New Technologies

Download NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4

2010-12-10T03:31:00.001-08:00

NetQin is one famous mobile antivirus company with over 60 million users. They are in the mobile security field from 2005 onwards, and they have more popularity in Chinese market. The first versions of the NetQin Mobile Antivirus were for mobile phones in Symbian platforms. Now NetQin Mobile Anti-virus English edition is available for Symbian, Windows Mobile and Android devices. You may think that the software is not as good as Kaspersky, F-secure, ESET or Symantec Mobile security solutions. But with the number smartphones increasing at a faster rate, theft has become a more serious problem than virus infections. NetQin Mobile Anti-virus has an advanced Anti-Theft feature, and it is completely free download for the Android, Nokia and WM users.

NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4:

NetQin Mobile AntiVirus

NetQin Mobile AntiVirus features:

Mobile antivirus: NetQin Mobile Antivirus databases are constantly updated over the internet. The application provides real-time protection against threats affecting the corresponding mobile platforms.

Contacts Backup: The Contacts Backup feature in NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4 let you backup your contact list to a storage card or in your account with NetQin. Later you can restore the backup to the phone or sync it to another Symbian, Android or Windows mobile device. All you need to use the same NetQin Mobile account details.

Mobile Anti-lost: Most desirable option in NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4 is the Anti-lost function. The same feature is available in Kaspersky Mobile Security and some other products. But there you have to pay for the service. NetQin Mobile Antivirus can track the location of the lost device by using GPS satellites and mobile tower position of the stealer. There are also options to trigger an alarm sound on the stolen device, or completely delete the private data using SMS commands.

Download NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4

NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4 for Android here.

NetQin Mobile Antivirus 2.4 for Windows Mobile here (BrotherSoft)

Download NetQin Mobile Antivirus4.0 for Nokia(Symbian) S60V5, S60V3.

NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4 also has a VIP only- premium feature called Anti-eavesdropping. This module prevents any unauthorized phone tapping in Symbian devices.

Download NetQin Mobile Antivirus 4 originally appeared on Buy Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson LG, HTC, iPhone , Blackberry, Android mobile in India price and specifications, software,tariff plans and broadband on December 10, 2010.

Google Nexus S price and specifications

2010-12-07T03:15:00.001-08:00

Google Nexus S price and specifications

Google Nexus S

Google announced the second smartphone in the Nexus series called the Nexus S. The first Google phone Nexus One was manufactured by HTC, and now the Nexus S is from Samsung. Nexus S is the fist mobile device to get the new Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread. Google and Samsung co-created Nexus S hardware in a close development phase, to include all features of the OS 2.3 in Nexus S, including NFC and others. Specifications of the Nexus S have some similarity with the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy S Smartphone. It is also the first smartphone to include a contour display that fits perfectly in the hand. Nexus S will be sold from Google's selected online partners from December 16 2010 onward.

Google Nexus S photos:

Google Nexus S photo

Nexus S specifications and review:

The notable feature in Nexus S is the 4 inch super AMOLED display with 480×800 (WVGA) resolution. The advantage of the Super AMOLED display is the improved brightness, less sunlight refection and reduced power consumption. It has a pixel depth of 235 ppi that let you view the fine details of images and videos; crystal clear and at great clarity. As we have mentioned earlier, Nexus S uses a contour type glass screen for perfect visibility. Nexus S comes with all features of the Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread. Three-axis gyroscope and the NFC hardware support in Nexus S is enabled by the new OS. The gyroscope setup will improve the gaming and use interaction detection on the device. Nexus S comes with ARM Cortex A8 1GHz Hummingbird processor CPU with inbuilt graphics processor. The device has 512 MB of RAM and 16GB iNAND for memory storage requirements.

Nexus S supports almost all GSM-3G networks in the world. This quad-band GSM, Tri-band 3G smartphone has HSDPA (7.2Mbps) HSUPA (5.76Mbps) connectivity. The camera hardware in Nexus is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S. There is 5MP main camera in the back side, with Flash, Auto Focus and support for HD video recording. In addition, a front facing VGA camera for video calls. Other features of the Google Nexus S include WiFi, Bluetooth with A2DP, A-GPS, accelerometer, digital compass, 1500 mAH Lithum Ion battery, 3.5 mm headphone jack inbuilt Google applications; Calendar, Gmail, Google Earth, Google Maps with Navigation,Google Search, Google Talk, Google Voice, Voice Actions and YouTube.

Google Nexus S price and launch date:

Google and Samsung will launch Nexus S in US on 16th December. Nexus S will have both unlocked and contract based versions. The suggested market price for Nexus S is $529 for unlocked and $199 with a T-mobile contract. UK customers will get Nexus S on December 20th through BestBuy UK and Carphone Warehouse. We hope that Samsung will launch Nexus S in India too. With the latest conversion rates, it would cost 23000 INR and is very cheap for the specifications.

Google Nexus S price and specifications originally appeared on Buy Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson LG, HTC, iPhone , Blackberry, Android mobile in India price and specifications, software,tariff plans and broadband on December 7, 2010.

Angry Birds not coming to WP7 till 2011

2010-12-02T01:19:00.001-08:00

Angry Birds not coming to WP7 till 2011
Windows Phone 7 Handsets Free With Contract At The Microsoft Store
Nokia X7-00 looks like it's from Gallifrey, runs Symbian^3

Angry Birds not coming to WP7 till 2011

If, over Thanksgiving, you were jealously watching your snotty cousin playing Angry Birds on his iPhone/Android phone, and lamenting the game's absence on your new Windows Phone 7 device, then I should probably warn you that you're going to have to go through the whole thing again at Christmas time…

Rovio (makers of Angry Birds) stated on Twitter today that it's quite unlikely that they'll be able to get out Angry Birds for WP7 before the year's end.

Sorry news, indeed, but also understandable, as the move to WP7 is more than just a simple cut n paste operation.

Patience is a virtue, my friends.

Windows Phone 7 Handsets Free With Contract At The Microsoft Store

If you're looking for the best price on a HTC Surround or LG Quantum, look no further than your local Microsoft Store. They're giving them away for $0.00 with a new AT&T Contract. If you're on T-Mobile, you can get an HD7 for $100 with a new contract as well. I'm not sure which is more inviting.

The deal is not in fact a Black Friday thing (like the buy-one-get-one-free deal), but lasts through this weekend (until Sunday at 11PM), so if you're tired out from all that shopping, you've got time to relax before heading out for a quick round two.

Nokia X7-00 looks like it's from Gallifrey, runs Symbian^3

Still waiting on the edge of your seat for a Symbian^3 device ~~worth buying~~ that truly blows your mind? Take a gander at the puppy up above, folks; if nothing else, the fact that it looks like it's from Space should garner it a few months. That's the X7-00, which the rumor mill is sayin' ought to be the next shiny electronic horse out of Nokia's Symbian^3 stable.

There's a video floating around the web, but it doesn't seem to be lasting very long on any one mirror. Watch it after the cut before it's gone!

What we know: It's running Symbian^3 — but as made evident by the four homescreens (as opposed to three, as with every other Symbian^3 device), it's a build with at least some minor tweaks. On the upside, it looks to have four speakers (which are pretty dang loud, says the ninja behind the video camera), a 360×640 display, microUSB port, and an 8-megapixel camera. On the downside, the battery doesn't seem to be user replaceable.

So, what'dya say — you sold?

HTC Desire Z review: Desires A-to-Z

2010-11-15T01:24:00.000-08:00

Introduction

A few months ago, the original Desire was teaching younger Droids the ropes. Though it's no time to retire just yet, the next generation is ready to take over. And we're talking no rookie here - the new Desire Z means business with a great QWERTY keyboard and Froyo. The two phones don't even look distantly related but the Desire genes and the bumped up specs bode well for the droid messenger.

HTC Desire Z official photos

Androids are friendly creatures in general but you might want to be careful with a metal-clad QWERTY messenger. We've come to expect solid build quality and premium finish from HTC and the Desire Z is ready to deliver. Another thing to watch for is new S-LCD screen. Froyo is a promise for a major performance boost and the latest Sense is also in the mix.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
3.7" 16M-color capacitive S-LCD touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480x 800 pixel)
Android OS v2.2 Froyo with HTC Sense UI
Comfortable 4-row QWERTY keyboard
800 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7230 processor
512 MB RAM and 1.5 GB ROM
5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
720p video recording @ 25fps
Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS
microSD slot up to 32GB (8GB card included)
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Optical trackpad with confirm action
Quick boot
Metal finish
Smart dialing
DivX/XviD support
Very good audio reproduction quality

Main disadvantages:

The S-LCD screen is average (in terms of contrast, reflectiveness and sunlight legibility)
Non hot-swappable memory card
No front facing camera
Loose hinge
Quite heavy at 180 g

HTC have quite a flair for Android phones. Another thing they're good at is QWERTY messengers. Not that we've seen much proof lately but let's hope it's like riding a bike. If they're good at Android and if they haven't completely lost the messenger knack, a win should be in the bag for the HTC Desire Z.

HTC Desire Z live shots

It's been over a year since we had the pleasure of an HTC QWERTY messenger. You probably remember that the first of the droids came with a QWERTY keyboard. We guess it was only a matter of time for HTC to eventually get back to phones such as the G1, or even the the TyTN and the Touch Pro. Well, it's finally time for the new droid generation to get its own Pro. The HTC Desire Z is reporting for duty.

Looks like we're ready to get to business too. Our tour starts right after the break with unboxing and hardware inspection.

Dell Streak Android 2.2 update screenshots

2010-11-15T01:17:00.000-08:00

The official Android 2.2 update for the Dell Streak is getting closer, everyone.

Stand by!

Click on any photo to enlarge.

The "Download & Install" button doesn't lead to anywhere just yet, but it's only a matter of time before it goes live. Keep checking for the update!

Menu -> Settings -> About phone -> System updates.
Menu -> Settings -> About phone -> System updates.
Menu -> Settings -> About phone -> System updates.

Thanks, BenFrank!

Samsung I9020 a.k.a. Nexus S is the next Google phone?

2010-11-15T00:46:00.000-08:00

The rumors on the upcoming Samsung-made Nexus 2 a.k.a. Nexus S have just been reborn. The first hands-on shots of the smartphone have just surfaced and so have some details on it, thanks to the FCC website.

The next-gen Nexus phone was first expected to show up on 8 November 2010, but Samsung announced the Continuum instead and we almost lost hope that we will ever see a second Nexus phone.

Yet over the past 24 hours the Samsung-made Google Nexus S popped up on a bunch of websites (of the FCC, Wi-Fi Alliance and Best Buy Mobile) and, most excitingly, we finally got to enjoy some live shots of the smartphone.

Samsung Google Nexus S

And while the I9020 Nexus S doesn't look much like the Samsung I9000 Galaxy S on the outside, those are said to be identical on the inside, save for the Android 2.3 a.k.a. Gingerbread that the Nexus S should be powered by.

We can expect a 5MP AF camera with HD video recording, Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity and maybe the gorgeous 4" Super AMOLED touchscreen found on the Galaxy S.

There is still no word on the Nexus S launch date and price tag but keeping in mind that the Gingerbread should come any moment now, we shouldn't wait for too long to get all our questions answered.

Droid X Self Destruct Mechanism After Jailbreak Attempt

2010-07-17T19:15:00.001-07:00

Droid X Self Destruct Mechanism After Jailbreak Attempt

For all you folks who love to hack, jailbreak, mod and tweak your smartphones (and take a fair bit of joy in doing so!) here's a real dampener. Hope this doesn't spoil your day, but fiddling with the Motorola Droid X software can destroy your phone for good. This, due to the eFuse tamper-defense mechanism built in the hottest gadget in town.

Phone manufacturers have always been at loggerheads with people who love to use the phone the way they want, by modding it. But Motorola takes this war to an all new level. How else can you explain this new system which will simply waste your phone if you tamper with the OS?

This eFuse, true to its name will 'trip' if it fails to verify firmware information when you start the phone up. This firmware information is what you call ROM in modding lingo. So if you load up custom ROM's and start up the phone the eFuse is pressed into action.

Once it fails to verify desired firmware information, the booting process becomes corrupted and you have a dead duck in your hands! It is a rewritable module and so, can be repaired, but only by Motorola, without proprietary hardware and software which no one knows about.

And you can be pretty sure that Motorola is not going to repair a phone which you bricked on purpose. They put this mechanism in place so that you cannot tamper with the phone, and if you do, well enjoy!

So what's the key takeaway from this?

Two things actually, spring to mind. One, it is indeed a sad scenario for those who love to customize locked down phones. Droid X has been one of the most eagerly anticipated launches of the season and that it would be loaded with such a hideous defense-mechanism, was completely unknown.

On the other hand, this is a completely good reason not to try and jailbreak your Droid X. It is a good enough phone to own with pride, rather than lust for customizing it and sulk in the failure to do so.

But as a final take on this eFuse mechanism, it would be fair to say that Motorola has pushed the envelope this time around. There is no way in which a phone which people will buy with their hard earned money can be justifiably bricked just because they may want to opt for some customization. A big thumbs-down to the Droid X for this!

Update: It's Rooting, and not jailbreak. My bad! (Thanks to ePandu)

All Jazzed up and New MySpace Profiles are Here Now!

MySpace has confirmed that a completely revamped set of profile pages is in the pipeline and they are in the process of testing it. And the good news is that a beta version has already been rolled out as a part of the testing process, for users to check out what's new and provide feedback accordingly. So have you checked your profile today?

If you have, perhaps you are already aware of the new and improved profile pages. And if you have not, here are the most visible amendments to the MySpace page in a nutshell:

From now on you will be navigating your profile from the left side of the page. The navigation menu has been made to fit within the navigation menu under the profile picture on the left.

My Stream, the MySpace equivalent of Facebook News Feed, is now more prominently featured on the profile page. You can easily see what your friends have been up to on the site and share content with them too!

A new module allows you to follow your friends or other MySpace users on various popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, among others. Whether this module is changed and how, will only be clear once the final rollout is done.

The user interface scores over the earlier version in terms of looks and is a hands-down winner as far as overall design is concerned. A cool looking MySpace page is now a reality!

There is also a new Flickr gallery thrown in to enable better photo sharing.

So what do the lucky ones to receive the beta version (yes, only some MySpace users have been chosen to be a part of this testing process) have to say about the new version of profile pages? Well, they unanimously agree that it's a major upgrade alright, but not all are jumping up and down in excitement.

It's a pretty slick upgrade and you need to remember that it's not final yet. So, if you think that it can be better when the final rollout happens in a few weeks time, you may be pleasantly surprised. So you are advised to ignore any rants right now, because it's a bit too early to pass the final verdict.

MySpace is in a state of transition, with the constant departures of top executives making the headlines far too often. Maybe this jazzed up profile page is exactly what was required by the company to turn a corner!

When Is The Jailbreak for iPhone 4 Releasing?

When Apple spread the word about their newest iPhone, I was very excited to try it out. Compared to the iPhone 4, my top-of-the-line iPhone 3GS looked like a brick. Yet I didn't immediately jump the bandwagon and bought an iPhone 4. I'll have to wait until news of a credible jailbreak tool is available, before I purchase what would otherwise be a very expensive purchase.

To those unfamiliar with iPhone terminology, "jailbreak" simply means opening up the iPhone's software so that you can install free applications, movies, and music. Though the Apple App Store is equipped with for sale applications, there are those who would rather use applications they get for free.

And in this financially challenging time, I would rather spend my money on other things rather than games on the iPhone which I could get from download sites for free.

I immediately turned to Geohot, a master when it comes to jailbreaking iPhones. In a blog entry, Geohot let out how he was able to jailbreak his iPhone 4, but didn't mention any information about when the said jailbreak would be available for public consumption. When bloggers comment about when this elusive prize would be released, the master responded that he would not be answering any queries about the release date, because it serves as distraction.

Meanwhile, other iPhone 4 users are weaning themselves of Geohot's powerful jailbreak tools, and are looking forward to other already available alternatives. There is a new program being rumored by Comex Jailbreak, which was said to convert iPhones with the same speed of Spirit.

Though for other Geohot loyalists, the iPhone hacker mentioned in his blog post about how his current version of the jailbreak tool for the iPhone 4 is used for his own curiosity only. Whether or not it is actually advisable for public, that much remains shady. All we could do is hope that the iPhone dev team would get this act together, and be able to release the jailbreak tool.

Sony’s PS3 at $199.99 — A “Budget” Version or A Mistake?

2010-06-21T00:57:00.001-07:00

Sony's PS3 at $199.99 — A "Budget" Version or A Mistake?

I visited Sony's new 3D website because of the recent Playstation Move buzz. And then randomly surfing through the site, I was surprised to see the listing of PS3, with only $199.99 price tag!

I tried scrolling it down and, on the bottom of the page, included in the "3D-Compatible Products", beside the categories "HDTV" and "Home Theater", is a picture of Sony's Playstation 3 with a caption "starts at $199.99". Amazing!

At first, I thought it was a mistake, but MaxConsole noted it as well, and said that it was possible. It could be a mistake, a typographical error, or a price reduction that is scheduled weeks or months from now that someone mistakenly posted.

It was so surprising because no one is expecting a sale on any of the gaming consoles in the market, but considering that Sony is up against two big companies like Nintendo and Microsoft with their gaming consoles on a cheaper price, it is possible that Sony is making a marketing strategy to get the consumer's attention and came up with a more affordable version of their PS3.

With Microsoft Xbox 360 elite that costs $300 and the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft's entry-level Xbox 360 Arcade pricing at $200, Sony should really come up with a gaming console that could compete with these consoles in terms of their prices.

Sony's Playstation 3 price ranges from about $300-$500 depending on their memory storage. Though Sony offers better value on a spec-to-spec basis, it does not have an entry-level that could stand against its competitors in terms of affordability, especially with the psychological mindset of the people regarding the "price tag for price tag" comparison.

Sony could probably be releasing a "budget" version of the PS3 with reduced memory from 120GB to 60GB or 80GB, without the controllers and the composite video, but that could not cover the big price slash. I was thinking that they could also take away the Blu-ray drive but that won't do because PS3 is dependent on Blu-ray. Though none of these are most likely to happen, considering that Sony is losing more profit from their struggle to align their high-end consoles in the mass market.

Could it really be a mistake, or a marketing strategy?

iTunes Vs Google Music: The Music Evolution on Internet

2010-06-11T23:43:00.000-07:00

iTunes Vs Google Music: The Music Evolution on Internet

Recently, Google revealed its plan to release comparable software against that of Apple's iTunes. With this development, what more to say about the changes that will take place soon in the current software features that iTunes offer to millions of its users?

Ever got frustrated with how you are currently managing your music, photos and movie libraries? Well, I do get frustrated. But I guess we need not worry more because Google Music release seems to be a better way of taking care of your data, thanks to the rivalry between the two (Apple and Google).

Apple iTunes Vs Google Music

Though there are many doubts if the search giant will really release this software, the recent acquisition of Simplify Media, a startup that provides software for you to share your iTunes and Windows Media Player with a number of devices, applications and platforms without the need of synchronizing or tethering.

Furthermore, the official Google Music logo is now available via Google domain, though not yet listed on their press site.

Vic Gundotra, Google's vice president shared that Simplify's technology will be utilized to power a new application for desktop that will allow a quick access to media on Android devices. Moreover, the songs that you download will automatically be available on your Android without going through the trouble of tethering or syncing.

Now if you think that this kind of approach is somewhat already familiar with what iTunes is already undergoing, well it is. Rumors have it that Apple is also working on a new technology that will allow users to upload an entire iTunes media library without having to tether your device on a computer.

Dubbed as cloud iTunes, it will let you cohesively use the music that you purchased on iTunes or other songs that you imported. If this is already possible you will be able to stream songs to any Apple iTunes device, like iPhones, iPods, iPads, Apple TVs, Mac Computers and Windows. This will require however a different license agreement between the music industry and Apple which so far has not been heard of yet.

One of the many rumors that Apple is also developing is the service called iTunes Replay that will let you stream movies to your 1080p Apple TV.

Despite all the doubts in clouding, we can all tell that Google will be entering the music industry with a bang. And with the rivalry that is definitely feeling its way between the two technology giants we can only hope for the better and easier data management soon.

Streaming Netflix on Wii

Netflix is a service offering online flat rate DVD and Blu-ray disc rental-by-mail and video streaming in the United States. It is estimated to have amassed a collection of 100,000 titles and approximately 10 million subscribers.

This company has more than 55 million discs and, on average, ships 1.9 million DVDs to customers each day. The company provides a monthly flat-fee service for the rental of DVD and Blu-ray movies.The procedure that a subscriber has to follow to avail the services of this company is that the subscriber creates an ordered list, called a rental queue, of movies to rent.

How does Netflix work? After the payment, the movies are delivered individually via the United States Postal Service from an array of regional warehouses. Netflix also offers internet video streaming to eligible subscribers, enabling the viewing of films directly on a PC or TV at home. Internet video streaming comes free with Netflix's regular subscription service. The thing that happens is that the video is streamed to the user using standard PC hardware, and requires Microsoft's Silverlight software to be installed on that PC.

Streaming Netflix on Wii

Again, as we all know, Wii is one of the most famous video gaming consoles in the world, brought to you by Nintendo. Even when there is stiff competition from other gaming consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, the Wii has emerged to be one of the best selling consoles not just in the United States, but all over the world. Nintendo claims to have shipped as many as 70.93 million units worldwide. So we can safely conclude that there are a lot of Wii users in the world.

Now comes the exciting part. The latest development is that both these companies are coming together. Now Wii users can watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix on their Wii console. And this is not a limited offer. Users can use this facility as often as they want to as long as the Wii user has a membership with Netflix, which is available at as low as 8.99 dollars per month.

Any Wii user just needs to go to Netflix.com/Wii to start a free trail.

All Nintendo Wii consoles are able to connect to the internet as long as they are connected to a broadband internet connection, so any Wii user will be able to avail this service in a very hassle free manner. Another way that Wii owners can start availing this service is that they need to put in a request for a free streaming disc, which will be sent to them by Netflix themselves. The request can be put in by the user at the official site of Netflix. The discs are sent out to the user after about one to two working days after the request and they are sent using first class postage.

The only drawback that this service has is that Wii users only in the United States of America can avail to this service. Others all over the world will have to wait in the mean time and expect that Netflix give them the opportunity in the near future to avail this outstanding service.

iPhone 4 Has Wi-Fi Enabled, Two-Way Video Call Feature

The web is buzzing with iPhone 4 news. The latest iPhone 4 has once again left an impressive mark with its camera in front not just for capturing pictures, but also enabling you to make video calls.

Say goodbye to the old fashioned two-way call and say hi to Apple's FaceTime! This now allows a face to face contact with family and friends while talking over the iPhone 4.

Calls with videos are already known even before the release of iPhone 4 but it was made famous by HTC EVO 4G-Sprint. Moreover, Apple makes video call work even better.

Spontaneous use had FaceTime to the next level. What's good with iPhone 4 is the 2 way video chatting that is user-friendly. Simply do a regular phone call and change mode to video-call with a single finger tap.

FaceTime is usable anytime, anywhere. You may do a face-to face video call using the front camera and if you like to let your buddy see your surroundings use the rear camera. Video recording of the primary camera is capable of HD 720p quality but not yet for HD video calling.

It is not only simply live streaming that FaceTime can offer, the software has an automatic change view from portrait to landscape mode. This depends upon how you handle your iPhone 4. It is really amazing to have a live chat switch from one mode to another based on how you tilt your iPhone. Well, when showing yourself plus the good scenery behind you, landscape view suits it and for regular two-way video chatting or more intimate talking use portrait mode.

Apple iPhone 4 FaceTime calling, functions only when a wireless network is available ( its Wi-Fi enabled). You need not to worry much since there are many Wi-Fi areas to be able to connect with iPhone 4 FaceTime. Live stream calls are now made possible and better with Apple's FaceTime. This is exciting!

Controlling Network Traffic & Response with NetBalancer

2010-06-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Controlling Network Traffic & Response with NetBalancer

If you are looking for a simple, free and easy to use application to control how much traffic your computer is allocating to applications, look no further than NetBalancer.

NetBalancer allows you to prioritize how bandwidth should be distributed among applications. You specify whether you want to give an application Low, Normal, or High priority and set a Limit for them, if necessary.

The Free version allows you to set rules for up to 5 different applications, which is usually more than enough. For my case, it's managing my Browser, Bit Torrent speed and a few of my online games (which naturally gets High to ensure absolutely minimum lag when playing).

Although not very powerful compared to other solutions, its a very simple, and most importantly FREE, way to set up your computer so that downloading doesn't choke other applications on your computer.

However the limitation is that this app only works on the computer it's installed in. It does absolutely nothing for other computers on the network. For those facing problems with bandwidth hogging housemates, you will need to look into router-level QoS settings, which is a whole different beast alltogether.

If you have 5 minutes, download the app now, set up a few rules and you won't have to bother about having to pause downloads if you want to stream video or music ever again.

Download YouTube Videos to Your Mac

2010-06-08T20:44:00.001-07:00

Download YouTube Videos to Your Mac

YouTube is great for watching comedy, news and entertainment clips online. The success of the Google-owned video sharing site has mobilized wannabe news anchors and spawned the latest journalism craze, "Citizen Journalism".

In fact, the success of the site has made prominent news channels like CNN introduce their own "citizen journalism" programs, and forced many news networks and cable channels to embrace the social revolution by creating their own channels on the site.

However, one critical missing feature of YouTube is the ability to download videos off the site, to watch at a later time. So today I'm going to list a few easy methods to get YouTube videos off the site and on your desktop. You can then use a free video converter application to convert the video to iPod or mobile phone formats, and take your favorite YouTube channels with you wherever you go!

Wondershare Free YouTube Downloader for Mac

A stylish app that allows you to manage your very own "YouTube Library", Wondershare's YouTube downloader is quick, stylish, and free.

The GUI is well-designed, with a very "iTunes-like" interface that will make Mac fans feel right at home. To download a video, simply search for it via the "search" tab in the sidebar. When you start the app, it immediately searches for and lists a few notable YouTube videos you might be interested in.

One minor problem I have with the app is that the "converter" tool is not free; you have to purchase the corresponding conversion software from Wondershare if you wish to change a YouTube video from the standard .flv (Flash video file) to something more usable.

Thus, to play .flv files, you can easily do so using VLC Media Player. To convert them, give Handbrake a try — it's an awesome app for converting and ripping DVDs and a host of other formats — including .flv — to preset options like PSP, iPod, Apple TV and Zune, to name a few.

To get Wondershare Free YouTube Downloader for Mac, click here (direct link)

Do you have a better method of grabbing YouTube files? Drop a line in the comments and let us know!

Market Demand for the iPad Grows Stronger

Even though it's been days since Google I/O conference where Google's attacks on Apple are getting serious, there has been a tremendous wave of positive news about the iPad.

In fact, the success of Apple iPad is so amazing (We've said it so many times) that recent analysis reports revealed that Apple is selling more iPads than Apple Macs every day. Not only that, the level of sales that the iPad has and is generating is nearing that the level of sales for the iPhone.

ChangeWave recently released a report stating that the pattern of increasing demand for the iPad is going to continue. The report is based on a survey of more than 3,000 consumers and second study made up of 153 new buyers of the iPad.

ChangeWave's report shows that 16% of the e-reader market already owns an iPad. That's certainly what Apple iPad was targeting and has been successful! The pre-launch survey showed that 4% of the consumers will Very Likely purchase an iPad and that 9% will somewhat likely purchase one. The new survey, however, showed that 7% of the participants will very likely get an iPad and another 13% are somewhat likely going to buy one.

Out of those who recently purchased this tablet from Apple, ChangeWave got a sample group of 153 new iPad owners. Out of these 153 people, 73 respondents said that they are very satisfied with their iPad. This result for the level of satisfaction for the users of the tablet is already coming up close to the level of satisfaction for iPhone users.

Also, IDC published their prediction that 7.6 million media tablets will be sold this year. This figure may go up supporting reports that reveal more positive news for Apple. As media tablets are developed, more applications for these devices will evolve as well and it follows that consumers will now see these items as must-have gadgets.

Mike Abramsky, an RBC market analyst forecasts that iPad's sales will reach the 8 million mark this 2010. This is 3 million more than what they previously indicated. He continues by saying that Apple is selling more than 200,000 iPad's a week. This is more than the number for when Mac's were released years ago. It's iPad everywhere!

How to install a .bin File in Ubuntu

Ubuntu is one among the most popular Linux distros. And best of all its free and open source operating system. Based on Debian, Ubuntu does not execute .bin files.

Hence installing a .bin application in Ubuntu requires you to execute it via the Terminal. Using the Terminal we can change the .bin file so that Ubuntu can execute it.

Here is an attempt to show you how to easily install .bin file in Ubuntu. The steps involved are:

1. Download the .bin file and store it in anywhere you want. I recommend the Desktop, as it is easy to navigate through the Terminal.

2. Now fire up the Terminal window (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and navigate to the folder where you have stored the file by using the cd command. For example, if your file is stored on the Desktop you need to type cd Desktop (The commands and filenames are case-sensitive).

Now your Terminal code will change to something like this – user@user-desktop:-/Desktop$

Similarly, you can navigate to other locations by using cd location.

3. Once you have navigated to the required location, type ls to list the files in that directory and note down the exact file name of your .bin file.

4. Type sudo chmod +x filename.bin. This command permits Ubuntu to execute the file. It will ask for your password. Enter the password and hit Enter.

5. Now type ./filename.bin. The .bin file will start installing from within the terminal. Just follow the instructions that appear on the screen. Once the installation is completed, close the terminal window.

That's it! You have successfully installed the .bin file.

Checking your Facebook Privacy Setting the Secure Way

2010-06-08T20:42:00.001-07:00

Checking your Facebook Privacy Setting the Secure Way

The issue of the Facebook's privacy has been ongoing for several days now. The privacy setting in your account could be broken and once you get annoyed you file a report to Facebook. However, they cannot just as easily solve everyone's problems.

You want to make sure that your account's privacy setting is secured but Facebook has created a lot of pages which you need to fix to ensure that all the bases are covered. However, it is very much possible that you may have missed updating certain settings. Facebook's labyrinth world has made it impossible for the not-so tech savvy user not to miss some key points in securing their privacy settings.

Now, there is a faster and more efficient way to check your Facebook account. It is a website that serves as a Facebook privacy scanner engine. To be more specific, the tool is called ReclaimPrivacy. This is very simple to use, just log on to ReclaimPrivacy.org and search for the link that says Scan for Privacy. Use that link in your bookmark feature in your browser.

Next, go to your Facebook account and click on the link that you bookmarked. You will then see that ReclaimPrivacy will run on top of your Facebook page. It will only take a few seconds for this tool to scan the 6 sectors of crucial privacy concerns inside your Facebook account. You will then know how secure your Facebook account is.

ReclaimPrivacy scans your personal information and your personalization settings. Most importantly, it also analyzes the settings that determine what information the people in your Facebook network unconsciously share about you.

ReclaimPrivacy has a ranking system for the report about your account's security and privacy settings. You get a green for good or safe setting, yellow for cautionary areas and red for the unsecured areas. If you get a yellow or a red, the tool will help you by giving you specific steps on how to fix the problematic areas.

Things to know Before Jailbreaking Apple iPad

2010-06-08T20:25:00.001-07:00

Things to know Before Jailbreaking Apple iPad

iPad Jailbreaking is the process that allows iPad users to use any software code on their device instead of being restricted on what is available on the App Store. Since Apple's App Store is strict in making the apps available for download in the app store, jailbreaking can be helpful!

Often times many Apple users find quality software that gets denied making it difficult for them to enjoy their Apple devices fully. That being said, the Apple's latest device - iPad has recently been jailbroken and since iPad has faster hardware and acts as a "3^rd device" makes it the best jailbroken device compared to any other Apple device. If you have doubts on which applications will be safe for your device, the user-and-developer-updated compatibility lists will help you see what's okay with your device.

Many of the applications that didn't make to Apple's App Store usually make their way into Cydia, the jailbroken installer. There are plenty of applications, programs and extensions available in Cydia that you can download to your advantage and entertainment, what's more is that many of the full applications available through Cydia are free unlike what's on the App Store.

What has the Apple iPad Evolved Into?

A lot of iPad users are reluctant to have their devices jailbroken mainly because of fears of sacrificing stability and speed. But since most jailbreak softwares are stable, many disregard Apple's recommendations anyway. Also, chances are that any software that allows you to run third party programs in the background will most probably affect your device's performance.

But by all means if jailbreaking your device means less stability, which is never proven in the first place, then take note of the difference between having certain software on your phone over your iPad. Since iPad is projected to be more of a computer rather than a phone, it makes jailbreaking more enjoyable than ever.

Before installing anything through Cydia check on the Google Docs Spreadsheet created by iPhone development team member MuscleNerd. If you follow this list, then you won't have to worry about having troubles with your Device.

Recommended Jailbreak Apps for your Ipad

There are hundreds of amazing jailbreak programs available for both iPhone and iPad that you can find in Cydia. You can also check out our top apps.

One of the best would be the Notifier, a little extension that lets you save icons into your status bar for you to easily check new mail and messages. Another one will be the SBSettings, a small panel of controls that slides down from the status bar together with other applications. And lastly the Backgrounder an application that lets you listen to Pandora while working on other application.

Major Internet Threat: Poisoned PDF Files and How to Protect Your Computer

Reports from several major security companies show that corrupt or poisoned PDF files are now in the list of internet security threats. These suspicious files have increased in numbers in 2009 and made up a staggering 49% of all attacks in the Internet.

This percentage increased from 11%, second only to the corrupt PDF files is the Internet Explorer browser flaw.

So how does a normal attack happen?

Internet hijackers get into a legitimate site by inserting a poisoned PDF file to a link that masquerades as a social media ad or spam comments in a blog. Even the most tech and internet-savvy user can be fooled. They end up clicking that link then downloading and opening the bad file.

The threat is inside a PDF file. It comes in the form of a malware that opens and automatically installs by opening the PDF file. This was discovered by Didier Steven, and he also found that the Internet attackers fool unsuspecting users.

This web-based attack is extremely dangerous as it is built to take over the standards of PDF programs. This means that it not only attacks Adobe Readers but PDF readers as well. Even new and up-to-date versions are not safe.

The creators of the Zeus Trojan horse viral software are already using the same techniques to propagate their software.

How to Protect Your Computer against PDF Virus

Don't fret as you can fight this form of web-based attack. Go to Preferences option in your Adobe Reader. Click on Trust Manager and uncheck the option for "Allow Opening of Non-PDF file attachments with external Applications".

You can also opt to use the latest version of the Foxit PDF reader. It has a new safe reading feature which can be found in the Trust Manager section in Preferences. This special feature blocks the embedded programs from opening or installing.

Also, the most common attacks from these poisonous PDF files happens to users of Adobe PDF, you can avoid an attack by using an alternative version of the PDF program. Opt to use the latest versions as well. The internet hijackers have already mastered the ins and outs of the basics functions of the Adobe PDF programs and PDF readers that the older versions are surely not safe from the threat. In fact, when the threat first occurred, Foxit was not able to prevent it and these bad programs continued to run. Adobe and Foxit are now continually making more security measures to combat this web-based attack.

As a last note, make sure that you have a great anti-virus program installed in your computer. You can check out the best free antivirus programs we have mentioned. When it comes to the web, make sure you know what you're doing .

How HP Watch Phone Technology is Being Used With US Military

2010-06-02T00:06:00.001-07:00

How HP Watch Phone Technology is Being Used With US Military

Watch Phones are fancy and of course, the better ones are unrealistic item often seen movies or on television, but now they are being projected by HP, developed with the newest technology.

The United States Military considers the newest project a positive reinforcement that watchphones are indeed beneficial for our near future. Their soldiers can benefit while in the fields from using the watchphones.

The HP Military Watch Phone

Features such as display maps will be available on the watchphones and they have been compared to the Android Layers app. The watchphone will be covered with a plastic, flexible screen, preventing military soldiers from breaking them while out on the field. One innovative option the watch phone will be designed to do is allow soldiers to call their base for help. Now soldiers can have a little more security knowing they can reach help faster, especially if they are alone.

Since soldiers may be in battle for long periods, they will feel comfort in knowing their watch phone has a backup plan for dead batteries. Batteries are actually non-existent in the watchphones. No more dead calls as these watchphones will be powered by the sun.

The flexible panels are designed to work with solar cells, eliminating the need for batteries onboard the watchphone. Although this technology may seem new to the general population, HP has been working on this project since 2000. New developments are being used to process the watches.

The protocols will not be hidden under researcher's hands for much longer. Information will slowly leak out and reach laptop computers and e-readers before HP knows it. The newest form of this technology will be established in stores as price tags that can be adjusted electronically. They certainly are creative phones but there are a lot of unexplored questions that can only be answered when we see this HP Watch phone technology implemented realistically

Top Jailbroken apps For iPhone, iPod. Four Best Jailbreaking Apps!

Out of all the awesome Jailbroken apps available for the Apple users in general, we picked up four iPhone, iPod apps and added it to the list of best jailbraking apps for iPhone.

So here is an quick overview of some of the top jailbroken apps for iPhone and Apple iPod touch. Feel free to let us know your preferred jailbroken apps for iPhone..

What's Jailbreaking though? Jailbreaking is a simple process that allows iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users to run any code on their devices, as opposed to only that code authorized by Apple. Once the device is jailbroken, iPhone users are able to download many applications previously unavailable through the App Store via unofficial installers such as Cydia, as well as pirated apps.

But this does not limit that particular phone to stop using the applications made available to the user by Apple itself. A jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch is still able to use and update apps downloaded and purchased from Apple's official App Store. It is just a way that enables you to use applications that are not allowed by Apple, and leaves the functioning of your phone same as before.

Also, Jailbreaking — according to Apple, voids Apple's warranty on the device, although this is quickly remedied by restoring the device in iTunes. Lets have a look at some of the top Jailbroken Apps available for iPhone and iPod touch users.

iPod Touch 5-Row Keyboard App

The virtual keyboard on the iPod Touch is like a double edged sword for me. On one hand, it's very responsive and does its job ably. On the other, it can be cumbersome to use, having to flip through a separate keyboard to enter numbers and special characters.

A simple application recently released for jailbroken iPod Touch units replaces the default keyboard of the device and turns it into a 5-row interface.Numbers appear as the default characters on the additional row. When you hit shift, the numbers will turn to other commonly used characters, such as a comma, an exclamation point and a question mark. For so simple a change, it turns your iPod Touch into a truly capable device to type on, whether you're entering information on your playlist or crafting an email to friends.

GPS phone iPhone App

A lot of people get confused with this app, to make it clear this is not the Global Positioning System app. If you are a fan of the old school gameboy, then this application is for you – this jailbroken app is actually a 'gameboy' emulator.

The application allows you to run ROMs for the game boy gaming system. All the people who used to love the old school pokemon games will really like this application.

Qik iPhone App

This is one of the best live streaming services that is available on the net. This service has recently become available for jail broken iphones, along with other compatible handsets.

Using this application, the user can mute the direct broadcast, set specific privacy settings, send alerts to twitter at any time, hide your chat account, set the stream title as well as allow qik to see the current location of the user.

Winterboard iPhone App

Some users of the iphone are a bit disappointed that there is very little scope for the user of an iphone to customize the device. The only option that the user has to customize is the changing of the lock-screen wallpaper. This is where winterboard comes in and it is, without a doubt, a fabulous application!

Using this application, the user has access to thousands of compatible themes for customizing the background of the device, customize icons, bars, keyboards, alert buttons, battery images, and much more.

Best Samsung Blu-Ray Players

First, there was the VCR, then came the Compact Disc, after that emerged the DVD, and now the latest entrant into the world of external data storage devices is the blu ray. The blu ray disc, also known as BD or just blu-ray, is the new and familiar thing in the market which has been designed to supersede the standard DVD format.

Its main uses are for storing high-definition video, PlayStation 3 video games, and other data, with up to 25 GB per single layered, and 50 GB per dual layered disc.

And as the blu-ray has gained popularity, a lot of companies have come up with these high-end blu-ray players but one of the leading companies is Samsung and that being said, let's check out some of the best Samsung Blu Ray Players.

Samsung BD-C7500 Blu Ray Player

This is one of the best blu-ray players available in the market today. Though this is sold only in the United States, if you want a good quality blu-ray player, getting one for yourself from there will not be a big problem. The BD profile of this product is that of BD-Live, version 2.0.

If we talk about media, this device reads mainly BD-ROMs, although the information if this device can read and write CDs and DVDs is not available yet.

This device though, does not read the blu-ray 3D and is not portable. It has a 1080p video resolution and has 24 frames per second speed. Talking about video playback, this player supports MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and VC-1 formats, and in audio playback, it supports a variety of formats, which include Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, Dolby True HD, Dolby TrueHD (bitstream) and so on.

It also has Ethernet and wireless connectivity. Internet services are available and internet networks on Samsung BD-C7500 include Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, USA Today and a lot more. Overall, this is a nice player to own if you are a part of the whole blu-ray revolution.

Samsung BD-C6500 Blu Ray Player

Another good bet, when you are looking to buy a high end blu-ray player. Also sold in the United States, this also has a BD profile of BD-Live, version 2.0. Again, this device is mainly made to read BD-ROM. The video resolutions and the frames per second speed are the same as the Samsung BD-C7500.

Again, talking about the video playback, the player supports MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and VC-1 formats and in audio playback, it supports formats like Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, and so on. This blu ray player has features very much similar to the BD-C7500 model, and so is a good buy as well.

Samsung BD-P3600 Blu Ray Player

Last but not the least, the Samsung BD-P3600 device has almost the same features as the above mentioned models and deserves to be in this list. One advantage of this device is that it is confirmed that it has a compatible DVD-ROM and a CD-ROM.

Also, it has video resolutions of 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p and DVD up conversion of 1080p, 1080i, 720p. The video and audio playback features are almost the same as the above mentioned models, although along with wireless and Ethernet connectivity, it also had usb compatibility, with usb version 2.0, although internet services are not confirmed. Taking the added features into account, this model is as good a bet to buy as the other two.

Everything You Need in the New HTC EVO 4G, Check It out!

HTC developed yet another great product with their HTC EVO 4G which comes second to the HTC Droid Incredible smartphone. It uses a combination of impressive specs and a stylish design but the drawback would be the limited 4G connectivity.

Here is a quick overview for on what's in store with the New HTC EVO 4G from Sprint.

HTC 4G has Minimalist Design

Even the packaging of the HTC EVO 4G is minimal for in its tofu-like box comes nothing else but a Micro-USB cable, a USB wall charger, a 1500mAh battery, and an 8GB MicroSD card.

This unit is slightly larger than a traditional smartphone measuring 4.8 by 2.6 by 0.5 inches with its 4.3-inch WVGA touch screen, glossy black bezel, and blood-red detailing.

4G Technology At Its Best Usage

As of now, there are limited areas where 4G technology works, making some HTC EVO 4G features unworkable, but if you are in a 4G enabled area then you will be able to use voice and data simultaneously and this is a very convenient feature for you can easily surf the web and not get disconnected should a phone call be received.

Rich Multimedia Experience

The confirmed HTC EVO 4G has a relatively large display that sadly the Sense music player does not take advantage of. While the player is in the Now Playing mode it remains to be the size of a thumbnail although the Sense player is indeed a good step from the Android player.

The audio is good and it can support a whole range of audio not to mention video formats and when you are on YouTube you could easily make use of the HQ function which allows you to view videos with a better quality setting.

Solid HTC Hardware And Performance

When it comes to its 3G capabilities, I have nothing but to praise HTC 4G as even the rich multimedia pages loaded very quickly. Every phone call was clear all throughout as well. The HTC EVO 4G provides a sense of much improvement not only for the Android platform but the 4G network as well, but this unit may be much too advanced considering how limited 4G is in the United States at this time.

On the other hand, the HTC EVO 4G is a great device overall with its solid hardware not to mention its multimedia capabilities and other great features.

The Mactini – A Glimpse Into The Future Of Computer Technology

2010-06-02T00:03:00.001-07:00

The Mactini – A Glimpse Into The Future Of Computer Technology

The world's smallest computer with only one button

The Mactini

Forget Netbooks. Apple has redefined the meaning of portability with it's upcoming product, The Mactini. With it's super ultra portable size, your computing experience will be like never before. It is the future of portable computers… Not! This is not true. Don't fall for my cheap selling skills.

It's actually a hilarious sketch from The Peter Serafinowicz Show, that was aired on BBC 2 as a Christmas Special in the year 2008. In this sketch, Peter Serafinowicz the "Apple guy John" demonstrates the working of the impossibly small Mac Computer, called the 'Mactini' with only one button on it's keypad. The video is pretty old, but worth revisiting again . Watch it:

Think about it, if say hypothetically this is true, what reason would make you buy the Mactini?

No related posts.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Why Flash will not happen on the iPhone OS

2010-06-02T00:01:00.001-07:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Why Flash will not happen on the iPhone OS

Many critics have poured heaps of vile and vitriol on Apple when rumblings that they are resisting the use of Flash on their mobile iPhone OS system. For years now, the battle between Adobe and Apple raged on with Adobe playing the role of the 'good guy' and preaching to Apple to allow Flash to run on the iPhone OS, while Apple has stonewalled every single attempt, often not doing a great PR job of explaining why they don't allow Flash to run on their device.

Most critics branded Apple for being a megalomaniac hell bent on keeping third party content developers out of the iPhone OS platform, as Flash is commonly used in advertising. They say that by retaining control on exactly how the iPhone OS will perform, they are quashing creativity and unfairly banning the competition from having their technology fairly represented (Flash technology forms a core part of the Internet for many years now, from Flash videos found in Youtube to user-navigation systems of most websites).

Well, Steve Jobs finally came out with an open letter detailing his 'thoughts on Flash', but mostly goes on to defend Apple's action in disallowing Flash to run on their mobile operating system. And the arguments are surprisingly practical, if not convincing.

First, there is the problem of speed. Flash content, especially Flash video, relies on software to decode. The modern H.264 format is far more advantageous because most modern mobile devices, including the iPhone/Pod/Pad, come with a hardware chip dedicated to decoding H.264 format videos. Hardware decoding is far more efficient than using Flash video and thus can be very important especially in a power (both processing power and battery power) limited mobile devices. I have always believed this, but Steve Jobs claimed that a Flash video can only run for about 5 hours before the battery drains, while using H.264, 10+ hours of playback can be expected. This is certainly no trivial figure.

Second, Flash technology is designed around the PC, with many triggers for mouse roll-over and clicks. None of this is possible in a touch device such as the iPhone OS because there is no concept of mouse, hence most websites that rely on Flash for navigation has to be rewritten anyway. And Apple advocates that people move away from Flash and onto HTML5, which contains enough new instructions to emulate the smooth animations and menus reminiscent of Flash.

Steve Jobs goes on to detail a host of other flaws of Adobe/Flash, including security and the fact that by moving to Flash, it's just moving to a different closed system, this time controlled by Adobe instead of Apple.

Whatever the case, I believe that there is real reason why Apple continues to fight Adobe by now allowing Flash to run on their device. By motivating people to move away from Flash and onto HTML5 (which is a true open standard), Adobe is certainly more at risk here. Well, whatever the case, at least now you have heard both sides of the argument.

The Nokia N8: What It Means for Apple

2010-04-29T22:28:00.001-07:00

The Nokia N8: What It Means for Apple

Some may argue that it's way too early to be making assumptions of Nokia's new hope, the N8 mobile phone announced earlier this week.

For those that don't yet know, Nokia's N8 mobile is a stylish, multitouch multi-media mobile with a 12-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics HD camera. And it runs Symbian 3, the new OS announced by Nokia and the Symbian Foundation earlier this year.

The N8, as I've mentioned, is the icon of hope for the fledgling mobile maker that was once the titan of cell phones across the world. Quite embarrassingly for the Finnish giant, they even lost face to young mobile up-start Apple in their home turf, Finland.

The thing is, Nokia didn't play their cards right the first time round. When the mobile sphere began to evolve about three years ago, with the introduction of Apple's iPhone, Nokia focussed on enhancing the physical attributes — the hardware — of their devices, instead of working on their user experience. It stung Nokia painfully, and they feebly attempted to rectify their mistakes with the Ovi Store and Ovi Services.

However, just having an app store won't cut it in this business. So that's why they've decided to start afresh with a brand-spanking-new operating system, Symbian 3, that will be launched with the new N8.

Here's the part where Apple needs to worry: Nokia, despite its few stumbles over the past few years, is seasoned as this game. They know how to play it right when they've got a fresh start; they proved this when they re-focused their business strategy from a pulp mill (believe it or not) to telecommunications equipment, and then consumer connectivity products.

It's Symbian 3 that will win it for Nokia. This operating system is designed from the ground-up to be all that a mobile phone in this era needs to be: productive, intuitive and social. Right from the home screen, Nokia has integrated easy-access to your favorite social networks — Twitter, Facebook, MySpace. It's a heck of a lot more informative than the iPhone's meagre time and notifications blocks in the lock screen.

Sure, Apple's got the style, but Nokia's got the openness. Developers on the Apple platform must pay Apple $99 just to get their app on a physical phone to test (leave alone submitting it to the App Store), whereas on Nokia, with the new Qt framework and cross-platform development tools, programmers can get up-and-running building apps for the new Symbian 3 in no time, leverage current technologies like C/C++, saving time rather than having to learn a whole new environment and language (Cocoa on Mac).

Of course, we'll have to see how Symbian 3 performs, and for that, we'll have to wait 'till Q3 2010, when the N8 officially releases.

Windows Touch Pack with MS Win 7 Touch Abilities: Getting Ready for the Touch Revolution

2010-04-29T00:18:00.001-07:00

Windows Touch Pack with MS Win 7 Touch Abilities: Getting Ready for the Touch Revolution.

People have different and varying interest. Some are inclined on arts, some are interested on sports while others are only familiar with fashion.

Therefore not all people who use the computer and the internet are interested in the technologies and innovations brought about by modernization. Some computer users find satisfaction in just using the hardware and apparatus without deep understanding of what they are utilizing; take for example the new Touch screen features of computers.

Well so much for the introduction, time to hit it with some real hard stuff!

If you are not that updated yet, you probably have not yet heard of the "en suite" support of Windows 7 for multi touch applications. Never assume that any monitor or computer screen may function just by merely the touch of the finger, to use the touch applications, you would need a special touch screen display.

The adoption of touch screen monitors was on a still as many manufacturers have been taking it slowly too or they have not yet probably embraced the concept of the touch screen technology. The bigger names in the industry, however, like Lenovo, HP, Fujitsu, Asus and Dell have paved their own ways towards this touch controlled screens. They have started supporting the recent trend in the computing world.

Yet, the knowledge about Windows 7's innate ability for touch applications is still not widely known by computer users. So to address this scarcity of consumer awareness, Microsoft has launched the Touch Pack of Windows 7 to reiterate on the touch abilities of the latest Windows operating system.

The Touch Pack, in essence, is a compilation of games and services that utilizes the multi-touch abilities of Windows 7. Yes, it is a strategy to promote and expose to the public what touch abilities Windows 7 is equipped with.

The Windows 7 Touch pack includes a blackboard which integrates the concepts of physics in a puzzle solving problem game. Another game called "The Garden pond" basically promotes relaxation by using calm settings in Japanese gardens.

The Microsoft Rebound is about controlling electrically charged Tesla spheres using the finger tips, a metal ball must successfully go through the electric charge and catapult its way to the opponent's goal, while the Surface Globe is about the exciting earth exploration and Surface Collage is a service to arrange and deal with photos that I'm sure many would find useful, and finally the Surface lagoon is a simulation screen saver with rocks and fish.

Software Compatible on Windows 7? How to Find out windows 7 compatibility

I was tempted to try out Windows 7, and who'd have guessed the compatibility issues was a bonus with the OS. I had to dig my way through many web results only to find out that Vuze client for Windows 7 was unavailable. Gotta love vuze for its video conversion.

Anyway, it can be really frustrating for Windows 7 users who are not able to use the software that has been smoothly functioning on Windows XP or other windows platform.

The Windows 7 Compatibility center

Microsoft has a section where all the compatible and incompatible softwares for windows 7 are listed. This can be helpful if you are running windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit machine and have no clue if the software that you are about to download will run on win 7.

Visit the compatibility center of Windows 7 Software by clicking here. Nothing innovative or mind blowing service from Microsoft, but definitely useful at times to find the software compatibility. The search box allows you to input the software (also hardware) name to check if it is compatible with Windows 7.

Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac Screenshots and Preview

Later this year, Microsoft will be releasing the next major upgrade of their industry-standard office and home productivity tools for Mac users. This improved version, titled "Office:Mac 2011″, will set the productivity line for Apple's computers in tow with their Windows counterparts, introducing many features that will be present in Microsoft Office 2010, also releasing soon.

Whilst Apple provides their own productivity suite, iWork, it only consists of three applications: Pages, a word processor, Numbers, a (limited) spreadsheet and data capture app, and Keynote, the headlining app that puts PowerPoint to shame with dazzling features.

However, with Office:Mac, Microsoft has included the familiar Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps, along with Entourage, a Mac-native email client. While Entourage has served users well, it's never been seen as a replacement for the titan of emailing, Outlook.

Enter Office:Mac 2011, and Microsoft has written a native version of Outlook for Mac, complying 100% with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.

In face, the entire suite has been overhauled from the UI side. The Redmond software maker has decided to go with the intuitive Ribbon interface first introduced in Office 2007, and which I find far better than the old "toolbox" system, especially for apps with functionality the size of Excel and PowerPoint.

Initial reports from beta testing puts Office:Mac in favorable light. It seems that Microsoft has listened well to the gripes of users of previous versions of their popular productivity tools, and fixed many problems (UI issues being one of them), and focusing on making this iteration of the suite up-to-date with the latest Mac OS X technologies. This includes bringing back Visual Basic for Applications functionality, which was lost in the 2008 edition to much disgruntlement.

BoyGeniusReport has managed to get quite a few screen shots (50+ of them, to be precise), and below are some of the more interesting pics of the new Office:Mac 2011 suite.

Excel Workbook Gallery

New Outlook for Mac app

Outlook for Mac - looking good!

Macros is Back!

2010-04-27T23:55:00.001-07:00

How to Repair iPod Screen [Guide]

An Apple iPod is one of the most prized possessions of the owner of one. And if there is a problem with a new one, it is a big hassle for the owner, not mentioning the mental stress that one has to go through when such an expensive gadget develops a problem.

A very common problem that an ipod may develop is that of a defective screen, commonly called negative black effect. These sort of screens have problems displaying dark colors.

Often what happens is that the screen is quirky of flickering while playing the videos on the ipod. This may be a very frustrating problem. There may be a few reasons why this happens. Let us see how we can try to eliminate the iPod screen problems..

Guide to Repair iPod Screen

One of the best way to solving it permanently is to replace the screen completely. There are companies which can facilitate this process for you. Most of them have the largest inventory of hard to find digitizers, glass lenses, and LCD screens available for the ipod and iphone models. The ipod screens they provide help fix the problems fast. Most of the screens include free installation. This is the way how you can avail this service.

1. Order the ipod screen replacement service available at the website of the company. In this, you can choose Rapid Repair to do the installation for you, or choose self-installation.

2. Send your device to their Repair Service Center using your own packaging. Instructions on where to send it will be sent to your E-mail address after you complete the order.

3. Once received, a Technician will replace the screen with a tested, fully functional Apple OEM screen for that particular model.

And if all these solutions are not good enough for you, and you want to try repairing ipod screen on your own then: First, turn the auto brightness off on your iPod. This may reduce the flickering of the screen and if you are lucky, then this simple thing may solve the problem of the screen of your ipod for a long time to come.

Check if the battery is low, although this kind of a problem happens even if your battery is fully charged and the ipod is running off the USB power.

Put a little pressure on the back and bottom right corner and the ipod device would usually correct itself for a while. This is a method that of course, is not a permanent solution to the problem in hand, but the fact remains that you can use this method as a temporary measure until the manufacturer replaces your device.

Manufacturers of ipods have finally officially acknowledged that the problem is a really existing one and that a corporate policy on fixing ipod touch screen problems is a necessity. The causes of the problem has been narrowed down to bad quality control of the manufacturer and misapplication of the reflective coating of the LCD screen.

Companies like Apple have launched replacement policies for the defective touch devices until upgraded outputs have been released to meet the expectations of the clients. Software updates have not proved effective so far.

The Little Battle Between Apple and Adobe

Because Apple refused to integrate Flash applications in the Apple iPad and iPhone, Adobe has thrown a lot of not so nice statements against Apple.

Apple seemed not to mind as it always stayed so silent and never gave a reply. Well, that is actually how it was before.

Just recently, in a public statement which may have been done once in a blue moon, a representative from Apple had given the company's response to Adobe's allegations about the former tying down software developers to the iPhone and would not allow usage of cross-platform such as Flash.

Apple's spokesperson, Trudy Muller, announced to CNET that it was actually the other way around. If there is any application that is proprietary and closed to other developers, that is Adobe's Flash. In truth, H.264, JavaScript, CSS and HTML5 are all standard, basic and open.

The beginning of the string was when Flash did not appear as one of the many applications of the iPhone. This incident was followed in a little battle when Lee Brimelow from Adobe had announced in a special meeting that a few of the most widely-known sites relied on Flash and that some Jobs are not satisfied with the technology. Then soon after when iPad was launched, it was Apple's turn to enlist and enumerate sites that are supporting iPad application, most of which do not even have a shadow of Flash.

Incidentally, the company plans to present conversion ability of Flash to Ipad programs and applications to developers such as what took place with the iPhone. In response to this, Apple decided that the terms of iPhone developers be altered as such that only just a few programming languages may be allowed, Flash is not included among these selected few. It was so unfortunate for Adobe as it has included a major feature in its latest Creative Suite 5 regarding this Flash applications conversion into iPhone program. One can call this an instant product kill.

Then came the announcement by Adobe that future versions of Creative Suite shall not include any feature about Flash-iPhone conversion. What made it interesting was that along the process, Adobe surely made a hit on Apple. Mike Chambers, the Principal product manager of Adobe Flash developer's relation has made special mention of Apple being one of the locked and closed platforms which in the near future shall be brought down by open programs.

Best Tablet PC For Effective Computing. Gear Up for the iPad Slate Wars!

2010-04-27T04:11:00.001-07:00

Best Tablet PC For Effective Computing. Gear Up for the iPad Slate Wars!

While the Apple iPad does have a huge chunk of the tablet consumers, multiple groups are each bent on regaining their stands on certain grounds.

Grasping the concept that they could attack where the iPad is most vulnerable, more and more manufacturers are focusing on their marketing and products development to have the common enemy count the time until it waves the white flag.

Well, it sure sounds melodramatic, but it sure is real with how things are going with the rivalry between the Apple iPad and all the other slates pc tablets; So real that the changes, new faces, multiple integrations and agreements are coming up in a matter of days. But what's cooking the slate war out there? Check out the best tablet pc that are ready for the battle..

Asus Eee Pad

With a warning that Asus will launch an even meaner product in June, the Eee Pad poses a lot of questions, particularly to its OS and use of Qualcomm's Mirasol. Whispers have it that the Waveface concept will be likely seen in this Tegra 2 tablet.

What's guaranteed for now is it will feature the nVidia Tegra 2 graphics and dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, and possess 3G and wifi capabilities.

Fusion Garage JooJoo

This $499 tablet is the most predictable threat with its known first generation graphics, web-based applications, built for easy computing with out-of-the-box flash video.

We've heard so much about this 12.1-inch device with multi-touch display and Ubuntu Linux interface. It's an enemy without threatening warfare.

HP Slate

Now this slate PC is altogether a different story, with its most advanced armaments, intelligent capacities and solid gains on the lengthy war. It's guaranteed to keep the Apple iPad closely watching and working overtime to ensure their scope of consumers stick to their side of each battle.

This slate from HP is known already to have an 8.9-inch multitouch screen and runs on Windows 7. It comes also with hardware-backed Flash video playback, and runs the Kindle app of Amazon.

Microsoft Courier

The courier is one tablet that could go head-to-head with the Apple in terms of interface. This folding two-screened gadget is expected to hit the market before the end of 2010.

Reports mention the Courier is armed with the nVidia's Tegra 2 chip. It is further to be fueled with Zune's HD and Windows Mobile 7 series phones, both good news for consumers.

Dell Mini 5 (Streak)

In the Dell army of tablets, the Streak is tagged the great contender in the slatewars. With its 5-inch multitouch display which is much smaller compared to the iPad and other competitors, it's definitely well-armed.

Plus, its other features like higher speed, convenient front-facing camera and voice recognition puts the Streak at a greater advance. This 5.9 x 3.1 x 0.4 inch of an eight-ounce tablet also has the leading key specs and is expected to hit the market by June this year.

Lenovo IdeaPad U1

Finally, ready for the next battleground would be the IdeaPad U1 with powerful arsenal of Windows 7. It could be switched from just a simple machine to a multitouch tablet, independently running its Linux interface.

Whether you use the pad as a laptop or as a multitouch tablet, two or more tasks can be run on either mode. This Lenovo offering comes with 8 hours battery life, 3G screen and a keyboard base you can operate independently.

2010-04-22T04:55:00.001-07:00

Review: Whole New World of Sony Free Realms MMO Game [Massive-Multiplayer Online]
Awesome iPhone 4G/HD Concept Pictures Wish Were True
HD video recording: Sony Ericsson Vivaz Phone Is It A Worthy Heir to Satio?
Free Antivirus Software for Mac – Review

Review: Whole New World of Sony Free Realms MMO Game [Massive-Multiplayer Online]

Several friends introduced me to the world of MMO or massive-multiplayer online games. I had no idea that there were a lot of options for in-game purchases for these online games.

Some offer monthly subscriptions, pay-per-play, and free-to-play. These MMO games offer a wide array of games from older ones like the ever popular World of Warcraft to new releases like Warhammer Online. But when you look at these games, most of them cater to much older players. This is why Sony created the kid-friendly MMO Free Realms.

My Sony Free Realms MMO Review

I tried the games for myself. The graphics were rather impressive. I became interested myself after seeing them.

MMO Free Realms is free-to-play making it even more inviting. It has now been able to generate more than ten million players, constantly increasing as of this writing, making it a huge success in the industry of online games. When you play these games, other than being free of charge, you don't have to deal with software installations, all that is required is a stable Internet connection. After you log in, the game automatically runs in your Web browser.

In the typical MMO games, we choose our characters then go through a series of stages. With these games, the concept Sony used is rather different, this is because Free Realms is meant for much younger players first and foremost. As I started to play, I learned that enjoying these games would need an open mind. If you are only interested in a typical MMO system then you won't probably enjoy Free Realms.

Free Realms was designed to introduce first time players to the online world by providing game training and social interaction applications like chat. I started with their line of 2D/3D mini-games.

After a while, I proceeded with their Adventure Gameplay feature where most of the games were on combat and exploration. Free Realms also come with Simulation games for those who may be interested in virtual gardening, housing, and pets.

Parents will surely be pleased with the kid-friendly MMO experience offered by Free Realms. Not only are the games less confusing but the numerous gameplay options ensures pure enjoyment even for players who are much older. Probably the only downside is the subscription feature because Sony restricts a number of games for paying players only. But considering how Sony intends to support the MMO for a long time, we can expect Free Realms to improve.

Awesome iPhone 4G/HD Concept Pictures Wish Were True

Pictures can be deceiving. That's what we thought when Engadget released the iPhone 4G leaked pics, not many were in agreement with the fact that it was the next generation iPhone from Apple.

And few days later, Gizmodo, after meddling with the device they owned for over a week, proved the existence of Apple iPhone 4G/HD with a short video preview; Apple fans were enlightened. They praised the design, features and the specifications of the iPhone. This was big! People loved the new iPhone 4G.

The iPhone 4G Concept Photos

What if the conceptual design of the iPhone 4G were true? Not that the leaked iPhone is a dismal failure, but, the conceptual pictures of the iPhone looks stunningly awesome when compared with the real iPhone HD/4G. Because not much of the work is involved in designing the concept pictures.

That being said, we wish to bring those iPhone Concept pictures into the picture to appreciate the time consumed in designing them. So let's check out the best and awesome iPhone 4G/ iPhone HD Concepts:

HD video recording: Sony Ericsson Vivaz Phone Is It A Worthy Heir to Satio?

One among the giant names in the electronic industry, Sony Ericsson, is not alienated when it comes to manufacturing the latest model phones with excellent cameras.

As a matter of fact, the latest Sony Ericsson Vivaz is just another addition to the company's line of awesome handheld phones with satisfactory camera. Sony Vivaz runs on the European third generation frequencies and is impressively able to be used for incessantly auto focusing a 720 pixels of video recording through its PowerVR GPU and 720MHz Cortex A8.

Based on various consumer reviews, Vivaz succeeded the Satio model of one Swedish-Japanese firm in terms of high definition video shoots.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz possess an awesome 8.1MP camera designed especially to allow trouble free upload of YouTube videos and store them on the phone's 8GB memory card.

Short Sony Ericsson Vivaz Review

This Sony Vivaz is of course equipped with touchscreen technology, a resistive one at that, with an ergonomic layout that fits perfectly with the palm of your hand. Though it is not as smooth as compared to HTC Legend and iPhone, nevertheless the screen is still responsive and does not require additional pressure to get the screen to activate.

Holding the phone is already a good experience. Today's social generation will surely want to get hold of the Vivaz for it has an excellent set of multi-media and social networking features. The Vivaz may be placed in line with (and possibly be preferred more than) LG InTouch Max GW620 and Nokia X6.

The physical layout of Vivaz fits perfectly on the hand of the user and is lightweight but not necessarily flimsy. The entire surface of the phone is loaded with smoothness, and as a result it can slip from the hand quite often if you are not cautious in handling it.

Together with the LCD display and being totally plastic made, there is nothing to be set aside with the Vivaz design.

There are four color combinations to choose from if you are interested to purchase a Vivaz, one that I have tried is the Moon Silver. Its back panel is colored silver with sides covered in dark blue shade.

Several buttons too are on the Vivaz phone namely the menu, and end call buttons on the handset front, volume and camera buttons on the right side and a power button on the top. The package contains several supplementary items like microUSB cable for connecting it to the PC.

Free Antivirus Software for Mac – Review

Although Apple has marketed the Mac as a computer that's free from viruses and other malware, and it is true that the Mac is immune from the majority of viruses written for computers, it's starting to become more important for Mac users like you and I to wake up and take some new preventative measures, as more users flock to the Apple platform.

As is the case with Windows, the more users of the operating system, the more lucrative the market is for hackers and cyber criminals to write virus code for that system. Until recently, Mac OS X had about 50 -60 malware code infections. However, recent reports from the Mac community point to increased risks in the platform, and many analysts are pointing accusing fingers at Apple for not taking security as seriously as Microsoft.

But we're not going to wait for Apple to take the stand against virus makers; in today's post, I'm going to tell you about a really cool (and free) anti-virus software for the Mac called iAntiVirus. It comes in a few editions, with the basic one being free (the only feature limitations I found were no customer support and the software is for personal use only, but that's OK for me and should be for most of you readers out there).

iAntiVirus is really quick to load (it's a small file, so it's quick to download too). It offers full-time protection, and allows you to Quick Scan your Mac (what I did, and posted the screenshot). This process is pretty fast, and from my experience, quite thorough.

After a few minutes, it posts a report about the scan, detailing the number of files scanned, and the number of affected files. Luckily for me, my MacBook is pretty clean!

What's cool about iAntiVirus program is that is has always-on protection, so in the unfortunate event that you open an infected file, the software will quickly come to the rescue and alert you to the properties of the file.

The application displays as a small icon in the menu bar, and clicking the icon opens up a list of options — showing the iAntiVirus screen, setting the the protection to always-on, app preferences and a few other options besides.

While this free version is limited in phone-in customer support and is for personal use only, I found it a great way to safeguard my Mac against any threats, in this age of computing when Apple computers are becoming more and more common.

Mac OS X comes with great rock-solid UNIX security and a strong firewall, but hey, it's still better to be safe than sorry!

iAntiVirus can be downloaded from here. (Direct link)

2010-04-20T02:44:00.001-07:00

The Scope of Apple iPad Revolution
Hit Games and Apps for iPad at Apple App Store
Best Spy Watches Gadgets
Is AVG Internet Security 9 A Worthy Update?

The Scope of Apple iPad Revolution

I have always considered the best platform and more efficient operating systems account for which is the better personal computer.

And that is why with the long-running competition between Apple and Microsoft, this mind is keener on how the PC works for me. Of course, I take into account that some devices are just much better or are marketed better. In the end, I make sure I purchase what works for me.

It is simply a delight, most of all, now that both functions of a gadget and a business machine are now in just one device. No more choosing between a toy and a tool; it's just about grabbing the one device that has all the technologies for work and fun. Just like iPhone, when it came into being, it was largely considered a consumer toy, not a business device. But since then, this Apple product have broken the traditional concepts and crawled toward the top.

Now, having an iPad and an iPhone is not limited to business professionals, although they are, in reality, heavily used by consumers, the Apple devices have also earned a huge chunk of user from other demographics.

While its competitors do have similar excellent products, the marketing strength and scope of Apple is highly commendable. It has since erased the idea that its products are mere business computers with some entertainment integrated into it. For instance, users and techies now largely accept that the iPad is an excellent consumer device with great business functionality.

The line of products from Apple also allows the varying generations to get one product without difficulty adjusting and learning new things. Kids and adults always get to choose which Apple device would work best for them.

Truly, Apple has gone a long way and done so much to achieve a top spot among consumers. Now, if only it has lesser grip on its product. Many are turned-off by its tight control on its hardware and software, the distribution and its third party applications. The propriety character of Apple shuns off integration with other networks and applications; Kind of a big-time put-off for me.

The story of the iPad revolution could be great but then there are also realities we live by. Like it will never take the place of notebooks or desktops, just as the tablet is not a replacement for a laptop.

The iPad and the tablet, like all other gadgets, are one-of-a-kind devices that are purchased based on preference. As it is, most business professionals are still attached to their desktop and notebooks, but find the fun and convenience in having their iPad as well. Works well for them and for me too!

Hit Games and Apps for iPad at Apple App Store

So still fiddling with your newly purchased Apple iPad? Not getting enough of it even if you already spent countless hours trying to figure out what's new and best iPad apps in the apple store?

Well to help you make the most out of your iPad check out some of this best games and apps that I have personally tried and tested on my iPad.

High Definition Doodleblast

Just as the developer of the game, Juraj Hlavac, hastily made necessary steps for the game to be included among the iPad applications to be launched, the game itself also incorporates some speed. It is about high speed blasting and exterminating of several cartoon villains.

Though it is not necessarily a game to get you addicted to stay up all night, it surely is a manifestation of how the iPad is designed with utter speed.

Journalism Enhanced, Wall Street

This sounds good for people who love to keep up to date with current events. Imagine getting to read your daily broad sheet in a compact and innovative iPad. But you may probably have to adjust your eyes as the pages seem to be moving about on their own will.

A dizzying presentation, I could say, as the pages and articles have their own unpredictable behaviors. There should be more images added to the articles or some search functions and readily available hyperlinks for videos and tweets. The basic application is free but to access all articles and back issues, a subscription fee of $4 per week must be paid.

iBooks for reading

iBook is the simple, sleek and colorful Apple version of Kindle with the default interface that allows browsing of ebook visual art covers in a wooden bookshelf. But like a card catalog box, eBooks may also be viewed by title, author and category.

Aside from the colorful illustrations in the pages, there are also scroll bars at the bottom, pop dictionary for references and other necessities at the point of the finger plus other exciting and useful features including ebook purchasing.

HD RealRacing

For ten bucks, you can enjoy an adrenaline rush game dubbed anti social as you are purely on your own as you steer the wheels and compete with other virtual cars towards the finish line.

The iPad itself could be used as the steering wheel but options for touch controls and addition of MP3 tracks to replace the game's terrible music are also included.

Marvel Comics Stories

Loved the Marvel Comics since you were a kid? Then grab your iPad and enhance it with the ingeniously made graphic novel app. The cost per title is $2, but only a handful is initially available. There are also no video clips, or hyperlinks, just pure graphical comics that will be improved in the future.

So what do you think of these iPad Apps? Cool enough for you? Also check out Mixxmuse iPad app, and if you found any other cool Apple iPad apps please feel free tolet us know about it, we will be glad to hear from you

Best Spy Watches Gadgets

If your hidden desire to be a popular espionage keeps creeping your mind, then you can at least satisfy it to some extent by owning a spy watch which is definitely an interesting gadget to have.

Moreover, if you have a big pocket then you can go for the best and the expensive spy watches which will surely help you to see yourself somewhere in the shoes of Sherlock Holmes.

Besides being an everyday gadget, these spy watches also proves to be very helpful if you wish to keep an eye on your business partner or carry out any secretive activity on them. The market is flooded with wide range of spy watches and the list of some of the best spy watches is as follows.

DVR Spy Watch:

Built stylishly is this watch for men which includes video camera, digital video recorder and a microphone in it. Thus by compacting wide array of technology in one small piece it proves to be a perfect choice if you wish to gather some video evidence without getting recognized.

Other features of this watch include 8GB internal memory, capable of taking JPG pictures, discrete video recording and many others.

Digital Watch Camera:

This remarkable piece of technology proves to be a perfect surveillance gadget as its 3.7mm F2.7 lens allows you to capture 320 photos having resolution of 640 X 480.

In order to make sure that you are capturing the right material needed, there is a LCD display in this watch as well.

DiskGo USB Watch:

This interesting watch has 2GB of memory where you can save all the needed information.

It also proves to be an apt choice when you want to sneak into the data of a PC as it features plug and play USB port that provides quick access.

DiskGo wrist Watch also has 2 USB cords in it for easy and convenient data transfer and is definitely a stylish spying gadget deserving its stay in the top spy watches list.

KB-MP1700 -Voice Recorder Watch:

If audio is an utmost importance to you in your spy plan then KB-MP1700 the voice recorder watch will prove to be your true companion.

This interesting and effective watch has 256MB of flash memory that is capable of storing up to 9 hours of audio recording.

So just get your hands on any one of these watches and make a move towards your spy mission.

Is AVG Internet Security 9 A Worthy Update?

A newer version of AVG Internet Security has been released. This software basically provides protection to our pc from getting infected with viruses and other threats and also helps clean our already infected pc.

The AVG Internet Security 9 which is the newest update for the AVG suite is almost the same with the older versions. Nothing has changed much and is almost the same except with the new version name and has a little bit of a problem over its presentation area. It is difficult to find the things that you need such as the tools for firewall protection and antivirus scanner.

The new version of AVG Internet Security 9 also is a bit slower in booting up as compared to its previous versions or even with other free antivirus softwares. It takes a lot of time in scanning the targeted areas than it usually does, it has been estimated that it will take 3 to 4 minutes longer than its older versions.

Although AVG Internet Security 9 can detect infections in your systems better than that of your average internet security, still it is not 100 percent. Since it does not detect and clean all infections in your pc such as those nasty malwares, the latter will cause problems in the long run.

But this version do has its merits. It has been at its best in detecting stealth malwares and has 87 percent success rate in detecting such infections which is the average for most anti-virus soft-wares. It is also important that this hidden malwares be detected, right?

In the field of behavioral malware detection, AVG Internet Security has proven that it is most excellent on that particular field because it was able to get hold of Sana Security. It has been performing its best at behavioral scanning and removing the malwares with 93 percent effectively as compared to other suites.

Lastly, AVG Internet Security 9 has this so called Linkscanner that prevents malware from attacking your pc even before you open a website. It generally allows you to visit a site but it scans the link you are about to visit and removes the undesirable content which will infect your pc.

Overall, I can say that AVG Internet Security 9 is no so much different with its other versions. Though, it is still best that you keep your internet security updated to prevent any harmful malwares in infecting your pc.

2010-04-20T02:36:00.001-07:00

ViewSonic VEB 625 Book Reader – Formidable Enough To Rival Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader?
Real Leaked Pictures of New iPhone HD Phone
Best iPhone 3G/3GS Cases – Carbon Fiber Cases | Stylish iPhone Cases.
Getting in Sync with My New Motorola Cliq XT [Review]
Twitter and Amazon URL Shortening Service Can Jeopardize Existing Providers.

ViewSonic VEB 625 Book Reader – Formidable Enough To Rival Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader?

I am one for convenience and I like how people spend much effort in finding new ways to make everyday living so much more convenient.

Today, another innovation is currently making waves across borders and this is the electronic book or e-book reader. Yes, new age reading has indeed arrived. Avid readers can now bring all of their favorite reading materials without the need for any heavy lifting.

The Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader revolutionized the electronic book industry by offering a world of knowledge in a neat little package and now another product attempts to do even more.

ViewSonic currently released a line of e-book readers namely the VEB 620 reader and VEB 625 reader both offering 6-inch monochrome screen displays and 2GB internal memory for your digital library. To compensate for the absence of full color displays, which were rather disappointing, ViewSonic designed these readers with touch screen technology.

I prefer the Viewsonic VEB 625 model though because it is already Wi-Fi ready. I can easily download e-books to my reader. With the VEB 620, you still need to manually load your e-books may it be via SD card or USB connection.

ViewSonic Against Amazon Kindle and Sony reader

Also, each ViewSonic reader uses a G-sensor that allows the onscreen display to reorient itself, in vertical or landscape mode, according to how the device is held just like the Apple iPad. This new feature gives ViewSonic readers an advantage over their predecessors.

Flipping through pages with the ViewSonic feels as if I was going through the pages of a real book. This is because of the E-INK technology used for these reader screens. E-INK only requires minimal backlighting saving much battery power, not to mention lessens eyestrain from lengthy reading.

I was already able to go through a number of different books with thousands of pages and the battery was not even on the halfway mark. You can also adjust the text size to your liking with this device. Just zoom in for a better look or zoom out for more page information.

Aside from going through a number of electronic books, I was also able to use my ViewSonic reader to store and view photos and even listen to music files and audio books using the 3.5mm headphone jack. Clearly the ViewSonic readers achieved the standards set by the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader. Who knows? Maybe in a few months we'll get to see yet another innovation that surpasses these models.

Real Leaked Pictures of New iPhone HD Phone

The concept photos of the rumored iPhone HD / iPhone 4G are already floating around the web. This upcoming phone – iPhone HD is all set to be announced in the month of June and some sources have found the leaked images of the new iPhone HD.

There have been leaked photos of iPhone HD model for over a month now. Some name this as iPhone 4G, the iPhone HD, and iPhone Pro – Whatever it is, the rumors are getting way too frequent, and sometimes boring!

The first real iPhone HD phone which resembles this concept image has a aluminum uni-body and looks definitely a little too heavier. There have been rumors of integrated front face camera on the new iPhone HD, and only time will speak for itself if there's any truth. Check out the images..

Another version of the iPhone HD leaked images was spotted by Engadget, although not so beautiful at first glance but its the features that matters the most. No leaks of the exact specification yet! Maybe that are to be rumored once the pictures are confirmed.

Here are the set of images found through a Chinese twitter by @TUDream from twitter.

You never know this can be the real iPhone HD phone we might be witnessing in the hands of Steve Jobs in June.

Best iPhone 3G/3GS Cases – Carbon Fiber Cases | Stylish iPhone Cases.

Whether its the iPhone apps or the iPhone stands, Apple iPhone accessories are very much popular among the iPhone owners. And part of all this also includes protecting your iPhone from scratches and damages, in such cases, using a iPhone case would be the best possible option.

Of course, there are plastic iPhone cases available in the market that are inexpensive. However, those cases (most of them) doesn't really stand upto its expectation. Also they are boring.

If you are willing to get a custom like cases for your iphone then better check out the Carbon Fiber cases, these are state of the art iPhone cases that provides sporty and stylish look for your iPhone. You can buy such iphone 3G/3GS cases online, or get a similar one from any of the stores for under $100.

Here is the compiled list of the awesome, the best iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS cases that has Carbon fiber, stylish and beautiful Apple iPhone cases

Moncarbone Carbon Fiber iPhone case

Xbox 360 iPhone Case

Striscai Series Case for iPhone 3G/ 3GS

Playstation iPhone Case

Case Mate For iPhone 3G – 3GS

Jeans Series Case for iPhone 3G/ 3GS

Metal Camera Lens iPhone Case

Funkalicious Tee and iPhone 3G/3GS Case

DRO Concepts' Carbon Fiber iPhone 3G Case

Bookshelf iPhone 3G/3GS Case

Last but not the least – The Recession iPhone Case Price: Free

Getting in Sync with My New Motorola Cliq XT [Review]

I just bought a Motorola Cliq XT and after trying it out for a few days I can honestly say that the XT is alright but it could be better.

Pocket-able Design

The phone was lightweight and compact but it only comes in one color scheme, gray with chrome accents, and uses the typical numerical grid keyboard. Running on 320 by 480 pixels, the colors were acceptable considering that this was no Droid.

My problems started when the time came for me to test how responsive the unit was. Basically, it was unpredictable, for every tap, you are not sure if it would respond immediately or if you need to tap the icon again. The screen also stuttered when you scroll down a long list of selections. "Good luck checking for contacts or media files on this thing."

The Motorola Cliq XT has a Web function and the touchpad navigation keys allowed for easy surfing on the Internet. It was easy to manipulate. Moving from one page to another was a breeze. "I was impressed with this feature." It was responsive and easy to use with one hand. It took me a while to get the hang of the Swype function for the touch screen keyboard but with practice I was able to type faster and easier than usual. This is definitely another plus for the Motorola Cliq XT.

XT Pros has an Average Performance

As a Wi-Fi ready 3G phone, the Motorola Cliq XT is capable of superior browsing speeds loading media-heavy pages almost instantly.

Motorola Cliq XT Pros

Compact and lightweight unit
Full multimedia function with navigational touch pad

Motorola Cliq XT Cons

Average screen display
Numerical grid keyboard

The Motorola Cliq XT applies MotoBlur technology; this makes it easier for you to manage you social networking pages not to mention your email account with much convenience especially since it comes with Flash.

The Motorola Cliq XT is connected to the Google network giving you access to a multitude of Google applications like Gmail and YouTube but you can easily sync your phone to the Yahoo network too.

The Connected Music feature is incredible! You can access countless videos, mp3 tunes, and lyrics from a wide library when connected to the Internet. The built in speakers provided a good sound but the external speaker can use some tweaking.

Bottom Line

The Motorola Cliq XT is not the best performer out of the Moto line but it works perfectly for all your multimedia needs.

Twitter and Amazon URL Shortening Service Can Jeopardize Existing Providers.

Heard of the new internet service called 'URL shortening'? Well, in case you haven't, then visit some favorite sites for shopping and social networking to find out.

Amazon and Twitter, respectively are two of the newest joiners of the club which now provides shortening of URL just like TinyURL and Is.gd.

As it seems, Twitter and Amazon may have made a good move for their business, since people are looking for short-cuts that are dependable enough in terms of service provided.

For Amazon, the alleged shortened URL will be amzn.to/xxxxxx. The x's are letters and numbers combination for the giant shopping site. This service shall be provided and powered for Amazon by a third party service, Bitly.pro.

Twitter on the other hand, is just rumored to be launching its own shortened URL but no words yet on whatever it is or if ever a third party will host it for Twitter. This report was somehow denied by the chief exec of Twitter, Evan Williams and said that users may not possibly have this shortening alternative from a third party .

Size does matter

Should Twitter be using its own service for URL shortening, this would be an impact for the entire URL-shortening industry. How and Why? When URL-shortening services like is.gd, tinyurl and bit.ly would halt from its operation, the links that go and are associated with them will also become invalid.

So far no major damages have yet unfolded but from last year's unfolding of events, tr.im had discontinued its venture for accepting new URLs with the exception of interfaces for programming. In addition, if Twitter would power its own shortened URL, its own servers shall handle the redirection and may be a point for reliability issues.

However, this would add stability to links for a long duration of time for Twitter. As long as Twitter exist, so will your links associated with Twitter. Really, there should be no raucous disagreement about this. Why worry too much for the welfare of companies powering shortened URLs when giant companies like The New York Times, Amazon and Huffington Post are obtaining this service from bit.ly.

Surely, the shortened URL service providers will have to stay for a while. The main problem might fall on the fact that if Twitter pursue its own-powered URL shortening, it's possible that the site may even crash and can even be in disarray.

2010-04-20T02:29:00.001-07:00

Features, Specifications of iPhone 4G/HD
A Short Video Preview of iPhone HD/4G Phone From Gizmodo
Recording in High definition With Toshiba Camileo SX900 Camcorder
MUDownManager – Free Megaupload Download Manager
What I'd Like In iPhone 4G [Features]

Features, Specifications of iPhone 4G/HD

Rumors and confirmations of the upcoming iPhone 4G are making their move on the internet. They're definitely buzzing! And people are in search for exploring the possibilities of what the next iPhone has in store for them!

Some part of the Apple has been shaken by the pictures and videos of iPhone 4G leak, the sources are most probably real! What about the specifications of iPhone HD? And what are the new iPhone HD features? Would the next iPhone meet consumer's demand?

Lots of questions are on our minds. All of them are to be answered during the WWDC event, for sure. However, the specifications of the next iPhone, although not official, has been presented by Gizmodo, again.

Details, Features and Specifications of Apple iPhone 4g/iPhone HD

iPhone 4G weighs 140 grams
Sleek, flat design
Larger battery size
Shiny glass/plastic back
Higher resolution; therefore the name iPhone HD
Battery energy: 5.25 WHr
Surrounded with the aluminum border
Easy Video chatting thanks to the front end camera
Camera Flash support
Additional MIC next to the headphone jack
Use of Micro Sim
Expected resolution to be 960×640
Better battery life
Metallic buttons for the power, cute and volume control

Obviously, the pricing of iPhone 4G aren't out. But they are supposed to be reasonable (Aren't apple products affordable? ) and it'd be interesting to see if Apple can come up with extra large storage space!

A Short Video Preview of iPhone HD/4G Phone From Gizmodo

We've seen some real leaked pictures of iPhone HD/4G and also had a write-up on the upcoming iPhone features we expect from Apple iPhone 4G. Surprisingly these pictures were completely real.

The proof of existence of the Apple iPhone HD was confirmed through Gizmodo, a gadget blog, eliminating the misconceptions and spiking up the curiosity by posting a short video of iPhone 4G.

So, without further ado, Let's check out these short video's of real iPhone HD (iPhone 4G):

The story of Gizmodo getting their hands on iPhone is quite interesting; John Gruber, connected with Apple Inc, has confirmed that one of the upcoming iPhone unit was lost. And as they have posted this video, it could well be the real iPhone from Apple that is to be announced in June.

Interestingly, the phone has a front end camera and the most wanting feature: Flash support. Other improvements such as better regular camera, battery life and improved display are included.

What are we waiting for? The specifications of next iPhone are out, and the device is almost confirmed to be the next Apple iPhone product. The only thing that we are waiting for is the naming; iPhone 4G or iPhone HD. And, of course for Apple to turn the tables and bring in a new device altogether Wish that could happen!

Recording in High definition With Toshiba Camileo SX900 Camcorder

Toshiba already has its family or line of products with Camileo flash, and now has but added two more latest models. No family planning needed here! The two newest members of the family are Toshiba Camileo SX500 and Toshiba Camileo SX900. Both are about to be baptized in UK on July with a price of £200 each.

Ever since Toshiba has began its goal in producing flash memory-based devices two years ago, the company has nevertheless been making great leaps in the market of digital camcorders.

Toshiba is even manufacturing same memory gadgets for other business-related entities and therefore has been giving its more than fair share to the industry of Flash memory.

Nowadays, Toshiba has but created camcorders of high value which consumers have welcomed in open arms. There is not a single member of the Toshiba camcorder family thatconsumers have dubbed as 'black sheep' or 'prodigal son'.

Now with the two youngest family members both with 1080 pixels high resolution, the Camileo camcorder models SX900 and SX500 will not replace the X100 camcorder we now have but instead, the two youngsters will even enhance and complement it.

The two new camcorder models, SX900 and SX500 have an obvious slimmer bodies compared to the X100. The optics departments of the camcorders are even more worked out. The new camcorder models can shoot an almost minute 3 lux (a level much less that in a twilight) setting with low-light handling.

The maximum resolution for a video footage is 1920 by 1080 pixels with 30 frames a second. Moreover, shooting for 60 fps may be a possibility but only as interlaced video footage. The video recordings may then be transferred and stored to a different and separate removable media card. For these two new cams, both can handle a maximum of 64 GB SDHC media cards.

Model SX900 possess 9x of optical zooming and model SX500 has a 5x optical zoom, so as their names suggest. Both camera recorders are with 12x supplementary digital zoom enhancements.

The Toshiba Camileo may be described as camera recorders of videos but as a camera it can also do some still photo shooting. This is made possible by the 2.7in tilt-adjustable 230K screen for composition. Plus the camcorders are also equipped with image stabilizers, auto focus pointers, face recognition, adjustment tweaks of manual light utilization; plus the Toshiba cams have predominant color functions.

MUDownManager – Free Megaupload Download Manager

We reviewed the official megaupload download manager and they're pretty descent software for saving Megaupload files. If you're looking for something similar, as an alternative, then check out this yet another free megaupload download manager – MudownManager.

Mentioned by Cadin through comments, I quickly downloaded MuDownManager to test its ability to download megaupload files, and it sure does download them!

MudownManager is a free download manager for Megaupload files, along with that it also supports downloading of Rapidshare files. Of course, simultaneous megaupload downloads or of Rapidshare files aren't possible. No software does that for free!

This download manager queues up the files and automatically downloads the file one-by-one. If you've proxy host and port then input them to download files from different location simultaneously (Again, you need to pay as free proxies go dead in couple of hours). MUdownmanager sticks to the basic needs, and so the interface is real simple.

Add your megaupload or rapidshare files using the Add button and queue any number of megaupload files for download.

MUdownmanager is spyware free, unlike few spyware download managers, and this app definitely deserves to be in the best download manager list.

Download MUdownmanager (Sourceforge)

What I'd Like In iPhone 4G [Features]

The iPad hype is finally over, and now Apple fanboy attention turns to June/July, when the annual WWDC — World Wide Developers Conference — is held at the Moscone Centre, San Francisco.

This is usually the time when Apple CEO Steve Jobs takes the stage at the developer conference to deliver the opening keynote. More importantly, it's when the fruity company we've all come to love and hate announces the next iPhone.

The tentative name for the new Apple phone is the "iPhone 4G", alluding to the continuation from the old "3G" moniker. Whilst it may not actually include 4G network technology, as its predecessor, the 3G did, the 4G tag may identify this phone as the true 4th version of the iPhone.

And as we near the WWDC 2010, rumours are abound of suspected pictures of the next iPhone. I used to own an iPhone 3G, but gave it up in favour of a Nokia N79 due to the frustrating limitations of the phone — no multitasking, lack of video recording, high data costs — but my attention is slowly returning to Cupertino's mobile venture as Apple has now included many of those features I once detested the iPhone for lacking.

So here's my wishlist of features the next iPhone should have. Note that many of these are very fantastical, and may not even make it to the finished product come WWDC 2010.

Slide-out Keyboard

Perhaps the one feature that'll never,ever make it to the next iPhone, the slide-out keyboard is a feature that I feel would still be pretty cool on an iPhone. Similar to how Nokia did it with the N97 (except, of course, that the keyboard arrangement should be better thought-out) having a physical keyboard would allow users to type longer text more efficiently on the iPhone. Screen gestures and "tap-to-type" could still be useful for quickly checking mail, responding to messages or searching for a file on the phone.

iChat for iPhone

Recent rumors say that the next iPhone will have a front-facing camera. If this is true, then it goes without saying that Apple will include a mobile version of its instant messaging application made popular on the Mac, iChat. From this, we can expect interesting things like video calling and access to Gtalk, Jabber, AIM and other IM buddies. However, knowing Apple, the video calling feature might be tied in to a data or voice plan, and incur extra charges when you make this type of call.

Accelerometer Lock

The iPad has it, so this is a feature that could actually end up in the final product. It gets really annoying to use the iPhone when lying on your side in bed; tilting it sideways changes the orientation of the screen. The iPad fixed this problem with a dedicated key, the "screen lock" key that "freezes" the current screen orientation. It'd be great if Apple included it in the iPhone 4G (or whatever they decide to call it).

Informative Standby Screen

Currently, the "lock" screen or standby screen isn't that informative. All it displays is the current time and date, and if you have any latest messages or notifications, that'll appear on the screen. With the next iPhone, let's hope that Apple addresses this with adding things like upcoming appointments, to-do list items, etc. Already, the new APIs in the iPhone OS 4.0 point to some interesting things that can be done with the home screen. Let's see what developers can come up with using them

This is just a few of my ideas that I hope the next iPhone will have. Of course, none of them may even end up in the finished product, and the only way we'll know this is come WWDC 2010, set to happen in June/July this year.

2010-04-16T23:07:00.001-07:00

Download iPad Mixxmuse – Pro DJ Mixer App For Apple iPad

Want to sound cool? How about being your own in-house DJ, and treat the rest with your awesome music remixes? That'd be thrilling! And its possible thanks to Mixxmuse – Free App for the wannabe professional DJ made for Apple iPad.

We have seen Soundation DJ studio – a easy to use online DJ mixer, but Mixxmuse brings in a whole new DJing experience right on the iPad and all this for free. You'll be creating music with your own hands and make multiple real time loops to multiply the music effect.

Mixxmuse is the best DJ App for iPad

Although creating music depends on one's own creativity, but Mixxmuse makes it very easy for anyone, even with no base knowledge, to create their own music mix instantly.

You can add tracks, change the volume, use equalizer, make loops and add beats to your music – And, all this gets even more easier thanks to the touch-sensitive screen of the iPad.

Need a demo? Check out this video from the developers of Mixxmuse.

I am very sure as in the real Pro-Dj's out there would love to play with Mixxmuse. It's for everyone and it's completely free!

Mixxmuse is in alpha stage and a lot more features are added up constantly. This app is definitely among the few that is a 'must-have' for the iPad.

Download Mixxmuse App (iTunes)

The iPad Jailbreak Buzzes for the Apple iPad

For weeks now there's been a lot of buzz about the upcoming jailbreak for the iPad, citing the leaders, developers and other jailbreakers to come up with the soonest update.

Many posts have come out about how the iPad which is running iPhone OS 3.2 will cause a circus among followers scrambling to purchase their personal gadget.

Personally, I think the greater portion of the buzz came after it was announced by Spirit which was largely responsible for the same jailbreak for iPhone. Posts abound say the iPad jailbreak does not pose the hassle of having to install any other software.

But the talks, posts, comments and views don't end there. The iPad which was known to have been released, very soon will either have the Spirit for its first jailbreak or it could be the favorite, George Hotz. Interesting because fingers are drumming on the idea that the jailbreak is largely perceived to be a port of the untethered jailbreak for iPhone, something with George Gotz came up with a while back.

More interestingly, many are also on the watch for jailbreaks from the iPhone dev team and the Chronic dev team as well. But this is not to say that the same will work well for the iPad, largely because the iPad has no USB connectors which allow easier docking and syncing of the device. It was much easier with the iPhone because the USB helped in simple, yet very fast means for users to dock the device and have it synced in a snap of a finger.

There are few people in the field, though, who are strong in the belief that the jailbreaks for iPad would come sooner and come easy. They say that for so many times, Apple made sure such would not be a simple thing; they have posed the restrictive modes and greater difficulty on iPhone devs to come up with untethered jailbreaks.

The picture of how the developers will overcome these is as filled with great buzz. But still, everyone is on the brink of watching the Cydia store updates. As it is, fingers are getting really fidgety and just waiting to install the unauthorized application on the iPad.

The buzz keeps going, and that is what an even greater interest is. Expect more bandwagon jumpers and at the same time, learn the latest on iPad jailbreaks.

Using Digital Camera's Macro Mode to View and Shoot Close-up Photos [Tip]

Here are some great guidelines which I personally implement using Macro mode of my digital camera in capturing a photo object's important details!

With perfect practice and the right settings, brilliant close-ups photo's can be captured instantly with your digital camera. Without further ado, lets check out the tips:

Attend to the Background

For shooting outdoors, remember to use the flash to illuminate fuzzy and muddled backgrounds.

Closing Up with the Macro Mode

When things are small, we tend to disregard them, but the technology of Macro Mode in Cameras has shown us the beauty and wonder of those minute things we take for granted.

By using the macro mode on your camera, which is usually indicated by a tulip icon, or by affixing a filter for close-ups on the front part of the camera, you can get close and capture the aesthetic quality of small things like bugs, flowers and coins. Just keep in mind to address lighting and opening particulars.

Small Aperture for Large Field Depth

Use the aperture feature of the camera, if one is provided. For even a small opening such as f/11 or f/12, a large field depth may already be provided, enough to make the murky background identifiable. While a large aperture of f/4 may be used for shallow depth of field.

Add on Lenses for Going Beyond the Macro

If the en suite enlargement of your camera is not yet enough for a certain scene you want to capture, there are always those add-ion lenses for you to utilize. Enhancing the magnification of the camera, these so called macro filters are available at a reasonable price from camera manufacturers, actual shop or online camera stores.

These lenses are to be attached at the front of the fitted lens in your camera. Before purchasing, make sure your camera can be used with these add-ons.

Combination of Macro Filters for getting closer

Threading camera lenses is done to make the camera more useful. A +1 lens combined or threaded with +2 lens makes up a +3 impressive camera magnification. A smart choice when purchasing camera add-on lenses is to buy a set instead of individual purchases.

To use the lenses properly, keep in mind to place the highest magnification first or closest in proximity to the camera so that smaller increments may conveniently be removed if need be.

Plus a Game of Hunt

When the tiny object is hard to shoot, use a tripod with the head set loose, utilize the fastest shutter speed or the sports/action mode with light pressure and concentrate on the most interesting detail of the subject. Then snap as many as you want to get the perfect photo image.

I hope you too can use the tips discussed in this write up, maybe you can post your tips/thoughts on here.

Guide to Jailbreak iPhone 4.0 With Redsn0w 0.9.5 on Apple iPhone 3G

Targeting the developers of jailbroken apps – Redsn0w beta has now been released by the iPhone dev team! With the methodological use of older exploits, these awesome guys have unexpectedly come up with jail breaking guide for the iPhone 4.0 OS, although this works on the Apple iPhone 3G only.

It's indeed quite surprising to note that this iPhone jailbreaking for 4.0 was released without the mention of releasing iphone 3.1.3 jailbreak, perhaps the dev teams are clinged with the latest iPhone 4.0 OS and prefer it that way.

In anyway, here is the guide to jailbreak iPhone 4.0 with Redsn0w 0.9.5 on your Apple iPhone 3g (Repeat: Not for iPhone 3GS). Thanks to Taimur from Redmondpie, Sandip from Blogsdna, and of course, the dev wiki for compiling a proper iphone jailbreak guide.

Read this carefully: As a remainder, this jailbreaking works only for iPhone 3G which has 4.0beta1 IPSW installed. You need to be on the Mac OS X running the latest iTunes version since jailbreak apps are developed on this platform.

You also require a registered Apple UDID to activate/unlock your iPhone. Use this for testing and educational purposes only. And finally, other iPhone firmwares cannot be unlocked! Strictly for iPhone 4.0 (Stressed this enough number of times to make sure you are aware of your doings)

How to Jailbreak iPhone OS 4.0 Firmware With Redsn0w 0.9.5

Step 1: Download the iPhone OS 4 Beta for Apple iPhone 3G (If you are a developer you can get it from the Apple website, or you can also download the leaked version of iPhone 4.0from the web- iPhone1,2_4.0_8A230m_Restore.ipsw)

Step 2: Install the iPhone 4.0 OS beta on your iPhone 3G.

Step 3: Download the latest redsn0w 0.9.5 from here. Launch it from your iPhone and point to the firmware (in this case it is: iPhone1,2_4.0_8A230m_Restore.ipsw)

Step 4: You have to select "Install Cydia" and then click on "Next". Use DFU mode for installing jailbreak.

Step 5: There will be no source to the Cydia when your iPhone 3G is back up and running, therefore go to Sources panel and add this repo: http://apt.saurik.com/cydia-3.7 (need carrier or wi-fi signal for this)

Step 6: You'd notice that when Cydia restarts, the sources as in icons, logo would be visible and you're ready to use your Jailbroken iPhone 3G running 4.0 beta 0S.