As word spread around the offices of Link UK Services on Monday that Facebook had launched an app for the iPad, many questioned to what extent it could possibly improve the sites. As PCmag.com put it “it was an easy to miss story, Facebook simply put out a press release, created an entry on its blog…and that’s about it. Regardless of the delivery, it’s finally here – An official Facebook app for the iPad”

According to Information Week “The social networking company had been expected to unveil its iPad app, which was said to have been ready for several months, at its F8 developer conference last month. Reports suggested that the absence of the iPad app from the event was due to on-going negotiations between Apple and Facebook that aimed to reconcile conflicting platform policies.” Whatever the reason for the somewhat low key launch, Link UK Services has spent the week critiquing the new app. It’s pretty straight forward really. In landscape mode, you have info bar on the left that is accessed by swiping your finger. It shows all the functions available like news feed, messages, events, as well as groups, apps and account settings. In the middle you have all of the usual info and on the right are your friends who are available for chat. In portrait mode it is the same except for no chat. The stand out part of the new app is the pictures & videos browser. Not only are they full screen making them look better, but flicking through with a slide of the finger is much easier and brings a new dimension to Facebook not available on the website.

As Net Magazine reports, “These changes are particularly important when considering usage patterns for the massive social network”. Of the 350million people who use Facebook from mobile devices every month, about half use native apps, and so extending their functionality is a must. At Link UK Services, social networking has become a part of everyday life for both business and personal needs. Luke Shepard announced the extension of Facebook Platform on mobile Facebook’s developer blog explaining that “the synchronised platform will run across iOS devices, the web and, soon, Android.” As the mobile phone and tablet markets develop it makes sense for the market leaders in Social Networking to invite mobile technology giants to consider them when developing new products. Toby Beresford, co-founder of pailz.com concluded, “This will transform mobile apps in the same way that social networking has revolutionised the web.”

The launch of his new app may not have everyone at Link UK Services jumping out of their seats but it is the sign of things to come that is more exciting. The company is introducing the iPad app as part of a push to encourage software developers to work with its platform on a range of devices. Ground-breaking or not, the low key release gives us a glimpse of what may be to come.

With Apple just announcing the new iPhone 4s, Link UK Services ponders whether it is time to consider changing brands. Samsung’s new Galaxy S II is making waves and many believe it not only competes with the 4s, but can outperform it. Has the iPhone 4s become a follower and not a leader? It is definitely the first time that anyone would dare question the iPhones dominance in the mobile phone market, but with Samsung now having more market share than Apple, and the much anticipated iPhone 5 still, well, much anticipated, even Apples loyal customers are starting to look over the fence at their happy neighbours.

The iPhone 4S is exactly what it sounds like – a slight upgrade to the iPhone 4 with a beefed-up processor, a better battery and a spangly new camera. It also boasts its new Siri feature, which allows the user to interact with the phone using only your voice. All Apple geeks will be excited by these new features until they realise that Samsung have been showing these off for months, in fact, Android has had voice dictation and command capabilities since before iPhone 4 shipped in summer 2010. It looks like Apple is playing catch-up for the first time.

Competition is not normally a word the people at Link UK Services would associated with Apple products, however after cracks start to appear it is not surprising that others are on alert. Firstly the previous iPhone had a rather large flaw, as quoted on cnet.com “the iPhone 4 drops signal like a pirate dropping anchor if you hold it in your hands” – not ideal. Now, Melissa Chau, a Singapore-based research manager at IDC explains “Apple didn’t meet expectations on two fronts: launching a cheap, low-end version and also a super high-end phone…that’s where Apple’s rivals would have an edge.”

Most people will agree that the iPhone still rules the roost; however it seems very apparent that the competition is certainly heating up. We can expect the new iPhone next autumn; however Samsung will launch its eagerly anticipated “iPhone-trouncing” Nexus Prime very soon. Moreover, the Nexus Prime is expected to come running Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Android. I for one expect a shift of power over the next 12 months.

This week saw the opening of the company’s new assembly facility where they will be building new models of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo which will be used to take wealthy tourists into space.

As reported in the LA Times, the company expects to begin production at the end of the month, bringing commercial spaceflight a step closer to reality. A privately funded aerospace firm built the 68,000-square-foot facility where it will assemble the world’s first fleet of passenger-ready spaceships. “This is a big day for Galactic,” said George Whitesides, chief executive of Virgin Galactic. “We’re moving closer and closer to bringing paying passengers into space.” This week they showcased the new £5 million hangar to 250 public officials and reporters, revealing a gleaming factory floor where 200 people are expected to assemble spacecrafts. “We’re building the first-ever spaceline,” Whitesides said. “We want to hire the best of the best.” Nancy Sidhu, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said the opening was welcome news at a time when other aerospace firms are laying off people in anticipation of NASA and Pentagon cutbacks, “We’re witnessing the birth of a new industry here.” Links UK Services believes the opening of the new hangar marks a symbolic passing of the torch, with private firms stepping forward and providing human spaceflight, no longer leaving it up to government space agencies.

The facility, which is located at the Mojave Air and Space Port on the edge of California’s Mojave desert, will be where TSC will build the Virgin Galactic fleet. According to CNET news, that means, in the short term, at least, two more WhiteKnight Twos and at least two SpaceShip Twos will be built. In 2004, Scaled Composites founder, Burt Rutan won the X Prize for being the first team to ever fly a privately-manned craft into space. SpaceShipOne, which was funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen flew three times into space. Virgin Galactic also contracted with Scaled Composites, and sponsored its X Prize flight attempts. Afterward, that partnership continued with the creation of the SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo program for the eventual dawn of the space tourism industry. Already, Virgin Galactic has booked £38 million worth of flights from people in 46 countries. It’s not clear when the company will begin sending tourists into space, but Links UK Services read that it is hoped that SpaceShipTwo will make its initial test flights into space sometime next year.

Links UK Services believes a historic step has been taken toward the dream of sending tourists into space. Virgin Galactic is looking to launch its first space plane later this year at a cost of £160K a ride. Virgin says it has a waiting list of 450 passengers.