SoundHound today launched LiveLyrics, a new feature for the popular SoundHound music discovery app for iOS. Now, when you are using SoundHound to identify a song, the new feature will let you view lyrics in time with the music. What's more, you can double-tap any line of lyrics to skip to that specific point in the song, or if you scroll through a song, the lyrics will scroll along with you.

At the moment, SoundHound is armed with about a half million lyrics in its database. However, the folks behind the app are promising to ramp up to 1 million by the end of 2011.

The new LiveLyrics feature is available starting today, with unlimited usage for version 4.0 of both the free SoundHound app and the paid SoundHound Infinity app for iOS.

As someone who's been happily streaming the likes of "Party Down" and "Phineas and Ferb" to his iPhone and iPad for the better part of a year, I can't help but feel for the poor Android phone and tablet owners who can't get in on the Netflix goodness.

Sure, a Netflix app is available for Android, but it's compatible with only a handful of devices. Or, at least, it was: Yesterday, Netflix 1.3 landed in Android Market, bringing with it support for a whopping 15 additional Android phones--and one tablet: the just-announced Lenovo IdeaPad K1.

That's a bit of a rub to owners of tablets like the Acer Iconia A500, Motorola Xoom, and Samsung Galaxy Tab, which are, you know, available. Although the K1 just went on sale, it's not expected to ship until next month.

Still, for folks pocketing an HTC Droid Incredible 2 or Thunderbolt, a Motorola Droid 2 or 3, a Samsung Epic 4G or Nexus S 4G, or any of the other newly supported models, the news is all good.

Indeed, I just downloaded and installed Netflix 1.3 on an Nexus S 4G. It works--and it's awesome. Alas, there's still no love for any of Virgin Mobile's prepaid phones, like the LG Optimus V or new Motorola Triumph (two models that strongly appeal to the cheapskate in me). Dangit.

At least this update is a big step in the right direction, and proof positive that Netflix is working to overcome Android's inherent fragmentation problems and support as many devices as possible. Meanwhile, Hulu is ramping up device compatibility as well, having recently added support for four new Android handsets (for a grand total of 10).

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go spend some quality time with Wallace and Gromit.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

With the release of OS X 10.7 Lion, Apple has made an effort to streamline the OS to the prevalent technologies used in OS X and on the Mac platform in general. Apple is pushing developers to use 64-bit code instead of 32-bit code even for applications that do not need it, use native Intel code instead of maintaining PowerPC code and optimizing its performance under Rosetta (which is now missing from the OS), and implement Objective-C Coco APIs instead of Java and alternatives. Nevertheless, many programs (including popular tools like Adobe CS4 and earlier) still require alternative runtimes like Java, and even though Apple has left Java out of the OS by default, you can still get it for the OS if you need it.

Apple has announced it will not be maintaining an in-house version of Java, but for now Apple has made available Java 1.6.0_26 (the same version that is available for Snow Leopard) for people to install in OS X 10.7 Lion if needed. The update is available for download from the Java for OS X Lion Web site.

In addition to being available as a standalone installer, the OS should present the option to install Java if you run any program that requires Java to be present. As with Rosetta in Snow Leopard, if you run such a program the OS will trigger Software Update to download and install the required Java runtime, and will ask you if you would like to do this.

The future of Java on OS X is unclear, but for now it appears when Apple drops development of Java that Oracle will assume the reins and maintain future releases of the runtime for OS X, should demand for it by Mac users continue.

---

Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!
Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

Originally posted at MacFixIt

Baidu has offered up a beta version of its first-ever browser, and at first glance, it looks quite similar to Google's Chrome.

The browser, which was made available for download earlier this week on Baidu's site, includes a single bar at the top, allowing users to either input addresses or search the Web. In addition, the browser's home page offers access to an application marketplace, similar to the Chrome Web Store, featuring thousands of programs users can access. When users choose an application, including the Youku video service or Sina's Weibo microblog offering, it's added to the home page.

According to The Wall Street Journal, opened applications appear in a new tab, and many of them are hosted by Baidu.

With the launch of a browser, Baidu now puts itself squarely in competition with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the most-used browser in China. According to data from China-based researcher CNZZ, Microsoft's market share in June stood at nearly 63 percent, easily overshadowing Chrome's 2.52 percent share and Firefox's 2.06 percent slice of the market.

Although it might have a long way to go to catch Microsoft, Baidu is an online force in China. The company owns nearly 76 percent of the Chinese search market, according to China's Analysys research firm. That alone could help the search giant push its browser to more users and become a major player in that market.

Although Baidu has its sights set on Internet Explorer, the company has actually formed a close bond with Microsoft. Earlier this month, the companies announced that Microsoft would supply results to all English-language search queries through Baidu.

Baidu's new browser is available now as a free download to XP, Vista, and Windows 7 users only. The company has yet to reveal whether it will launch Mac or Linux versions in the future.

Originally posted at The Digital Home

As promised, Apple let Mac OS X Lion out of its cage this morning.

Version 10.7 of the operating system has more than 250 new features, Apple said, but an installation disc isn't one of them: it's available today for $29.99 as a 3.49GB download only.

Apple enjoys pushing the computing industry into the future by dropping technology it deems to be from the past--for example floppy drives missing from the first iMac--and those who want a real-world copy of the OS will have to wait until Apple releases it on a USB thumb drive next month for $69.

The Mac OS X download, available through the Mac App Store, dovetails with Apple's new MacBook Air and Mac Mini Lion-based computers. These new models are updated with Intel's modern Sandy Bridge processors and a high-speed Thunderbolt data transfer port--and none has a DVD drive for the next OS upgrade.

One new feature in Lion is a range of multitouch gestures that let people control on-screen content with their fingers. In addition, the platform lets applications run in a full-screen mode, something Windows users are accustomed to.

For CNET's take on the operating system, check Mac OS X Lion review: A worthy upgrade for the price.

Task management is a challenge for people juggling many jobs at once on a computer. Here, Apple updated its approach to the problem with Mission Control, which provides a glimpse into all the programs running on the Mac. The operating system's Launchpad feature helps to quickly access and launch applications from the operating system.

Lion's Versions feature automatically saves people's work and allows them to go back to different versions of a file. A new Resume feature helps users get back to where they left off with their applications after the Mac has been shut down or restarted, similar to how some Web browsers can launch by reopening the tabs a person had been using.

Mac OS X Lion is also the first version of Apple's operating system to come with the Mac App Store built-in. The marketplace launched in January as a download for Snow Leopard users.

Apple's latest operating system update comes just a day after the company posted an impressive fiscal third quarter. Apple reported yesterday that its revenue hit $28.57 billion during the period, and it earned a profit of $7.31 billion. The company sold 20.34 million iPhones and 9.25 million iPads during the period, representing a gain of 142 percent and 183 percent year-over-year, respectively, but Mac sales were relatively light.

During its earnings call yesterday, Apple announced its intention to release Mac OS X Lion today. Earlier this morning, the company took its online store down in anticipation of the launch of its new products.

Updated at 6:17 a.m. PT and 8 a.m. PT to include more details.

Originally posted at The Digital Home

When Apple showed off Mac OS X Lion at the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote speech earlier this year, it was clear the company had paid attention to its successes with the popular iOS devices, and was now beginning to include successful iOS features in its flagship OS.

Also, with Apple laptops and tablets now far outpacing desktop sales, Apple has moved from a primarily desktop computer company to embrace mobile computing. This release of Mac OS X seems to be a reflection of Apple's successes in those categories.

With this eighth major release of the big-cat OS, Apple is adding more than 250 features. Some are big interface changes, whereas others are smaller refinements with the clear aim of making certain actions easier. Priced at $29.99, the upgrade adds plenty to make it worthwhile for most Mac users, but those who do not have Snow Leopard will need to pay for that upgrade as well. Lion can only be downloaded via the Mac App Store, which was introduced with Snow Leopard.

For a rundown of the most striking new features in Apple's latest OS, read our review of Mac OS X Lion.

Updated, July 20, 2011, 5:15 p.m., PT: A lot of people are wondering whether their current software will work with Mac OS X Lion. Check out RoaringApps.com to get a searchable table of applications and their compatibility with Lion.

Editors' note: Until Friday, 10 CNET personalities are showcasing their 10 personal favorite Android apps as part of the CNET 100. With each post, you can read why they hold the apps so dear and you'll get the opportunity to vote for your own favorite title. Then after the series ends, we'll collect the full list of 100 apps and announce the 10 that you, our readers, love the most.

Jaymar may be the newest member of the CNET Downloads team, but that hasn't stopped him from diving head first into Windows software and the always-expanding world of Android apps. He's reviewed a ton of titles already, and one look at his "to-do" list shows that he has many more to come. When he's not working, he's been known to trek in the outdoors, train in Mixed Martial Arts, and explore off-the-beaten-path eateries.

Jaymar is all about using Android to its full potential, and his app picks reflect that. Without ever leaving his phone, he can read the latest news, locate the hottest new restaurant, get daily deals, and even find a perfect stranger to pick up his dry cleaning. He also searches for the latest apps that he can review and he revives a classic Nintendo video game by plucking off a few low-flying ducks.

Be sure to check back tomorrow and Friday on Android Atlas to see app choices from Nicole Lee and Molly Wood. For yesterday's list, check out the picks from Antuan Goodwin.

Originally posted at Android Atlas