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Google's experimentation is bound to have some lesser seen services. So, here is a list of 21 Google Service URL's you probably didn't know existed.

#Google

Google now enables Chinese app developers to upload their apps on Google play store for international users. Plans to launch playstore in China as well

Twitter Co-founder Biz launches 'Super'

Twitter Co-founder Biz launches ‘Super’

Twitter Co-founder Biz Stone just launched his second app ‘Super‘!

Biz launched launched the Q&A app named Jelly in 2013, that focused on answering the user posted text questions with an image. Jelly could not gather much flare. So, Biz now has another photo app to offer i.e Super. But unlike Jelly, Super is an app that is supposed to be ‘just fun‘.

Super in an app that allows you to place your…

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#Android #App #Biz Stone #Ios #Super #Twitter

Encourage 'Facebook at work' now!

Encourage ‘Facebook at work’ now!

Want to use Facebook at work? Use ‘Facebook at work’!

Facebook has been the master of social network for some time now. But only at personal level. Facebook has now decided to move beyond that realm and knock into the doors of Professional networking.

Facebook has lately been working on a secret project called ‘Facebook at work‘ as the financial times reported. The functionality and design of the…

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#Facebook #Professional Networking #Social Networking

Facebook news-feed about to see decrease in ads

img src – http://ioneads.com

Congratulations! your Facebook news-feed is about to be little less annoying.

Here is one more attempt of Facebook to provide users with even better experience. The social media giant announced recently that it is about to change its formula of control over news-feed by decreasing the advertising like material in it.

The company decided to take the decision after the

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#advertisement #Facebook #news-feed #promotions

Web based Skype version announced by Microsoft

Here is the another good news by Microsoft for you!

You will no longer be pushed to download the Skype desktop app to make your personal or professional video calls. Microsoft via skype blog has announced that they are now providing a browser based version of Skype for you.

Using the browser based version, people would be able to make the Video and audio calls from the browser itself without any…

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#Browser #Microsoft #Skype #WeBRTC

Apple Vulnerability named Masque attack found

Apple Vulnerability found[/caption]

Apple’s security is in dubiety again! Just Weeks after the ‘Wirelurker’ malware intrusion, another Ios vulnerability has been found referred to as ‘Masque attack’. It was discovered by FireEye mobile security researchers. It is named that way because of its ability to replace the legitimate apps with the malicious ones on ios 7 and later.

There was even an official warning from the U.S. government about the masque attack.

How does marque attack work?

This attack technique makes use of a security weakness that allows an untrusted app to have the same identifier as the legitimate app. It aims to replace the legitimate app by its malicious version while keeping all the user data. The existence of this vulnerability is present because Ios does not enforce to match the 'bundle identifier' with the provided 'certificates' for apps.

The way it could reach the common consumer is by a phishing link i.e an illegitimate third party distributor. It involves the luring of consumer to download and install that app.

What can it potentially do?

It can access the victims sensitive data from the caches or even the login credentials directly by mimicking the original app interface.

What did apple say about Masque attack?

Apple has responded via a statement to imore :

“We designed OS X and iOS with built-in security safeguards to help protect customers and warn them before installing potentially malicious software," an Apple spokesperson told iMore. "We're not aware of any customers that have actually been affected by this attack. We encourage customers to only download from trusted sources like the App Store and to pay attention to any warnings as they download apps. Enterprise users installing custom apps should install apps from their company's secure website.”

How do we save our device from masque attack?

As the apple said, only download the apps from trusted sources. That is the apple mantra for best safety and a very effective one.

Be safe!

#Apple #masque attack #intrusion

Although smartwatch have been present among us for some time now but it is now that the ‘the smart-watch plane' is finally taking off with major players advancing into the market now. Wearable tech is supposed to be the next big personnel device and smart watch is supposed lead the same. It has abuzzed the internet for a long time and is one of the most talked about and fancied tech equipment. But even after all this excitement and hopes there is an equal air of uncertainty around it. Not many tech-freaks are really sure if its going to work or not, or even if they themselves are going to buy it or not. What are the reasons for this holdback?

#1 Battery :

While, the smartphones have not seen much of the revolution in the battery life, this might as well work as an incentive for them. The biggest challenge that truly functional smart-watch face is that they won’t work more than a day or two on a single charge. We are already living in a habit where watches do not even need to be touched for months and years. And, with this habit in our blood, charging a smart-watch every day is just simply unnatural for most and not many are going to take it that well.

#2 Your Smartphone:

Yep, you heard it right. The biggest competitor to the smartwatch is not your watch but your smartphone. If you think about it, you probably have your smartphone all the day in your pocket with you and a lot of time in your hand itself. So, its just easier to do what the smartwatch is supposed to do on the phone itself like reading email, social networking, or text message updates. The limiting factor here is the screen size of the smart-watch. The screen size of smart-watches on average is about 1” and is much difficult to work on that so the mind bends towards the easier option – ‘the smartphone’. Now, if the companies try to increase the screen size it will have its own set of problems namely going out of fashion, becoming inconvenient to wear and might just qualify into the category of hand-strapped small screen smartphone. Is there a way to solve this problem? Well, not really except to make smart use of the limited space and to increase the functionality (which is a probability as apple might just give its watch the ability to run apps).

#3 Lack of Storage, independence and functionality

Even the task of doing something as simple as listening music is a hassle in smart-watches because of their dependence on the smart-phone. One of the reason for this is the lack of storage. Also, it is not really feasible to plug the ear buds into the watch. Smart-watch is not really an independent device as it is portrayed to be but it is much of an expensive accessory to the smartphone. It would not fit the expectation until it stays that way. In fact, they rely too much on smartphones to provide them enough functionality but then smartphones are the devices that dwarf their functionality. There are only two things that can make smart-watch a success. Either it gets out of the smartphone umbrella or it becomes a integral part of the umbrella and engulfs the whole smartphone in itself. The latter is not really in the sight until hologram becomes a mainstream reality. So the only way left for a smart-watch to work is to make a definitive use of itself instead of being just an accessory to the other smart guy.

#smartwatch #smartphone

Chinese Smartphone maker Xiaomi to raise $1.5 billion in latest round of funding to be valued over $40 Billion i.e More than Sony and Lenovo combined.

Microsoft office apps for free on Ios and Android

Microsoft has decided to provide the Office app suite for Free on Ios and Android. However, Microsoft's own windows doesn't share the same good fate .[/caption] So, after finally launching the paid version of Office app suite earlier this year on ios and a year back on android, Microsoft has decided to provide them for free on ios and android as well. While the Office app suite has already arrived on the iTunes app store, Android users will have to wait until “early 2015” as the company shares. Microsoft’s own windows store? Well, you would probably have to wait for arrival of windows 10, and its a long wait. So, buying a Microsoft phone for a Microsoft suite may not be a good idea. Microsoft released the standalone apps of Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps for iPhone. Creating and editing of the content is free on now these apps. Now, you can use office apps even without the office 365 subscription. However, paid office 365 subscribers are benefitted with the ‘full office experience’ that provides a lot of advantages like advanced editing features, better collaboration, dropbox integration and unlimited One Drive storage.

About the already paid Microsoft office 365 subscriptions

Microsoft is already offering the prorated refunds to office 365 subscribers which is a great step from the company to not to displease the subscribers that have already paid for it. The subscribers who can avail this refund are the ones who have purchased on or after March 27, 2014 (release date of office for ipad) and activated before November 6, 2014 (announcement date of the changes). They will have to apply for the refund and will also be unsubscribed of the premium features and Microsoft is already making sure of reminding that. However, if you have purchased your office 365 subscription from Apple App store, its might get a bit more and you have to contact the iTunes store support. Also, keep in mind that it may take 6 – 8 weeks for reception of fund and a proof of identification may be required.

What prompted this move from Microsoft

One of the factors is the new CEO Sathya Nadella’s strategy to increase the reach of Microsoft products and services across more people. Microsoft office has already lately been trying hard to stay on top of this competitive environment. This should not come as a surprise as it is supposedly a reactionary move to Google Drive and Apple’s iWork suite. Freeing up the office apps could turn out to be a great move from Microsoft that would probably result in much wider adaptation of the office suite across Ios and Android. However, it might just backfire on Microsoft itself provided that the new and beautiful windows 10 is not near at all in tech years. And the glossy finish of free office apps might just be dulled by the time. Unless, Microsoft decides to provide the Office 365 subscription free with windows 10 Devices. Till then let’s just sit back, relax and download office apps!

#microsoft #Office #Office365 #office suite

Wireless power transmission could be a reality soon!

We have all had our moments with the wires over the clutter and tangling. Be it when you have to sit uncomfortably near the power outlet to charge and use your phone at the same time or when the wire falls short reaching that last corner while ironing your clothes. Well, this all is going to change soon. Very soon.

While the idea of Wireless electricity can be traced back to Nicola Tesla in 1800’s. But, it is only now that the idea has gained some traction. Possibly because of the latest improvements and constant efforts in the direction making is more feasible every day after day. Wiretricity is a company that was founded in 2007 in order to commercialize a new technology that can wireless-ly transmit power safely and effectively.

How does it work?

It works on the principles of magnetic resonance and induction. The power is transmitted from one object to another with the help of oscillating magnetic fields. Transmitter generates an alternating magnetic field which is then captured by the receiver coil and then converted into electricity.

Also, this technology can transmit the electricity much more efficiently than current systems, it could highly increase the efficiency of our current transmission systems.

Who could be the large scale drivers of Wireless power transmission?

Wiretricity already has a licensed agreement with the companies like Intel and Toyota to integrate the technology in their products

Toyota has plans to integrate wireless charging in their hybrid and battery operated vehicles. Intel is in the hopes of designing a completely wire-free laptop by the year 2016. This is to be done in their new broadwell processor using wireless I/O like Wi-Fi and wireless charging.

“As part of this licensing agreement, WiTricity will work with Intel to integrate WiTricity’s patented technology to enable efficient, high performance wireless charging solutions for computing devices powered by Intel,” as said jointly by both companies.

Although there is much to be done in this field yet; but, the possibilities for wireless power transmission are endless. This could result in a much different world than as we see it today. A much less cluttered and more convenient one, opening the gates to many other functionalities and benefits.

Maybe tomorrow will exist a world where wired power transmission is just another chapter in history.

#Future #Intel #power transmission #toyota #wireless

Google Plus - A Success or Failure?

Ever since the Google plus was launched in June 2011,there has always been a sense of scepticism around it. This probably is because not many people know how or why to use it. And, honestly they can’t be blamed for that. Or can they? The answer for this question lies in the purpose of the creation of the Google plus itself.

Is Google Plus just the social Networking?

Whenever Google+ is talked about, it is usually compared directly to Facebook and other social media. Now, Facebook has about 1.32 billion monthly active users whereas Google plus has about 500 million active monthly users. And by those standards or any other comparison criteria between the two, Google plus would not really come out to be a winner at all, especially with the number of monthly active users. So yes, Google plus is a sucker at social networking given the inherent benefits that it got from Google.

How Has the Google Plus been Successful?

But, as we look beyond the lens of social networking, Google plus has been a mammoth success for the Google itself. It is the service that has been successful in binding all the Google services together. Basically it acts as an adhesive for all Google products & services and has unified by wrapping them into a seamless single package. Gmail and Google plus now go hand in hand with your identity displayed by the Google plus on the upper right side of the screen. You now need it with maps and even to comment on the YouTube. Google plus has been integrated into all of the Google products and much more. Basically, it provides an identity to your Google existence. Another thing it does is that is helps Google by feeding it with more data by monitoring you better as you probably are logged into it while doing searches or other activities. This results in more personalized experience of the user with Google services. So basically, Google plus is serving its purpose even if you are not using it at all. Google plus may or may not look like much of a success if it is looked upon and compared as a social network but it surely comes out as a major success if viewed from the lens of Google and its direct consumers themselves.

#googleplus

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