TechSource

Top HTML5 Games Worth Playing

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:24:00 +0000

When the late Steve Jobs ranted about the things he hated about Flash, everyone, including those who dislike Apple, unanimously agreed with him. Not only is Flash bad for the progress of the web, it’s also a problem for developers who want their apps to perform without hogging the system’s resources. About 5-6 years ago, this enfant terrible of the World Wide Web was enjoying a monopoly its developers had rarely dreamed of. That, however, changed a lot once the much-awaited HTML5 came along.

This somewhat new technology will make Flash obsolete and makes the web a much better, and yes, an open place. No longer do developers and users have to be at Adobe’s mercy to run a fancy video or a web-based game; HTML5 does almost everything Flash could. And, what better way to showcase its amazing prowess than some great HTML5 games?

Angry Birds

If you don’t know what Angry Birds is then.. well.. never mind. For those who do, there’s a nice little HTML5 version of the bird-slinging phenomenon that will let you shoot those nasty pigs on almost any modern browser. Primarily designed for Chrome, Angry birds also runs perfectly well on the latest version of Firefox.

Though the game is freely available, the number of levels you get is quite limited when compared to the $1 iOS or Android app. Nevertheless, a great way to take breaks from your work.

PLAY HERE

Infinite Mario

Mario is perhaps the most famous character in video game history. The princess-saving plumber has enjoyed phenomenal success over decades. Bringing the classic experience to your browser comes Infinite Mario. This amazing HTML5 game recreates the classic and makes you a tad nostalgic about your gaming past.

PLAY HERE

Pac-Man

Pac-Man Oh, the good old Pac-Man. The classic arcade game developed by Namco has been around since the early 80s. The Japan-made phenomenon has been recreated on the Internet many times, mostly using Flash. That, however, changed since the inception of HTML5. Thanks to some forward-thinking developers, we have the pleasure of playing the classic right from our browsers. The game is so popular that even Google couldn't resist putting it on its homepage once.

PLAY HERE

Slither

If you owned one of those bulky Nokia phones, you must surely have heard of Snake. The popular puzzle game has been around for many years and still enjoys a lot of popularity among old-school gaming fans. Bringing the experience to your browser comes Slither, a Snake-like game developed in HTML5. The free game lets you play Snake using just your arrow keys. Oh, and before you start, make sure that you don’t bump into your own tail.

PLAY HERE

Entanglement

Entanglement is a puzzle game by Gopherwood Studios. The web-based game is about making the longest path possible by properly rotating hexagonal tiles where their paths are etched. The paths you create must get entangled as much as possible so as to avoid running them into surrounding walls. If you run into a wall, it's game over.

You can either play Solitaire, that is in single player mode or you can play against 5 or less players on the same computer with hot-seat variation. The graphics and music combine to give the game a calm and Zen-like feel to the game. Even if you play this game for 2 hours or so, you'll feel relaxed at the end of it. It is a thoroughly engaging game that's meant for everyone.

Though we've already covered it in our Chrome games roundup, Entanglement works across every modern browser.

PLAY HERE

Chess Games

Nothing exercises the brain better like Chess. The hugely popular board game has been around for centuries and probably will be around for many more years to come. If you don’t have a Chessboard at home, don’t worry; here are a couple of HTML5-based Chess games for your browser:

* PlainChess
* HTML5 Chess

Word Squared

Like Scrabble? Then you’ll love Word Squared. Basically, it’s a fun, Scrabble-like word game that you can play with a huge number of people. In other words, it’s a one of its kind massively multiplayer word game that you can play anywhere provided you have an HTML5-capable browser.

PLAY HERE

Cut The Rope

Cut The Rope is one of the most popular puzzle games for Android and iOS. Published by Zeptolab, this physics-based game has even won Apple Design Award on the iOS platform. Recently, Microsoft teamed up with the developers to release an IE9-compatible version of the game. Though meant for IE, this fun little puzzle game can be played on almost any HTML5-capable browser.

PLAY HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Best Video Surveillance / Security Apps For Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:52:00 +0000

Nothing has revolutionized personal security as much as technology. Thanks to powerful motion-detectors and DVRs, we’re able to monitor our homes and offices without being physically present.

That said, it’s not always easy to keep track of all your security cameras and to monitor them all continuously. Also, not everyone can afford a security camera; however, there are many people in need of a similar device. Fulfilling that need we have some great Android apps that let you either monitor your security cameras or help turn your phone into a fully equipped motion-sensing camera. Whatever your requirement may be, we've picked the best Android video surveillance / security apps just for you.

MEye

Compatible with most Android devices, MEye lets your phone connect to any DVR/Security Camera. Once installed, the app will allow you to watch a live video stream of the place you want to put under surveillance. By connecting the app to a DVR, you can stay updated without having to stare into a monitor screen 24x7. Furthermore, MEye also supports most China-made DVRs that can be connected with the app to monitor any area. You can use multiple DVRs and switch between the footage any time you want. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, MEye is free to try with a pro version available for a few dollars.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Motion Detector Pro

Motion Detector is an amazing app that turns your phone into a surveillance device with motion detection. Using your phone’s built-in camera, Motion Detector Pro has the ability to detect the slightest of movements happening in the phone’s range of vision. If, at all, there’s an intruder, the app will immediately alert you with an email or text message. So, all you have to do is hide your phone in a place where no one would be able to see it and relax.

That said, there’s a small chance that the intruder or anyone else might get their hands on your phone and might make an attempt to disable the surveillance. In that case too, you don’t have to worry, as Motion Detector Pro comes with a feature called Stealth Mode, which closes the app as soon as the phone is touched. Cool huh?

DOWNLOAD HERE

ICRealtime ICRSS

ICRealtime, much like the aforementioned MEye lets you access and control DVR cameras/IP cameras. With support for multiple DVRs, ICRealtime not only lets you stream live video to your Droid, it also allows you to take snapshots of the footage. Furthermore, if you have more than one DVRs, you can watch up to four of them at once with the help of the multi-view feature. Rated 3.8 out of 5 stars, ICRealtime is available for download from the Android marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

SECuRET SpyCam

Coming back to motion-triggered surveillance apps, SECuRET SpyCam is another powerful security app for your Android. Once installed, it turns your Droid into a motion-capture surveillance device that keeps an eye on anything moving within its field of vision. Once the intruder is detected the app sends an email and/or a Twitter alert along with the relevant captures. That way, you won’t have to go through the whole footage in emergency situations. Overall, the features in this app are similar to the ones found on Motion Detector Pro; however, SpyCam is more popular and is more frequently updated.

DOWNLOAD HERE

tinyCam Monitor Free

tinyCam Monitor is one of the most popular surveillance apps for Android. It comes with a slew of powerful features that make surveillance as easy as pie. The app supports most DVRs, video encoders and IP cameras so that you can easily hook them up to your Droid without buying a new camera. tinyCam supports up to 16 cams (4 at a time ), and one-click sharing by email. You can zoom into the video, and save the footage to your Dropbox account. The Pro version of app on the other hand gives you some more interesting features like cyclic video recording, LAN search, SSL Support, unlimited number of devices and motion detection. The app is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars and was one of the featured apps in the Google TV marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

You may also check out: Turn Ordinary Webcam into a Security Spy Camera on Ubuntu Linux

Highly Recommended Text Editors For Ubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:29:00 +0000

When it comes to applications, Windows and Mac offers a huge variety of choices to its users. However, when it comes text-editing applications, Linux beats those two platforms hands down. Not only does Linux provide a huge variety of quality text editing applications, it also makes sure that their source code is available for everyone. The reason behind this is the fact that Linux, as an operating system, has more developers using it than the so-called “normal” users.

That said, the massive progress that Ubuntu has made in the usability department has made the text editor a tad outmoded. People usually prefer using word processors like LibreOffice or AbiWord for most of their office work, making most text editors a developer-only tool. Whatever be the case, the massive amount of choice users have in this department has left many new users a bit confused. To remedy that, here we are again with a list of the creme de la creme of text-editing applications for Ubuntu.

Gedit

Gedit is the only text editor you’ll need if you’re a casual user or even let’s say a hobbyist programmer. The application has been around for a long time and its stability is something that cannot be outmatched by many other apps in the genre. The sleek and clean text editor lets you code or write in a nice, customizable interface.

Though Gedit's simplicity is enough to make a notepad lover green with envy, is powerful under-the-hood features make it stand out from the rest of the crowd. Furthermore, Gedit lets you add more features by enabling some great plugins that come with the default install. And finally, if you’re a coder, then Gedit comes with code highlighting and some cool plugins that will make your life much easier.

TextAdept

Especially designed for programmers, TextAdept is a simple, lightweight text editor for Ubuntu. With a minimalist design, the open-source app comes with support for Java, Python, Ruby, and a bunch of other programming languages.

Though still in development, TextAdept is quite stable. However, the lack of essential features like print menu makes it unsuitable for daily use. To install TextAdept, you’ll first have to install the PPA. To do that, simply type in/paste the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install textadept

Scribes

Scribes is another one of those minimalist text editors that never ceases to amaze. Apart from syntax highlighting and snippets support, Scribes also comes with features like automatic indentation, autocorrect, remote editing, and plug-in support. One of the most appealing things about this app is that it doesn’t have any toolbar or menubar, thus letting you focus just on your code or text. However, you won’t miss out on your most-needed menus and buttons, as the essential toolbar can be revealed by simply hovering over the top right corner of the window (Yep, more or less like Unity’s launcher).

To install scribes, you have to first add the scribes ppa to your repository list. Since being in heavy development the app is not that stable; so, expect some breakage here and there.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mystilleef/scribes-daily

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install scribes

Sublime Text 2

Sublime Text 2 is quite simply one of the most beautiful-looking text editors around. The UI is simple, clutter-free without any unnecessary menus whatsoever. That said, don’t let its good looks lead you into thinking that the app is just another text editor. Quite contrarily, Sublime Text 2 is a text-editing powerhouse which, once installed, will make your coding/writing a whole lot productive.

The app features an amazing code-completion feature, which is perhaps the best I've seen on any Linux application. Another great feature is the Ctrl+P combo, which, once invoked, will give you a swift way to search through all your projects. Also, thanks to the tabbed interface, you can work on multiple files at once. Finally, before you bicker about the issues you faced after you downloaded the app, it’s important to remember that the app is still in beta.

Oh, and much to the disappointment of many coders, the app is not open source and requires you to shell out $60 for a license. But if you’re searching for the perfect text editor on Linux platform, you won’t mind shelling out the dough. To install, simply type in the following commands in your terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).

Note: The one you’ll install is a trial version.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/sublime-text-2

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install sublime-text-2

You may also check out our previous list of excellent text editors for Linux:

* 5 Best HTML Editors for Linux

* Free and Open Source Text Editors with GUI

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Best E-book Readers For Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:27:00 +0000

Love them or hate them, e-books have completely changed the way we access the written word. Kindles, iPads and Nooks are selling like pancakes whereas the bookstore around the corner struggles to make ends meet. It is also quite astounding that e-books, though first invented in the late 1940s, have achieved popularity only in the past five years. Scorned by purists, they have, without doubt, sparked a huge chasm between readers worldwide.

That said, reading e-books do have a lot of advantages. Firstly, e-books cater to a huge crowd that relies on instant gratification. Secondly, the ability to carry a thousand books in a sleek-looking multi-purpose device has, in a way, outmoded the bulky paperback. This surge in demand has made e-books available across all devices including smartphones and tablets running Android. And though, many e-book readers exist for our favorite mobile platform, only few can be deemed as the best ones. So, if you’re looking for e-book readers for your beloved Android device, read on as we cover all the best ones.

Kindle

Undoubtedly the best app on the list, Kindle for Android comes with almost all the features you’d need in a dedicated e-book reader. First of all, the app allows you to read e-books with a nice, cozy, clutter-free interface. You can read your favorite novels either in night mode or day mode, thus putting very little strain on your eyes. The killer feature, however, is the fact that it lets you sync your Kindle library across all devices. So, let’s say you start reading a book on your computer, and then when you open the Kindle app on your Android, you’ll find the book synced to the exact position where you left it off. And finally, if you've nothing to read, don’t worry, as the app also lets you purchase apps from Amazon’s e-book store. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, Kindle is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

FB Reader

Though Kindle pretty much fulfills all your e-book reading needs, it falls short when it comes to reading books that are already on your SD card/computer. Solving that problem comes FB Reader, an open-source application that lets you download, read, and manage e-books without any DRM or DRM-like restrictions whatsoever. Integrated with popular dictionaries, the free app lets you access books in a variety of formats including ePub, OEB, and FB2.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Aldiko

Aldiko is a free app that lets you download, read, and manage e-books using a clean, elegant interface. With a UI slightly resembling the famed iBooks app, Aldiko supports books in a variety of formats including ePub and PDF. You can bookmark an e-book, highlight text, and also change the font. And yeah, if you get tired of the books you own already, Aldiko also lets you purchase and download titles from a huge number of popular catalogs.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Google Books (not available in all locations)

Though Google’s ambitious foray into the Amazon-dominated world of e-books has largely gone unnoticed, its nicely designed e-book app continues to thrive thanks to its Google integration and seamless syncing capacity. Though not available in all countries, Google Books still is one of the most-downloaded e-book reading apps in the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Wattpad

Be it the scandals of Bovary, the marital woes of Miss Bennett, or the adventures of Alice, nothing enthralls a true book-lover more than classics do. Wattpad is a free Android app that caters to those classic-fanatic audiences by providing more than 100,000 books for free download. Known as the ‘YouTube for e-books’, Wattpad lets you chose titles from a wide variety of genres including, but not limited to, classics, fan fictions, and lots of indie stuff.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Moon+ Reader

Moon + Reader is one of those fully featured apps that you come across in every genre. It includes features that are not found in any of the aforementioned apps, thus making it one of the best titles in the list. The app already impresses us by supporting a wide variety of formats ranging from txt and html to ePub and CHM. With more than 10 themes, swipe gesture support, Dropbox integration (for backing up books and syncing reading positions), and 5 custom flip animations, Moon Reader makes e-book reading an amazing experience. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in the marketplace, Moon+Reader is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Geeky Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:15:00 +0000

It’s the season of love, and your tired little mind is brainstorming for the much-dreaded gifting ritual. The whole process being tough as it is gets even more annoying when your significant other is a full-fledged geek. Well geeks, quite unlike their non-geeky counterparts have a completely different set of tastes, and making them happy might turn out to be a Herculean task. That’s why, this Valentine’s day, we at TechSource have decided to help you pick out the best gifts for your geeky lover. Some of them are geeky and some are downright nerdy, so do make sure you pick out the one that suits your partner. Oh, and before you add these items to your cart do make sure that he/she doesn’t already own any of these gifts.

Lightsaber Room Light

Inspired by the heavily worshiped Star Wars franchise comes a perfect weapon to light up your geeky bedroom (or basement). The Lightsaber Room Light, which can be mounted on any wall, lets you show off your true Jedi fanboyism/fangirlism to any friend who comes to visit your house.

The light comes with a nice little IR remote control that can be used to change the color of the saber. Offering a choice between 8 different color modes, Lightsaber Room Light is the befitting gift for your StarWars-loving significant other.

GET IT HERE

Aperture Science Mug

Is your partner a Portal fan? Then with this Aperture Science mug their coffee will taste better than ever before. Engraved with a logo of the infamous Aperture Labs, this simple-looking mug is the best gift even for non-geeks.

GET IT HERE

8-bit Flower Bouquet

A flower bouquet is one of the most common gifts on Valentine’s Day. But what if your partner is still living in the beautiful and enchanting 8-bit world? Don’t worry, this neatly designed 8-bit flower bouquet will please them more than a real flower would. And guess what, it doesn’t even need watering :)

GET IT HERE

8-bit Tie

Do they need to put on something geeky while going to work? Then the 8-bit tie is the perfect gift you can think of. Inspired by the amazing world of classic video games, the tie, apart from making them a tad nostalgic, will also let them showcase their geeky side to their workmates.

Oh, and on a side note, don’t let them wear it to work if they are into a more serious profession.

GET IT HERE

Phosphor Men’s WCO3 World Time

Geeks love precision, and that’s why, you’d find most of them wearing digital watches. If your geek partner wears one, then it’s time for them to upgrade them to a sleek-looking, curved E-ink watch. Built with stainless steel, the watch displays the current time as well as the date. Also, for those into long-distance relationships, the world clock feature will come in quite handy.

GET IT HERE

Smart Nerd Clear Lens Glasses

Nothing makes a man or woman geekier than a nice pair of glasses. But sometimes, those glasses aren’t nerdy enough to show off their geekiness to the world. That’s why it’s a great idea to gift them with a nice pair of glasses that will help accentuate their smartness. Priced at 10 USD, the Smart Nerd Clear Lens Glasses will make you look as nerdy as you always wanted to be.

GET IT HERE

Big Bang Theory Season 4 DVD

Big Bang Theory is perhaps one of the most popular shows around these days. Mainly based on geeky themes, the show chronicles the change in the lives of three socially awkward scientists when a beautiful girl moves in next door. The show has won a Golden Globe award and has been lovingly received by critics and viewers alike. Though nothing like Battlestar Galactica or Star Trek, the series does leave you in splits, especially if you’re a geek. Big Bang Theory has finished four seasons so far (fifth one is being telecast), with the fourth being the latest to be released on DVD.

GET IT HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Best CRM Apps For Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:40:00 +0000

If you are a business owner, then there’s nothing more important than the relationship you have with your customers. Costumer Relationship Management or CRM helps you strengthen that relationship further and makes sure that the consumers always get what they want.

There are already plenty of software applications that let you do CRM as well as sales tracking, most of them are on Windows and Mac but there also some excellent CRM software for Linux. Now, as we move towards the era of smartphones and tablet computers, new mobile-based CRM apps have started popping up. Not only do these apps let you handle traditional CRM, they also let you do other things like sales tracking, task management, and reminders.

So, if you’re on Android and are looking for some good CRM apps, read on as we cover the best ones for this awesome platform.

Base - Sales Tracking + CRM

Base is one of the best CRM apps for Android. This free CRM and sales-tracking app lets you manage contacts and tracks your sales very conveniently. With the simple, intuitive interface you can capture new leads and manage them on the go. Furthermore, you can also manage information about deals and contracts, thus making this app an indispensable tool in a businessman’s repertoire.

Base, apart from letting you manage deals, also acts as an excellent task management and reminder service. You can set Base to remind you about future meetings and also add tasks to your to-do list. Oh, and don’t worry about your data if you lose your phone, everything in Base is safely backed up to the cloud. Rated 4.8/5 stars in the marketplace, Base is a must-have app for every businessman.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Resco Mobile CRM

Resco Mobile CRM is an offline-capable CRM app that lets you manage customers, add contacts, check invoices, and more using just your Android phone. The app syncs smoothly with Microsoft’s Dynamic CRM server so that all the data is safely backed up. Users can view invoices, orders, products, cases and more with the application’s simple and easy-to-use interface. Though the app is quite functional, there have been compatibility issues with the latest version of Android that is Ice Cream Sandwich.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Upvise Pro CRM

This cloud-based CRM service offers a lot of features that would come in handy for small businesses. The app lets you track sales, manage contacts, jot down ideas, and much more using your smartphone. You can also use Upvise as a GTD client and an organizer.

For those who like to jot everything down, Upvise comes with support for notebooks. And yes, not overlooking the most important part of a business, the cloud-based app also lets you keep track of your expenses.

All the data you store on the app is synced instantly to the web client. Moreover, Upvise integrates perfectly with built-in Android features like Dialer, Contacts, SMS, Mail, Maps etc. to provide you with better features. Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars in the marketplace, Upvise Pro CRM can be freely downloaded and installed on your Droid.

DOWNLOAD HERE

WORKetc CRM

WORKetc is a fully featured CRM client for Android that lets you manage your business in a simple and easy-to-use way. Once installed, the app lets you view details about your customers; for example, you can check invoice history, purchases, products, support cases, and sales right from the app. With multiple language support, WORKetc also lets you manage your entire business inside of Gmail. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, WORKetc can be freely tried out (no credit card required) from the marketplace. If you like it, you can go ahead and purchase the full version.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Handy Elephant

Handy Elephant acts more like a personal networking assistant rather than a CRM. By doing so, it lets you keep track of all your client relationships and improves your networking productivity. The app lets you figure out which relationships are important, and which aren’t. It also maximizes efficiency by calling customers at their preferred times, thus acting like a full-fledged secretary. Rated 3.9 out of 5 stars, Handy Elephant is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

You may also check out: Best Finance Apps for Android

How to Improve the Battery Life of Your Linux Laptop

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:27:00 +0000

For Linux users who enjoy a fragmentation-free and virus-immune laptop, there’s barely anything that makes them whine as much as their Redmond-loving counterparts. Linux, on a fully compatible machine, achieves a perfect blend of performance and stability. That said, there are some of us who want more than perfection, they want optimum performance and a beast-like computing speed. I know, overclocking is a bit risky, but tweaking isn't.

Earlier, we told you about the most amazing desktop-tweaking tools out there for Linux. In today’s article, though, our focus will be on Linux laptop users. We've heard them whining about their empty batteries and their always-plugged workdays, and yeah, as always, we couldn't help doling out some useful advice to those folks.

Dim the Lights

In most of the devices, including cellphones, the display is the biggest culprit when it comes to reduced battery life. A brightly lit laptop won’t really help you get through a whole workday. The best solution to this problem is to dim the screen as much as possible. If, in certain cases like movie-watching or reading you need a bright display, you can turn the brightness up for that period and them dim the screen back when you’re finished.

Kill the Slowpokes

It’s not just the display that hurts the battery, it’s also those CPU-hogging programs that make you reach out for the charger sooner than expected. That said, it’s not always easy for a user to spot that the CPU is under a load. It takes a real slowdown or freezing to realize that the program has become a mess and needs to be killed.

Don’t worry yet, as you can always keep an eye on your CPU or RAM by using any of the following methods:

1. Take a look at the system monitor if you feel the slightest of difference in performance. From there, you can kill any misbehaving task.

2. Ubuntu users can install the System Load Indicator from a ppa, which, once installed, will let you take a look at the performance right from the indicator menu. To install, go to the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and paste/type in the following commands.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:indicator-multiload/stable-daily

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install indicator-multiload

Power Management

The computer’s power management scheme is one of the most important factors that decide the fate of your battery. In the power management settings window, always make sure you choose a balanced plan that helps you get through a whole workday without looking for an adapter. Another great way to take advantage of this setting is by making sure that the laptop goes into suspend mode as soon as the lid is closed. Though, it might not be a suitable setting for folks who are a tad impatient, it still is one of the most effective ways of saving battery life. To access the power management settings in Ubuntu, open the Dash (Super/Windows key) and type in the word “Power” without quotes.

Hibernate over Suspend

If, instead of shutting down your laptop, you put it on suspend mode, always make sure you’re connected to a charger. If not, then put the computer in hibernate mode and go for a nice nap. That way, neither would you lose any precious battery life nor would you lose your current work.

Keep It Cool

Most of the battery loss also occurs due to overheating laptops. The overheating issue is something that affects a lot of laptops. To remedy that problem, simply use a laptop cooling pad, a simple accessory that saves your computer from overheating. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the temperature; to do that, simply install the system monitor indicator that comes with various temperature sensors.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexeftimie/ppa

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install indicator-sysmonitor

Or, if all you want is a simple hardware sensor, then try out the following indicator applet:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexmurray/indicator-sensors

sudo apt-get install indicator-sensors

Update Update Update

Finally, always remember to update your computer. The Linux kernel is continuously improving, and so are the distributions. In Ubuntu 12.04 for example, users will get to see an improved support for battery life. So, make sure you don’t ignore your computer when it badgers you to give it a big update.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Top Educational Android Apps For Kids

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:21:00 +0000

No tech company has really revolutionized education as much as Apple. With their student-friendly iPads and their recently announced iBooks 2 suite, they’ve taken learning to a whole new level. That said, not everyone owns an iPad, and not everyone likes one. There are the ones, like you and me of course, who prefer using products associated with Apple’s archrival Google.

As most of the schools prefer iPads over Android tablets, there is a dearth of good kid-friendly educational apps on the open-source platform. Moreover, thanks to Apple’s dominance in the tablet computer and smartphone market, education on Android gadgets hasn’t really taken off. Having said that, it’s not as if there aren’t any good Android apps that you can load on your tablet computers and give to your kids. In fact, there are quite a lot of good applications in this genre. However, most of them are not quite as good as the ones you find in the Apple App Store.

So, if you’re confused as to which apps you should hand over to your toddler, don’t worry just yet. We’ve compiled a list of the best educational applications that you can load on your Droid and make your kid learn stuff, the smart way.

Kids Socks

Specially designed for preschoolers, this simple game challenges the kids’ brains by asking them to match socks of same color or pattern. That way, your kid will learn how to recognize patterns and colors in a much more interactive way. Though not as good as other apps in this genre, Kids Socks is still a great game if you have a preschooler.

Learning Apps by Intellijoy

Intellijoy is one of the most well known publishers when it comes to educational apps. So far, they’ve published 8 apps, all of which are free to try, and are of great quality. Here are some of the best apps that they’ve published so far:

To get started, you can install Kids Numbers and Maths Free, which teaches kids numbers in a fun, interactive way. The app lets kids learn numbers, teaches them how to recognize the maximum/minimum number, and also helps them understand addition and subtraction.

Also worth trying is Kids ABC Letters Free that teaches kids alphabets in an interactive way. Intended for kids aged 2-7, this app helps kids recognize different letters, form words, and identify words in their context and more.

Apart from the traditional ABC and numerals, if you want to give your kid some brain-bending exercises, there’s an app for that too. Kids Connect the Dots brings the classic Connect the Dots game in an amazing kid-friendly package. Suitable for preschoolers, the app will let you enjoy a fun game and learn alphabets and numbers at the same time.

Memory For Kids

It’s not just us adults that need memory exercises; kids too can play memory games so that they could reap the benefits in the future. Memory for Kids is a fun app that lets your kid train his or her memory in a fun and interactive way. The objective of the game is to turn over pairs of matching cards. Tap the two matching cards, and they disappear slowly advancing you towards victory. Though the game could be a tad difficult at times, especially for preschoolers, it is still one of the best kid-friendly memory-training exercises on Android.

Color And Draw For Kids

If your toddler has a penchant for drawing and painting, this next app will make him or her jump for joy. Especially designed for kids, Color And Draw is a drawing and sketching app that brings the best experience of a coloring book to your Android gadget. The coloring book features more than 50 drawings of animals, professions, and landscapes, thus letting your kid learn a lot during the process.

Apart from letting the kid sketch and paint, the app also includes more than 50 customized voice-over invitations. The color palette, quite rightfully, is kept limited, so as not to overwhelm the kid with too many choices. Though not free, Color and Draw is a must-have app if you want to teach your kids painting without them touching those messy crayons.

Desktop-Tweaking Tools For Ubuntu Linux

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:45:00 +0000

Ubuntu Linux got a new look when the much-debated Unity was unveiled to users. The modern, search-based interface was liked as much as it was hated, making it one of Canonical’s most controversial decisions. The problem with Unity was not just that it was a new interface; the main issue this reborn Ubuntu faced was of basic usability gone wrong. So, as obvious as it may seem, many people are trying hard to disencumber themselves from this ‘innovation’. While most of those efforts are spent making alternative distros, some are busy tweaking the desktop.

When it comes to alternatives, there are many; in fact, there’s a horde of distros waiting to be tried out by non-geeky audiences. That said, despite its flaws, many people still prefer sticking to Ubuntu Linux, mainly because of its more mainstream nature as well as the more user-friendly aspects of it like the Software Center and Ubuntu One.

So, if you’re one of those Ubuntu fans who can’t stand the look of the new default desktop, there’s a thing or two you can do to give your screen a revamp. Here are some of the best desktop-tweaking tools for Ubuntu Linux:

Compiz Config Settings Manager (CCSM)

Though not intended for the ‘normal’ users, CCSM is one of the best tools when it comes to desktop tweaking. It lets you customize your desktop in every way possible. The popular tool divides customizations into broad categories like General, Desktop Effects, Window Management, and most important of all, Accessibility. Each category houses a myriad of small settings that affect the behavior of the desktop in one-way or the other. Most of those settings let you change the numeric value of that property, so that you can fine-tune your desktop as much as possible. Don’t worry though, as there’s usually a ‘Restore Defaults’ button that can be used in case things go wrong.

Coming to the tweaking part, CCSM lets you change almost all the aspects of your desktop. From hiding the launcher to making it smaller, you can change almost everything. The other interesting thing about CCSM is that it lets you add/remove as many desktop effects as you want. This can be very useful if you’re itching to create that perfect balance between performance and aesthetics.

To install Compiz Config Settings Manager on your computer, simply type in/paste the following commands in the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), and once installed, use the launcher to search for the term ‘ccsm’.

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

DesktopNova

While not a tweaking tool in the true sense, DesktopNova still is a great tool to spice up your boring desktop. This simple little application lets you automatically switch the wallpapers without you having to worry about anything. Once installed, DesktopNova lets you specify which folder you want to load the images from. Then, you can set the interval at which the images will change. Usually, an interval of 15-20 minutes is a great idea. Oh, and make sure you keep the daemon running once you’re done with the settings.

To install the application you’ll need to install the repository first. To do that type in or paste the following commands in your terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:michael-astrapi/ppa

Then type in/paste the following command to install the software:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install desktopnova indicator-desktopnova

Ubuntu Tweak

Ubuntu Tweak, perhaps the most famous third-party tweaking tool for Linux, brings the best out of your brand new Ubuntu desktop. The open-source application, once installed, lets you change the splash screen, login background, and hide/reveal certain elements of the desktop. Apart from letting you change security settings, tweaking panels and stuff, Ubuntu Tweak also lets you manage your applications and remove them when needed. The app recently released a brand new version allowing users to tweak their brand new Unity desktops. With it, you can dress up your desktop in pretty themes like Faenza and others without having to go through any hoops.

To install the software, simply go to their website HERE and hit the 'Download Now' button.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

How To Backup Apps and Data on Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:27:00 +0000

We’ve already written a detailed guide on how to backup your Android devices; however, we haven’t touched much upon the backup process for apps and data. The backup process for apps and data is quite different, and sometimes tedious, when compared to contacts syncing or bookmarks syncing. Don’t worry though, as we’ve got it all covered in this article.

Backing up Apps and Data

Backing up apps can be a tiresome job, even more so if you have a lot of them installed on your Droid. There are a few applications that will help you backup your apps, but most of them require root access. In this article, we’ve listed some of the best apps to take backups, two of which don’t require root, and one requires. So, whether you’re a geeky rooter, or a fledgling Droid-fanboy, there’s no excuse when it comes to backups.

On a side note, if you’re on the fence whether to root your phone or not, do check out our earlier article where we’ve highlighted all the pros and cons of rooting on Android.

App Backup And Restore

App Backup And Restore is a highly rated backup app for Android that lets you backup and restore your device without the need for rooting. Once installed, you can use this app to backup apps to SD card, and restore them in case things go wrong. For protected apps, there’s an option to backup the market link so that all your apps will be with you even after a fresh install.

Other important features include batch backup, restoring apps from SD card, and multi-version backup. What’s more, you can also send APK files by email so that you won’t lose those important apps.

Rated 4.6 stars out of 5 in the marketplace, App Backup And Restore is freely available for download from the marketplace HERE.

MyBackup Pro

This next app lets you backup all your important data, including your apps, photos, homescreens, etc. right to the cloud. Though in Beta, MyBackup Pro is the perfect, and perhaps the most easy-to-use backup app for non-rooters. Once installed, the app lets you backup applications, SMSes, MMSes, System Settings, Alarms, Music Playlists, and even call logs to the cloud or to your trusted little SD card.

If you have rooted your phone, there’s something in it for you as well. Rooted users can take advantage of advanced features like freezing of bloatware or system apps, wipe cache of applications, uninstall applications, link apps to Android Market, unfreeze applications and force-close applications.

Though not free, MyBackup Pro is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars in the marketplace. However, if you want to try before you buy, you can always grab the free trial version HERE.

Titanium Backup Pro

One of the most powerful tools in the Android Marketplace, Titanium Backup Pro is more than just a backup tool. The root-only app allows you to backup, restore, and freeze all of your applications and data. The app comes with a barrage of interesting features which include, but are not limited to, Dropbox sync, multi-user app data, encryption, cache cleaning, apps freezer, integration of system apps into ROM, zero-click batch restores, and the ability to send backups by email.

One great thing about Titanium is that despite being a geeky tool, it is so simple to use that even an Android novice can figure out most of its features. Oh, and just because it’s geeky doesn’t mean that it’s not popular; Titanium has been rated 4.8 stars out of 5 in the marketplace, which is a very high score, even for a non-root app. Oh, and don’t forget, the app has over 3.5 million users and has been translated in over 28 languages. Definitely worth your every penny. You may download Titanium Backup Pro HERE.

Best Internet TV Apps For Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:47:00 +0000

Television, since its inception in the early twenties, has gone through a plethora of changes. From the big curvy boxes to the thin and flat LCDs, the attention-seeking living room device still stays one of the most popular gadgets around.

While watching the television whilst sprawled on a sofa has been the ultimate Sunday experience, the need for mobility is slowly changing this scenario. TV, these days, has become a bit more mobile, thus catering to the needs of people who are always on the go. Our very own Android too hasn’t been that immune from the mobility boom as it has some amazing Internet TV apps to boast of. So, to help you choose the best of the lot, here we are with another article outlining only the essential Internet TV apps for Android.

Plex

Though basically a media platform, Plex does come in handy if you’re looking for a comfortable way to get access to Internet television. With a beautifully organized interface, Plex works well in unison with the Plex media server.

Apart from letting you browse, play, and manage your media from your Droid, Plex also gives you access to 200 of the hottest Internet TV channels. You can get the best entertainment from sources like CNET, YouTube, Vimeo, Revison3 and more. Working seamlessly across Windows, Mac, Roku, Android and a bunch of other devices (including TVs), Plex serves as a great one-stop entertainment solution for Internet-TV junkies.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Crackle

Crackle is a popular entertainment app that lets you watch full-length Hollywood movies and TV shows for free, right from your Android device. The app provides full-length uncut TV shows, the list of which includes an impressive number of classics like Seinfeld, Samurai-X, The Three Stooges, and more. With high-quality streaming over Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G, Crackle also allows you to watch hundreds of full-length movies. Though limited to US, UK, Australia, and Canada, Crackle does prove to be a great source for catching up with some great television entertainment.

DOWNLOAD HERE

BBC iPlayer

Folks in the UK must be well familiar with this application. Official app of the largest broadcaster in the world, this free but region-limited application lets you watch and listen to over 400 hours of BBC programs. You can listen to live radio, watch live TV, and browse through a schedule of upcoming shows. Though Flash-based, the app is very popular in the United Kingdom.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Online TV Player

This is a nifty little application that lets you stream TV content from over 100 online TV channels for free. The app, which uses ffmpeg and libmms, supports a wide variety of formats including rmvb, rm, avi, mpeg, flv, and more.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Revision3

Revision3 is a popular Internet TV network, mostly known for shows like Tekzilla, Diggnation and App Judgement. This free app brings the whole Revision3 experience into a nice little Android application letting you watch all the popular shows like Tekzilla right from your Android device.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus for Android brings the highly popular Hulu experience to your mobile phone. Once installed, Hulu Plus members can stream thousands of episodes from hundreds of current and classic TV shows. Though mainly for Hulu Plus subscribers, the app does provide a lot of free episodes for non-subscribers to sample out. Users can also opt-in for a one-week free trial if they want to. Once the trial ends, the service costs about $8 a month.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Justin.TV Broadcaster

If you’re a fan of Justin.tv (don’t worry, it’s not another Justin Bieber fan site), then this app might be something you should download right away. The free application lets you broadcast live content to the web over Wi-Fi and 3G. What’s more, you can also chat with your viewers while doing the show.

DOWNLOAD HERE

You may also check out: 5 of the Best Internet Radio Apps for Android

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:33:00 +0000

Over the years, people have pinned Windows down as the slowest of all operating systems. While Mac still remains a class product, our beloved Ubuntu Linux has shot to fame because of its amazing speed and power, even on low-end systems. Windows, after months, or sometimes weeks of usage, tends to bloat and behave like a sluggish car beyond repair. Ubuntu on the other hand, tends to stay as agile as it was when you first installed it, making it one of the most preferred operating systems on low-end computer users.

That said, grass isn’t always green in the Ubuntu Linux world. As with every operating system, perfection eludes the open-source distribution, thus making issues like slowdown and incompatibility more prominent. These problems, however, cannot be pinned down as Ubuntu’s fault because most of them arise from incompatible hardware, especially graphics cards. So, if you too, in some point in time have faced, or are facing issues of slowdown and choppy graphics, here are some simple tips to help you alleviate those problems and in effect make Ubuntu Linux run faster.

Install/Update to the latest graphics driver

About three years ago, when I went to purchase a new graphics card, the vendor recommended me ATI, telling me that it’s much better than the almost-omnipresent NVIDIA, and that I won’t be disappointed by the performance. I couldn’t agree more with him as I too had read a lot about ATI, but never had the chance to try it out. So, I went home with a sparkling grin, installed it, and tried out the latest game that was available out there, and boy, I was thoroughly impressed with it. The card ran as smooth as butter on Windows, but then, once I installed Ubuntu on my computer, that’s where the problems began. Not only did I have a tough time installing the drivers, I also had trouble getting the card to work just enough to play movies.

However, sticking to ATI paid off, as graphic support for my card has improved by miles over the last couple of years. Though not as good as it is on Windows, it is still quite satisfactory when you have a lot of RAM.

If you ever have faced similar issues in the past, I don't need to tell you how important it is to update your graphics drivers.

Use Unity 2D instead of 3D

If upgrading your graphic card doesn’t help alleviate the problem, then it may be good idea to move to something lighter. While XFCE is a perfect desktop for extremely low-end and dated computers, for those stuck with an incompatible or old graphic cards, the Qt-based Unity 2D comes in really handy. The light environment brings the best features of Ubuntu without using too much of your RAM.

Use apt-get often

With the advent of Ubuntu Software Center, the classic-yet-powerful apt has lost its prominence. Though as good as Ubuntu’s new app store is, apt-get is almost ten times faster thus saving you a lot of valuable time that’s usually spent while updating and installing applications.

Check start-up applications

Ubuntu doesn’t bloat like Windows, but having a dozen of start-up applications surely slows it down. To remedy that problem, it’s always a good idea to check which apps you have added to your start-up list. To do so, open the launcher (Super Key/Windows Key) and type in the words ‘startup applications’. Once the ‘Settings’ window opens, chose which applications should load when Ubuntu starts up.

Clean your browser’s cache

Sometimes, especially if you’re a web addict, the browser cache tends to pile up and slow down the computer. A simple solution to this problem is clearing the cache by going to your browser’s settings menu.

Install Preload

Preload is an adaptive readahead daemon, which, once installed, monitors the applications you run, analyzes that data, and, by predicting which application you’ll run next, loads the predicted program into your memory. Of course, this won’t dramatically speed up your computer, but you’ll certainly see some improvements. To install preload, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

sudo apt-get install preload

Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:08:00 +0000

You are busy strumming at that beautiful guitar, moving from the verse to the chorus. Just as the word SOLO appears on the lyrics page, with a flourish of excitement and a slight fumble of fingers, you manage to finish what seemed like the most difficult riff of your life. You complete the song and then, wiping the sweat from your brow, you shout out loud “I need to start a band.”

Starting a band eh? Well, it’s not as easy as it looks, well, at least, that’s what I’ve heard many people say. And anyway, who’d go through the trouble of looking for new bandmates? No, no, not me sir; I’m just happy sitting here in front of my computer and having the world come to my desktop. And what better way to do that than to have a cool app like GarageBand instantly downloaded on my desktop?

So, if you’re one of those aspiring musicians lacking a full-fledged band, an app like GarageBand is a blessing in disguise. And though the application is only available for iOS, Android users don’t have to go green with envy yet. Our very own Android has a good repertoire of GarageBand-like apps, some of which are even free.

ReLoop Loop Sequencer

ReLoop Loop Sequencer is a loop-based music sequencer that lets you make music using samples and loops. The application comes with real-time loop preview, a nice little feature, which lets you get a feel of how the loop will sound when added to the track. By default, ReLoop comes with three effects: Delay, Low-pass filter, and distortion; however, more effect packs can be added for free by downloading them from the marketplace.

As the app comes with support for gestures, the interface is really easy to use. Just dragging, dropping, and tapping are the only actions you’ll need to know in order to start using ReLoop.

Finally when you’re done creating your musical masterpiece, you can export it to a CD-quality track. Though not free, ReLoop Loop Sequencer is one of the best synthesizer apps out there; and don’t worry if you’re a tablet computer user; the app works exceptionally well on many Android tablets.

DOWNLOAD HERE

RD3 Groovebox

Developed in Berlin, Groovebox is an amazing app that lets you program your own grooves. With support for multi-touch gestures, the app comes with loads of features that audiophiles and musicians will love.

Groovebox includes a virtual analog synthesizer, multiple waveforms (3 types), high-quality filter modes, drum machine with 8 drum kits, and 3 play modes. The interface is really easy to use, thanks to the multi-touch support and the built-in ability to cut, copy, or paste patterns.

Once you’re done creating your tunes, you can either save the session, or export the audio loop. Though not free, RD3 is a highly polished synthesizing app for Android.

If you’re a tad skeptical about spending your money on this app, you can always try out the free demo version of the app.

DOWNLOAD HERE

PocketBand Uloops Pro

One of the most highly rated apps in this genre is PocketBand Uloops Pro. Unlike the aforementioned apps, PocketBands comes across as a powerful application thanks to its reliance on cloud technology. Despite the downside of requiring a fast, unlimited data connection, PocketBand is perhaps the best synthesizer app for Android.

The app comes with a 12-channel mixer (with effects), a drum machine (35 drumkits), recorder, modulator, and an arpeggiator. The recorder makes use of your phone’s microphone to provide live audio recording. As for the effects, PocketBand leads the pack with a great lineup that includes delay, flanger, reverb, phaser, and more.

Once you’re finished recording your song, you can either share the song on the Internet or save it locally. If you want, you can also share your work under Creative Commons license so that it can be remixed and listened to freely by the huge community. What’s more, you can also remix songs uploaded by other musicians (only if they’re CC-licensed).

Overall, PocketBand is a great, feature-filled synthesizer with a multitude of quality effects, which turn your Android gadget into a full-fledged mixing device.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Ultrabooks vs. Chromebooks

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:38:00 +0000

Ultrabooks, the much-touted ultra-slim laptop computers, which Intel announced with great pomp and expectations, have finally started making their presence felt. Recently showcased at CES 2012, these Macbook Air competitors, if successful, may revolutionize the tech world just as the tablets did. At this nascent stage though, not much can be said about them; however, we at TechSource do wish ultrabooks ran Ubuntu instead of Windows.

Ultrabooks, despite being slim and sleek in design, offer the users a complete desktop that’s both usable and powerful. That said, it would be wrong to pit them head-on against laptops or even tablets for that matter. Ultrabooks target a completely different audience, which is, oddly enough, a niche that Chromebooks have been trying to get into for a long time. Chromebooks, which we covered earlier, haven’t reached the pinnacle Google expected them to, nor have they managed to impress many customers, thus making room for competitors like Ultrabooks, and even tablet computers, to steal the show. But how does the relatively mature Chromebook stack up against the emerging Ultrabook? Let’s see.

Performance

Ultrabooks, though slim in design, provide the user with a powerful, performing desktop. For example, the recently announced Dell X13 Ultrabook: this slim beast is powered by i5 and i7 processors and comes with 128GB solid-state drive (SSD).

Chromebooks, on the other hand, are powered by Chrome OS. The breezy web browser is the only thing you’ll find on a Chromebook, thus making the whole operating system feel super fast. Unlike Windows, which tends to slow down after a while, Chromebooks would perform the same way (or even faster!) even after 2-3 years. The only thing slowing down these machines is your Internet connection.

It is thus quite obvious that Chromebooks outmatch Ultrabooks in the performance department. I know, that the i7 processor is definitely faster than the Intel Atom-powered Chromebooks, but that performance comes at almost 3-4 times the price of Chromebooks. For the $300 Chromebook, you almost get the same performance you get on an i5 device with Windows Vista on it.

Winner: Chromebooks

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Price

The Dell Ultrabook costs $999 whereas Chromebooks cost as little as $300. Though, you can purchase low-end Ultrabooks at even lesser prices, the ever-dipping price point of the browser-based notebook steals the show.

Winner: Chromebooks

Usability, Features, and Functionality

Chrome, Chromebook’s raison d’etre is a powerful, nimble browser that makes the notebook work real fast despite its relatively low-end specs. That said, when you want to get something done, you can’t always rely on a browser-based computer. Sometimes, you need Windows, Mac, or Linux to run high-end applications like video editors, or even games. This is where Chromebook is still lagging behind. People can’t be on the web all the time, and they need something with which they could work offline. Ultrabooks, in this department, completely outsmart the struggling Chromebooks.

Winner: Ultrabooks

Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook

Design, Overall Look and Feel

If you’ve seen Chromebook’s reviews, you must have noticed that the little browser-based notebook is quite well designed. The nicely styled keyboard, the smooth finish, and a brightly lit display are enough to make even a full-fledged laptop user go green with envy.

That said, Chromebook’s charm pales out when compared to the stylishly designed Ultrabooks. For example, the recently announced Envy Spectre by HP will make your gadget lust reach new heights. The i5-powered beast features a Gorilla Glass chassis (scratch-resistant) and has a 1600x900 Radiance Display. Similarly, most of the notebooks in this genre feature a shiny aluminum design along with a chiclet-style keyboard. Not only does this -- to a limit of course -- succeed at curing some seriously Mac-envy, it also makes the Ultrabook an attractive-yet-powerful gadget. The winner here undoubtedly is the shiny new Ultrabook.

Winner: Ultrabooks

Conclusion

Though Ultrabooks target a market similar to the one Google is targeting, it would be wrong to proclaim the slim gadget as a Chromebook-killer. Chromebook is, and perhaps always was, a niche product, especially for those who have successfully migrated their tech life to the web. For the rest, a good old netbook or even a laptop does the job. Ultrabooks, on the other hand target the whole laptop market; so, it is quite unlikely that the twain will ever be at loggerheads.

Top First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games for Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:54:00 +0000

From the classic Golden Eye 007 to the more modern and visually stunning Call of Duty MW 4, first-person shooter (FPS) games have always had a special place in the hearts of hardcore gamers. The genre has reached worldwide acclaim since it allows the player character to see and feel the action through his/her own eyes. This engaging style of gameplay has been lauded by many gamers, thus propelling the success of billion-dollar blockbusters like Modern Warfare and Battlefield series.

The omnipresence of this genre is such that Linux too offers a great variety of FPS games to choose from. And, as more and more people are moving on to the popular portable version of Linux -- that is Android of course--, there are some great FPS games that you can enjoy on your mobile devices too. So, if you’re looking forward to shooting conniving villains and evil monsters on your beloved Android, here are three of the most popular first-person shooter games for Android.

Modern Combat 2

Rather than being just a poor man’s Call of Duty, Modern Combat 2 is a game that brings the best first-person shooting experience to your Android. The intense shooter throws you into 12 different battlefield scenarios like Middle East, Eastern Europe, South America and more. To help you eliminate all the baddies, you get 15 different -- and of course ‘modern’ weapons -- to choose from. Not all are handed to you right away, but you can always pick many up from your deceased enemies.

The game features a unique control method that leverages the gyro functionality of your mobile to make gameplay even more immersive. Once you finish the single-player campaign, you can always go online and try out the four different multiplayer modes that the game comes with. You can either play online or local; and the game allows up to ten players at a time. So, in short, the game is just as addictive as you think it is. With stunning graphics, engaging gameplay and a whole bunch of enemies to kill, this action-shooter is worth your every penny.

DOWNLOAD HERE

N.O.V.A. 2 HD

A sequel to the highly popular N.O.V.A. game, N.O.V.A. 2 HD takes place six years after the events depicted in the first episode. The central government Terran Orbitals, and the Human-Alliance are in the midst of a bloody civil war. Kal Wardin (protagonist and the main player character), who was living peacefully on Scorpius for the past six years, is called back by Prometheus to Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance a.k.a. N.O.V.A. And that’s when the real battle begins.

This sci-fi FPS title cuts no corners in providing a superb gaming experience. The game features an amazingly detailed single-player design along with an intense multiplayer mode. While the single-player takes place on different environments, the multiplayer mode gives you ten great maps to showcase your skills. Furthermore, the ranking system, and the leaderboards feature make sure that you get your daily dose of online bragging right away.

With over a dozen weapons, three special powers, and 12 chapters to shoot through, N.O.V.A. 2 proves to be one of the best FPS games out there for Android.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Contract Killer

In a world full of gangsters, bounty hunters, and criminals, it’s up to you to clean up the mess. But unlike in the aforementioned games, you’re not an expert soldier, nor you are a policeman; you’re just a deadly assassin who shoots quietly from rooftops. You’re a contract killer.

Contract Killer is a game about, well, a contract killer who takes on various missions and gets paid handsomely to do that. Unlike Modern Combat, Contract killer relies on stealth and precision. Though you get to select from a wide range of weapons, the sniper is probably the weapon you’ll end up using most of the time. Each contract you take up earns you cold hard cash. Shoot for the head, and you get more than what you usually get. You can then use that cash to upgrade your armory.

The game comes with 17 missions that go with the story, and other random missions that give the game an unlimited gameplay. The graphics aren’t as good as Modern Combat or N.O.V.A., but they aren’t that bad either. Also, at times the game tends to be a bit repetitive, but the overall gameplay is quite amazing for a mobile game. Worth a try if you’re bored with the traditional instant shoot-and-kill FPS games.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Ubuntu TV vs. Google TV: Battle of the Linux-based Smart TV

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:17:00 +0000

Google TV, despite being launched and relaunched with much pomp and expectations, has not quite managed to reach the market it intended to. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to proclaim that the foray of Internet on our television screens previously has been an utter failure. And this, you see, is despite the fact that there are giants like Apple and Google scampering for the top spot.

Last week, Ubuntu’s own little warrior came sauntering into this hallowed market, but only to deliver a nice big surprise. At CES, when the Unity-based Ubuntu TV was unveiled, even the most pious of Apple fanboys couldn’t help feeling a tinge of jealousy. The demo, which showcased a beautiful-yet-functional interface, left all the Unity-bashers a tad guilty.

Having said that, it would be wrong to call Ubuntu TV a game-changer, as Apple, Google, and -- yes, we haven’t forgotten them -- Microsoft too are working hard on bringing something intelligent and intuitive to the idiot box. However, we’re not that interested in the efforts of Apple, or Microsoft, what we, as FOSS fanatics, are interested in is the battle between two Linux-based smart TV platforms: Google TV and Ubuntu TV.

Interface

Though Ubuntu TV hasn’t reached the consumers yet, a quick demo at CES showed us how clean and intuitive the interface really is. The experience is no different from what we get on our desktops, but having Unity on it makes it a force to reckon with. However, don’t think that my derision for the ‘NEW’ Ubuntu ceases with Ubuntu TV: Unity was and still is, to me, a crippled interface that is just wrong for our desktops. But when, this much-hated feature shows up on the good old television, you forget that you ever criticized Unity. From the CES demo, and the reviews we read on various tech-related sites, Ubuntu TV could, quite unexpectedly, be the TV interface we’ve been waiting for.

Google TV on the other hand, has been around for a long time. Based on the Android interface, the interface is quite easy to use and clean too. However, when compared to the aforementioned Ubuntu TV, it does seem a bit cluttered and unintuitive. Instead of focusing on content, Google TV tries to bring too many things to the table, adding to the complexity of the interface. Ubuntu TV, however, stays classy by giving you just the content.

Winner: Ubuntu TV

Familiarity

Though Google TV is based on Android, its interface is totally different from what you have on your phone or tablet. There are a few similarities here and there, but the Google TV doesn’t make an Android user feel at home. Ubuntu TV however, makes sure that an Ubuntu user gets the best experience without missing their computer. If Ubuntu on mobile takes off as Shuttleworth expects it to, then Ubuntu TV will be a brand you won’t be able to ignore.

Winner: Ubuntu TV

Content

It’s not clear as to how many tie-ups Ubuntu TV will have, but from what we’ve seen at CES, it’s enough to satisfy the needs of most TV-lovers. On the other hand, the Android-based Google TV goes one step further by providing an assortment of high quality apps, a domain that is very lucrative these days. Undoubtedly, if Ubuntu TV gets a big audience, it might catch up in this department; however, Google TV will always be a step ahead. Google has partnerships with a lot of content providers, and, not to forget, the movies and TV shows you can rent/buy from Netflix, Android store, and YouTube.

Winner: Google TV

Conclusion

At this early stage, it is difficult to know whether Ubuntu TV will be able to live up to its expectations or not. Also, don’t forget that Apple too is surreptitiously working on something big for the TV market. So, as good as Ubuntu TV might seem, it won’t be easy for Canonical to break into such a big market. Nevertheless, Ubuntu does promise to bring something unexpected and fresh to the TV market, and it might as well be the game-changing product we’ve been waiting for.

Awesome Android Smartphones and Tablets Showcased at CES

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:39:00 +0000

2012 starts off on a geeky note, with the most awaited technology event around called CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The event, considered as the Mecca for geeks, nerds, and tech journalists, has been hailed as the ultimate place to showcase your innovative products.

This year, CES saw some big changes taking place. The most important one was that this was the last CES event for Microsoft. On the other hand, our beloved Ubuntu made its first ever appearance at the event, and yes, it was a huge success.

Now, moving on from Ubuntu to another Linux-based OS, our much-adored Android showcased some amazing new tablets and smartphones at the event. And yep, we’ve got the best of those head-turners in this article just for you.

Toshiba Excite X10

Toshiba Excite X10, the thinnest tablet computer at CES, has become quite popular among tablet computer enthusiasts. The most ‘exciting’ thing about Excite X10 is that it comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is the latest and the greatest that Android has to offer. Weighing in at just 1.2 lbs., this sleek beauty is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 processor. To make sure you can multitask smoothly, there’s about 1 GB of RAM. For the photo-enthusiast in you, there’s a 5 MP camera at the back, and a 2MP at the front. The price of this coveted device is $520 (16 GB model) and $600 (32 GB model).

Acer Iconia Tab A700

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and comes with 1GB of memory. Running a Tegra 3 chip, this beast of a tablet also comes with a revolutionary anti-glare technology that makes it the perfect e-book reader. Iconia A700 will run on Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 with some Acer customizations. It has an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a 1080p display to make sure that you enjoy your movies and videos in style.

Asus Transformer Prime 700 Series

The Transformer Prime 700 Series is a variant of the original Asus Transformer Prime which we’ve talked about earlier. It comes with specs almost the same as Prime except for a full 1080p HD display. Apart from that, there are a few other changes here and there; but nonetheless, it’s still pretty much the same thing as Prime. In my opinion, it should have been called Transformer Prime HD instead of giving it a misleading name. That said, if you’re planning on buying a Prime, I’d suggest you to go for the 700 instead of its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy Note

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a cross between a tablet and a smartphone. Though the phone has been around for a while now, it was officially launched for the US market at CES. Running on AT&T’s network, Note features a 5.3-inch WXGA Super AMOLED HD display with a 1280x800 resolution. With a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, it can give a lot of tablets a run for their money. Also included in the package is the innovative new S-pen that allows users to write, draw, and doodle on their Droid just like they do on paper. Though the dated Gingerbread is kind of a bummer, Note still is one of the best Android smartphones -- oh wait tablets -- around.

Sony Xperia S

Sony’s latest offering, the Xperia S, besides being backed by some powerful specs, does come with a few unique features of its own. On the specs front, the 4.3-incher comes with a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon processor along with an ample 1 GB of RAM. The most awesome feature about this phone is its 12 MP back camera that can make this phone quite popular amongst photography enthusiasts. However, the 1.3 MP camera could have been better.

Other unique features include Mobile BRAVIA engine (similar to the technology found in Sony TVs), Active Noise Cancellation, and PlayStation certification. The phone runs on Android 2.3 but Sony has promised an ICS upgrade in Q2 2012.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx

We’ve already talked about the lamentable battery life of Android smartphones, and how, to an extent you can fix them. Droid Razr Maxx, as the name aptly suggests, endeavors to get rid of that problem by promising you a 21 hours of talktime and 368 hours of standby time. Not just that, the Maxx comes with a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor along with an 8 MP camera. The phone weighs just 145g and is quite thin as compared to other Android devices. Maxx is a smartphone that’s totally worth the wait if you’re a Moto Razr fan.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Best Video Editing Software for Ubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:35:00 +0000

Ubuntu, with its ease of use and beautiful design, has managed to become a desktop that is not just for geeks anymore. These days, more and more non-technical users are switching to Ubuntu, making it the fastest growing Linux distribution in the world. Now, as Ubuntu’s demand is soaring, the recently switched users are looking for applications that will help them perform simple tasks like video editing and music management.

While there is no dearth of music management apps on Ubuntu, video editing is an area that hasn’t seen much progress yet. Nevertheless, there are some great video editors for our beloved distro, which are quite as good as the ones you’ll find on Windows and Mac. So, if you’re looking for a great way to edit that holiday video you just shot, read on as we list the best video editing software applications for Ubuntu.

OpenShot

OpenShot is quite undoubtedly the best video editor on not just Ubuntu but also on Linux in general. Written in Python, the open-source video editor comes with a lot of amazing features. OpenShot includes support for many video, audio, and image formats, including, but not limited to: MKV, MOV, VOB, MP4, and MPEG.

The thing I love about OpenShot is that it is a complete application. What I mean by that is, you can make a whole movie without the need for any other software. From video transitions to scrolling movie-style credits at the end, OpenShot does pretty much everything you need from a video-editor.

If you’re a moviemaker, then OpenShot might not prove to be as great as Final Cut Pro or even Lightworks, but it will certainly serve as great bare bones editing tool for vloggers and budding filmmakers. Oh, but don’t make the mistake of writing off OpenShot as a simple video-editor. It also packs in a lot of advanced features like the famous Ken Burns effect, along with 20 other cool effects that will definitely add a little spunk to your movie.

To install, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

sudo apt-get install openshot

Avidemux

Avidemux is a non-linear video editor that allows users to edit and transcode videos. Written in C++, the open-source application comes with some great features that make it one of the most popular video-editing applications on this platform. Though not as easy to use as the aforementioned OpenShot, Avidemux does come with a well-designed interface. On the features front, the application includes support for video effects, transcoding, Optical Character Recognition ( OCR ) of subtitles, and much more.

The best feature of Avidemux is its ability to run as a GUI program as well as a command-line program. This saves a lot of time, especially for folks who love doing everything using the shell. Oh, and yeah, Avidemux also has multi-threading support, so expect it to run breezing fast once you install it on your desktop.

Install: sudo apt-get install avidemux

PiTiVi

This is one of my personal favorites when it comes to quick, no-fuss video editing. PiTiVi comes with a basic interface allowing you to edit your videos and add some effects to it. This open-source application, which was also included as a default app in Ubuntu, is quite simply the most easy-to-use video editor around.

With PiTiVi, you can trim, snap, split, and cut a clip, and then, you can export it to various formats. You can also merge the video with a different audio clip, a feature that can be useful for a lot of people who like remixing videos and uploading them on YouTube.

Though the application is not as feature-loaded as OpenShot or Avidemux, it is still the perfect tool for anyone who is not that familiar with the basics of video editing. Don’t expect it to be your companion in Hollywood though. However, if you’re looking for a simple tool that can edit your family videos, PiTiVi is your best bet.

Install: sudo apt-get install pitivi

Apart from the aforementioned apps, there are some other good tools like Cinelerra, Kdenlive and Kino, but they don’t integrate that nicely with Ubuntu’s GNOME-based desktop. Nevertheless, they’re great choices too, especially if you’re looking for some powerful video editing tools.

Best Health and Fitness Apps For Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:36:00 +0000

In our struggle to stay fit and healthy, technology is something that has always played an important role. Whether it’s high-quality medicinal equipments or some 99-cent app, health is heavily influenced by technology these days.

On mobile devices too, developers are coming up with innovative new apps that help users stay fit or at least motivate them to do so. Also worth trying are apps that monitor health and provide accurate information about our health. These apps are aplenty on both iOS as well as Android, and can be used with or without other health-monitoring accessories. So, if you’re willing to kick off all the holiday pounds you have gained this season, read on as we cover the best health and fitness apps for Android.

Endomondo Sports Tracker

One of the most popular Android apps in the marketplace, Endomondo uses your phone’s GPS to track your training activities. This means that whenever you go for a run, or a walk, Endomondo will track your distance, speed, and calculate the amount of calories you burned during that activity. You can then brag about your achievements on social media by sharing your workouts on Facebook and Twitter. Though you can use the app without an Endomondo account, I’d highly recommend creating one as it uploads all your workout data to your account on the web. Using the web version you can later review your activities and track your progress. -Worth a try for every fitness freak.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Calorie Counter MyfitnessPal

Trying to lose weight? Well, then this is the app that will help you in your struggle. Calorie Counter allows you to keep a daily diary of all the foods you eat. Say you ate eggs for lunch; then, simply enter eggs in the search bar, and that food will automatically get added to your daily diary. Thus, throughout the day if you enter everything you eat, you’ll get a better idea about how many calories you’re consuming each day.

Another great thing about this app is that it allows you to enter your weight-loss goals. Then, according to your goals, the app recommends you how much calories you should be consuming to achieve that target. The same works for people who’re trying to gain weight.

The app, even though requires you to create an account, can also be used as a simple calorie tracker without the need of signing up. Overall, Calorie Counter is a handy tool that helps you lose weight in a planned and systematic manner.

DOWNLOAD HERE

HeartRate Monitor

This is an app that lets you monitor your heart rate using your phone’s camera. The way this app works is quite simple: you place your index finger on the back camera, the app the tracks color changes on your finger tips -- which, in turn, are related to your heartbeat – and gives you an accurate reading of your heart rate. Even though it is not a substitute for medical care, the app can be helpful for those who’re into a habit of constantly checking their heart rate.

DOWNLOAD HERE

WebMD

This app brings all the functionality of the popular WebMD site to your Android device. The app, which lets you check symptoms, view drug information, and self-educate on first-aid, can be quite useful for medical students, doctors, and hypochondriacs. Though can be useful for diagnosis, we do not recommend using it as a substitute for medical care.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Google MyTracks

Unlike Endomondo, which is a dedicated fitness app, MyTracks from Google does just one thing, and that is recording your GPS tracks. Whenever you go for a walk or run, just fire up MyTracks and it will start recording (depending on GPS availability) every step you take. When you’re finished, you can see important statistics like time, speed, distance, and elevation. Then, if you want, you can share your stats online using Google MyMaps, Twitter, Facebook, or Google Docs. Overall, a great free and trusted alternative to other sports tracking apps like Endomondo.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Note: The apps are not a substitute for professional medical help. To be on the safer side, it’s always better to check with your physician before taking up a new workout regime.

You may also check out: Free/Open Source Workout/Fitness Software for Linux

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Some FOSS-Related Predictions for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:24:00 +0000

The tech industry went through a lot of ups and downs last year, and our ever-expanding FOSS world too, wasn’t all that immune from these huge changes. From the introduction of Unity to the sudden rise of Mint, the Linux community went through a game-changing phase last year.

2012 too promises to be as tumultuous as last year, thanks to all the great things the Linux community has lined up for us. Though many of these changes would be welcomed with open arms, some of them are bound to get flak from the users. Whatever the response may be, the expectations from the FOSS community are higher than ever.

So, if you’re busy guessing what the FOSS world will bring in 2012; don’t rack your brain; just read on as we list some FOSS-related predictions for this year.

Distro wars will escalate

With the much-hyped transformation of GNOME and the birth of Unity, every distro has managed to get its own unique identity. Earlier, major desktops the likes of Ubuntu, Fedora or SUSE, all looked and worked pretty much the same way since most of them ran GNOME 2.x. Now, because that has changed, people have more choices, bringing along some tough competition amongst the distros.

Ubuntu’s fall from the top spot on DistroWatch shocked many people in the Linux community. And, even though Canonical congratulated Mint on its success, losing the coveted throne must have come across as a bitter shock for them. It is therefore quite imminent that Ubuntu will try to snatch back the spot from Mint. So, grab your popcorn and expect to see some tough neck-to-neck competition this year.

Ubuntu might bounce back

The competition might be tough, but Ubuntu is a seasoned player with a huge community backing it. Leaving behind the tepid response Unity got, Ubuntu will be hitting a milestone this year by presenting at CES for the first time. Oh, and don’t forget, we’ve two more releases lined up for this year. Precise Pangolin itself seems so promising, we can only guess how mature and stable Ubuntu will be by 12.10.

Mint will rise

While Ubuntu is busy polishing its not-so-nicely reviewed Unity interface, Linux Mint, which we talked a lot about last year, is basking in the verdant glory of its sudden rise. Though on top now, Mint doesn’t seem like a player who’ll get complacent. Expect some big things from the minty fresh distro this year.

Android may give the iPad and Kindle Fire a tough time

Rumor mill is abuzz with stories of a new $200 Nexus tablet that will compete directly with Kindle Fire. If that is true then the iPad will be facing its mortal enemy in another big battle. The Nexus tablet, if it comes out this year, will surely thwart Kindle Fire’s winning streak and maybe, put a dent in Apple’s tablet computer monopoly.

SOPA might play spoilsport

We’ve already told you why SOPA, the draconian anti-piracy bill sucks so bad. In that article, we also mentioned how the bill will affect FOSS projects. Now, FOSS may not be as affected as the whole Internet will be, it will still make a significant impact on the fledgling community that now consists of more contributors than ever before.

Linux Market Share Will Rise

According to a report by netmarketshare.com, Linux’s desktop market share saw a growth of almost 50% last year. This year too, if all goes well, we will see Linux growing more and more whilst taking on giants like Apple and Microsoft. This growth, as gradual as it may seem, is still a huge achievement for Linux, especially in a market that is locked in tight by giant corporations like Microsoft and Apple.

Why SOPA Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Stop Online Privacy Act, also known as SOPA, is a draconian anti-piracy bill that was introduced in the U.S. Congress in October 2011. If you’ve been on the Internet recently, you must have heard a lot about SOPA, and how it will ruin the web. People worldwide are protesting against it, also, many companies who are supporting it are being faced with a massive boycott.

If the bill is passed, many sites, including ones like ours, may get banned from the search results, lose all advertising, and get the domain name blocked for simply having a couple of links that could be interpreted as ‘piracy-friendly’. So, if you’re fully unaware of what SOPA might do to the Internet, here are five reasons why SOPA sucks.

1. SOPA Gives the Power to Censor the Internet to the Entertainment Industry

"Movies in Hollywood now, for the past 20 or 30 years, are made mainly by lawyers or agents." -- Jean-Luc Godard.

Hollywood, even though, a pinnacle of cinematic art and entertainment is still in the hands of beady-eyed businessmen who think that piracy is a crime that should be punishable by death. It is thanks to these Hollywood lobbyists that millions of innocent website-owners will face unnecessary lawsuits and eventually may end up losing their livelihood.

2. SOPA Curbs Internet Freedom And Online Freedom of Speech

2011 saw the Internet being a part of major revolutions. That, however, might become just a one-off event as SOPA makes it easier than ever to censor content on the Internet. Thanks to the bill’s convoluted fine print, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and G+ might become easy targets of these ‘anti-piracy’ marshals, thus curbing Internet freedom.

3. SOPA Kills Jobs, Thwarts Entrepreneurial Growth.

If you are running an Internet-based business, or are thinking about starting one, then SOPA is one hell of a nightmare for you. If your website contains just a couple of links that violate the anti-piracy act, your site’s domain name will get blocked from the Internet, you’ll lose all your advertisers, and your site will no longer appear in search results. Here’s what section 102 of the bill says it will do to infringing websites:

Order Internet service providers to alter their DNS servers from resolving the domain names of websites in foreign countries that host illegal copies of videos, songs, and photos.

Order search engines like Google to modify search results to exclude foreign websites that host illegally copied material.

Order payment providers like PayPal to shut down the payment accounts of foreign websites that host illegally copied material.

Order ad services like Google's AdSense to refuse any ads or payment from foreign sites that host illegally copied content.

While SOPA supporters continue to argue that the bill is introduced to protect jobs (by preventing piracy), it will actually end up killing more jobs than one can ever imagine.

4. SOPA Doesn’t Curb Piracy, It Merely Makes Pirated Content Less Accessible

SOPA, once passed, will be able to block any website it deems as an infringement of its policies. The fatal flaw in this blocking mechanism, however, is that it doesn’t actually ‘block’ the site; it basically blocks the site’s domain name. So, if you try to visit, let’s say ‘example.com’, you won’t be able to load the website; but instead, if you type in the site’s IP address, you’ll be able to access the site in its full glory.

Now, as you can see, you’ll still be able to visit your favorite pirate-infested websites, but this time, you’ll have to remember their IP addresses instead. If, however, the bill does get passed --we all hope against it though-- Reddit has a huge list of IP addresses of all the major sites. You can view this list HERE.

5. SOPA Is A Threat To Open Source Too

If an open-source project is found to be aiding piracy, SOPA might be able to shut it down too. This will have a huge impact on fledgling open-source projects further hindering the growth of innovation and technology.

So, as you must have noticed, SOPA isn’t a good news for anyone who cares about the Internet, or even individual freedom for that matter. The five aforementioned reasons are just the tip of the iceberg, the bill is much more destructive than the proponents portray it to be. Many people have started boycotting SOPA supporters, which include the massive GoDaddy boycott that grabbed a lot of eyeballs. If you too are looking forward to boycotting other SOPA supporters, feel free to do so with the help of this huge list of SOPA proponents.

Also, don’t forget to sign the petition opposing the draconian bill HERE.

Finally, here are some great Anti-SOPA videos we came across while surfing the net:

1. Anonymous doesn’t seem to be so happy about the whole SOPA thing.

2. And Fuhrer, we’ll he’s just pissed off as everyone else.

3. I’m not a big hip-hop or rap fan myself, but somehow I ended up loving this song.

4. Finally, if you still don’t get what SOPA is all about, here’s more about the evil law in much simpler terms:

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Top Tech News of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:14:00 +0000

2011, which has almost come to an end, has seen some good, some bad and some really sad tech news. Whether it’s the unveiling of several innovative gadgets and apps, or the unfortunate passing of some important tech heroes, 2011 was full of ups and downs.

So, to wrap up this momentous year, we’ve decided to give you a quick flashback of all the important tech stories of 2011.

January

The year kicked off with Android dethroning Nokia to become the leading smartphone platform in the world. According to a report by Canalys, around 33.3 million mobile phones were running the Android operating system in Q4 2010.

February

February saw Google accusing Bing of copying their search results. The ambitious search venture by Redmond suffered a massive PR blow when the Google published a blog post detailing Bing’s evil activities. Though the Microsoft-owned site is yet to see any major success, it’s still seen as a big competitor to Google’s search domination.

March

1. The popular blog host Wordpress.com suffered largest DDoS attack in its history. The attack, which originated from China, took down a large number of sites. Though short-lived, the minor discrepancy rang a few alarm bells within the blogging community.

2. Steve Jobs unveiled the highly awaited iPad 2 on March 2, 2011. A few days later the coveted tablet went on sale breaking previous records.

April

1. Sony’s PlayStation Network suffered a massive outage that resulted in huge PR problems for the company. The attack that affected PlayStation Online and Qrocity services left around 77 million people without access to the online services. Soon, the company tried to allay fears of possible data thefts and a leak of personal details by issuing a series of press releases. Finally, when the problems were resolved, Sony gave away a bonus package to all its online customers along with a mandatory security update.

2. Ubuntu 11.04, which featured the contentious Unity interface, was released into the wild. The interface, which was clumsy, and sometimes downright unusable, drew heavy criticism from the Linux community. Moreover, many users switched to Mint soon after Ubuntu 11.04 was released, later propelling Mint to the top spot on Distrowatch.

May

1. Linux Mint 11 ‘Katya’, which was the only sane release in the in the mad penguin onslaught of Shells and Unities, was finally released to the public. Many people – even Ubuntu loyalists – switched to Mint soon after it was released.

2. On 29, May 2011 Linux kernel 3.0 was announced. The release brought no big features, but was still a milestone release as it coincided with Linux’s 20th anniversary.

3. Google announces Chromebooks at the Google I/O Conference.

June

1. The first Chromebooks went on sale. The response, however, was not as big as Google expected.

2. Google launched Google+ in an invite-only testing phase. The new social network, about which we wrote at great length, instantly became an Internet sensation. People from all around the world were scampering, begging, and sometimes, even spending money to try out Google’s ambitious social endeavor.

3. Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s new iCloud service at a WWDC 2011. This was also Steve’s last public appearance.

July

1. Following a phenomenal third quarter earnings, Apple has surpassed the U.S. government in terms of cash reserves. Apple accumulated a total of $75.876 billion while the U.S. government has $73.768 billion.

2. According to Nielsen, Android became the top mobile operating system in the United States. It garnered 39% of the market, followed by Apple’s iOS at 28%, and BlackBerry OS at 20%.

3. DOS (Disk Operating System) turned 30 during this month. As some of you may know, DOS was acquired by Microsoft and was the basis of earlier Windows versions.

August

1. Due to his failing health, Steve Jobs resigned as the CEO of Apple. The news was met by speculation and overall disappointment amongst Apple’s fanboys as well as its investors.

2. Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. The highly shocking move received a mixed response from the Android community. Nevertheless, it was an essential maneuver in order to stop Microsoft’s patents trolling.

September

1. Google+, which was earlier accessible on an invite-only basis, was thrown open to the general public. The move further boosted the nascent social network’s popularity making it a serious competitor to Facebook and Twitter.

October

1. After a long battle with cancer, Steve Jobs passed away. The innovator was admired, and often praised by not just Apple fanboys, but also by many techies from around the world.

2. Ubuntu 11.10, which brought many improvements to the highly criticized Unity interface, was finally released to the public. Surprisingly, the response to this release was not as bad as the flak Ubuntu 11.04 got.

3. Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the much-awaited successor to Nexus S was finally unveiled. The Galaxy Nexus event also gave users a closer look at the highly hyped Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

November

Following the tepid response that Unity received, Linux Mint 12 ‘Lisa’, which released in November, was responsible for beating Ubuntu from the top spot on DistroWatch. The release blended the best elements of GNOME 3 and Ubuntu and delivered a sane and stable distro to many frustrated Linuxians.

December

1. Chrome, Google’s blazingly light competitor to pretty much every browser around, knocked off Firefox and Internet Explorer to become the most popular browser around.

2. The highly anticipated Samsung / Google Galaxy Nexus was finally made available in the United States.

3. The fight against Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) heats up as the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to debate amendments to the controversial bill.

~0~

To all our friends, contributors, readers and site visitors, have a peaceful and fruitful New Year!

TechSource’s Top 10 Linux Distributions of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:48:00 +0000

As we say goodbye to a momentous 2011, it’s time to reflect on some of the big happenings in the FOSS world. Apart from Android’s rise, Torvalds’s rant, and a tasty ice cream sandwich treat, the year also saw some big changes taking place for popular Linux distributions. While many of the changes ranged from annoyingly buggy to downright unusable, a few pleasant minty surprises did manage to cleanse the Linuxiens’ palettes.

With the advent of Unity, Linux Mint, then a familiar name only amongst developers, tinkerers, and hackers, made its foray into the desktops of the so-called ‘normal’ users. Thus began a game for the top spot in the users’ hearts. And, even though Ubuntu somehow managed to keep its head high by the end of 2011, it finally had to settle on a modest second spot on the coveted DistroWatch list.

The distro scene in 2011, though mired in controversy, was a witness of some of the boldest -- and perhaps game-changing -- decisions ever taken in the FOSS community. Earlier, when Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, and Suse offered pretty much the same interface, there was a little competition -- and also little uniqueness -- amongst the individual distros. However, once Unity and GNOME Shell entered the scene, each distro now had something different to offer. Fedora went with GNOME 3, Ubuntu stuck by Unity, and Mint, well, Mint did something a little different. Mint made combined the best of both interfaces and brought a modern, stable, and a beautiful desktop for its users.

Thus, having witnessed what is perhaps the best ‘distro war’ ever, it’s time to showcase the winners who braved the storm and emerged strong enough to be featured in our list of top 10 Linux distributions of 2011.

10. Mageia
Founded in September 2010, Mageia is a fork of the once-popular Mandriva Linux. The distribution was started by former employees of Mandriva, which is a publicly traded Linux and open source company based in France. Mageia comes with a slightly customized KDE giving it a certain edge over other distributions that ship a plain vanilla version of the desktop environment. Having said that, Mageia is still in its nascent stages, and it would take some time before it reaches the level of maturity that other KDE-based distros have reached. Though not as popular as Kubuntu, or even Chakra, Mageia does have the potential to become a solid KDE-based distribution in the future.

9. Chakra
When it comes to KDE-based distributions, there are many users who prefer Chakra over Kubuntu. Forked from Arch Linux, Chakra is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful-looking distributions to come out in 2011. What makes Chakra so special -- especially when compared to Kubuntu -- is that it includes a customized KDE interface that is absolutely gorgeous, and yet, it’s one of the most user-friendly ones we’ve seen this year. Again, the popularity of Chakra is not as widespread as Kubuntu’s, but it does seem to be gaining a huge amount of following amongst KDE fans.

8. Arch Linux
Currently on the 6th spot on Distrowatch, Arch Linux is one of the most powerful distros around. Operating on a rolling-release system, the distribution provides the simplicity and minimalism that every Linux fanboy demands. Thanks to its amazing package manager called Pacman, users are able to install or update any package, at any time they want. So, if you want the bleeding edge of everything that’s made in the Penguin Land, Arch Linux is the one for you.

7. Debian
Cringing at the sight of Unity? Not a big fan of the whole ‘user friendly’ thing are you? Then, ditching Unity for Debian is something you should add to your To-Do list right now!

Debian brings the classic, plain and simple GNOME interface back to your desktop. Of course, since Ubuntu is based on Debian, you won’t have to learn new things. Most of the things remain the same, including the beloved package manager. The installation, however, might not be as user-friendly as it is on Ubuntu, but it’s not that hard either. Love it or hate it, Debian is still the sweetheart of many Linuxiens around.

6. Fedora
Fedora still is one of the most popular distros around. It enjoys a large user base and its stability is something that is envied by even the most dedicated Ubuntu fanboys. Having said that, 2011 was a bit on the disappointing side for Fedora users, especially with the introduction of the contentious GNOME Shell. Being the first distro to feature the highly awaited GNOME revamp, Fedora became a punching bag for many users disappointed by GNOME 3. Moreover, GNOME 3 also made a lot of Fedora fans seek out other distros, thus affecting the RPM-based project’s popularity. Nevertheless, Fedora still is a hot favorite of not just developers but also end users who benefit a lot from the customized ‘spins’ that the community provides with each release.

5. OpenSUSE
Novell’s openSUSE is still one of the most popular Linux-based distributions around. Its familiar green interface and the dreaded YaST have given the distro a unique identity and branding. That said, SUSE’s popularity is a bit on the decline, especially with the rise of Ubuntu and all its friends. This year though, the green distro managed to stay sane by not switching to Unity or GNOME Shell thus earning itself a number 5 spot on the list. The KDE-based distribution is still a hot favorite amongst many developers as well as end users.

4. Xubuntu
Though ranking low on Distrowatch, Xubuntu does prove to be a great viable alternative for people using lightweight machines. The Ubuntu-based distribution comes with the thin-and-clean XFCE, a desktop Linus Torvalds switched to once GNOME Shell came out. With a minimalist interface, XFCE also serves as a full-fledged user-friendly desktop for anyone who’s tired of the current trend amongst the distributions. Ranking fourth on our list, Xubuntu promises a usable and stable desktop experience without sacrificing the familiarity of Ubuntu.

3. Ubuntu
2011 was the most happening year for Canonical. Ubuntu, Canonical’s flagship product swerved into new territories by introducing the controversial Unity interface. Unity, which came along with Ubuntu 11.04, received a lot of flak from not just developers but from end users as well. The clumsy, and sometimes unusable interface made many loyal Ubuntuers switch to Mint.

The only reason Ubuntu manages to land the third spot on our list is the release of Ubuntu 11.10. Oneiric Ocelot, which improved Unity in a lot of areas, did bring a lot of smiles on the faces of frustrated Ubuntu users. That said, Ubuntu still lacks the polish and more importantly the ‘precision’, which, hopefully, the next version might bring to the table.

2. Kubuntu
Whilst the Linux world was going bonkers over Unity and GNOME shell, KDE was only desktop that was stable yet modern. A lot has been said about KDE, more so because it too started off on a controversial note, but then went on to become one of the most beautiful-looking and stable desktop environments around.

Kubuntu is a distro that brings all the goodness of KDE without sacrificing the familiarity and stability of Ubuntu. Loaded with some awesome applications like Amarok, Dolphin, and Kopete, Kubuntu proves to be the perfect alternative to the Unity-ridden Ubuntu. The reason Kubuntu wins the second spot is the fact that, unlike Canonical and GNOME, it didn’t try to do anything radically different this year. It just stuck to what it has been doing all along, and improved upon it. If you’re looking for a modern, aesthetically pleasing, stable desktop, Kubuntu is your best bet.

1. Linux Mint
Like on Distrowatch, here too Linux Mint enjoys the number 1 spot. The Ubuntu-based distribution, which saw a huge spike in popularity this year, has suddenly become the hot favorite of many Linux users. Thanks to Unity, users and Ubuntu loyalists alike migrated to this little-known distro in large numbers. The simplicity and the stability of this minty-fresh distro is such that we too have been waxing eloquent about its feature. Simply put, Linux Mint is the hottest Linux success of 2011.

What’s your top 10 Linux distros of 2011?

Which 10 distros do you think were the absolute best in 2011? Share your list with us in the comments section below.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Best Dropbox Alternatives For Ubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:42:00 +0000

Dropbox, an innovative startup, which refused a mouth-watering acquisition offer from Apple, has been one of the favorite apps across all platforms. Be it iOS, Macintosh, Windows, or our very own Linux, the file-hosting / online backup service has managed to gain more than 25 million users in a very short span. Furthermore, the simplicity, ubiquity, and the lack of any big competitors have made Dropbox one of the most essential apps out there.

That said, Dropbox isn’t without its share of problems. The startup was heavily criticized by many privacy-conscious users for being insecure. Software expert and the creator of GNOME went on to claim that Dropbox’s Terms of Service (TOS) contradicts its privacy policies and that the company’s famous claim “Dropbox employees aren’t able to access user files” is an outright lie.

Thus, issues abound, many Dropbox users have already started searching for some good alternatives. For Ubuntu users though, there aren’t that many choices as there are for Windows and Mac users. That said, it’s not as if you won’t be able to leave Dropbox behind. In fact, there are some great alternatives that provide almost the same amount of features as the popular startup.

UbuntuOne
With unmatched features, UbuntuOne is perhaps the best alternative to Dropbox. The personal cloud service developed by Canonical Ltd. already has a lot of users. Users start with a 5GB storage, which, when compared to Dropbox’s 2GB starter, is more than enough for many desktop users.

UbuntuOne, apart from being a cloud storage service, also powers the syncing capabilities of Ubuntu. The service integrates with Thunderbird (Ubuntu’s default Email client) and Tomboy (a popular note-taking application for Linux) to make sure that all your contacts and notes stay safe in the cloud. Another unique feature of UbuntuOne is its ability to integrate with the UbuntuOne Music Store. What this does is, whenever you purchase a song from the store, it gets automatically delivered to your UbuntuOne account. This song can then be streamed to your cloud-integrated mobile devices (iOS and Android).

Written in Python, UbuntuOne works well across Windows, Ubuntu, Android, and iOS; however, the lack of native client integration for Kubuntu and other distros has often been criticized by many.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 5GB
Additional Storage: 20GB for $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
Site: https://one.ubuntu.com/

Wuala
Pronounced as voila (FR), Wuala is a secure online storage, file synchronization, versioning, and backup service that works across many popular platforms. Developed by a Swiss company called LaCie, the free service allows users to sync their files, share them, and back them up securely to the cloud. Thanks to Java, Wuala works well across platforms like Windows, Mac OS X, and of course Linux.

Wuala offers free 2GB storage for its starting users, which, like in Dropbox, can be expanded using referrals. A unique thing about Wuala is that it puts a lot of focus on the user’s privacy and security. Each file uploaded to Wuala is first encrypted, then chunked into redundant fragments using Reed-Solomon error correction codes, and finally, the fragments are uploaded to data centers.

Though not as popular as Dropbox, or even UbuntuOne for that matter, Wuala does prove to be a secure and feature-packed choice for cloud storage.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 2GB
Additional Storage: starting with 20GB at 19EUR per year
Site: http://www.wuala.com/

SpiderOak
SpiderOak is a cross-platform online backup tool that allows users to share, sync, access and store files using the cloud. Starting with 2GB storage, users get to store and backup their files with client-side encryption. The encryption, which is a combination of 2048-bit RSA and 256-bit AES, gives SpiderOak a definite edge over its competitors like Dropbox. Partly open-source, SpiderOak works really well on Linux, Windows, Android and Mac.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 2GB
Additional Storage: $10 per month per 100GB increment.
Site: https://spideroak.com

Minus
Minus is a free cloud service that allows you to store, sync, and share files using the cloud. Though Minus mainly focuses on sharing, it is still one of the best applications when it comes to cloud backup.

Standing apart from other file-storage application, Minus comes with a unique drag-and-drop interface that works across web, mobile, as well as desktop. With a native application for Linux, minus makes it easy for penguinians to upload all their files -- especially their photos -- to the cloud. You can then choose to make your files public, which will help you gain some ‘karma’ if they get popular.

Minus users start with 10GB of storage; however using referrals you can increase that space to up to 50GB. Use this link to sign up and you’ll get an 11GB storage instead of the standard 10GB one.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 10GB (can be expanded up to 50GB using referrals)
Site: http://minus.com/

Best Real-Time Strategy Games for Android

noreply@blogger.com (jun auza) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:03:00 +0000

From the seminal Age of Empires Series to the massively popular StarCraft, real-time strategy games have always enjoyed a huge fan base. Whether it be prepping your soldiers for a tough battle ahead, or launching a full-blown attack on your enemies, there’s never a dull moment in this genre of gaming. Also, since fans of this genre range from hobbyist amateurs to accomplished world gaming champions, real-time strategy games have made their presence felt on almost all platforms, including mobile.

So, if you’re an Android fan, and are looking for some good real-time strategy (RTS) games to spend your weekend on, read on as we list the best of the lot.

Townsmen 6
The famed Napoleon complex may or may not be real, but the desire to become the King of France still burns wildly in the hearts of many. While that dream cannot be realized in the 21st century, a little Android game does try to bring an experience that is quite close to the real thing.

Townsmen 6 is a free Real-Time Strategy game for Android that lets you play a part in the French Revolution. You start off by constructing buildings, huts, farms and forgeries, which help you strengthen your army. Once you have enough resources, you start capturing various French districts and thus spreading your territories. As your power grows, you slowly ascend towards Paris in a daring attempt to overthrow the king.

The game is completely free (no ads or limited features) and is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 in the Android Marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Medieval Empires
Medieval Empires is the first full-time strategy game to appear on Android. The free game comes with 50 different types of units and buildings. From knights and archers to catapults and swordsmen, weapons are aplenty in this war. The game is slightly reminiscent of the popular RTS games like Age of Empires wherein you have to build your own army, dig gold mines, build an empire and conquer new territories.

Set in medieval era, the game requires a great amount of strategic thinking if you’re planning for a victory. Every map can be conquered using a new strategy, giving the game a high replay value. Definitely worth a try if you miss the old RTS games like Age of Empires.

Medieval Empires runs well on tablets as well as smartphones, and is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Android marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Defense Craft Strategy HD Free
Blending the best elements of an RPG and strategy games comes Defense Craft Strategy HD. With multiple maps and some great graphics, the free game pits you against knights, archers, orcs, and even dragons, right from the start.

Drawing from RPGs, Defense Craft Strategy is all about building strong defense towers and strengthening your army. With every fight, your units gain XP and keep on getting stronger. Couple that with strategic placement of towers, and you have a great chance to beat the game. However, as easy as it seems, DCS is pretty hard to beat even if you have a decent strategy at your disposal.

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, the game works well across tablets as well as smartphones and is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Art of War 2 Online
Art of War 2 Online is a Massively Multiplayer Real Time Strategy Game for Android. The free game lets you battle it out against other players over the Internet in two different modes: Skirmish and Tournament. Once you start off, you don’t need to mine resources as you get them automatically. In Skirmish mode, you battle against a player of your choice, matching your own skills. In tournament mode however, you don’t get to choose who you battle against, thus making the game much more fun.

Another thing I like about this game is that it allows players to form clans that let them to team up and fight against other clans. The more fights you win, the more points you gain, which in turn take you up the power ladder. Also, if you win tournaments, you get YouCraft credits that you can spend to buy perks not just in this game, but also in all online games that are made by the developer.

With over 50K downloads so far, Art of War 2 is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Best RTS Games
Though not a game per se, this app does include an impressive collection of the best RTS games out there. The developer has handpicked some of the best RTS games out there in the market and bundled them up in this nice free application. -Worth a download for every RTS fanboy.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.