How to Master Web Browser Tricks

Master Web Browser Tricks

Your browser can do more than meets the eye. Plenty of great add-ons are available for customizing and controlling your Web browsing experience.

Firefox Fans Only
Make Gmail better: Grab Better Gmail 2 to improve the Gmail experience. Your mouse will highlight the e-mail message that you hover it over, the Unread count in the Gmail window will ap­­pear first (so that it won't get cut off if it's located in a tab), and attachments will show up from the list view, among other useful improvements. The first version of Better Gmail as a Chrome extension.

Never lose another forum post: Use the Lazarus Firefox add-on to save everything you type in a form, just in case your PC crashes at an inopportune moment.

Deep-six the links: Copy Plain Text strips all of the nasty, unpredictable formatting out of text that you copy and paste.

Tips for Any Browser
Save eight keystrokes from every URL: You no longer need to type "www." or ".com" in most URLs. Merely type the unique part of the domain name that you want to visit into your browser's navigation bar, and press Ctrl-Enter. Your browser will automatically fill in the "www." and ".com".

Middle-click to open a link in a new tab: Middle-clicking a link (that is, clicking it with the scrollwheel) will cause it to open in a new tab. Middle-clicking a folder containing multiple bookmarks will cause all of them to open in new tabs.

Improve a site's printer friendliness: Visit PrintWhatYouLike.com and pick exactly which page elements you want to keep in your hard copy.

Must-Have Add-Ons
Capture a full-page screenshot: Three utilities designed for specific browsers--Screengrab for Firefox, IE Screenshot, and Talon for Google Chrome--enable you to grab quick screenshots.

Try IE-in-a-tab: Even if you typically don't use Internet Explorer, you should have a copy of it handy for special situations. IE Tab for Firefox and IE Tab for Chrome let you keep the Microsoft browser in a tab so you don't have to juggle multiple browsers at once.

Bring back the bookmark: Xmarks lets you sync your bookmarks across different PCs and across different browsers.

Verify sites' trustworthiness: The Web of Trust browser add-on promises to make your Web excursions a little safer by telling you how the sites you visit rate in terms of privacy policy, vendor reliability, and child safety.

Chrome and Google Apps
Keep up on your Gmail: Google Mail Checker Plus chimes when you receive new messages, lets you view the subject, and opens a new Gmail message window when you click a mailto: link.

Check your Google Calendar: If you frequently need to take quick peeks at your Google Calendar, pick up DayHiker and you'll be able to access it without opening a new tab or moving away from your current page.

Perform instant YouTube searches: Use Fast YouTube Search to jump-start your search for YouTube videos from the comfort of your main browser window.

Easily add RSS feeds to Google Reader: If you use Google Reader to track your RSS feeds, you'll appreciate RSS Subscription Extension, which displays an RSS icon in the address bar whenever you are on a page that in­­cludes an RSS feed. Just click the icon, and you can add the feed to your subscription list without any hassle.

11 Tips to Ensure Great Smartphone Photography

Tips on how to make phone photos look great.

You probably don't carry your fancy-pants DSLR camera with you all the time, but your smartphone--along with its built-in camera--is in your pocket everywhere you go. That's why these days the most popular camera used to upload photos to Flickr isn't a camera at all, but the iPhone.

The challenge, of course, is getting great-looking photos from a gadget primarily designed for chatting. If you keep a few tips in mind, you can take some pretty sharp pictures with either an iPhone or an Android phone. Here is what you need to know (click all photos to enlarge).

1. Let the sun shine in: Your phone can handle a lot of situations with aplomb, but it can't shoot every scene you encounter. The teeny image sensor craves light, and does best outdoors, in daylight. For the best exposures, follow the same advice that photographers have kept in mind for decades:

Try to put the sun behind you or over one of your shoulders. Avoid shooting directly into the sun, or you'll radically underexpose your subject. If you're shooting indoors, put your back to the window and turn on the lights.

2. Compose your photos: Capturing a good photo isn't merely about knowing the right settings. Compose your photos as the pros do. Divide the frame into thirds--imagine a tic-tac-toe board--and put your subject on one of those lines, rather than in the middle of the screen.

Be careful to keep the camera level, too; nothing ruins a photo like a tilted horizon. Keep an eye on the background to be sure that nothing is "growing" out of the top of someone's head.

3. Start the camera faster: Some phones make it so hard to get to the camera that you might think they're, well, camera-shy--which could mean losing out on many a great photo opportunity. If you have a smartphone and the operating system allows it, move the camera app to a more convenient location.

On the iPhone, for example, ensure that the camera app is on the first screen, or put it in the quick-access area at the bottom of the screen. Some phones even let you reassign buttons to launch the camera.

4. Keep the phone steady: One reason you tend to get blurry photos with your phone is that it's light and thin, and awkward to hold compared with a full-size camera. Grip the phone as still as you can, with both hands, and keep your elbows tucked in to your sides for support. Take a deep breath and then let out a slow, steady exhale as you gently trigger the phone's shutter release.

5. Know when the shutter clicks: If the shutter lags, you'll need to account for that. Some phones have a surprising delay after you press the shutter release. And if the shutter release is on a touchscreen (as it is on the Apple iPhone), the shutter probably trips after you lift your finger, not when you press down. Either way, hold the camera steady while the picture is being exposed. And don't jab at the screen, or the shake will blur your photo.

6. Optimize the settings: If your camera has a white balance control, you'll often get the best results leaving it on automatic. But if the colors come out wrong, try setting the balance to reflect the ambient light, such as fluorescent, daylight, or sunset. Just be sure to reset it to automatic when you're done, or future photos will look weird.

If the camera offers an ISO setting (usually under Settings or Camera on an Android device, and under the gear icon on Windows Phone), take that off Auto. When you're outdoors in daylight, set the ISO to its lowest value to minimize the digital noise in your picture. In low-light situations, bump the ISO up as high as it will go.

7. Widen the dynamic range: Some phones (such as the iPhone 4 and Windows Phone 7 handsets, to name a few), provide a High Dynamic Range mode that captures an impressive amount of detail and a range of tones and colors in a single exposure.

The effect is similar to the way HDR software can combine multiple photos to create one rich, dynamic photo. If you have an HDR option (it might also be called Wide Dynamic Range, or some similar variation), try it instead of the flash when faced with tricky lighting.

8. Turn your camera into a photo lab: Most phones offer relatively few options for enhancing photos. That's what Photoshop and other editing apps are for. But some cameras include a veritable treasure trove of ways to tweak your shots, so check the camera settings for adjustments such as contrast, saturation, and image effects. You can use most of these controls as if you were adding spices to a soup: Experiment and apply the ones you like to taste. The saturation control, for example, adjusts the intensity of colors in your photos.

It's usually best to stick with low or medium, since high saturation levels tend to make everyone look like an overcooked turkey. Image effects like negative, sepia, and black and white can help you take charming photos. But remember that if you shoot a photo in sepia, for instance, it will be tinted that way forever--there's no going back to the real colors. You might be better off ignoring such controls and adding a similar effect on your PC with a free program like Windows Live Photo Gallery, so you can always revert to the original color if you prefer.

9. Use the flash to reveal daytime details: It's counterintuitive, but in daylight, a fill flash can be your secret weapon. It provides a burst to reduce the shadows that bright sunlight causes. Although the flash won't be powerful enough to fill every shadow, if you're close enough to your subject, it can provide pleasant, even lighting on your subject's face. Of course, the tiny flash on most cameras works only at very close range, so don't expect it to help unless you're within a few feet of your subject.

10. Don't use digital zoom: Your camera phone can't magnify the image by moving its lens. Instead, it has a digital zoom, which merely makes the pixels big and blocky, obliterating fine detail. Want to fill the frame? Walk closer to your subject. If you really need to zoom, you can always produce the same effect on your PC with an image editor later.

11. Stock up on software: One of the best reasons to carry a smartphone is for the scores of apps you can install to enhance every aspect of the phone, and photography is no different. Check out your phone's app store for programs that can improve the way the camera works, as well for apps that can enhance the photos you take.

How To Use Twitter Like A Pro

Eight Tips To Use Twitter Like A Pro

Is your business on Twitter? It should be. The microblogging site has tweeted its way, 140 characters at a time, to the top of the social media ladder. With more than 200 million members sending out an estimated 65 million tweets per day, your business should be engaged.

But hold on. If you haven't learned yet from using Facebook or other social networks, establishing relationships with customers via such platforms is not the same as just marketing to them. You need to understand both the unique aspects of Twitter and how to use it effectively to communicate with your customers in order to be successful.

Here are eight tips to get you started in the right direction.

1. Build a Following
No matter how valuable your Twitter communications are, they have little purpose without readers. Your tweets are publicly searchable by all who look for specific topics, but you need to build a following of users who actively subscribe to your content. Your Twitter followers represent your community, and are the audience you are really engaging with.

If you're Ashton Kutcher, Charlie Sheen, or Lady Gaga, just show up, and millions will follow you instantly. If you are not a megastar, though--and most of us aren't--you will have to put a little more effort into it. Start by inviting any existing customer communities you might have.


TweetDeck is a powerful tool for Twitter that helps you organize and schedule tweets.

Does your company have a Website, blog, customer e-mail distribution list, or a product newsletter? Use all means at your disposal. If your customers have a Twitter account, invite them to follow you. You should also include the Twitter icon with a link to your Twitter account in your e-mail signature, marketing collateral, or anything else that might get exposure. You can even provide incentives for anyone who follows you, such as the chance to win a free product or service, or a discount.

Part of the culture of Twitter is that users generally follow back those who follow them. Click on Twitter's own "Who to Follow" link for suggestions. A tool like Tweet Adder software can provide even more detail. Use it to search for Twitter users who already follow similar companies, or who express an interest in your topic or industry, and then automatically follow those users. Some portion of them are likely to follow your Twitter account. First, of course, make your Twitter page attractive with a compelling profile image, background, and "About" description.

2. Know the Rules of Engagement
If you're a newbie, get to know the basic Twitter best practices, such as direct messaging, "@" replies, and "retweeting." You can send a private message directly to someone who follows you by typing the letter "d" in front of their username in a tweet. In your public tweets, use "@" replies to comment on any other user's tweets; just include the "@" symbol before their username in your message. If you want to repeat what someone else tweeted, choose "Retweet" and include the letters "RT" in the beginning of your note. You can even ask politely in a tweet for others to retweet you.

These practices draw attention to fellow users, who in turn can see that you're noticing them. To use them well, add your own insight in a retweet rather than simply repeating what someone else said. And check when others call out your tweets, so you can keep the conversation flowing. Once you have the hang of the basics, tools such as GroupTweet enable you to communicate with groups of users, even privately.

3. Provide Value
One of the biggest mistakes companies make with Twitter--and social media in general--is trying to use it for old-fashioned marketing. The sound bite or slogan that you plaster on a highway billboard or in a magazine ad may come across as false on Twitter.


Tweets should include original thoughts and build a conversation that engages other users by using tactics such as "retweeting."

Twitter can be an effective marketing tool, but social media is about engaging in conversationand providing value. You market by who you are, not by what you say. You can certainly use Twitter as a medium for announcing new products or features, but your tweets have to provide more value to keep your audience interested. Share relevant news about your industry in general, as well as helpful tips and advice, and some general conversation to give your followers a reason to stay engaged and participate in the discussion. Make your tweets entertaining and witty, and say something unique. Position yourself as an expert in your field and offer free advice. It's better to extend your personality and opinion than merely to parrot headlines from news stories.

4. Keep It a Tight Fit
Make sure that you're not spending most of your 140-character allowance on a long Web address. URL-shortening services like Bit.ly or TinyURL can abbreviate such lengthy strings. Bit.ly provides additional value by gathering valuable metrics you can use to monitor the success of your Twitter efforts. You can examine how many clicks your shortened links get, and where in the world your URL is getting the most action--information you can use to figure out what works best.

5. Enrich Tweets With Third-Party Tools
A seemingly countless number of third-party tools and plug-ins can extend the value of Twitter. While Twitter was founded on the concept of essentially providing public SMS text messages via the Internet, you can extend its capabilities beyond the standard 140 text characters. Start by using TwitPic or Yfrog to send photos or video clips out via Twitter. Enable these services to work on your smartphone so that you can show, not tell, about the funny thing you saw on the street.

You can make tweets more interactive by connecting them with polls, using a service likeTwtpoll, or with chat rooms, using Nurph. Your followers will find more value in paying attention to your tweets if they find interesting conversations to participate in. And integrating Twitter with location-based services such as Foursquare can call attention, for instance, to that conference you're speaking at in Atlanta, and maybe someone nearby in your field will notice.

Tweetdeck--which was recently acquired by Twitter--lets you view and manage multiple Twitter accounts, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Google Buzz, and Foursquare accounts. You can create lists and filter content to cut through the noise, and use Tweetdeck to post updates to the various connected networks. Columns in Tweetdeck let you monitor specific keywords or hash tags. You can also set up a column in Tweetdeck to monitor when other Twitter accounts mention your company, providing you with an opportunity to recognize loyal customers, identify possible public-relations issues, and put out fires quickly.


Klout attempts to give your influence a numeric score. Hey, we can't all be Lady Gaga.

Tweetdeck lets you schedule tweets to post in advance, but Flowtown's Timely goes a step further. It analyzes your past tweets to estimate what time of day favored them the most. Then, it autoschedules your future tweets accordingly.

6. Hash It Out
You can use hash tags (the # symbol followed by a keyword) to make your Tweets easier to search for. Tools including Tweetdeck and Hashtags.org let you see the latest tweets for any hash tag. One common Twitter hash tag is #FollowFriday or #FF, which you can include on Fridays along with the names of Twitter accounts you find valuable. It is a great word-of-mouth means of attracting new followers. If you are mentioned via FollowFriday, reply back to say thank you. That sort of personal touch is one of the things fellow users appreciate.

One way to attract attention is to tweet about a topic while it's popular. Set up a Google Alert to track the topics in your field, and when it sends a hot story to your e-mail inbox, tweet about it. If your company fixes old PCS, and a report about electronics waste is making headlines, you could include the hashtag #ewaste in a tweet explaining how your work keeps tech out of landfills. Even if you're not commenting on one of the top news stories of the day, you can tie your tweets to upcoming events in your area. For example, if your business bakes seasonal organic pies, you could include hash tags like #localfood and #farmersmarket to announce that you'll be at next Sunday's farmers market. NearbyTweets lets you view who's talking about nearly any topic in a specific part of the world, such as real estate in Chicago.

7. Avoid Pitfalls
We already talked about not using Twitter as a bullhorn for spamming followers with marketing sound bites. But watch out for other pitfalls. For one thing, remember that many "followers" aren't actually paying attention. While the tactic of following like-minded Twitter accounts in the hope of soliciting a reciprocal follow has merit, it only goes so far. Many of the users who follow back are just using that same tactic to pump up their own following, and aren't really interested in your tweets or your business.

Check out Klout or PeerIndex to get an idea of how many of your followers are actively engaged. These services assign a score from 1 to 100 to measure your online influence. At some point, you have to draw the line and stop using the strategy of following others just so they will follow you back. Let your Twitter account speak for itself, and let word of mouth build quality followers that matter.

8. Don't Expect Miracles
Need I remind you that you are not Lady Gaga? You won't instantly have millions of followers. There won't be a miraculous spike in sales or profit for your company just because you set up a Twitter account. As with anything worth doing, there is no magic shortcut.

If you do it right, Twitter can be a powerful marketing tool--a subtle instrument for building brand recognition and customer loyalty. Be patient. Provide value. Build a community, and let the content and success of that community be the force that drives your success--both on Twitter, and as a business.

Previewing Your Gmail Messages

Previewing Gmail Messages Before Opening Them

For the past couple weeks I've been stuck using my Web browser to access my Gmail accounts, rather than my preferred method: Outlook. (It's all because of the computer meltdown I mentioned in a few earlier posts.) It gets the job done, but there's one thing about it that drives me nuts: no preview pane.

If I want to read an e-mail, I have to click it, then click again to go back to my inbox and find the next message I want to read. Wash, rinse, repeat. Come on, Google, it's 2011! How is it possible that there's no preview-pane option for Gmail?

(In case you're not familiar with the terminology, what I mean is dividing the inbox into two sections: one that shows the inbox, and one that displays the contents of whatever e-mail I click. No jumping back and forth between two full-screen options. It's how pretty much every other e-mail client on the planet works.)

If this bugs you as much as it does me, you'll be glad to know there's a stop-gap solution: Message Sneak Peek. By enabling this feature, which is one of the "experimental" ones found in Google Labs, you can read the contents of an e-mail without having to leave your inbox. Simply right-click the message and presto: a preview window appears. And it's even functional: You can archive, delete, or mark-as-read the selected message.

Sound good? To enable this, head to Gmail in your browser, click the little gear icon in the upper right corner, and then click Mail settings.

Click the Labs link, then scroll down until you find Message Sneak Peek.

Click Enable, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.

Now head back to your inbox and right-click any message to see the preview. Neat, huh?

s.

Sony Ericsson To Launch Xperia Ray, Xperia Active

Sony Ericsson will launch the Xperia Ray and Xperia Active models tomorrow in India. Both smartphones, which were announced at CommunicAsia 2011 in Singapore, come with the latest Android 2.3 operating system along with a 1 GHz processor.

The Xperia Active reportedly comes with 3 inch reality display - that is said to work even if the screen or your fingers are wet, a 5 megapixel camera with HD video capture and weighs about 110.8 grams. It comes with some handy tools for those folks who like to monitor their fitness levels - An on-screen heart rate and pulse real-time monitor that works via the built-in ANT+ wireless technology.

The Xperia Ray is said to come in a aluminium chassis that measures a thickness of 9.4 mm, and weighs 100 g. It features a 3.3 inch scratch resistant Reality Display screen that utilises the Mobile Bravia Engine. The Ray also has an 8.1 megapixel camera that makes use of Exmor R Sony camera sensor technology and other options like face detection and recording 720p HD video.

Sony Ericsson has not yet announced the pricing details of these two smartphones.

Dell Unveils The Inspiron 13z

Dell today announced the new Inspiron 13z laptop, adding yet another model to Dell’s best-selling Consumer laptop brand. 

The new Inspiron 13z laptop comes with a 2^nd-generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processors, 13.3-inch HD Widescreen display, and built-in SRS Premium Sound. Other features include an HD webcam, up to 4GB of memory, a 320GB hard disk, built-in media card reader, standard WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0 technology. All this is reportedly packed into a design that is reportedly less than one inch and weighs around 1.76 kg. The Inspiron laptop comes in a range of colours - vivid red, black and pink together with matching plam-rest and a full-size, spill-resistant chiclet keyboard. 

Dell Inspiron laptops reportedly also come with the Dell Stage user interface, which reportedly allows you to manage and synch your data with other Dell PCs and mobile devices.

P. Krishnakumar, Executive Director, Marketing – CSMB Dell India, was quoted in a press release as saying, "The new Inspiron 13z is the most powerful ultra-thin Inspiron laptop we’ve ever offered. The laptop is designed for highly mobile users seeking an 'on-the-go' lifestyle who desire 'always-on' connectivity at an accessible price. The power and design of the Inspiron 13z suggests that, no matter what your passion maybe, we understand that your life is on that thing."

The Inspiron 13z is available on www.dell.co.in from a starting price of INR 32,000.

Fight Corruption the Angry Birds Way with Angry Anna Game

Have Angry Birds on your phone and also possess a healthy portion of righteous anger at corruption in the country? Ever hoped Anna Hazare would fling himself at corrupt politicians to defeat them like the birds in the game? No? Then, you can stop reading this story now because we're going to tell you about Geek Mentor Studios, a company based out of Noida that has developed the "Angry Anna" game for multiple platforms including the PC/ Mac, Chrome browser, iPhone and iPad.

The game is clearly "inspired" by the massively successful Angry Birds franchise but is pretty limited in scope with just four levels, so you'll have to be satisfied with humor and not gameplay. You can play it below or check it out on the Geek Mentors Studios website.

Norton Releases Mobile Security Lite For Free In Android Market

Norton has also released Norton Mobile Security (NMS) Lite, a free security application for Android-based smartphones. NMS Lite reportedly combines select anti-theft features with anti-malware, giving users a sense of security in the event their phone is ever lost, stolen or compromised by malware. 


The key features provided by MNS Lite include: 

- Anti-theft – Remotely lock your lost or stolen device via SMS text and prevent strangers from seeing your private information or running up your mobile bill.
- Anti-malware – Scans all files and app updates downloaded to the mobile device and automatically detects and removes threats without slowing you down.
- Automatic LiveUpdate – Automatically downloads and installs security updates keeping you a step ahead of cybercriminals.

This new offering is initially available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. For users who want additional protections such as the ability to remotely locate or wipe their device; block unwanted calls or text messages; or block phishing websites used to steal personal information and money, there is the option to upgrade to the full featured Norton Mobile Security.

Steve Jobs Resigns, Tim Cook New Apple CEO

Steve Jobs resigned today as CEO of Apple. In an eight-sentence letter to the Apple board of directors and “the Apple community,” Jobs indicated that he “could no longer meet [his] duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.”

The Apple board quickly elected Jobs chairman and accepted his recommendation to name Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook as his successor. The company didn't reveal why Jobs felt he could no longer fulfill his obligations as CEO, but the obvious reason is his poor health. Jobs has been on medical leave since January of this year.

Jobs rarely makes the details of his medical conditions public. After he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, he had the tumor successfully removed, and returned to work. But the tumor had apparently spread to his liver undetected. In 2009, doctors had to remove his liver and replace it with a transplant, during which Jobs took a six-month sabbatical. He caused quite a stir when he took a medical leave from his position at Apple in January of this year, for undisclosed reasons. Some doctors speculated that the cause for Jobs’s absence was either a recurrence of his pancreatic cancer or a complication with his liver transplant. Jobs turned 56 in February

Investors have traditionally speculated that the presence of Jobs is intertwined with the price of Apple stock. However, the reaction to Jobs's departure was muted in after-hours trading: Apple stock fell 7 percent.

Cook is well esteemed in the Apple community. During Jobs’s six-month sabbatical in 2009, Cook oversaw a 60 percent increase in the price of Apple shares, after which the board of directors awarded him a $5 million bonus for outstanding performance.

Cook has been a relatively outspoken COO, hinting at one time that Apple products were too expensive, and criticizing Android tablets.

Here’s the full text of Jobs’s letter.

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Apple board members were quick to praise Jobs's tenure as CEO.

"Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," Art Levinson, chairman of Genentech and an Apple board member, said in a statement.

He said that the board had full confidence in Cook, who has led the company during both of Jobs' leaves of absence. As Apple's chairman, Jobs will continue to serve Apple "with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration." Levinson said.

Jobs is "an icon and what he's done with Apple is something probably unprecedented in business," said IDC analyst Al Hilwa. "It will be a case study in business school books for decades."

Lenovo India Introduces New ThinkPad

Lenovo India introduces ThinkPad X220, which is said to be engineered specially for today’s mobile professionals. The ultraportable ThinkPad X220, weighing 3lbs (MIL-SPEC tested), comes equipped with the second generation Intel Core i7 processors. It has been claimed that the ThinkPad X220 provides up to 23 hour battery life.  The ThinkPad is said to come with an improved full-size keyboard design and TrackPoint by adding an advanced button-less touchpad that’s reportedly up to 45% larger than the last year. 
The X220 will feature RapidBoot technology, Lenovo enhanced experience 2.0, USB 3.0, and Intel® HD Graphics. The ThinkPad X220 is available at a starting price of Rs. Rs71920/-.

Nintendo 3DS Headed For Design Overhaul?

Nintendo's efforts at creating a portable gaming device and continuing the DS legacy with new 3D feature seems like it is heading towards an early death. The entire online world is of the consensus that Nintendo 3DS strains the eye. If rumours are to be believed, according to French website 01net, engineers at Nintendo are planning a design overhaul for the 3DS.

The website claims that 2012 will see the launch of a brand new Nintendo 3DS with a radical change in design. These changes will tone down the portable gaming devices’ 3D capabilities and introduce a second analogue stick.

Also, the website reports that Nintendo is planning on preparing a physical add-on for existing machines that will add a second analogue stick and it is expected to sell for USD 10 (approx Rs. 470).

It is highly unlikely that these claims will materialise. Keep reading this space for more updates if Nintendo 3DS actually gets all the features mentioned here.

Is The Reliance 3G Tab Really Worth It?

Reliance is known for entering the market with competitively priced products (remember the Rs. 500 phone?). Rcom’s is now trying to penetrate the tablet war with their offering Reliance 3G Tab which was announced for a cut-throat price of Rs. 12,999.

Take a look at the technical specifications of the 7-inch Android 2.3-based Reliance 3G Tab, custom manufactured for Reliance by ZTE.

Operating System ( OS ): Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Screen Type & Size: Capacitive multi-touch screen, 7 inch TFT-LCD WVGA screen

CPU: 800 MHz

Weight: 389 gms

Camera: Back: 2 megapixel Front: VGA

Talk time: Upto 9 hours (300 hrs stand by time )

Display: 800 X 480 pixels

Battery: 3400mAH, Li-On

External Memory: Supports MicroSD card upto 32GB (4GB MicroSD Card offered Free)

Audio support Format: AAC, AAC+, AMR/AMR-NB, MP3 MIDI, Ogg PCM/WAV

Video support Format: MP4, H.263,H.264

Image support Format: BMP/PNG/JPEG

Call Features: Mute in call, Speed Dial, Switch to Bluetooth device, 3 way calling

Other support features: Video recorder, Wi-Fi Hotspot,Bluetooth Voice calling, GPS, FM Radio, Alarm, speaker phone, MobileTV, SMS, MMS

These specifications are in accordance with the price tag of the tablet. In fact, the tablet is running a non-tablet OS and has paltry processing power. In comparison, some high-end smartphones have a better CPU. The pre-bundled apps like the one integrating your social networking websites, YouTube, Gmail and the others are not extraordinary.

However, what needs to be noted is the fact that you get a bigger screen and more display to play around with for the price of a mid-range Android smartphone. But if you are looking for efficient performance and great levels of usability we'd suggest that you give this one a miss.

FIFA 12 Coming to Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Own an Xperia Play smartphone from Sony Ericsson and also a fan of the FIFA series of football games from EA Sports? Well, then there's some excellent news for you: FIFA 12, the upcoming game will be available for download for the Xperia Play on Android.A press release claims that FIFA 12 has a newly designed replay system. The game is also supposed to make efficient use of the Xperia Play's dedicated Adreno 205 GPU and is capable of rendering at 60fps. The release quotes Dominic Neil-Dwyer, Head of Market Development for Sony Ericsson, "FIFA 12 will undoubtedly be one of this year's most popular games and Xperia Play consumers will be able to master it before any other Android users. Adding to a portfolio of quality games for Xperia Play, FIFA 12 adapts perfectly to the device and delivers the best football experience on Android."

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) powered smartphone with dedicated gaming controls and access to an exclusive Playstation branded games store. It's available in India for Rs. 31,364.

Sony Brings Down Playstation 3 Prices Worldwide, Likely in India Too

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced a $50 (Rs. 2,275 approx.) cut in its pricing of the Playstation 3 console in the United States. Similar price-cuts have also been announced for Japan and Europe. In the U.S., the 160GB version of the console will now have a new price-point of $249 (Rs. 11,300 approx.), while the 320GB version will now be available for $299 (Rs. 13,600 approx.). Europe also saw a €50 drop in both versions while in Japan, the 320GB PS3's price fell to ¥24,980 from ¥29,980.

Sony's price-cuts come in wake of Nintendo's decision to slash the prices of the 3DS handheld console to $169.99 (Rs. 7,735 approx.) from $225 (Rs. 10,240 approx.).

Sony India sources didn't confirm if India would see a similar price drop but it seems highly likely that we shall soon see similar price-cuts on Playstation 3s sold on our shores. Currently the 160GB version is being sold for Rs. 19,990 and the 320GB version for Rs. 22,490.

Creative Launches Sound Blaster Tactic3D Line of Gaming Headset

Creative recently announced the launch new line of Tactic3Dgaming headsets featuring THX TruStudio PrO technology. The range includes the Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Alpha, Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Sigma and Sound Blaster Tactic3 Omega wireless gaming headsets.

"Creative gaming headsets are the only headsets in the world to deliver a true 3D immersive experience – with sound coming from all around you. As games have evolved and 3D content has become the norm, Creative headsets with THX TruStudio Pro are the perfect match for gamers for a completely immersive, mind-blowing 3D audio and video experience," said Ernest Sim, Regional Sales Manager for the Indian Subcontinent at Creative.

"After three decades of bringing unsurpassed audio to PC games we are excited to deliver the first platform-agnostic wireless gaming headset," said Ernest Sim, Regional Sales Manager for the Indian Subcontinent at Creative "Not only does the Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Omega wireless gaming headset enhances in-game communication on the PS3, Xbox 360, Mac and PC, it also sounds phenomenal for music and movies on all platforms."

The Tactic Omega is the most expensive of the lot and features FullSpectrum tunable 50mm audio drivers and independent voice and game volume controls directly on the earcups.  The Soundblaster Tactic Alpha has 40mm Neodymium drivers and Dual Mode USB 2.0 adapter which enables the headset to be used in analogue mode. The Tactic Sigma is different from the Tactic Alpha in only two aspects, it features a 50mm Neodymium gaming-tuned linear drivers and a steel core headband.

The Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D series of gaming headsets will be available in India by the end of September 2011. Tactic Alpha, Tactic Sigma and Tactic Omega will be available for Rs. 3,599, Rs 5,399 and Rs 10,999 respectively.

Blackberry Music On its Way from RIM

Research In Motion is planning a music service for users of its BlackBerry devices, according to media reports.

The music service will be offered as part of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), its instant messenger service, according to the reports. The service may be launched as early as next week, said The Wall Street Journal.

A source familiar with the plan confirmed on condition of anonymity that the service was indeed being launched, but did not provide details.

Subscribers will get access to around 50 songs at a time, which they can listen to on their phones and share with other subscribers through BBM, the reports said.

RIM is not intending to compete with other music services like Apple's iTunes or Spotify, WSJ said. Instead it is focusing on making its devices more attractive to younger users who would like to customize their phones and share music, the newspaper said.

RIM said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday that its "standard policy is to decline comment on rumors and speculation". BBM is one of the largest mobile social networks in the world with over 45 million users, it added.

RIM is said to be in negotiations with four major recording labels for licensing deals, and may have closed some of the deals, according to the reports. The labels it is said to be negotiating with are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Group.

Sony Tablets S1, S2 To Be Launched Soon

If reports are to be believed, Sony’s flagship tablets S1 and S2 may see an Indian launch sometime the next month. According, to tabletslaunch the tablets are supposed to start at a price range of Rs. 29,000.

The tablets have been on the Sony India website for quite some time and the company has been posting videos in the form of stories. The fifth and the final video/story is expected to release on the 23^rd of August.

The larger of the two, S1, has a 9.4-inch screen that takes up most of the front. The second tablet, S2, has a clamshell design with twin 5.5-inch screens and can be folded so it fits in a jacket pocket or bag. Both the tablets run on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) and will have an nVIDIA Tegra 2 processor..

Also if rumours are to be believed S1 will come in four versions – 16GB Wi-Fi only; 16GB Wi-Fi and 3G; 32GB Wi-Fi; and 32GB Wi-Fi and 3G whereas the S2 will come in 16GB and 32GB Wi-Fi+3G models only.

Razer Announces Tiamat Range of Headsets

Razer recently announced the launch of Razer Tiamat headset range. The range includes the Razer Tiamat 7.1 surround sound gaming headset and the Razer Tiamat 2.2 stereo gaming headset.

“The Razer Tiamat headset range is the pride of our audio engineering, the world’s first 10 driver headset, built to deliver the most powerful, clear and accurately produced positional audio gamers will ever need for the competitive edge,” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, President, Razer USA.  “Surprise the enemy trying to creep up for a stealth kill, when you can hear their footsteps loud and clear behind you.”

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 packs a total of 10 discrete drivers, 5 in each circumaural ear cup.  The 10 drivers represent the 7 surround sound channels plus subwoofer; 2 for center, 1 each for the left and right, surround sound left and right, surround back left and right, and 2 for the subwoofer.  Razer claims that all drivers work in unison to produce a true surround sound experience.

The Razer Tiamat 7.1 also gives gamers maximum customizability of their audio experience adjustable on a bundled control unit.  You can precisely fine-tune the volume of every audio channel, position, and bass depth, as well as conveniently toggle between the headset’s 7.1 surround sound mode, 2.0 stereo mode or external speakers as long as they are also hooked up to the unit.

The Razer Tiamat 2.2 is outfitted with a total of 4 discrete drivers, 2 dedicated especially to bass.

Both versions of the Razer Tiamat come with leatherette ear cushions unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone. The headsets are expected to be available in Q4, 2011 and the Tiamat 7.1 is priced at USD 179.99 (approx Rs. 8,300) and the Tiamet will be available for USD 79.99 (approx Rs 3,700).

To Add A Music Player On Your Blog or Website

First Upload The Music file on the server


Paste the code:-
<embed width="250" height="50" autostart="false" src="MUSIC FILE URL"/></embed>
replace MUSIC FILE URL with the file url 










Done Enjoy

Why Is My PC Slow?

Does your system seem sluggish?

Had we a nickel for every time a friend, loved one, or random stranger asked us, "What's slowing down my PC?" we could shutter PCWorld and retire to live comfortably on a small, secluded island. But since no such deluge of small coins seems likely, we'll instead outline some methods you can use to troubleshoot unexpected slowness on your PC, free of charge.

Of course, systems differ, software differs, and your specific system's history is unique, so we aren't in a position to pinpoint the source of your problem. Nevertheless, we can give you some generally helpful hints that you can use to dig out of the mess.

Know Your Hardware

It's important to know what hardware your desktop or laptop PC contains. Don't run for a screwdriver or some third-party program (though CPU-Z is pretty handy for the nitty-gritty details) to figure this out: If you built your PC, you should know what's in it. If you bought it, look up the manufacturer specs online. Easy enough, right?

Familiarity with your PC's components helps you troubleshoot speed issues in two major ways. First, it gives you a chance to recognize by sight or sound when something isn't right. Is your computer emitting a strange noise? Maybe it's a struggling fan, or the "click of death" from a hard drive approaching extinction. Do you hearing a random sound from your speakers whenever you try to perform a specific task within Windows? Does your optical drive make a different sound than your used to hearing when it spins its disc? Keen listening skills can't give you answers right off the bat, but they can help you notice that a problem may be afoot.

Second, understanding your hardware will allow you to target issues that you can look up within Windows itself. For example, suppose that you pull up the Task Manager (press Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and select Task Manager) and discover that your system has only has 2GB of physical RAM listed in the Performance tab. But you also know from checking the specs that your system shipped with 4GB of RAM. Conclusion: Perhaps your sudden slowdown is the result of a bad stick of memory. You can apply similar reasoning to an underclocked CPU, to missing capacity (or drives) within a storage array, and even to the absence of specific components that you'd expect to see on your system (Lost your optical drive? Maybe your motherboard is on its last legs, and its demise is affecting your overall performance in some way.)

Stay on Top of Updates

If could choose between a free 1998 model car or a free 2011 edition of the same vehicle, which would you pick? The newer one, obviously--but for some reason many people don't employ the same logic when it comes to their PC's operating system, software, and hardware.

There are three major kinds of updates you can apply to your PC. Software updates are newer versions of the applications currently installed on your computer; some companies notify you of their availability via tiny icons in your taskbar or via pop-up windows within the application itself. Driver updates are the specific pieces of software that allow Windows to communicate with one of your system's hardware devices. Firmware updates relate to application-level software programs stored on a device's memory--the "brains" of your camera or wireless router, for example.

Why are these important? Because the updates that affect your software and hardware could influence your system's performance on various tasks. Remember the slow file transfers that plagued the release version of Windows Vista? Microsoft corrected them with its huge Service Pack 1 update for the OS. Another example: More than 15 driver updates have been released for the Radeon HD 5870 graphics board since its official launch in September 2009; and depending on the game being played, these can boost your system's frame rates by 2 to 38 percent.

Before you start worrying about exotic methods of bringing a sluggish computer up to speed, make sure that your system's hardware and software have the latest available updates. When you fire up the latest versions of each, you may find that the problem vanishes.

Speed Up With the Scientific Method

If you've noticed a sudden slowdown when using a particular application or when performing some specific PC process, review what you've done since the last time the program performed perfectly.

If your Web browser's ability to render pages has slowed to a crawl, for example, pay attention to how many tabs you have open and what those tabs contain. Have you installed any add-ons to your browser lately? Did your computer crash during a recent Internet surfing sessions (suggesting that it may be time for you to fully uninstall/reinstall your browser)?

If you want to multitask or play games, but your system is delivering significantly worse speeds than you're accustomed to seeing, look for causes methodically. Is an application (or errant program) running in the background and eating up your system resources? Pull up Windows' task manager and check your available memory and CPU usage. Are you background-downloading a huge file on Steam or uTorrent that's sapping your bandwidth and making your online gaming stuttery? Have you not booted up your system for some time, and is it automatically running various virus scans, file backups, Windows updates, and who knows what else? Check, check, check!

And don't forget Occam's razor: When multiple explanations are possible, the simplest one is the most likely to be correct. In this case of system slowdowns, the likeliest culprit is you. What have you done that might make your system act sluggish? And short of a full system reinstall (or Windows System Restore), what can you do to reverse your most recent actions?

Let Windows Help You

Before you run out and plunk down your hard-earned cash for software apps that promise to speed up your system (FYI: they don't), consider using the free diagnostics tools within Windows Vista or Windows 7.

First, consult the 'Performance Information and Tools' section in the Control Panel. Within it, you'll find an Advanced link that links to all of the operating system's flashier performance-related utilities. To compare the Windows-dictated speed of your system in its original, brand-new incarnation with Windows' assessment of your system's performance now, rerun the Windows Experience Index.

Windows' built-in Event Viewer takes you behind the OS curtain to see what Windows has recorded as a warning, error, or critical issue. These records can be difficult or impossible to decipher, depending on the problem at hand, but they may be able to help you troubleshoot the situation or at least tell a better-informed advisor what your issues might be.

The Performance Monitor is a real-time method for looking at how your PC is using its hardware and system resources. Though it's more descriptive than diagnostic, it might point you in the right direction to identify your system's performance bottleneck.T o cut to the chase, fire up Windows' official System Health Report. The OS will scan your activity for 60 seconds and then offer you suggestions for maximizing your system's capabilities.

The ideal quick-fix supertool would scan your system, eliminate the junk that's that's bogging it down, and give you a fresh and speedy computing environment that would last for months to come. Technically, that operation exists; it's called a wipe and reinstall of your Windows OS. Short of this drastic measure, however, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for transforming a sluggish system into a speedy one. The underlying problem could be a hardware issue, a lack-of-hardware issue, a software issue, an operating system issue, or a random unknown issue.

But by following the tips and suggestions in this article, you'll have some tricks and tools to use in tackling a system that's running slow. You may not have the ideal fix for every situation, but at least you'll know how and where to look for one.

How To Work Outdoors

Outdoor Computing Tips

Laptops, tablets, and smartphones are supposed to make us mobile: Freed of cumbersome desktop technology, we can work anywhere we want. Why, then, don't you see legions of people at parks, beaches, or even sidewalk cafes typing away on their laptops? Mainly because they simply can't see their screens.

It doesn't have to be this way. A little planning and know-how can get you ahead of the game when it comes to using your gadgetry outside. Whether you're reading ebooks on your iPhone or sneaking in a few work emails while the kids build a sand castle, here's how best to set yourself up to work alongside Mother Nature.

 Fall Into Shadow

When working outdoors, shade is your friend. In fact, if you haven't prepared in advance for your outdoor adventure, it's pretty much all you've got. Your only hope to see anything on most LCD screens is to find some shade and dig deep into it.

Anything can be used as shade in a pinch, from the obvious tree, umbrella, or side of a building to less evident objects, like a cast-off pizza box folded into a tent or, in a pinch, your own head. For head-shading, resist the urge to hold your laptop or mobile phone between you and the sun, thinking you'll block out the light like an eclipse: That simply won't work. Switch it around and put your head between the sun and the screen, so the shadow of your noggin falls on the display. This won't provide much shade, but, for limited use and with small screens like your phone, it will work well enough to at least read text.

Get Shade Anywhere

If working outside is going to be a regular thing for you, you might consider investing in a portable shade device that you can take with you as part of your travel kit. A company called Hoodman offers two clever covers that hook over your laptop's screen, shading it on all sides from sunlight while still giving you access to the keyboard. It looks a little strange--but no stranger than you will look working on your computer on the beach--and it works quite well. Best of all, the soft-sided shade collapses flat and stores easily in the included carrying case. Versions for Macs or PCs are available, both $40 (~ Rs. 1788).

Outdoor Out the Gate

If you're a true outdoorsman, you may want to consider one of the small number of laptops that are available with so-called "indoor/outdoor" displays, designed for visibility inside or outside. When shopping, look for "I/O," "Outdoor View," or "Enhanced Outdoor" as part of the screen specs, or just ask--sometimes this key feature can be omitted completely from a list of a computer's specs.

This technology has been especially popular with older-style tablet PCs as well as a few newer slate tablets. Some current devices that include the technology are the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550, the HP EliteBook 2760p, and most of the Panasonic Toughbook line.

Compare and Contrast

Using a high-contrast color scheme will improve your outdoor viewing experience, no matter how much shade you have, by turning your working experience into a black-and-white one that scrubs out many of the shades of gray (and splashes of color) to which office users are accustomed. The result is a stripped-down computing experience, but one that will make outdoor viewing considerably easier.



In Windows 7, open the Personalization Control Panel and scroll down a bit below the Aero Themes. You'll see the Basic and High Contrast Themes listed here. Experiment with the four high-contrast options to find the one that works the best for you--though adjusting to a white-on-black color scheme can be jarring and will take some acclimation time.

Your LCD brightness should generally be set to the maximum available (though this will put more strain on your battery), and you might also consider increasing the text size by using the "Larger - 150%" setting on the home screen of the Display Control panel, to make things even easier to read.

Get E-Inked

Got a lot of reading to do but don't want to put it on paper? Electronic ink devices like Amazon's Kindle are perfect for this kind of work, since the reflective screen is designed to work without backlighting. The result: Text on a Kindle looks even better under bright light than in the dark.

The newest Kindle can accept a wide variety of file formats, including Word, PDF, RTF, HTML, plain text, and various image formats for display on the device. Simply email the documents as attachments to the address noted on your Kindle's Settings page under "Device Email." Amazon offers copious additional details on the ins and outs of sending personal documents to your Kindle at this link. But remember that older Kindle models have different supported formats.

Surf's Up, Sand's Out

If your outdoor working adventure is taking you somewhere more exotic than the backyard, be sure to prepare for those twin menaces of all electronic devices, water and sand. Water is well understood as an electronic hazard, but sand can quickly brick anything with moving parts: A single grain of the stuff can kill your digital camera's zoom mechanism or prevent the shutter from opening and closing, not to mention scratching the screen of your tablet or laptop.

Protection from the elements can be as simple as keeping your gadgets in a sealed Ziploc bag when they aren't in use, or as complicated as investing in a custom, ruggedized, waterproof case. A wide variety of cases for all manner of devices are available. You can check out brands like OtterBox, XGear, and TrendyDigital to get started.

Now About That Web Connection...

Seeing your screen is one thing. Getting online is another. In parks, on beaches, and even in backyards, getting a Wi-Fi or cellular signal can be a challenge. Short of petitioning your carrier to erect a cell phone tower closer to the waterfront, these tricks can increase your chances of getting a wireless signal from a remote location.

Wi-Fi: If you're simply working in the backyard and are trying to access the Wi-Fi signal inside your house, you can accomplish this in a few ways. You can extend the signal outdoors by relocating your router near that side of the house or add a repeater to extend the signal outdoors. Aftermarket antennas can also be used with some routers to increase their signal strength, hopefully letting you reach your hammock in the gazebo with a Wi-Fi signal. If changing your router setup doesn't work, you can invest in a new Wi-Fi card for your laptop with an external, high-gain antenna, increasing your available range.

WWAN: Again, if you're near home and outdoor cellular signal strength (either for voice or data usage) is no good, you can use a femtocell to boost the signal. Verizon's Wireless Network Extender and AT&T's MicroCell attach to your home broadband connection and act as a sort of mini tower. Femtocell range is typically under 150 feet, so locate the unit near the backyard.

However, if you're in a public place and need a better signal, a few hacks can boost the number of bars you get on certain phones by one or two, although few of the hacks are very pretty. The website Wisebread experimented with an admittedly ugly wire-and-cans trick and claimed a three-bar improvement in a cellular signal. Rick Broida has some additional tips on the subject, including a discussion of zBoost, which is a more appropriate range-boosting solution for newer phones, MiFi units, and mobile hotspots--all of which increasingly lack the external antenna connector required for tricks like the cantenna described above.

Don't Forget the Juice

As a final consideration, remember that working outdoors usually means being disconnected from the grid, and since upping the contrast and other tweaks can drain your battery faster, you may find your laptop fading before your sunscreen does.

The solution is simple, if on the expensive side: Upgrade to an extended-cell battery, using a "battery slice," which is a flat battery that locks onto the bottom of a laptop--or simply carry spare batteries with you to get considerably more running time when you're working remotely. For smaller devices such as cameras or dedicated voice recorders, rechargeable batteries generally provide more bang for the buck.

More esoteric power solutions--like solar recharging systems--won't offer much help. Most of them just don't have the power required to provide much of a boost to anything beyond a cell phone or camera--and even then, their internal batteries will need to be charged before you head out.

However, before draining your gadgets out in the wild, you can follow some proven tips to help boost the battery life of your laptop and smartphone.