TECH SQUARES

New Study Claims iOS Apps Crash More Than Android Apps

2012-02-10T20:44:00.001-08:00

Google Launches ‘Solve for X,’ Think Tank for Fixing Global Problems

2012-02-10T20:39:00.001-08:00

Galaxy Note Super Bowl Ad Inspires Twitter Backlash

2012-02-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

Google Chrome for Android has Arrived, But It’s Only for the 1%

2012-02-10T20:31:00.001-08:00

Hands On With Google Chrome for Android

2012-02-10T20:25:00.001-08:00

Google announced its signature Chrome browser would start to roll out to Android phones on Tuesday. If you’re one of the lucky ones running Ice Cream Sandwich, also known as Android 4.0, you’ll be able to download Chrome on the Android Store.

As you can see from the above gallery of screenshots taken from both Google and our experience running Chrome on a Galaxy Nexus, tabbed browsing is a big highlight of Chrome for Android. It also boasts the ability to have simple private browsing sessions.

Most importantly, Chrome for Android blends in with other Google services seamlessly, such as Google Maps and YouTube. It was easy for us to import tabs from our computer browsers as well.

‘Walk Off the Earth’ Gets 50 Million YouTube Views in a Month

2012-02-10T20:24:00.001-08:00

Type this into google for a Valentine's Day surprise

2012-02-10T20:19:00.001-08:00

Gravity

Enter "Google Gravity" in the search bar. Hit "I'm feeling lucky" (if you have Google Instant enabled, it's on the right hand side of the suggested searches). Then watch your world fall down.

Askew

Simply search for the word "askew." We dare you not to tilt your head.

Chuck Norris

Search for the Walker Texas Ranger star, hit I'm Feeling Lucky, and Google will school you in Norrisology.

ASCII

Searching for ASCII art -- the kind built out of characters -- is about the nerdiest thing you can do. Google salutes you with a special logo.

Recursion

Here's one for word nerds and philosophy majors. Search for "recursion" and Google asks "did you mean recursion?"

Mentalplex

This one started life as an April Fool's joke, but is still around at google.com/mentalplex. Baffle your less Internet-savvy family and friends!

Pacman

The Google doodle that launched a thousand lost hours of productivity will live forever at google.com/pacman.

Ninja!

Here's where Google easter eggs start to get a little more complex. Go to Google Reader, then use your cursor keys thus: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A. A ninja then pops onto your screen and into your search box. Thankfully, this still works in the new version of Google Reader.

Nessie

Set your iGoogle homepage to the beach theme. Wait until 3:14am (or if you can't, just move your clock forward). What monster this way comes? Could we be on the shores of Loch Ness?

Flight simulator

This one began life as an easter egg, and became so well-loved that Google incorporated it as a feature in Google Earth. Click on Tools > Enter Flight Simulator, and you're off and flying around the planet. Bon voyage!

Dad Shoots Daughter’s Laptop Over Facebook Post

2012-02-10T20:01:00.001-08:00

Siri Stars as Travel Guide, Music Coach in New iPhone 4S Ads

2012-02-10T19:46:00.001-08:00

Google Wallet Security Flaw on Android Phones

2012-02-10T19:12:00.001-08:00

Seinfeld and Soup Nazi Return in Funny Acura Super Bowl Ad

2012-02-04T19:13:00.001-08:00

Blake Griffin’s Dunk of the Year

2012-02-04T19:12:00.001-08:00

VW’s Sequel to ‘The Force’ Super Bowl Ad Features Dog, Vader

2012-02-04T19:07:00.001-08:00

This Swarm of Flying Robots Will Terrify and Amaze You

2012-02-04T19:05:00.001-08:00

Conan Adds Keyboard Cat to Obama’s Google+ Hangout

2012-02-04T19:04:00.001-08:00

Glassdoor Can Mine Your Facebook Friends to Help You Land a Job

2012-02-04T19:01:00.003-08:00

iPhone 4 Voice Control: Commands, Tips and Tricks

2012-02-04T19:01:00.001-08:00

1. Language Options

If you speak the language of the country you bought your iPhone in, then your default language setting should be correct.

If you do need to change it, go to your iPhone's "Settings" menu, select "General," scroll down to see "International" and hit "Voice Control."

Now you can choose which language you'd like to use from the list.

2. Press and Hold

To activate your phone's Voice Control function, press and hold the home button.

When prompted by the tone, speak your command straight away -- delays can cause unpredictable results.

If you're using a Bluetooth headset, press and hold the call button to activate.

3. Optimum Use

For best results, Apple recommends holding the phone to your face, as you would on a call.

If you do hold the handset in front of you, make sure it's no more than 12 inches away and that the mic is facing you.

4. Calling Commands

The key commands for calling are "call" and "dial."

Use "dial" if you're reading out a number that's not in your contacts, so, "dial 555-7919."

"Call" works for named contacts. So, "call John." If you have multiple numbers entered for contacts then add "home," "work," "mobile," etc. So, "call John at work."

If you have several contacts with the same name then add the surname too.

Don't use possessive names. Your phone will better recognize "call John on his mobile" than "call John's mobile."

If you want to FaceTime someone rather than call, then say "FaceTime John on his mobile."

5. Calling Tip

If your phone won't recognize a certain name, a workaround is to give that contact a nickname the phone will understand.

You can do this by going into the contact and hitting "Edit." Now scroll down to see "add field" and select "Nickname."

6. Music Commands

In addition to making calls, Voice Control can handle your music playback.

The basic commands for this area are "play songs by Artist Name," "play Album Name," "play Playlist Name," "pause," "previous song," "next song," "shuffle" and "play more songs like this."

In addition, your phone can identify music for you. If you ask "what is playing?" or "who is this song by?" you'll get the answer.

7. Music Tip

If your phone has trouble recognizing an artist or album name, put the tracks into a playlist and give it an easy to identify name.

When you want to hear that music, just say (for example) "play playlist 'summer songs.' "

8. General Commands and Tips

Finally, one other trick the iPhone's Voice Control has is the ability to tell the time.

Ask it "what is the time?" or "what time is it?" and the robo-voice will inform you.

Other useful commands to note are "cancel," "stop," "no" and even "nope."

9. Speak Up!

Do you use the Voice Control function on your iPhone?

Have you any more tips and tricks for theMashable readership?

Have your say in the comments below.

Egyptians Spread News and Rumor About Soccer Riots on Social Media

2012-02-04T18:57:00.001-08:00

What the Heck Is Groundhog Day?

2012-02-04T18:56:00.001-08:00

Steve Jobs Mocked in Ad for Android Tablet

2012-02-04T18:55:00.001-08:00

Old Spice’s Terry Crews Crashes a Bounce Ad

2012-02-04T18:53:00.001-08:00

YouTube Fame Requires Hard Work … Or, Dancing in a Turkey Suit

2012-02-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

How Social Media Backlash Made Susan G. Komen Cave

2012-02-04T18:48:00.001-08:00

Donald Trump, Deion Sanders and Apolo Ohno Star in Century 21′s Super Bowl Ad

2012-02-04T18:46:00.001-08:00

3 Free iPhone Apps for Creating Your Own Stop-Motion Videos

2012-02-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

New Study Claims iOS Apps Crash More Than Android Apps

2012-02-04T18:44:00.001-08:00

How Evi Compares to Siri: Evi’s Clever, Too, But Slow

2012-01-31T09:33:00.001-08:00

The Swarm: Short Horror Film Made Entirely on Phones

2012-01-31T09:18:00.001-08:00

Clear To Do App Has Some Surprising Design Inspirations

2012-01-31T09:17:00.001-08:00

Clear for iPhone (Coming Soon!) from Realmac Software on Vimeo.

Polling App Makes Blog Feedback Painless

2012-01-31T09:15:00.001-08:00

Top 8 Android Apps for Education

2012-01-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

Celeste

Celes te SE combines 3D graphics of the heavenly bodies with fun facts about astronomy. Aim your device's camera at the sky and see exactly where each object is located, day or night.

Algebra Tutor

Algebra Tutor is one of the highest-recommended math apps in the Market. It gives step-by-step instructions and shows where you've made mistakes. Even for older Android users, the app is good for brushing up on rusty skills.

CueBrain

Need to work on your language skills? Try CueBrain, which offers vocab training in a variety of languages.

Wikipedia

For a modern fount of knowledge, we can't beat Wikipedia. Its Android app brings the website's bottomless depths of knowledge to your fingertips in a convenient interface. This is currently the highest-rated encyclopedia app in the Android Market.

MapMaster

For geography nuts, MapMaster is where it's at (rimshot!). This educational game tests your knowledge of famous places and capitals around the world. You can also compete against up to 10 friends on the same device.

Sight Read Music Quiz 4 Piano

Reading music is a dying art -- even many professional pop stars wouldn't know a middle C if it bit 'em. Stay ahead of the curve with this simple and enjoyable music reading app.

Flash Card Maker Pro

This one is great for students and for parents of younger children. Flash Card Maker Pro, as the name implies, lets you make your own study aids. It uses speech recognition for optimal memory building and fact retention.

Kindle for Android

Finally, we give you the Kindle app for Android, which you can use to download classics by authors from Leo Tolstoy to Jane Austen. Best of all, both the app and a huge library of literary classics are completely free.

10 Android Apps for Health & Fitness

2012-01-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

Backpacker GPS Trails

Time to get outside, O nerdy one! Backpacker GPS Trails can help you find and explore awesome trails that will improve your health, broaden your horizons, and give you something cool to do with that 8MP camera of yours.

Nike BOOM

If music is your ideal motivator, try Nike BOOM. This app syncs your music to your workouts and throws in some audio-visual motivation from pro coaches and athletes along the way. You got this!

Instant Heart Rate Pro

For tracking just how much fat your body is burning, we suggest an app like Instant Heart Rate. It shows your heart rate measurements, a real-time PPG graph and your heart-rate history.

BMI Calculator

This free BMI Calculator will give you key information for setting or optimizing your fitness goals. And it should work for all but the most muscular of bodies.

Pocket Yoga

If your day could use some deep breathing and flexibility, try Pocket Yoga, which packs 145 poses in the palm of your hand. You can choose from three different practices, difficulty levels and durations for a total of 27 sessions. Namaste!

CrossFit Travel

If you're anything like us, you spend some time on the road for work and/or pleasure. Time on the road, however, means time for you to forget about your workout. CrossFit Travel comes to the rescue with an impressive list of exercises that can be done in a hotel room or other small space.

Squats

This one's for the ladies, and the name says it all. If toning your backside is tantamount to holiness, you'll want to check out Squats. The app will help you reach your goals of a hundred or more squats in a row, and the enviable posterior that comes with such an accomplishment.

Calorie Counter

MyFitnessPal offers this Calorie Counter for keeping track of your nutrition -- an important part of any health regime. This groovy app also comes with a barcode scanner, so you can easily find out exactly what nutrients and no-nos are hiding in pre-packaged foods.

JEFIT Pro

Here's a bodybuilding app for the muscle-bound.JEFIT Pro is a highly-rated app to help you track your progress, time your workouts, and beat your own records, all without the hassle of pen or paper

SpecTrek

Fitness should be fun, and SpecTrek is the app that proves it. This AR game gets you out and moving around in the real world, hunting "ghosts" using your camera, GPS, and your own quickly-moving feet.

Android@Home Lets You Control Your Lights & Appliances Wirelessly

2012-01-29T04:12:00.000-08:00

Google has just unveiled the Android@Home framework, a set of protocols for controlling light switches, alarm clocks and other home appliances through any Android device.

The search giant’s ambitious plan intends to turn the home into one connected device. During a demo Tuesday at Google I/O in San Francisco, the company showed off the capability to control lights via an Android tablet. Android@Home essentially makes it possible to control wireless or connected devices.

Google also showed off a new type of Android device: a home theater system called “Project Tungsten.” Google rigged several speakers to the Android OS and, using an Android tablet, controls the speaker system. Google also demonstrated how the system can start playing music just by swiping a near-field communication-enabled CD case in front of the “Project Tungsten” setup.

Don’t expect to be controlling your home light switches with Android@Home next week, though. Google has partnered with companies such as Lighting Science Group to bring compatible appliances and devices to the market, but they won’t debut until the end of the year.

Google unveiled the framework now so that developers can get a head start on building apps on top of the new protocols.

10 Great Android Multiplayer Games

2012-01-29T03:59:00.000-08:00

Pocket Legends

This mobile MMO has garnered plenty of critical acclaim. As with many MMORPGs, you'll chose a character, develop your abilities and skills and do battle alongside other players in fantasy settings such as dungeons, mountains and swamps. Android Market

Parallel Kingdom

This game uses Google Maps and your actual location with a Zelda-reminiscent overlay to show players "the creatures lurking in your backyard and the mythical beasts that you pass everyday on your way to work." You can chat and plot with your fellow players to navigate the augmented reality around you. Android Market link

Raging Thunder

Are you ready for a cross-platform multiplayer racing game? Raging Thunder lets you play with up to three other people in an arcade-style setting. Android Market link

iMobsters

If mafia lore is your thing, you'll be entertained byiMobsters, an MMO game with mobster trappings. Players start as petty thieves, fighting with one another and recruiting new mobsters to rise through the ranks. Android Market link

Cestos

Cestos is a real-time multiplayer game that pits you against other players all around the world in a marble battle royale. You can chat with other players, and the more you play, the most goodies -- including marble customizations -- you can unlock. Android Market link

ProjectINF

This excellent MMORPG plays in real time and allows up to 24 players per game. Other features include customizable stats, multiple maps and game modes, and several character types. Android Market link

4 Player Reactor

This pass-and-play -- or hold-and-play -- game lets you and up to three friends play together on the same device in a fast-paced battle of wits and reflexes. The app includes 20 individual game modes as well. Android Market link

Words With Friends

Would a Scrabble by any other name play as sweet?Words With Friends proves that it would, indeed. Players find one another by username, and the in-game chat feature is a nice touch. Android Market link

Guerrilla Bob

This award-winning first-person shooter was first a hit on iOS devices and is now a cross-platform multiplayer game on Android, too. It features "an arsenal of kick-ass weaponry, unique enemies, explosive ammunition and non-stop humor." Android Market link

Dungeon Defenders

This action MMORPG features Unreal-powered graphics and a World of Warcraft aesthetic with tons of stats for players to nerd out over. Take on a Hero class and battle invaders with other players. Android Market link

5 Android Apps to Turn Your Phone Into a Mobile Document Scanner

2012-01-29T03:55:00.000-08:00

1. CamScanner

CamScanner is a breeze to use, and you can test out the free version via the Market link above. Snap a photo of your document and pull up the cropping tool. The app will auto-detect the edges of the paper, but the slick drag-and-snap guides will help you fine tune the dimensions.

The processing enhancements are smart, and will compensate for low light and bad focus reasonably well. Though the app generates a cropped and toned image, it will also hang onto the original photo -- handy, in case you accidentally cropped your boss' name off the letterhead.

The app has built-in integration with Google Docs, Box.net and Dropbox, but for the less fancy among you, it's easy to pipe scanned docs straight into email.

The main issue we encountered was with PDF creation. The original image is stored as a JPEG, but the option to convert it to a PDF simply opened the phone's default PDF viewer. The file is viewable, but we found no apparent way to save or share.

The paid version promises to make things easier in this department, but you should see how the free version performs on your device before purchasing.

Price: Free / $4.99 for full license and features

2. Document Scanner

This app scans directly to PDF with ease. The interface couldn't be cleaner, and while the cropping tools aren't as snazzy as CamScanner's, they get the job done.

There are image enhancement features, but in our testing, they weren't as precise as CamScanner's.

Document Scanner also lets you upload directly to Google Docs, DropBox, and Box.net. It even has Evernote integration -- a nice touch. Scan multiple pages in succession and email them to your heart's content.

The trial version will only last you seven days, but that should give you the time to decide if you're ready to throw down four bucks on the real deal.

Price: Free / $3.98 for full version

3. Droid Scan Pro PDF

Droid Scan works similarly to the aforementioned apps with one exception -- it'll send you out to the system camera to grab the image. No big deal -- in reality, the other apps are simply wrapping the native camera with their interface.

Once you're done shooting, Droid Scan picks right back up where you left off and gets down to image processing quickly.

The app has smart edge detection, intuitive (if small) color and contrast controls, and a final menu that lets you select the docs you want to save down as either JPEGs or PDFs (though PDF functionality is only available in the paid version).

Price: Free / $4.99 for PDF functionality

4.Scan to PDF

Scan to PDF scores big on interface simplicity. It's easy to start scanning or adjust the settings right from the first screen.

The app jumps over to the system camera by default (though you can adjust this setting), and offers great image processing and enhancement, even in low light.

The cropping function is intuitive but can be awkward -- rather than dragging and snapping at the corners, you'll have to pull the edges. Occasionally, your fingers will run out of screen or they'll accidentally drag the entire frame away from the edge. However, This quirk is far from a deal breaker, and the excellent gallery viewer more than makes up for it.

The free version of Scan to PDF does it all, but if you like it and use it regularly, you can show the devs a little love with a $.99 upgrade.

Price: Free / $.99 optional purchase for a job well done

5. PDF Scanner

For those looking for the dead-simple option, PDF Scanner is the way to go. This no-frills app cuts right to the quick.

Add pages by hitting scan. The camera viewfinder that appears has no buttons, so you'll have to just tap the screen to focus and snap.

The camera makes use of your phone's flash, which is helpful when scanning in low light. But be sure to frame and focus your image carefully because there's no crop or image enhancement here. Snap away until your document is complete, then email the PDF to its destination.

Regrettably, there's not trial version of this app, but if you're looking for a way to generate PDF scans quickly and easily, have no qualms dropping your coin here.

Price: $1.99

7 Free QR Code Reader Apps for Android

2012-01-29T03:47:00.000-08:00

Barcode Generator/Reader

Here's a simple tool for reading QR codes. It will also help you generate your own QR codes and supports all kinds of data, including event, contact, email, location, phone, sms, text, url and wifi.

Android Market link

ScanLife Barcode Reader

You can use this app to scan any barcode and launch the linked websites, videos or contact information. This app works for both QR codes and the UPC codes available on most packaged goods.

Android Market link

QuickMark QR Code Reader

The QuickMark app is a mobile barcode scanner that will let you grab data from just about any mobile barcode format. The app works hand-in-hand with QuickMark's Chrome browser extension, too.

Android Market link

i-nigma Barcode Scanner

i-nigma is one of the top-rated barcode scanners in the Android Market. It works for QR and other barcode types. Also, i-nigma's Shopper feature lets you search for low prices from online retailers, including Google Shoping, eBay and Amazon.com.

Android Market link

QR Droid

This app lets you can scan any QR code from your camera and you can read QR codes shown in Android's mobile browser, saved in your SD card, or stored anywhere on the web. You'll also be able to create your own QR codes either on your Android device or your computer.

Android Market link

Barcode Scanner

This multi-functional app allows you to scan barcodes of all kinds, including QR codes. You can also look up prices and reviews where applicable. You can even make your own QR codes to share your contacts, apps and bookmarks.

Android Market link

mobiScan QR

The lightweight mobiScan QR code reader is separate from the maker's UPC and other barcode scanners. The engineers behind this app say the single-function focus of the QR code application guarantees its superior performance and lightning-fast scanning.

Android Market link

7 Ways to Find Amazing New Android Apps

2012-01-29T03:44:00.000-08:00

1. The Official Android Site

2. Androlib

3. Cyrket

4. AndroidZoom

5. App Store HQ

6. AndBOT

7. AppBrain

10 Best Arcade Games for Android

2012-01-29T03:36:00.000-08:00

1. Hard Lines

This retro-style mashup of Tron and Snakeputs players in control of a wisecracking yellow line that's trying to collect dots and avoid collisions with other lines. There are six game modes to enjoy -- ones with tons of lines on the loose, as well as a classic Snakemode.

2. Extreme Road Trip

Racing at high speeds through desert environments with no brakes and a rapidly depleting gas tank? Yes, please! Execute flips and wheelies for points and nitro boosts while trying not to crash. It's an endless high score chase.

3. Robo Surf

When global warming causes the earth to flood, robots start surfing -- obviously. Players tap on the screen to surf upward, and let go to go down, trying to collect oil and fly close enough to enemies and bosses to smash them.

4. Fruit Ninja

One of the most popular iPhone games is on Android as well, and all the fruit-slicing fun is here. The tension of trying not to slice a bomb while other fruits abound is palpable. Perfect your timing to execute a combo slice when the fruits align properly. Slashing fruit is just plain fun, any way you slice it.

6. The Impossible Game

The title does not lie -- this game is practically impossible. The goal is to clear a difficult level, controlling a shape that travels forward quickly. Dying sends the player back to the absolute beginning of the level. Thankfully, practice modes are available so you can try and master level sections before taking on the whole thing at once. Even with practice, your efforts may still be futile.

7. OpenTyrian

Epic Games, developers of Gears of War, went open source with their classic 2D shoot 'em up for PC, and now it's on Android. It holds up extremely well, and features dozens of levels, upgradable ships, a deep storyline, and plenty of secrets to discover.

8. Paper Toss

Toss the paper into the trash can. Then accommodate for wind from wildly fluctuating desk fans. Sounds simple, right? Well, try getting a streak going amid wind speeds far greater than any mild-mannered desk fan can produce. It's not easy, but it keeps players hooked -- the hallmark of a great arcade game.

9. Seal Force

This game combines line drawing gameplay with an endless runner, as players draw paths for the three seals to travel on and take out enemies that come flying in. Defeat enemies that correspond to each seal's color. Coins can be collected and objectives completed to help upgrade the seals to get higher scores. This game is worth checking out if only for its music video that recalls the theme songs of '80s and '90s action cartoons.

10. Escape

This game is unforgiving. Players control a ninja that jumps between walls, avoiding spikes and a laser that's coming up to kill him. Death comes quickly and often, but it won't take long to start pushing your high scores up. The game boasts an upbeat chiptune soundtrack that compliments the theme perfectly.

Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg on Greatest Innovators List

2012-01-29T03:33:00.001-08:00

Solar Storm Smacks the Earth

2012-01-29T03:28:00.001-08:00

Lights Over Lapland Photo Expedition video of CME impact on 1-24-2012 from Lights Over Lapland on Vimeo.

Google Doodle Celebrates World’s Largest Snowflake

2012-01-29T03:23:00.001-08:00

Photoshop CS6 Turns to The Dark Side

2012-01-29T03:22:00.002-08:00

5 Standout Apps Worth Downloading This Week

2012-01-29T03:22:00.000-08:00

Evi for Android and iPhone

Evi is like the iPhone 4S for Android and other iPhone devices running iOS 4.0 or later. It does the same tricks, like showing you coffee shops nearby when you speak or type "coffee," or providing the traditional answer "42" when you ask it for the meaning of life. It's search with an artificial intelligence twist. On iPhone ($.99) or Android (free).

Airbnb for Android

The company that turns home accommodations into hotel rooms launched an Android app and a new mobile website last week. Both allow hosts and guests to instant message each other, browse listings and book listings. A "tonight" button shows places now for rent nearby. Free.

Smartr for iPhone

Smartr pulls all of the contact information you have in your phone, email and social networks into one place. It uses all three components to build complete profiles that include common contacts, message history and social updates. Also available for Android, the app launched for iPhone on Tuesday.

Groupshot for iPhone

It's standard practice to snap more than one shot while photographing a group. But the bigger the group, the less chance you have of catching everyone at a flattering moment. GroupShot hopes to fix this by letting you swap faces among similar photos. You simply color in the face you wish to replace using your finger and choose a face from a similar photo with which to replace it. It's like a simplified Photoshop function you can apply from your phone. $.99.

Formspring for Android

On Tuesday, the platform for asking and answering questions launched on Android for the first time. From the app, users can ask their friends or specific users questions, answer questions they have been asked and view their news feeds. It’s a screen-by-screen duplicate of the startup’s iPhone app, which it launched in September. Free

10 Free Android Apps to Boost Your Productivity

2012-01-29T01:19:00.000-08:00

1. Dropbox

2. CamCard Lite

3. GDocs

4. Springpad

5. SlideScreen

6. Remember The Milk

7. Astrid Task/To-Do List

8. Evernote

9. Voice Recorder

10. Jorte

PayPal on Android To Start Hassle-Free NFC Payments

2012-01-28T23:31:00.001-08:00

10 Simple Google Calendar Tips and Tricks to Boost Your Productivity

2012-01-28T22:59:00.001-08:00

1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

An entire list of Google Calendar keyboard shortcuts will help you get around the service more quickly.

For example, "S" goes to the "Settings" menu, "D," "W" and "M" produce day, week and month displays, "/" pulls up the search box, and "Q" brings up the "Quick add" field.

2. Add a Different Time Zone

Did you know you can get Google Calendar to display multiple timezones?

To activate this functionality, hit "S" to head to "Settings" menu. Now, under the "General" tab you can see "Your current time zone." Click on "Show an additional time zone," and then tick the box "Display all time zones."

Add in a new time zone by scrolling down, selecting the one you want and hitting save.

Now you will see both timezones in your "day" and "week" Calendar views.

3. Add National Holidays

Google Calendar can show various national holidays.

To activate this, hit "S" for Settings, click on the "Calendars" tab, then "Browse interesting calendars."

You can now preview and subscribe to various calendars.

4. Change Your Custom Date Range View

Found at the top-right of your Calendar page, the day, week, month and agenda views are default options, but you can customize another tab.

The default is set to "4 days," but there are other options here. To see them, hit "S" for settings and scroll down until you see "Custom view" drop-down menu. Now you have options to view 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 days, or 2, 3 or 4 weeks.

Incidentally, if you only use GCal for work, you can prevent it from displaying weekends. This option can be found a little higher up in the general settings menu, where it reads "Show weekend" and a "yes or no" choice.

5. Add Tasks Into Your Calendar

While Gmail Tasks don't show up in your calendar by default, the service is simple to enable. On the left-hand side of your main calendar click on the "My calendars" menu and select "Tasks". These will now display in your calendar.

6. Share Your Calendar

You can share your Google Calendar with anyone via email.

To start sharing, hit "S" to take you to Settings, click on the "Calendars" tab, then look for "Share this calendar" on the right-hand side of the page. Click on this, add in an email address and then select your preferred access option.

You can also give someone the ability to "make changes and manage sharing," "make changes to events," "see all event details," or "see only free/busy" with details of events withheld -- a super handy privacy tool.

7. Get Your Agenda In Your Inbox Every Day

You can set Google Calendar to email you your agenda on a daily basis.

To take advantage of this useful tool, hit "S," got to the "Calendars" tab and click the "Notifications" link that should appear around the middle of the page.

This will let you manage all your notifications, but click the "Daily agenda" option to receive an email with your agenda every day at 5 a.m. in your current time zone.

8. Use Quick Add

The "Quick add" option is a great way to speedily create events.

This sophisticated tool works best if you use the principle of "what, with who, where and when." So, "Meeting with Tom at "Venue Name" on Tuesday 2.15 p.m." is the correct way to enter info.

If you want to enter an all-day event, then don't enter a time -- just use the date. So "1/25 training day" would work in that instance.

Our favorite trick with this tool is using someone's email address to create an invite at the same time you "Quick add" the event.

This means "Meeting with email@company.com on 1/25 at 10 a.m." will generate a GCal invite for your invitee.

9. Use Calendar Search

You can hit the "/" key for a quick search, but if you want to see a list of events by venue, participants or event type, there is a more advanced way to search.

Simply select "Show search options" next to the search toolbar and you can narrow down your search by the "what," "who" and "where" fields.

This also lets you search a specific timeframe in a particular Calendar, so it's a handy option to note.

10. View Your Calendar Offline

The Google-made Chrome app will give you access to a read-only version of your Calendar, even when you don't have Internet access.

Top 10 Action Games for Android

2012-01-28T22:55:00.000-08:00

1. Grand Theft Auto 3

One of the most influential games of all time is now on high-end Android phones and tablets. While the touchscreen controls are often convoluted, the game holds up remarkably well. The open-world experience hasn't been compromised, with the exception of some edited music. Otherwise, the gratuitous violence, fast driving and risque storyline are here as they were back when the game originally released on consoles.

2. Age of Zombies

This irreverent dual-stick shooter from Fruit Ninja developers Halfbrick has players traveling through time to kill zombies throughout history -- and even in prehistory. This is a game that recognizes the greatness of a zombie T-Rex when it sees one. More than just a humorous game with witty dialogue, the action gets intense with screens full of enemies and survival modes for gamers interested in racking up high scores.

3. Sleepy Jack

This twisting and turning shoot 'em up has players traveling down cylindrical pathways, collecting "Z" icons for extra points and shooting enemies at a rapid-fire pace. The player can quickly fire straight ahead, or charge up shots to spread out around the cylinder. Other levels don't involve shooting at all, like ones in which rhythm icons must be picked up to keep going.

4. Grabatron

Tired of alien invasion stories where the filthy humans are the good guys? This game is the answer: Players control a UFO with a giant human-grabbing claw that abducts humans and cows and throws cars. Complete missions and upgrades to further the demise of humanity at the hands of alien invaders.

5. Wind-Up Knight

This title takes the gameplay of an endless runner game -- with a toy knight that can constantly run in one direction until he winds down -- and ports it into a set-level structure. Players must try to master dozens of levels riddled with enemies, and collect coins and cards that go toward buying new equipment.

6. INC

In this comic-inspired action game, players try to activate three switches spread throughout each level, while enemies, weaponized defenses and hazardous environments stand in the way. Using OpenFeint, the game can be picked up and resumed from any device that has the game installed, and can even jump between the iOS and Android versions

7. Meteor Blitz

This dual-stick shooter not only puts players up against formations of enemies, but also against dangerous asteroid fields. Players must constantly switch weapons to exploit each meteor's particular weakness, and can suck in meteors to launch back out at ships. There's a level-based campaign mode to go along with an endless survival mode, where ship upgrades can be applied mid-session by pausing.

8. Sonic CD

This classic game, originally released on the Sega CD, has been brought to Android, sans physical media. The game plays just as it did back in 1993, with ingenious time-travel that rewards level exploration and timeless Sonic gameplay. The game works perfectly on tablets and high-resolution phones, as the game engine was developed specifically for modern devices. This provides for better gameplay than classic games, which simply rely on emulation to port to other platforms

9. Minecraft Pocket Edition

The indie PC gaming smash hit retains the ability to build worlds from scratch, just like the PC version, including the ability to build with friends over wireless multiplayer (and cross-platform with iOS users). The popular survival mode from the PC version is in the works, according to the developer, Mojang.

10. Shadowgun

Designed for the latest and greatest Android devices, this is a cover-based shooter with incredibly impressive graphics. Players fight their way through multiple levels, giant bosses and hordes of enemies, ducking in and out of cover to try and survive. Fans of console-style games on-the-go will love this.

15 Best ‘Sh*t People Say’ Videos

2012-01-28T22:50:00.000-08:00

Can Screens With Solar Cells Solve the Smartphone Battery Problem?

2012-01-28T22:44:00.001-08:00

Most modern smartphones have a problem – their battery simply doesn’t last long enough, especially with heavy usage. As the smartphone screens get bigger and bigger, the battery drain increases, but now Arman Ahnood, a researcher at the London Centre for Nanotechnology, has an elegant solution: smartphone screens with built-in solar cells.

According to Ahnood, only 36% of the light produced by an OLED display is projected out and the rest is wasted. This wasted light, which is scattered or “bleeding” from the edge of the display, can be harnessed with photovoltaic cells, built into the screen itself.

Ahnood’s system currently has an efficiency of 11%, producing a total output of five miliwatts on a typical 3.7-inch device, which is far from what a smartphone needs. According to this research (PDF link), a typical smartphone uses up to several hundred miliwatts, and as much as 68.6 miliwatts in a suspended state.

However, Ahnood believes the efficiency can be increased significantly, to the point where this system could extend battery life by a few hours.

To smartphone owners, which often call their devices “6 o’clock phones,” since their battery only lasts until late afternoon with normal usage, these couple of hours could make a big difference.

Absinthe Greenpois0n Jailbreak Tool Arrives For Windows

2012-01-28T22:40:00.001-08:00

The Chronic Dev team did say the Windows version of the “Absinthe” Greenpois0n jailbreak tool was coming soon, and apparently now is “soon.” That’s right folks! Those of you with only Windows-based PCs can now jailbreak your A5-powered iDevices, iPhone 4S and iPad 2, running iOS 5.

It appears the Greenpois0n website is still experiencing high volumes of traffic, therefore, you likely won’t be able to get the link too easily. However, here is a direct link to the Windows version of the Absinthe tool.

After you begin the download, take a look at our jailbreak video walkthrough and Absinthe pre-application tipsbefore running the actual jailbreak app.

For easy reference purposes, here is a direct link to the Mac OS X version of the Absinthe tool.

Happy jailbreaking!

Obama Sings Al Green at the Apollo Theatre

2012-01-28T19:59:00.001-08:00

Solar Eruption Triggers Strongest Radiation Storm in 7 Years

2012-01-28T19:54:00.001-08:00

Google Changes Again, Launches One Privacy Policy to Rule Them All

2012-01-28T19:51:00.001-08:00

4 Alternatives to Online Photo Editor Picnik

2012-01-28T19:50:00.001-08:00

Fotoflexer – This site offers a similar web-based photo editor with much of the same options as Picnik, though nowhere near as snappy to load. Advanced features include blemish fix and some easy-to-use layer functions; the web interface is available in 22 languages. If it looks familiar, you may already be using it on Picasa, Flickr, Photobucket and Facebook. One cool feature from the web browser version: you can edit live images taken with your computer’s built-in camera.

Pixenate bills itself as the photo editor of choice for the photo printing and photo sharing businesses. It offers a small but complete menu of edit options (crop, rotate, red eye, colors) plus a nice “fill light” button for underexposed pics and a “doodle” option that lets you draw images. When you’ve perfected your pic, you can save it to your desktop, share it on Flickr or print it as a T-shirt, mug, tote, etc. The interface is available in Spanish or English.

Freeonlinephotoeditor.com – This bare-bones photo editor was super quick to load our test image and offered a wide menu of options. Changes are also snap, the only drawback is that instead of icons, there’s text without any rollover explanations – so you have to know (or remember) what “halftone dithers” are – though the “undo” option crops up right after you make changes so you can easily to revert to the original. When you’re done, you can save it on your computer, Photobucket or Facebook.

Pixlr put out a welcome mat for Picnik users on its home page; the site’s “express” version resembles its former competitor pretty closely. Pixlr is quick to upload photos and offers a ton of options from the “adjustment” menu. Our test found the pop-up menus for each function time consuming – click “auto fix,” for example, and instead of just fixing the pic, the main menu disappears and another menu pops up. You have to click on “apply” or “cancel” from there to get back and start all over again with the other options. The express version allows users to save edited images only to their desktops.

Get More from Wikipedia: 10 Tips and Tricks

2012-01-28T19:48:00.001-08:00

1. Change How Wikipedia's Main Page Looks

You can change the way Wikipedia's main page displays -- choose from a variety of funalternatives, like "classic" or simplified versions, different color schemes and even site-skins to mix things up a bit.

Once you're logged into the site, just add a snippet of code to your page and you can enjoy one of the different versions permanently.

2. Wikipedia and Google Maps

Did you know there's a Wikpedia layer for Google Maps? To see all Wikipedia articles for an area, click on the menu at the top right of your Google Map and select "Wikipedia." The map will display all articles that relate to that specific area.

3. View a Page's History

All Wikipedia pages' edits are saved, and the site makes it easy to view changes.

If you're interested in seeing a page's history, simply click the "View history" tab on the top right of any page. As well as seeing recent edits, you can click "Compare selected revisions" to see then-and-now versions of the content.

4. Read the "Tip of the Day"

Did you know that Wikipedia offers an official "Tip of the Day?"

You can bookmark it here, or readinstructions that detail how to add it to your Wikipedia page.

5. Get Better at Searching

Enhance Wikipedia's search functionalitywith a few simple tricks.

As well as the usual search tricks, such as double quotes or hyphens (to exclude results), try a couple of useful characters on Wikipedia.

To perform a wildcard search, add an asterisk (*) to a search term -- Wikipedia will pull up all results pertaining to the word. Add a tilde (~) to access "fuzzy" search results -- handy if you're unsure of exact spelling.

6. See a Page's View Stats

You can view a Wikipedia page's stats (how many views it has received over 30, 60 and 90 days) through the "View history" tab at the top right of the page. Then hit "Page view statistics."

7. Make a Wikipedia Book

Collate Wikipedia articles into a book by clicking on "Create a book" under the "Print/Export" menu on the left-hand side of the page.

Then, add any Wikipedia articles to your book.

Once you've finished collating, you can choose to download your creation as a PDF, or get it printed through Wikimedia's print partner, PediaPress.

8. Go Mobile

The "lite" version of Wikipedia is specially designed for viewing on mobile devices.

Rather than head for the usual URL, load uphttp://en.m.wikipedia.org/ instead -- it's a much speedier option for quick reference on-the-go.

9. View a Page Without All the Links

If you find the dozens of links in a Wikipedia article distracting, there's a quick way to read a page without them.

Simply click on "Printable version" under the "Print/export" menu for a page that's much easier to read.

10. All Pages Lead to Philosophy

Finally, we have a fun trick for you. Did you know that nearly 95% of English language Wikipedia pages eventually lead to an article about philosophy?

Load up any article, then, ignoring links in brackets or italics, click on the first link in the article. Repeat this enough times and you should end up on the philosophy page. Spooky.

View of Lightning Storms Over Africa Will Knock Your Socks Off

2012-01-19T17:52:00.001-08:00

David Beckham Does First Google+ Hangout at Googleplex

2012-01-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

10 Essential YouTube Tips and Tricks

2012-01-13T19:08:00.001-08:00

1. Get Social With Connected Sharing Options

You can share YouTube content without hooking up your other social networking accounts, but if you do, the process gets all (buzzword alert!) "frictionless."

As you upload, comment, favorite or like a video, these actions will be broadcast to your Facebook and Twitter accounts for your friends and followers to see.

To manage these options, click on your username at the top right of YouTube, then "Settings," then "Sharing."

2. Search in Different Languages

YouTube offers an on-screen keyboard for foreign languages.

This is useful as it means anyone can look for specific foreign language content from any PC — regardless of the physical keyboard's layout.

To type search queries in Arabic, Greek, Russian, Thai (and more) you need to first change your language settings to your preferred lingo.

Scroll right down to the bottom of the screen and click on the language drop-down menu.

Once you've selected a language with special characters, a little keyboard icon will appear in the YouTube search bar. Click it to get started.

3. Change the Size and Resolution of Videos

In addition to the "full screen" option, YouTube now offers a viewing window that's larger than the standard size, but does not fill the screen.

If clips aren't good enough resolution to look decent at full screen, or if you need to keep an eye on other windows or programs, you can select the mid-size viewing option on the bottom right of the video window.

Resolution can be adjusted by hitting the resolution count (360p, 480p, etc) also on the bottom right.

In addition, you can change your account settings to always play HD when switching to full screen. To set this up, go to "Playback Setup" under the "Settings" menu.

4. Save Videos to Watch Later

If you think your job might be at risk if your boss catches you watching one more kitty vid, you can save content to watch later.

You can find this option on the main YouTube site under the "Add to" icon just under the video window.

On embedded videos, the "Watch Later" button appears as a plus sign on the menu bar at the bottom.

To view your "Watch Later" list, select "Video Manager" from the menu that appears when you click on your username.

5. Manage Your History

Whether you want to find a video you recently watched or delete something you shouldn't have, YouTube offers you "My Viewing History."

You can find this under "Video Manager" once you click on your username icon at the top right of the screen.

From here, you can add them to your "Favorites," your "Watch Later" list or your playlists, as well as delete videos you've watched.

6. Speed Up With Keyboard Shortcuts

YouTube offers several useful keyboard shortcuts that are worth taking the time to get familiar with.

When you are watching a video, click on it and you can then use the spacebar as a pause/play button.

The left and right arrows work as rewind and fast forward shortcut keys, while the up and down arrows will control the volume.

Home and end are also handy shortcuts — home takes you back to the beginning of a video while end does the opposite.

7. "Leanback" and Enjoy

YouTube's "Leanback" functionality was introduced to make it easier to browse content on connected TVs, but there's no reason you can't use it on your computer.

You can seamlessly browse your playlists as well as recommendations and featured videos. In addition, you can browse channels and enjoy instant search.

The best thing of all is Leanback's chic, dark looks — it's a much better looking way of browsing than the traditional site.

8. Get Better at Search

YouTube's search operators are fairly straightforward, but it's good to remind yourself of the key terms to use.

In addition to the usual "quotations marks" to search for a specific term, plus or minus signs to include or omit results and the use of "INTITLE:term" to ensure the word you're looking for appears in the video's title, there are some YouTube-specific terms to note.

Adding "HD" to your search query will return high-def results while "3D" does the same for three-dimensional content.

Typing "today," "this week" or "this month" helps you narrow down more recent content.

Adding "channels" or "playlists" to your search query returns such results.

Finally, "long" and "short" looks for videos over 20 minutes and less than four minutes.

9. Customize Your Captions

If you use YouTube captions, did you know you can customize them?

You can change the default font, foreground and background colors and make them larger or smaller.

To change your captions settings when viewing a video, click on the "CC" icon, then choose "Settings."

10. Have Fun With "YouTube Slam"

Finally, we've a fun one for you. "YouTube Slam" is a YouTube TestTube game that lets you rate similarly themed videos in a hot-or-not style.

To get started, scroll down to the bottom of any YouTube page, click "Try something new!" and then select "YouTube Slam."

You can now play "Comedy Slam," "Bizarre Slam," or our favorite — "Cute Slam." Enjoy!

Digital Mirror Shows Shoppers How They Look From Behind

2012-01-13T18:41:00.001-08:00

Google Science Fair 2012: Now More Global

2012-01-13T18:39:00.003-08:00

Enter the Google Maps Labyrinth

2012-01-13T18:39:00.001-08:00

Can Siri Control Your Home?

2012-01-13T18:26:00.001-08:00

Why Google’s Social Search Is Too Much, Too Soon

2012-01-13T18:23:00.001-08:00

Beautiful Time-Lapse Video Takes You Around the World in 6,237 Photos

2012-01-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

Did You Get a New Android Phone? Do These 5 Things Immediately

2012-01-08T04:25:00.000-08:00

1. Don’t Skip the Google Account Setup

When you set up your Android for the first time, you’re asked to provide your Google account credentials. Doing so is the fastest way to set up your email, calendar, and contacts (core PIM functionality), but it’s optional, some people don’t have Google account, or for whatever reason they decide to skip the step. If you skipped it, go back and complete it, even if you’re using someone other than Google for your basic PIM functions.

Why? There are a few reasons. Not only will your contacts be synchronized with your Google account, they’ll also be synced with any Android’s you get in the future (if your current phone is lost, stolen, damaged, or in a year or so when you decide to upgrade). Additionally, you’ll need it for the Android Market.

While it’s probably true that you don’t need the Android Market to install apps on your phone, there is one case in particular where you’d want to: if your phone is lost. To the best of my knowledge, the Android Market is the only app store for Android that allows for remote installation of apps. Simply log into the Market using a desktop browser, then find an app called Plan B and install it (remotely) to your phone. Within minutes you’ll have an email telling you exactly where your phone is! Of course there are other apps that let you do similar things, but most have to be installed and configured before you lose your phone. The appropriately named Plan B app takes care of all of that for you, all you have to have done is set up your Google Account.

2. Get a Car Kit

It’s becoming illegal in more places — and is generally frowned upon everywhere — to use your phone in your car. Take that as an opportunity to trick out your ride for Android!

Two things you’ll want to get are a Bluetooth headset and a USB car charger, but if your phone has a car dock built specifically for it, you’ll probably want to consider that option first.

A car dock usually attaches to your windshield or dash and holds your phone where you can see it. Many have a charging solution built in (some will plug into your phone’s USB charging port, others, like the dock for Nexus One charge using three gold dots to carry the power — the dock for the Galaxy Nexus isn’t readily availableyet). Some also connect to your phone’s audio, which not only lets you listen to music on your car’s sound system, they also do double-duty as a speaker phone.

Whether or not you opt for a car dock with these features built-in or opt for a USB charger and Bluetooth headset, you’ll appreciate having a fully-charged phone when you start your day at school or the office, and will be much safer keeping your phone out of your hands while driving.

3. Turn on Your WiFi

There are three reasons why you’ll want to turn on your WiFi right away.

WiFi is probably faster than your phone’s 3G or 4G data connection, so when you’re under a WiFi bubble, your phone will be faster!

WiFi uses less power than traditional cellular data, so your battery will last longer when using WiFi rather than cellular data.

With almost all carriers throttling or limiting your data once you hit their data threshold, using WiFi whenever possible could save you quite a bit of money and frustration, which lets you save your cellular data for when you need it.

4. Set Your Data-Hungry Apps to Update Less Often

If you’re like me, you’ve got at least a couple social networking apps, a couple news and RSS apps, and maybe even a couple weather apps installed. These apps try to connect to various data services to keep the information on your phone up-to-date. This makes their apps feel faster because the information is already on your phone, before you ask for it. Unfortunately that means the app is going out on the Internet frequently to get updates — updates that you may never see.

To help keep data usage down and battery life from magically disappearing, you should open each type of app that I mentioned above and check its settings for “Update Frequency”. Some social apps are come set top update every 15 minutes. I set mine to update every 4 hours, or “only when charging”. Some apps even have an option to only sync when connected to WiFi. Keep in mind that some of the smarter apps use something called “push notifications” which only update when the server “pushes” a notice to them that there is something to update.

Check your apps and set them to something that’s more in-line with how often you actually use the apps.

5. Log in to Google Talk

Google Talk is the chat app that comes built-in to your Android, and it’s terribly under-used. You can use Google Talk not only to instant message people with other Android smartphones, but also those who use Gmail on their desktop and laptop computers.

What’s really cool is that many of those computer users have microphones and speakers, and with the right plugin can audio chat with you. This is essentially a free way to make voice calls to anyone in the world with a Gmail account — and it’s built in to every Android out there.

What’s more, if your Android Smartphone has a front-facing camera, you can also use Google Talk to make and receive video calls! You can video call with other Android users, or computer users that have a webcam. This comes in particularly useful during the holidays when friends and family may not be able to come together. Unlike other video chatting solutions, Google Talk should work just fine over 3G, 4G, or WiFi.

Instantly Turn Video Clips Into Movies With V.I.K.T.O.R

2012-01-08T04:17:00.001-08:00

http://www.viktortherobot.com/
V.I.K.T.O.R. is an automatic video-editing app.

HOW TO: Move Your Domain Name Account

2012-01-08T04:12:00.001-08:00