**Requires Apple TV (2nd generation) running software version 4.2 or later

***iPhone 4, iPad, iPod touch (4th generation)

For information on the security content of this update, please visit:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

This update is available via iTunes.

Assuming that it’s true, what should we expect? There’s hardly any news or rumors about what iOS 5 could bring, but NFC (near field communications) support has been rumored to be on tap for the next Apple mobile OS. As far as MobileMe goes, it’s expected to be overhauled into a free cloud service for storing user content bought through iTunes, which should be handy for devices with limited storage, watching store-bought content on a different device, or as a backup in case you lose your iOS device. [via MacRumors]

It’s not as easy as the regular jailbreaks available for iOS 4.2.1 though. It’s not a perfect jailbreak either (this one’s tethered, so you’re going to have to boot in a jailbroken state every time you reboot), but if you’re interested in cracking this early version of iOS 4.3, it’s possible. You’re going to need a number of software tools to pull it off, including iTunes 10.2, the actual iOS 4.3 GM firmware, the PwnageTool 4.2 utility and a couple of other utilities as well. Check out the full how-to over at Redmond Pie here.

The public version of iOS 4.3 is due out on March 11, along with the iPad 2.

After mucking about with so many updates for iTunes 9, Apple has finally unveiled iTunes 10 that offers an interface update and a new social network feature called Ping. Oh, and a new logo that basically ditches the CD on the logo, replacing it with a blue circle since iTunes downloads already outsells CDs in the US.

First off, the new interface. Basically, they moved around some things, like the close/minimize buttons (they’re now to the left), and tweaked the looked on minor details like the volume controls. One of the major updates include a new library view that merges the album and list views, with a bar that shows album art for albums you own with more than five songs. Simplified, you won’t see the art for GnR’s Appetite for Destruction album if all you got from it is Sweet Child O’ Mine and Paradise City.

For video rentals, Apple dropped the prices for commercial-free HD TV series down to just $0.99 per episode that you download. The selection might be a bit limited at first, with only ABC, Fox and Disney jumping on the first wagon, but Apple is hoping (expecting?) more networks will be joining the service when it catches on.

The new AirPlay wireless streaming could also be big. Simply put, the new feature will let you stream music from iTunes to compatible wireless speakers without having to plug into the old AirPort accessory. Brands that include JBL, Denon and iHome are said to be working on new products that will support the feature out of the box.

The new Ping feature is the big highlight here, which Steve Jobs simply described as “a combination of Facebook and Twitter, but for music.” Basically, the new social feature lets you follow friends and artists to check out what they’re downloading and listening to, get concert or simple updates from the artists you’re following, or just post or read status updates from the users you’re following. There’s a whole lot more to it than that, but they’re basically par for the course if you’re familiar with how social networks roll.

iTunes 10 is available for download now. Ping already comes free with iTunes 10, so it’s already there if you want to opt into the service. It’ll also be available to iOS device users, including iPhone 4, 3G and 3GS, and iPod touch from the 2G and onwards.