New Google+ interface packs a photographic punch ...
For Google+ users, this is a good article outlining the recent changes including all the new features and new built-in photo enhancements.
Google+ gives photo lovers what Facebook doesn't - Digital Cameras: SLR & Compact Cameras:
Smartphone cameras pose a security issue ...
Judith Johnston send me this YouTube report which is well worth a look. Many people would not realise that GPS location recording is switched on by default in most smartphones. This means that any photos taken on the smartphone and then posted to Social Networking sites have the exact location the photo was taken embedded in the properties of the image. This can pose a security risk if the photos were of children or the inside of properties.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/N2vARzvWxwY?rel=0
Transferring files between Android Tablets and a PC ...
Three methods for your consideration. I use an Android app called File Expert which uses FTP to transfer files via Network Wi-Fi - fairly similar to Method 3 in this article. However, I think the way File Expert guides you through the setting up process is much simpler.
Three methods for transferring files to and from your Android tablet | TechRepublic:
Google+ Hangouts replaces Google Chat, Voice and Talk ...
Google was very busy last week at the Google IO Conference. Lots of service upgrades announced! Nearly finished bringing them all to you!
Google+ Hangouts gets private chats, history, an app - Internet Applications & Software:
Google+ now has 500 million registered users ...
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Still way below Facebook's billion users but now definitely running second only to Facebook! Some of these improvements are really substantial and make for a very clean uncluttered screen. Probably doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Facebook but, personally, I think it is much more pleasant to use. I certainly don't get the advertising and unknown individuals bothering me!
Google+ Gets a Major Facelift | News & Opinion | PCMag.com:
Microsoft Surface Pro arrives in Australia ...
An Intel i5 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage for $1,100 seems expensive when it doesn't even included a keyboard - that is another $150 for the raised keyboard! A decent Intel i5 laptop with 4GB RAM and 500GB of storage would only be about $700!
Microsoft’s Surface Pro is priced, dated for Australia - Gadget Guy Australia:
Windows 8 and Tablets have shaken up the PC market ...
I think the joint effects of Windows 8 unpopularity and huge tablet popularity have been the main causes of this PC market shakeup. It is nice to see that Lenovo, my favourite laptop brand, is still making headway in difficult market conditions.
Lenovo and Apple grew as bottom fell out of PC market in Western Europe - Computerworld:
There some serious computing going on here ...
Some interesting statistics of Google's computational skills!
Google Search scratches its brain 500 million times a day - Internet Applications & Software:
Google All Access rounds out the trio ...
Recently Google Play Music was overhauled to allow you to store, for free, up to 20,000 of your own music tracks in the cloud and access them from any device logged into your Google account. The second component of Google Play Music allows you to shop for over 18 million tracks. This, the third component, will allow you to stream millions of tracks for AU10 per month! Available in the US now and coming to 12 other countries (including Australia & New Zealand) soon.
Google unveils 'All Access' music streaming service | The Australian:
More functionality for Gmail users ...
This looks interesting, although hard to judge at the moment because, like many of the new features announced at the Google IO conference last week, they are only being rolled out progressively over coming weeks. Still, better to know what it is when it suddenly appears!
Google takes Quick Action on Gmail - Computerworld:
At least we know something about Windows 8.1 ...
Probably won't have any more information about the content of Windows 8.1 until the Microsoft developer's conference at the end of June. Everyone wants to know if the Start button is to return and if you will be able to boot straight to the Desktop. Interesting point about industry watching the ease with which Microsoft handles this point release to 8.1. If it works well, Corporates might be more interested to move to Windows 8.
Microsoft votes for free Windows 8.1, collects kudos - Computerworld:
Second look at Google Keep reveals more functionality ...
My blog article on 27/04/13 reported the launch of Google Keep, Google's new note taker. Whilst simple and quick on the surface, it is actually three components:
- Android app called Google Keep
- Google Chrome Extension called Google Keep
- Google Drive location at https://drive.google.com/keep/
These three components now work very well to provide a synchronised convenient note taker between tablet/smartphone and desktop/laptop. In addition, Google Keep can Share to Evernote, my preferred destination for all my notes.
More room on your Google account ...
Really Google is just combining the free 10GB you already had for your Gmail with free 5GB you had for Google Drive and Google+ Photos. However, documents stored in Google Docs format in Google Drive do not count towards your total allocation nor do photos stored in Google+ Photos if the long side of the photo is no more than 2048 pixels. I just checked my Google Account Storage and it is still showing 5GB so maybe the change has not worked its way down to Australia yet!
Google triples free storage to 15GB - Computerworld:
Windows 8 users take note ...
Those Windows 8 users who have signed into their Windows 8 PC with an older Microsoft account should check that they have entered their security information in case they they need to reset their Windows 8 password. This is a great 'How To' article to lead you through the process!
Reset your password in Windows 8 | TechRepublic:
A couple of thousand developers are now working on this ...
Google has just distributed two thousand Google Glass headsets to get independent app developers to use their imagination and expertise to create 'killer' for this new wearable computer. I am not the first to have realised that Google apps must be 'Glassware'!
Google Glass: who's bringing the apps? - Mobile Phone Accessories:
Chromebooks are really starting to take a hold ...
Asus will join Samsung, Acer and Hewlett-Packard who have already launched Chromebooks. Chromebooks are expected to sell in Australia for $250+.
Asus to launch Chromebook in second half of 2013 - Computerworld:
Microsoft brings out Gates to rally support for the Surface ...
Great photo of Bill Gates! Looks like Microsoft is really trying to justify the Surface and the whole Windows 8 development. Microsoft's determination to compete in the tablet market is what led to the early development of the Windows 7 successor.
Bill Gates: iPad users frustrated that 'post-PC' device is not PC enough | News | TechRadar:
Hotmail out - Outlook.com in ...
Launched in 1996, an historic milestone as the Hotmail name disappears forever. In comparison, Google's Gmail came out beta of testing in 2009 and now has over 450 million active users.
Microsoft Completes Hotmail-Outlook Transition:
Leo Laporte's TWiT TV entertaining & informative ...
If you haven't come across the TWiT.TV website run by Leo Laporte you have been missing something!. This guy is really good value and has some great podcasts (audio and video). Leo is both informative and entertaining. Of the 30 shows his company puts together, I like:
- This Week in Google
- All About Android
- The Tech Guy
- Know How
Windows XP is still on nearly 42% of PCs ...
At the current rate of decline there will still be over 30% when the April 2014 deadline comes around. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft extends the Windows XP support for another year. Meanwhile Windows 8 cannot even match the uptake of Windows Vista!
Windows 8 grows slow, XP just won't go - Computerworld:
Tablets soar in popularity and pass Apple iPad ...
Android manufacturers shipped 27.8 million units in the first quarter of 2013 representing a 247% growth over first quarter 2012. Android grabbed 56.5% market share compared to Apple's iOS at 39.6%.
Think tablets are popular? Shipments soar in first quarter - Computerworld:
Gmail steps up the level of integration to Calendar ...
I will be watching carefully as this is supposed to be rolling out over the next week!
Gmail users can now automatically generate Calendar entries - Computerworld:
Windows 8 still dragging the chain ...
Very interesting graph showing percentages for all current desktop and laptop Operating Systems. Tablets and smartphones (Android and iOS) are not included. Windows still accounts for nearly 92% of the total.
Windows 8 adoption rate can't match Windows 7 - yet | News | TechRadar:
Chat finally starts to make inroads on SMS texting ...
It is no wonder that so many mobile plans build in unlimited SMS texting these days. The mobile operators are trying to encourage the use of texting and hang on to the $120 billion revenue stream!
Over the top: Internet chat via apps will double text messages sent in 2013 - Computerworld:
Facebook user fatigue whilst Twitter surges ...
Q2-2012 to Q1-2013 global growth for Twitter was 40%, for Facebook 35% and Google+ 33%. Australian active Facebook users have dropped over 200,000 in the last 12 months whilst the US was down 8 million active users in the last 6 months!
Facebook fights user fatigue, while Twitter is fastest growing: report - Stream Social Q1 2013, twitter, Global Web Index, social media, Facebook - Computerworld:
Some vaguely interesting Facebook usage data ...
The relationship data is quite interesting! Not sure why there is a dip in the "married" graph at 20! There seems to be a lot married at age 5!
Facebook usage data reveals just how ‘depressingly stereotypical’ your life probably is | VentureBeat:
Windows RT was never going to be easy to sell ...
I hate to say "I told you so" but ... RT not running traditional desktop applications was always going to be a MAJOR disadvantage. The slow development of compatible apps for RT was the second major stumbling block. I agree with the writer, Apple kept it very straightforward - Mac OS for desktops and laptops and iOS for tablets and smartphones.
Time to say goodbye to Windows RT tablets? - smb, IDC, small business, Microsoft, Windows, hardware systems, tablets, software, operating systems - Computerworld:
Intel processors with Android software - what next ...
Microsoft must be shuddering! Just note the bit about possible incompatibility between apps written for Android on ARM processors may need to be "ported" for Android on Intel.
Intel’s pain, your cheap Android tablet:
More Android competition for MS Office ...
Smart Office Lite (free) and Smart Office 2 (US$9.99) certainly challengers to MS Office for the majority of casual users.
Smarten your mobile office with Smart Office 2 | TechRepublic:
Compare the official Google advert with the Microsoft Scroogled version! Bit rough when the company that made the richest man in the world knocks another company for commercialisation!
Upload your books to the cloud and sync to all your devices so that you can start reading on one and then continue from where you left off on another!
My favourite and the one I use all the time is TrueCrypt. I like the idea that it is Open Source and that anyone has the ability to check out the software and make sure that there are no 'backdoors' that can be exploited..jpg)
Still way below Facebook's billion users but now definitely running second only to Facebook! Some of these improvements are really substantial and make for a very clean uncluttered screen. Probably doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Facebook but, personally, I think it is much more pleasant to use. I certainly don't get the advertising and unknown individuals bothering me! 
