31 July 2013

Hate YouTube’s New Layout? Try Out YouTube TV Instead



youtube-tv-1680

Enjoy a streamlined version of YouTube that’s usable from your couch and lets you follow the channels you love, easily. YouTube’s TV version just might be the best way to use the web’s best video site, and most people aren’t aware it even exists. Longtime YouTube users might remember YouTube XL, Google’s first attempt at bringing YouTube to the big screen. It worked well enough, but the current incarnation – called YouTube TV – is a vast improvement. It’s controllable with just a few buttons, visible far from the TV screen and generally much cleaner than the standard site. And...


Read the full article: Hate YouTube’s New Layout? Try Out YouTube TV Instead



How Writing Amazing Emails Can Further Your Career



send-email

Don’t worry email isn’t dead or even old-fashioned yet, whatever the naysayers might be predicting. Social media might be taking over as ice-breakers, but the email is not only holding its own, it is also the strongest prong of the trident when it comes to having a handshake with someone who matters on the Web. Very few people in fact master the art of emailing. My colleague Joshua called it email sending anxiety. It is a very real thing and surprising, because all it takes are a few precisely paced tips to email efficiently. Sending professional emails gives an intangible...


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Customize Windows 8 Boot Logo Screen Using Visual Boot Experience Settings



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The Windows boot logo screen is probably the only area of Windows operating system that can’t be customized easily. In fact, no version of Windows allowed users to change the default boot logo without using third-party tools. Even though hundreds of customization tools were released even before the release of Windows 7 RTM, there were [...]

A Simple Way to Create RSS Feed for Twitter



Our step-by-step guide explains how you can create Twitter RSS feeds for the new Twitter API with the help of Twitter widgets and a Google Script. Video tutorial included.


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Digital Inspiration @labnol This story, A Simple Way to Create RSS Feed for Twitter, was originally published at Digital Inspiration on 31/07/2013 under RSS, Twitter, Internet.



Would You Pay To Use Facebook? [You Told Us]




Every single one of the 1.2 billion people who have signed up to use Facebook will have, at some point, seen the promise on the homepage: “Sign Up, It’s free and always will be.” It’s a nice note to attach to the process, providing an assurance that Facebook will never start charging for basic access. But what about added features that could be part of a “premium” package? This was the notion recently put forth by Biz Stone, who co-founded Twitter and is the current CEO of Jelly Industries. He suggested that Facebook switch to a freemium business model, offering...


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Give Your Ears A Treat: 5 Alternative Ways To Discover New Music Online




As we mature (or to put it more bluntly, grow old) our tastes in many things change. The movies that we loved as teenagers will no longer appeal, the food we turned our noses up at as kids will now set our taste buds on fire. And the music that shaped our formative years will give way to new genres, new tempos, and new bands. Unless you’re a fan of the Rolling Stones, whose music will probably outlive us all. But where to find this new music our brains long for and ears crave? Why, on the InterWebs, of course....


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Don’t Get Suckered By The Facebook Graphic App Hoax [Weekly Facebook Tips]



security

Remember the mass scare on Facebook a while back where almost everyone changed their status to “I want to stay connected to you PRIVATELY, but you need to uncheck this that and the other”? It has come around again, but this time it’s a meme about Facebook’s “Graphic App”. And guess what? It’s yet another completely pointless pile of rubbish tips that won’t protect anyone from anything. The first giveaway is in the supposed “Graphic App”, which doesn’t actually exist. From there on it just gets more and more silly. The “Graphic App” Update Spiel Here’s what it says: Hello...


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Google's New Navigation Interface in a Google+ Screenshot



Remember the new navigation interface tested by Google a few months ago? It replaces the black bar with a new menu similar to Chrome's app launcher.



A screenshot from a Google+ "learn more" page shows a new Google+ interface that uses the app launcer, an updated share button and a new search box without a search button. The screenshot shows the old Google+ notification button, not the Mr. Jingles bell.






{ via Google Plus Daily }

Google Maps Views



There's a new community site for Google Maps and it's called Views. It's a place where you can upload panoramic images created using the Photo Sphere feature, which is limited to Android 4.2 and Nexus devices.



"The photo sphere camera mode on your Android phone makes it easy to capture a series of photos and automatically turn them into a seamless 360ยบ experience. You can also turn your DSLR camera panoramas into photo spheres," explains Google. This page has more information about the photo sphere mode and about creating panoramic images manually.






Google Maps Views has a camera button that lets you add photos from Google+. You can also use Android's share feature and share a photo from the gallery with Google Maps, so that it's quickly uploaded. Google creates a page like this one with all your photo spheres.






Google Maps Views showcases popular photo spheres and some special Street View collections, including landmarks (Eiffel Tower), natural wonders (Grand Canyon), museums, arenas, restaurants and small businesses. You can also use the search box and find a list of popular photos and top photographers for that location.



Photos spheres don't replace Street View, they only complement Street View with a fun, fresh and personal perspective that captures the the world around you.

Open Source Matters: 6 Source Code Search Engines You Can Use For Programming Projects



open-source

The Open source movement is playing a remarkable role in pushing technology and making it available to all. The success of Linux is also an example how open source can translate into a successful business model. Open source is pretty much mainstream now and in the coming years, it could have a major footprint across cutting edge educational technology and aerospace (think DIY drones). Open source projects need all the help they can get. If not with funding, then with volunteers contributing to open source programming and free tools they can brandish. Search engines tuned with algorithms to find source...


Read the full article: Open Source Matters: 6 Source Code Search Engines You Can Use For Programming Projects



30 July 2013

2 Windows 8 Swype-Like Touch Keyboards Tested



keyboard

On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself attempting to drag my finger around the keyboard on my Windows 8 tablet, only to be disappointed when only a single letter is entered. After typing so much on my Android phone, I’ve become accustomed to the Swype-like interface on the keyboard. It’s simple, intuitive, and fast. So why can’t a Windows 8 tablet do that? Well, it can—sort of. While Microsoft doesn’t seem to have given developers full reign over creating custom keyboards for Windows 8 as Google has done with custom keyboards on Android, there are a couple limited options...


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How To Update Corsair SSD Firmware



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Every Solid State Drive (SSD) manufacturer pushes out firmware update to address technical issues, bugs, and improve SSD performance. Upgrading an SSD’s firmware is not as difficult as it sounds. In fact, updating the firmware of a Corsair SSD is as simple as updating just any other Windows application. Just like other major SSD manufacturers, [...]

How To Get Windows Experience Index (WEI) Score In Windows 8.1



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Windows Experience Index (WEI), one of the hundreds of features introduced with Windows Vista, is designed to help you better understand your computer’s capabilities. It scans your computer hardware and assigns it a score after running a number of tests. These ratings help users in purchasing software and games. For instance, a base score of [...]

3 More Awesome Google Services That You Probably Never Knew Existed



Google

Though it’s where its fame and fortune first came from, Google has advanced far beyond just being the world’s most popular search engine. You and I both know that Google plays host to many amazing services that we use on an everyday basis. Gmail is a great example. I have Gmail. I bet you too have Gmail! How about the late, great Google Reader? That was a service that so many of us would already love to have back. Why Google, why? These are just two examples, and you’d be pretty surprised to know how many other goodies Google has...


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CoffeeScript Is JavaScript Without The Headaches



CoffeeScript1

I’ve never really liked writing JavaScript all that much. From the day I wrote my first line using it, I’ve always resented that whatever I write in it always ends up looking like a Jackson Pollock painting. Blegh. Yep. Despite its power and flexibility, JavaScript is by no means a pretty language. It takes verbosity to an extreme and has so many quirks and idiosyncrasies, even the most famous book about the JavaScript programming language nods to its inherent nastiness with its title ‘JavaScript: The Good Parts’. A Better JavaScript It doesn’t have to be this way though. JavaScript has...


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Get Creative And Make Your Own Maps With Custom Layers On The New Google Maps



maps-android

With Google unveiling a completely revamped Maps, now available to all, creating your own maps has become easier than ever. You can create private and public maps, share the maps with specific individuals, add descriptions to locations, and choose from several map styles and appearances. The new Google Maps features makes map creation easier than ever, and with Google’s solid sharing settings, you have complete control over who sees the maps, who can add items to the maps, or if you prefer, you can simply keep the maps completely private. Getting Started After launching Google Maps, click on the settings...


Read the full article: Get Creative And Make Your Own Maps With Custom Layers On The New Google Maps



Keyboard Shortcut for Google Voice Search



If you use Chrome, you've probably noticed the small microphone icon from Google's search box. It lets you search Google using your voice and it's now just as good as the voice search feature from Google's mobile apps.



There's even a keyboard shortcut for this feature: Ctrl+Shift+. (or ⌘-Shift-. for Mac). Yes, that's a dot, full stop or period.






"Say your question and hear an answer back on your desktop Chrome browser. All you will need is a built-in or attached microphone. Also, be sure to have the volume up on your computer to hear your answer loud and clear. Please note Voice Search with spoken answers back is available for US English only," informs Google.



"Open the Chrome browser and go to http://www.google.com/. You'll see a small gray microphone on the right-hand side of the search box. Click the microphone or press Ctrl+Shift+Period (Mac: ⌘-Shift-Period) with your cursor in the search box to start voice search. When the large red microphone icon appears, begin speaking. You can press ESC or click the red button to cancel. As you speak, Google will interpret your voice input. Afterwards, your results show up just as if you had typed the search term," mentions a help center article.



{ via Mike Downes }

To The Manner Born: Essential Technology Etiquette Tips For Our Digital Age



etiquette

Technology impacts society in many ways — some of which are obvious and others more subtle — and those changes often call for changes in behavior. Etiquette is an important social construct that we tend to forget or ignore, but I would argue that etiquette has never been more important than now. One misstep could permanently damage or fracture your relationship with another. Technology etiquette could easily fall under the topic of “common sense” yet there are many who remain ignorant — and that’s not a judgment against those who don’t know any better. For a long while, I never...


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6 LEGO-Tastic Brickfilm Channels To Follow On YouTube [Stuff to Watch]



brickfilmmakers_stw

Brickfilm – the art of bringing plastic building blocks to life, for the purpose of video entertainment. The Brickfilm scene is huge online, having started way back in the mid-80s when actual film was required. These days brickfilmers benefit from advancements in digital SLRs, stop-motion techniques and the endless range of LEGO on offer. If you’ve not encountered much in the way of stop-motion animation and plastic building blocks, be prepared for a pleasant surprise. The production values, time, effort and scale of some productions is mind-boggling. Some people even go as far as recreating some of their favorite movie...


Read the full article: 6 LEGO-Tastic Brickfilm Channels To Follow On YouTube [Stuff to Watch]



29 July 2013

7 Fun Uses For Twitter You Haven’t Figured Out Yet



7 Fun Uses for Twitter That You Haven't Figured Out Yet

It isn’t difficult to get addicted to Twitter. After all, it hardly takes an effort to type in 140 characters. In those itsy-bitsy lines lies a great power, to either change the world with a tweet, or change your own world with a bit of Twitter-aided personal development. There are the obvious uses of Twitter we keep harping on, but isn’t it always the uncommon and unnoticed uses of social media that piques our interest? The list of creative uses of Twitter is a mile-long. With half a billion users, you would expect a percentage of the tweeples to find...


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Arch Linux: Letting You Build Your Linux System From Scratch



arch_big_intro

For Linux power users, it’s highly desirable to be able to completely customize your system. Sometimes, that can be best achieved from the start — by piecing together the components that you’d like to include on your system. This way, as there are usually multiple programs that achieve the same result in different manners, you can pick those applications which you’re most fond of. Having to piece together can also let you take a deeper look at the system for maximum control. Most common desktop distributions don’t make this high level of customization very possible (as it’s not ideal and...


Read the full article: Arch Linux: Letting You Build Your Linux System From Scratch



Google Image Search Collections



Google works on a new image search feature that lets you create collections, add image search results to your collections and annotate them. The source code includes multiple references to "collections", "notes", "folios", "clips", "groups" and the feature could integrate with Google Profiles.






For some reason, this looks like a standalone feature and notes aren't added to Google Keep.






Bing Image Search used to have a scratchpad, where users could save their images.






Google also had Notebook, a product that worked well for saving image search results. "Google Notebook is a simple way for users to save and organize their thoughts when conducting research online. This personal browser tool permits users to clip text, images, and links from the pages they're browsing, save them to an online notebook that is accessible from any computer, and share them with others," explained Google back in 2006.



{ Thanks, Florian K. }

There’s a Scientific Calculator inside your Web Browser



There's a scientific calculator included in your web browser that can help you solve basic calculations as well as complex Maths expressions.



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Digital Inspiration @labnol This story, There’s a Scientific Calculator inside your Web Browser, was originally published at Digital Inspiration on 29/07/2013 under Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Software.



The India Edition of Hundred Zeros is Live



Book lovers in India should visit Hundred Zeros to download best-selling ebooks that are currently free on Amazon.in - you can read the books on any device.



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Digital Inspiration @labnol This story, The India Edition of Hundred Zeros is Live, was originally published at Digital Inspiration on 29/07/2013 under Amazon Kindle, India.



On Nokia Lumia and Windows Phone 8



The Nokia Lumia series of mobile phones stand out from the crowd. The devices, powered by Windows Phone 8, are responsive, the interface feels fresh and they have great cameras.



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Digital Inspiration @labnol This story, On Nokia Lumia and Windows Phone 8, was originally published at Digital Inspiration on 29/07/2013 under Nokia, Windows Phone, Gadgets.



How To Convert MBR To GPT Disk Without Data Loss



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Ever since we were young, we have been told that one can create up to a maximum of four primary partitions or three primary and one extended partition on a PC. Although this was quite true till a couple of years ago, you can now have up to 128 primary partitions provided that you are [...]

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Chromecast



You don't need a teardown to notice that Chromecast's model number is H2G2-42. From iFixit:



"Wasn't 42 the answer to life, the universe, and everything in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? And H2G2 is an abbreviation given to the book, as well as the name of a website dedicated to making a guide to life, the universe, and everything."








If you check YouTube.com's source code, you'll find some references to "hitchhiker".






One of YouTube's sprites has "hitchhiker" in the filename.





Corsair SSD Toolbox: Free Tool To Optimize SSDs



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Upgrading your conventional hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD) is the easiest and best way out there to significantly speed up the overall performance of your PC. There are many benefits of using a SSD over HDD: your system boots faster, applications start faster, better battery life, less heat output, etc. Even though [...]

28 July 2013

Download AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro For Free



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When it comes to disk partitioning, Windows users have a couple of good, free and user friendly software to choose from. There are popular tools such as EaseUS Partition Master and Mini Tool Partition Wizard Home, Paragon Partition Manager, and even the native Disk Management tool in recent versions of Windows is pretty good and [...]

Are You Getting Yourself A Chromecast? [MakeUseOf Poll]



chromecast-poll

Last week we asked you about BitTorrent, and whether you use it or not. If you read last week’s poll you already know that BitTorrent is not illegal, only some files are illegal, and there are many legal ways to use the protocol. Legality aside, it seems that a large number of you are going the same way when it comes to BitTorrent. Which way is that? Out of 510 votes in total, these are the results: 8% never use BitTorrent, 10% use BitTorrent only when there is no other alternative, 25% use it from time to time, and 56%...


Read the full article: Are You Getting Yourself A Chromecast? [MakeUseOf Poll]



SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop: Better Than Red Hat?



suse

Recently, I took a closer look at Red Hat Enterprise Linux, or “RHEL”, to see how good of an enterprise desktop operating system it really is. I found that it’s a top quality product, and Fedora users would be extremely familiar with it (no surprise there). However, Red Hat isn’t the only company in the Linux enterprise desktop market — there’s also SUSE. While aiming towards the same goals, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, or “SLED” which costs $120 for a one-year subscription, and offers different technologies and software to get the job done. But just what can SLED offer, and...


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27 July 2013

Download Themes For Windows 8.1



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No one likes staring at the same desktop background picture all the time. To help users better personalize their desktop, Microsoft introduced desktop themes (themepacks) with slideshow feature for the first time in its Windows 7 and the feature is present in the latest Windows 8.1 release as well. Installing a new themepack is probably [...]

Puush: Take Screenshots and Share Them Instantly



puush

Image hosting and image sharing sites are all the rage these days, especially with the widespread explosion in popularity of Internet image macros and memes. Images are pleasing to the eye and people are more likely to view an image than read a block of text – which is why infographics are great. The problem? Storage limits and inconvenient uploads. Way back at the start of all of this we had sites like Imageshack and Photobucket, which both still exist but have drastically fallen off in terms of popular usage. After that came Flickr, Instagram, and Pinterest – social media...


Read the full article: Puush: Take Screenshots and Share Them Instantly



Puush: Take Screenshots and Share Them Instantly



puush

Image hosting and image sharing sites are all the rage these days, especially with the widespread explosion in popularity of Internet image macros and memes. Images are pleasing to the eye and people are more likely to view an image than read a block of text – which is why infographics are great. The problem? Storage limits and inconvenient uploads. Way back at the start of all of this we had sites like Imageshack and Photobucket, which both still exist but have drastically fallen off in terms of popular usage. After that came Flickr, Instagram, and Pinterest – social media...


Read the full article: Puush: Take Screenshots and Share Them Instantly



Get HD Netflix Video on Android With Two Apps From XDA Developers



netflix

Does Netflix on your Android device either not work, or not work properly? If so, you might benefit from using a hacked version of the Netflix installable file, also known as an APK file. This article covers two modified versions of Netflix for Android, from XDA developers, that can solve a lot of your video watching woes: One employs customizable backgrounds, fixed subtitles and enables autorotation while playing video. The other allows for higher definition quality video. However, before installing, you will need to set your phone to use files from outside the Play Store. How To Install from Unknown...


Read the full article: Get HD Netflix Video on Android With Two Apps From XDA Developers



26 July 2013

How To Enable Aero In VirtualBox



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Users who have ever installed Windows 7 Home Premium or higher edition in Oracle VirtualBox probably aware of the fact that Aero feature is disabled by default, even if your PC supports the feature. Clicking on the Aero theme in Personalization panel will just activate the basic theme once again and the Aero troubleshooter will [...]

Can SEO Companies Really Guarantee A Top 10 Google Result?



seo

Picture this. You’re starting a new pet store, and you’ve devoted an insane amount of resources into developing a website that is just awesome. It’s responsive, the design is slick and professional, and you have a back-end e-commerce system ready to start processing the orders that you hope will start rolling in by the thousands. You’re ready to accommodate the hordes, but you don’t know how to get the hordes to realize your site exists. It’s time to fill your site with content, and you know that it needs to be crafted in a way that’ll bring in people from...


Read the full article: Can SEO Companies Really Guarantee A Top 10 Google Result?