Bloggitude!!!!

New Facebook Feature Notifies You About Weddings

2012-07-13T11:21:00.002+05:30

Thanks to Facebook, i never miss out on wishing my friends on their birthdays.With the popularity of birthday reminders, Facebook is now adding up a similar notification feature for engagements and weddings, which will notify you when your friends are getting married or engaged, so that you don’t miss congratulating the couple .Facebook announced a new feature called "Weddings and Celebrations" Similar to the birthday feature, the weddings and celebrations feature shows friends' status on the top right-hand side of the page once they change it to "married" or "engaged."

When a new notification arrives, users can simply click on it and congratulate the couple without having to switch between profiles, just like the way you post a birthday wish. In addition to this, you can even send a friend request to the person your friend is getting engaged or married with.New wedding and engagement announcement will appear for two days after couple makes announcement.With this new feature, the world is certainly shrinking into Facebook.

Nexus 7 Tablet Review

2012-07-05T15:35:00.003+05:30

By Akshay Moza

Google has unveiled its very own branded Nexus 7 tablet. It is the first tablet with Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean". Priced at around $199 for 8GB and $250 for 16GB. It basically renders every 7 inch tablet priced at more than $300 in the market. So if you are looking to buy a small tablet to surf internet and play games, this is the one to buy.

Physical Features and Internet:

Kudos go to the Taiwan based hardware manufacturer Asus. Nexus 7 looks well built which is classy for $200 tablet. A Glass screen dominates the front of the tablet, and around the back there's a slightly grippy, stippled black rubber panel. The display is bright enough to see indoors and out, on par with the Kindle Fire, although it's more reflective and less saturated than the high-end AMOLED screens used by the far more expensive tablets like the Toshiba Excite 7.7 ($499.99) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. A Wi-Fi-only device, the Nexus 7 connects to the Internet using 802.11 b/g/n, albeit only on the 2.4GHz band. The tablet supports Bluetooth for audio and NFC to transfer files to other NFC-equipped Android devices. Interestingly, Google Wallet doesn't appear in Google Play on the Nexus 7. So, for now, at least, it doesn't look like you can make NFC credit-card payments here.

Performance and Apps:

The quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset inside is one of the fastest mobile processors around. This unit runs at 1.3GHz in single core mode, and 1.2GHz when two to four cores are active. It's far faster than the Kindle Fire's older dual-core chipset. System wise Nexus 7 is at par with other recent Tegra 3 tablets like Toshiba's Excite 7.7. I have read few reviews on Nexus 7's performance v/s other tablets and it has certainly proved to be a front runner. Graphics performance is rock-solid with a 55.9 fps rating in NenaMark, higher than the Excite 7.7 and the Asus Transformer Pad TF300. Nexus 7 weighs 12 ounces and has a front-facing camera. Battery backup is supposed to last for 4 to 5 hours during normal use.

Nexus is the first Google device to install Chrome as the default browser, and it's about 30 percent faster than the older stock Android browser. It has a better tab interface and screen transitions are indeed smoother. Also there's no lag with the touch keyboard.

Google has claimed Nexus 7 to be a serious gaming device and with Android 4.1 on the cards ,the user experience might prove to be more polished than previous Android iterations.

Google Nexus 7 highlights

Size: 198.5 x 120 x 10.45 mm
Weight: 340 gram
Wi-Fi b/g/n
Bluetooth
Nvidia Tegra 3 processor
USB
GPS
NFC
8 or 16 GB internal storage
1 GB RAM
4325 mAh battery
8 hours of active use
1.2 megapixel front camera
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Sensors: Accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope

Positives:

Fast, Well-built, Value for money

Concerns:

Limited storage, No HDMI or MHL to connect the tablet to HDTVs.

Bottom Line:

Google and Asus smack it out of the park with the Nexus 7, a terrific small-screen tablet that's an incredible value at $200. Well, I am eagerly waiting for its release in Indian markets to have it in my hands as it's the most bang for the buck you can get in the market right now.

8 Reasons To Use Friendcaster For Facebook And Ditch The Official App (Android)

2012-06-13T12:41:00.001+05:30

Facebook has been getting a lot of flak for its Facebook App for Android from a long time now . Not only is it buggy and slow , every update that has been released creates more problems .
On the wake of Facebook’s IPO, Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed that they will be concentrating more on mobile devices . But with the continuing under-performance of the official app , one must start looking at alternatives if not already .
Though there have been improvements in the User Interface recently , the whole experience is woefully buggy .

After using both the apps (Friendcaster and Official FB app) and testing it thoroughly I have listed 10 reasons for ditching the Official App for Friendcaster .

Initial Start-up Time : It took a painfully long 9 secs to get anything on the screen after tapping on the icon whereas Friendcaster took less than 3 secs to start-up.
Notification : This took around 10 secs to load while it took less than a second to load in FriendCaster .
Messages : Messages took around 8 secs to load and 2 secs compared to FriendCaster
Profile Pages : This was the longest wait ever . My profile page took over 14 secs ! to load whereas it took only 3 secs to open in Friendcaster.
Facebook Pages : Facebook pages are better organised in the official app but takes around 11 secs to open compared to 4 secs in Friendcaster .
Photos : Opening a photograph took around 12 secs in the Official app and it took less than half of that using Friendcaster .
Push Notifications : This is where Friendcaster is clearly a winner . The user interface and speed of the notification is amazingly brillliant . I have used the Official app for a long time now , and I have noticed that push notification is pathetic , and most often redundant .
User Experience : The official Facebook App has a very iPhone feel to it . Like most of the other apps it just is another iPhone clone . Friendcaster makes use of the Andoid User design guidelines ,making the app much faster and easier to flip through .

What’s really intriguing me is the fact that Facebook has access to every inch of their servers and internal API’s but still a third party developer is making faster and better application .

Note : These results are based on the tests made under the following parameters.

Device : Lg Optimus One
OS : Android 2.2.2 (Froyo)
Connection : 2G at (15-25kbps)

[Original Post By Anish Hegde @ www.bigbangtechie.wordpress.com]

Now surf internet on TV - Amkette launches EvoTV

2012-06-12T22:24:00.001+05:30

Amkette, the IT peripherals maker, has launched a new device called 'EvoTV', which will allow users to surf Internet on their television sets in the same way they do on their computers.

EvoTV is an Android operating system based digital media device which allows users to access content like videos, games and websites using WiFi and broadband connection. It comes with a remote that acts like a mouse and has a mic to facilitate conversations on VoIP (like Skype).

Amkette plans to revolutionalise the future of television globally with EvoTV. Instead of confining the Internet experience just to the PCs, the users will be able to access games and content like videos, just like they would on a PC using EvoTV.

The device is powered by twin ARM processors (ARM Cortex A9 and ARM Mali 400) and comes preloaded with basic applications. Users can also download more apps from the Android application market, Google Play.

EvoTV comes bundled with a motion sensing remote, the ‘Evo Touch’, which adds to the look and feel of touchscreen. In-built features like ‘Evo Views’ provide one click user interface and ‘Evo Discover’ is an Internet Content Discovery Software.

Google, which operates the Android platform, also plans to launch its set-top box 'Google TV' to allow viewers to use their device both for television viewing as well as accessing the Internet simultaneously without adjusting any cables.

The EvoTV is priced at an MRP of Rs.12,995, while its street price is Rs. 9,995 with Evo Touch Remote.

Specifications:

Processor: ARM Cortex A9 + ARM Mali 400 Graphics Processor
Memory: 4 GB inbuilt Memory.
Built-in Wi-fi and Ethernet ports
4 USB ports
Fast Processing Speed
Upto 1080p full HD
7.1 Channel Surround Sound Audio output
Supports 3G Dongle.
EvoShare connectivity/DLNA
Connectivity: HDMI, DLNA, Wi-Fi, 4 USB slots, 1 SD/MMC Card Slot
Access data file through Samba Share on your TV
Very low power consumption

Instagram | Android | Awesomeness

2012-05-29T15:04:00.003+05:30

Some things come around and completely change the way you see things . Google gave you the power to search webpages on your finger tips . Facebook made it easier to meet your friends and family any time you want . Instagram serves you a similar feeling . It lets you capture the world with your lens and makes it beautiful . Well there are plenty of apps that can do just the same . So what does Instagram do better ?

For starters Instagram is one of the most simplest apps i have ever used on my Android device . It works seamlessly and is smooth to operate . What i like the most is it does not behave like an iphone clone . Not that i hate iPhone but usually some apps look like they where created for iPhone and then ripped off to make an Android version . This app makes use of the android icons and feels great to operate .

What strikes me is the simplicity with which this app works . Publishing a photo is only 4 clicks away . And to do justice to this review i did download a dozen photo sharing and editing apps . Most of them work pretty well and do everything they claim to . But none of them combine the flow and simplicity of Instagram .

Instagram brings the photographer out of everyone . Initially I was hesitant in using this app , but when i saw what it did to my photograph , i was amazed . This app takes social networking seriously and not only does it have its own huge network , but there is also an option to share to various social networking sites .

Instagram’s network might come out to be a little flat , because it uses a completely different method to discover new people and their photography . There is a button for popular photos , where most popular photos are displayed , and then you could search for hashtags as well as photos favorited by the people you follow .

What i really appreciate is the support team . It took them only a day to fix most of the crucial bugs that cropped up initially . Since the release there have been a lot of updates . The recent one with the tilt-shift feature . This feature is one of the best in its class . Some other apps like Cymera do have this feature but do not do justice to the blurring .

My only fear is Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram . And to add to this fear is the recent release of the Facebook Camera App . I only hope facebook does not kill Instagram , like the way it killed Snaptu and other services it bought .

[Original Post By Anish Hegde @ www.bigbangtechie.wordpress.com]

Bharti Airtel to launch 4-G services in India

2012-04-04T21:57:00.001+05:30

Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa has selected ZTE Corporation (ZTE), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions to plan, design, supply and deploy its 4G network in Kolkata.

4G is the fourth generation of cellular mobile communications standards. A 4G system provides mobile ultra-broadband Internet access, for example, to laptops with USB wireless modems, to smartphones, and to other mobile devices. Conceivable applications include amended mobile web access, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing and 3D television. 4G technology provides download speeds of around 100 Megabits per second on the move and it can go up to 1 Gigabits per second at a fixed location.

Bharti Airtel had bagged broadband wireless access (BWA) licence to offer the services in four Indian telecom circles -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kolkata and Punjab. “According to industry estimates, by 2016 – 6% of all mobile connections will have 4G connection, which would create 36% of the total mobile data traffic – thus paving way for the ensuing data revolution. The impending launch of 4G in the country will provide ultra high speed data access, driving fundamental changes in society at large.

Nokia files patents for Electronic tattoos

2012-03-30T02:01:00.001+05:30

I often set my cell phone to vibrate,but my arm? Well,that's a new one.

Nokia has filed a U.S. patent application for a magnetic, vibrating tattoo that wirelessly connects to a mobile device and alert users to phone calls, texts and battery status.Nokia wants to make it physically impossible to ignore an incoming call by patenting an electronic tattoo that would vibrate, on your body, whenever someone calls.

How does this work??

Nokia’s patent application describes a system that could work in two ways. Under one concept, a detachable electronic material would be applied to a person's skin, much like a temporary tattoo.
The removable piece of electronic equipment could then be paired with a person's smartphone,
as it would be capable of vibrating when it detects its magnetic field.The second concept would use a ferromagnetic ink to permanently imprint this material into your skin. You could get whatever image you’d want, just like a regular tattoo, and after it’s applied it would be magnetised so it, too, could recognise
a magnetic field from your phone.

My take:
I think this is an interesting concept from this Finnish company.It would be easier to monitor
the phone in situations where phones are frowned upon:movie hall,gym and work.The only
worrying factor is the health hazards due to the tattoo imprint on the skin.Otherwise,its another
innovation by Nokia to help you stay connected.

How did the word 'QUIZ' originate?

2012-03-27T21:49:00.002+05:30

You may be passionate about quizzing and may participate in quizzes regularly. But do you know about the origin of the word 'quiz'. If you do not know then read on.....

A quiz is a form of game or mind sport in which the players (as individuals or in teams) attempt to answer questions correctly.

The word first appeared in 1784 and means a very odd or eccentric person. This sense survives today in the word 'quizzical'.

It was also used in the term quizzing glass, a common accoutrement of British Regency dandies. It later acquired a meaning of to make fun of, or to mock. How it acquired its current meaning of a test is unknown, but that sense did not appear until 1867 and then it was in the United States.

The OED2 cites from 1847 where the word appears: "She com back and quiesed us", which could be a clue to its origin. Quiz is possibly a corrupt form of the Latin Qui es, meaning "Who are you?"

According to American Heritage it may be from the English dialect verb quiset, meaning to question.

There is a well-known myth about the word 'quiz'. It says that in 1791 a Dublin theater owner named James Daly made a bet that he could introduce a nonsense word into the language within twenty-four hours and the public would define its meaning. He then went out and hired a group of street urchins (according to another version he gave his staff cards with the word quiz written on them) and told them to write the word , which was a nonsense word, on walls around the city of Dublin. The word soon caught the fancy of tne people of Dublin. Within a day, the word was common currency and had acquired a meaning (since no one knew what it meant, everyone thought it was some sort of test) and Daly had some extra cash in his pocket. However, there is no evidence supporting the story, and the term was already in use before the alleged bet in 1791.

Quiz was also used as a name for a curious toy, something like a yo-yo which was popular around 1790.

Hence it is highly debatable how the word quiz originated and so is its meaning of 'to question or interrogate' which it acquired later. Quiz as we know today emerged in the mid-19th century.

Fastest La Liga century of goals by Ronaldo!!!!!!

2012-03-25T15:10:00.001+05:30

The Ronaldo-Messi rivalry just gets more intense.
Only three days after Messi becoming Barcelona's all time leading scorer, CR7 answers him back with a record of his own. Cristiano Ronaldo became the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the Spanish league by breaking the record of Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas who did so in 105 matches in 1960s. Ronaldo scored his 100th against Real Sociedad, which was his only 92nd La Liga appearance.

Ronaldo's career statistics:

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sporting CP	2002–03	25	3	3	2	–		3	0	0	0	31	5
Sporting CP	Total	25	3	3	2	–		3	0	0	0	31	5
Manchester United	2003–04	29	4	5	2	1	0	5	0	0	0	40	6
	2004–05	33	5	7	4	2	0	8	0	0	0	50	9
	2005–06	33	9	2	0	4	2	8	1	–		47	12
	2006–07	34	17	7	3	1	0	11	3	–		53	23
	2007–08	34	31	3	3	0	0	11	8	1	0	49	42
	2008–09	33	18	2	1	4	2	12	4	2	1	53	26
	Total	196	84	26	13	12	4	55	16	3	1	292	118
Real Madrid	2009–10	29	26	0	0	–		6	7	–		35	33
	2010–11	34	40	8	7	–		12	6	–		54	53
	2011–12	29	35	5	3	–		6	6	2	1	42	45
	Total	92	101	13	10	–		24	19	2	1	131	131
Career total		313	188	42	25	12	4	82	35	5	2	454	254

Ronaldo's 100th La Liga Goal

ALL NEW ANGRY BIRDS GAME FROM ROVIO -- blasts off into space

2012-03-25T02:59:00.002+05:30

With more than 700 million downloads to its name , Angry birds is as much as pop fever as Justin Beiber and Kolaveri back in India. But such popularity poses a problem:how to create a sequel that still feels afresh and is appealing to masses.For the developer ,Rovio mobile the answer is Gravity.Angry Birds Space,as the name clarifies ,takes place in space.You launch assorted birds at sleeping pigs with or without the aid of gravity. Sometimes you use the gravitational pull of small planets to help slingshot birds towards their destination

The game includes 60 levels split into two zones: Pig Bang and Cold Cuts. A further 30 levels are available in something called the Danger Zone, unlocked with an additional 69p in-app purchase (IAP). Rovio says more zones and levels will follow in the coming months.

What's New?

Space is an attempt to bring a fresh experience to Angry Birds series ,an attempt that largely succeeds. Angry Birds Space takes the fundamental physics-based flinging of the original and turns it on its head--sometimes literally--by playing with the gravity simulation that powers it. By utilizing the gravity , trajectory of the birds is made unique. This means that in the open space, the birds tend to gradually float upwards after being launched from slingshot. But if they enter the gravitational field around an object, they are drawn towards the surface of that object. This forces gamers to carefully plan the trajectory instead of just flinging the birds at pigs and their castles. Unlike other Angry Birds levels, Space has markers to tell gamers about the initial trajectory of the bird.

Likewise,there are different types of birds for you to use. There's the standard red bird, which acts like a simple missile. The other feathered projectiles include blue birds, which act like cluster bombs; black birds, which explode with a tap; and green birds, whose hefty size makes them ideal for smashing through larger structures. New to Space are purple birds, which can be targeted like a homing missile with a tap, and ice birds, which let you freeze parts of a structure, making it easier to destroy. New birds are introduced gradually as you progress, making the game more interesting and making the gamers to tickle their grey matter.Moreover, Angry Birds Space has boss fights which allows you to throw a larger flock of birds at the pigs in a moving mech suit.There are also special eggs hidden that take you to the weird black hole levels(bonus levels).The final new addition is a special space eagle power-up, which is awarded to you periodically. These let you call the space eagle, which proceeds to gobble up whole planetoids, letting you skip past difficult levels.Although, you're not awarded a star rating when you use the space eagle.

The Good:

After playing so many Angry Birds levels, it is difficult to excite about the game. But Space packs in enough in it in terms of new gameplay to make casual gamers fall in love with birds and pigs again. Whether you are an Angry Birds veteran or playing it for the first time, the new levels will surely keep you glued to your smartphone or tablet for a few days.New birds and space eagle feature are an excellent addition.

The Bad:

Angry Birds Space feels a bit short: 60 free levels at launch, versus 260 in Angry Birds Seasons and 180 in Angry Birds Rio.Hardcore levels require an extra purchase. An extra set of hardcore levels can be purchased from within the game for 69p(99 cents).

Availability
Angry Birds Space is available on iOS ( iPhone,iPad and iTouch), Android phones, Windows computers and Mac computers.

On Android: Free (supported by ads), Rs 50 (regular version), Rs 151 (HD version)

On iOS: $0.99 (regular version), $2.99 (HD version)

On Mac: $4.99

On Windows PC:
Download:

My take:

Well, personally i enjoy playing Angry birds.Keeping in mind the rising popularity of Angry Birds,this new masterpiece from Rovio defines modern mobile gaming.Developer Rovio has pulled off incredible task of making the game exciting,new and addictive.It’s a better game than other Angry Birds, and I can’t wait to play more of it .