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Google Announces Google+ Social Network to Compete with Facebook

Finally, Google has introduced Google+ social network as an answer to Facebook to take it down and to be the new king of social networks. Although Google have tried before with Buzz and Wave, however, both have failed to attract users to use them because of the limitation they got. Now, Google+ seems to be provide the ultimate social network  experience we have been looking and waiting for.

Google+ offer several unique features that we always wished to be available in Facebook, such as group chat, video chat and categorizing your friends into groups so we can share different thoughts to each set of groups. Here is a quick tour of some of Google+ features.

+Circle

As our relationship differs from one person to another, it would be great if we can control what to share and who to share. We normally share stuff with our closed friends and colleagues, but how about your boss?. You definitely wont share anything private with hem, and that's why Google+ introduced Circle, where you create different circles and add the appropriate type of people in each, so you can share the right stuff to the right people without a hassle.

+Hangout

It has been always to set up a meeting online with your friends, Hangout is Google's approach for unplanned face-to-face meeting. With Hangout, you basically says that you are a free and willing to hangout, so friends can stop by and have a video chat with you, also, all friends within a circle can join the chat and make it an amazing un-scheduled hangout !!.

+Huddle

Huddle is a group messaging experience featured by in Google+. All friends in a circle can chat, plan and schedule their activities to make it easy to coordinate with each other. Friends who didn't attend the active chat, can come later, review what happened and know what's going on.

+Mobile

With the increase use of mobile phone on our daily life, this gadget become a must-have accessory. It's always online, thus, ready to share location, messaging and videos with ease. With +Mobile, you can share the location when you post updates (up to you) so people can know where you are. Additionally, all picture and video taken by the phone's camera are  instantly uploaded to a private folder in your Google+ account, where you can set a permissions who can see them.

Availability

Google+ still in beta, and you cannot use it unless invited. If you need an invitation, like us on Facbook and Twitter and leave your email in the comments. (Sorry, Google has reached the threshold, we no longer able to send invitation)

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How to Transform Windows 7 to Windows 8 UI with Zetro Theme

If you fed up from your Windows 7 interface and can't wait to test the new windows 8 Metro UI, then, the Zetro theme will get the job done for you.

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How to Create an Android App for a Website in Two Minutes

If you are a webmaster or just a normal person who want to build an Android app for his favorite websites without having to code, then, you should read this article. 

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3rd Cloud Computing World Forum Review

I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd Cloud Computing World Forum which is taking place on the 21st - 22nd June 2011 at Olympia, London.

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5 Cool Features Facebook Should Introduce

With more than 700 millions users, our favorite social network is bringing us new features every often, we may like them, we may not. However, there are some cool feature we would love Facebook to introduce. Let's see if you agree with my suggestion.

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Best 5 Google Chrome Extensions

Once Google Chrome added Extension support to its browser, it attracted a huge number of developers, and now, Chrome web store, is becoming extremely huge with hundred of thousand of useful extensions. From all theses extensions, I have picked up 5 of the most interesting extension for everyday surfing.

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Top 5 Android Features iPhone Doesn't Have

Android and iOS are the dominant smartphone players in the market. Each of which offers valuable features to their costumers.

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5 Coolest Android Apps

With more than 200,000 apps, Android Market become on of the largest App Market on the planet. Among these apps, there are some good apps, some bad and some are just awesome that will blow your mind. Here is a list of 5 of the coolest apps you would ever come across.

Friday

Not everyone has a photographic memory, and that's why Friday here to help. Although we get frustrated if we knew that someone is recording our movement, however, being able to monitor ourselves is really nice to have option. Friday, is an Android app that works in the background recording every and each event that happens in your phone. It does that by analyzing your phone messages, calls, emails and locations and then you can ask Friday what ever question you want to ask. For instance, you can ask " When was the last time I called my mother?", and Friday will answer back !!. Friday has been developed to grant users the ability of "Forget to remember". It's still in alpha version, and you must get an invitation to run it. Use this link to ask for invitation, wait for a couple of weeks and you will get an email from Friday telling you what to do.

GPS Alarm

Have you ever overslept in train and missed you station? well, don't worry any more, GPS Alarm will remind you once you get close to your desired destination. It achieve that by accessing current GPS information, and comparing it with the pre-defined location that you set-up before starting your journey.

Bump

Want to share some stuff with your friend in easy way, well, try Bump and you will be impressed. Bump enable you to share photos, videos, apps or even contacts by bumping the two phones together. Bump can also work cross-platform with iphone or ipad as long as Bump is installed in both devices.

Number Guru

Sometimes we get calls from unknown numbers, whether it was telemarketing or spammer, our curiosity will push us toward investigating who was the caller. To find out who, you'll probably head to your computer, open Google.com and do a little search. Number Gurus will ease this hassle, you can instantly do a reverse-lookup for any number as easy as launching the app, typing or copying/pasting the number and you get results straight away.

Google Goggles

Last but not least, the revolutionary search tool provide by Goggle. Goggles let users search using pictures taken by mobile camera which make it easy to search for stuff  that aren't easy to describe. Whenever you want to search for something, just launch the app, snap a picture and get the results on the go. Watch this video to clarify this mystery!!

Have a look on those articles and discover other interesting Android apps.

• ESET Mobile Security for Android Beta is Available to Download
• Skyfire 4.0.3 for Android is Now Available to Download
• Run Android on Windows using Vmware
• Run Android on Windows with BlueStacks

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Run Android on Windows using Vmware

As many people prefer to use Android OS before they buy an Android Tablet, I have made a short video tutorial showing in step-by-step how to run Android on Windows using Vmware.

These steps can be used to run Android on Linux using VirtualBox.

You can also refer to this post for more option on how to run Android on Windows.

Also, some companies start rolling out their dual-boot tablet which can run Android and Windows such as ViewSonic ViewPad 10 Pro.

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Best 5 Free Online Storage Services

Wouldn't be nice to have an Internet hard drive and be able to access your files on the move, anywhere and from any computer. Fortunately cloud storage services are there to address this issue.

Nowadays, there are many online storage providers around and most of them are free (or cheap) and easy to use. Furthermore, most of them provide sharing features, online editing and viewing and most importantly, backup functionality.

Among the vast number of these providers and the services they provide, it's hard to judge which one is the best to rely on, but here's a review of the most favorite free cloud storage services.

DropBox

On of the most favourite online storage providers, it has been around for more than 13 years, so it's trustworthy.

Dropbox provide you with a desktop client you install which create a folder on your computer where you put all files you want to sync online. 

This folder can also be be shared with other computers and mobile phones. For instance, whenever you update that folder using your mobile, it'll immediately sync with other machines so you always have up-to-date version.

The impressive feature with Dropbox, that it preserve every previous versions of your files, so if you have done something wrong with your files, you can easily retrieve your correct old version.

Dropbox offer 2GB for free with a maximum file size of 350 MB. The storage space can be extended to 2.25 GB if you complete 7 basic step when you first get started with Dropbox. Also they give you 250MB (up to 8GB) for every friend you refer to them.

Another good point for Dropbox, that it's support Windows, MAC, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad and BlackBerry. Dropbix also signed a deal with Sony Ericsson in June,2nd,2011, so it'll be pre-installed in the upcoming phones.

Microsoft SkyDrive

Windows Live Skydrive is one of the most popular and concise cloud service from Microsoft. Skydrive offers huge 25 GB free (50 MB max file size) storage and full integration with other Windows Live services.

With SkyDrive, you don't need to install a desktop client, alternatively, you can access it using web browser providing your Live ID and password, then you just drag & drop files into the web browser window. Also, you can share your files, make them private or views pictures and documents. Unlike the other online storage where you can only have a copy of your files, SkyDrive gives you the ability to create or edit your documents on the go. No syncronization capability is available with SkyDrvive, however, Windows Live Mesh can be used to synchronize your files up to 5GB (Unfortunately Mesh is only available on Windows). Another downside of SkyDrive is the lack to support directory/folder upload.

StoreGate

StoreGate offers 1 GB free space where you can store your documents, files, pictures safely with a daily-basis backup feature. Users can share and access their files from virtually anywhere even from your mobile phone.

StoreGate services are very impressive specially the upload speed and large file support. One of the most attractive feature StoreGate provide is the ability to backup your mobile contacts and calender.

ADrive

ADrive is the most generous cloud provider yet, it gives you hefty 50 GB for FREE !!. It also support directory upload, FTP transfer and sharing option for your files.

The only downside of ADrive is the incient interface, it does not look like a modern service, however, the compelling service may attract you to give it a try.

SugarSync

One of the best ever. SugarSync offer 5GB free online space with beautiful website interface and desktop client workable on Windows and MAC. It also support mobile access from all mobile platforms (Android, iPhone, iPad, Symbian, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile). Another nice feature is the ability to share files via social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.

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Run Android on Windows with BlueStacks

Have you been struggling to decide between Android or Windows!! well, with BlueStacks, you can have them both.

The idea behind BlueStacks is to have applications developed for different operating systems to run simultaneously side-by-side on the same computer.

BlueStacks run Android OS and its Apps on Windows-based PC by virtualizing Android using lightweight and optimized Hypervisor. Users can choose between installing Android app directly to their Windows desktop or alternatively, having the full-blown Android environment where they can instantly switch to Windows environment with one click, which eliminate the need of carrying Windows and Android devices.

Key Features

• Simultaneously run Android on Windows PC.
• Support of Android apps, users can search, downlaod and install apps from varity of App stores such as AmazonAppStore, GetJar and SlideME.
• Paid app from AmazonAppStore can be shared to multiple PCs.
• Seamless experience, users can switch between Windows and Android in on touch.
• Support wide variety of peripherals to be used in Android such as USB, camera and printers.
• Flash contents can be played, which is not full supported by Android yet.

Availability

BlueStacks software is not available yet, however alpha testing will begin this summer. You can sign up for Alpha version from BlueStacks website, and they will send you the Beta once it's ready for testing.

Drawbacks:
The only downside I can see is the lack of supporting Android Market. App from Android Market cannot be installed on the virtualized Android.

Future Look A Head

BlueStacks technology is very impressive and flexible as it support many different combination of operating systems. Currently, it support Android on Windows, furthermore, in the near future, it will support Android on Windows 8, Android on Chrome OS and surprisingly,  Windows on Android !!.

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Send Handwritten Notes to Internet using Livescribe Smartpen

Have you ever dreamed that you could write or draw in piece of paper and send those handwritten notes straight to the Net without having to scan, convert and upload them to Google Docs or whatever cloud service you use. Now, this dream came ture using Livescribe SmartPen.

What is Livescribe Smartpen?

Livescribe Smartpen is like any other normal pen, but it has got a micro computer in it that record everything you write. Not only this, it also record surrounding sounds which would be very useful if you listening to your tutor while drawing some relative diagrams. 

 

Later, if you want to revise your notes, all you  have to do is to tap the notes and the recoding will playback. If you want transfer them to your computer, just connect the USB cable, and your notes will be transferred on the go to Livescibe Software where you can organize, browser, search and even transcribe them to a digital text.

 

With Livescribe, users can share their notes to Email, Facebook, Google Dos, Evernote and Mobile devices simply by drawing a line, writing a destination (such as Email), tapping on the pages to be sent and then selecting the recipient Email address; next time the Pen is connected to the computer,  notes and audios will be transferred to the desired destination.

Key Features:

• Recording handwriting and surrounding sounds.
• Share to most popular platforms such as  Email, Facebook, Google Dos and Evernote.
• Up to 8GB storage space (2GB and 4GB are available too).
• Built-in Apps with the Pen such as Translation, Wikipedia, Dictionaries, etc
• Easy transfer between Samrtpen and PC.
• Powerfull Livescribe software that let you organize, search and share you notes.(Support Windows or Mac)

Prices:

Livescribe prices start from $99.95 for the 2GB Echo model, $137.02 for 4GB Echo and goes up to $180.77 for the 8GB Echo . However, these Smartpens are only compatible with a special kind of notebooks.

                          

Drawbacks:

• It has to be used with a special type of paper.
• No Wireless support, USB is needed when transferring files to PC.

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ESET Mobile Security for Android Beta is Now Available

It seems that the Android's security flaw which has been discovered last week, motivated security companies to launch their mobile security software to the leading Smartphone OS platform.

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Firefox Beta 5.0 for Android is Now Available for Download

It looks like there is a sturdy battle between mobile browsers developers nowadays, just after recent updates announcement from Dolphin Browser and Skyfire Browser developers, now it is Mozilla time to introduce their Firefox 5.0 beta for Android.




Earlier version of Firefox was so poor, bloated, extremely slow in addition to the huge file size. Subsequently it did not attract many users, however, this new update tend to fix all mentioned problem.

The beta Firefox 5.0 is available in Android Market as a stand-alone app, so if you install it, it will not affect or jeopardize the main Firefox 4.0 (if you have it already installed) to enable users to test it and even make comparison between the two version simultaneously.


What's New?


Firefox 5.0 Beta has got speed improvement specially on start-up as well as page load, smooth tabbing and the support of CSS3 animation.


One of the main advantages of Firefox browser, is the ability to synchronize all your history, bookmarks and even passwords with you Desktop Firefox, so you can actually start your shopping using your mobile, and finish it in your computer once you got home.


Another advantages is the Add-On support which most of Firefox users used to have in the Desktop version; Add-On feature provide great flexibility enabling user to personalize add more functionality to the browser.


The only disadvantage is that Firefox does not support Flash, however, Firefox developers stated on their website that they are working on ways to get the Flash supported using plugins in the next releases.  


How can I install it?


Firefox 5.0 Beta is available in Android Market under the name "Firefox beta" or by scanning the following QR.

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Skyfire 4.0.3 for Android is Now Available to Download

Folks, Skyfire 4.0.3 is There

If you are not familiar with Skyfire, it is basically the best smartphone browser  as it the only one that support Flash contents to be played while surfing. A thrilling news for all Skyfire Browser fans, Skyfire 4.0.3 is now available for download in Android Market. With over 5 millions downloads, Skyfire become one of the world's most popular browsers beside being the world's most sociable browser, with a unique features  such as the configurable and scrollable bottom Skybar that enable user to easily access fourteen different  features (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc) .

The new update has fixed the minor bug experienced in Skyfire 4.0 such as uploading file problem, "I Like' it" and "Popular" buttons bugs. The update also provide improved Twitter experience, enhanced security and stability. Last but not least, Skyfire 4.0.3 supports Honeycomb (The latest Android OS version) users with a special support of Motorola Xoom Tablet's Hardware Acceleration which makes Skyfire even more faster.

To learn more about Skyfire, please visit Skyfire website.

Personal Opinion:

Actually, what I like most in Skyfire, is the ability to play Flash videos, it is in fact a vital advantaged over all comptitors such as Dolphin Browser and Firefox for those who run Android 2.1 and earlier. Also, there is another cool feature; it is the user switching button at the top bar which enable users to switch between desktop version and mobile version providing a magical flexibility and optimized surfing experience.

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Dolphin Browser HD 5.0 BETA 2 is Now Available to Download

Dolphin browser is one the best browsers in Android Market. Generally, it has replaced the built-in Android browser as the majority of Android users are using it. Dolphin fans who are waiting for the next update, it is now available on public for download. The new version come with new features such as the new interface (which looks like Chrome Browser), brand new design of Bookmark side bar with the support of folders and of course fix bugs accrued in beta 1. This version tend to be more stable, fast and more user-friendly.

Dolphin 5 BETA is not available yet in Android Market, however, you can download it from here or from the QR below, save it to your SD card, locate it using any file explorer and install it to enjoy.

Although I love Dolphin Browser, but I still prefer SkyFire because of its support of Flash, which is unique feature and no other browsers support this important plug-in.

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Gtalk and AIM Integration is Now "unofficially" Live.

Google and Aol seems to silently rolling out their integration for Gtalk and AIM. It has not been officially announced, however, if you check your Gmail chat or AIM chat, you will notice that you can add your contacts from either services to the other. The the integration have started just after the announcement a while ago, yet at some points it did not work. Now, we can gain access to this service, making life easier for us to stay better connected as you can chat to all your contacts without having to sign in and out.

Check  out the short video which clarify the steps required to integrate gtalk with AIM.

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