Here’s an interesting article about Microsoft Windows operating system. Namely, there were lots of rumors that its new metro interface is going to make people stop using it. However, that is not likely to happen. There are a lots of reasons for this, there are at least four million reasons. Read on and see what ZDnet’s author Ed Bott thinks about this:
The speculation on the next version of Windows (code-named Blue) is getting out of hand. Based on a few screenshots and one offhand remark from a prominent Windows blogger, one of my colleagues is convinced that the Windows desktop is an endangered species. Nope. Not gonna happen.
Four million desktop apps need to run somewhere. Back in 2010, at the International CES in Las Vegas, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer noted that four million desktop programs run on Windows 7. All of those programs run on Windows 8, too. Backward compatibility is the lifeblood of Windows. The idea that those legacy apps will be orphaned in a single release is ludicrous.
Read more at: ZDnet.com
What do you think? Is Microsoft digging a hole to itself with forcing users to use new metro interface?
Chrome’s RSS (Really Simple Syndication) subscription extension was deleted in the wake of the company’s multi-faceted product shutdown last week but is now back up and running, Finnur Thorarinsson, the extension’s author, reported on an online forum on Tuesday. The extension had been removed by mistake and is now available for download again on Chrome’s Web store, he wrote.
The Chrome add-in is designed to auto-detect RSS feeds on websites. Upon discovery of a feed, an icon appears on the screen that lets users preview the feed content and then subscribe to it. The tool is not specifically linked to Google Reader. it comes with the Bloglines and My Yahoo readers predefined, though users can also choose from any Web-based feed reader to view RSS feed content.
Although the extension is up and running, Google Reader has been removed from the list of available feed readers, “to prevent [new users] from getting hooked on Reader and then be disappointed in a few months time,” Thorarinsson wrote. Google Reader is scheduled to be shut down in July.
VIA | computerworld.com
According to an overseas tech blog – TechinAsia on March 26, Tencent will help Facebook launch QQ chat tools in the hope to significantly increase the number of its users. Tencent instant messaging is the most used social networks, and so far it reaches up to 798 million monthly active users, including overseas users.
This is not the first time that Tencent QQ opens up the foreign markets. As early as in 2012, Tencent released a business-type the QQ international application software for Windows and Mac. But this time building the network application software for Facebook seems to focus more on fun and cross-border sociability.
In addition to the regular chat feature, the QQ chat software includes six languages and a built-in translation between Chinese, Spanish and Japanese.
FacebookQQ chat application software now has 4400 existing users, which seems to be a good start for Facebook. Although the demand for original real-time communication services has declined due to the prosperity and development of mobile instant messaging application, Tencent still can manage both. The Whatsapp WeChat application has more than 300 million users, of which a large part of the users are located in a foreign country, such as in Southeast Asia and in the Middle East. Tencent hopes that the WeChat can write an unprecedented global social media myths.
In the previous CES show, tech company Fulton had showed us more than once a new wireless charging technology. It is that when your cell phone runs out of power, put the wireless charging flat panel reversed on the table, and then place the phone on the back of the slate, the phone will be able to achieve a battery sharing from the tablet.
Due to the fact that the wireless charging technology is not very popular at that time, this tech has not attracted much attention, but as the Lumia 920, HTC Droid DNA and Nexus 4 devices are coming out and begin to support Qi standard, Fulton decided to show this tech again at CES Exhibition, relying on the more mature technology support and more perfect service to win the market.
ElectroShopWorld is going to release one wireless charging product for galaxy S3 in the coming days, so stay tuned!
Source: http://nbpc.chinabyte.com/tablet/366/12521866_8.shtml
Recently they had a chance to review one of ElectroShopWorlds latest arrival, “Mithril”, which is a 1.2GHz quad core CPU mobile phone that has a stunning 5.8 Inch IPS screen as well as running Android 4.1 hence the interest by Android Authority. The reviewer was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to use a large screen, quad core phone with such an interesting specification list as the “Mirthril”.
From the review you can see many positive things about this mobile, and as the reviewer mentions directly is the incredible price that the “Mithril” is offered at, and in this case at a low 275 dollar price tag. “There are also smartphones with very large screens, including the Huawei Ascend Mate and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. But both of those phones cost $500 or more to buy unlocked and without a contract. What is startling is to see is a 5.8 inch, 720p, Android 4.1 quad core phone for just $275, unlocked and contract free.”
ElectroShopWorld specializes in wholesale electronic gadgets directly from us; therefore our prices are the best around when considering the overall benefits, service and support package.
“The Mithril is what is known as a white label smartphone. What that means is that it doesn’t have a brand name like Huawei or ZTE, but it is built using similar parts and often in the same region of China as the big names.”
I am the glad the reviewer made this clear as it explains exactly the type of phones ElectrShopWorld are selling as well as local brands such as ThL. ElectroShopWorld has a policy on quality so the phones that are being sold at the company have high quality and use either the same or similar parts as the more well known branded phones.
The reviewer also goes into depth about the components that some people may not understand and provides and honest opinion about the CPU and GPU that are used in the “Mithril”. The reviewer compares the size to two other phones that he has, he finds it hard to explain the size therefore uses photos to exhibit the size of the “Mithril”.
Chinese phones and tablets in the past have had a bad reputation when it comes to WiFi, however the reviewer put the “Mithril” to the test and was pleasantly pleased by the outcome. “Using the free “Wifi Analyzer” app from the Google Play Store, I compared the Wi-Fi signals strengths of the Mithril with other Android devices I had at hand, including a Nexus 7. The Mithril matched the Wi-Fi reception of just about every device I had and I was able to wirelessly access the Internet from all around and outside the house without any problems.”
The performance was tested and using software the reviewer discovered that the “Mithril” was not as bad as most people think Chinese made phones are. The result showed that the benchmark scoire given by the software AnTuTu that usually tests phones performances in several categories found that it was better than the Google Nexus 7 and the Asus Transformer Prime but was just a little behind the Google Nexus 10 and the HTC ONEX+. The new MediaTek MT6589 quad core CPU help makes the “Mithril” phone responsive, quick and smooth.
The camera was one of the last tests conducted by the reviewer and he honestly mentions that he wasn’t expecting much due to the price of the phone but it produced rather good photos with noise to ruin them, and he even showed two examples of a photo taken indoors and a outdoor photo.
The reviewer concluded with the following after testing the “Mithril”: “For less than half the price of a branded phone you get a very large 5.8 inch IPS, 720p resolution smartphone with 3G and dual SIM support plus all the best bits of Android. The camera is good and has a very high resolution. Also the battery life is remarkable plus getting two batteries is a great benefit. For the price the Mithril is brilliant, now my only problem is that my 4.3 inch HTC phone seems to small!”
This review was a good example of not only explaining about the quad core “Mithril” Android phone but also explain about the types of phones like this coming from China. As the reviewer admits that he is a fan of these types of phones coming from China but he also explains why and how the extra battery in the package helps make the difference. ElectroShopWorld would like to thank Android Authority for this review and highly encourage readers to look at this review and get a better understanding the products and the type of Android phones we are selling. As the reviewer mention, these phones are referred to as a white label smartphone, and as some people may be worried to look into something that has got a brand written all over it as well as a high price tag doesn’t mean it is not any good. The reviewer put this phone to the test and it came back with a more than satisfactory result.
The “Mithril” Quad Core Android Phone is one of ESW’s high end phones and can easily compete with top branded phones. Powered by the brand new 1.2GHz MTK6589 Quad Core CPU, the “Mithril” is able to deliver outstanding results and takes multitasking to the next level. Browsing the internet, watching HD videos and running high demanding apps has never been smoother! Key Features:
*1.2GHz Quad Core CPU
*Android 4.1
*12MP Camera
*5.8 Inch IPS Screen
*1280×720 Resolution
*320PPI
*4GB Internal Memory
This top of the line Android Quad Core Phone “Mithril” is an excellent purchase and great for anybody looking to get a large screen quad core phone.
Watch out, Google Maps for Android, it looks like Apple’s iOS Maps may soon be entering the building — when it comes to indoor GPS tracking anyway. The Wall Street Journal’s Digits blog is reporting that Apple has confirmed it purchased WiFiSlam, a startup that specializes in WiFi-assisted indoor-GPS functionality for phone apps. Interestingly, Digits notes that the company was founded by a few ex-Googlers a couple of years back and that one of its investors has included a Google employee. Further, a quick Google search confirms that any WiFiSlam-related apps that may have been on Google Play are all but dead links now.
The word on the street is that Apple handed over $20 million to claim the company, although it wouldn’t confirm any numbers — or a specific reason for the purchase — with the blog. While there’s no actual telling whether this means we’ll see indoor mapping on iOS maps at any point, it’s hard not to imagine it now that Apple’s made the purchase. We’re seeking comment from Apple on our end, and will be sure to let you know what we hear back. For now, check out an old demo of WiFiSlam in action after the break.
Today Microsoft announced that several of the core Windows 8 applications that ship with the operating system will be updated to include a slew of new features. In the estimation of TNW, these updates bring the Mail, Calendar, and People to the level of 1.0, in that they are now featured to the point of being complete.
The following updates will begin to roll out starting this evening, or tomorrow morning depending on your region. If you don’t see the new code now, sit tight, and expect in the next few days. Now, to the updates. We’ll do this in three tranches.
Mail
The Mail application in Windows 8 has never been loved, given that when compared to the plethora of email applications – both web-based and desktop-built – it is out-kicked in terms total features. However, with today’s update, it garners a number of improvements that better it.
Filtering has been improved, as has search; when you search, you can now better find emails that are on the server. This will save you time in terms of loading past messages. The application will still only cache so much on your devices, bu you won’t be stuck hunting as long as you were before.
The following list details, via Microsoft, the changes:
Create, rename, and delete folders.
Flag messages and view all flagged messages.
Filter for unread messages and choose when messages are marked as unread.
Sync faster and more reliably.
Search for mail on the server.
Get easier access to search and printing.
Mark messages as junk mail.
See smart contact suggestions when composing a message.
Add, edit, and delete links when composing a message.
Edit bulleted or numbered lists more easily when composing a message.
Paste in formatted content from other apps more reliably.
Save senders as new contacts.
Read and compose rights-managed messages.
Delete all messages in a folder or mark them as read in one action.
Manage draft messages more efficiently.
Send email from your outlook.com alias.
If you are an everyday user of Mail, those updates will solve a number of headaches that you most certainly dealt with.
Allow me the following analogy: Just as Windows Phone 8 fully featured Windows Phone as an operating system, in terms of its feature set, so too does this update bring Mail into the common core of what might be expected from a message mail applications.
Calendar
You can now see a full work week quickly. You can also now forward invitations, and bring up a shared calendar view of every meeting attendee to see their combined scheduling openings. Now, when you must schedule a meeting – don’t – you can pick a time in which everyone can actually make the appointment.
Calendar isn’t Outlook’s ability to schedule, but that isn’t to say that now it isn’t useful. Sure, we all use Google Calendar, but for the Windows 8 using population, the following updates will be more than useful:
Find appointments more easily with updated visuals and improved readability.
See your work week at a glance.
See current time in day and week views and when Calendar is snapped.
Check the availability of meeting attendees.
Forward meeting invitations.
Send email to all meeting attendees.
Choose more recurrence options.
Set end dates for recurring events.
We now move to the People hub to wrap this set of updates. Keep this in mind: If you are a daily Windows 8 user, the above and below set of improvements will boost your quality of life. However, they are not an argument to move to Windows 8 itself; if you have a perfect setup, ask yourself if it actually is, and secondly, if this is what you need.
People
Finally, Microsoft has updated the People hub of Windows 8. Key to this update is the ability to post to a contact’s Facebook wall inside of the People hub itself. Microsoft didn’t drop nine-figures into the company to not rock a bit of functionality, right?
The People hub has always been a mess, with a wandering interface and seemingly disparate – your fuel per distance will differ – information streams. This fix will highlight Facebook in your efforts. That’s not a negative. Facebook remains the key social network online.
Here’s the new features:
See information from your Exchange global address list.
Filter your What’s new feed by social network.
Post to your friend’s Facebook wall.
Navigate to People sections more easily.
It’s key to realize that the above applications fall under the ‘communications’ set of Windows 8 core applications. The Appex apps built by Bing are separate. Keep them distinct mentally. Now, go and see if you have the new code.
Windows only lets you take full-screen screenshots out of the box, and its built-in screencasting tool doesn’t even output a standard video file. oCam is a free utility that solves both of these problems.
oCam overlays a green box on your screen that you can resize and move as you see fit. The capture button below the box will take a screenshot of the selected area and place it in an oCam folder inside of My Documents. If you need to do some tech support for relatives, the record button will start recording a screencast within the green box, and you can even choose from a variety of video codecs. It’d be great to see oCam add some cloud uploading options, but it’s still a huge step up from Windows’ built-in tools.
An early build of Microsoft’s rumored Windows Blue OS has started popping up on file sharing sites, bringing with it some minor tweaks to the Windows experience.
You’ll come away disappointed if you were hoping for a radical departure from Windows 8. In fact, it’s probably better to think of this as a Windows 8 service pack than a new OS. You’ll be able to choose from some new Live Tile arrangements and color schemes, as well as a Snap View for running two apps side by side. The most noteworthy addition is the built-in Internet Explorer 11 browser, but it’s not yet clear what changes are present.
If you want to try installing it yourself, the leak is referred to as “Build 9364,” and it’s making the rounds on most file sharing sites. Otherwise, you can find a ton of screenshots on the Polish Winforum site linked below. Dyskusja o Windows Blue | Winforum.eu
It’s a rumor we’ve heard before. Google isn’t content with Glass being the only form or wearable Google technology and will soon introduce another piece of jewlery, an Android powered smartwatch. Back in October of last year, we saw a patent filed by Goog’s from back in 2011 giving us a clear look at their plans for a smartwatch. More than a simple “smartwatch,” the patent filing showed a device similar to Glass with a mounted camera and even a clear flip cover for displaying augmented reality type information in the real world. Pretty much like Glass, but on your wrist.
Tonight, The Financial Times is confirming Google’s plans to release a smartwatch, this coming from their own inside source familiar with the matter. Other than that, we know little more other than this is not the same smartwatch Samsung recently mentioned in their plans to beat Apple to the punch (it’s been rumored that Apple will announce their own smartwatch in a few months time).
When it comes to Google’s smartwatch, don’t let that their patent filing get your hopes too high. Right now, everything is still hearsay and it’s entirely possible many of the ambitious augmented reality features in the watch were scrapped in favor of Glass. Whatever they’re working on, it’s big enough for Google to call in the big guns. They’ve recently recruited the once Apple fanboy Guy Kawasaki to help with their smartphone division, while Andy Rub tackles bigger fish in their X Labs.
via Phandroid
Yes, just think about it, it’s easier to put a phone in someone’s hand than it is to build a proper sanitation system. According to a UN report, 6 of 7 billion people in the world have cell phones, while just 4.5 billion have access to a toilet or latrine.
While that might seem like an apples to oranges comparison, the contrast is interesting and somewhat alarming. It’s exactly why the Bill Gates is trying to build a new toilet that’s a better fit for developing countries. And considering today is World Water Day, it’s something to think about. Quartz points out that in Indonesia, for example, it’s pretty normal to see someone in a metal roofed shack without a bathroom checking Facebook on a phone. And though many countries’ governments aren’t responding to basic needs in terms of infrastructure, tech companies will damn well get phones in people’s hands.
Around 1.1 billion people live in countries where defecating in the open is still a very common practice. It can cause diarrhea and other illnesses that kill about 4,500 children a day, and the countries where open defecation is most prevalent have the highest fatality rate for kids under five, the highest poverty levels and the biggest wealth disparities. But they have cell phones.
Not that cell phones are necessarily a bad thing, because they also give people access to information about proper sanitation. The UN is working to improve the situation—it says since 1990, 1.8 billion people have gotten access to better sanitation. And while that situation is not going to fix itself over night, it’s worth drawing attention to.
via Gizmodo via Quartz
The core raison d’être of infographics is to make otherwise complex information easier to parse. And that is exactly what Visual.ly Google Analytics Report does with your valuable Web traffic data.
When you first sign-in (the sign-up process is swift, if you’re new to this), you’ll be asked to select which Google Account you wish to associate with. Once in, you’ll be asked to select which site from that account you wish connect with. It takes a moment to load, then you’ll see a large infographic splayed across your screen on the right, with the option to sign up for weekly reports on the left. It’s worth noting here that a monthly (or longer) report option would be great here, as not every website owner wishes to track changes on a weekly basis. Similarly, a daily option would perhaps be a good addition for those really looking to keep tabs on their traffic.
Read more: thenextweb.com
New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of new entries on the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. Browse our new Android app picks below and let us know which ones you enjoy.
Pitch: MathStep is a symbolic pocket calculator with a complete CAS (Computer Algebra System) built-in. That means that it can solve math problems for you! It has an expression editor with a live preview and even gives you hints to solving a problem by yourself for some operations.
Pitch: Map of the Internet is a 3D visualization of all the networks worldwide that are interconnected to form the Internet. The map shows ISPs, Internet exchange points, universities, and other organizations that route traffic online.
Pitch: SO.HO is an Android launcher that brings your Facebook and Twitter feeds to life visually on your homescreen. Just unlock your phone and you can switch easily between Twitter and Facebook without having to dive in and out of different apps. With SO.HO on your homescreen you never miss what’s going on.
Pitch: Game Front’s “Video Walkthroughs, Game Guides & Cheats” app is the first and only free video walkthrough library available in the app store! It’s a perfect, one-of-a-kind couch companion for any gamer. Updated daily, the app is packed with helpful videos showing: cheats, achievements, trophies, unlockables and full game walkthroughs for dozens of top AAA games like Skyrim, Black Ops 2 and Halo 4.
Pitch: Toss out the scissors and let your Android camera do the clipping. Simply snap a picture of any printed offer, and SnipSnap magically converts all the text, images and barcodes into a mobile-optimized offer, which you can redeem off your screen.
Pitch: Snapdragon BatteryGuru extends battery performance and improves overall user experience by intelligently making changes that optimize Snapdragon device functionality. Available as a Beta release at this time, Snapdragon BatteryGuru supports a majority of Snapdragon powered devices in North America and European Union at this time and we are working rapidly to support additional Snapdragon powered devices and regions in the coming months.
Pitch: Stop sifting through all those apps, get the best apps and games sent to you with a beautiful and curated app guide. Apps are conveniently sent to you for quick access. There is a lot of information provided with each such as pros and cons, an in-depth review and advice on whether you should download or buy an app. It’s easy to build your own list of favorite apps and you can share with friends & family on social media or even by text message.
Pitch: Buzz Launcher is a new concept launcher which enables you to apply others’ Homescreens to your own smartphone. Download Homescreens best suited for your taste and preferences via Homepack Buzz Service. Homescreens will be applied instantly. Don’t you want to share your awesome Homescreen with others? Share it now! Friends all around the world will be excited to check out your Homescreen.
Pitch: Welcome to CamWeather, the first app for Android that allows you to combine the local weather and the city name with a beautiful picture to show off to your friends. From Barcelona to Paris, from London to New York, from Bangkok to Tokyo: amaze your friends with incredible pictures with an extra touch of class!
Pitch: Movie Twist is the first real Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered movie search and exploration app, therefore offering many different tools to make it easy to discover movies. We have chosen a new approach based on detailed profiles of the movies, integrated with a bunch of AI technologies that enable new and flexible approaches to finding movies to watch. You can use the explore tool, setting parameters for aspects such as loving, funny, violent, thrilling, and clever, and/or set genre, and/or set details about aspects such year, drugs, pace and so on.
Android: Sidebar is an application switcher that lives on the side of your screen, ready to launch your favorite apps or just switch you between currently running ones with a single swipe. It’s fast, flexible, and lets you customize the apps in the drawer so it’s not cluttered with shortcuts you don’t need. Check out the video above we’ve found on Lifehacker to see Sidebar in action.
The premise is simple—just swipe in from the side of the screen to open up Sidebar’s app drawer, which displays currently running applications so you can easily switch among them. Hold any icon and drag it out of the sidebar to remove that app. Alternatively, you can toggle over to your favorite apps, and use Sidebar as a quick way to get to the apps you want to use without having to go back to the home screen or page through your complete list of apps. Additionally, you can use Sidebar to get quick access to your phone’s settings, from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to rotation, sound, and brightness.
If Sidebar looks familiar, it’s because it looks a lot like previously mentionedSwapps, only much more minimal, faster, and a bit easier to use without it getting in the way of the currently-running app. Perhaps best of all, Sidebar support Android phones running Froyo and higher, so even if you don’t have Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean’s native app switcher, you can get something just as good (if not better.) It’s free, but the $2 pro version lets you add more than 8 apps to the sidebar and opens up some additional customization options. Sidebar Lite (Free) | Google Play Sidebar Pro ($2) | Google Play
Whatever your sport is and wherever you are then you need to take it the extreme with this “Acropolis HD” Sports Action Camera. How would it be to be able to capture those crazy moments and re-experience them at home on your laptop or TV screen? Get the Acropolis HD Now, it’s tougher than you think.
Key Features
Rugged Motocross Edition – Tough, rugged and waterproof is exactly what you need when wanting to record the action, especially when performing extreme sports like motocross, therefore this sports camera has been made as a special motocross edition.
Supports Micro SD Card with up to 32 GB Capacity – There is no need to worry about memory capacity because this device can support a micro SD card with up to 32 GB capacity.
1.5 Inch Preview Screen – 1080P Full HD Extreme Sports Action Camera captures beautiful FULL HD 1080p video that can be previewed on its 1.5 inch TFT LCD screen.
HDMI Output – HDMI is possibly the best connection there is to date and now most modern technology is coming out with HDMI connection to allow a clearer and sharper picture.
Built-in Mic – Not only is the action recorded but also the sound! The huffing and puffing will all be recorded as you groan from all the extreme action pack stunts, or capture the cheering crowd or the sound of the roaring engine.
Today, Google launched it’s latest creation, Google Keep. And again, Google is showing its dominant position. This time, Google is aiming to compete with Evernote in the “Note” apps category. Google Keep will help you to quickly scribble down a note or an idea and then save it on your Google Drive account, which can then be synced with all your devices. Different options such as creating checklists and adding pictures are available. Prioritize notes by color coding them via the home screen widget, and if you’re running Android 4.2+, you’ll be able to access your notes through your lock screen widget.
You can access, edit, and create new notes on your desktop by going to http://drive.google.com/keep, and Google will allow you to do this directly from Google Drive in the coming weeks. Google Keep is available now in the Play Store for devices running Android 4.0 and higher.
Check Out the Google Keep Video.
FileBot is the ultimate tool for organizing and renaming your movies, tv shows or anime, and music well as downloading subtitles and artwork. It’s smart and just works. FileBot can be launched via Java Web Start. No manual download or installation required.
Filebot is a breeze to use, and you can drag and drop tons of files onto it at one time and let it do most of the work for you. It’ll download subtitles, automatically recognize TV shows, movies, and series names, download relevant information and artwork, and more. The app will even organize new files automatically for you so your library doesn’t end up in the same sad shape it may be in now. The best part is that Filebot knows the naming conventions supported by most HTPC front-end applications and media players, so it can batch rename the files for you so everything stays nicely organized.
On March 11, people launched an interesting project on Kickstarter (a creative activity website). The project will create a product called Thermodo, a mobile phone accessory. It is said that the user’s smartphone can be transformed into a thermometer with it.
In real life, the phone can offer us weather information through the network. Nevertheless, it still cannot provide us with the exact temperature of our local environment, and it is unlikely to always carry a thermometer, so such an idea was born: why not let the phone we often use to carry thermometer with it?
It is reported that this creative project will bring a product called Thermodo, the product will connect the diameter of 3.5mm phone headset input with a miniature mercury thermometer, which instantly making the phone into a simple and practical thermometer. In addition, the product will wear attached to a key ring, easy for people to carry at any time.
Currently, the pre-buy price of the product is of US$ 19 (about 118 RMB), while the normal price is US $ 25 US (about 156 RMB), and probably will be unveiled in August of this year.
Enhance your home multimedia capabilities by simply connecting this Android 4.0 “Hawk-Droid” TV device to your TV to watch your favorite YouTube videos, access streaming music, play games, surf the net and answer your emails, and more. With the Android 4.0 “Hawk-Droid” TV Box it provides the ultimate solution to turn your TV into an entertainment powerhouse.
Key Features
TV Box with 5 MP Camera – The built-in camera allows you to engage in SKYPE conversations and also the ability to record your own video blogs.
Built-In WiFi N – Connect with WiFi N, which is currently one of the fastest WiFi connections available.
8GB Memory – The internal 8GB memory ensure you have enough space to save your data, media files or anything else.
HDMI Connection – HDMI provides the best connection today and this TV box is compatible and comes with a HDMI lead as well.
1GHz Processor Speed – Fast enough to run the TV box and all the applications that work on it.
Uninstall Your Windows Product Key So You Can Use The License on Another PC
Before you sell or recycle an old computer, you might want to take your Windows license and use it on a different PC. The How-To Geek offers instructions for uninstalling your product key and installing it on a new PC. You just need to open the Command Prompt in administrative mode and run two commands to uninstall the product key. Installing it is just as easy using the same “slmrg” command.
You should note this fine print from the article before proceeding:
Note: Between Microsoft and your OEM there are a number of different laws that determine whether you are allowed to use your license on another PC, so follow this tutorial at your own risk. Additionally before you go through the tutorial you will want to check that your product key is still attached to your PC/Installation CD, if it is not , do a quick Google search on how to recover it.
Yeah, so Google Reader isn’t getting any funding love from Google. As we all know by now, the company is shutting it down. But there are other startups to be had and new technology to become obsessed with!
Every few months, Google has been “shutting down” various offerings they feel are under-used, in an effort to regain some focus. Many of these are uncontroversial, though a few have been surprising and freaked some users out. Many, for example, were surprised and upset when Google announced it was phasing out iGoogle. But today’s news that it is shutting down Google Reader took many, many people by surprise. My Twitter feed blew up with people freaking out about it. For those who use it, many really rely on it for their daily information gathering process. I know the feeling, because I used to do that — though a few years ago I shifted to mostly using Twitter via a well-organized Tweetdeck, and found that to be just as (if not more) effective, though a somewhat different overall experience that took some getting used to.
Still, a very large number of folks I know feel like they practically live inside Google Reader — and I know (for example) that Google Reader is a huge driver of traffic to this site, so I get the feeling many of you use Google Reader as well. The thing that seems to have so many folks upset is the fact that there really aren’t any comparable alternatives if you want that same basic experience. In fact, you could argue that Google effectively killed off many of those alternatives. Back in the day there were things like Newsgator and Bloglines, but both were effectively marginalized or pushed into other markets because Google Reader really did become the de facto standard RSS reader that so many used and relied on.
VIA | techdirt.com
HTC has just launched a new flagship model HTC One. The biggest selling point is its camera components, which is named as UltraPixel. Despite the camera’s pixels of only 4 million, it has the sensor element and the amount of light of the unit pixel exceeds beyond the existing smart phones.
However, according to analysts, the sales of HTC One will be affected due to the shortages of the camera component, analysts also said that the camera assembly yields less than 30%, until this year, while during the first half of the year; HTC One will likely have the production of millions of units. To continue walking the fine line, HTC’s ultimate goal is still to make their flagship product accepted by the public, the next thing they need to do is to ensure the stability of the production.
Imagine that you’re a pretty good drummer, you’re in a band, and you’d like to give lessons. You could charge for these lessons, of course, but you’re really into helping out charities. A site called ProBueno is a marketplace, founded by MIT alums, to shop your talents in exchange for charitable donations. When you think about it, all this really is is technology-empowered volunteering.
It’s a brilliant concept and the site has just announced that it has signed up Khan Academy for a pilot program. The goal of ProBueno is to show that sometimes you don’t have to be the one with the deep pockets to do good and contribute to a cause that’s meaningful to you. For more information on how the site works, check out their info page, or hit the link below to sign up.
VIA | Lifehacker.com
On March 11, the Chinese domestic mobile phone brand K-touch officially announced its new product, – Kiss First Love Edition, the new product will be powered by Qualcomm MSM 8225Q quad-core processor speeds up to 1.2GHz. In addition, Kiss First Love Edition comes with a 4GB ROM +1 GB RAM memory portfolio and 4.7-inch QHD capacitive screen resolution of 960 x 540 pixels.
As to the internal system, Kiss First Love supports W + G network dual card dual standby and loads with Android 4.1, 2000mAh capacity battery which also guarantees the version of the phone life. At the present time, Kiss First Love price has been announced, only 999 RMB (US$160.00), orders will be accepted from now and K-touch official website will be officially open to sell on March 25.
On this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC), LG launched a variety of new Android smartphones, which includes the low-end products – LG Optimus L5 II. Now, according to the latest news from the foreign media, LG Optimus L5 II is now officially landing the Brazilian market, and then will be sold in more countries and regions.
In terms of configuration, Running Android 4.1, LG Optimus L5 II adopted 4.0 inches WVGA (480 × 800 pixels) IPS touch screen, is powered by a 1GHz single-core processor, and equipped with a 500-megapixel main camera. Yet we don’t know the price of the phone, but based on its configuration, and LG’s pricing strategy, the price of this phone will be around one thousand RMB (US$160.00) or so.
In addition to Brazil, LG Optimus L5 II will be subsequently landing Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. I believe that soon we will see in the domestic market this low-end Android smartphone – LG Optimus L5 II.
Finding great music on the internet is easy, but keeping all of it organized can be tough. You might have videos favorited at YouTube, a playlist at SoundCloud, or maybe artists bookmarked at Bandcamp. Songdrop collects and organizes them all for you.
Songdrop is often referred to as a Delicious for music, and that analogy isn’t too far off. Create a free account (or sign up via Facebook if you choose) and drag the bookmarklet to your browser toolbar. From there, just click the bookmarklet to add any music you find and enjoy at YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Tumblr, VEVO, or other music blogs right to your Songdrop collection, much like bookmarks.
As always, you can use one of our amazing android tablets or smartphones to access this interesting web based storage for your favorite music.
Read more: techcrunch.com
Modern cameras can make digital photography seem very easy, and even the most basic models will often produce crisp, clear photos. You’ll still have occasional issues with lighting, white balance, red-eye and more, though, so it’s a good idea to keep a photo editor around to help resolve them: but which one?
The extremely demanding (or very wealthy) may still opt for Photoshop, and there’s no doubt it’s a great program. But if your finances won’t stretch that, though, don’t worry, there are some excellent free tools around.
We’ve found 10 of the very best free photo editing apps, and whether you’re looking for comprehensive editing power, ease of use, arty effects or just a quick way to spice up a photo before posting it on Facebook, there’s something for you here.
. Gimp GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program) first appeared way back in 1996, and has been regularly updated ever since, so it's no surprise that the package is the most powerful free photo editor that you'll find anywhere.
There are tools to correct colours, enhance contrast, brightness and more; sharpen or blur an image, fix perspective problems, remove red-eye; add special lighting effects, turn a photo into an oil painting, and create an animation.
The paint tools alone are amazing, there's full layer support and lots of ways to extend the program.
All this power does mean GIMP takes a while to learn, but don't let that put you off - if you've any previous image editing experience then you'll be doing useful work within minutes.
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2. Paint.NET
It may not have anything like the power of GIMP, but there's still plenty to like about Paint.NET. It's strong on image editing basics, with options to resize and rotate your photos, a good range of selection and paint tools, and some excellent special effects.
Support for layers means you can apply your edits to part of an image only, and the program can be extended with plugins.
Best of all, though, Paint.NET's clear and straightforward interface means it's very easy to use, even if you're a complete graphics novice.
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3. PhoXo
PhoXo has been around for almost 10 years now, and it's grown into a very useful editor with something for everyone. Kids can play around with the clipart, customising images with cartoon cats; practical types will enjoy options like the ability to add a custom watermark to an entire folder of images; and everyone else will appreciate the drawing and paint tools, image transformations, effects and more.
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4. Funny Photo Maker
Funny Photo Maker has no layer support, no smart selection tools, no paint or drawing options. But that doesn't matter, because what it does have is an amazing range of effects which you can apply in seconds.
So you can add someone's face to a movie poster, magazine cover or a dollar bill; transform a still image into an animation; add rain or snow to a photo, apply some excellent frames, and turn your photos into a collage, amongst many other options.
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5. Photo Pos Pro
Its tiny toolbars and dated interface mean Photo Pos Pro doesn't look too promising, but begin to explore and you'll soon be impressed.
There are plenty of selection options, a wide range of paint tools, colour corrections and more.
You get reasonable support for layers and masks, lots of effects (all extremely configurable), and a scripting tool which helps you automate many editing tasks.
And the program offers some fun touches, too, like a set of "Magical" effects which help you add fireworks, bubbles, stardust or similar decorations to an image.
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6. PhotoScape
PhotoScape won't appeal to editing experts - there's no layer support, for instance - but if you're just looking to have some quick fun with a photo then it's a very different story.
There are hundreds of clipart images ready to paste into your picture, for instance. You can add custom speech bubbles to an image, apply some great special effects, even create animated GIFs.
Most of these options are surprisingly configurable too. So while other tools might just have a single "turn this photo into an oil painting", for instance, PhotoScape supports 11 artistic styles (Pastel, Pencil, Cartoon, more), each of which can then be customised further.
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7. IrfanView
As its name suggests, IrfanView is mostly about viewing images, but the program also includes more plenty of editing power.
You can rotate and resize an image, for instance; tweak its colours, brightness and contrast; add text captions or watermarks; sharpen your photo, remove red-eye, and apply a range of special effects.
If that's not enough, though, IrfanView can be extended via its support for 8Bf (Photoshop), AltaLux, Filter Factory and Filters Unlimited plugins. And all in a compact free tool which requires less than 2MB of disk space.
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8. PhotoFiltre
While it's more an image retouching tool than a conventional editor (and it's only free for personal use), PhotoFiltre has plenty of editing features and it's capable of some spectacular results.
The PhotoMask tool alone, for instance, applies stylish contour and transparency effects to your image for an impressively artistic effect (check the program website for some great examples).
Elsewhere there are plenty of paint tools, colour corrections and filters, and overall the program is a great choice when you need more artistic editing options.
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9. PixBuilder Studio
PixBuilder Studio is a useful mid-range photo editor with a strong focus on solid, practical features. So instead of cartoon clipart and arty effects you get sensible features like crop, resize and rotate options, plenty of colour correction tools, sharpness and blur filters and some capable print tools.
There's not a lot of fun here, then, but PixBuilder Studio is great it you just want to make your photos a little better (and 8BF filter support means the program can be extended if necessary).
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10. Chasys Draw IES
Look past its odd name and Chasys Draw IES proves to be a very capable photo editor with a stack of essential features: extensive paint and drawing tools, strong layer support, lots of smart special effects, plenty of colour and lighting adjustments, Photoshop plugin support, and more.
These are just some of the program's capabilities, though. You can also use it to create animations, CD or DVD labels, icons and cursors, or even capture videos of desktop activity.
With a RAW file processor, image viewer and converter also included, Chasys Draw IES really is an amazingly versatile package.
