While Facebook application for the iPad is still on its way, the Facebook application for the Android devices has received yet another update. With the new update, devices running on Android version 1.5 and above will get a host of new features.

The list of improvements for the new updates although small but is big in terms of usability. The update will add the ability to view pages right on the device from within the application. Most importantly, the application will now also allow the Android device users to directly upload videos on to Facebook.

The News feed has also been tweaked a little that promises faster refresh times and some visual tweaks. However, the comment liking feature is still somewhat missing in action and we are hopeful that it will be added in the next update.

The video upload feature adds the functionality to add or upload videos right from the Android device on to the Facebook account. The videos need not be recorded with the application running and videos that are stored in the device can be uploaded through this feature.

Users can directly search the application in the Android marketplace to get the update.

Opera has rolled out updated versions of Opera Mini 6.1 and Opera Mobile 11.1 mobile web browsers for majority of modern mobile platforms. These updated versions of Opera Mini and Opera Mobile bring AutoComplete and Google Voice search support. After installing the new versions on the mobile phones, users will get more search suggestions from Google and Yandex services. Visit the m.opera.com from your mobile’s Browser and download the respective version.

The functionality gap between mobile web browser and web browser for desktops is getting smaller. Opera Mini and Opera Mobile has played significant role in making mobile web browsing a tad easier experience.

New versions of the Opera Mini and Opera Mobile bring desktop-like features such as AutoComplete, searching from address bar, better CSS and HTML5 support, Google Voice search support and even domain autocomplete option for several popular domains.

Both mobile web browsers are meant for same purpose but support different platforms. For instance, Opera Mini 6.1 uses a specific data compression technology that enables faster page loads on the mobile devices running Java, Symbian S60, iOS, Android and BlackBerry platforms. It’s shows a mobile web version of a full-fledged website.

The Opera Mobile is a fully functional mobile web browser that supports HTML5 and also data compression technology. Opera Mobile is meant for smartphones and tablets that run Android, Symbian S60, and MeeGo platform based devices.

Opera Mini and Opera Mobile support number of Indian languages and there by continue to remain popular amongst people speaking and using different languages.

Skype, a popular voice over IP service, has released an Android App update that enables video calling over WiFi and 3G networks. This is a big feature for Android smartphone owners. At this moment, two-way video calling is available only on select devices. These are HTC Desire S, Sony Ericsson Xperia neo, Sony Ericsson Xperia pro and Google Nexus S.

Skype has started offering video calling recently, but it was initially limited to only desktops, Macs and the iPhone. Now users get to download the updated Skype app to make video calls on iPhones, Macs, Windows, Android phones and TVs. Video calling is free but you have to pay for data charges while calling over 3G.

This means two-way video calling for Android phones will soon be a reality for those smartphones that have a front facing camera. Currently the app supports only four handsets and Skype hasn’t given out a word on when support for more devices will be added.

Two-way video calling is indeed a much anticipated feature on Android smartphones since several iPhone 4, iPod touch fourth generation, Mac and Window users enjoy video calling for free. To compete with Apple’s FaceTime feature, Skype has actively worked to enable the same feature for Android handsets and perhaps future BlackBerry devices with front facing cameras can avail it to.

Apart from that the new Skype for Android app boasts a better user interface. Skype for Android can be downloaded from Android Market or from this link.

A new Facebook application has been released for the Windows Phone devices. It has now brought the much sought after Push notifications feature to the WP7 devices. The update has begun rolling out to select users who are registered with Microsoft.

Microsoft had promised Push Notifications mechanism with the much awaited the Mango update for Windows Phone 7 based smartphones.

Facebook addicts are the ones who wanted to make the best of Push Notifications and stay updated with the movements and posts of their friends. With the new Facebook Windows Phone App v2.0, users have the option to choose from No Push Notifications, Toasts and Tile count, and Tile count only options.

The heavily anticipated Facebook Chat feature is expected to come post the Mango update.
To get the new Facebook for Windows Phone app, you will have to visit the Marketplace on your phone and download the new update.

Google has come out with a tool that can convert Flash files into HTML5 files so the users can view the later on all types of mobile devices, including iOS devices.

The tool, which is named Swiffy, thus would enable the user to watch videos on his handset irrespective of the fact that whether his device supports Flash or not.

Notably, Apple had decided to keep Adobe Flash out of iPad and other iOS devices, which rendered the users of such devices helpless when it comes to Flash content &#151some time they has to resort to workarounds to view the Flash files.

Google, on the other hand, has been very vocal about its love for Flash, but they are not against HTML5 either. Now the good news is that, with the help of Swiffy, developers can make apps which will address this problem.

The process to use Swiffy is quite easy for developers as well as for common mobile phone users – they just need to visit Swiffy’s website and have to check the box saying they are not uploading a file which violates a copyright, and then upload their file.

The FAQ page of the Swiffy site says, “Swiffy supports many common SWF features such as vector graphics, embedded fonts, images and timeline animation. Basic ActionScript 2.0 code is also supported, but don’t expect to convert your favorite Flash game yet. In general, Swiffy supports most of the features in Flash 5, so exporting your file as a Flash 5 will give the best results. The Swiffy compiler will warn you when unsupported SWF features are encountered.”

There is a tool with Adobe as well which converts Flash files into HTML and is called Wallaby. Wallaby is different from Swiffy because the latter is just a web based tool.

Vodafone has launched a news alert service called Newswrap, this is a MMS based service which sends updates twice (Morning and Evening) in the form of a MMS, which contains Text and images.

The subject of the news could be Sports, National, International, Entertainment and Business. Vodafone plans to start and Voice and Video news alerts soon.

The charges for this update is Re1 for a day, Rs 5 for a week, and Rs 20 for a month. Vodafone users can send SMS ‘MN’ to 111 or they can log on to Vodafone Live (service is not available in Jammu and Kashmir).

Since it’s a MMS based service, users will need handset that supports MMS.

McAfee, a security technology provider, has launched solutions for mobile phones and tablet computers – named as McAfee Mobile Security and McAfee WaveSecure Tablet Edition.

McAfee Mobile Security software, available for both smartphones and tablets, provides a comprehensive mobile security solution by combining three McAfee mobile security products: WaveSecure, VirusScan Mobile and SiteAdvisor for Android.

These products will protect data and privacy in the event of loss or theft, gives protection against viruses and spyware targeting mobile devices, as well as protects the devices from Web based threats, such as phishing sites that probe for personal and sensitive information.
Users of these solutions will be able to back-up and restore data to help protect sensitive information and irreplaceable photos. Even if the device goes missing, users can back up their data.

One can also remotely lock the device to protect against misuse as well as safeguarding personal data. The security system also triggers an audible alarm to help users find the device or disrupt a thief, and or pop-up a notification with instructions for returning the device.

You can also remotely remove data from a lost or stolen device via the McAfee Web portal, mobile Web portal or via a SMS message from a buddy device. Apart from this there is real-time anti-malware protection against viruses, worms and spyware, Trojan horses and battery sapping malware.

“With device growth eclipsing PCs, consumers need tools to not only protect their personal information, but also to provide safeguards for business data should they decide to use that device for work,” said Todd Gebhart, executive vice president and general manager of consumer, small business and mobile, McAfee.

McAfee Mobile Security and WaveSecure software are available multiple languages, but for us only English is useful (no Indian language). McAfee Mobile Security software is currently available as free App on Android market.

Tata Docomo has launched a new service called Endless Music, a complete bank of music with various categories and sub categories. Under this service, customers listen to endless music for the entire day and can also download ringtones of their favourite songs by paying a subscription charge of Rs 2 per day with no extra charges.

And with an additional cost of Rs 1 per day customers will also get the benefit of downloading unlimited Call Me Tunes (CMTs)(same as caller tunes). This service is available for all the Tata Docomo post-paid and pre-paid customers across all the circles.

Rishi Mohan Malhotra, Head VAS, Tata Docomo, said “Mobile phones are the newly evolved 24X7 music stations. Endless Music service offers a reservoir of songs that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This service enables customers to listen as many musical tracks as they wish on to their mobile phone, at a nominal subscription charge of Rs 2 per day.”

To avail this service, customers have to dial IVR Short Code 59090 (Toll Free). The service is auto renewable on daily basis. The service is powered by Hungama.com, a major content provider, which you can visit to get other services as well.