Known jailbreak tweak FullForce makes full screen Google Maps run well on iPad

FullForce, which is a tweak available via Cydia for Jailbroken iPads, has been allowing users for a couple of years now to force iPhone apps into full screen without the distortion of the 2x zoom feature that iOS provides. Not all apps include assets that would scale up nicely using the app, but the developers keep a list of compatible apps for users through Cydia. As noted by a 9to5Mac reader, Google's just-released iOS Maps app appears to scale and run perfectly on the iPad using FullForce—apart from a few elements (such as the sidebar)— that are clearly not designed for the iPad's larger display.

While FullForce will get jailbroken iPad users by until Google releases an iPad version of its new iPhone Maps app, we're hoping someone is working hard on a tweak that will make Google Maps the default Maps app on iOS. A gallery of Google Maps running on an iPad with FullForce below:

 

Apple releases iTunes 11.0.1, adds duplicate item finding, includes iCloud, AirPlay fixes

Approximately two weeks following the launch of the revamped iTunes 11 application, Apple has released iTunes 11.0.1 via the Mac App Store Software Update tab to users.

This update to the new iTunes addresses an issue where new purchases in iCloud may not appear in your library if iTunes Match is turned on, makes iTunes more responsive when searching a large library, fixes a problem where the AirPlay button may not appear as expected, and adds the ability to display duplicate items within your library.

The update is generally a bug fix release. It includes fixes for items from iCloud not properly appearing in user libraries, an issue with the AirPlay button not appearing, and making libraries with several items more responsive.

Additionally, this new update restores the ability to display duplicate items in user libraries. This was a feature notably lost in the transition from iTunes 10 to iTunes 11. Apple promised these updates earlier this month.

iTunes 11 includes a completely redesigned player, UpNext, a new MiniPlayer, enhanced iCloud integration, a redesigned iTunes Store, and more.

Facebook Updates iOS App With Faster News Feed and Rebuilt Timeline [iOS Blog]

Facebook has updated its iOS app with a faster news feed and a rebuilt timeline, all in the name of speed.

Back in August, the company released a completely rewritten iOS app, foregoing the HTML5-based app that was available previously.

What's new

- Post your photos to albums and enjoy a speedier app.
- You can now choose an album when uploading photos
- News feed loads more quickly
- Completely rebuilt timeline opens faster on your iPhone

Facebook is a free download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

Did Apple Get Exactly What it Wanted for Users in Google Maps Spat? [iOS Blog]

The Loop reader Keith Huss shared an interesting look at how the Apple Maps fiasco actually turned out really well for end users, now that Google Maps has gone live on iOS.

In the end, Apple has gotten exactly what it wanted for its users when it introduced its own mapping solution: turn-by-turn directions and lots of choice in mapping. Additionally, Apple is prominently displaying third-party map apps on the App Store (with Google Maps at the front), and delivering perhaps the best maps experience on mobile.

Situation: Apple cannot get Google to update its maps app on iOS. It was ok, but Google refused to update it to include turn-by-turn directions or voice guidance even though Android had these features forever. Apple says, "Enough" and boots Gmaps from iOS and replaces it with an admittedly half-baked replacement. The world groans. Apple has egg on its face. Google steps up it's game and rolls out a new, free new maps app in iOS today that is totally amazing, I'm sure to stick it in Apple's face… Ooops.

Bottom line: Apple took one for the team (ate some ****) and fooled Google into doing exactly what Apple has been asking for years. Users win.

Stop the Help Viewer Window from Hovering Over Everything Else in Mac OS X

The Help Menu in OS X is an underused but great resource when trying to learn about new Mac apps, and it can even function as a keyboard-based action launcherto quickly access app features. If you're using the Help Viewer to actually read help documentation though, you may have noticed that the windows default behavior is to hover over everything else, even if it no longer has the focus. While that makes a certain level of sense, it can be frustrating if you're on a smaller screen or you just want to be able to treat a documentation window as anything else, letting it go behind other app windows. A quick defaults write command will allow you to do exactly that.

To enable Help and documentation windows to float and behave like normal windows, launch Terminal in /Applications/Utilities and enter the following defaults write command:

defaults write com.apple.helpviewer DevMode -bool true

Hit return, changes should take effect immediately without having to quit any apps.

To reverse the change and have the Help viewer window behave as it did before, always on top of everything else, use the following defaults write command instead:

defaults write com.apple.helpviewer DevMode -bool false

This works in OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, Snow Leopard, and even earlier versions of Mac OS X.