"G+ an identity service | No one is forcing you to use it " says Eric Smidth

 " G+ was build primarily as an identity service, so fundamentally, it depends on people using their real names if they're going to build future products that leverage that information. "

" G+ is completely optional. No one is forcing you to use it "

These comments are by Eric Schmidt at the Edinburgh TV Festival yesterday 

Via Andy Carvin

Facebook Update: Now Bigger and Faster Photos

In next few days everybody using facebook gonna see images you share slight bigger and faster. Today Facebook said  that

             " Sharing photos is one of the most popular activities on its social network. Users upload more than 250 million photos each day.  the photos you share on Facebook are bigger (720 pixels to 960 pixels) and load twice as fast, giving you quicker access to more detailed images.  Photos you've already uploaded to your profile will also be displayed at this higher resolution.  "

It also said about the Focus on the Photo --

" Today, we are rolling out a more streamlined photo viewer that features a cleaner interface that makes it even easier to enjoy your photos. The light box is now set against a simple white background that puts more of the focus on the photo, and less on the surrounding frame." 

Google+ Updated : Verified Public Figures like in Twitter

Google+ is now verifying celebrities and popular people who are featured in too many Circles and awarding them with a ‘verified’ badge for followers to know they are really following who they think they are following. 

Google Maps Updated : Weather forecast added

Yesterday Google updated Maps to show weather conditions and forecast for next four days.

If you select the weather layer on Google Maps you can view the current temperature and weather conditions for where ever you are. You can also see the current cloud coverage for the whole world.




If you want a weather forecast for a location you can also click on the weather icon for a particular city. An info window will then open with a detailed summary of current humidity and wind conditions, as well as a forecast for the next four days. 

Firefox 7 Beta : Implements Project Memshrink (Speed,Stability,Perception)

Firefox7 Beta has released by Mozilla just two days after Firefox6s official release. And this Beta release is first in the history of browsers to implement MemShrink. 

MemShrink : MemShrink is a project that aims to reduce Firefox's memory consumption nearly 50% of now. Find more about MenShrink

Firefox7 Official version is scheduled to be released on Sept. 27 (wiki.mozilla.com says). 

You will be able to download the new Firefox 7 Beta for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, and as for those who have been running the Firefox beta, they need not worry since their version(s) will be updated automatically. On a slightly different note, Mozilla has also rolled out a beta version of Firefox for Android. It must be noted that Firefox 7′s memory usage will remain constant even if you decide to leave the computer and browser running overnight, where it will free up even more memory whenever you close more tabs.

Linux celebrating 20 years ! [video]

On the eve of 20th anniversery of linux the linux foundation released this video

Samsung Galaxy fit :Does it fit for you ?

The Register Review: Full marks to Samsung’s marketing folk for the Galaxy Fit’s go-getting name, but it’s actually a fairly low-end Android smart phone with an outdated OS, low resolution screen and less than speedy processor. That said, it has a few good points too, including a surprisingly good 5Mp camera.

Bearing a passing resemblance to the recently released Galaxy Mini (aren’t there an awful lot of Galaxys recently?) the Fit has a similar glossy black fascia surrounded by chrome-look trim on its gently curved edges. What looks like a D-pad beneath the screen is actually the Android home button, flanked by touch sensitive menu and back buttons (there’s no search).

Pierre de Fermat : Todays' Google Doodle -17 Aug 2011

Today, Aug 17 2011, is the 410th Birthday of Pierre de Fermat (17 August 1601 or 1607/8 – 12 January 1665)  who was a was a French lawyer and an amateur mathematician whose  early developments that led to infinitesimal calculus.

Google commemorated the 410th birthday of Pierre de Fermat by drawing a Google Doodle that demonstrating a class room board on which an equation is written with Google. When you hover your mouse over the Doodle the text comes up “I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of this theorem, which this doodle is too small to contain”.

He is recognized for his discovery of an original method of finding the greatest and the smallest ordinates of curved lines, which is analogous to that of the then unknown differential calculus, as well as his research into number theory. He made notable contributions to analytic geometry, probability, and optics. He is best known for Fermat's Last Theorem, which he described in a note at the margin of a copy of Diophantus' Arithmetica.

via Wikipedia 

Building Windows8(B8) blog launched Today

As Microsoft showed a preview of Windows8(Video below) in June, demonstrating the user experience,Today the Windows engineering team started a blog and a twitter account(@BuildWindows8) to record and update people about the development of its next mass operating system, Windows 8

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion.:Live Conference Call

Listn Here the Conference Call

Press Release :

Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility

Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA and LIBERTYVILLE, IL – AUGUST 15, 2011 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Larry Page​, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”

Andy Rubin​, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.

Website Publishing tool for Naive Users : Simple Drag and Drop Interface

Muse (codename) is a new technology under development at Adobe that enables graphic designers to design and publish professional, dynamic HTML/CSS websites without writing code. If you’re interested in using a familiar, free-form design tool to deliver websites for yourself or your clients we’d love to invite you to participate in our private pre-release program where you can help us test and refine this new technology by putting it through its paces.
 

Gmail’s New Sign-in Page: Preview it

 

Google is redesigning Sign-in page for Gmail and for other products Google Docs and YouTube services, this is part of redesign of Google products with launch of Google+. If you land into Gmail homepage you’ll find a link(like the above image) at the bottom to preview Gmail’s new sign-in page. Once you click it, you’ll be switched to new sign-in page and it will become your default sign-in page across all Google products that currently have new design enabled. 

You can also switch back to old page by clicking “Back to old page” option at the bottom. If you switch the browsers, the old page might come up again. These design changes shouldn’t affect your bookmarks,  they’ll work same as before at the same URL.

Mozilla Firefox 6 Final via FTP servers:UnOfficial

[TechnoBolt] :However, the launch of Firefox 6 Final has yet to be announced officially, as the bits have not started being offered to the public.

It’s important to note that early adopters will not see any differences between Firefox 6 Final and Firefox 6 Beta Refresh 5.

Instead, the open source browser vendor is serving Firefox 6 Final through its FTP servers, at least at the time of this article. I don’t doubt that this will change soon enough, but for now, users can grab Firefox 6 via the link at the bottom of this article.

As I told you earlier this week, Mozilla was planning to launch Firefox 6 on August 16th, 2011. For all I know, that date continues to be the official release deadline for the latest major iteration of Firefox browser.

Unofficially though, the fully-fledged Firefox 6 Final is already available for download in all supported languages. Mozilla had started populating the Firefox 6.0 Release folder on its FTP servers even before I began writing this, and the bits are live as the article went public.

Download English version of Firefox 6for Windows
Download English version of Firefox 6 for Mac
Download English version of Firefox 6 for Linux

Facebook made changes to chat :Added "More online Friends"

After a huge dissatisfaction from its users on the chat that launched previouly Facebook came up with a new strategy that cuts their users disappointment.

 

The addition of “More Online Friends” to Chat should serve to improve Facebook’s relations with its users. It could rally users to be more vocal about future redesigns in hopes of attaining a similar outcome, but at least they know Facebook isn’t deaf to the opinions of those it serves.

HTC and Beats Deal for a better sound experience

HTC is making a strategic tie-up with Beats Electronics, investing $300 million for a majority stake in the digital sound company and working to incorporate Beats technology into its product line.

“With the magic of mobile devices, it is easier than ever to discover and buy new music,” HTC CEO Peter Chou said in in an interview with AllThingsD on Wednesday. “However, without great sound experience it is a shame.”

LG Optimus 3D : First smartphone with a 3D screen

[ITR] : It started in cinemas, but now 3D is everywhere.TV, gaming, handheld consoles - it was the big selling point of the Nintendo 3DS - but now LG reckons that glasses-free 3D might be the thing to help it fend off the threat of a forthcoming Apple iPhone 5. But does it actually work on a smartphone handset?

Big, bold and beautiful :

We can't help really liking the LG Optimus 3D, even before we start to consider its visual speciality. This is a big handset, though. A very big handset indeed. With a screen measuring 4.3 inches diagonally, it's right at the limit of appropriate sizing for a smartphone. Many people will be unable to reach across the screen one-handed. We couldn't.

But the screen is superb. 480x800 pixels of bright, sharp rendering make for great web browsing, video viewing and picture looking. Even in 2D.

3D fun :

The 3D element of the LG Optimus 3D only kicks in when you choose that option from the home screen. Do so, and a new interface pops up in the shape of a 3D carousel, offering a 3D Gallery, 3D Camera, 3D Games and Apps, YouTube 3D and a user guide.

There are twin camera lenses on the back of the chassis. You can use these to shoot 3D images at 3 megapixels, or 2D images at 5 megapixels. There are a couple of 3D games, and a reasonable amount of 3D video available via the YouTube link.

The LG Optimus 3D can even take a stab at turning 2D stills and video into 3D, too - though we felt the effect wasn't as good as you get with native 3D content. An HDMI cable can be used to send 3D output to a 3D TV, if you have one.

One minor niggle is that you have to hold the LG Optimus 3D at just the right angle for the 3D capability to work, and it really only works for one person at a time. Nonetheles, we were impressed nonetheless.

And the rest?:

LG has put a fair amount of thought into the rest of the Optimus 3D's specifications, and they're high-end - though not quite flagship. There is a 1GHz dual-core Texas Instruments processor and 512MB of RAM, which has been divided into two sections so that the processor can access each - and, says LG, go faster as a result. We still found the Optimus 3D a little sluggish at times, though. LG's Android skin includes seven home screens and a widget-resizing feature that helps you make the most of the big screen.

Survey Says Huge demand for iPhone5 already

According to a recent survey from Piper Jaffray, there is already enormous demand for Apple's upcoming iPhone, even though there is no certain information on the iPhone's design, performance, name or launch date.

According to the survey of 216 mobile phone users, 29% of respondents currently own an iPhone while 64% of respondents plan to buy the iPhone as their next phone. The majority of the respondents (55%) planning to buy an iPhone are waiting for the iPhone 5 arrival. Interestingly only 6% of current iPhone users plan to switch to Droid while 42% of Android users plan to switch to iPhone.

Now this survey admits that the data comes from a small sample set in Minneapolis in "food courts, on the street, near the entrance of a baseball stadium on a game day" and so can hardly be taken as an indication of broader demand. Nonetheless, we thought it was both entertaining and a small indication of the impact that the iPhone 5 could have for Apple.

Facebook's new messaging(SMS) App for Smart phones

On Tuesday Facebook launched a new app for smartphones , allowing users to send text messages to each other from their smartphones using Facebook’s messaging system. 

Facebook’s Messenger app is also capable of group texting, letting you pick multiple Facebook contacts and send them all texts at once. If a FB user is logged into the new message app, it’ll show up there. If not, they get the message sent to them as an SMS, so long as they’ve registered their phone with Facebook. The service is mobile-focused, so it doesn’t completely integrate with Facebook Messages, which tries to route a message to a person using whatever channel Facebook thinks is most likely for you to get it fastest.

The app is already available for Android and Blackberry phones along with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad (although the app is not yet optimized for the iPad's larger screen.) 

1997 Today : Microsoft saves Apple with a $150 million investment.

The Microsoft Deal ...

On Aug. 6, 1997:  rivalry between Apple and Microsoft appeared to vanish with the announcement a new cooperative partnership that included:

Here are the three major deals Steve agreed to Microsoft. 

Vulnerabilities in Chrome OS : Black Hat conference

Google’s highly desirable operating system, ChromeOS has loopholes that can be violated to take over the system easily.

According to tech website Venture Beat, two security experts, Matt Johanson and Kyle Osborn, on Tuesday revealed to a group of people while addressing the Black Hat conference that they have already found a way into Chrome OS which was officially launched by Google Inc. a few months ago.

World Wide Web @ 20 : 20 years since first website launch

Imagine where would we be without Tim's invention?

At 2:56pm on 6 August, 1991, Tim Berners-Lee launched the very first website http://info.cern.ch/

A NeXT Computer was used by Berners-Lee as the world's first web server and also to write the first web browser, WorldWideWeb, in 1990. By Christmas 1990, Berners-Lee had built all the tools necessary for a working Web: the first web browser (which was a web editor as well); the first web server; and the first web pages, which described the project itself. On August 6, 1991, he posted a short summary of the World Wide Web project on the alt.hypertext newsgroup. 

This date also marked the debut of the Web as a publicly available service on the Internet. The first photo on the web was uploaded by Berners-Lee in 1992, an image of the CERN house band Les Horribles Cernettes.

alt.hypertext article on www contains :


http://groups.google.com/group/alt.hypertext/msg/395f282a67a1916c

Facebook Like button to include other gestures(dislike) and Ads in your News Feed. WSJ

 in order to better serve 3rd party developers and business users.

Present worlds largest social networking company Facebook  has engineers working on an “unfiltered” news feed where businesses and developers could obtain information that would increase the potential of showing up in the feed, according to WSJ.

Google real time search to come again live soon :Mashable

[Mashable]:Google Realtime Search is coming back soon, and it will include data from Google+ and other social sources.

BlackBerry Bold 9930 and BlackBerry Torch 9850 comming this fall

Today Sprint  announces two new BlackBerries running BlackBerry OS 7 for Fall. Sprint gets the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and BlackBerry Torch 9850.

Both new BlackBerry are offering the new Liquid Graphics technology and run on a 1.2GHz processor, offer 5MP cameras and are World Phone capable.

The 10.5mm thin BlackBerry Bold 9930 smartphone is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone ever. It features a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the widest QWERTY keyboard available on a BlackBerry smartphone and a trackpad for easy navigation.

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 smartphone will be the first full-touch  BlackBerry smartphone from Sprint. It features a new 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry smartphone, and trackpad for easy navigation.

The specific release dates and pricing will be announced closer to launch

Twitter New Design mandatary : old version will be eliminated “very, very soon.”

It’s time to give farewell to your old Twitter. Yes, it’s time to say ‘good bye’ to your old Twitter.

Nine months after the launch of New Twitter, the social media company is letting users know that the old version of Twitter will be completely eliminated “very, very soon.”

Google+ Android app updated :Whats New

Google plus for Android updated to version 1.0.5

 

The new update includes some of the features that a lot of early adopters were requesting like leaving a 1 to 1 Huddle room, clickable link in the huddle conversations,

Skype for iPad - Video Chat Application

 

Skype, The Online video chat service  has launched an app that works for Apple's iPad tablet.

Two-way video calling, instant messaging and SMS texting are optimised in this app.  

Google+ @ 25M visitors

Google+, launched in late June gaining its potential as it had 25 million unique visitors as of July 24 and is growing at a rate of roughly one million visitors a day,.

For the Same 25 million unique visitors Facebook took 3years and twitter got that traffic in 30 months.

Adobe Edge Preview: A New HTML5 Web Motion and Interaction Design Tool

Adobe® Edge is a new web motion and interaction design tool from adobe that allows designers to bring animated content to websites, using web standards like HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3. 

What is HTML5 ? Whats New in HTML5 : Cheatsheet [INFOGRAPHICS]

HTML5 is a language for structuring and presenting content for the World Wide Web, a core technology of the Internet. It is the fifth revision of the HTML standard (originally created in 1990 and most recently standardized as HTML4 in 1997) and as of August 2011 was still under development. Its core aims have been to improve the language with support for the latest multimedia while keeping it easily readable by humans and consistently understood by computers and devices (web browsers, parsers etc.).

Click on the image  to Expand.