23 May 2013

Twitter Introduces Login Verification Via SMS For A More Secure Sign-In Process [Updates]



Twitter has announced a new security feature which resembles the two-factor authentication offered on websites such as Facebook, Google, and Dropbox. The new feature makes sure that the person logging into your Twitter account is really you, helping you protect your account from phishing and other security breaches.


The new authentication method utilizes your cell phone, making sure you’re really you by sending you a code via text message, which you will have to enter every time you log into Twitter. To activate the secure sign-in, head over to your Twitter Settings page and scroll down to find the new “Require a verification code when I sign in” option. In order to check the option, you’re going to need to add a cell phone number to your Twitter account.



Once your phone number is added and verified, enable the code verification, and you’re done. Unlike other websites that offer a similar feature, Twitter’s two-factor authentication is limited to text messaging, and doesn’t make use of designated apps such as Google Authenticator.


In addition, it seems that Twitter is not yet set up to support this feature worldwide. When I tried enabling it for my account using my local cell phone, I got an error message telling me my carrier was not yet supported, and that I should hold tight and wait until it is. If your carrier is supported, however, this I a feature worth enabling to protect your account from unwanted logins. Just keep in mind that every time you log in to Twitter, you’re going to need your cell phone handy to type in the code.



Will you enable Twitter’s new login verification?


Source: Twitter Blog


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What Changes Do You Want To See In Windows 8.1? [We Ask You]



Microsoft released Windows 8 last year to a barrage of criticism from people who didn’t like the wholesale changes made to the operating system. The Metro UI was particularly hated because it forced desktop users to navigate or bypass a screen of live tiles primarily aimed at those with touchscreens or tablets. This one element is still hated in some quarters, though many more have since got used to the new user interface.


Microsoft had legitimate reasons for building Windows 8 the way it did, but it has also listened to feedback from users and is preparing to release a major update previously codenamed Windows Blue. Windows 8.1, as it’s officially known, will be released before the year is out, with a public preview available on June 26. Your hopes for this update form the basis for this week’s ‘We Ask You‘ column.


This Week’s Question…


We want to know, What Changes Do You Want To See In Windows 8.1? It’s heavily rumored that the Start button will be making a comeback in Windows 8.1, making Windows 8 much more tolerable for those who still use a keyboard and mouse.


Other changes suggested by the leaking of confidential builds include more customization options for the live tiles on the Start screen, better multi-tasking in the Metro environment, new in-built apps, and new technologies being added. But what changes do you personally want to see in Windows 8.1?



If you’re a Windows 8 user already then this question will be easy to answer. Just let us know what frustrations you feel when using Windows 8: Is there one aspect of the operating system that makes you angry? What components or methods make you wonder what Microsoft was thinking when they designed Windows 8 that way?


If you need some inspiration then feel free to read two previous columns which prompted healthy discussions around the positives and negatives of Windows 8. Prior to release we asked, “What Do You Really Think Of Windows 8? ” and then in light of poor early sales we asked, “What Should Microsoft Do To Sell Windows 8 To The Masses? ” The comments on both should help nudge you into remembering what you dislike about Windows 8.


Drawing Conclusions


All comments will be digested to form conclusions in a follow-up post next week where we will detail what You Told Us. One reader will be chosen for the coveted Comment Of The Week, getting their name up in lights, the respect of other readers, and 150 MakeUseOf points to use for MakeUseOf Rewards. What more motivation than that do you need to respond?


We Ask You is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. The questions asked are usually open-ended and likely to necessitate a discussion. Some are opinion-based, while others see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps to fellow MakeUseOf Readers. This column is nothing without you, as MakeUseOf is nothing without you.


Image Credit: Jon Fingas


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Google+ Photo Search With Image Recognition



Last year, Google Drive added an advanced image search feature powered by Goggles that recognizes objects and uses OCR technology to extract text. The same feature is now available in Google+: search for [sunflower], click "More", restrict the results to "Photos" and select "Most recent". You'll find sunflower images from Google+ posts that don't even include "sunflower", not even in the image filename.






This also works for the images you've uploaded to Picasa Web Albums/Google+ Photos or the images uploaded by your circles.









{ via Android Police }


How I Import Internet UFO Sightings Data Into A Google Spreadsheet



import data into google spreadsheetWhen it comes to online databases and information that can be found inside what is commonly known as the “invisible web“, I’m not your typical user. Sure, I spend a little bit too much of my time sifting through online databases at places like the National Archives and the CIA FOIA reading room, but I have to say nothing makes me more excited than when I find an HTML based table filled with volumes of seemingly complex and unconnected data.


The fact is, data tables are a goldmine of important truths. Data often gets collected by armies of data-collection grunts with boots on the ground. You’ve got people from the U.S. Census traveling the entire country for household and family information. You’ve got non-profit environmental groups collecting all sorts of interesting information about the environment, pollution, global warming and more. And if you’re into the paranormal or Ufology, there are also constantly updated tables of information about sightings of strange objects in the sky above us.


Ironically, you would think that any government in the world would be interested to know what sort of foreign craft are being spotted in the skies over any country, but apparently not – at least not in the U.S. anyway. In America, the collection of unusual sightings of crafts have been relegated to teams of amateur hobbyists who flock to new UFO sightings like moths to a flame. My interest in these sightings actually stems not from a fascination with aliens or crafts from other planets, but from a scientific fascination with patterns – where and why more people are seeing things in the sky, and whether those sightings could reflect something very real and much more down-to-Earth actually going on.


To explore the volumes of data collected by teams of UFO hobbyists, I’ve actually developed a way to import large HTML tables of data into a Google Spreadsheet, and then manipulate and analyze that data to extract and discover meaningful and important information. In this article, I intend to show you how to do the same.


Important HTML Data Into Google Spreadsheet


In this example, I’m going to show you how to import any data that might be stored in a table on any website on the Internet, into your Google Spreadsheet. Think about the enormous volume of data that’s available on the Internet today in the form of HTML tables. Wikipedia alone has data in tables for topics like global warming, the U.S. Census Bureau has tons of population datasets, and a little bit of Googling will land you a whole lot more beyond that.


In my example, I’m starting out with a database on the National UFO Reporting Center that actually looks like it might be a query-style deep-web database, but if you observe the URL structuring, it’s actually a semi-complex web-based reporting system consisting of static web pages and static HTML tables – exactly what we want when looking for data to import.

import data into google spreadsheet

NUForc.org is one of those organizations that serves as one of the biggest reporting centers for UFO sightings. It isn’t the only one, but it’s big enough to find new datasets with current sightings for every month. You choose to view the data sorted by criteria like State or Date, and each of those is provided in the form of a static page. If you sort by date and then click on the most recent date, you’ll see that the table listed there is a static web page named according to the date format.

import data into google docs

So, we now have a pattern to regularly extract the latest sightings information from this HTML-based database. All you have to do is import the first table, use the most recent entry (the top one) to identify the latest update, and then use the date of that posting to build the URL link where the latest HTML data table exists. Doing this will simply require a couple of instances of the ImportHTML function, and then a few creative uses of text manipulation functions. When you’re done, you’ll have one of the coolest, self-updating reporting spreadsheets of your very own. Let’s get started.


Importing Tables and Manipulating Data


The first step, of course, is to create the new spreadsheet.

import data into google docs

So, how do you import HTML tables? All you need is the URL where the table is stored, and the number of the table on the page – usually the one first listed is 1, the second is 2, and so on. Since I know the URL of that first table listing dates and counts of sightings listed, it’s possible to import by typing the following function into cell A1.


=importhtml(“http://www.nuforc.org/webreports/ndxpost.html?”&H2,”table”,1)


H2 holds the function “=hour(now())“, so the table will update every hour. This is probably extreme for data that updates this infrequently, so I could probably get away with doing it daily. Anyway, the above ImportHTML function brings in the table as shown below.

UFOReport4

You’ll need to do a bit of data manipulation on this page before you can piece together the URL for the second table with all of the UFO sightings. But go ahead and create the second sheet on the workbook.

import data into google docs

Before trying to build that second sheet, it’s time to extract the post date from this first table, in order to build the link to the second table. The problem is that the date is brought in as a date format, not a string. So, first you need to use the TEXT function to convert the report post date into a string:


=text(A2,”mm/dd/yy”)


In the next cell to the right, you need to use the SPLIT function with the “/” delimiter to break the date up into month, day and year.


=split(D2,”/”)

import into google spreadsheet

Looking good! However, each number needs to be forced to two digits. You do this in the cells right below them using the TEXT command again.


=text(E2,”00″)


A format of “00″ (those are zeroes) forces two digits, or a “0″ as a placeholder.

import into google spreadsheet

Now you’re ready to rebuild the entire URL to the latest HTML table of new sightings. You can do this by using the CONCATENATE function, and piecing together all of the bits of information you just extracted from the first table.


=concatenate(“http://www.nuforc.org/webreports/ndxp”,G3,E3,F3,”.html”)

import into google spreadsheet

Now, on the new sheet you created above (the blank sheet), you’re going to do a new “importhtml” function, but this time for the first URL link parameter, so you’re going to navigate back to the first spreadsheet and click on the cell with the URL link you just created.

UFOReport9

The second parameter is “table” and the last is “1″ (because the sightings table is the first and only on the page). Hit enter, and now you’ve just imported the entire volume of sightings that were posted on that particular date.

UFOReport10

So, you’re probably thinking this is a nice novelty act and everything – I mean, after all, what you’ve done is extracted existing information from a table on the Internet and migrated it to another table, albeit a private one in your Google Docs account. Yes, that’s true. However, now that it’s in your own private Google Docs account, you have at your fingertips the tools and functions to better analyze that data, and start discovering amazing connections.


Using Pivot Reports to Analyze Imported Data


Just recently, I wrote an article about using Pivot Reports in Google Spreadsheet to perform all sorts of cool data analysis feats. Well, you can do the same amazing data analysis acrobatics on the data that you’ve imported from the Internet – giving you the ability to uncover interesting connections that possibly no one else has uncovered before you.


For example, from the final sightings table, I might decide to use a pivot report to take a look at the number of different unique shapes reported in each state, compared to the overall number of sightings in that particular state. Finally, I also filter out anything mentioning “aliens” in the comments section, to hopefully weed out some of the more wingnut entries.

UFOReport11

This actually reveals some pretty interesting things right off the bat, such as the fact that California clearly has the highest number of reported sightings of any other State, along with the distinction of reporting the highest number of craft shapes in the country. It also shows that Massachusetts, Florida and Illinois are big hitters in the UFO sightings department as well (at least in the most recent data).


Another cool thing about Google Spreadsheet is the wide array of charts available to you, including a Geo-Map that lets you lay out “hot spots” of data in a graphical format that really stands out and makes those connections within the data quite obvious.

import data into google spreadsheet

If you think about it, this is really only the tip of the iceberg. If you can now import data from data tables on any page on the Internet, just think of the possibilities. Get the latest stock numbers, or the most recent top 10 books and authors on the New York Times bestseller list, or the biggest selling cars in the world. There are HTML tables out there on almost any topic you can imagine, and in many cases those tables are frequently updated.


ImportHtml gives you the ability to plug your Google Spreadsheet into the Internet, and feed off the data that exists out there. It can become your own personal hub of information that you can use to manipulate and massage into a format that you can actually work with. It’s just one more very cool thing to love about Google Spreadsheet.


Have you ever imported data into your spreadsheets? What kind of interesting things did you discover in that data? How did you use the data? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments section below!


Image Credits: Business Graph


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Upgrading to Windows 8? Get Settled In Faster with these Tips



tips for upgrading to windows 8If it’s about time you purchase a new computer, that computer is probably going to come with Windows 8 (unless you buy a Mac). Microsoft hasn’t included a tutorial with Windows 8 — aside from the cryptic “move your mouse into any corner” line — so you’ll need to do a bit of research to get up to speed with the latest version of Windows.


Ask anyone who uses Windows 8 on a standard laptop or desktop (not a tablet), and they’ll tell you the key to getting along with Windows 8 is ignoring as much of the new interface as possible. The standard desktop is still there under all that “Modern” interface.


Where’s the Desktop?


When you first log in to Windows 8, you’ll see the new full-screen Start screen. New “Modern” apps that you can install from the Windows Store only run in this full-screen environment.


We’ll get to that later, though. For now, the most important thing you need to know is that the traditional Windows desktop is still there and can still run all your old software. To get to the desktop, all you have to do is click the Desktop tile on your Start screen. You can also press Windows key + D to launch the desktop.


tips for upgrading to windows 8


Note that, if you purchased a Windows RT device, the desktop can’t run all your old desktop software — but you probably purchased a Windows 8 device. Windows RT devices are very unpopular, with the exception of Microsoft’s Surface RT.


Where’s My Start Button?


Now you’re at the desktop, which should look very familiar. It’s the Windows 7 desktop, but with a variety of improvements like a better task manager, improved file copy dialog, and built-in time machine backup. However, you’ll notice that there’s no Start button anymore.


The Start button is actually present, but hidden. You can make it appear by moving your mouse to the bottom-left corner of the screen and clicking. This opens the Start screen you were at earlier. You can also easily launch the Start screen by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.


upgrading to windows 8


To launch an application from the Start screen, click its shortcut like you normally would — desktop apps appear here, too. You can also start typing at the Start screen to search your installed applications, just like on the Windows 7 start menu. To view all your installed applications, right-click somewhere on the start screen (not on a tile), click All apps at the bottom of the screen, and you’ll see your installed programs.


The Start screen is essentially the successor to the Start menu — think of it as a full-screen start menu. Applications you install will gain shortcuts on your Start screen, so you can arrange these shortcuts as you like. You can also use the search feature to quickly launch apps.


upgrading to windows 8


To make things easier, you should pin applications you use to the desktop taskbar — when they’re running, right-click their taskbar icons and select the Pin option. You can then easily launch the applications from your taskbar without opening the full-screen Start screen and leaving your desktop.


upgrading to windows 8


How Do I Shut Down?


Note that the hidden Start button isn’t the only special “hot corner.” You can also move your mouse cursor to the top or bottom right corners of the screen and then move it towards the center edge of the screen to access the “charms.” For the most part, you shouldn’t need to access these charms unless you use Modern applications. However, the Shut Down and Restart options are located under the Settings charm.


Don’t worry — there are many other ways to shut down your Windows 8 computer, including with its physical power button.


windows 8 upgrade tips


Move your mouse cursor to the top-left corner of your screen and you’ll access an app switcher that only works for “Modern” apps, not desktop ones — you don’t need to use that unless you’re using the new, Modern-style apps.


Do I Have to Use All This New Stuff?


As far as the Start screen and Modern apps go, you only have to see the Start screen when you log in. You can then use your computer normally, avoiding it as much as possible and using desktop applications. Pin application shortcuts to your taskbar and you won’t need to use it for launching apps. Modern apps are more suited to tablets than typical desktops and laptops.


Microsoft doesn’t give us an option to boot to the desktop or use a traditional start menu, but you can do this anyway. Install a third-party Start menu like the popular Start8 and you’ll have a traditional desktop that appears when you log in. There will be a delay before your desktop appears, however. These Start menus can also easily disable the hot corners for you, allowing to have a more traditional-style desktop.


tips for upgrading to windows 8


Windows 8 makes much more sense on a touch-enabled computer, but you probably haven’t purchased a touch-enabled machine as they’re much more expensive — most people are still buying computers without touch support. If you have a touch-enabled Windows 8 machine, check out our printable cheat sheet to Windows 8′s touch and mouse gestures.


For more in-depth information on getting to grips with Windows 8 — including how to use the new Modern environment with all those Windows Store apps — check out our free Windows 8 guide.


Do you have any other questions? Feel free to ask! And in case you have already mastered Windows 8, share your own tips for upgrading to Windows 8. what was your greatest challenge?


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Google Trends Charts



Google Trends has a new section that shows monthly popularity charts for topics like scientists, cars, movies, songs, people, animals, chemical elements and more. Charts are limited to the US for now and they show the most popular things, not the "movers and shakers". Google uses the Knowledge Graph to restrict the charts to real-world things and "measures interest in a broader topic, so it might also count different searches with the same meaning".



"Top Charts are lists of real-world people, places and things ranked by search interest. They show information similar to our Year-End Zeitgeist, but updated monthly and going back to 2004. To check them out, go to Google Trends and click 'Top Charts' on the left-hand side," informs Google.






Google Trends shows information from Wikipedia, links to Google+ or other top search results, the number of months in chart and the previous month's rank.






Google also added a Metro-inspired page that lets you visualize hot searches in full screen. Mouse over the top-left icon to show multiple searches at the same time and click the country name at the bottom of the page to switch to a different country.






{ via Google Blog }



Keep Boredom At Bay With Playable Google Doodles



list of google doodlesThe Google homepage is intentionally minimalist, with a distinct lack of pointless detritus that would only serve to divert people’s attention away from the main purpose of the page. Which is to provide a kicking off point for exploring the wider Web. There’s the Google logo, a search bar, and a couple of buttons, and that’s it… most of the time.


From 1998 onwards Google has been regularly changing the Google logo up, with the new iterations labeled Google Doodles. These doodles have been used to great effect to mark significant events, the birthdays of important people, and national holidays. They have also become a lot more involved over the years, with interactive elements being added.


We’ve already looked at the best Google Doodles in video form, now it’s time to list the best playable Google Doodles released to date. Good Guy Google doesn’t delete these games, so they remain playable long after they appear on the Google homepage. Which is great for all of us who spend far too long on the Web and who are in constant need of things to occupy our brains.


Zamboni


list of google doodles


A Zamboni is an ice-resurfacer, named after its inventor Frank Zamboni. In the same way Hoover has become the generic name for all vacuum cleaners, so Zamboni has become the generic name for all ice resurfacers.


Google released a doodle in honor of Frank Zamboni in January 2013, to commemorate what would have been his 112th birthday. It takes the form of a game which sees you driving an ice resurfacer around an ice rink after skaters have scuffed up the ice.


This game is very simple. You use the arrow keys on your keyboard to control the vehicle, cleaning up all of the scuff marks as quickly as possible without running out of fuel. There are also power-ups and obstacles left behind on the ice.


Snake


doodles for google


Released in February 2013 this version of the classic mobile game Snake was released to commemorate Chinese New Year 2013. Why Snake? Because 2013 is the year of the snake. Clever ol’ Google.


You start playing by clicking the coin slot in the middle of the logo. Then you simply use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the snake left, right, up, and down. You don’t have to worry about hitting the edges of the playing area, instead you just need to collect the power-ups while avoiding the sticks of dynamite.


Pac-Man


doodles for google


This was the first playable Google Doodle, and it arguably remains the best one released so far. Pac-Man turned 30 in May 2010, and to celebrate Google released its own version of the arcade classic featuring a maze inspired by the Google lettering.


After clicking ‘Insert Coin’ you control Pac-Man with the arrow keys on your keyboard, eating the pills while avoiding the ghosts. The gameplay remains true to the original, which means it’s just as frustrating as it ever was.


If this puts you in the mood for more Pac-Man then you’ll love The World’s Biggest Pac-Man.


London 2012 Olympics


Google truly outdid itself to commemorate the London 2012 Olympic Games. As well as different static doodles for the opening and closing ceremonies, it released four playable Google Doodles for four of the sports included in the Olympics. All of these doodles are competitive, and you will be awarded up to three medals depending on your performance.


Slalom Canoe


doodles for google


In the Slalom Canoe Google Doodle game you need to guide your canoeist down the rapids, making sure he travels between each set of gates. The canoe is controlled by the left and right arrow keys, one for each of the two oars. You need to concentrate on getting into a fluid rhythm and hitting each gate in turn.


Soccer


google doodles interactive


In the Soccer Google Doodle game you play the part of the goalkeeper who needs to save as many shots from the striker as possible. The arrow keys move you left and right, and the spacebar makes you jump. The more shots you save the more difficult the game becomes… until you’ve let three goals in and it’s Game Over.


Hurdles


google doodles interactive


In the Hurdles Google Doodle game you need to both run fast and make it over each hurdle that is put in your way. It’s a tough combination to get right, with each hurdle you run into slowing you down and ensuring you get a poor time. The left and right arrow keys pressed in turn build speed, with the spacebar pressed to clear the hurdles.


Basketball


list of google doodles


In the Basketball Google Doodle game you have 24 seconds to score as many basketballs as possible. All you need to do is hold down the spacebar to build up power, letting it go to release the ball. It’s a lot harder than it sounds, especially as your standing position moves back after so many balls are played.


Conclusions


These are the best playable Google Doodles I have ever seen, but I suspect there are many more out there waiting to be discovered. Google takes its doodles so seriously now that it features different sets for different countries, so it could be that there is a playable gem that is only available in your territory lurking away unseen by the masses.


If this is the case then please let us know so that we can build another list of playable Google Doodles in the future. After all, MakeUseOf is a global effort, both in terms of the writers and editors, and the readership.


Beyond that request, do you have a favorite amongst the playable Google Doodles featured here? Or any other thoughts to add to the article? If so please let us know in the comments section below. Otherwise read about different ways to explore Google Doodles on the Web.


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