31 December 2013

Netflix Showdown: Windows 8 Modern App Vs. Desktop Version



Netflix-Featured

Netflix is a fantastic service, but users on Windows 8 have multiple options for enjoying it. Should you go with the modern-styled Windows 8 app, or the desktop version accessible in the browser? Well, both have their pros and cons. For the most part, the Windows 8 app will be a simpler, dumbed down version of Netflix on the desktop, with larger buttons that are better for a touchscreen. The Web version, on the other hand, has more features and options, but isn’t as aesthetically pleasing and is difficult to navigate with a touchscreen. If you’re running Windows 8, there’s...


Read the full article: Netflix Showdown: Windows 8 Modern App Vs. Desktop Version



Windows Defender Uninstaller: Completely Uninstall Or Remove Windows Defender From Windows 7



CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL POST



Windows Defender, the free security software that ships with Windows operating system, provides basic protection against malware and spyware. The enhanced version of Windows Defender in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 includes almost all features of Microsoft Security Essentials and offers protection from viruses, malware and spyware. Users who prefer using third-party security solution like […]

Should Parents Spy On Their Kids? [MUO Debates]



Do you spy on your kids? If so, why? If not, why not? This is the question at hand today. These are the questions that we're going to explore in this debate.

Read the full article: Should Parents Spy On Their Kids? [MUO Debates]



30 December 2013

How to Delete Auto Backup Photos



If you've tried the Auto Backup tool and you want to delete your photos, it won't be easy. You can go to the Auto Backup section of Google+ Photos, mouse over a photo, click the "tick" icon, select photos one by one and click "Delete". That's great if you only have a few photos, but not if you have thousands of photos.



Fortunately, there's a better way:



1. go to Google+ Photos, click "More" and pick "Albums"



2. add /camerasync to the URL in the address bar and press Enter. You should get something like:



https://plus.google.com/photos/+YourName/albums/camerasync






3. click "Select" below "Photos from Auto Backup". After a few seconds, Google will select the last 2000 photos uploaded to Auto Backup. If you have less than 2000 photos, all of them will be selected.






4. click "Delete" at the top of the page. This only moves the photos to Trash, so they're not permanently deleted. If you change your mind, click "undo" after they're moved to Trash.






5. you may need to manually refresh the page (press F5) to see the remaining photos. You'll have to go back to step 3 and select the next 2000 photos and then go to the step 4.



6. to permanently delete your photos, go to the Trash, click "Empty trash now" and confirm this action.

28 December 2013

Search by Camera in Google+ Photos



Google+ Photos has a sophisticated search feature, but some of the features aren't easy to find. For example, you can search photos by camera. Use queries like #canon, #nikon, #sony, #apple, #panasonic, #samsung, #nokia to find photos taken using a phone or camera from one of these companies. You can also use the name of the phone or camera, but not all of them work. These worked for me: #iphone4s, #iphone5s, #canonpowershots95, #canoneos, #dsc-w150, #k800i.











Supercharge Your eBook Reading With IFTTT



ifttt-books

Remember when finding a good deal on books required sifting through piles of used or on-sale paperbacks? As fun as that was (and still is), it’s pretty time consuming. In the world of eReaders, we’re now used to thinking of a book one moment, and reading it the next. Unfortunately, finding eBook deals can still be time consuming. Unless you find a hack. As you probably already know, IFTTT is just the hack you’re looking for. This great automation service can be used for anything from superpowering Google Calendar to making money, and yes, it can also be used to...


Read the full article: Supercharge Your eBook Reading With IFTTT



Google+ Auto Backup for Desktop



The latest version of Picasa for Windows and Mac installs a separate utility called Google+ Auto Backup. It's a simple tool that lets you select the folders that you want to backup automatically and even has support for SD cards. Google+ Auto Backup works in the background, much like Google Music Manager and Google Drive for desktop.






The application uses the new Google Photos icon and, even though it's installed by Picasa, it doesn't have anything to do with Picasa, which has its own syncing feature.






Here's the installer file in the Picasa folder:






When you visit Google+, you'll see this message, which informs you that you can use the search box to find photos and videos from Auto Backup.






By default, Google uploads the original photos and they use your Google Drive storage space. You can enable photo resizing, so that the uploaded photos don't count against your Google Drive storage quota. Photos are resized so that the longest edge is 2048px or less.



{ Thanks, Daniel. }

How To Go Visual With Your Ideas On The Microsoft Research Mood Board



collage

One wouldn’t expect a tool as basic as a mood board to come out of Redmond’s multi-million dollar research labs. The Microsoft Research Mood Board (v1.3) probably grew from the potential that rests in visual communication. If you are not a designer or a visual communicator in any sense, then the concept of a ‘mood board’ is probably alien. But the joyful art of pasting together images and colorful text into collages shouldn’t be. A mood board is a collage of images, color samples, sketches, pasted items or text meant to communicate an idea visually. They are used across disciplines...


Read the full article: How To Go Visual With Your Ideas On The Microsoft Research Mood Board



Google+ Photo Search Filters



Google+ Photos has some filters you can use to refine your search results. Just click the search box and you can choose the source of the photos (Auto Backup, Hangouts, Google Drive, posts) or the type of results (Auto Awesome, photos of you, photospheres, videos). For some reason, Google uses hashtags and they don't work well all the time: the #Videos hashtag returns not only videos, but also photos that match "videos".



Here are the hashtags: #AutoBackup, #Hangouts, #GoogleDrive, #Posts, #AutoAwesome, #PhotosOfYou, #PhotoSphere, #Videos. You can add them to your query and filter the results. Google first shows your photos and then the photos from your circles. If you choose the source of photos, Google will only show your photos.









Some cool searches you can try:



- #AutoAwesome (all your Auto Awesome photos and videos and the ones from your circles - if they're public or shared with you)



- #AutoAwesome twinkle gif (find photos with the twinkle effect)



- #AutoAwesome motion gif (find photos with the motion effect)



- #AutoAwesome snow gif (find photos with the snow effect)



- #PhotoSphere (show panoramic images uploaded from Nexus devices)



- #AutoBackup (quickly find the photos from your mobile devices).

27 December 2013

How To Negotiate Syndication Deals And Protect Your Search Rankings



stealing-content

Let’s say you ask two friends for financial advice. The first friend works at a fast-food restaurant, but is a self-proclaimed financial genius. The second friend is modest, but ten different people have told you he’s a financial wizard, and he has given you fantastic advice in the past. Which advice would you take more seriously? The truth is that links on the Internet are like credibility in real life. The more credible people who legitimately link to you, the more you are “viewed” by search engines as an influential source of information on the Web. However, you have to...


Read the full article: How To Negotiate Syndication Deals And Protect Your Search Rankings



Technophilia 94 Live From MakeUseOf



technocover-live

This week on Technophilia, MakeUseOf’s Chief Visionary Officer Jackson Chung sits down with the crew to discuss the latest in technology nonsense. News is a little slow this week, so we’ll talk about some of the biggest new gadgets and news stories that broke over the last 356 days. Media Temple is offering MakeUseOf readers a special 20% discount off their web hosting — choose from their GRID shared hosting, Dedicated virtual private servers, or DV Enterprise dedicated hosting and enter the code “makeuseof20” at checkout. The discount is valid for all hosting plans, and will take 20% off the...


Read the full article: Technophilia 94 Live From MakeUseOf



Ashampoo Snap 7 Review: Easy Screenshot And Video Capture



ashampoosnapfeature

Taking screenshots or video of your desktop seems like it should be a simple task but, when you actually try it, you quickly realize it’s not. Sure, print screen works fine, but what if you want to capture only a specific portion of the screen, capture multiple shots successively, or capture video? Windows doesn’t have any features or software that can handle these needs. That’s where Ashampoo’s Snap, recently updated to version 7, comes in. This software promises to provide a simple, all-in-one solution for desktop image and video capture. You’ll have to pay $19.99 for the full version, however,...


Read the full article: Ashampoo Snap 7 Review: Easy Screenshot And Video Capture



26 December 2013

How To Safely Upgrade To Windows 8.1



upgrade-windows

Are horror stories of how Windows 8.1 upgrades went horribly wrong keeping you from upgrading yourself? Yet you wish you could access some of Windows 8.1′s novelties, like better SkyDrive integration, improved desktop features, or you name it. This article summarizes the lessons we have learned, to help you navigate the potential pitfalls of upgrading to Windows 8.1, including a safety net that — in case things do go wrong — will allow you to return to Windows 8, as if nothing ever happened. Make Sure Your Software & Hardware Is Compatible With Windows 8.1 Some people have faced problems...


Read the full article: How To Safely Upgrade To Windows 8.1



Belt.io –The Easiest Way To Share Text Snippets Between Your Devices



belt-io

Not that long ago, iPhone users couldn’t even copy and paste within their own device. Boy, have times changed! Not only can you now copy and paste text on your iPhone and iPad, you can copy and paste it between all your devices. Wonder how? I’ll let you in on the secret. It’s called Belt.io. A one-person app, Belt.io is not unsimilar to Hopper, which also helps you copy-paste between an iPhone and the desktop. But Belt.io is even simpler. It’s only about text. Wish you could easily copy and paste text and links from one device to another? Belt.io...


Read the full article: Belt.io –The Easiest Way To Share Text Snippets Between Your Devices



Get It Right: 5 Creative Ways To Promote Your Home Business Online



home-business

Running your own home business is in many ways a dream job. You are your own boss so you can get your own hours, make all of the decisions, and never need to worry about upper management breathing down your neck. The downside is that home business owners are responsible for everything: planning, execution, networking, public relations, and marketing. That last one can be a killer. Just because your business is not an Internet business doesn’t mean you can ignore the Web. The Internet is the most cost-effective and effort-efficient way to reach a wide audience — anyone who believes...


Read the full article: Get It Right: 5 Creative Ways To Promote Your Home Business Online



25 December 2013

Nexuiz: A High Quality Futuristic Shooter With Linux, Mac, And PC Support



nexuiz_intro

Linux gaming has recently seen an increase in popular titles, but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t have good games before the arrival of Steam. Nexuiz is one of several such titles that remains a popular game to play on Linux for both old and new users. Quick Note Technically speaking, what I refer to as “Nexuiz” is called Nexuiz Classic on various websites as there were plans to remake Nexuiz with CryTek’s CryENGINE 3 engine. However, you can’t find the newer version anywhere, so “Nexuiz Classic” is currently the only playable Nexuiz game you can get. How To Get...


Read the full article: Nexuiz: A High Quality Futuristic Shooter With Linux, Mac, And PC Support



Nexuiz: A High Quality Futuristic Shooter With Linux, Mac, And PC Support



nexuiz_intro

Linux gaming has recently seen an increase in popular titles, but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t have good games before the arrival of Steam. Nexuiz is one of several such titles that remains a popular game to play on Linux for both old and new users. Quick Note Technically speaking, what I refer to as “Nexuiz” is called Nexuiz Classic on various websites as there were plans to remake Nexuiz with CryTek’s CryENGINE 3 engine. However, you can’t find the newer version anywhere, so “Nexuiz Classic” is currently the only playable Nexuiz game you can get. How To Get...


Read the full article: Nexuiz: A High Quality Futuristic Shooter With Linux, Mac, And PC Support



24 December 2013

Auto Awesome Year in Review



Auto Awesome brings more and more reasons to upload your photos to Google+. There's a new Auto Awesome gift: a video that highlights some of the best photos and videos you've taken in 2013. It's the year in review, a short video with nice music and cool transitions. You'll receive a notification in the Google bar when your video is ready.



"This time of year we reconnect with loved ones, and we reflect on the moments that really matter. Photos and videos help preserve these moments, and when you save them to Google+, #AutoAwesome can bring your story to life in meaningful, magical ways," says Google's Anil Sabharwal.






You can check the "year in review" videos shared by other Google+ users by searching for #year2013.






{ Thanks, Mukil. }

Google+ Easter Egg for Christmas



Mr. Jingles has a special Christmas costume. You can find it in the Google+ notification box: in Google+ and most Google services and in the Google+ app for iOS and Android.









Here's the animation that's displayed when you click the icon. This is the "retina" double-sized version:






There's also a "reindeer" version:






{ Thanks, Mukil. }

More Holiday Decorations in Google Search



Google's mobile search interface shows some special decorations when you search for [Christmas], [Kwanzaa] or some queries that include them.















They're not animated like the desktop decorations, but they fill the entire search results page.







{ Thanks, Sterling. }

Goodbye, Skype: 4 Alternative VOIP Services You Can Record Calls With



muo-voiprecording-notskype-featured

New changes to Skype and the support of third party apps have left many users frustrated, particularly where call recording is concerned. With suggestions that the service isn’t as secure as once thought, could now be the time to start looking for an alternative VoIP call recording service? Quit Skype? Are You Mad?! Had you told me 12 months ago that Microsoft was going to disable the Skype desktop API, thus rendering many third-party call recorders useless, I’d have suspected you (or they) were mad. Although a temporary delay has been announced, the writing is clearly on the wall. Like...


Read the full article: Goodbye, Skype: 4 Alternative VOIP Services You Can Record Calls With



23 December 2013

5 Things We Learned About Online Security in 2013



nsaspying

The days of newscasters fretting the entire Internet might be shut down by a simple (but effective) computer worm are over, but that doesn’t mean that online security is no longer a worry. Threats have become more complex and, worse, are now coming from places that most would never expect – like the government. Here are 5 hard lessons we learned about online security in 2013. The Government Is Watching You… The biggest computer security talking point of 2013 was, of course, the revelation that portions of the United States government (primarily the National Security Agency) have been spying on...


Read the full article: 5 Things We Learned About Online Security in 2013



Teach Yourself Anything: 3 Ways To Create Your Own Learning Playlists



learning

The Internet is a fire hose. Whether it’s a casual browse or a conscious one, getting “drenched” is almost given. Fortunately, the same fire hose of information can quench your thirst for learning a new skill. Learning playlists are nothing but an organized way to collect the right resources in the form of articles, videos, links, images etc. in a semblance of order. Think of it as tying together all the information you find into a thread that helps you grasp it from the beginning to the end. Learning playlists are just as useful for flipped teaching as they are...


Read the full article: Teach Yourself Anything: 3 Ways To Create Your Own Learning Playlists



Make Windows 8.1 Apps Without Breaking A Sweat With Microsoft’s Project Siena



Windows8.1

Being an “app designer” is a trend that’s on the upswing. Microsoft is stoking the creative fire with Project Siena. Project Siena is designed to be a user-friendly way for everyone to build their own Windows 8.1 programs with the same knowhow that goes into using Microsoft PowerPoint or Microsoft Excel. Project Siena is also a “Metro” app, so you can just as easily use it on your Windows touch-enabled tablet. It is a 3.4 MB sized free download for Windows 8.1. Siena apps are all HTML5 and JavaScript, so they are easily extensible to any kind of use you...


Read the full article: Make Windows 8.1 Apps Without Breaking A Sweat With Microsoft’s Project Siena



Mobo Live - Fully Featured Android Launcher from Moborobo



Android is trending today of-course its going crazy because of wide range of features it offers. Android apps are one main thing and only reason that made to out rank it's competitors. From the millions of apps the most like is Android Launchers. Using android launchers we can customize your device the way you want. Here in this article we are introducing one best and fully featured Android launcher developed by Moborobo Team.



Read more »

Android and Google's Shifting Priorities



I've been reading Fred Vogelstein's book "Dogfight: How Apple and Google Went to War and Started a Revolution" (Amazon, Google Play) and realized that Android wasn't that important for Google until 2009-2010. It was an operating system designed to compete with Microsoft's Windows Mobile that ended up competing with Apple's iOS. Back in 2007 and 2008, Google's partnership with Apple was more important than Android, a project that was understaffed. Android only became important when Google realized that Apple's dominance in the mobile space could spell trouble for Google.






Here are some quotes:



1. "Gundotra was putting the Android team on the spot. “I said, 'Convince me that this [Android] is something we [Google] should believe in,' and I know they had never had anyone ask those questions, and it was tough for them. 'Who are you to ask these questions again?' they wondered.” A former senior member of the Android team echoed this feeling: “In the early days, Google Mobile [the team working with Apple on the iPhone] hated us. I mean, they thought we were the biggest pain in the ass in the world. I know Vic Gundotra [who now runs Google's competitor to Facebook, Google Plus] has come around and been a great advocate of Android, but he really hated it at first. He thought [Android] would be a distraction that would upset his relationship with Steve Jobs. There was a lot of butting of heads and arguments internally about strategy and things like that."



2. "The Jobs meeting was particularly difficult for Rubin, friends say. He was indeed as furious as Jobs described, and he almost quit Google over it. He understood what his bosses were saying intellectually. But Jobs had bullied him in front of his bosses, and they hadn't backed him up. For a while thereafter he had a sign on his office whiteboard that read STEVE JOBS STOLE MY LUNCH MONEY."



3. "Schmidt says today that not only had he and Jobs talked about Android, he'd made it clear to Jobs that in terms of Google priorities, iPhone came first. 'I think maybe Andy [Rubin] understood the importance of Android back then, but certainly the rest of Google did not. We were busy doing other things,' Schmidt said to me in 2011."



4. Eric Schmidt in 2011: "Larry and Sergey and I understood the strategic value of Android, but none of us I think foresaw how strategic it would become. Every once in a while a perfect storm occurs. Your competitors make some mistakes. You end up with the right product at the right time. There are really no other good choices of products. It all sort of happens in a moment. That's what happened with Android."

22 December 2013

Google Shows Missing Keywords



If you use a long query, Google might ignore some of your keywords. Maybe there aren't many results that match all your keywords or maybe some of them are redundant.



Google now shows a list of missing keywords below search results. Those words aren't included by the pages returned by Google, but the search results should still be relevant and useful.






To force Google to always match a keyword, use quotes. For example, when you search for [igzo mva "srgb"], "srgb" is always matched.