With Google+ just around the corner and while it’s not getting that steam recently, Facebook still sees it as a threat and has been launching features here and there to rival Google+. The latest of these is their new “Subscribe” feature. Like in Google+ and first seen in Twitter, this allows users to “follow” and connect to each other without being added as a friend. Unlike Google+ and Twitter however, the subscribe option only appears when the user actually chooses others to subscribe. Furthermore, only updates posted as public will be in the subscribed users’ feed. Those who will subscribe then has an option to either receive all updates, most updates or only the most important of updates.

Microsoft Windows 8 for Developers has been released. It is a pre-beta release meaning that it should not be installed in a production environment. Here are some of the features of Windows 8:

Finally Facebook updated its iPhone App, which has new features and privacy controls.

Facebook for iPhone 3.5 now make it easy to use Facebook and let users tag friends and places in posts. Now you can control easily who can see your posts.

Facebook also fixed numerous bugs and made some performance enhancements. Facebook’s new privacy option tour is very impressive, that appears when we launch facebook App first time after update.

Maybe the biggest piece of Microsoft news this week was about Windows 8 startup times. For good reason. It’s one of those nuts-and-bolts issues that affects (plagues?) every Windows user. But Windows 7 startup can be pretty snappy too with the right hardware, and it should improve later this year.

Let me begin by saying I am also a little skeptical of Microsoft’s claims of eight-second bootup times for Windows 8 (see: Microsoft promises faster startup for Windows 8). My third-generation MacBook Air with a solid-state drive takes about 16 seconds from power-up to the main OS X screen. And even my flash-drive-equipped iPad 2 takes about 30 seconds from a hard shutdown to startup.

Sonim Technologies, which is known for manufacturing world’s most rugged, water-submersible mobile phones, has launched the world’s toughest phone, Sonim XP3300 Force. With the launch of this handset, Sonim has secured its entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. The phone was tested in the presence of independent judges from the Guinness World Record by dropping it from a height of 25 metres. This handset beats the world record of 3.25 metres set by the JCB Toughphone in 2008.

Bob Plaschke, CEO, Sonim Technologies, said, “We wanted to stamp Sonim’s name on the world record, confirming that the Sonim XP3300 Force is the toughest phone in the world. Most phones are drop tested to a metre, which just isn’t enough in extreme environments such as the construction sites, oil rigs or in the forest.” This phone can withstand tough conditions like industrial and construction areas. It is dust and water resistant handset as well. It can remain under water at a depth of 2 mts for 1 hour without any damage.