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noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:02:00 +0000

Will The New Xbox And PlayStation Block Used Games?

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:49:00 +0000

Things are heating up, with the 20th of February just around the corner. If you’re not aware yet, that date is when Sony is supposed to make official announcements about the PlayStation 4, something that many a gamer has been waiting for. Maybe, we’ll finally know whether the rumors about the lower PlayStation 4 price point are true. Rumors about Microsoft’s new Xbox also abound, as is always the case when the next generation gaming consoles are about to be released.

Along with the usual speculation about release dates, hardware specifications, and price tags, there is a bit information that is making gamers – and retailers – edgy: the possibility of the next generation consoles blocking used games.

We can’t deny that piracy is a big issue even in the gaming sector. The prevalence of modded consoles is no secret, and it is but understandable that game developers and console manufacturers do something about that. Not allowing the use of pre-owned games is a totally different story.

Gamers, analysts, and their moms (yeah, there are moms who are truly into video games) have been throwing the question around: Are Sony and Microsoft really going to take measures against used games?

The implications

To make things clear, this rumor basically means that you cannot go to your favorite video game store, buy a pre-owned game at a massive discount, and use it on the next generation gaming console. This also means that, after you’ve finished playing God of War Ascension, for example, and you want your best bud to enjoy it as well without him having to buy a new copy, you’re out of luck. Rather, he is out of luck.

Another detail that has been brought up is that the new Xbox, at least, will require an Internet connection in order to function. The way it will work, according to the rumors, is that gamers will have to connect to the Internet to unlock the serial number associated with the game. In effect, you won’t be able to use the game on another device. While a little different, this reminds me of that hardcore Nintendo fan who lost games worth $400 when he switched from the Wii to the Wii U.

The only thing that’s permanent is change

Or so the saying goes. If Sony and Microsoft do make this huge change, then the video game sector will be rocked to its roots. And there will be many unhappy campers.

[Images via technologyjinn] Author : Noemi

Gmail Reads Your Email: Microsoft’s New Campaign against Google

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:47:00 +0000

Microsoft has been unrelenting in its attacks on Google. Whether it is a product launch or a lawsuit, Microsoft doesn’t let go off any opportunity to attack the search engine giant. This time round, Microsoft has launched a whole new campaign against Google. Being touted as Gmail Reads Your Email, Microsoft is trying to create doubts in the minds of Gmail users over privacy concerns. This is seen as Microsoft’s way of getting people to switch from using Google’s email service to its own Outlook.com.

Google Scans Emails to Sell Ads – Microsoft Claims

According to Microsoft, Google is using Gmail as another way to sell more ads. It is a well-known fact that most of Google’s revenue is made through its ads. Selling more ads means that they make more money. In short, it does seem as though Microsoft has gotten on to something here. They allege that the folks at Google are scanning the emails sent and received by Gmail users to try and find the topics and subjects of interest so they can target them with relevant ads.

Microsoft Flouting Poll Results

To add some substance to its claims, Microsoft actually conducted a poll asking people about their views on email providers reading their mails. Not surprisingly, 90% of the people are opposed to the idea of their email privacy being compromised by email providers. 70% of the people don’t actually know of any major email providers engaging in any such practices. Microsoft is using the results of the poll to target Google and is claiming that they scan emails to target ads.

On the other hand, Microsoft has stated that they too scan the users’ emails but not for ad purposes. Instead, they just want to make sure that the emails received and sent are free of spam, malware and other harmful elements. Though they have no proof against Google, they are bashing Gmail and asking people to sign a petition against it. Moreover, they are asking users to switch preferences and create an Outlook email account.

Users Can Opt Out from Scanning

One particular point which Microsoft has raised is that it allows users to opt out of the scanning process. For that, they only have to pay a nominal sum of $20. Yet, Gmail users also have the same option, albeit they have to $50. Using the HTML version of Gmail also saves them from scanning. Hence, this is something which goes in Google’s favor. If people don’t allow them to scan their emails, they don’t do it. So, Google can be expected to use this point to defend itself.

At present, Gmail is the second-largest email service in the world. It is hot on the heels of Yahoo and is expected to catch up and surpass it in the near future. On the other hand, Microsoft has less than half the number of email users as Google. Perhaps this is a major factor in Microsoft’s new campaign against Google. What remains to be seen is how many people actually ditch Gmail and switch allegiances to Outlook.

[Image via multivu] Author : Paul C

Google Summer of Code 2013

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:40:00 +0000

Applications will be accepted soon to Google’s Summer of Code program. College students around the world often use the summer break as time to find ways to bolster their resumes and gain real world experience. Google is once again providing students with this experience, through their Summer of Code program. This will be Google’s ninth edition of the competitive mentoring program.

Mentors need to start thinking about preparing their applications if they want to be involved in this year’s program. The date for potential mentoring organizations to begin submitting ideas for projects is on March 18. The deadline for applications from mentoring organizations is on March 29.

For students interested in the program, on April 22, 2013, Google will begin accepting applications from those who would like to get into the prestigious program. Essentially, Google partners capable students with mentoring organizations from all over the world. Google has worked with 6,000 students from more than 100 countries. They have also worked with over 3,000 mentors.

For students, the program is intended to be an introduction into the world of open source projects and software. Students are provided a stipend of $5,500 from Google. However, they only receive the full amount upon completion of the program, and only then after their project passes a final examination by Google. According to a blog post from Google’s Carole Smith, the purpose of the Summer of Code program “is to help students pursue academic challenges over the summer break while they create and release open source code for the benefit of all.”

For mentors, it’s an opportunity to find the best and the brightest students that can help them further their own goals. Mentors also receive a small portion of the stipend. It’s clear that Summer of Code is a program that is meant to truly benefit everyone.

[Image via deveoplers.google.com] Author : Julia

The Room: Popular iPad Game Gets 5 Stars

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:36:00 +0000

Fireproof Games is the creator of the Room, a mind-bending, HD puzzle game for the iPad 2. The original game designed for the iPad was named Apple’s iPad Game of the year for 2012, and with good reason. Players’ assessments of this game are nothing but positive, earning and average of 5 stars from nearly 100,000 reviews.

The new version of The Room, playable on the iPad 2 for just $1.99, has had updated language enhancements including French, Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese. This version also now makes complete use of iPad 2’s stunning Retina display and includes extra hints for trouble spots within the game.

Game play

The game starts at a door, which you open to find a room with a safe. With your manipulations the safe and other objects in the room will respond by turning where you guide them for better viewing. The game does have a storyline, yet many players claim that the story is far from the most interesting aspect of the game. Basically, the safe contains something powerful and secretive, and you must open it. By looking around the three-dimensional room and looking at objects from every angle you will find letters, keys and all types of clues. As you progress you will be prompted to solve challenging, yet not impossible, puzzles.

In addition to the captivating puzzles and intriguing mystery of the game, the graphics of the 3D room, safe and objects are darkly beautiful and are enhanced even further by the slightly eerie music and sound effects of the game.

The even more portable version

Already hooked? Now you can really take this game anywhere with The Room Pocket. The best part is that The Room Pocket is a free to try app thru iTunes. However, due to the serious graphics requirements, the pocket version is only compatible with iPod Touch 5^th Generation and with iPhone 4S or newer, and will not work with and older iPod or iPhone.

[Images via ultralinx & iappdevice] Author : Julia

New Zealand Police To Receive 9,900 iPhones, iPads

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:30:00 +0000

New Zealand Police will soon be fighting crime — with iPhones and iPads? The countries 6000 frontline officers will receive a new iPhone to carry in the field and 3900 officers are set to receive an iPad for their cruisers.

Government officials have approved the plan which was finalized with wireless carrier Vodafone. The deal is worth a whopping $159 million over ten years when wireless charges are included.

NZ Police chief information officer Stephen Crombie notes that the iPhone/iPad deal was not a spur of the moment decision. Instead, New Zealand police officers conducted an 11-month trial of the iPhone and iPad devices to determine the efficacy of such an undertaking.

According to Crombie:

“Based on frontline officer feedback from the trial (over 100 staff in four districts trialled smartphones, laptops and tablets over an 11-month period) the preferred devices are the iPhone as smartphone and iPad for the tablet. The approach used to develop the applications means Police can move to other devices with relative ease as technology changes.”

Apple has been making huge inroads with various large operations. Recently Apple took away Home Depot management phone contracts from BlackBerry and replaced them with iPhone 5 smartphones. LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner also recently gifted 3,500 32GB iPad mini tablets to his employees.

YouSentIt CEO Brand Garlinghouse also gave all of his employees an Apple iPad mini for Christmas.

Enterprise customers have long been considered big competition for wireless carrier. Oftentimes a business user who also carries a personal phone will choose to stay loyal to the brand. With millions of business customers carrying more than one smartphone or tablet the need to secure corporate business is ever increasing.

Do you think spending $159 million with Apple over 10 years was a smart move for the New Zealand Police department?

[Image via TwitterCounter] Author : James

Twitter App Vine Changes User Rating

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:26:00 +0000

Vine’s user rating has now been changed from 12 and up to 17 and up. When Vine, the video sharing iOS app, was released in the App Store at the end of last month, it quickly took root. Vine took over the number one free app spot in the App Store’s Social category, only one day after its release. The app’s popularity continued to grow and success began to bloom. Then they ran into a problem. What some might call, a porn problem. That is, some users began to use the app for adult content.

Vine, owned by Twitter, is a video sharing and editing app. The app allows users to create six second video loops, by piecing together little portions of video. Users can hold a finger on the screen to record each portion that would then be incorporated into the complete 6 second loop, or Vine. It is a fun way to edit and share video. However, Vine quickly started having issues with users making pornographic videos.

Vine also mistakenly allowed a Vine that featured hardcore porn to appear as an Editor’s pick. It was a costly error, as Apple followed by removing the app from its Featured Section within the App Store. The App Store guidelines forbid any overtly sexual content.

For its part, it looks as though Vine is trying to do what they can to make necessary changes. They have now made it possible to report or block a profile within the app. Users can also email them with any feedback regarding the app. They also have started censoring searches in order to remove pornographic terms. This is all in addition to the increased user age rating.

Now users are required to confirm that they are at least 17 years old. The app also warns users of “frequent/intense sexual content or nudity”, among several other warnings. The changes could help Vine get back on track. The fact that the app is owned by Twitter could certainly help things along as well.

[Image via agbeat] Author : Julia

Facebook Launching Location Tracking App

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:59:00 +0000

During the last three months of 2012, Facebook’s mobile daily users, for the first time ever, surpassed the site’s web daily users. To accommodate Facebook’s 680 million monthly active mobile app users, 2013 will be spent developing ways to entice even more mobile users, keep users active and interested, and increase revenue at the same time.

Facebook wants to follow users

One of these projects that Facebook is focusing on and plans to release in mid- March, is a smartphone application intended to help users find nearby friends by tracking the location of other users. The developing team of Facebook’s location tracking app includes engineers from Glancee and Gowalla (location based networks), and is lead by Google product director, Peter Deng. The tracking app will utilize the customer’s whereabouts to sell ads based on the user’s daily habits and location.

Facebook has already been recording the GPS coordinates of mobile users when they check into a venue, update their status, or take photos with their phone. This new application will take this process to the next level by following users locations in the background, meaning the app will keep tracking even when other programs are running or if the phone is not even in use.

Privacy Issues

Facebook is not the first to design a location tracking device, but follows examples like Apple’s Find My Friends and Highlight by Math Camp Inc. However, many of these types of tracking applications have failed to gain a large user base because of the overuse the extensive apps have on a phone’s battery life, and most importantly, the users concern for their privacy.

Facebook has a data-use policy which tells the customer that the company may use their personal location based information in order to alert users and their friends of nearby events, deals and even people that you might be interested in finding. The policy further explains that it can use your info for marketing and advertising, but the information gathered by the app will be kept only until it is no longer used to provide services.

[Image via theweek] Author : Julia

The Wikipad: A Tablet Designed for Gaming

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:31:00 +0000

There may be a new must have device for gamers. Or perhaps not. The Wikipad was supposed to launch late last year. However, the release of the new gaming tablet was delayed due to a flaw in production. However, the company behind Wikipad may have turned lemons into lemonade, when they used extra time from the unexpected delay to revise their product. Product changes were based in part on feedback they received from social media regarding both the size and the price point.

The price for the device will be lower than the company had originally planned. There were concerns that the Wikipad was priced too high for a tablet. The new $249 price tag is expected to be much more competitive in the tablet market.

Other changes are to the actual device itself. The Wikipad will be sized at 7 inches, rather than the 10 inch model that had previously been displayed. Also, in accordance with the Wikipad’s focus on gaming, changes were made to the dual-analog stick controller. The company is definitely making sure that this tablet is known as a machine built specifically for gaming. The Wikipad specifications include 16:10 aspect ratio widescreen HD 7 inch IPS screen.

Other notable features include a NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core mobile processor, optimized for cloud-based gaming. The tablet has a completely unique gamepad controller. It is this controller that the Wikipad hopes will draw users from other tablets, as many games are much easier to play with a controller.

The Wikipad also offers game content from Google Play, PlayStation Mobile, Tegra Zone, and Big Fish Games, among others. This content, along with the richer gaming experience provided by the controller, are part of what the creators of Wikipad hope will draw users to their device. While that still remains to be seen, it is certain that the new and improved Wikipad is expected to be available in the spring.

[Images via gizmag] Author : Julia

Amazon Coins for Kindle

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:29:00 +0000

To encourage more user activity and spending, Amazon announced Wednesday that it would be introducing a virtual currency called Amazon Coins. Kindle Fire users can expect some free coins this May, as Amazon gives away tens of millions of dollars worth of the coins during the launch of the currency. With these coins, you will be able to purchase apps, games, and in-app items. Amazon is in hopes that these coins will entice users to try out new apps, be pleased with their purchases and in turn generate more revenue through Kindle Fire.

The Amazon Currency Value

The coins will have a value of 1 US cent. In other words, to purchase an app worth $1.99, you will need 199 Amazon coins. The revenue from the coins will be shared in a 70-30 split between Amazon and the developers, Amazon receiving 30 percent and the developers being paid 70 percent.

The app developers who already offer merchandise in the Amazon Appstore are all set up and ready to go with the new coins. However, new developers who want in on this opportunity must submit their apps by April 25^th.

Benefits of the virtual coins

Amazon is hopeful that the coins will prove as profitable as the virtual Facebook currency. However, Facebook does seem more suited to a currency than Amazon because of their vast selection of games, which is where most of Facebook users spend their time and money. But, Amazon is positive that this marketing ploy will become an asset to its developers.

When a company mints their own virtual money, buyers are naturally drawn to the offer. After all, most people are more comfortable purchasing with virtual coins, than real ones. And similar to the credit card effect, shoppers tend to spend more when not using cash.

While Facebook has been very successful with their currency, this is not true for all companies who have tried this strategy. Only time will tell if this idea will be beneficial for Amazon and Kindle, as well.

[Image via slate] Author : Julia

Microsoft Surface Pro Less Repairable Than iPad

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:25:00 +0000

The Microsoft Surface Pro went on sale last week and the team at gadget repair platform iFixit has already ripped it apart. The Surface Pro teardown reveals that the Microsoft tablet/hybrid is less repairable than the Apple iPad.

According to the company Microsoft chose to glue down any component that could be glued down, making the device extremely difficult to repair or possibly upgrade.

iFixit scored the Surface Pro with a 1 out of 10. The company found that simply attempting to open the gadget offered a high probability of cutting through one of the displays four cables.

The breakdown also found that the devices battery and display were covered with adhesive making both options hard to replace.

A quick examination also found that the Microsoft Surface Pro features 90 screws throughout the device’s interior. That number of small screws is extremely high for the device type being examined.

It should be noted that Microsoft has attempted to shove in as much power as possible on the full Windows 8 OS-based device. The company’s low scores however was based on what iFixit found to be unnecessary steps, such as gluing in the battery. iFixit calls the glued battery a “planned obsolescence” which is “completely unnecessary.”

In comparison the Apple iPad scored just a 2 out of 10 on the repairability scale. Apple’s score actually went down hill after the company attempted to shove more technology into a smaller space.

Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet beat out the Apple iPad but also offered lower-end features compared to the Microsoft Surface Pro.

In the meantime the Surface Pro is touted as a full Windows 8 hybrid/tablet and some users might be surprised to learn how hard an upgrade would be to conduct. Users looking for more than 4GB of RAM down the road might want to wait for the next version of Microsoft’s tablet to arrive.

Do you think tablets and hyrids should be more consumer friendly in terms of repairability?

Author : James

Basecamp Finally Creates an iOS App

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:22:00 +0000

The popular project management platform, Basecamp, finally has an official iOS app. Formerly only available through mobile web and third party Android and iOS apps, Basecamp already has a massive amount of users . Basecamp already manages over 8 million projects. With their new iOS app, it is easy to imagine that number quickly growing.

The new app is reportedly fast, user friendly, and well designed. Current users of the web platform will be pleased by the design, which has the same look and feel as the app. The design of the app is intended to enhance productivity. Basecamp has taken their already easy to use design and made it much simpler for people with iPhones.

The new app is also free. Now iPhone users will be able to easily use their phones to access all of the project management services offered by Basecamp. If you’re not already familiar with Basecamp, it was launched in 2004 by 37 Signals. With Basecamp, users can check off tasks on to-do lists, attach files, have discussions with coworkers, and make and read comments. Even without the app, Basecamp was one of the most popular productivity platforms, particularly for small businesses. The app will help Basecamp to continue their reign over the increasingly competitive market for productivity management.

Additionally, the iPhone app works with Basecamp Personal. Basecamp Personal was released in January, and targets individual users. Whereas the primary user for Basecamp is small businesses, Basecamp Personal allows individuals to pay a one-time fee of $25 to purchase a Basecamp project, instead of the regular monthly subscription. The release of Basecamp Personal dovetails nicely with the release of the new iOS app. Although not available yet, an Android version is expected to eventually be offered as well. The new iOS app is now available at the App Store.

[Image via smallbiztrends & 37signals] Author : Julia

Ubuntu’s Open Source OS Announced for October

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:19:00 +0000

Linux is planning to invade the smartphone market through one of its biggest players, Ubuntu. Linux has been on the rise over the past few years and this year it may finally find a way into the handheld devices market. It is no secret that the open source platform has had a major role to play in the creation and development of the Android OS but now the world gets to see the Ubuntu OS. According to reports, developers are going to get the new Ubuntu OS without much delay and can start working on it.

The reports further stated that smartphones running on Ubuntu aren’t too far down in the pipeline. In what may be termed to be a surprising development, the new phones are going to hit the markets before the end of the year. More specifically, the phones are going to be launched in October in two of the biggest smartphone markets before going into wide distribution. That gives developers not much time to get the apps and other features ready.

As far as the specs are concerned, the Ubuntu phones are pretty similar to the recently launched BlackBerry Z10. The absence of buttons is the notable features, enabling users to operate the phone by touching the screen. Also, the emphasis is on gestures rather than pressing and typing, hence it is guaranteed to draw comparisons with Research in Motion’s latest handset. However, there is no word yet on who is going to make the phones.

October may seem like not too far off but one should keep in mind that the next versions of the iOS and Android OS will hit the market well before then. Once the market gets crowded, the Ubuntu OS is going to have a hard time finding its niche, leaving the market to the big players to capture. That is, unless the users add enough great features to make the OS up to par with the leading operating systems.

[Image via le-libriste] Author : Paul C

Twitter Upgrades & Old Tweets are Back

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:33:00 +0000

Micro-blogging social networking site Twitter has streamlined and revamped certain features and will soon allow old tweets to appear in current searches.

The online social hub announced that it has updated its Android, iOS and mobile apps, to make it easier for users to find relevant content when on the go.

In addition, the US-founded company has also started to roll out a new system which will allow users to find older tweets when using the search option.

Previously, Twitter search results only displayed tweets going back about a week, but now the company has developed a way to include older tweets, allowing users to see content that goes beyond the most recent tweets.

Memory Lane

Twitter’s search infrastructure engineer, Paul Burstein, said as the company rolls this new service out over the coming days, the tweets in search results will represent only a fairly small percentage of total tweets ever sent, but this will expand over time.

“We look at a variety of types of engagement, like favorites, re-tweets and clicks, to determine which tweets to show,” Burstein said.

“We’ll be steadily increasing this percentage over time, and ultimately, aim to surface the best content for your query. For now, enjoy your trip down memory lane.”

In a bid to give users greater content faster, Twitter has also carried out several updates.

More Streamlined and Quicker

Previously, when you tapped any part of a Tweet, it would first expand and then a second click was required to get to the website, but now when the user clicks a URL in a tweet, they can to go directly to that website from any timeline.

As of now, all the content in Discover – tweets, activity, trends and suggestions of accounts to follow, appears in a single stream – on both iPhone and Android. Users can also go straight into activity and trends from new previews at the top of the Discover tab.

Search results also now surface the most relevant mix of tweets, photos,and accounts – all in one stream, and a new search button has been added to Twitter for iPhone, letting users search from anywhere within the app.

To provide a simpler experience in the Connect tab, the default view is now Interactions, which shows new followers, re-tweets and mentions.

[Image via 9-20recruitment] Author : Pippa

New Microsoft Surface Pro Sells Out

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:29:00 +0000

The online Microsoft Store was sold out of the 128GB Surface Pro within hours of going on sale Saturday. Since the release of the device, sell outs have been happening at other retailers, like Staples and Best Buy.

The Surface Pro looks similar to, yet is an upgraded version of Microsoft’s Surface RT, which was released last fall. The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s 3rd generation Intel-powered, Windows 8 tablet and has a full Window’s operating system. The tablet also comes with 4 gigs of Ram and Intel HD 4000 graphics. There is a kick stand incorporated into the design to allow for desk usage, although not necessarily lending it comfortable lap use. It is also slightly larger and heavier than the RT but still quite easily portable.

Storage has become the selling point

While the $500 Surface RT remarkably sold out in just one day, it still was not as popular a choice as the Pro. This could be telling of the fact that users are putting more value on storage capacity and the ability to handle serious work.

Though you can most likely acquire a less sought after 64GB version for $899 at a retail location, Microsoft’s $999 128GB Surface Pro is nowhere to be found. And for double the storage capacity for only $100 more, it’s no surprise that the 128 GB Pro is the buyer’s choice.

Speculation

Because Microsoft has yet to report the product’s sales records, and some retailers have claimed to have limited supply, this has led to speculation of possible issues with production or supply. However, even if the recent hype of the Surface Pro is questionable and the only reason for sell-outs is the lack of products, it’s clear at least that Microsoft’s priciest version is in demand over the 64GB model which is still in consistent supply.

[Image via pcadvisor] Author : Julia

Spotify Arrives to the New Windows Phone 8

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:23:00 +0000

If you love music and have a Windows 8 Phone you are in luck. Spotify is now available on the Windows Phone 8 platform. The app was previously only available on iOS, Symbian, Android, and legacy Windows Phone users. Thanks to the change, it is now available on the new version of the Windows Phone. This change provides Microsoft mobile users with accessiblilty to one of the world’s largest music streaming platforms.

One of Spotify’s slogans is “soundtrack your life.” In case you aren’t familiar with Spotify, the app allows you to search for music that you love. If you would rather not specify all of your music selections, Spotify also has a radio feature. The radio feature allows you to have Spotify surprise you by selecting the music for you.

On the Spotify app you can do a lot more than just listen to music. One of the features offered by the app is the ability to build your own collection. Spotify also has a built in social network. If you want to know what type of music your friends like, you can easily find out.

With Spotify you can look through other people’s music collections, including both your friends and public figures. It is also fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter, so that you can share your Spotify music.

Another great feature offered by Spotify is the ability to access your music without access to the internet. What’s more, the app is cloud friendly. The collection you build with the Spotify app will also be available on your PC.

The app will be available to Windows 8 Phone users for a free 30 day trial. If the user wants to continue with the service following the trial, the cost of the app is $9.99 a month. It is available in the Windows Phone store.

[Image via pocket-lint] Author : Julia

God of War: Ascension Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:54:00 +0000

The latest version of God of War is now available for pre-order and is expected to reach retail shelves on March 12th. God of War: Ascension, created by Santa Monica’s Studios and Sony Computer Entertainment, will be available exclusively on PS3 and PS Vita.

The Game Intro

Ascension serves as a prequel to the entire GOW mythology series. This third-person action/adventure game is a spectacular hack and slash thriller that starts with a drama-filled cinematic. The striking theatrics let you see a human side of Kratos as you look into his mythological past and experience the struggle of his imprisonment and the details of his past sins.

Multiplayer

Similar to the previous God of War games, Ascension is still focused on combo-based combat and playable in single player mode as before. However, this newest version has also incorporated a multiplayer mode which will allow up to 8 players to either team up or play solo. Teams or individuals will fight competitively to take control of the map for godly rewards.

Pre-Orders

Sony has prepared some pre- order sets that are now available. The Champions Pack includes the Mythological Heroes Multiplayer DLC Pack, King Leonidas “300” armor and spear multiplayer DLC. The gamers will also receive a 22”x28” double sided God of War: Ascension Poster, and will generate additional XP (experience points) for the first 48 hours of real time play.

For the God of War junkies, or perhaps for those who are looking into buying a new console, you can now also Pre-order the Legacy Bundle. This bundle includes the new Ascension game along with all of the God of War I through III, GOW; Chains of Olympus, and the Ghost of Sparta. Also included in the Legacy Bundle is the garnet red PS3 equipped with an enormous 500bg hard drive.

[Image via hdwallpapers] Author : Julia

SkyPhrase: Better Answers for Your Questions

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:47:00 +0000

If you have ever wanted to search for a complicated piece of information on the internet, but you weren’t sure of how to start, then you will be excited to learn about a new type of web search. SkyPhrase allows users to use natural language questions without having to use a specific format.

SkyPhrase is a startup created by Nick Cassimatis. Cassimatis is an associate professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Natural language processing is still a developing tool. It is currently being explored by programs like Graph Search on Facebook. Other forms of natural language processing use methods such as teaching software vocabulary and grammatical rules. Instead, the technology behind SkyPhraise is unique, in that it uses both algorithms and data structures.

SkyPhrase could eventually save the user a lot of time and effort. For example, if you were looking for a flight, the traditional method would have you fill out several query boxes on a site. Instead, you could ask SkyPhrase the question, and it will turn your natural language question into a format that the database can process. It essentially takes all of the extra work out of the process. The potential for different applications is tremendous. SkyPhrase will make it possible for any user to easily search through large quantities of data. SkyPhrase may even make it possible to do the type of data analysis that typically requires lots of time and training.

SkyPhrase will be offering this software to companies soon. They also plan to have a website up in February. Additionally, SkyPhriase will be offering an extension for the Chrome browser, which would allow Google Analytics users to filter information using their unique form of natural language queries. Other plans for the future include offering SkyPhrase to other websites as a programming interface. This could allow for natural language search capabilities to be added to services already offered by a particular website.

[Image via androidauthority] Author : Julia

Windows Phone Steals Third Position in US Smartphone Market

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:38:00 +0000

When it comes to the smartphone market, the first two positions are taken. Apple and Google have been going at it for a couple of years now, with the Cupertino giant unlikely to cede its position for some time to come. The other companies in the market are left to scrap it out for the remainder of the market share, which isn’t much as the two leading giants take up a large piece of the pie. This is the case for Microsoft and Research in Motion (RIM), who have been battling for third position in the US market.

Microsoft Topples RIM

According to the latest reports, the BlackBerry OS has been overtaken by Windows Phone to the third position. The performance for devices running on Windows Phone has been far better than BlackBerry during the last quarter of 2012. The strong showing in the market enabled Microsoft to topple RIM and take the number three spot in the smartphone market in the US. The amazing thing is that this is the first time in nearly seven years that Microsoft has gone ahead of RIM.

BlackBerry in Trouble

BlackBerry is in trouble. There is no doubt that the smartphone has not been selling as well as it should have been. Microsoft has swooped in and taken up a significant portion of its market niche. Some reports suggest that BlackBerry sales are the lowest they have been in the past decade. This does not bode well for RIM or for BlackBerry. Its hold on the fourth position is starting to look shaky and it is quite possible it might be overtaken in the not too distant future.

However, the situation may actually improve for the smartphone once the new model hits the market. BlackBerry 10 has recently been launched around the globe and will come to the US in a couple of months. It all depends on whether the devices running on BlackBerry 10 manage to perform well in the other countries. A failure to perform well would mean the trend might continue when the devices are finally released in the US.

Microsoft on a Roll

The Windows 8 OS might not have performed to expectations but Microsoft is on a roll as far as its Windows Phone devices are concerned. A recently released report shows that working people are more inclined towards buying Microsoft tablets as compared to the iPad. Being able to topple the BlackBerry OS in the US smartphone market represents another victory for the company. It gives them a chance to answer the critics that had stated Microsoft won’t be able to compete in the handheld devices market.

Windows Phone 8 devices have been praised and continue to sell well. At present, more people are using Windows Phone 8 devices than Windows Phone 7. If this trend continues, Microsoft is likely to strengthen its hold on the third position and maybe even make a move towards second. It all depends on how well BlackBerry 10 fares after being released in the US.

[Image via wp7connect] Author : Paul C

WDTV Play Delivers Video Streaming For $69

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:44:00 +0000

The team at Western Digital have been creating WD TV boxes for years. Both the WDTV Live and the WDTV Live Hub had their fair share of success. Now the company has dropped its traditional pricing by offering the WD TV Play for just $69.

Despite the lower price point the product still offers plenty of streaming options which now include; Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Vudu, Spotify, SlingPlayer, Pandora, and Facebook, and many more.

The WD TV Play also brings access to a users home media including photos, video and music. The WD TV device connects via DLNA-compliant computer and through network-attached storage located on the same WiFi network. For ease of use buyers can also connect digital cameras and hard drives using a USB port.

Adding to the new lower priced item is a new user interface. WD allows users to customize their home screens and by doing so WD TV Play customers can ensure they receive the content they care about most right away. WD also now offers the ability to launch a certain app when turning on the device. For example, a user can set Netflix to launch upon powering up the Play.

WD is also throwing in a new remote control which has been redesigned to feature pre-programmed buttons for popular apps including Netflix and Hulu Plus. Clicking on pre-programmed buttons automatically takes users to those platforms. Just like Roku users will also be able to download iOS and Google Android apps. Downloading mobile and tablet apps will give users access to the WD TV Play via WiFi.

The first run for the WD TV Play will be available exclusively via www.wdstore.com. Eventually the company hopes to add more online distributors into the mix.

Are you willing to pick up the WD TV Play for the low price of $69?

[Images via Engadget & thedigitalfix] Author : James

DrawQuest App Can Turn You Into an Artist

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:40:00 +0000

Do you consider yourself to be artistic? This is the general question behind a new app called DrawQuest. While most children feel free to express themselves artistically, adults often struggle with the notion of their own creativity. Many adults simply feel that they are not artistic. DrawQuest is an app that hopes to change adult perceptions regarding art creation.

A new iPad app from the tech startup Canvas, DrawQuest specifically targets adults. DrawQuest makes the creative process user friendly. The app is both for beginners and for people with advanced drawing skills. The concept behind DrawQuest is that people often don’t know where to begin. So instead of providing users with a blank slate, DrawQuest provides a template that a user can build upon. Essentially, the app provides the user with a starting point for a drawing.

What makes the DrawQuest app unique is the built in social network. DrawQuest hopes to make the creative process a social one. It allows users to follow other users, to follow favorite drawings, and to share to social networks. The app is fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter, so that if you are proud of your creation, you can easily share it with your social network. Another intriguing feature of the app’s built in social community allows you to “play back” drawings that you are interested in, so that you can see how an image was created.

The app was created by Chris Poole, who runs Canvas, a content-sharing and remixing website. Interestingly, in 2008, Poole was voted as the most influential person online by Time. This app is expected to stand out from other drawing apps already on the market, due to the social community factor. The app is designed to be a place that users return to frequently. Active users are rewarded with “coins” that unlock new color palates. DrawQuest promises to be a fun way to both increase your creativity and to share your creations.

[Images via laughingsquid & theverge] Author : Julia

New Google Input Tools Tear Down Language Barriers

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:36:00 +0000

It’s been said, albeit jokingly, that the Internet has forced people to speak English. While it may be a funny thing to say, there is a grain of truth to that. In 2009, English topped the list of Internet languages, with Chinese not too far behind. Many factors come into play, of course, but the fact that there are more non-English speaking people online cannot be ignored

Internet Languages

That being said, it is only logical for the world’s biggest Internet company to provide tools that will open doors for non-English speaking netizens. And that’s exactly what the guys at Google have done.

In a blog post last week, the Google Translate team announced something along these lines: Google input tools.

If you’re a Chrome user, you probably already have thanked the high heavens for the built-in translation feature which allows you to make sense of pages in foreign languages. I can’t tell you how many times this has saved me from frustration.

With the new Google input tools, Google Translate – the page – is even easier to use. Google currently supports 65 languages, but it used to be that the input tools were limited. English speakers probably don’t have a clue as to the implications of the new Google input tools, but take for example the Chinese language. Of the four popular input methods (different variations of the language), only one used to be available via Google. If you used the other three, then you were sh#t out of luck.

With the update, more languages – and their variations – are taken into consideration. I believe that this is the right path to take considering that geographical and cultural barriers are virtually non-existent in the virtual world.

There’s more good news!

The new Google input tools are available not only for Translate, but also for other products such as Gmail and Drive. More reason for the world to use Google, yes?

[Images via World Internet Statistics, udm4 and Google Translate Blog] Author : Noemi

Facebook Temporarily Hijacks the Cyber World

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:30:00 +0000

Facebook is the world’s most popular social networking site. Over the years it has expanded even more and today it ranks among the most visited websites in the world. With billions of registered users something is bound to go wrong at any time. In a recent event, Facebook temporally hijacked the cyber world. This took place Thursday afternoon and lasted for about an hour.

Websites that use Facebook integrations were dragged from their landing pages to the Facebook error web page. If you were logged into Facebook and tried accessing other websites at the same time you were taken to a Facebook error page. Fox News, Gawker, Washington Post, Yahoo! and Slickdeals were among the numerous websites affected by the mysterious bug. However, those who weren’t logged into Facebook did not receive this error.

This was a huge surprise to all users as they couldn’t access other websites but were instead taken to a Facebook error page. According to reports the problem was with the Facebook’s Connect service, which governs “likes,” “comments” and other Web-based features. Facebook declined to reveal the elements of the error, but gave a statement to NBC news regarding the situation. They said, “For a short period of time, there was a bug that redirected people from third party sites with Facebook Login to Facebook.com. The issue was quickly resolved.”

Users were not pleased and vented out their frustration on Twitter and other online messaging forums. They said that it was disturbing that Facebook could hijack the Internet even if it was unintentional. Some people said that it was good that the error was resolved instantly or else the affected sites would have intervened themselves by disabling the widgets. Although the problem was fixed immediately, you can still expect a proper apology from Facebook in the future once they figure out what went wrong.

[Image via lh5.ggpht] Author : Paul C

Father Offers Daughter 200 Dollars to Stay off Facebook till June

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:42:00 +0000

Human interest stories are not hard to find. Every day you hear something out of the blue but this new story caught everyone by surprise. A corporate executive has found a way to keep his teenage daughter off the social networking website Facebook. He is offering his daughter a $200 reward for staying off Facebook till June. He even drew up an official Facebook deactivation agreement so that neither of them could go back on their word. The image below shows the details of the agreement.

Many parents are worried about their children’s addiction to social networking sites and the impact they can have on their young minds. Paul Baier has laid down an example that other parents can follow as well. He too had similar concerns that his daughter Rachel was not concentrating on her studies. In the end it was Rachel who came up with the idea and Paul supported it completely. According to the details of the agreement Rachel is entitled to receive $50 in April and $150 in June.

Paul Baier who is vice-president of Boston energy company Groom Energy Solutions said that it was a great incentive. His daughter can now avoid wasting her time and in doing so earn some money as well. Rachel will rejoin Facebook after the completion of the agreement in June. In the mean time Paul will have access to her Facebook account to change the password and completely deactivate it. Paul hopes that the agreement will somehow lead to a long-term trend where his daughter doesn’t have to be on Facebook 24/7. In a further statement he said, “I’ve realized that she is part of a generation of kids that has grown up on Facebook. She’s been on it for two years full-time. This is two years of 24/7 teen discussion of friends, clothes, parties, etc, “They can’t get away from it. I’m proud she recognized the benefit of a hiatus. She plans to go on using it after the contract ends.”

The father daughter agreement has received a mixed reception from the audience with some complimenting the efforts of Paul while others being critical of the move.

[Image via theblaze & ejiu111 Author : Paul C

BlackBerry Shuts Down Shop in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (All About Technology) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:37:00 +0000

As reported last week on TechBeat, Research In Motion (RIM) confirmed Blackberry’s new smart phones won’t be launching in Japan. They can’t justify the cost of modifying its software for the Japanese market. The cost of translating the operating system into the local Japanese language is too high. Given their declining market share, it is a risk which is best avoided. A spokeswoman for BlackBerry said, “Japan is not a major market for BlackBerry, and we have no plans to launch BlackBerry 10 devices there at this time.

The company’s move suggests that it sees little chance of Japan emerging as a major market for its new devices at this time. The new Z10 and Q10 models equipped with the new BlackBerry 10 operating system are considered the company’s best hope of revival in a market dominated by android smart phones. Although the launch in Canada and UK has seen strong sales, it seems unlikely that that they will make a foray into the Japanese market anytime soon.

The news was reported by Japan’s Nikkei business daily who also claimed that BlackBerry’s market share in Japan has shrunk to 0.3 percent from 5 percent. New innovative devices such as the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy have completely taken over the smart phone market in recent years.

The recent decline in Blackberry’s market share is not just limited to a single market. Its fourth-quarter North American market share fell to 2 percent from more than 40 percent three years ago. However, on the positive side the report also indicated that BlackBerry will continue to offer support to existing users in the Japanese market and will have Japanese language support on its new operating system in the future.

Blackberry has pinned its hopes on these new models and will be hoping to claw back some of its lost market share over the previous years. It is unlikely that they will be able to affect Apple and Samsung’s market share, but the new smart phones are a start of a long journey.

[Image via thetechblock] Author : Paul C