Quick post to share 5 Must read articles on the web for the week starting 22nd Jan to 28th Jan, 2012:

1. 10 Simple Google Calendar Tips and Tricks to Boost your productivity [Mashable]
2. Does your business need mobile apps? [TechCrunch]
3. How to pick the right name for your business? [Mashable]
4. How to register your new business name? [Mashable]
5. Google Music now lets your download all your saved music [Lifehacker]
   

   Google Music Now Lets You Download All Your Saved Music [Google Music] feedly.com/k/vZaMYN #ifttt

   — Anurag Bansal (@knowliz) January 27, 2012

Don’t forget to bookmark these articles.  They provide some really good insight.  Favorite them on Twitter or share them on Facebook.  Don’t forget to leave comment in the comment box.

5 Must Read Articles on the Web this Week Jan 22 – Jan 28, 2012 : [Knowliz Weekly]? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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2012 is a year of change on Knowliz. This year I am starting a new series that will be posted weekly on every Saturday.  The series will be called – “Must Read Articles of the Week”.

As you can guess, in this series I will list some interesting articles I stumbled upon during the week and found interesting enough to share on various social networks.  Most of these articles were either posted on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.  So you might have already read them.  But this series will give me an opportunity to treasure the cool links on the web so that we can come back later.

Must Read Articles of the Week

Without further ado, here is the first list of “Must Read Articles of the Week” from 15th Jan to 21st Jan, 2012:

1. 5 Ways To Discover And Develop Your Unique Strengths [Fast Company]
2. 10 Steps To Turn Your Passion Into Your Business [Fast Company]
3. How to user Pinterest’s pinboard for the web [USA Today]
4. 47 Small Business Ideas to get you inspired[About.com]
5. The Woz: Android has some advantages over iPhone [The Mac Observer]
6. Email after work hours is Overtime, Says Law [CNet]
7. 25 FREE Android Apps you must install after buying a new Android phone [Knowliz]
8. People are always misinterpreting my e-mails. What am I doing wrong? [Entrepreneur]
9. A Video Worth Watching – Protect IP/SOPA Break Internet

Hope you find these articles interesting.  Bookmark it, share it or tweet it and come back to these interesting articles whenever you like.

9 Must Read Articles on the Web this Week Jan 15 – Jan 21, 2012 : [Knowliz Weekly]? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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So you finally bought an Android phone after loving iPhone for a long time.  Or may be this the first time you ever bought a smartphone.  Whatever the case may be, but first question you would have in mind is to know what apps to install.

Hint:  Most apps (if not all) you used to use on iPhone are available for Android too.  So that’s a very good start.

Now beyond that based on my experience and regular use of Android device for over 3 years, I have come to love some apps on Android.  I feel my android phone is incomplete without these apps.  I want to recommend these MUST HAVE apps with you and give you a jump-start in the new Android world.

Without further ado, below is a list of 25 Android apps that you should install right after buying any Android phone:

1. Social Networking

When it comes to Social networking everyone has their preference.  But I am sure most people use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Google+.  So start by installing these three apps in Social networking category:

1. Facebook for Android (Market Link)
2. Twitter for Android (Market Link)
3. Linkedin (Market Link)
4. Google+ (Market Link)

Some people like to use All-in-one kind of apps like Tweetdeck, Hootsuite and Seesmic etc.  But I personally prefer the native apps.

2. Music

Search in Music category in Android Market, you will find thousands of apps.  But it comes down to a very limited high quality apps that I would recommend you to install on your new device:

5. DoubleTwist (possibly with Airsync) (Market Link) :  DoubleTwist is a feature rich Music player for Android.  DoubleTwist comes with a matching Desktop software that allows you to sync media with your computer like you used to do with iTunes.  Also if you spend $4.99 (which I think you should) for AirSync it adds features like wireless syncing with PC.  Airsync also enable Airplay like feature on your Android phone and allows you to stream media to Xbox, PS3 and other DLNA enabled devices.
6. Google Music (Market Link) : Google Music allows you to stream your music from anywhere.  Google provides online space for over 20,000 songs.  Upload your entire music library in the cloud and enjoy your own music anywhere and everywhere with your Android phone.
7. iHeartRadio (Market Link) : This apps allows you to listen to local FM radio channels and you can also start listening for a particular artist.
8. Pandora (Market Link)
9. Soundhound (Market Link) : Never ever waste time to recognize random songs, find out the song information quickly with this app.

Other notable apps you may want to try are Spotify, ExFM, Amazon mp3, Tunein and Slacker Radio etc.

3. eReading

No, I am not just talking about eReaders but also everything that lets you consume online content on your phone such as news, blogs and obviously books & magazines etc.

10. Feedly (Market Link) : A must have app for all RSS readers.  Very beautiful interface, swipe left/right to read articles.  Check it out, I am sure you will love it.
11. News360 (Market Link) : The only single app you will ever install on your Android phone because it consolidate news from various channels so that you don’t read any news twice.
12. Google Currents (Market Link)
13. Amazon Kindle (Market Link)
14. The Washington Post (Market Link)

You may also like to install any specific news channel you subscribe to such as The New York Times, CNN, Fox News and USA Today etc.  They all seem to do deliver a consistent news experience.

4. Games

Well, this is a very personal section to write about.  It will be very biased and individualistic to say what apps are good.  So, install whatever games you like.  But just to give you a quick start on games try:

15. Angry Birds (Market Link)
16. Need For Speed Shift (Market Link)
17. Zynga Poker (Market Link)

Also, your phone should have come with some pre-installed games.

5. Tools

This list just gives you a set of 25 most necessary apps to start Android journey – There are 400+ Million apps in Android Market.  So keep exploring.  However, let us know in comments which one you liked and use regularly.  Also let me know which Android phone you use and what is your opinion after using iPhone.

25 FREE Android Apps you MUST install after buying a new phone.? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Learn how a human memory system works. How we process and retain things in our mind? What are the effects of various events in our life on our memory? And how can we improve it through the below Infographics.

(Via Online Colleges)

Posted from WordPress for Android

Learn How our Memory works [Infographics]? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Don’t be surprised!
In an effort to promote Knowliz to have more of a Technology related name which clearly conveys the meaning, I am planning to rebrand it.
But I myself can’t come up with a suitable name for it which if not already taken. So today I need your help again.
Please suggest a new name for Knowliz and in return you will receive a $25 Bestbuy gift card.

As you can guess, not every entry wins a prize. If your suggested name is chosen, you will receive the prize. No surprises there.

Below are some guidelines:

1. Name should convey the meaning as mentioned above.
2. You can combine some keywords to come up with a name.
3. It doesn’t have to be a dictionary word. You may come up with a new attention grabbing word.
4. The word can’t be a Trademark of any other company. But as I said above you can mix it with something to create a new word.
5. You can suggest more than one words.
6. You can provide more than one suggestions. (Each entry entitles you for  an extra entry)
7. The suggestions can be provided by leaving a comment on this post, via Twitter, Facebook or Google+.
8. Winner will be selected through a random generator if more than one entries are selected for consideration.

That’s it.

Some names I have in mind are like Andromania, Techminium, The World of Android, TechDuniya, Gadgetonomics, Gdgtonomics, Gadget Hub etc.

Let the suggestions coming. You will be notified through the same medium you choose to give suggestion. 

Why wait…$25 could be yours.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Posted from WordPress for Android

Win $25 Bestbuy gift card for suggesting a New name for Knowliz? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Hey Knowliz Readers,

I have some great news for you. You can win FREE subscriptions for the following magazines for a Full One Year,right here on Knowliz:

1. Inc. (2 Prizes)

2. FastCompany (2 Prizes)

3. Automobile (1 Prize)

There is almost nothing you got to do,to be a winner of any/all of these magazines. So here is what need happen:

1. Follow @knowliz on Twitter.

2. Tweet/retweet this article to your followers.

3. Leave a comment on this post to let me know.

4. There is no limit on how many times you can tweet/retweet. Every time you mention this article, you increase your chance of winning.

That’s it. Didn’t I say,it is almost nothing to be a winner.

Winner Selection:

1. The participants will be randomly selected using Random.org List Randomizer tool.

2. Winners will be notified on Twitter.

3. Winners will be asked to provide their Name and U.S. Address for the subscription.

Note: These prizes are available only for United States participants.

What are you waiting for then…get started and have fun.

Happy Holidays!!!

Win FREE magazine subscriptions from @Knowliz. Just Retweet (RT)? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Knock knock….I mean Twit Twit….!!!

I am sure by now you have at least an account on Twitter.  You may not have started to use it yet.  But believe it or not, it is a great tool for communication and many other things.

Every day on Twitter I share links to interesting stories around the world through various mediums like News sites and various other apps on my Android phone.  Also when I post something here on Knowliz, that gets automatically tweeted to let you know that I published something new.

Knowliz on Twitter

Many times I also run offers exclusive for Twitter followers.  For example sometime back I offered Free magazine subscription for Inc. and FastCompany exclusive to Twitter followers.

Comment on this post to win a FREE subscriptions of Inc. and/or Fast Company magazines.Plz RT. Offer valid Today only.

— Anurag Bansal (@technomania) December5, 2011

If you don’t already, please consider following @knowliz account so you’ll catch latest posts as soon as they go live. There are many other links that I don’t get to post on the site, get posted to Twitter.  I will also recommend you to send me any tips and favorite apps that you’d like me to check out. Follow @knowliz

Also time to time I would appreciate if you could help me out when I am looking for expert opinion.

If you don’t use Twitter, never mind, you can still keep yourself up to date with Knowliz on Facebook fan page or on Google+.  But again, if social networking is not your ball game, then you can also subscribe to Knowliz newsletter providing you full story access in the email.

Whatever way you chose to keep up with Knowliz, I really appreciate you staying with me.  Any suggestion, please drop an email, Tweet or comment on any of the post….any time.

Follow @Knowliz on Twitter for exclusive links, offers and to get updates on new stories? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Online meeting services like GoToMeetings, WebEx and others are in abundance.  But they all charge you some good amount of money that probably ranges from $500 to $1200 depending on the service and package but still comes with tons of limitations.  For small businesses and individuals, this amount of money is obviously a deal breaker.

Meet with Anyone, Anywhere for FREE – Use AnyMeeting? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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If your like reading to Knowliz, if you like the depth of article I cover here and the topics I write on, consider subscribing to the FREE newsletter and get the updates delivered right to your inbox.  All you have to do is put your email address in the box below and click “Subscribe” or click here…  You will receive a confirmation email with a link.  You need to just click on this confirmation link so that I can send you updates through email.

(This is just to reduce SPAM, as anyone else could put your email in this box.  So, if it wasn’t you, then just ignore it.  You won’t receive any email from me.)

Below is a sample image of how the newsletter will look in your email inbox.  No clutter, just text and necessary images – One email in a day.  If there are more updated in a day, you still get just one email as a digest.  So you don’t have to worry about SPAM, this all has been taken care of already.

Newsletter Sample

Other ways to get updates:

If Social networking is something you like, then follow me on Twitter, like Knowliz on Facebook or add the Knowliz Google+ page to your circles to keep up with Knowliz on your social network or networks of choice.

Best of all, add Knowliz RSS feed to your preferred newsreader to check in when you like.

Whatever way you choose choose to keep up with us, it will be an honor and I will be glad you choose to stick to Knowliz, so thank you in advance.

Subscribe to Knowliz by Email and get latest updates Delivered to Your Inbox? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Thanksgiving is around the corner.  Which in fact reminds us that Shopping season is also here.  Now is the time to try to grab all the best deals you can.

You would agree that whatever was hot last year or so is just not relevant anymore.  Whatever was couple of hundred bucks is now super cheap. Based on my personal experience and wish list (considering myself as a gadget lover), below is a list of 20 items (broad categories) that should more or less complete your wish list too.

There will be several items that you may not agree with me now, but if you read my explanation, I am sure you will agree with me.  This list will help you create yours nonetheless, even if you don’t agree with me.  In my list neither you would find small items like Digital Photo Frames, Software, Games etc. nor I am suggesting any specific brands.  Whatever best deals you get and whichever manufacturer you like, purchase those items this Black Friday.

Having said that, check out the list of 20 gadgets/electronics that you should or should not consider buying this Black Friday:

Definitely Buy It List:

1. Android Tablet or iPad:  You won’t believe how tablets are slowly replacing laptops.  Laptop prices are dropping drastically.  Android based tablets range from $200-600 in general but you may get better deal this season.  So keep an eye on it.  (Make sure to grab one with Android Honeycomb 3.2 on it.) If you are an Apple fan, then you would need $499 for an iPad 2.
   Look at the below image, I have connected my Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse to my Acer ICONIA Tab A500and sometimes use it as Laptop as well when I have to type faster.
   

   Android Tablet vs. Laptop

2. Smartphone: That’s a no brainer.  Everyone will (and should have) obviously one smartphone on their wish list.  For Apple iPhone fans there is not going to be any deal, but if you have Android phone on your list, then look for some really good deals.  Keep an eye on Amazon, Wal-Mart and RadioShack, they seem to have best deals on phones most of the times.  My recommendation is Samsung Galaxy S2 or Motorola Droid Razr.
3. Google TV/Boxee/Roku or Apple TV:  These days lot of choices are available online for all your TV, Movies and Music needs.  And if you can also browser from your couch on a big screen, then why do you need anything else.  See if you can grab Logitech Revue (List Price $99), Boxee TV (List Price $149) or Roku TV (Starts at $99) sets.  But if you have iPhone and iPad consider buying Apple TV ($99) instead.
4. Desktop Computer:  Though some may differ on the usefulness of Desktop computers now a day.  But I think there is always a reason to have at least one Desktop Computer in the house.  If you have one, then cross it off the list, and if you don’t have one, then it is probably something to think about.  (Depending on a good deal.)
5. LED, LCD or 3D HDTV:  With High Definition television sets, there is no minimum size.  Whatever can fit in your room without putting a hole in your pocket, makes up to anyone’s wish list.  You can probably get most of the value of Item 3 if you get a TV with apps on it.  Like Vizio and Samsung.  Netflix, Pandora and other apps are available on TV itself, so you don’t need anything else for these basic needs.
6. Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) or Microsoft XBox:  Even if you don’t have kids in your house, you may want to put either a PS3 Bundle or an XBox with Kinect on your wish list.  Really high-definition graphics games, Netflix, Pandora and other cool things you can do with these.
7. Digital SLR Camera:  Even if you are not a professional photographer.  You still need to get one Digital SLR camera.  The photos captured with these cameras are really high quality.  You can also record hi-def videos with these SLR cameras.  Look for a deal on these cameras..good ones so far I have found are at Costco.
8. Home Theater System:  If you really want to feel like theater while watching movies and playing games, you need to have a Home Theater System.  Pioneer, Bose, Onkyo and Yamaha are all known brands for making reliable good quality Home Theater system.  Get one in your budget because they can range anywhere from $200 to whatever your budget allows.
   My advice to you would be to stay away from those ‘Home Theater Systems in a Box’.  They are just DVD players with 5 speakers and will not give you the entire pleasure of an actual Home Theater system.  (You will find plenty deals on these systems, but as I said – STAY AWAY)
9. Projector:  If you have an entertainment center in your basement, then a projector will complement the whole set-up.  Full wall display along with Home theater system makes a perfect Home Entertainment money can set up in your basement.  Make sure to get one that support HDMI.  Don’t go for a very costly one either.  Replacing bulb in these costly ones cost you a fortune.  So spend wisely.
10. Bluetooth Car Speaker System:  Spend some money this Thanksgiving for safe driving habits.  Get a Bluetooth Car phone adapter so that when you want to talk while driving, you don’t get your eyes off the road.  Because you can talk while driving using this Bluetooth enabled car speakers.  Most of the new cars now come pre-equipped with this technology, so check your car manual and see if there is one in yours too.
11. All in one Printer/Scanner/Fax/Copier: Generally I wouldn’t be suggesting to buy a printer.  Because I believe in paperless office.  But still, not everyone can live without paper prints.  So look for deals on All-in-one Printers.  It is also a good idea to spend some extra money to get a laser printer instead of inkjet printers.  Initial cost of Laser printers is a little high but Inkjet printers don’t last very long and then there is an ongoing battle to get replacement cartridges.

No need to buy list:

1. DVD Players/Portable DVD Player:  Not sure with all the above devices if there is still a need to have a DVD player.  I personally don’t have a DVD player, because my PS3 (or XBox) replaces the need to have a standalone DVD player.  I would not put a DVD player on my wish list for the same reason, no matter how cheap, with/without Blu-ray.
   Regarding Portable DVD player, if you already got a tablet or a smartphone, do your kids still need a portable player?  Just ask yourself.
2. Laptop:  Like I said earlier, the future of Laptops is not very bright.  After getting a tablet and a Desktop computer, I don’t think I need to spend money on a laptop.  One other reason I prefer to have a desktop+tablet combination is because Desktops can be configured/upgraded easily after couple of years use.  Whereas laptops just become so obsolete after 2 years that it is probably better to buy a new one in the same price range.
   I personally prefer to have a Dual Monitor Desktop setup for my hardcore work and tablet for all other mobile work.  There is just no way I am going to replace my current laptop with another one.
3. Point and Shoot Camera:  One advantage of owning a smartphone is that you no longer need to worry about Point and shoot cameras.  Almost all smartphone now a day comes with at least 5MP to 8MP hi-def camera capable of recording up to 1080p videos as well.  Why should I carry another piece in my pocket and spend money on it?
4. Camcorder:  Same logic as item 12 goes for this one too.
5. Digital Clock/Photo Frames: I personally never understood the usefulness of these items.  So unless, they are coming as a package with something else, they are not on my list.  Tablet on my desk works as a photo frame and my Atrix on a media dock works as a digital clock.  Other than that, I don’t see a need to have them.
6. mp3 Player/iPod Touch:  In general you don’t need one if you have a smartphone.  But you may still want to buy one if you have teenager kids in your house, specially the iPod Touch.
7. PSP/Nintendo: Same thing applies to this item too.  If you are getting a really good deal, then go for it.  Else ditch these items for now.  Kids are also migrating to Tablets and Smartphone.  (How many kids I have seen playing Angry Birds on iPhone.)
8. GPS Navigator:  Standalone navigation systems (GPS) are history now.  Unless you are a really old school types or don’t have an Android phone, there is no need to have a GPS unit these days.
   “Advantage of Android phone is that you get FREE GPS with it.” 
9. Blank Media (CD/DVD, USB drives, External HDD etc.):  There is always a need for blank media.  So keep an eye on the deals for these, specially External HDD deals.  You can definitely ditch USB Pen drives, because Dropbox, Pogoplug and other online services have just quietly replaced them.

20 Gadgets you should (or not) buy on this Thanksgiving!? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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How to use Twitter as a task reminder (GTD) for any smartphone or tablet including iPhone? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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If you have visited Knowliz.com recently, you might have noticed that it looks different, in fact very different.  This is because I was not completely satisfied how it was laid out earlier.  I wanted a clear professional looking blog where the reader (means you) get to the information quickly and easily.

I would try to explain that in a screen cast below what else has changed and how it is laid out now: http://www.screenr.com/rNqs

The Way New Knowliz is laid out

Check out the New Knowliz – Tell us what you think?? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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With the introduction of Google music yesterday now the question rises what users would like to use. Is it going to be Spotify, Pandora, iTunes or Google music? That’s why this poll to understand user opinion about it.

So please cast your vote on your preferred music service…and leave a comment if you want to let us know why.
Take Our Poll

Poll : Which online music service do you use or plan to use?? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Based on today’s Google Music Live Event which I live-blogged, below are the things you would like to know about Google Music.  First and foremost, Google Music is now open for everyone in US which was earlier invite only Beta (which I was fortunate enough to get access to.)  Other major highlights of the all new Google Music are mentioned below:

1. Starting today, users can discover, purchase and share songs in Google Music store using Web, Android Phone and Tablet using Android Market.
2. Users can store up to 20,000 personal songs in the online library.  That can be accessed and played back from any internet enabled device.
3. Google Music app for Android has been updated to allow some of the new features.  And they are being rolled out slowly to all users.  (I already got the update, so seems like it is being rolled out really fast.)  Let me tell you this, the latest Music app gives a feel of Ice Cream Sandwich.
4. The Music store on Android devices will be rolled out soon to all users as well.
5. Rolling Stone, Shakira, Pearl Jam and many other artists tracks will be exclusively available on Google Music.
6. After purchasing the music in Android Market, it can immediately be shared with the friends in Google+.  Best of all, all the music purchased can be played/shared for FREE in its entirety on Google+.  The people in your circle will be able to play the track and even the entire album (if you shared that) for FREE.
7. Google Music Artists Hub helps new artists promote and sell music.  New Artists can create a profile page.  Their albums and biography will be available on that page.  When user searches for a particular artists, they land on the artists page and get access to all their albums and music.
8. Artists keep 70% of the revenue.  They can change the pricing and have control on how they distribute music in the Music Store.

Check out Google Music NOW.

Now taking a look back at Spotify, Pandora and all other music services out there, it is going to be a real challenge to compete against Google.  At the same time all these other services charge at least $4.99 to fully utilize the service potential and if you want to access your library on mobile phones you need a subscription of $9.99.

Who in the world is going to pay for that subscription on Spotify and Pandora when Google Music is free for all – UNLIMITED. You just pay to purchase songs if you want.  There is no fees to listen to songs in your library already.  I won’t pay for Spotify or Pandora, because…in a single sentence.

I USE ANDROID and I LOVE IT.

What are your views about it?  Did you want anything else from an online Music service?  Or are you happy and look forward to Google Music as your choice of Music service.  Let me know in comments.

How Google just played its trump card against Spotify, Pandora and other Music services?? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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17.47 by Anurag Bansal

• New Artists can create a profile page.  Their albums and biography will be available on this page.
• Artists keep 70% of the revenue.  They can change the pricing and have control on how they distribute music in the Music Store.
• When user searches for a particular artists, they land on the artists page and get access to all their albums and music.

17.39 by Anurag Bansal

• Rolling Stone, Shakira, Pearl Jam and many other artists tracks will be exclusively available on Google Music.
• After purchasing the music in Android Market, it is immediately available to share with the friends in Google+.
• Best of all, all the music purchased can be played/shared for FREE in its entirety on Google+.
• After sharing  the music on Google+, people in your circles can play them for FREE.

Check out http://www.music.google.com NOW.

17.32 by Anurag Bansal

• Users can store up to 20,000 personal songs in the online library.
• They can purchase music on their Android devices with the updated apps.
• Music can be purchased online too.  And it is obviously available in Android Market in a separate category.

Google Music Live Event – Tune in with Knowliz for Live highlights…? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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ToDo apps are in abundance in Android Market.  Just search for it and you will find hundreds if not thousands of apps claiming to be the best todo apps.  But very very few come close to the elegance of Any.Do app which just got released in Android Market.

Any.Do is the most elegant todo app I have ever seen in Android market.  I won’t generalize, but for some reason most Android apps just don’t give a very polished feels like iPhone apps do.  But Any.Do app completely changed my perception.

Any.Do is a new app that organizes your life in a very simple but elegant manner.  The tasks can be entered using a simple box that predicts text as you type.  Or you may choose to use your voice to enter the tasks.

Once the tasks are added, they can be edited to organize based on Folders, Priority and due dates.  You can also assign your friends to do certain activities and they don’t need to be using the app.  (A really cool feature if you want to share the tasks with certain people.)  When you share the task, you can link your Facebook account or just enter your name.  You can also drag and drop tasks to different dates and better arrange your list.

Current release lets you sync the tasks with Google Tasks but the Android Market page shows that the team plans to provide sync feature with other services too.  Some notable services in the plan are Remember the milk, Springpad, Catch and Outlook etc.  The team also plans to release iPhone and Chrome app soon. I personally wish they allow sync with Toodledo soon which is my favorite service for GTD.

When the task is done, just swipe across it to complete it. The app comes in two beautiful themes – White and Black.  Below are some of the app screenshots:

[nggallery id=7]

Any.Do is a free app in Android Market.  Check it out:

The most elegant ToDo App for Android – Any.Do? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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There is no lack of avenues to find and listen to latest music for FREE.  Many big names are in the field of making music available to you and many more must be coming down the line as I am writing and you are reading this.

Well, that’s a good thing for two reasons -

1. Competition is always good for users because it brings the cost down.
2. If you are not completely satisfied with one service you can easily switch to a better service you like and meets your requirement.

That’s the main reason for today’s article to make you aware of some new avenues I recently stumbled upon.  Some of these sites are aggregators and some of them provide a full range of function starting from discovering, listening and sharing music to you own library organization.  Let’s check them out:

1. Spotify: Spotify is your new music collection. Your library with millions of tracks. Spotify comes as a versatile service available for your PC, Mac, home audio system and mobile phone. Wherever you go, your music follows you.  The service does cost you $4.99 minimum for web only features and $9.99 if you want to use all the features including mobile streaming.
2. Google Music (Beta): Google is planning to dive into Music as well with a rumored iTunes and Amazon mp3 store like features.  But for now, you can upload all your music (up to~10,000 songs) to Google servers and listen to them anywhere you want for Free.  All you need to do is request an invite for Google Music and install Google Music app on your Android phone.  Invitation can be requested by logging into a Gmail account.
3. Sony Music Unlimited: With Sony Music unlimited you get access to over 10 Million songs available globally.  The music can be played back on PS3, Android phone and Tablets, Bravia TV and PCs.  You can start with a FREE trial for 30 days but a subscription of either $3.99 or $9.99 per month is required to continue using the service. 
4. Rdio: Rdio lets you listen to millions of songs ad-free wherever you are – on the web and on your phone, even offline. Follow your friends and other people with great taste in music, and find new music to listen to. Make your own playlists, and collaborate with friends on theirs. Search and find any song, album or artist and listen immediately.  To continuously use the service you need a subscription of $4.99 or $9.99 based on your preference.
5. MOG: MOG is another source of music where you get access to over 11 Million songs.  Listen to your music in the browser or download app to use it on your mobile.  Start with a FREE trial for unspecified duration, earn more free songs by sharing with your friends or checking out MOG.  You need a subscription to use it on your mobile.
6. Gaana.com: Ganna is a music portal for mostly Bollywood and Indian music.  Check out this previous article for complete details.
7. exfm: Exfm is a social music discovery platform that turns the entire web into your personal music library. As you browse the web, exfm gathers every MP3 file you come across, building a music library for you. Exfm makes it incredibly simple to share your favorite music with all your friends.  It is really fun to use exfm.
   The ex.fm site has tons of great music including a Tastemaker’s section which features a curated pool of music from the web’s top bloggers. The Explore and Trending sections house the pulse of what’s happening across exfm. Linking Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Last.fm let’s you see and hear what your friends are listening to and share and scrobble your own tracks.
8. Dhingana: Legally listen to 200,000+ songs from 40+ Indian genres like Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Ghazals and many more.  Dhingana lets you discover music with your friends in a unique social way.  You can listen to playlists created by others, search for your favorite music – songs, albums and playlists – ALL for FREE.  Start by installing the Chrome app or free Android app.
9. We are Hunted: If you are a fan of random music and new artists, then We Are Hunted is the service you want to go.  We are hunted listens to what people are saying about artists and their music on blogs, social media, message boards and P2P networks to chart the top 99 songs online right now. Looking at music this way, they detect sentiment, expression and advocacy to better understand what people like and dislike at any given moment.  You can actually create playlists as well and share them with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
10. Grooveshark: No Music list can be complete without the mention of Grooveshark.  Check out my previous article for complete details about Grooveshark.  As a reminder because of some issues, Grooveshare is not available directly from Android Market, but you can download is directly from the site and install.  Grooveshark is the world’s largest international community of music lovers. Over 30 million people use Grooveshark to listen to their favorite music, discover new bands, and share across social networks.

Check out these sites, services, browser extension and app for all your music needs.  Let me know in comments which one you use the most and why it is your favorite.  What other things you look for in music services for your needs.  Don’t forget to share with your friends on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

10 New alternatives to Pandora for listening, sharing and organizing Music? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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With today’s launch of Google+ pages, I wanted to get Knowliz up and going on the Google+ as soon as possible.

I am happy to announce that now there is a Google+ page for Knowliz too.  I would really love you to visit and if you can also add Knowliz to your Google+ Circles. Alongside alerting the visitors with original cross posts and article across the web, I may host a hangout with special feature and event, quizzes and suggestion oriented sessions.

Please visit here to access our profile and find the red “Add to Circles” button in the upper right corner.  As you can obviously guess I am also on Google+, so add me to your Google+ circles.  Other than that you can also

BTW, while you are at it, why not like Knowliz on Facebook and follow on Twitter if you’re members of these social networks?  Please do share how would you like to see the information on Google+ and Facebook fan page.  Is there anything specific you would expect from it.

One thing that comes to mind right now is that I would probably be using Google+ page for more user interaction like asking question about upcoming articles, quizzes and any other suggestion you as a reader might have for Knowliz.

So help me kick off this page so that I find a reason to keep it up to date.

Knowliz is on Google+ now too, Check it out and Add to your circles? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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Wow! What I just saw is unbelievable.  As I mentioned in my previous post, Google is definitely up for creating a consistent look among various Google products.  Entire Google team is working on creating/updating its entire range of products in a better looking beautiful looking feature rich products.

What Google has released today are two product updates. Google+ app for Android gets a huge face lift and Google Reader get the same consistent look we are slowly becoming used to with Gmail, Search and all.  Google reader also receives Google+ integration.  But that update is probably another post in itself.

In this article we want to see what Google+ updated app brings on the table.  Let’s see what’s new in this version:

1. Completely new app and new visual design.  New Home screen design puts the notification in top right corner which were previously in the bottom.
    
2. Press and hold a post in the stream to +1, share or mute it.  The stream also get a UI tweak.
   
3. Brand new posting UI.  Posts with photos show more content, covers most of the area as far as possible.  You can also quickly toggle the location sharing.
   
4. Hangouts has all new controls.
   
5. Messenger also show items with bigger pictures and provides a cleaner design.
   
6. Profile tab also shows more information in tabbed format.
   
7. The album view receives a huge change.  All your albums are now displayed here instead of hopping around different screens.  When you open an album the photos take full space on the screen which give a stunning look at all your photos.
   
8. When you go to the circles, it shows a preview of who all are in those circles.  And when you go to one particular circle, it shows you a list of all the members in that circle.
   
9. Among other updates is the support for Google Apps users, ability to sign out and add people to a circle from circle profiles.

Google+ for Android gets a huge face lift? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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We all should agree that Google has been really busy lately in UI improvements among all Google products.  A similar activity can be noticed on the Chrome Web store too.  Chrome Web Store now has a very clean and welcoming new look.  Things look more organized and it is easy to see the popular extensions – Be it games, utilities or productivity related apps.

Chrome Web Store

Below are some of the improvements you will quickly notice:

1. The Chrome Web Store has a brand new look which is very beautiful and feature rich while being minimal.
2. Apps and extensions now appear in a wall of images which keep rotating.
3. Apps are now easier to install – just hover the mouse over an image and click “Add to Chrome”
4. Get entire information about the app/extension by clicking on its image.  A panel of information shows up with images, video and other information.
5. Apps that are already installed will show a Green check mark on its image.
6. At the same time, now the reviews are linked to Google+ profiles of the reviewers.

The App Image Wall

Installed apps with Green Check mark

Chrome Web Store gets a welcoming brand new look? Originally appeared on Knowliz .
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