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Facebook 3.0 iPhone App

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Facebook has released details of their latest version of their iPhone App, this new version 3.0 has a host of new features including the new news feed, events and lots more...

New features in Facebook 3.0 iPhone App.

1. The “new” News Feed
2. Like
3. Events (including the ability to RSVP)
4. Notes
5. Pages
6. Create new photo albums
7. Upload photos to any album
8. Zoom into photos
9. Easier photo tagging
10. Profile Pictures albums
11. A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
12. Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
13. Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
14. Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
15. Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call

Facebook have also stated that this update will not have the push notifications in it, and that user will have to wait for version 3.1 for that.

Google Voice Is Now Available to More Users

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Google Voice, the service for managing your various phone lines, is finally opening up to more people. Starting today, the company is sending out invites to users who have been requesting them since the service. If you’re not familiar with Google Voice, it’s essentially a service for customizing how people can reach you by phone. For example, you can set it up to ring your landline, office, and cell simultaneously when your significant other calls. Meanwhile, you can push calls from slightly less important people directly to voicemail. All of this is done through the Web, where Google gives you a single number that in theory becomes your permanent phone number, since even if you move or switch cell providers, you can use Google Voice to re-route calls. There are other smart features too, like voicemail transcription, options to search your text messaging archives, and the ability to make calls from the Web.

12 Things You Need To Know About iPhone 3GS

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:04:00 +0000

The launch of Apple's new iPhone 3.0 firmware update was greeted with cheers and disappointment alike. However, following are 12 things you need to know about it, so you can know whether it's worth upgrading to or not.

1. Copy and Paste

Although this feature is available on all smartphones these days, Apple has managed to make this tiny feature into a Big Deal, and the way you do it (double tap to magnify text, scrolling and grabbing the beginning and end points) is pretty darn cool too.

2. The sheer range of APIs released

Slightly hidden from the consumer eye was Apple's larger onslaught into making the iPhone the most customisable handset out on the market. A thousands of APIs, allowing things like peer to peer Bluetooth connection for multiplayer gaming or contact sending, or allowing Google Maps to be used within other applications, so finding that restaurant is suddenly going to be a lot easier.

3. Using the iPhone to control accessories

This feature allows manufacturers to make Apps specifically for their hardware. It means things like the Lifescan from Johnson & Johnson are now possible, allowing diabetes sufferers to keep a visual record of their glucose levels. But the possibilities are now seemingly endless... you could make a golf accessory that assesses your swing using motion sensors and then Bluetooth the results to the iPhone for analysis.

4. Internet tethering

Apple has also used this little trick to add tethering to the iPhone, meaning you can connect it to your PC via USB or Bluetooth and use it as a modem. However, the bad news is that tethering is not going to come cheap.

5. MMS support

We all thought Apple would never do it, preferring to make sure the world thinks that email is properly where it's at for sending pictures. But it's not just those slightly funny snaps you can ping over to your mates' phones now, it's also location info, contact sending and even audio files that can be passed to a friend's phone, so if you want to stalk someone AND listen to the same things as them, this is the upgrade for you.

6. Spotlight

Apple has found a new space within the iPhone... scrolling left from the homescreen. This new area allows you to search over the whole iPhone / iPod touch, and even finds Apps (if they're Spotlight enabled). So if you're sure that you saw someone's name somewhere in the phone... you'll be able to find it now. And if you have a trillion Apps on there and countless home screens to scroll through you can now move straight there rather than straining your finger.

7. Localised search

As well as being able to search over the whole thing in Spotlight, you now have the option to search specifically in certain areas. There's nothing on the phone itself, users will also have the option to take things further afield by looking on a registered server to find the information there too.

8. Push notification

The push notifications are the next best thing, with the phone keeping a constant connection to email servers and IM applications.

9. Turn by turn directions

The problem with using the iPhone as a GPS navigation device in a car is, well, you can't really, unless you want to keep taking your eyes off the road to look where you are on the map, so the addition of turn-by-turn directions is a big plus in that department. However, thanks to the big wide world of licensing agreements, you can't use Google Maps for the application, so if you want to make a turn-by-turn effort, you best bring your own maps.

10. In-App purchase

This is another App-changer for iPhone-ites, allowing you to pay for things inside a program. What this essentially means is you'll be able to customise Apps as you want them, ie a magazine can be offered for free and you choose to subscribe from within the App, with the standard iTunes purchase interface popping up to confirm. By the way, you can also get in-game rumbling too... it's not important enough for its own point on this list, but it's pretty cool too.

11. Landscape QWERTY keyboard, A2DP and shake to shuffle

Apple has finally dripped out a couple of things that iPhone users the world over have been asking for, like being able to use something else other than the QWERTY portrait keyboard. So the addition of a landscape option for all text input is a real plus, though we can't see why it has taken so long. And while we're on music playback, the new iPhone 3.0 upgrade also includes support for shake to shuffle, meaning if you're bored of the current song and want a new one, you can randomly pick it by shaking the device. Sweet.

12. Best of the rest

Of course, there's a lot more to come from the iPhone 3.0 upgrade with some pretty big additions and some incremental ones, and while we think you'll want to have a poke around yourself to see what's new, here's a run down on all the other changes:

Voice memo - Basically, the iPhone is now a dictaphone too, with an old-school sound meter to find out how loud things are getting when you're trying to record your partner sleeping to prove just how noisy their snoring is.
More content direct to the iPhone - Buy films, TV programmes and audiobooks via the iTunes store, and download films direct from the internets to your iPhone.
Improves Stocks App - Get more easy to read information and view your important money charts in landscape.
Find My iPhone and Remote Wipe - Locate your phone on a map, send a message to the person that has it asking for it back and if that fails, wipe the phone from your computer.
New Safari features - New bits and pieces for the browser like faster performance, autofill user names and passwords.

As you probably know, the software will be available for download from Apple's website, so hot foot it over there to get it as soon as you can.

Gmail Chat Now Offers Video Previews

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:03:00 +0000

If you are a fan of Gtalk or Gmail Chat, then you are probably aware of the multitasking with all the Gmail users which continually pop up to say hello. In order to reduce the need to open up new windows if friends send you a cool video to watch from YouTube or Google Video, the new Gmail chat video preview is available. This is just another great tool for Gmail chat that is extremely useful and saves you the extra few seconds or headache of the need to open the video in a new tab. To watch a video preview, simply click the video preview button and viola…a miniature version is already right in front of you. By the way, this is currently for YouTube and Google Videos only.

Via: GmailBlog

Top 10 Weird Applications for iPhone and iPod Touch

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:28:00 +0000

For every application that helps users to find restaurants, get the latest travel information, or play poker, there are countless hundreds more that simply provide fun or distraction. Here, we pick our top 10 weird and wonderful apps for the iPhone and iPod touch:

Drunk Dialer: This clever app requires the user of the iPhone to hold the device steady while they dial a number; if you’re swaying drunkenly, then tapping in a telephone number will be nigh-on impossible.

Multi-colour concert lighter: This app simulate a pocket flame on the screen, serving as an alternative to holding a real lighter up at a concert.

Rimshot & Crickets: Like a personal soundtrack to your life, this app will provide suitable sound effects for almost any occasion.

iBeer: Use this app to simulate pouring a beer, and gaze in wonder as the screen fills with a foamy amber nectar. Hold the iPhone or iPod touch to your mouth and tilt it – it looks like you’re really drinking a pint!

iBlackout: This application turns the screen of your iPhone or iPod touch bright white, effectively transforming it into a torch to help you find your keys, or hunt for candles during a power cut. You can choose from a variety of other colours too, turning your gadget into a sort of raver’s glow-stick, and even display a picture of a roaring fire, for quiet, romantic moments.

iFart: There’s hours of juvenile fun to be had from its extensive library of trumping sounds.

Cat Photo Clock Light: A must for cat lovers, this application combines a scrolling sideshow of pictures showing cute kittens with a large display showing the date and time.

Hold On!: Possibly one of the most absurd and pointless applications available from the App Store. The purpose of this app is to see how long you can press a virtual button.

Annoy-a-Teen: For years now, corner shops and fast food restaurants plagued by gangs of hoodies have been using high-frequency sounds, to keep teenagers away from their premises. Now users of the iPhone and iPod touch can get the sound on their device too.

iSteam: This app covers your iPhone and iPod touch screen with virtual condensation, allowing you to scrawl in the steam as you would on a misted-up bathroom mirror. Blow into the device’s microphone to fog up the screen, then use your finger to write messages, complete with realistic squeaky sounds and dribbling water droplets. You can “write” over any of the photos stored on your device, and only have to shake the gadget to de-mist the screen.

FWD: A Great Human Powered Vehicle Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:13:00 +0000

FWD is a human powered vehicle concept which is neither a bicycle nor a tricycle. Both configurations exist in the same product, and allow use on both streets and rails. The model is designed in order to bring forward an excellent steering, braking and shifting system. The seat is very comfortable and can be easily adjusted as per your height. There is a box attached on the back of the vehicle for keeping your stuff and this box also gives support while driving. This ideal vehicle is one-seater and can be parked anywhere without any stand. Through the use of an integrated system of magnetic rails, which greatly reduces the force required from the user to propel the vehicle, fwd presents itself as a definitive eco-friendly solution, reaching to a much wider audience than that originally receptive to conventional bicycles.

Via: IndustrialDesignserved

YouTube now offered on the Wii and PS3

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:11:00 +0000

YouTube has started offering channels specifically for the Wii and PS3. The dedicated channel is currently offered on several set-top boxes, and is expected to be available later this year on widget-enabled television. The idea behind the PS3 and Wii versions is to offer users an easy-to-use interface, and allow them to watch full screen YouTube videos on their televisions. Early reviews have been really good for the player for the Wii, and pretty mediocre for the PS3 version. Have any of you tried YouTube out yet on your gaming system? How would you rate your experience?

Google Asks: Where Do You Want to Search Today?

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Google has a new experimental feature, rolled out to a portion of users: Preferred Sites. You’ll find it in the Preferences. It lets you choose sites which you want Google to search more often. Well, some may not see the point of the feature. Right now, if your friend is looking for something online, for the most part you’re able to tell him “just google xy and it’ll come up as the first result.” If Google messes too much with customization and personalization, everyone will have different results, and I don’t see the benefit of that either. Google OS has tested it out a little bit, so you can check out how it works in practice over there.

Architectural Inspiration from Archinect : SpaceInvading

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Looking for a good source of architectural inspiration? The all things architecture website Archinect just launched a new site called SpaceInvading. Its basically like an image-focused RSS feed compiling all the most interesting architecture and design projects, reported by bloggers and the designers themselves.

A Virtual Tour of Tokyo Using a Wii & Google Maps

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Check out this new mashup by Japanese coder Ryo Katsuma. It takes the exercising aspect of the Wii and combines it with virtual tourism, by using Google Maps with the Wii Remote to create a virtual jogging or walking experience. The crazy mashup takes you on a tour through a good bit of Tokyo, but what’s cool about it is that it could easily be applied to any city you want covered by Google Maps, letting you be a Wii world traveler. If you want to build one yourself, you can find out how over at Tokyo-jogging.

The Best Apple iPhone Free Applications

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Google Earth – Hold the world in the palm of your hand. With this application for iPhone and iPod touch, you can fly to far corners of the planet with just the swipe of a fingers!

Lie Detector Advanced – It uses advanced voice analysis technology used by CIA and FBI and works well when the subject is afraid of the consequence of being caught laying. The main purpose of this little fun application is to create the pressure to make a person tell the truth!

Steady Cam – This application prevents accidental movement caused by pressing the shutter, hence suitable for low-light environment and unsteady hands. It’s also very good for self portraits!

Compass App – it’s free GPS-based compass application that pictorially display the direction you are traveling. It has been developed for iPhone 3G as this has a GPS chipset integrated into the device.

Seadragon – It’s Microsoft free application, specially created for mobile devices like iPod Touch or iPhone. With this app you can browse large amount of high resolution images smoothly and quickly with a flick or a pinch.

Backgrounds – Choose unique and high quality backgrounds for your iPhone or iPod touch device. Browse through 30 different categories to find most appropriate backgrounds for your device. Really nice application that you can use on your devices.

iTranslate – It’s a free translator application that let’s you to translate any text into 33 different languages from your iPhone or iPod touch! Engine is based on Google Translate with very nice Apple-like user interface.

A Free Level – This application turns your iPhone or iPod touch into accelerometer that display an animated bubble level. It’s very cool application that you can use completely for free!

Apple triBook Concept Laptop

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:44:00 +0000

It appears that our friends from Apple have leaked some drool-worthy information on the net with their latest concept, the triBook. I am also quite impressed at a screen that can fold out into three. These side screens are perfectly sandwiched in between the main display and the keyboard. A user also has the option of combining all three screens for a landscape display of about 21 inches.

Not much is known about the triBook’s other features, other than it comes with a outstanding hard drive. It also has many I/O connectors, an 8x SuperDrive, plus a MacBook Pro-caliber CPU. Right now, the triBook is just concept, but I could easily see it becoming the standard for laptops. After all, who wouldn’t want more real estate for their laptop screen?

Make Money Online With Scour

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:10:00 +0000

How many times do you search web via search engines ? Would you want to monetize your searches on Web ? Scour gives you the chance of monetizing your searches on web ...

How Does This System Work ? Its simpler than you think , Scour fetches search results from Google , Yahoo and Live , so searching on Google or Scour brings you same search results but the difference is that Scour pays you.

When Do I Get Paid and How ? You will get paid $25 when you collect 6,500 points , also you can collect 12,500 points to earn $50 and 25,000 to earn $100 , its that simple. Payments are made via Visa Gift Cards.

How Can I Collect Points ? There are 4 ways to collect points which are : (1) Joining - 50 points, (2) Searching - 1 point, (3) Voting for search - 2 points, (4) Commenting on searches - 3 points

Can I Earn Referring People ? Yes. You can earn 25% of the points your friends make!

Final thoughts : I think that Scour is reasonable because you can search 3 biggest search engines at same time with Scour and each time you search they pay ( points) you.

ARCHITECTURAL FASHION

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:21:00 +0000

If you managed to check out all the runway collections for Spring/Summer '09 (or the winner of the most recent Project Runway), you might have noticed an architectural trend. Focusing on structure, shape and form, designers from all over the world are utilizing fabric as a building material, creating both hard and soft looks with pleats, folds, layering, surface texture and three-dimensional designs. In line with this trend are three names in the fashion world we think you should get to know:

Eko-Lab: This eco-friendly collaborative label includes six designers whose designs are grounded in sustainability and community. Utilizing organic fibers, such as hemp, cotton and linen, and natural dyes, the Eko-Lab designers create a variety of sculptural looks by using the fabric like paper, folding and gathering, cutting and twisting, braiding and crocheting to make items that stray pretty far from what most think of as green garments. Their focus on community has sprouted an in-the-works project which will soon offer access to a NY-based fair-made facility where interested creatives can come to learn about crafting, dying, and screen printing.

Sandra Backlund: Already having generated major buzz back in June thanks to a British Fashion Council nomination for a NewGen Award, this knitwear designer's work continues to amaze, with a neverending array of jaw dropping, sculptural pieces. Her three-dimensional designs seem to defy the laws of hand knitting, giving the typically soft drape of knitted fabrics incredible angular shapes. In addition to yarn, Backlund has used paper, clothespins, and even hair as material for her creations. Blurring the line between artwork and apparel, we're excited to see more of Sandra Backlund, and if past NewGen Award recipients such as Alexander McQueen and Jonathan Saunders are any indication, it looks like we will.

Mark Liu: Back in February, Liu received impressive accolades at London Fashion Week's Sustainable Design Showcase, Estethica. While his structural designs are edgy yet feminine enough to generate a fanbase on their own, what really pushed him to the next level is his Zero Waste process. The Central Saint Martins grad has developed a jigsaw puzzle-like way to cut his patterns so that the least amount of fabric is wasted - according to Liu, around 15% of fabric goes to waste when cutting and sewing a garment. In addition, he utilizes a screen print method that arranges the design on each pattern piece before it is cut, aiding his Zero Waste process.

wearable collections

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:28:00 +0000

Recycling first focused on paper, then it was water bottles, then food waste ... is clothing going to be the next buzz cause? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4.5 % of waste sent to municipal landfills nationwide is textiles (in NYC it's 6%) or nearly 4 million tons. Wearable Collections is a new non-profit charity that is encouraging NYC residents to recycle their used textile waste (last season's clothing, shoes, linen, upholstery, etc.) by placing recycling bins in apartment buildings. The bins are picked up once a week and delivered to charities worldwide who then deliver it to those less fortunate in South America, Africa and Asia.

Magazine Publishing for Everyone and Every Niche

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:29:00 +0000

Even as consumers spend more and more time online, they continue to crave the comfort of the printed page. MagCloud, a new self-publishing magazine service from HP Labs, is making the most of these conflicting desires by enabling anyone who can create a PDF to publish a magazine. How it works? Users can upload a PDF of their magazine for free, creating their own profit margins by calculating the difference between their cover price and MagCloud’s charge of USD 0.20 per page, plus shipping. The concept builds on the success of companies that offer a simple, online method for consumers to self-publish books (such as Blurb), and on the understanding that newgeneration are eager to share their creative output, and expect to be paid for their efforts. Whether they’re professional or pro-am journalists, photographers, designers or entrepreneurs, MagCloud provides them with a no-risk business and communication opportunity, and the ability to tap into infinite niche audiences that don't yet have a mag to call their own.While the site is in beta, publisher accounts are by invitation only. Shipping is currently restricted to the US, but the business is working hard to open up its service to Europe and then the rest of the world.

Photomake: Making Drawings Real

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:23:00 +0000

Photomake is a very cool web service that will translate line drawings into solid objects. The site makes it really easy to create unique objects. All you have to do is draw something, scan it - or even take a photo of it, upload it to the site, and in a few days you’ll have a custom item. They offer a bunch of different subsrtes including 17 different colors of acrylic, styrene and plywood. People have been making all kinds of interesting objects with photomake, like jewelery, furniture and art sculptures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUlDWG8ji8k

New Process Creates Plastic From Bacteria

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:12:00 +0000

A more sustainably sourced version of plastic may be on the horizon. Scientists at Genomatica Inc. have announced that they have developed strains of bacteria that can produce plastic without the use of oil. E. coli bacteria has been genetically engineered to secrete butanediol (or BDO) as they grow. BDO is a chemical compound that can be turned into a large number of plastic products - everything from spandex to car bumpers. Read More.

The Bubblegum Sequencer

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:45:00 +0000

The Bubblegum Sequencer looks like some sort of simple child’s toy, but it’s actually a novel way to control drum machines –a surprisingly simple interface hides the technology within. Users place colored balls within a 16 by 4 grid of circular holes corresponding to the 16th notes in a measure. A camera below the grid registers the position and color of the balls and creates beats based on where they’re located. Each color represents a distinct sample: pink is bass, green is a snare, yellow is a hand clap and purple are hi hats. New sounds can also be mapped onto any color. Great way to add fun physical interaction into a usually strict digital environment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziIdjrR_MRs

Wario Shakes YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:03:00 +0000

Seriously one of the smartest online ad I’ve seen in a while. The most amazing is that all the elements on the page are still functional even after they’ve been stacked at the bottom!

Remote Controlled Socket Kills Phantom Load

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:24:00 +0000

Phantom load, or stand by power, is a huge problem, or a huge untapped resource depending on how you look at it. According to Wikipedia: “It’s the electric power consumed by electronic appliances while they are switched off or in a standby mode”. And it’s not insignificant. Studies have suggested that the total phantom load of the United States could provide enough power to handle the electric needs of Vietnam, Peru, and Greece.With all that in mind, the Remote Controlled Socket makes a lot of sense. Instead of stooping down, or reaching behind furniture to turn off power strips and unplug electronics, you just press a button on a tiny remote and the phantom load is gone.

Lists & Online Inspiration Archives

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:20:00 +0000

Not long ago, the Web was all about personal sites, and we all knew one another by first names. Then the blogs showed up, and now with Tumblr and Flickr and Twitter the emphasis is on the list format, be it a series of bon mots or visual snippets. These are lists without much to say. In the magazine world, you’d call it the front of book — that first section of terse paragraphs, charticles and perfume ads. But on the Web right now it’s the new, the vanguard, the limit.You can start with sites like The Material Review, tracking the cave drawings of ye olde preppies, or JJJJound, covering some of the same territory but with a dose of sex, or UUIUU, collecting objects of pop futurism, or Agence Eureka, a French collector’s archive of printed matter. But the granddaddy is Fffound!, for “image bookmarking,” where desperate art directors go searching for inspiration, and the rest of us spend hours away from our families.

SynergyNet Multi-Touch Desktops for Students

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:16:00 +0000

Researchers are giving classrooms a makeover, replacing students’ wooden desktops with interactive multi-touch ones. Along with a team of educators and manufacturers, the researchers have recently unveiled SynergyNet, a hardware-software system similar to Microsoft Surface that offers an immersive and potentially more engaging learning experience for youngsters. Pupils using the interactive tables can, for example, work out math problems visually and physically (using their fingertips to move around units) or see the teacher’s blackboard demonstrations right on their desks. The system has already been implemented in one unnamed UK school and is expected to appear in other primary and secondary schools over the next few years.

Please Dress Me: T-Shirt Search Engine

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Sometimes you don’t need the full-on Google strength search power. Maybe you need to look for something very specific, like your next witty t-shirt. Please Dress Me takes the pain out of trawling through countless websites to find just the right ironic tee. But seriously, this is a great idea. Just enter the search terms ( eco, girraffe, The Big Lebowski - whatever) and presto, the computer will link you to shirts relevant to your interests.

Spectrum: RSS Reader With Style

noreply@blogger.com (Shopid) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:23:00 +0000

Have a look at Spectrum, a pretty sexy way to read the news. Select the categories you want to read about, save articles, change the appearance of the animations… Pretty inspiring. And now, I can go back to my “Flash is repulsive” attitude.