software secrets

Can You Make Money By Smartphone????

2014-11-26T20:13:00.001+02:00

These ways to make money with your phone aren't necessarily a way to earn a real living, but, if used sensibility, they can help you recoup some of the cost of your cell phone bill and maybe put a few dollars in your pocket.

Make your smartphone pay its own way!

As with other microjobs, the idea is tomake extra money, so be careful that you don't actually lose money. Read thesePitfalls of Money-Making Apps first, then try out the ones that look good for you.

I have laid out the details of each of these apps, which range from crowdsourcing to social media advertising, so you can compare and find the ones that truly will allow you to make some money.

AppRewards

Type of program: Rewards
Technical requirements: Apple apps only
Locations: Anywhere
How it works: Download free apps then earn points by sharing apps on social media and playing games.
How it pays: Pays points on RewardsDen and Kiip. These services allow you to earn discounts or free items from places eBags, PetSmart, SkyMall, Overstock.com, 1800Flowers.com, Starbucks, Best Buy, Pepsi, Sears and Disney.

EasyShift

Type of program: Task-oriented crowdsourcing a.k.a microlabor website
Technical requirements: iPhone only
Locations: United States, though availability of shifts in certain areas may be limited
How it works: Download the app; create an account and start accepting “shifts.” You earn points as you successfully complete shifts and then gain access to better paying assignments. The types of jobs this crowdsourcer offers tend to be for consumer brands looking to track their products, so photos of products with price checks, etc., are the mainstay of this company.
How it pays: Pays cash into PayPal accounts. Payments for shifts range from $2 to $20 and are paid within 48 hours.

Embee Mobile

Type of program: Mobile microtasks
Technical requirements: Available for more than 300 mobile carriers, including AT&T and Verizon.
Locations: More than 100 countries
How it works: People contract other people for in-person services.

Field Agent

Type of program: Task-oriented crowdsourcing
Technical requirements: iPhone
Locations: United States, Canada, Norway, and Australia
How it works: Agents download the app, choose a job and then must complete it within two hours. Agents are awarded points for acceptable completions and lose point for unacceptable or uncompleted jobs. Jobs might include price checks with photo and/or bar code scan mystery shopping, surveys, product reviews, polls, verifying business locations, taking photos, brochure placement.
How it pays: Pays cash into a PayPal account. Jobs pay $3-12 each.

iPinions

Type of program: Surveys
Technical requirements: iPhone, Android, Blackberry smartphones, tablets such as iPad, Galaxy and more, and iPod touch devices
Locations: United States
How it works: Download the free app; fill out the profile with information such as such as your name, address, gender, birthday and employment status. You will then be contacted by email, push notifications or phone to participate in surveys that match your profile.
How it pays: Pays in reward points, which can be redeemed for cash in a PayPal account at 100 reward points to one dollar. Minimum to redeem is of 500 rewards points.

source:
http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/savemoney/tp/Make-Money-From-Your-Phone.htm

4 Easy App To Read Google Books on Android

2014-11-26T01:15:00.001+02:00

Sure, you could just buy a Kindle, but one of the reasons you went with Android is so you could read all your books from all your stores. What should you download right now?

1. The Kindle App

Ok, you really do want the Kindle app first. That's probably where all your books are.

Amazon.com'sKindle reader is a huge hit. One of the things that makes it so popular, aside from access to a huge library of Kindle books on Amazon.com, is that Amazon.com offers an app for just about any devince you own, and it remembers where you left off from any Internet-connected device, so you can start reading on your iPod and finish on your Android. Now that isn't true of sideloaded books, but it is true of your Amazon purchases.

The thing to keep in mind as you build an Amazon.com library is that Amazon's books are meant to stay in Kindle readers. They use a proprietary format rather than keeping with industry-standard ePub format, and that locks you into staying with Amazon. It's by design.

2. The Nook App

The Nook Reader is Barns & Noble's baby. It's actually a pretty nice tablet, but it's still uses a modified version of Android that excludes you from Google Play. You're not locked into the Nook tablet to read Nook books. You can download the app and still access your library. Actually, my husband and I share libraries this way. He's in charge of paying for books on the Nook account, and I've got an Amazon account. It keeps the peace that way.

3. The Kobo App

The Kobo reader was loosely affiliated with Borders, but fortunately not tightly enough to collapse when Borders did. Kobo offers a separate bookstore and books in ePUB format. However, it's at a disadvantage to the other more popular stores when it comes to content. It's actually superior to both of them when it comes to importing content. You can get separately purchased DRM-free books onto the Kobo reader with a lot less fussing than you can on the Nook or Kindle app. You also earn badges for reading and can track progress in books at a glance.

4. Google Play Books

Formerly known as Google Books, Google Play Books is an app and a store. I recommend it last because it suffers some of the same content problems as the Kobo app and doesn't allow you to import books (at least not as of this writing. It's their most requested feature.) You can download your books and read them in some other reader. You'd have to convert them to mobi format in order to read them on a Kindle, but they're easy to import into your Kobo or Nook app.

The app itself is pleasant and easy to use. If Google would add the ability to import books you already own into your library, the same way you do with Google Music, it has the potential of suddenly being the best app of the bunch. The other killer feature Google could add would be the ability to sort and arrange books into "playlists" like you do with music. Now that my library is going all digital, I find that it's getting more cluttered than my physical bookshelves.

source:
http://google.about.com/od/socialtoolsfromgoogle/tp/Top-Android-E-Book-Readers.htm

How To Save Time With Templates in Google Docs?

2014-11-19T01:52:00.000+02:00

A template is an easy way to save time when working on a document in Google Docs. A template is a document that contains formatting and boilerplate text. All you need to do is add your content. You can reuse your template over and over. There are plenty of templates available for Google Docs. But if you can't find one that suits your needs, you can create your own.

1- First, you must create a document upon which to base your template. Include any formatting and text you would like to include in documents based on your template. Then, save the document as you normally would.

2- Select the document to use as a template in the Google Docs document list. Then click More actions>>Submit to template gallery.

3- On the next screen, confirm that you have selected the correct document. Enter a brief description of the template and then select a category from the dropdown list. You'll also want to specify a language. When you're done, click Submit Template.

4- When you submit a template to the template gallery, it is made publicly available to all Google Docs users. So, you should not include any sensitive information in your template.

5- If you want to create a template that isn't made public, things are a little more difficult. Save your template as a normal file. Then, create a copy of it when you want to create other documents based on it.

source:
http://wordprocessing.about.com/od/onlineservicesandstorage/qt/Saving-Time-With-Templates-In-Google-Docs.htm

What is the Facebook Messenger Surprise??

2014-11-11T02:20:00.002+02:00

Locate the Facebook Messenger App in Your App Store

is a great app for people who wish to use the social network's instant messaging service,Facebook Chat , away from their computer or while on the go. If you are not interested in everyone’s constant updates or having access to your newsfeed, this app is a great way to interact with friends in chat.

How to Download the Facebook Messenger App

Before you begin, you will need to follow these easy steps to download Facebook Messenger to your iPhone or iPod Touch:

Locate the App Store on your device.
Tap on the search bar (the field located at the top), and type in "Facebook Messenger."
Click on the Facebook Messenger app, as shown above.
Tap the blue "Free" button to continue.

Facebook Messenger System Requirements

Make sure your iPhone or iPod Touch meets the following requirements before you begin, or you will not be able to use this app:Next, click the green “Install” button to download your own copy of the Facebook Messenger app to your iPhone or iPod Touch. You might be prompted to enter your Apple account password if you have not installed an app recently. The installation process will take a few minutes depending on your Internet connection and/or speed.

Launch Facebook Messenger

Once your Facebook Messenger app has been installed, you are just a tap away from enjoying the exciting world of instant messaging your social networking friends onFacebook Chat. Locate the Facebook Messenger icon, which appears as a blue square with two conversation balloons, as illustrated above.
Click the icon to launch the app software.

How to Sign In to Facebook Messenger

Next, enter your Facebook account email and password with your QWERTY touch screen keyboard to access Facebook Messenger.

Pressing on the email and password fields will open the keyboard, allowing you to enter the information as prescribed. Click the “Log in to Facebook” button below to submit your information and log in to your app. If you do not have a Facebook account yet, this app will not allow you to create one. You must log on to the Internet via your iPhone or iPod Touch web browser or via your PC and visit Facebook to create one.

source:
http://im.about.com/od/imformobilephones/ss/download-facebook-messenger-for-iphone-ipod-touch_5.htm#step-heading

How to Get Google News To make RSS feed??

2014-11-07T15:34:00.007+02:00

Luckily, there is a way to do exactly that. Learning how to use Google news is your ticket to a custom RSS feed that brings your news straight to your RSS Reader.

Google News

How To Use Google News

It's really quite simple. Simply go to news.google.com and type in what you would like to scour the news for. The results are displayed on the screen, but you can also save them as a custom RSS feed that will be continuously updated.

After going to news.google.com, type in what you want to search for and click the "Search News" button. This will tell Google to search through every website it has classified as either news or a blog and bring back results for your search.

Sometimes, it is helpful to search for an exact phrase instead of just a word. To search for an exact phrase, include quotation marks around the phrase."

You don't have to search for just one item at a time. The real power of Google News is that you can search for multiple items and bring them all back in the same custom RSS feed.

To search for multiple items, type in the word "OR" between the items, but do not include the quotation marks.

Example: "Dallas Cowboys" OR "Houston Texans"
Results: Any news articles or blog posts that either contains the phrase "Dallas Cowboys" or "Houston Texans"

Sometimes, you want to make sure two phrases are in a single article. This is done the same way as searching for multiple items, only you type in the word "AND" instead of "OR".

Example: "Dallas Cowboys" AND "Houston Texans"
Results: Any news articles or blog posts that either contains both the phrase "Dallas Cowboys" and the phrase "Houston Texans" in the same article or blog post

source:
http://webtrends.about.com/od/webfeedsyndicationrss/ss/use-google-news_3.htm

The 2 New Samsung Galaxy Surprising Features...

2014-11-03T17:06:00.002+02:00

Side by side on a table, the two nearly identical rectangular handsets look innocuous enough and extremely familiar. Yet two things quietly make the Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 stand out: their all-aluminum material and their unibody construction.

The square-sided handsets look and feel good, similar to the Alpha, or like smaller, more maneuverable versions of the Note 4. They're also on the light side and are noticeably slim -- in fact, they're the most svelte Galaxy phones yet. Don't look for any real standout textures or design elements to show off the move to metal; these smooth-backed specimens are understated as far as that goes.

Since the back cover isn't removable, you'll find the SIM-card and microSD-card slots on the right edge. In some countries, a hybrid slot will accommodate either a second SIM or a storage card, just not both at the same time. As midrange phones, you won't find a heart-rate monitor built in with the camera module; Samsung says that sensor is reserved for more premium phones like the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Alpha.

Midrange specs

You might think that luxe metal casings like these would house equally high-end specs, but the A series is actually defined by midrange specs that target a more youthful demographic. Samsung's market studies revealed that this group isn't fussy about top-flight hardware, but is turning toward the metal trend in a serious way.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A3, A5 SPECS

	A5	A3
Operating system	Android 4.4 KitKat	Android 4.4 KitKat
Screen size	5-inch AMOLED	4.5-inch AMOLED
Resolution	1,280x720; 294ppi	960x540; 245ppi
Dimensions	5.5 x 2.7 x 0.26-inch; 139.3mm x 69.7mm x 6.7mm	5.1 x 2.6 x 0.27-inch; 130.1 x 65.5 x 6.9mm
Weight	4.3 ounces (123 grams)	3.9 ounces (110.3 grams)
Cameras (back/front)	13-megapixel; 5-megapixel	8-megapixel; 5-megapixel
Processor	1.2GHz quad-core	1.2GHz quad-core
Storage	16GB	16GB
Expandable storage	Up to 64GB	Up to 64GB
RAM	2GB	1GB
Battery	2,300mAh	1,900mAh
Bluetooth	4.0	4.0
4G LTE	Yes, Category 4	Yes, Category 4

Samsung also points out that the A5 ad A3 emphasize sound quality, with adjustable audio that increases volume when it detects competing background noise. Another feature, called Wise Voice, helps keep volume levels constant for the receiver even if you're holding the phone away from your face. Sounds good in theory, though I didn't get a chance to test out either enhancement.

In terms of color, both the A3 and A5 will come in six shades. There's the usual black and white, gold and silver metallics, and the same blossom pink and light blue as the Note 4. As usual, not every color will be available in every country.

Extra themes

Android 4.4 KitKat is the OS standard for these phones, with Samsung's TouchWiz interface on top. In a nod to self-expression, a new take on the UI lets you apply four new themes -- such as "nature" -- that applies pre-selected images and ringtones. The A3 and A5 also have their own unique touch sounds that other Galaxy phones don't.

Supercharged selfies

The A3 and A5 may fall in the middle of the hardware spectrum, but they have a few fun new camera features dedicated to selfies, another huge trend we're seeing in smartphones.

It's a cute idea, but one that's clearly still in its infancy. Quality on my GIF was choppy in my hands-on demo, and that's because it caps off at a 640x480-pixel video resolution. Sharing is also limited. While animated GIFS are shareable through a messaging app, it wasn't clear if you could upload them to social networks like Facebook.

Where can you get the A5 and A3, and for how much?

The Galaxy A3 and A5 will launch in Asia first in November (including China), followed by rest of the world. While Samsung hasn't released pricing or distribution details yet (carriers will likely do that on their own), look for costs of unlocked models to come in significantly lower than the Note 4.

Outlook

Once again, Samsung's approach of aiming its first fully metal devices to the middle of the market rather than the tippy-top is a different strategy than I'd have expected from the smartphone leader. It isn't an unreasonable position, however. Appearances matter, and with midrange specs largely on par with competing devices, the more premium metal may very well help the A3 and A5 stand out against rival phones.

source:
http://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-galaxy-a5/

Can You Use FaceTime on Android?

2014-10-17T22:10:00.003+02:00

FaceTime wasn't the first video-calling tool in the world, but it's probably the most well known and widely used—and the one most people are curious about. Android, Google's smartphone operating system, is famous for being "open" (though that may not be quite accurate), meaning that its users can do what they want to with their devices. Android users get used to all kinds of workarounds, hacks, and tweaks to enable a variety of features and apps that weren't available when they started using their devices.

FaceTime may be made by Apple, but if Android is so customizable, does that mean you can use FaceTime on Android?

Sorry to say it, Android fans, but the answer is no: You cannot use FaceTime on Android.
Android may allow for a lot of customization and expansion that Google hadn't planned, but in order to add these features and customizations, you sometimes need cooperation from third parties. In the case of FaceTime, Apple uses a proprietary technology for audio and video chats between its devices. For Android to be able to use FaceTime, someone would have to figure out how that technology works and then create an Android version of it. If that were to happen, you can be sure that Apple would step in with legal threats to prevent it.

It's possible that Apple could bring FaceTime to Android—Apple originally said that it planned to make FaceTime an open standard, but it's been years since it said that and nothing has happened—but I think it's safe to assume that won't happen any time soon (if ever, given the rivalry between the companies).

Can You FaceTime Android to iPhone?

There's a related question: Can you FaceTime from Android to iPhone? The simple answer is no. Since there's no FaceTime for Android, there's no way to use it to video chat with an iPhone (or iPod touch or Mac) user. However, if "FaceTime" in that question is used generically and means "video chat" more broadly, then the answer is yes.

It's possible for Android and iPhone users to video chat with each other, assuming they're using the same apps. So, if you have an iPhone and your friend has Android, just make sure you're both using Skype or Tango or any number of the other video-chat apps that have both Android and iOS versions. If you each have the same app installed on your phones, it won't matter whether or not you both have FaceTime.

source:
http://ipod.about.com/od/UsingFindMyiPhone/fl/Can-You-Use-FaceTime-on-Android.htm

4 Ways To Make Success in the Mobile App Store

2014-10-13T04:07:00.004+02:00

With so much competition in the market, though, it gets much more difficult for the developer to achieve the kind of success he or she dreams of. Hence, the need of the hour would be to try and understand what it is that makes an app a success in the market.

• Mobile App Marketing

Once you have developed your app, you next need to let the world know of your talent. It is no use simply creating an app and then sitting on it quietly – you need to make public aware of your app.
Here is where mobile app marketing comes of great use to you. Of course, the entire process is not easy and comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Having said this, it is the only way to get users to try out your app, rate it and also spread news about it by way of mouth, which, by the way, happens to be the most powerful marketing technique of them all!

• User Acceptance of the App

The degree to which users accept your app depends on a variety of aspects, such as the freebies or discounts you offer with it, whether you are offering a free trial version, the pricing of your app and so on.
Using the “freemium model”, that is, offering a free “lite” version of your app, usually works well for paid apps. This model encourages users to download the free version, so that they can get a general feel of your app.

• Mobile Users are Fickle

Always keep in mind that there is nothing such as loyalty among mobile app users. The mobile world is constantly changing and the mobile user population portrays this trend as well.

Generally speaking, about 40 percent of downloaded apps are deleted within the first 2 or 3 weeks of use. Gaming apps may survive a wee bit longer than that, if they manage to engage the mobile user. In any case, most of these downloaded apps are eventually deleted from the users’ mobile devices and are forgotten altogether.

• What You can Do About It

You, as the app developer, must understand that your app can make it mark only and only if it has something special to offer to the mobile user – something different from the other apps in the market. Of course, this is easier said than done, as there is a very high degree of saturation in all major app stores.

However, there are apps such as Angry Birds, which has emerged a clear winner in the marketplace. This app, which was originally developed for the Apple iOS, is also available on several other mobile platforms, including the Android OS.

In Conclusion

In order to succeed in the marketplace, your app has to possess the qualities of being entertaining and engaging; being usable and useful ; being novel in some way or other; and of course, offering a free version of freebies with it.

In general, an app’s success has been found to depend on the three major “E’s”, which are as follows: “Entertaining”, “Efficient” and “Enjoyable”.

source:
http://mobiledevices.about.com/od/marketingapps/tp/Ways-to-Achieve-Success-in-the-Mobile-App-Marketplace.htm

5 secrets of Chrome for power users

2014-08-29T03:07:00.000+03:00

Ready to exercise your supreme Chrome skills? Learn how to set your location, easily view cached pages, and more!

If you're using Chrome as your primary Web browser, then you probably know about a few of the shortcuts that you can use. The Digital Inspiration blog created a list of 15 Chrome tricks to boost your browsing experience. Check out the full list on its site, but here are five of the best ones to get you started:

Pick your geolocation

Not interested in sharing your current location with the websites you're visiting? Or maybe you want to see if you can get a better price on travel when booking from another state? Try this tip.
1-Open Developer tools (F12, or Ctrl + Shift + I)
2-Click the phone icon in the top left-hand corner of the developer tools area
3-Click the Emulation tab in the lower half of the tools window
4-Pick Sensors on the left, then tick the check box next to Emulate geolocation coordinates
5-Enter values for latitude and longitude

Delete autocomplete entries from the omnibox

When you're typing out a URL and you see a few embarrassing entries in the omnibox suggestion list, you can delete them by pressing Shift + Delete while they are highlighted.

Easily view cached websites

Want to see the cached version of a website? Just add "cache:" in front of the URL. Now you can skip searching for it and click the tiny arrow to select Cached on the Google homepage.

Install Chrome extensions manually

If the location you're seeking isn't available on the Chrome Web Store, you can download the CRX file and drag and drop it on your Extensions page. For detailed steps, check out this how to post.

View mobile versions of websites

When your Internet connection is slow, the last thing you want to do is load a huge image-heavy website. This is especially true when you are trying to stay within a bandwidth limit, whether you are traveling or just trying to be conservative with your own plan.
1-Open Developer tools (F12, or Ctrl + Shift + I)
2-Click the phone icon in the top left-hand corner of the developer tools area
3-Click the Emulation tab in the lower half of the tools window
4-Pick Device on the left, then choose a device from the Model drop-down box.

source:
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/5-chrome-tricks-for-power-users/

Facebook shutting down Gifts to focus on Buy button

2014-07-31T02:16:00.006+02:00

The social network will close the gift-card store, Amazon is paying Prime users for slower shipping, and EA launches a Netflix-like subscription service for games on Xbox One.

-Bid farewell to Facebook Gifts. The network will close the gift-card shop on August 12, and will likely spend more time expanding use of the new "Buy" button.
-Need a buck? Choose the slower option on your Amazon Prime purchase. Prime members that don't use the two-day shipping can get $1 in credit to spend on digital video.
-Play popular EA games with a new subscription service on Xbox One. EA Access costs $5 a month, or $30 a year, for access to select EA games.
Quickly scan LinkedIn profiles with the redesigned mobile app.

source:
http://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-shutting-down-gifts-to-focus-on-buy-button/

Free Android L gives new features you will enjoy

2014-07-02T04:47:00.002+02:00

Android L gives a glimpse of Android's future with a new design, enhanced notifications, and Bluetooth unlocking

first:

While Google didn't give us a brand-new full-featured version of Android at its 2014 I/O developer conference, it did show off the future of the operating system with Android L, a developer preview of what's to come.

Mean features:

Android L introduces a new design scheme called Material, which adds even more color, adds depth with shadows, and overall gives Android a sleeker, more minimal look. Notifications get a makeover in L, with new ways to alert you of important events, such as a phone call or text message. Other additions include a new way to unlock your device, and smarter battery usage.

Final:

We'll still have to wait at least a few more months before the highly anticipated follow-up to Android 4.4 KitKat makes its public debut. Its official name and version number are both still under wraps, but there's a good chance it'll be Android 4.5 Lollipop (or Lollypop). For now, Android L is available to developers and the general public, so long as you have a Nexus 5 phone or the 2013 edition Nexus 7tablet. Should you choose to play around with Android L, keep in mind it's just a preview and not the final version of what's next.

source:

http://www.cnet.com/products/google-android-l/

How To Turn Your Computer Screen Into A Digital Whiteboard

2014-06-12T00:13:00.001+03:00

How To Turn Your Computer Screen Into A Digital Whiteboard

In my line of work, I do record instructional videos on my computer from time to time. And, one kind that I have done is what I call a “digital whiteboard” video.

Basically, it is drawing on screen. You can literally draw on top of your screen, on top of windows… and in some cases, just draw on a plain white background as if you were drawing on a whiteboard hung on your wall.

Now, I use a Mac on a day-to-day basis. And, there are some things were the Mac clearly excels – and this is one of them.

On the Mac, I use an application called FlySketch.

It gives you a number of different tools, including shapes, highlighting, etc. But, the one I use most often is the simple pen tool. I then use my Wacom Bamboo tablet to draw on screen. There is a little slider which allows me to adjust transparency. So, on one end, FlySketch sits atop the entire screen and is fully transparent. You can then draw over top your entire screen. On the other end, you can get a solid background of any color you want.

Now, what about Windows? Fortunately, there are some FlySketch alternatives for Windows users.

One is called Epic Pen. This is an open source application which allows you to draw on top of your screen.

Another option is called Screen Marker.

And, if you want to pay a little bit of money to get something which is supported, check out Annotate Pro. This is definitely the closest equivalent to Flysketch for the Windows platform. You also have the transparency option so you can do the digital whiteboard feature if you’d like.

And lastly, if you want to record one of these, just use your favorite screen recording application to do it. Screenflow on the Mac, or Camtasia on Windows.

http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-to-turn-your-computer-screen-into-a-digital-whiteboard/

How to buy you Bluetooth headset ??

2013-11-04T19:58:00.002+02:00

Bluetooth headset buying guide

1. Decide how you'll use it.

Bluetooth headsets come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and prices depending on where, when, and how they're designed to be used. The first step is to decide under what conditions you'll chat through your device. Placing calls from noisy work sites, bustling city streets and restaurants, while driving, or from within the hush of office cubicles, will all have a big impact on performance and ultimately which headset you choose.

2. Lock down the features you need.

Despite being highly portable devices, Bluetooth headsets are complex products with plenty of features. They're capable of noise cancellation, voice commands for hands-free use, PC integration, or even stereo audio. Whatever your specific requirements are, draft a wish list of abilities and make sure the device you choose meets your needs.

3. Find the right design for you.

Headset owners are all different, and so are their ears -- and aesthetic tastes. Some headsets are comparatively big and bulky but place audio quality above all else. Other devices are built to be extremely comfortable and worn all day in an office environment. While a third sect of headset strives to be as unobtrusive as possible, boasting ultratiny designs that are hard to spot in public. Some devices are better than others at accommodating eyeglass wearers, a huge factor for four-eyed shoppers.

source:http://reviews.cnet.com/bluetooth-headset-buying-guide/

Free get 3D Photos on Your iPhone With This App

2013-10-26T20:31:00.001+02:00

Capture 3D Photos on Your iPhone With This App

Seene, a free app developed by tech company Obvious Engineering, uses "scene reconstruction technology" to give your iPhone the ability to capture 3D photos.

Although other devices have been able to turn smartphones into 3D cameras, the company claims this is the first software that allows your phone to make 3D images. You can compose a shot just like you would a 2D image, but must move around what you're photographing, taking multiple shots, so the camera can capture it from different angles, adding depth to the picture. The software then compares distances from the different viewpoints, and builds a life-like image.

"Depth, texture and shape are now creative variables that you can play with to make what you capture look more interesting," Andrew McPhee, Obvious Engineering CEO, told Mashable.

The images are shareable, but Seene photos won't embed in a text or tweet. Instead, you can send image links, which McPhee said are viewable in most browsers. Only a few sites, such asTumblr, let you embed them directly.

Though you can somewhat alter the angle from which you view a Seene image, you can't move the focal point from the center of the original photo to, say, the back left or right corner. That's something you can do with pictures taken by some 3D cameras, such as those built by Lytro.

"For us it's about making images interactive," Topher Martini, a technology evangelist at Lytro, told Mashable. "I think what it takes for strong, 21st-century storytelling, is adding elements of depth perception. I think the benefit of computational photography is to enhance experiences."

Martini declined to comment on whether Lytro plans to move into the smartphone market, and McPhee didn't comment on whether Obvious Engineering plans to give Seene images the ability to change focal points. But they both agreed that the world will soon see many more 3D photos.

"A lot of our users have told us that when they go back to viewing 2D photos they now want them to respond to their interaction," McPhee said, referring to how you can view a 3D photo from a different angle with the flick of a finger. "Expectations evolve quickly, and never go backwards."

source:
http://mashable.com/2013/10/26/3d-photos-iphone-seene/

Know the Secret make ram prices and down !!!!!!!!!

2013-10-25T20:32:00.000+02:00

Why Do RAM Prices Go Up And Down?

If you’re a computer tech, or you’re building your own PC, then you pretty frequently have to buy memory. You’ve probably also noticed that the prices seem to go up and down as crazily as the real estate market.

In the last year or so, we’ve seen the price of RAM nearly double. But, why?

Well, first, you have to understand what goes into making RAM in the first place.

As you can see, the process isn’t exactly simple. There’s quite a bit that goes into making RAM.

But, then, as the old saying goes… sh*t happens.

The countries that produce components have bad things happen to them. This affects supply and, in turn, pricing. Case in point, a factory owned by SK Hynix caught on fire and sent RAM prices up by over 40% in about 2 weeks. And, the way the supply line is set up for many PC components, there are only a few main manufacturers involved. When something happens to one of them, the ripples are felt widely.

Then, there’s the classic law of supply and demand.

When supply goes down, price goes up. That’s just the way things work.

Also, changes in technology can have impacts on demand. For instance, the changes from DDR2 to DDR3 (and soon the change to DDR4) have a direct impact on the technology being left behind. As memory manufacturers switched to DDR3, the price of DDR2 shot up because all of a sudden there was less of it to go around. And, as you can see, there’s a lot involved in making it to begin with, so there’s high startup costs and you don’t see a lot of new companies coming into the fold to make it.

Over the last several years, we’ve seen the increase of cloud computing, tablets and smartphones. All of this places new demands on RAM manufacturers. And, with more demand, comes higher prices.

In the end, though… RAM prices have gone up, but I really don’t think it should make much of a difference to the average PC builder. RAM is still WAY cheaper than it was in the early days. You can still get 8GB of RAM for anywhere from $60-$90, and a full 16GB for the $160 range. In the scheme of things, that’s a pretty good price.

Want Free method to know events near you home ???

2013-10-11T23:15:00.000+02:00

How to search Google Maps for upcoming events near you

Google Maps can now display Upcoming Events cards so you can quickly check which performers or shows will be playing near you.

The latest update to Google Maps is rolling outsome important new features. Multiple destinations is the highlight of the update, finally adding back a feature that existed before the last major update. The new update also adds reservation searches for restaurants, flights and hotels, but the most fun new feature might be the Upcoming Events cards.

Using Google Maps, you can now search for your favorite venue and see what events are coming up there. What's even cooler is searching an entire area for upcoming events.

To search for upcoming musical events near you, search for "music venues" in Google Maps with your city or ZIP code. The venues in the area will then be plotted on the map for you to select.

Select one of the venues to display the venue's card. If that venue supports the Upcoming Events card, you'll see "Upcoming Events" at the bottom, along with the name of the next event.

If you click on the Upcoming Events card, you'll see a list of some of the upcoming events at that venue. Clicking on the event will take you to an external site for more details.

You can also search for comedy clubs and musicals, but sporting events seem to work best when you choose the specific venue.

source:http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57606817-285/how-to-search-google-maps-for-upcoming-events-near-you/

If You Can't Open Your Smartphone, Do You Really Own It?

2013-10-11T03:12:00.005+02:00

A mile-long line formed outside London's flagship Apple store last month in the now-ritualistic rush of fans eager to be among the first to get the latest iPhones.

The global release also condemned millions of older smartphones to an existence of gathering dust in a drawer or sitting in a landfill. Some are likely to be in perfect working order, while others will have a cracked screen or a faulty battery. But why bother repairing it when you can just have a new one?

Regarding electronic devices as disposable items is a mentality Ugo Vallauri wants to change.

"If the front wheel on someone's bike breaks, no one in their right mind would throw it away without trying to fix it," said Vallauri, an Italian researcher. "But if it was the screen on an iPhone that broke, people are more likely to just give up on it."

Frustrated by what he calls the passive acceptance of wastefulness and barriers put up by manufacturers who don't want consumers to tinker with the devices, he set up The Restart Project with activist Janet Gunter in 2012. The London-based charity's mission? To change people's relationships with their electronic devices and re-establish a culture of repair.

"The only way people can economically repair a lot of products is by retrieving the parts directly from the manufacturer," said Vallauri, who pointed out how consumers won't open up their devices for fear of invalidating the warranty.

And while there are thousands of authorized and unauthorized repair shops, Vallauri wants consumers to be more hands-on with their handsets, which can be good for the wallet and the environment.

To encourage this, the organization hosts parties where people sit with one of the group's trained "Re-starters" who can help them fix their devices as well as teach them the inner workings of the gadgets, all for free.

At the 40 U.K. parties Restart has held, the group has had an "on the spot" success rate of more than 50%, which translates to roughly a thousand repaired devices, according to Vallauri. In the cases where something can't be fixed on-site, the staff can guide people on what they need to finish the job, and where to get it.

Vallauri and Gunter have been sufficiently encouraged by the reaction in the U.K. to expand overseas, hosting their first Restart Party in Rome this month.

The smartphone business depends on convincing consumers to dump their not-so-old devices, broken or not, for the latest offerings.

The project has no illusions about the challenges it faces.

The smartphone business depends on convincing consumers to dump their not-so-old devices, broken or not, for the latest offerings. Apple sold 9 million new iPhones during the new models' debut weekend alone last month.

Gunter advocates working with the companies to show them that users who tinker with their devices aren't the enemy, as voided warranties over opened products suggest.

"Companies could segment their market into people obsessed with change who are happy to pay a premium, and those who will respect the brand more if they're given control over how long they can use the product," she said.

The Restart Project can point to Patagonia as an example that such an approach could work. The outdoor-clothing maker increased its sales by almost 38% over two years, after publicly imploring customers to use its products longer and offering a repair service to facilitate that.

Another company that's pushing for product longevity is Dutch startup Fairphone. It has produced the world's first ethically sourced smartphone, which is designed to be opened and repaired by the consumer. It even comes with an instruction manual.

source:http://mashable.com/2013/10/10/repairing-smartphones/

The iPhone 5C Can Now Be Yours for Just $45

2013-10-05T00:11:00.000+02:00

Walmart Slashes iPhone 5C Price to $45

Interested in picking up Apple's new iPhone 5C? You might want to consider dropping by Walmart — the discount department store has lowered the price of Apple's most colorful smartphone to just $45 with a two-year contract.

Walmart was already selling the iPhone 5C for $79 — $20 below Apple's MSRP — and has now cut the price by another $35. Why the price drop? We're pretty sure it's related to Best Buy's current promotion of the iPhone 5C for $50 (thanks to a $50 Best Buy gift card promotion).

While Best Buy's discount will last through the weekend, Walmart tells us that "customers can expect this low price throughout the holiday season." That's great news for customers who are looking at adding or upgrading an iPhone to their wireless plans in the next few months.

This isn't the first time Walmart has undercut Apple's prices (with a two-year contract) on theiPhone. In June, the company made unprecedented cuts to the prices of the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S.

In the past, Apple has severely limited the degree to which retailers can discount its products. The fact that Walmart has made this kind of price cut, just two weeks after the phone's release, seems to indicate that Apple's position on discounting — at least for phones — has changed. A lower price point is also likely to drive more cost-conscious customers to the iPhone — and in turn, to Walmart stores.

We don't get the impression that Walmart is dropping the price because of lack of demand for the iPhone 5C, especially after Apple released that it sold 9 million iPhone 5S and 5C devicesin its first weekend. Rather, it's likely about pursuing wireless contract sales.

The truth is, retailers like Walmart and Best Buy don't make as much money from the subsidized devices as they do from new two-year agreements. That's one reason online retailers — most notably Amazon — are often willing to sell subsidized devices at such a discount. It's not about selling phones; it's about signing users to new contracts.

Walmart is continuing to sell the iPhone 5S for $189.

What do you think of Walmart's new iPhone 5C pricing strategy? Does this change your plans to purchase a new phone? Let us know in the comments.

source:
http://mashable.com/2013/10/04/iphone-5c-walmart/

8 Signs Your Computer Could Crash Soon

2013-09-28T23:13:00.002+02:00

8 Signs Your Computer Could Crash Soon

Here are some of those warning signs…

#1 – Hardware Conflicts

In the old days, we would have to manually assign IRQs and all that crap, and if you chose the same IRQ for more than one device, you’d have a conflict.

In the current age of “plug and play”, you don’t have to do all that. But, that doesn’t mean hardware conflicts still don’t happen occasionally. The way to see it is to open up your Device Manager and see if you have any yellow exclamation points next to any hardware items. If you do, a driver re-install may handle it for you.

Obviously, not all hardware conflicts mean you’re about to have a full system crash. But, it does happen.

#2 – Your Hard Drive Is Slow And Noisy

Unless you’re running an SSD drive, your hard drive is a mechanical device subject to failure. In fact, it WILL fail. It is just a matter of when.

If your hard drive seems to have gotten louder, or files are very slow to load, you could well be nearing a pending drive crash. Time to backup your data just in case.

#3 – Boot Errors

Ever gotten one of those “boot device not found” errors, even when you haven’t messed with anything? Well, that could mean that your drive is nearing failure, or that you have some misconfiguration with Windows.

Check to ensure that you haven’t accidentally left an external drive plugged in. But, aside from that, it is a sign of problems.

#4 – Random File Corruption Issues

If you have certain software that suddenly fails to start, random file errors, and the like, this is a warning sign.

First thing is to check for virus infection or malware. But, it could also be a sign of pending hard drive failure.

#5 – Just Plain Slow

All PCs slow down over time as you install more stuff and build up file “gunk”. The usual solution is to clean out Windows or do a full system re-installation. If the problem persists, however, it is a hardware issue.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re running a really old computer is that newer software does more stuff and requires more horsepower. So, running new software on old hardware is going to feel slow. And, it will feel slower over time. There comes a time when you’ll need to “retire” that computer even though it is still technically working.

#6 – Video Artifacts

Screen tiling is when you get obvious square pixillation on your monitor. And it can be intermittent and really annoying. And as you may guess, this is almost always an issue with your video hardware.

Often, it comes down to excessive heat on the graphics processor. Perhaps you’ve got a ton of dust on the fan and just need to clean it out. Perhaps your fan needs to be replaced. In some instances, your graphics processor could be about to fail entirely.

#7 – The Fans Are Really Loud

Many times, home-built systems tend to have loud cooling fans. Usually, retail computers tend to run quieter. Either way, you’ll get to know what your computer usually sounds like.

So, if you notice that it is beginning to run much louder than usual, that’s a sign of increased heat in the system. Open up the box and see if all the fans are still spinning and also ensure they are clear of dust and gunk.

#8 – Random Software Launches

Software that starts up without your involvement, random ads showing up – all of that is usually a sign that your computer is infected with malware. In some cases, you may even notice that your webcam will turn itself on. Surprise!… you’re being watched. Pretty creepy.

Cleaning a system of malware can be simple – or not. Best bet is to run a malware scan and see what comes up. If your computer is seriously fubar, you could try rebooting into safe mode and run the scan that way. In some serious cases, however, the only real viable option is to simply format the system and re-install Windows.

source:
http://www.pcmech.com/article/8-signs-your-computer-could-crash-soon/

Why Samsung Is Region-Locking Phones ??

2013-09-27T22:07:00.005+02:00

Samsung Is Region-Locking Phones, But Not for the Reason You Think

Samsung is quietly restricting how SIM cards are used overseas — but it's not as bad as you'd think.

According to a sticker found on the packaging of Galaxy Note 3 smartphones in the U.S. and Europe — as spotted by DigitalTrends — the product is only compatible with SIM cards issued and activated from the country or region it was purchased in.

Many originally believed this meant if you bought the Galaxy Note 3 in the U.S. and wanted to buy a cheap SIM card in France while on vacation, Samsung wouldn't let you do that. (Outside of Wi-Fi, you'd have to either leave your device turned off or rack up roaming charges from your carrier.)

But this actually isn't the case: The region lock is only engaged if the phone is initially set up with a SIM card from a region other than the one the phone was purchased in, according to a Samsung statement to GigaOm. The lock is apparently intended to make things harder for foreign resellers — individuals who might buy a U.S. model and ship it to someone overseas — and shouldn't interfere with travelers using foreign SIM cards for a short period of time.

A statement says other "Samsung products are now provided with a local SIM lock" too, including the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy Note and Note 2. Only those manufactured after July 13 are affected, the report said.

European models can only be set up with a SIM card issued in the European Union, while American-bought models can only be set up with SIM cards issued "within the Americas,” including North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

What do you think about Samsung's very specific form of region-locking phones? Let us know in the comments below.

source:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/27/samsung-region-locking-phones/

What Microsoft is going to do with Windows 8.1 ?

2013-09-26T19:19:00.001+02:00

Microsoft To Release Windows 8.1 In October

Are you using Windows 8? If so, you may be interested to hear that Microsoft will be releasing the 8.1 release in October.

Why does it matter? Because Microsoft is going to be “fixing” some of the common complaints about Windows 8.

The start menu will see a comeback, although with a different functionality. Rather than the pop-up start menu common in all versions of Windows up until 8, the new Windows 8 start menu will instead act as a shortcut to the Start screen. From there, you click a short-cut to the app you want to launch.

If you really want to give the start screen the look and feel of your main computer – just for old time’s sake – you can change the background image to be the same as your desktop wallpaper. :-/

Click the downward arrow on the start screen and you’ll get the full list of all your installed applications.

There are a number of tweaks and changes coming to Windows 8.1, including many multi-tasking changes, the integration of a Bing-powered search engine, smaller tiles, integrated SkyDrive, etc. You’ll also have a boot to desktop option. TechRadar has a good synopsis of what’s coming.

source:

http://www.pcmech.com/article/microsoft-to-release-windows-8-1-in-october/

Surprise youtube upgrade !!!!!!!!!

2013-09-25T00:22:00.001+02:00

Finally, YouTube Upgrades Its Comments

The comments under YouTube videos are not exactly renowned as a location for rigorous intellectual debate, and chances are they never will be. But the Google-owned video service is now taking steps to bring more important and useful comments to the fore — and to let the channel owner automatically delete comments with certain words.

"There's a lot of room for improvement," said Nundu Janakiram, YouTube product manager, when asked about the current state of comments. "So comments will soon become conversations that matter to you." (Here's his official blog post on the changes.)

YouTube already offers a "top comments" section for the most upvoted comments, but they can still often be irrelevant to the video in question. Starting this week on channel pages, and rolling out slowly to video pages by the end of the year, reverse chronological comments will fall away entirely.

You'll start to see a new set of comments rise to the top: those by the video's creator, "popular personalities" (i.e., YouTube celebrities), "engaged discussions" with a long thread, and people you know and interact with — both on YouTube and Google+.

So no two users' YouTube comments section will look quite the same, and Google will be offering another reason for you to use its still-not-quite-popular social network. (You'll be able to post YouTube comments to Google+ automatically, along with the video, by checking a box.)

The Google+ integration also allows you to post a comment that will only appear within a given social circle. And if you're not keen on circles, you can select specific users who will be the only ones to see the comment. In other words, you and your friends can have your very own YouTube comments section, and make it as dumbed-down or intellectual as you like.

Finally, channel owners will get the ability to create a blacklist of certain words that they don't want to see appearing in the comments under those videos. Comments containing those words will be sent to purgatory, pending moderation.

Will this help improve the tenor of YouTube's community? Let us know what you think — in our comments section, of course.

source:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/24/youtube-comments-upgrade/

How to convert FLAC audio files to MP3 with Foobar2000 ???

2013-09-22T20:09:00.006+02:00

How to convert FLAC audio files to MP3 with Foobar2000

FLAC audio files sound great, but not every app or device supports FLAC and they take up a lot of storage space. Sometimes, you just want the convenience of MP3s, which are supported by many more apps and devices, including mobile phones and tablets. Mobile devices are often short on space, so even if they support FLAC, using MP3 files make a lot of sense.

If you already have FLAC files and would like MP3 versions, you can just convert them to MP3 with Foobar2000. It's a lot easier and faster than reripping all your CDs. Here's how to convert your FLAC files to MP3 with Foobar2000:

Step 1: Foobar2000 doesn't come with an MP3 encoder, so you'll need to download one to use with it. Go to the LAME MP3 site to download the LAME binaries to your computer. After you've downloaded it, extract it to a folder on your PC. We'll point Foobar2000 to that folder later.

Step 2: Select the music you want to convert in Foobar2000, then right-click on the selection(s). In the context menu, go to Convert, then choose the three dots to bring up the Converter Setup.

Step 3: Under "Current settings," click on the link to Output format, then choose MP3 (LAME) from the list of available outputs. Next, click on the Edit button to set your preferred MP3 quality level. If you also want to set a destination folder, click on the Destination link under "Current settings."

Step 4: Once you've configured the Converter, save the settings as a preset so you can use it again later.

Step 5: Click the Convert button to begin the conversion. The first time you try to convert your FLAC files to MP3, you'll be prompted to locate the LAME encoder (lame.exe) before the conversion begins. Once you've set the location, Foobar2000 will start converting your files.

That's it. The conversion is extremely fast, as you'll see. In our test, 293MB of FLAC files were converted to 85MB of MP3s in just 14 seconds. ID tags are copied over as well, so the MP3s will have album info and cover art as long as the original FLAC files were tagged.

source:
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57603022-285/how-to-convert-flac-audio-files-to-mp3-with-foobar2000/

surprise for twitter .........

2013-09-20T22:16:00.001+02:00

Twitter May Go Public Before Thanksgiving

Reuters reports hearing from a source that Twitter is planning to go public before Thanksgiving this year and is looking to raise $1 billion in its public offering.

A separate report from The New York Post earlier this week also noted that the IPO could come as early as November, though changes in the market or issues with the Securities and Exchange Commission could push it back until early 2014.

While a November IPO may sound quick — after all, Twitter only revealed last week that it had filed to go public — there's a good chance Twitter actually filed paperwork weeks or even months ago but waited to disclose it. For comparison's sake, Facebook filed to go public in early February and did so just more than three months later.

Several analysts have suggested that Twitter is trying to avoid some of Facebook's IPO missteps by going through the SEC review process secretly and muting the hype as much as possible by waiting until the last minute to make its business numbers public. Expediting the public offering may also help avoid some of the frenzy leading up to Facebook's IPO.

Twitter will have to disclose its financial information at least 21 days before it goes public. If these reports are correct, that might end up happening in the next month.

source:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/20/when-will-twitter-ipo/

Surprise easy New software development On Facebook Chat for iPhone and iPad ....see

2013-04-17T14:52:00.001+02:00

Hands On With Facebook Chat Heads for iPhone and iPad for new development.

-Facebook just updated its iOS app to version 6.0, adding support for chat heads and a new news feed.

-Chat heads debuted with Facebook Home last week and are available to all Android users as part of the Facebook Messenger app. The idea behind chat heads are to allow users to keep a running list of conversations going without having to stop what they are doing and switch apps.

-While on Android, chat heads can exist as a layer within every app, on iOS, the experience is limited to being inside Facebook for iPhone or iPad. That takes away some of the joy of chat heads — namely the ability to have a persistent conversation no matter what you're doing on your device. Still, chat heads are great for users that spend a lot of time in the Facebook app and may want to carry on several chats without having to be tied to the messaging view itself.

-On iOS, chat heads really shine on the iPad. The extra screen real estate makes the multi-tasking concept really sing. As with the Android app, users can move chat heads around the app to get out of the way and can also dismiss notifications and chats by just flicking the icons to the bottom of the screen.

-In addition to chat heads, the iPhone version of Facebook was also updated to include the new News Feed. Users can choose specific content to view — including photos, music and games — rather than merely viewing all stories at once.

-Chat heads aren't available to all Facebook for iOS users — the company says it will be rolling out the feature to everyone in the coming weeks. What do you think of the new Facebook for iOS? Let us know in the comments.

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