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Do More With Your Photos : The Ultimate Guide to Bringing your Favourite Memories to Life

Jaspal — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:14:52 +0000

Most of us now own a digital camera, which means we have hundreds of digital photographs. Here's what you can do with all those snaps. Making the effort to take great looking photographs is utterly pointless if they're going to be left inadequately named and tagged on your hard drive never to be seen again - and there's certainly no excuse for it. Although the more to digital photography signaled the end of the 'photos in a shoebox' era, it opened up many ways in which we can share our photos and get creative displaying them.From joining an online photo-sharing website and showing your pictures to millions of people around the world, to creating private slideshows for select friends and family, there's something for everyone, and every digital photo, to be found online.It's not all virtual though - photographic prints still have their place and if you haven't already had your eyes opened to the plethora of photographic display opportunities, including canvas prints that looks as though they should be in gallery, you're in for a treat. Photography doesn't stop when you take the picture, and it's what you do with it afterwards that's important.From getting your pictures off your digital camera through to selling them on a Microstock site, we'll explore the plentiful post-shutter possibilities of photography.

Getting Started

Before you can explore all the creative possibility open to your photography you need to get your images from your camera to your PC safely. There are several ways to do this. If your PC has memory card slots, you can simply insert your camera's memory card into the proper one. If not, you can buy an external memory card reader, which plugs into your USB port. You can also connect your camera to your computer via USB cable, which should have a come supplied with your camera. Once you're connected, you'll get a prompt from whatever photo organising software you have installed, asking you to confirm that you wish to upload photographs and asking where you want them and how you want them named. If you don't already have a reliable image storage and editing program on your PC, we recommend Photo Gallery, which you can download for free from www.download.live.comOf course, there's no point taking great photographs and planning what to do with them if later you haven't a clue where they are - organising your photos in Windows is incredibly important, especially as your personal image library grows. First, you need to decide on a system for organising all your photographs. If you're unsure of how you ought to name your pictures, we recommend something like 'Name+ Date taken' for both the folders and file names, then you'll be able to search both ways. Good practice naming isn't enough on it's on, though - you also need to tag your images properly. Once your images are imported into your chosen program, you'll have a range of options in this regard - make the most of these.The ideal scenarios that you import with basic tags on all the pictures, then once imported you set about tagging individual and smaller groups of images. In Photo Gallery this is easy - simply double-click on the photo that you want to tag, then in the info pence click 'Add descriptive tags', 'Add people tags ' or 'Add caption'. Write these, then go back to the gallery to save. If you have several similar images, you can add tags to them at the same time, - just select the group and click 'Add tags'.If you follow our suggestion for import names, you should already be able to search through your images by date. It's also a good idea to tag your photographs according to people's name, places, themes and special occasions.Making a photo DVD is a great ways to back up your images or to give to friends and family, and it couldn't be easier in Windows using the build in DVD maker software. Once you've added pictures, choose whether you want to keep them as they are, or add fun effects. You can also add a disc title, a notes page and edit the menu text, to make your photos DVD even more personal. You can use the software to create a slideshow, too, and burn it to DVD, although you'll find program, isn't as advanced as Movie Maker.Show off your snapsThe good news is that Movie Maker comes free with all Windows operating systems and it makes creating photo slideshow a cinch. It will enable you to simply select the images you want to use and add them to your Movie Maker storyboard ready for them to be editing together. You'll be able to create funky transitions between shots, and add a music overlay. visual effects and words. you'll also get the option of publishing for playback on your PC (if you have a HDTV, you'll be able to plug your computer into your television using your HDMI connection and watch your slideshow on the big screen), save on to DVD to watch a via your DVD player, save on to a CD or send to friends via email.As well as being a lot of fun, photo-sharing websites make organising, storing and sharing digital photography easy. Whether you want to create online photo albums to share special pictures with your friends and family, or to show off your photographic portfolio, you'll love how easy photo-sharing websites make it for you.Easy SharingThere's a wealth of photo sharing sites to choose from, so it pays to do your research however, we can't recommend Flickr enough - it's the biggest and best website of its kind in the world, and it enable you to edit, organise and share your photographs, either privately with friends and family or with the extensive Flickr community. In terms of getting your work out, and raising your photographic profile, Flickr simply can't be beaten. Setting up an account is free and easy - it'll only take about five minutes. Flickr provides excellent photo storage - Flickr won't degrade the quality of your photos the way Facebook does. You can download the full resolution size of your computer's hard drive fails, your photos will all be safe and easily retrievable, which is a reassuring thought. Flickr provides a great way of organising your images, too - sort them so they are easy to find. Once we've uploaded and sorted your images, send gallery inks to your friends via email, and save yourself the hassle of having to attach images.With all photo-sharing websites, it's a good move to join groups that enable you to discuss areas of special interest with other people - you'll find you get lots of inspiration and people who have chatted to you are much more likely to comment to your pictures and draw attention to your work. Once you've set yourself up on a photo sharing website , don't forget al to tell your friends about it and give out your profile's web address - it's all about sharing your photographs after all.Don't leave your Facebook account devoid of photos, either, if you've got lots of great snaps on your computer. After all, your friends are the people who are most likely to want to see your pictures. We appreciate that the upload process is slow and clunky, though, so why not just upload a couple of your best shots, with a link to your photo sharing account If you have twitter account , don't forgot to drop links to your images into your update there, too - another great way to get your pictures out there.A slideshow is another nice way of showing facility that is free (most of the program you'll find online are not.) You need to use Photo gallery to make the most of the slideshow feature. Simply open photo gallery, select a group of photos that you'd like to show off ( tick the check box next to each one, or use the CTRL+A shortcut ) and click on the slideshow button in the top menu, under the View tab. Then just choose a style a slideshow that you'd like to use - it will start displaying your images automatically in full screen. You can fine-tune the slideshow settings from here.Get printingWe might all be shooting digitally now, but physical photographs are no less valid. The humble photographic print lasts longer than a lifetime and is a reassuring physical back up that cab be handled down from generations to generations - more important for your people pictures than flora and fauna close-ups, obviously. Prints are cheap to buy these days, with companies falling over themselves for your business with special offer galore.Show of your shotsPhotobooks are a great way to share your images and creating one is easier and cheaper, than ever. Most companies offer templates, where you can simply drop your images in. If you want more freedom, go for a company Blurb , which enables you to customise existing templates or create your own design. Photobooks are a professional looking way to present your treasured photographs and make a great presents too. We also recommend Photobox and Jesspos photo-books.If you've taken a tremendous family portrait or captured a stunning sunset, why not display it in your home for everyone to enjoy? You can brighten your walls with a poster print, canvas or even an acrylic print, all widely available Collage prints where a variety of your images are displayed with pre-designed graphics and patterns, are really nice way to displaying multiple images.

5 Ways to Get the Best Pictures from your Compact Camera

Great photos look good whatever you decide to do with them. 1. Think Quality : Your compact camera should have at least two image quality options. Always shoot in the highest - raw mode if your camera has it, minimally compressed ( often called Fine or Large) JPEG, if not. Not on;y do you pictures look better , but the extra quality gives you more editing options later on.2. Low with the ISO : Unless you are shooting in low or ambient light (in which case you need a high ISO), choose a low ISO speed of about 200. The higher your ISO, the more digital noise, so for top quality pictures, keep it low. Many people are unaware of this and keep a high ISO selected, then think their camera isn't very good - don't be one of them!3. Set the scene : Many people get into a rut, always selecting Auto or Program mode. Modern cameras offer a wealth of scene mode options (Portrait, Landscape, Macro and so on). It pays to use these because they're optimised for a particular setting and often give better results.4. Get close : Pictures with lots of dead space around the main subject lack impact and can sometimes leave the viewer wondering what they're looking at. For dynamic pictures that scream "look at me" , get in close - use your camera's zoom, as well as your legs.5. Angle it right : Portraits are most flattering taken at eye level, or sight;y above but never below. Dominating building look fantastic shot from a low vantage point. Make it your mission to get creative with angles and your pictures will have lots more impact.

How to Use Layer Comps in Photoshop CS6

Jaspal — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 05:37:45 +0000

With the new automated options, you can now share the image stages much quicker than before. The Layer Comps panel in Photoshop is something of a hidden gem. This option might not be the most radical, but it will certainly improve the way your present your artwork and work with clients and other creatives. You can easily activate the feature by selecting the Window>Layer Comps menu.The layer Comps panel effectively enables you to take snapshots of key phases of your production in your layered images. You can then save these as presets and play them back to art directors, clients and so on, at any time needed during your creative process.this option is an advantage for many Photoshop creatives. If you're a retoucher you can more easily present progression without having to filter through separate or flattened layers. Web designers can now show rollover states far quicker with this option. Layer Comps feature reduces many file saves as a mean to share alternate image states, ultimately freeing up memory storage on your desktop computer.This is all well and good, but what if those you share with don't have Photoshop CS6? Adobe has thought hard about this and provided a Layer Comps to PDF options too. This will automatically save a PDF file with all your layer comps now displayed as sequenced images.Step 1 : Add a Layer CompTo add key stages of applications as layer comps, first make your changes then afterwards hit the Create new Layer Comp button (at the foot of Layer Comps panel). You can make further amendments, but make sure to select Update Layer Comp to make this stick.Step 2 : Make NotesIf you're collaborating on an artwork and want to flag important changes, the Notes panel is helpfully paired with Layer Comps. Simply select the Notes tool (from the Eyedropper drop options in the Toolbar). Add to the image area you want to flag and type your suggestions.Step 3 : Save to PDFIt can be a real problem if your client or intended recipient doesn't have a version of Photoshop. Luckily Adobe has offered ways around this. Simply select File>Scripts>Layer Comps to PDF. Set a destination and save out, with your layers now grouped in a PDF file.

7 Best Free Website Makers for your Business

Jaspal — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:21:00 +0000

From the first day of start, every business need online presence and want there customers to be happy. The mouth publicity is considered to be the best publicity and to get it you need to provide excellent services, before and after sale. Making a website and running it to engage customers is one of the best things which could be done now a days.To build a website you need web developing services, who will make your website according to your needs. But with many web applications this money can be saved. You just need to spend a little time and with few clicks you could build a site of your own. These free website maker for any business can make it possible to showcase your product, tell about your organisation or may be write news articles to keep them updated. Here are are few excellent websites which offer such services free of cost.

7 Best Services that build your Website for free

1. Ucoz.com : To make a website with Ucoz.com you will need to register yourself here and get started with confirming your email, which will reach your mail instantly. After confirming the mail, you will need to set admin password and normal password. I like their use of captcha, its easy and secured at the same time. Now you will be presented with two or three forms like choosing a name for your site, then design and finally what all modules you require.. i choose all the options like page editor, site news, forum, publisher, blog, guestbook, photo albums, email forms, web polls, and last but not the least E-shop. Yes you can build an e-shop to sell your goods as well.You can add blocks, write blog post from front end, change the look and feel, and much more.. a complete solution for building website absolutely free. Above i have choose the most popular business template for my demo site.2. Webs.com : It took me only 5 mins to create a free site at webs.com. It was smooth easy and fun.. Their image insertion is awesome, with flickr search for common creatives they have stood out with their competition.Features like photo gallery, e-commerce shop, articles, blog, contact page and much more with just spending so little time.. The customization is easy and far better than other free builders out there.3. Weebly.com - You can make a website, even add Google Adsense with 50% ad share given to weebly and build it for absolutely free. They allow you to add many effects like in text like shadow, glow etc with image customization and also downloading an archive for the your website.[ad1]4. JIMDO - Jimdo starts you off with a relatively blank canvas. You choose from a selection of templates, then get a simple front page with options for adding a title image, navigation and general content. Pages are built as you go, and the interface changes depending on what you’re adding. Click an empty area to pop up a menu of options you can choose to include.On the one hand, being tied to a template makes the software incredibly easy to use, because you aren’t faced with confusing tools and elements. On the other hand, it’s a rather inflexible way of working and you may find that the program simply can’t do what you want it to. For example, to move the navigation menu, you have to change the entire template. Still, the designs are logical and the rigid structure means it’s difficult to make mistakes.The free version comes with just 500MB of space and you can only use an address with a jimdo.com suffix. You’re also forced to have a Jimdo advert placed on your site. But you get an unlimited number of pages, unlimited bandwidth and you can even set up a simple shop using PayPal, though it’s limited to five products.If you upgrade to the Pro service for $96 per year (which is $8 per month), you lose the Jimdo advert. You also get a domain name, 5GB of space and more template designs to choose from. There’s a Business package for $290 per year, which provides two domains and unlimited storage space.The software is very similar to 1&1’s MyWebsite, with the same icons on the right, but some different options. The main reason we’ve ranked Jimdo above 1&1’s service is that you can use it to create a perfectly serviceable site for free.5. Moonfruit : The service hasn’t changed much since then. What felt fresh and cutting-edge has now been superseded by the likes of Jimdo, 1&1 and Squarespace. Moonfruit still has very attractive templates and the site now offers a free option, which it lacked previously.The site-design tool feels like PC-based web-design software that has been transported to the internet. This makes it fiddly in places but offers a lot of flexibility if you’re willing to spend time learning how to use it. The free service is limited to 15 pages and 20MB of storage. You’ll need to upgrade and pay £4 per month to get 500MB of storage and unlimited pages, though other options are available for £8, £15 and £25 per month.6. WebEden : Moonfruit’s software is available for other companies to license, which is what WebEden has done. Your starting site and method of choosing a template are different and less dynamic, but otherwise the services are identical.You get the same interface, which is powerful and flexible, but it’s harder to learn and use than the newer and updated services, which have left Moonfruit and its licencees looking a bit old-fashioned. Pricing is also the same as Moonfruit. You can build a free website with 20MB of space but it can only have 15 pages. Upgrading to £4 per month gives you unlimited pages and 500MB of storage, but doesn’t include a domain name. More packages are available with increasing amounts of storage and options, for £8, £15 and £25 per month.7. Doomby : Doomby isn’t as dynamic as Jimdo or Squarespace. Instead of editing directly onto the page for an immediate ‘what you see is what you get’ effect, you use a content- management interface. This consists of some behind-the-scenes web pages where you type your text and load your pictures.When you save your work, the content uploads and you can then see the results. You can run a Doomby site for free, but the top of the screen will be taken up by an intrusive advert. The free option comes with 250MB of web space and unlimited pages. Upgrading to the Plus version costs $58 per year. This removes the ad and gives you 2.5GB of storage space.[ad2]

Play Classic Games for Free

Jaspal — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:46:58 +0000

CoreOnline is a new service that lets you play classic console games for free in your browser.The games, which come from Square Enix’s archive, include Hitman: Blood Money, which was released in 2006, and 2009’s Mini Ninjas. Tomb Raider: Underworld will follow soon.You can play games free for a limited period, then ‘earn’ more playing time by watching adverts.

Create/Setting up an MVC Web App

Jaspal — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:22:08 +0000

How they built the MVC web application that are used on the Brandon Generator project using Backbone.jsBrandon Generator provides a rich and immersive online experience with lots of animations, Av effects and crowd sourcing elements that allow viewers to contribute to the next episode. There were a few CSS3 and HTML5 features which we couldn't use, so we had to write a lot of JavaScript and jQuery.We needed a lightweight client-side MVC framework that would provide clean and organized structure to code, was extensible, provided URL routing, was fast to load and could integrate easily with backend RESTful web services through JSON. We have similar requirements on other projects that had a rich online user experience, such as Grolsch, BT and Motilo. There the LBi Interface developers had successfully implemented Backbone.js, and it was fast becoming the architectural framework of choice for font end development.Backbone.js has been particularly useful for the crowdsourcing aspect of the site as it comes with code we can reuse, such as methods to validate form inputs, and post data back to the server using JSON. Here we show you how to get set up with Backbone.js so that you can start developing your web apps using an MVC-like approach.Expert tip Next stepsOnce you've finished the tutorial, check out Backbone's documentation at http://documentcloud.github.com/backbone/docs/backbone.html. Some of the most useful features include the history model, which can hijack your browser's internal history, and the router, which enables your app to start handling URls itself, facilitating a much more seamless user experience. Also worth becoming familiar with is the event model, which helps you start building mediator-style applications with ease, straight off the bat.StartInstall Git and set up hosts fileGit is a versioning control system like SVN. The code for this project is stored on GitHub, a public code repository. To install Git on OSX this is as simple as visiting www.mac.github.com. And on Windows at www.windows.github.com.2. Grab backbone tutorialGit has done the ddemo tutorial into a local folder from http://github.com/rayui/mvc-lesson-1. There is a great post for Git beginners check it out; it's well worth the read.3. Install node.jsNode.js is a JavaScript compiler that runs from the command console. Visit www.nodejs.org and install node.js using the supplied installers. Following this, install the dependencies required for the tutorial (NPM comes packaged with node.js) as per the README file.4. Run the programFrom the command line, change into your working directory, run nodejs/apps.js and visit localhost: 8000 in your browser. This will start the demo application. Have Firebug or the Webkit inspector open in the network tab to watch the AJAX requests.5. Generate the inline documentationThe docs are generated using docco, a node.js library that autogenerates documentation from inline comments. Run. /doc generator.sh from the command line of the working directory and visit localhost: 800/docs to read them.Finish Try the automated buildHeroku is a cloud hosted application server supporting many of the latest languages, including node.js. Visit http://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/nodejs to install Heroku. Set it up, push to the instance with Git push Heroku master, then play!

Latest Web Design Software for September 2012

Jaspal — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:45:07 +0000

The latest new web design tools makers this time gave us a simpler way of designing web page by abstracting the complex structures and simplified code. Using these tools is just like eating cheese..With Google playing in with more HTML stuff, AngularJS is what I am looking at this time, apart from its free service it is building something incredible with it. Also the app script done by them is far better option then many others already in the market. Let us know which one do you like the most and which will you recommend for web designers.[divider]

Google AngularJS 1.0.1

Web:- www.angularjs.org | Price:- Free | System:- HTML/JSAngularJS Is on JS framework, and we can say its like HTML on steroids, in a good way. Google is playing with some of the shortcomings of HTML as the platform of its software which can be concluded as the lack of adaptability and meaning in the names of the elements, the formless nature of HTTP and its constant need for circulating the data are some of the problems which Google considered on improving and leaving you free to amplify and customize. Google's been very careful in doing so.This system has a superb feature called MVC framework by which the two parts of an app is connected which helps you in designing, so you just need to bring up the models and controllers in your tags. It basically enables you to make a library of components, which is there in your apps where you can customize HTML tags.

These tags make your code simple and detach away the complex structures. It also works with the apps Ajax as it handles state, and its designed to be testable. its beyond vanilla JavaScript and it does not require any special syntax. It also has various features like straight forward syntax with low dependency and augments HTML which makes it more friendly and easy to use. And this AngularJS makes HTML better for the consumer without putting any constraints on its user.

Its a worth inspecting if you are keen in amplifying HTML and making your gain more expressive and distinct. [divider]

Google Apps Script

Web:- www.google.com/script/start | Price:- Free | System:- Web serviceBy developing the Scripts, the final piece of the Google Docs puzzle has been put on the right place. The arrival of Google Drive was the amazing news for the once who are using using Google Docs. It helps you to share and synchronize your work very easily, despite the fact that it has a stupendously allows very less storage of only 5GB to finish your craving.By combining the Google Apps scripting, the developers will be able to create a unique apps which can connect with the contents of an authorized drive, and then you can publish this to the Chrome Web Store.ContentsYou can use the script with very few complications. You can go to the Google Apps scripting environment by your Google Drive account or directly through www.google.com/script/start. You just need a Google account and knowledge of JavaScript, pretty relevant to grasp, then it would be really very smooth to work on this app. The main important component of this app is the GS file, which works as the heat of the app and combine all the components together. This acts as the main part of the app, as it join together the HTML stubs, data from docs and combine amiably with JavaScript. The teams which are working on Google Docs to co-ordinate their daily activities among them it will take no time for this framework to become famous.UsageThe good use of this app is that the scripts run on the client side and not on the developer's account, which makes it easier to notify as the changes made by the developer will be seen and used by the subscribers instantly. The scripts are independent and that's why its more general as anyone can use it easily. Google has this as its keen idea of making the environment of the scripts in a feasible web app launcher.As Google's Docs are already in cloud, which makes the data held in their tables and cells become more user-friendly and to make more use of it. By the Google App Script, we can do a lot more than just share the access of the documents but also now we can turn it to a great experience. It includes a convoluted structure but also has a known syntax, levers the Docs and it makes it easier for the user to create an environment of its own to interact. The Google Apps Script has all the required tools you need by using Google Docs to create a HTML/ CSS/ JS app.It has a very convincing way for user to approach this app of producing apps as its based on the Google's cloud service but the API's included will still take for user to get use to it.[divider]

Pancake

Web:- www.pancakeapp.com | Price:- $49 | System:- PHP/ MySQLPancake app is based on the productivity and its on the business side of being artistic. Pancake combine all the admin tasks, such as project management, billing, estimates, file delivery, together to a single tie. This tie up makes it easier for you to work on these admin tasks and deal with them very easily. Its not an accountancy application or a monthly service where you have to pay every month for the service to continue but it can track your balance sheet, and it only do this to help you to take care of your business. It works as a friend of your's who also enjoy the boring side of things and helps by going to great heights to make them fun so that you will pay attention to it and get things done.Serves Business with SugarSo to have all the control over your data, you just have to upload Pancake to your server. It's a nice, friendly app to work on and you will enjoy working on it rather than doing it the way you do on daily bases. It has a very straightforward method of installation as you will need an already created database and it's all about that only. You just have to upload /pancake directory and then you just have to start following the instructions from the welcome page. The app will continue giving instructions for the rest of the app.Strike to the basicsPancake deals with the objects like invoices, projects, clients etc. The simpler way to start is to add the client's details as once you did that, it's going to be easy for you to add projects of that particular client, send them proposals and creating invoice for them could be done with a only a few clicks. This helps you saving a lot of time and also provide the client with aligned information and correct feedback.As it happens with most of the people that they are always at the first to take the money but last in giving. And business man faces this problem every time, so this app will provide you a easy way to search the due payments, as it will deliver you the files contingent on payment of an invoice. You can also keep tabs on your own liquidity, which will help you in the running of your business. The dashboard of this app is very straight-forward, which depending on you may or may not make a easy seeing.There is a very small concern with this system so it would be better if you could deal with the app with more alternating ways by facilitating flexible workflow rather than going for a specific approach. If we consider it all over, this app is very useful for making a grip on your invoicing, and also presenting yourself more professionally and up to date in front of your clients. The Pancake interface's appreciable visual appearance and attractiveness helps a lot in the business and in getting absolute usable data. It has a great user interface and rapid billing facility with single payment. Pancake could work to be more flexible.This app helps you in thinking of the operation side of your business which is simply awesome.[divider]

Cage

Web:- www.cageapp.com | Price:- Free trial, then $14 a month | System:- Web appCage app is basically for the help of the creative endeavor as it provides a focal point for approvals and discussions in a business. It helps in making and designing the project and interacting it with the client. In the Cage project, you can attached images on which you can write notes and make directions for quick understanding of it. There's a facility to give clients a direct access so as to know there approvals or can do corrections which you also access as the system will show the changes to you, with a very smooth, direct and helpful interface.VerdictCage is well designed and very easy to use as it provides a focal point for managing the projects and keeping a track on it.[divider]

Dummy

Web:- dummy.kerns.dk | Price:- Free | System:- PHPThe most difficult and tedious work is to create a filler content which have the aspects of providing both valid tests and can also do justification to your design artistically. This Dummy app covers both the sides and helps us making our tedious work simpler.The size of Dummy app is about 30MB, but its due to the inbuilt library of a very good and creative quality of Common media which includes images, ads and text. These features are layered into your project with enough haphazardness so as to make its content look valid. So you just need to include dummy.php and start working on the project.Dummy provides the user with testing layouts and structures. Dummy does this so beautifully and you will certainly love it.[divider]

Create.js 1.0.0 alpha1

Web:- www.createjs.org | Price:- Free | System:- JavaScriptYou specially the content creators must have thought that it would be so nice if we would be able to edit the content directly in place and on the page itself. It would make your work so very easy. So here is a good news for you as the first step towards this goal is been taken by Create.js by introducing a new app which include RDF, a meta-data tags to give the editing tools a hold into the pages it combine with. This is not a ideal thing for Create.js to provide holds like:

but the result which we get is much more in a natural access.This makes the work of CMS- dependent developers very easy, as there's no need for the client to know if there exists a back end.If you want to install Create.js and work on it, then you need to plan for it ahead, but it would be worth the effort as this app is very useful.

iPhone 5 Features List

Jaspal — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:27:05 +0000

Features for the iPhone 5..

iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6
new 4-inch Retina™ display
A6 chip for blazing fast performance
7.6 mm anodized aluminum body
screen taller, not wider
ultrafast wireless standards including LTE and DC-HSDPA
iPhone 5 features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for a wireless experience up to 150 Mbps
8 megapixel iSight® camera
iSight camera in iPhone 5 features a sapphire crystal lens
new panorama feature lets you capture jaw-dropping panorama images of up to 28 megapixels
new Lightning™ connector that is smaller
Lightning-to-30-pin Adapter is also available to connect iPhone 5 to legacy 30-pin accessories
new beam-forming, directional microphone system for higher quality sound.
Wideband audio will be supported by over 20 carriers worldwide at launch
iPhone 5 comes with the new Apple EarPods™
new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation
Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar
new Siri features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings
$199 (US) for the 16GB model
$299 (US) for the 32GB
$399 (US) for the 64GB model
iOS 6 software will be available on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 as a free software update.

iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store www.apple.com[gallery]

The Best iPhone 5 Cases Yet

Jaspal — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:38:40 +0000

This post will be featuring the best iPhone 5 cases in the market right now.. 1. The Drop Tech Series cases for iPhone 5 | Price : $44.95 Features

Complete security for the iPhone 5, including screen and port covers
Dual material construction for multiple layers of shock absorption
Reinforced rubber bumpers on the corners
Includes integrated screen cover
Fits both the Verizon and Sprint iPhone 5

2. ShockDrop Case for the iPhone 5 | Price : $39.95 Features

10mm of silicon shock absorbing four-corner protection, slimming to 3.5mm of overall body shock protection
Molded-in Volume Up and Down Indications
Rip Proof Port Covers. Thick so they stick, fit, and don't rip
Semi-Rigid Screen Protector to take a beating
No-Slip Grip texture

[ad1]3. Rugged new iPhone 5 Cases from OtterBox | Price : $49.95 Features

A rugged, protective case for demanding conditions, heavy use and random accidents.
Solid plastic structure completely surrounds the iPhone, protecting it from drops and damage.
Doors and tabs block dust, lint and dirt from accumulating and damaging ports and jacks.
Latest design gives holster a slimmer profile and stronger attachment to the clip.
Rubber outer layer is stronger to withstand heavy use and hold its shape over time.
Features smooth ratcheting motion, streamlined locking function and hooked clip for a tight hold.
Built-in protective membrane simplifies installation and prevents scratches on the touch screen.
Custom opening isolates camera and flash to preserve picture quality.

4. DODOcase iPhone Wallet | Wallet type case for iPhone 5 | Price : $49.95With the DODOcase Durables iPhone Wallet. Created to simplify your life and handcrafted using traditional sewing techniques, the new iPhone Wallet combines timeless fashion with modern function. The innovative, slim design features a waxed canvas exterior, a protective linen-lined center pocket for your precious device, and exterior leather that wraps around to provide a secure grip and two pockets for your cash and cards. The iPhone wallet is available for both the iPhone 4/4s and iPhone 5.

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iPhone 5 Launched

WebNews — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:08:26 +0000

The iPhone 5 has plenty of new features to keep Apple fans happy. But there is one feature Apple unveiled on Wednesday that is likely to annoy many: a new connector on the phone's base.The Lightning port, as Apple calls it, is smaller and shaped differently from the old one, instantly rendering obsolete the millions of spare charging cords, docks and iPhone-ready clock radios that its customers have accumulated over the years.While irritating to some, the Lightning connector could be a boon to the hundreds of companies that sell accessories for iPhones and iPads."Apple is testing the patience of its fans," said Tero Kuittinen, an independent analyst and a vice president of Alekstra, a company that helps customers manage cellphone costs. "A lot of Apple fans have a lot of different accessories and use the old systems, so this is going to be a fairly expensive shift for a lot of them." Makers of iPhone accessories, meanwhile, are likely to be ecstatic, he said.Apple, which is selling Lightning cables and $30 adapters that will connect the new phones to many but not all older accessories, is, of course, poised to profit from the design change as well. Apple executives said the smaller connector allowed it to make the phone thinner and use space inside the device more efficiently.Accessories for Apple products are already a vast and lucrative business. In the last year, iPad, iPod and iPhone add-ons, including speakers, cases and power chargers, generated $2 billion in sales in the United States alone, according to the NPD Group, a research firm.To stay on top of the market and avoid building products that will soon be out of date, accessory makers have to watch Apple as attentively as any technology journalist or analyst.Apple, which is known for its culture of secrecy, generally keeps accessory makers in the dark before it unveils its new hardware. The companies rely instead on leaks from Apple's manufacturing partners in Asia, or on rumors about the devices that surface on Apple-focused blogs. On the day of an Apple hardware announcement, they watch reports of the event and wait for data sheets to come from Apple with details on the devices before they crank up manufacturing in China.Griffin Technology, a company in Nashville, Tenn., that makes Apple accessories, said that moments after Apple introduced the iPhone 5, its employees were making final design tweaks in its prototyping shop, where 3D printers turn out mockups of future products. Many Griffin employees had already traveled to China from the US to be there when the iPhone 5 was introduced."Kind of like everyone else, we're at the same starting line in the race to the peg," said Mark Rowan, Griffin's president.Similarly, employees of InCase, a maker of iPhone cases based in San Francisco, crowded into a conference room to watch online reports of Apple's presentation, said Dave Gotta, the chief executive. Employees in China were waiting at factories for final design specifications so they could get started making cases.Occasionally a rare few in the business get a peek at an Apple prototype, according to Jeremy Horwitz, editor in chief of iLounge, a website that reviews Apple accessories. Much as some software developers get to use a new Apple product in advance so they can have software ready to show off on Apple's stage, he said, some accessory makers have had access to Apple devices before their unveiling. Horwitz said these devices are typically locked down to prevent theft or leaks.Some companies take unsanctioned routes to get ahead of the game. Hard Candy Cases, a case maker, sent iPhone 5 cases to journalists before Apple even introduced the phone. Tim Hickman, chief executive of the company, said manufacturers in Shenzhen, China, where his cases are made, send around design information for unreleased iPhones to attract case makers like himself."The factories have gone from, 'Shhh, hey, buddy, look at what I have for you,' to making it part of their presentation," he said.Hickman said he did not buy information from leakers in Asia. Instead, he said, he made a deal with a factory that had told him it could make cases for the iPhone 5 and asked him to send designs that it would then modify to fit the new phone. He said his iPhone 5 cases for sale to customers would arrive in the US in about three days.iHome, a New York company that is one of the biggest makers of iPhone clock radios and other Apple audio accessories, tries to plan for Apple's announcements but does not assume anything is fact until the company unveils its new hardware, said Ezra S Ashkenazi, its chief executive.He called the Lightning change "a unique circumstance" because it was the first time Apple had changed the connector since it was introduced.There are already plenty of iPhone clock radios made by iHome and other companies in hotel rooms around the world.Kathy Duffy, director of public relations for the Marriott hotels in New York, said that if many patrons seemed to be getting the iPhone 5, the company would probably stock up on adapters or buy new accessories. "We'd have to evaluate it and see what the demand is," she said.©2011 The New York Times News Service

How to Speed Up Downloads on a PC with Free Software

Jaspal — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:15:23 +0000

If your downloads are taking too long, there are plenty of ways you can speed them up. We reveals how to get software, videos, game, films and other large files in half the time.Back in the dark days if dial-up, downloading even a photo or a PDF from the web could be a tedious and time-consuming process. Now that most of us have much faster connections, this shouldn't really be a problem, but as broadband speeds have increased, so too have file sizes. It’s not uncommon to find games that are several gigabytes in size, while higher-quality videos, photos and audio files also require heftier downloads.Fortunately, rather than wasting valuable hours watching progress bars or countdown clocks, there are all sorts of tricks you can use to turbo-charge your downloads and get even the biggest files in a matter of seconds. These range from using dedicated download managers, rather than your browser's basic built-in tool, to tweaking torrenting software for optimum performance, and using third-party software to grab photos and videos from Flickr and YouTube.In this post, we reveal the best free and easy ways to get files faster, as well as suggesting slimmer- and therefore speedier- alternatives to bloated downloads.Download Music & Videos FasterConvert Videos to the Smallest FormatThe brilliant Firefox add-on DownloadHelper makes grabbing videos from you tube much faster than other similar tools, because it lets you choose different file formats and resolutions. Obviously, the smaller the file, the faster it will download, which means you can sacrifice picture quality for speed.If you use chrome, there's a less versatile but even simpler add-on called Dr. Newton Downloader . This place a download button and a choice of conversion options directly under every you tube video.How to Download Videos Faster using DownloadHelper1. Once you've installed DownloadHelper, you'll need to set up the add-on to convert downloaded videos. In Firefox, go to tools, downloadHelper, preferences, click the conversion tab and select 'conversion enabled'. Now click 'install/update converter', install the ConvertHelper tool and click 'RecheckConverter'.2. Click ok to confirm, and then go to you tube and find a video to download. Click the arrow next to the DownloadHelper icon on your toolbar, select your preferred version of the video-for example, 360p FLV or mobile 3gp- and choose quick download from the side menu. Alternatively, choose download & convert for additional options.3. The converter options let you choose the best file format for the device you'll be watching the video on, for example iPhone, DVD player or tablet pc. if you don't see the one you want, click details for the full 'output format' list. You can also fine-tune other aspects of the conversion, including the video and audio codecs, and the bit rate.Play songs and videos while they downloadThere are few things more annoying than waiting for a large video file to download and then realizing you've got the wrong one. The latest free version of Download Accelerator Plus helps you avoid this problem by using its Video Preview feature. This new tool in the download manager, which is compatible with all the main browsers, lets you play video and audio files while they're still downloading to avoid wasting valuable minutes.It also saves time by letting you download in one click from file-hosting sites including MediaFire and RapidShare. It also has a Link Checker tool that makes sure download links are valid. Just make sure you untick the options for any unwanted charges and extras during installation.Share videos with friends in secondsVideo files are often too large to send by email, but uploading them to a file-sharing service for the recipient to download can be a hassle. To make things faster, you can send and receive videos using the marvelous free service Share. Powered by BitTorrent, this tool lets you easily share HD videos, high-resolution photos and other big files. Just sign up for an account, select the files to share and invite people to download them via email or facebook. The more people who access your videos, the faster the files download.Upload and download videos instantlyGe.tt is a fantastic free alternative to DropBox that lets you upload and download large files such as videos at lightning-fast speeds. For example, a 150mb video file takes just one second either way. Simply visit the website, click 'upload files' and select the file, or drag and drop it onto the button. You can then share the link by email or on Facebook. Twitter or Google+, and other people can start downloading it even before its finished uploading. You don't need to register to use the service, but you'll get 2 GB of free online storage if you do.If you use Gmail or outlook you can send massive files by email using the new chrome add-ons Ge.tt on Gmail and Ge.tt on outlook.com.Download every song from a web pageRather than clicking the individual download links on an mp3-packed web page, you can save time by grabbing all the tracks at once. The amazing Firefox add-on DownThemAll lets you download multiple files in a jiffy simply by right-clicking the page and choosing 'DownThemAll'. To make sure you only get music, click filters and select the 'audio (mp3.wav.-)' option, before you click start. Alternatively, if you want to grab photos or videos, select those filtering options. Once you've set up your default download folder and other preferences, you can speed things up in future by choosing 'dTA OneClick' from the right-click menu.If you use chrome, you can download everything from a web page at once using Download Master. Although this add-on isn't as sophisticated as DownThemAll, the latest version lets you filter links to grab only mp3s (as well as JPEGS, GIFS and PNG files).Download Games & Programs FasterSplit your downloads into segmentsOne of the best ways to get big programs and games faster is to break the download into pieces. This will establish multiple, simultaneous connections to the server and make more effective use of your bandwidth. The aforementioned Firefox Download Manager DownThemAll splits files into segments automatically to boost the speed of your downloads by up to 400 per cent. For particularly big files, go into the add-on's preferences, click advanced and increase the maximum number of segments (you can have up to 10). Then click network and change the limit for downloads per server to match.Alternatively, you could try the excellent Free Download Manager, which also works with chrome and internet explorer. As with DownTheMall, the program splits files automatically, but you can make things even faster by increasing the maximum number of connections per server. Go to options, settings, network, choose 'set to' and enter a number.Free download manager also lets you download torrent files and videos. See our mini workshop (opposite page) to find out how to use this feature.Choose the nearest mirror sitesMany big software downloads are hosted on different servers around the world. Where possible, it's wise to choose a 'mirror' source in the UK, because the file will not have to travel so far and will therefore download much faster. If a British mirror isn't available try a European or Irish location instead.Usefully, you can set free download manager to automatically search for mirrors when a file is over a certain size. Go to options, settings, mirrors, select 'automatically search for mirror URLs' and enter a size in the don't search if the file size is less than' box. You can also choose 'calculate mirrors ‘speed' so that you always download from the fastest source (usually the nearest one).Get programs from trusted sourcesIt’s often quicker and safer to download new programs from software-hosting sites such as Download.com, Softpedia and MajorGeeks rather than the developers' homepages. These can every file for malware before they make it available, and they usually offer a choice of mirrors, so you can choose your nearest and fastest source.Thankfully, download.com has now stopped bundling every download with its annoying and highly unpopular CNET installer, which included unwanted extras such as browser toolbar. If you do find a program on the site that still uses the installer, choose the blue direct download link (below the green button) instead. You should also be careful when downloading from Softpedia not to click adverts that look like download links. Install Adblock Plus, if you don't already have it, for a less confusing experience.Download faster from file-hosting sitesIf you ever download software hosted on services such as RapidShare, you'll know that unless you upgrade to a paid-for account, there's often a delay of several minutes before your download begins. One way to avoid waiting around is to install JDownloader. Copy a link from a file-hosting site to the program and it will automatically download it once the waiting period is up, and even fill in CAPTCHAs for you.JDownloader can download several files at the same time, automatically resume broken connections and schedule downloads at the times of your choice.Make sure you choose Advanced Installation and untick the options for the Babylon Toolbar and other unwanted extras.Choose a less popular Steam serverMany of the games offered by online-gaming platform Steam are massive- often several gigabytes in size- and can take several hours to download. The speed you get depends on the proximity of the host server and the number of the other gamers downloading from it, which means it's worth trying an alternative source. Visit steam's Content Server Stats page to view detailed statistics about how many people are using each of its global servers. Find a location with fewer users than your current one that isn't too far away: for example, Iceland's Steam Server is usually very quiet. THEN open Steam, go to View, Settings and click the Downloads + Cloud tab. select your new download region, click Ok and restart steam.Adjust your steam connection speedAnother tweak you can try to make steam downloads faster is to ensure the service is using the right setting for your internet connection. Go to view, settings, downloads + cloud and choose the approximate speed of your connection from the drop-down menu. If you're not sure what your true download speed is (as opposed to the 'up to' figure promised by your ISP). Use an online speed test such as Speedtest.net to find out.Mini WorkshopUse Free Download Manager to download torrents1. Launch Free Download Manager, and go to Options, Settings. Open the Downloads tree on the left and click BitTorrent. Ensure the option 'Enable BitTorrent protocol' is selected and tick the box for 'Associate Free Download Manager with. Torrent files' to make the program your default torrent tool.2. To add torrents to Free Download Manager, click the Torrents menu and choose 'Add Torrent download from web'. Copy and paste the link and click 'Malicious?' to check if other users have flagged the file as being dangerous (although you should still check it with your own anti-malware program). Choose a folder to save the torrent to and click Ok.3. If you use chrome, you may need to configure Free Download Manager to override the browser's built-in download manager. Go into options, settings, Downloads and click Monitoring. Choose Google Chrome from the list of browsers on the right (IE and Firefox are pre-selected) to give you one-click access to torrent files hosted on web pages.[ad1]Speed up TV & Film DownloadsDownload BBC iPlayer shows automaticallyRather than visiting the iPlayer website to watch new episodes of your favorite shows, why not grab them automatically using the Series Record feature? First install the BBC iPlayer Desktop software, then go to a programme page, click 'Download options' and choose Series Record. This will automatically download the next episode in the series and all future episodes as soon as they become available, and you'll have 30 days to watch each one. To stop iPlayer Desktop downloading a programme, hover your mouse over the pink download icon and choose Pause Series Record.Schedule iPlayer downloads for less busy timesYou can speed up Series Record downloads by scheduling them for early in the morning when fewer people are likely to be using the service and the web. Click the Preferences button on the Downloads screen in iPlayer Desktop and, in the download Settings section. Select 'schedule Series Record downloads between'. Choose '00:00 - 0.6:59' from the drop-down menu and click save.Hack Windows for unlimited TCP connectionsWhen you're downloading big torrents, such as films and TV shows, the more TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connections you have open the more people you can download from and the sooner you'll get your files . By default, Windows XP limits you to 10 half-open connections and Windows 7 limits you to 20, but you can hack the Registry to increase this number. In Windows 7, go to Start, type regedit and navigate to the key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMcurrentcontrolsetServicesTopipParametersClick it and find the EnableConnectionRateLimiting value on the right (if the entry doesn't exist, right-click and choose New, DWord Value to create it). Now double-click the value, set its data to 0 and restart your PC. This should give you unlimited TCP connections and speedier downloads, although your torrent client may impose a maximum (uTorrent's default is 100). As always, it's wise to create a System Restore point before you make any changes to the Registry.For Windows XP, you can increase the half-open connections limit by downloading the Event ID 4226 Patch. Double-click the patch and choose to change the number of connections from 10 to 50. Because the patch replaces original versions of files, you may get a warning from Windows or your security software, but this is safe to ignore.Speed up Photo DownloadsDownload Facebook photos fasterBacking up your facebook photos protects them against hacking and loss, but if you've got lots of them it can take hours. Save yourself time and trouble by installing fbDownloader which can grab hundreds of pictures from the social network in a matter of minutes.Install the program, making sure you decline each of the unwanted extras, then enter your Facebook login details and grant it access to your account. You can choose to allow 'Only me' to view fbdownloader's activity and to prevent it from posting on your behalf.Decide whether you want to download all your Facebook photo albums or one of your friend's collections and click 'Download album'. You can also download all the pictures in which you're tagged. Remember that, because Facebook re-sizes photos, the downloaded images will be smaller than the originals.Download Flickr photos fasterYou can download Flickr photos manually by right-clicking them, selecting a size and then right-clicking again to choose 'Save image as' (although only Flickr Pro users can access their original files). But if you want to download lots of photos at once, it's much faster to use a batch downloader such as the brilliant Bulkr. This adobe AIR-based Desktop app lets you browse all the images from your Flickr photostream, choose the images you want to download and select the size at which to save them. You can also browse and download other people's photos.Download Picasa and Google+ albumsPicasa Web Albums and Google+ Photos make downloading your pictures much easier than rival services and let you save them at full size. You can speedily Bach up whole albums at once by clicking the Actions menu in Picasa Web Albums and choosing 'Download to Picasa'. In Google+, click the more menu and choose 'Download album' to save all your photos in a compressed (zipped) folder.Tweak your Download ToolsSpeed up Dropbox downloadsDropbox places no download speeds, which in theory means you can transfer files from your account as quickly as possible however, some users have experienced faster performance by specifying a maximum download rate, which allocates Dropbox a set proportion of your bandwidth. to try this trick, right-click the Dropbox icon in your System Tray, choose preferences and click the Bandwidth tab. in the 'Download rate' section, click 'limit to' and enter a figure between 50 and 75 per cent of your connection speed. For example, if you get 10Mbps, set the rate between 5,000kbps and 7,500kbps. Click OK to save the change.Take control of Firefox downloadsYou can improve the built-in download manager in Firefox by installing Download Statusbar. This lets you manage the files you're downloading from the bottom-right corner of the browser, as in Chrome, and adds lots of useful features. As well as pausing, cancelling and resuming downloads, you can scan them for malware using your anti-virus program, play a sound when the download completes and continue downloading files even after you close Firefox.Configure uTorrent for optimum speedAlthough you can use uTorrent to download torrent files without changing its default settings, you'll get better performance if you configure the program to suit your connection. To test your current speed and set bandwidth limits, click the Options menu. Click 'Run tests' and the software will detect your speed and automatically adjust its Bandwidth Configuration a setting, such as you maximum number of connections and downloads. You can also use the Network test to check your router settings and identify any problems.Accelerate peer-to-peer downloadsTweaking the settings of torrenting tools can be confusing and may lead to slower rather than faster downloads. you can play it safe by using FeyAcceleretor, which boosts performance in a wide range of peer-to-peer (P2P) programs, including uTorrent, BitComet and Vuze. To use this, simple tools, just choose the software you want to speed up from the P2P Run menu, and it will optimize your bandwidth for faster uploads and downloads, which you can monitor in the graph below.When you install FeyAcceleretor, make sure you choose Custom installation and deselect the unwanted extras.Set limits on your BitTorrent speedsMost BitTorrent programs let you control your upload and download speeds so you can change the settings yourself. For the fastest file transfers, you should set your upload speed to around 75 to 85 per cent of your connection's actual upload capacity, and your download speed to between 85 to 95 per cent. You can work out these figures using Speedtest.net.What you say...We asked readers about the most bloated programs they've downloaded and what alternatives they recommend. Here’s what you told us.Windows Media Player. I’ve got a hell of a lot of albums on my system, but WMP takes too long if you just want to listen to a CD or one track. I use JetAudio instead.Simon MellorAdobe Acrobat Reader. I much prefer PDF XChange Viewer.David R BellairsInternet Explorer. Despite being the only browser that plays YouTube in fullscreen without lag (since the recent update). i prefer Chrome.Matt McCallionI bought Microsoft Office a few months ago and was expecting it to be a big bloasted beast. I was right! I have to admit though, I love it! I have tried many free Office suites but none compare. It’s a hell of a hogging beast, though!Chris ColeWindows Media Player is slow, looks awful and has way too much crap in it. a better alternative is BPM Studio 4 Pro. Turn it on in the morning, load a list and it'll play all day with no problems.Gerrit MaxDownload files faster to your phoneAlthough the speed at which you can download files to your phone or tablet will depend on the strength of your 3G or Wi-Fi signal, there are apps that can make things faster. For example, the free Turbo Download Manager for Android promises to speed up your downloads by up to five times, by using multiple HTTP connections. Just press a link on a web page and choose 'Share link' to download the file. The app works with most mobile browsers and usefully resumes downloads if you lose your connection.For iPhone and iPad, you'll need to pay a little for the best download managers and accelerators, such as iGet, which costs 1.49. You can get Download Manager Lite for free, but this limits you to storing 10 files.[ad2]