WordWeb - Best Free Offline Dictionary for Android

Posted by Unknown Senin, 30 Juli 2012 0 komentar
WordWeb - Free Offline Dictionary for Android.

Looking for a great offline dictionary for your Android device? Need to look up meanings of words on the go? Dont want to pay for the Dictionary app? WordWeb is the perfect solution for all the dictionary needs. Though, its download size is around 22 MBs, its worth it. After all, its offline. Read on for the brief review.

  • 100% free without any ads.
  • Huge collection of words.
  • Shows examples & how to use the words.
  • Doesn't consume much resources.
  • Doesn't use internet.
  • Interface is clean.
  • Autocomplete feature makes it easy to find the desired words.
  • Shows a large number of options like Verb, Noun, etc.
  • Installs on SD Card. No worry of running low on memory.
Only downside is its size when downloading. 22 MBs may seem too much but it can't go without the database file. Also it sits on your SD Card & not on System Memory. Download once & enjoy the benefits for long.

Its also available for Windows PCs. More on this here : -

P.S : - I have tested this on my Samsung Galaxy Ace with Android 2.3.6. It runs quite well without any problems. I shall not be held responsible if it harms your device. Practice caution. 

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LG's Lightwave Oven with remote temperature control via your smartphone

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[Engadget]

The Asian model (as reflected on the glass) was cut out of the original ad photo of LG microwave and replaced by NBC 30 Rock's GE Executive Jack Donaghy. 

Advances in oven technology are more the province of Jack Donaghy's former GE overlords, but over in South Korea, LG's taking a real-world stab at making the fictional CEO proud. An update to its Lightwave line, this new, next-gen kitchen appliance employs halogen heaters to cut down on traditional cooking time, a range of menu pre-sets to accommodate your meal-making and, most worrisome of all, a wireless connection for smartphone control. With that last tidbit of information, you should be either horrified by the opportunities for absent-minded, accidental pants pocket activation or pleased and at ease with the convenience it affords (which means you likely have children and can now tend to that bottle of red undisturbed from the couch). So, what exactly can you do from the comfort of your own phone? For starters, you can set the timer while you're away, adjust the temperature and even activate the steam cleaning feature. It's not clear if all of this remote action's restricted to the company's own devices, but if you're living in the company's home territory and have a fancy for haute-tech cuisining, this one's for you.

Here is the original photo


This article appeared on Engadget by Joseph Volpe via Pocket-Lint / WhoWired (Translated): The Joy of remote-controlled Cooking: LG's Lightwave oven makes mealtime mobile-operated


[My Take]

Commanding home appliances remotely sounds terrific yet a bit scary and dangerous as it might burn down your house due to so much convenience that LG brings to American homes and in turn leads to laziness and absent-mindedness.

Perhaps LG is trying to maximize the application of smartphone technology on all home electronic products; from LG Cinema 3D Smart TV remote control technology to LG oven technology advancement.

Decades from now, we might see a Rosie (The Jetsons Robot Maid) being controlled by our own smartphone.


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Samsung readying 11.8-inch tablet with 'retina' display, say court documents

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The Verge



Court documents made public in the epic Apple v. Samsung trial that kicked off in California today reveal that Samsung is working on a tablet codenamed "P10" that would include LTE connectivity and an 11.8-inch display at 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA) resolution. With the new iPad, Apple has pushed the issue of so-called Retina displays in the tablet form factor — and it's no surprise that Samsung, one of the world's largest suppliers of LCDs and AMOLEDs — would be pushing for a screen to match in its own Galaxy line as quickly as possible. Though 11.8 inches might be on the hairy edge for tablet portability, the P10 would still qualify as a Retina-like device with a pixel density of 256 ppi.


BGR first broke news of a large, high-resolution Samsung tablet late last year, which had been pegged for a "likely" Mobile World Congress reveal — it seems that the Korean company's plans may have slipped several months, though the court documents simply refer to it as a 2012 product. There's an event taking place in mid-August in New York City, which we're hearing will be for the revised Galaxy Note 10.1; might we also see a Galaxy Tab 11.8 there?



This article first appeared on The Verge by Chris Ziegler: Samsung readying 11.8-inch tablet with 'retina' display, say court documents


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LG launches in Korea its first set of 3D Games dedicated to its Smart TVs

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Akihabara News



LG announced this morning the launch of its first series of 3D Games designed for its 3D Smart TV and its Wireless Joystick.

The Games, adapted from smartphone version includes Air Penguin, Frisbee Forever, Downhill Bowlling2, Burn City and Diversion.

This first batch from LG is just the tip of the iceberg and the company hopes to release more of them in the near future!


via Akihabara News / LG

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Apple v. Samsung: The patent trial of the century starts today

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CNN

The end of the beginning of Apple's proxy war against Google

Where the trial will be held. Credit: Michelle Meyers/CNET


FORTUNE -- The most important confrontation in the "thermonuclear war" Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs launched against Google's (GOOG) Android operating system two years ago is scheduled to begin in earnest Monday when two armies of opposing lawyers meet in a federal courthouse in San Jose, Calif.

Their first order of business: To pick the 10-member jury that will decide the case.

The highly-technical confrontation pits the world's most valuable company, whose iPhone once dominated the touchscreen smartphone market and whose iPad still has the largest share of tablet computers, against South Korea's largest manufacturer, which makes tablets and phones that run Google's Android operating system and whose smartphones are now outselling Apple's.

The issues are starkly laid out in first sentences of each side's pretrial briefs:

  • Apple's brief: "Samsung is on trial because it made a deliberate decision to copy Apple's iPhone and iPad."
  • Samsung's brief: "In this lawsuit, Apple seeks to stifle legitimate competition and limit consumer choice to maintain its historically exorbitant profits."

The two sides have been jockeying for position behind the scenes for months. One series of pretrial motions made headlines last month when Judge Lucy Koh, a former patent lawyer, reversed herself and issued a preliminary injunction banning the sale of Samsung's Galaxy 10.1 tablet pending the outcome of the trial.

Dozens more pretrial motions were unsealed last Thursday in a legal data dump almost too large to digest. But a sampling of their contents gave the tech reporters following the trial a preview of how each side plans to proceed.

Among the details that have emerged:
  • Apple is demanding more than $2.5 billion in sales, damages and lost profits for Samsung's alleged infringement of its smartphone patents. For its part, Samsung is reportedly demanding 2.4% of Apple's sales for use of its mobile communications technology. Apple 2.0.
  • Apple will show the jury a chart that suggests the design of Samsung's mobile devices changed abruptly after it saw the iPhone. Samsung's version of the chart will show at least 10 iPhone-like designs created in Samsung's labs before the iPhone was unveiled. Apple 2.0.
  • Apple will introduce evidence that Samsung was warned by a panel of outside designers that its smartphones and tablets looked too much like the iPhone and iPad, and that Google actually demanded that the devices be redesigned so that they wouldn't be too similar to Apple's. AllThingsD.
  • Samsung will claim the iPhone's design changed after Apple hired a designer from Sony and got wind of their plans. Apple fought hard to keep the jury from seeing that evidence. AllThingsD.
  • The judge will instruct the jury (on Apple's insistence) that Samsung allowed evidence to be destroyed even though they knew it might be relevant, and that the jury may (but need not) assume that the evidence would have hurt Samsung's case. Foss Patents.
  • Samsung tried to prevent Apple from showing the jury five slides in its opening presentation because the images of Steve Jobs they contained might prejudice the jury. Late Sunday, Judge Koh ruled that the images were relevant and could be shown. FOSS Patents.
  • Apple, on the other hand, has so far been able to keep Jobs' remarks about "thermonuclear war" out of the record, despite Samsung's objections. (Apple 2.0).

More details as they come to light.



This article first appeared on CNN by Philip Elmer-DeWitt: Apple v. Samsung: The patent trial of the century starts today





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Wikipad gaming tablet specifications revealed, 3D deferred to 'future models'

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[The Verge]



After the Wikipad's debut at CES this year, Gaikai announced an official partnership with the company that would bring its cloud-gaming services to the Android tablet. Today, Wikipad revealed its tablet's official hardware roster in an interview with VentureBeat, including a 1.4GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and at least 16GB of internal storage, though the company says it may choose to increase that figure before launch. It will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and the gamepad-dock — which allows sound and ports to remain accessible — will be included with every device. The display is still a 10.1-inch IPS panel running at a resolution of 1280 x 800, but Wikipad is going back on its decision to include glasses-free 3D support, saying that the feature will be considered for future models.

What Wikipad didn't mention was the company's partnership with Gaikai, which was purchased by Sony earlier this month. While a natural conflict of interest between the Wikipad and Sony's PS Vita could hamper the Android tablet's chances of cloud-connected gaming, we'll have to wait for official word on the partnership to know for sure. Wikipad expects to release the tablet by the end of this year, but specific pricing and availability have yet to be announced.

This article first appeared on The Verge by Evan Rodgers: Wikipad gaming tablet specifications revealed, 3D deferred to 'future models'


[My Take]

The three major cloud gaming services (Gakai, OnLive, and GameString) are up for a showdown by teaming up with major TV manufacturers; and now with the mobile game console device makers; starting with the Gakai and Wikipad partnership.

Gaikai Cloud Gaming beta launched on some Samsung smart TVs

OnLive announces in-browser game demos, 'spectating' social features, and collaboration with LG Cinema 3D Smart TV

This implies that Gakai, together with Wikipad, will face natural conflict of interest with Sony PS Vita in the future once Wikipad gets released this year; knowing that Sony has just acquired Gakai last month but did not make the cloud gaming system exclusive for its TVs and game consoles.


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New purported next-generation iPhone parts photos show fully assembled device

Posted by Unknown Minggu, 29 Juli 2012 0 komentar
9to5Mac



You’ll remember that 9to5Mac was the first to show photos of purported next-generation iPhone parts. Since then, many of the details – including the smaller dock connector – were affirmed by multiple mainstream reports. Unsurprisingly, as the new iPhone moves into production, more of these parts are starting to leak out to more repair shops.

Today, repair shop iLab has posted its own photos, but these images apparently showcase a fully assembled body. The new photos give a clear look at what a black, fully-assembled next-generation iPhone might look like when it ships to customers this fall. The repair shop also has some photos of other individual components like home buttons and volume keys.

Macotakara has posted another video of purported next-gen iPhone parts to its YouTube channel:





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LG set to enter US computer market

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LG Electronics is looking to break into the U.S. computer market in October through its partnership with Microsoft as part of efforts to strengthen its foothold in the world’s largest electronics market, according to LG officials Friday.

The Korean electronics giant said it plans to release stylish laptops in the U.S. that run on Windows 8 on October 26. 

``LG will enter the American computer market with help from MS. Through the collaboration, LG expects its computer business to grow effectively,’’ said an LG source familiar with the matter.

The official added LG senior executives are currently working on detailed strategies to make inroads into one of the biggest computer markets in the world.

LG executives handling the computer business recently visited top U.S. retail channels including Best Buy to find ways of expanding there, another company source said in a telephone interview. 

``We are not interested in desktop computers because demand for the devices is too low. LG push its all-in-one PCs and laptop businesses in the United States,’’ the official said. 

The decision looks somewhat risky because chances are low that LG could yield visible returns in the near future through sales of its Xnote laptops in the United States dominated by firms such as Hewlett-Packard, Apple and Dell.

LG has, so far, only achieved sales of its notebooks in Europe and China due to a lack of product awareness but the United States is the world’s biggest laptop market.

The Seoul-based outfit had earlier decided to sell its computer business following lackluster performances. Amid explosive demand for Web-connected portable devices such as tablets and smartphones, traditional computers are losing their luster. 

LG sold some 200,000 notebooks in the first quarter of this year compared to 320,000 in the first quarter of last year. In Korea, it has maintained second place with an 11 percent market share, however, the company is ranked ninth globally, according to market research firm Gartner. 

``The withdrawal plan didn’t materialize as it’s not easy to find new owners in this volatile environment,’’ said the LG official.

Rival Samsung is heavily increasing spending to boost its computer business because it believes corporate awareness of the company and partnerships with outlet channels are at a level stable enough to push the once negligible business.

Samsung has exhibited its notebook lineups that use Windows 8 software. Gartner said the firm ranked seventh in the global laptop market at the end of the first quarter of this year with a 7.1 percent share.

``LG hopes to better compete with Lenovo of China and Asus of Taiwan for high-end notebooks by rolling out various models, moving from budget products to premium ones,’’ said the official.

Last Friday, LG Electronics also unveiled its plan to release robot vacuum cleaners in the U.S.

The move to expand its presence in America is an attempt to offset a decline in profits caused by setbacks in the firm’s mobile phone and television businesses.

``LG Electronics is in negotiations with several big U.S. retailers as LG has keen interests in the American robot cleaner market,’’ said Kwon Taek-ryul, a senior LG Electronics executive.

He said the models to be released in the U.S. will be different from local ones in terms of specifications and pricing because of differences in lifestyles between Koreans and Americans.’’

This article first appeared on The Korea Times by Kim Yoo-chul: LG set to enter US computer market


[My Take]

All-in-on computer, TV, and monitor they say huh? So should I choose this over their own LG Cinema 3D Smart TV products?

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3D Olympics Coverage - How to Get It

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Tech Goes Strong



How to watch the 2012 London Olympics 3D sports coverage on your 3D TV.

3D Olympics coverage will be available to 80 percent of U.S. households during the London 2012 Olympics that begin July 27th. Of course, you must have a 3D TV (and 3D glasses that work with your TV) to watch it. The 3D sports coverage will not be broadcast live,instead they will be aired the next day on special 3D channels from your cable or telco provider, or from DirectTV.

Which 3D Olympics Sports will be shown?

The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) will produce the 3D sports broadcasts that include: the Opening and Closing ceremonies, men's and women's gymnastics, cycling from the Velodrome, swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo, full coverage of track and field, and the medal rounds of basketball.

The 3D Olympic coverage will be shown the next day and will include all of the Opening and Closing ceremonies. The opening ceremonies will air on Saturday July 28th, and will be rerun throughout the day starting at 5 am until 5 pm.  Unlike the complete, live events that will be shown on NBCOlympics.com, the 3D coverage will combine multiple sports and will predominantly show U.S. athletes and teams much like Olympics coverage we watched on TV when we were growing up. A total of 242 hours of 3D coverage will be available over the 17 days of the Olympics (approximately 12 hours per day). Each day Bob Costas will host a program of 3D highlights of the previous day's events.


What Cable, Satellite, and Telco TV providers will have 3D Olympics Coverage?

Many cable and telco TV providers will be showing the 3D Olympics even if they have never aired 3D content in the past. DirecTV will show Olympics 3D programming on channel 103. Both Time Warner and Comcast will air 3D sports coverage along with Armstrong, AT&T, Blue Ridge, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Insight, Mediacom, RCN, Suddenlink, Verizon, and WideOpen West. Our locally-owned cable company, Bend Broadband, will show 3D. They are calling it a "test" (presumably because they haven't aired 3D before). They will air it on channel 630 (which, with the Olympics a few days off, is not yet showing in the channel lineup) which is close to the NBC Sports channel on 633.

Although I have been combing the Internet and local newspapers to find information on individual cable TV services, there has been no mention of this 3D coverage. If you want to watch in 3D, contact your TV provider and ask what channel will carry the 3D Olympic coverage. When you call, let them know the model of your set top cable box to make sure that your equipment will be able to receive and transfer the 3D signal to your TV.

How to Watch 3D Olympics on your 3D TV

If you have not watched 3D programming on your TV, you will need 3D glasses. Many 3D TVs come with a package that includes the glasses. For 3D TVs with "active glasses," check your instructions for how to charge the glasses before using them. Other TVs, like the Toshiba 7200u, use "Real D" 3D passive glasses like the ones used at movie theaters (IMAX 3D is different). You should have received glasses with your passive 3D TV. You may need to turn on the 3D feature on your TV. Check to see if your remote control has a 3D button. Note, you will only receive 3D if your cable/satellite/telco box is connected to your TV using an HDMI cable.

Dish Network has other Olympic offerings

Dish Network will not be airing the Olympics in 3D but it is offering special Olympics apps for its new Hopper DVR as well as for the legacy VIP DVR boxes. Starting Thursday, July 26, subscribers can go to the Dish home channel (100) to find out how to get the apps. There will also be onscreen instructions for getting the apps on the NBC channels airing the Olympics.

The apps will include medal counts by country, news, and other Olympic related information.

You can also watch all the Olympic sports live online at NBCOlympics.com or by using the NBC Olympics Live Extra app for Android, iPhones and iPads. Find out how to register to watch live Olympics, and get ready for the 2012 London Olympics.


This article first appeared on Tech Goes Strong by Barb Gonzalez: 3D Olympics Coverage- How to Get It


[My Take]

The 3D Olympics will be shown the next day? Therefore that means it is not going to be aired live in 3D. Is London Olympics in 3D good news or bad news? I thought this will be just a showdown between which 3D technology (LG 3D TV's Passive or Active 3D of Panasonic/Samsung/Sony) can produce a better 3D picture quality for the 3D Olympics; however it seems that NBC Olympics and official TV partner Panasonic must first think on how to broadcast Olympic games in 3D as sports has to be broadcast live.


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How to follow the London Olympics online

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CNN




(CNN) -- It would take you almost five solid months -- without sleeping or bathroom breaks -- to watch every sporting event at this year's Summer Olympics. More than 3,500 hours of competition from London will be crammed into just 17 days.

In the past, people had to settle for watching the delayed, edited bits broadcast on TV or websites, but technology and viewing habits have changed. This year, 40% of people plan to follow the games on more than one device, with 35% checking in on their tablets and 27% using their smartphone, according to a new study by Harris Interactive.

So what are the best ways for today's mobile, multiple-screen owning, Twitter-loving generation to follow the Olympics à la carte? We offer these five:


Live streaming, with a catch
First, the good news: It's finally possible to stream any Olympic event live online, on a tablet or from your smartphone. After years of tape-delayed broadcasts and online video, NBC has caught on that viewers want to follow the Olympics on multiple devices in real time, and is offering the live options in addition to its regular television programming.

The bad news is that anyone in the U.S. who wants to enjoy live streaming of the games needs to have a current cable, satellite or telco TV subscription that includes MSNBC and CNBC (for some areas this may mean be more than just basic cable). You will be prompted on the NBC site and in NBC apps to choose your provider from a list and log in with your official username and password in order to access any live streams.

Cord cutters -- those who have canceled their cable and primarily watch TV online through services like Hulu and Netflix -- are out of luck, however. They can sign up for cable and cancel after the games are over, but there's no one-time payment option just to access live streaming. NBC wants mobile and online options to complement the TV coverage, not replace it.

NBC, which is owned by the largest cable provider in the United States, Comcast, paid $1.18 billion for the rights to this year's Olympics. The network makes a good portion of that amount back on television advertising, which still generates more revenue than online ads.


Online
The Internet portal for all video in the U.S. is NBCOlympics.com. On the main video page, anyone can view the select clips that NBC posts after watching a short ad. These clips are a combination of highlights from events, interviews, profiles, and peeks behind the scenes. Sort by your sport of choice or type of video.

The site is also providing live streams of any sport to cable, satellite or telco TV subscribers. Called LiveExtra, the service will live stream some Olympic trials and every single Olympic sport. You can watch online or through the complimentary app. It's the only option for live streaming in the U.S.

Though hosted through YouTube, all of the videos on the NBCOlympics are in Flash. To view them on iPhones, iPads or other mobile devices, go to the mobile version of the site, m.nbcolympics.com. You can also download one of the official apps to watch official NBC Olympic video on your iOS or Android device.

For the first time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will live stream 11 high-definition channels simultaneously over YouTube for 64 territories in Asia and Africa that don't have broadcast deals, but those streams will not be accessible outside of those countries. Foreign news websites such as the BBC will also have videos, but again, most will be blocked for U.S. viewers.


Mobile apps
NBC created two official apps for Android and Apple mobile devices, NBC Olympics and NBC Olympics Live Extra, and both are free to download. NBC Olympics has no live video, but tons of content that can be enjoyed by anyone for free, including news, results, video highlights, and the intriguing-sounding Twitter heat map.

NBC Olympics Live Extra app is a mobile version of its LiveExtra online service and requires a cable, satellite or telco subscription. View any event live, watch replays of the ones you missed, and check out medal ceremonies and alternative camera views. Look over the in-app schedule and set up notifications for the events you don't want to miss. (Avid streamers should be careful not to go over their monthly data limits.)

There are two official apps for the London 2012 Olympics, and they're available for a mix of platforms including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. Official London 2012: Results App has live updates of results, as well as schedules, news, background on sports and athlete profiles. You can follow specific countries and set up custom alerts. The second app, Official London 2012: Join In App, is more for people attending the games, and has schedules and locations for the various Olympic-related festivities going on in London.

The free BBC Olympic iOS and Android app will have a steady stream of quality Olympics news, including a running tally of medals won and live reporting from the BBC journalists attending events.


Social media and news
Perhaps you have no interest in seeing your favorite diver's perfectly executed reverse 3 1/2 somersault tuck. You just want to know who got the gold as soon as it happens. Individual sports have official, automated Twitter feeds that will tweet out the results as they happen. You can narrow it down to just the events you're interested in and follow those feeds (say @L2012Trampoline or @L2012Judo), or keep an eye on all of them at once by following the London 2012 official Twitter list of automated feeds. The official London 2012 feed is @London2012.

This year a lot of the fun will be following the athletes themselves. You can look up your favorites or follow this list of verified Olympic athlete Twitter accounts, the London 2012 list of Olympians or find a list just for your preferred sport of team, like Team USA.

If you want more color, find a hashtag for the event you're interested in to get live tweets of the excitement as it happens from attendees and journalists. There's also an official London 2012 Facebook page you can like to get updates.

And of course, there are old-fashioned news sites and blogs filled with words and pictures. There are 21,000 journalists in London covering the Olympics (outnumbering the 10,500 athletes competing).
With all the content online, on TV and on social media, keeping up with the Olympics won't be nearly as much of a challenge as avoiding spoilers.


Television
Oh right, there's TV, too. If you have cable, you can catch NBC's coverage scattered across a number of its channels: NBC, NBC Sports Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo and Telemundo. Check the schedule for your location, sorted by time or sport, at the NBC Olympics site.

If you don't have cable, you can still tune into NBC over the air for nearly round-the-clock coverage, including the four-hour prime-time broadcast that will show the most popular events mixed in with the usual profiles and athlete interviews. The channel will broadcast a total of 217 hours of Olympic coverage.

This article appeared on CNN by Heather Kelly: How to follow the London Olympics online



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Protect Yourself From Government Cellphone Surveillance [Android]

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 27 Juli 2012 0 komentar

cell phone surveillanceLet’s face it, these days the likelihood that you are being monitored by someone is rising all the time. I’m not saying that everyone, everywhere faces the threat of cellphone surveillance, but there are plenty of situations where you could be at risk without realizing it.



How To Protect Yourself From Government Cellphone Surveillance [Android]


Maybe you’re an activist on the streets of New York City, with the police and FBI parked outside of your apartment building. Maybe you’re a freedom fighter in the Middle East, trying to get the news out about conditions in your country. Or maybe you’re a journalist working somewhere in the world where there’s government corruption and you’re trying to expose it.
It doesn’t take much to become targeted by both amateurs and professionals alike, for eavesdropping and surveillance.  A New York Times article from March revealed that police agencies in the U.S. are increasingly using cellphones to perform surveillance on suspected individuals. This isn’t to say they are only using the technique on confirmed criminals – all you have to be is “suspect” to face the threat of “big brother” analyzing your every move.
Even in the face of overwhelming surveillance and even professional attempts to gather information about you through your phone, there are a few steps that you can take to protect your personal information. At the very least, the tools and tips that I’m going to introduce you to in this article will make it significantly more difficult for anyone to find out what you’re doing with your phone.

Protecting Your Cellphone From Surveillance Attempts

Tracking someone with a cellphone is a popular request – jilted former boyfriends or girlfriends want to know how to track someone, suspicious wives or husbands are always asking how to do it, and the list goes on. One of my most popular articles that I’ve ever written just happens to be about how to trace a cellphone with Google Latitude. To this day, I still get requests from people asking me to help them track someone’s cellphone.
Steve also covered the topic, explaining how to find your friends via GPS. The danger of being tracked is so real that Christian felt compelled to write an article helping people turn off “localization” on their phones. But is turning off those services enough to protect yourself?

Encrypting Your Notes

The truth is that turning off those apps and services that track your location is only the first step. I highly suggest you take Christians advice and do that as a first step. It’s all too easy to track someone that has turned on their GPS and enabled some app that reports out to Latitude, Facebook or Twitter.
However, the next step is making sure that the undercover guys sitting in the van out in the street can’t intercept your email, your text messages, and your phone calls. You also need to protect the data that you store on your phone. In this article, I’m going to help you encrypt and protect all of that information.
If you need to keep track of private information, like passwords or account numbers, on your mobile phone, install Safe Notes. Safe notes will store those critical notes behind a PIN number of your choosing.

cell phone surveillance

Of course, just having a PIN number to access stored notes will not protect the data from someone that can gain access to your data directory on your phone, and attempts to extract the text from your note through some back-door technique. For that contingency, Safe Notes stores all of your entered notes on your phone using 128-bit encryption.

government surveillance

That means that any information you store within Safe Notes will truly be protected from prying eyes. Only the most sophisticated, tech-savvy hacker would even stand a chance of cracking that, and such a hacker is not going to be on the payroll of the police department. You might have to worry if the FBI is involved – but even then, you’d have to be worth the effort for the Feds to try to break the 128-bit encryption.

Encrypting Text and Email

Another big concern isn’t just the information you have stored on your smartphone, but the information you have streaming in and out of it in the form of text messages and email. One simple app that can help you protect those transmissions is Encrypted Messages by Hacker Daily.

government surveillance

This app lets you create a text message that you want to transmit, give it a password, and then receive the message in encrypted form in the message box at the bottom of the app. The only way anyone will be able to decipher that strange mix of text and characters is if they have the Encrypted Messages app, and if they know the correct password.

government surveillance

If you click on the “Mail” button, the app will actually compose the email for you using your default email app, and it’ll paste your encrypted message into the body. All you have to do is hit Send.

cellphone surveillance

The person receiving the encrypted message can simply paste the message into the app, type the correct shared password, and read the decrypted text in the bottom window.

cellphone surveillance
I
t really doesn’t get much simpler than that.  The good thing about this kind of setup is that if the password ever gets compromised, you can both simply agree on a new password and start sending encrypted messages safely again.

Encrypting Voice

Encrypting text is all well and good, but what about all of the phone calls that you make? What is stopping someone from intercepting those transmissions in mid-air and listening in on your conversation? Realistically, not a whole lot.
As the world becomes more and more mobile, people become more and more susceptible to conversations getting intercepted. You may not think voice conversations hold a lot of private information, but think about everyone you talk with on your phone – your doctor, your lawyer, or your business associates.
Voice is trickier to encrypt, but not many people realize that the HeyTell VoIP app actually encrypts all data and audio in transit.

cellphone surveillance

Just set your privacy high so that only you can decide who you communicate with, and then start using the app. It’s a very cool app that can replace phone calls to any friends or associates that are also running the application on their smartphone.


It basically turns your phone into a press-to-talk capable phone – converting your cellphone into a digital walkie-talkie with encrypted transmissions!
So, you’ve got your notes, your text messages, your emails, and your voice transmissions all encrypted and protected from government surveillance, so is there anything left?

Lock Up Passwords and Accounts

I know I mentioned that SafeNotes could be used to encrypt text like passwords, but if you really want double-security for your critical, private information, then you’ll want to install MindWallet.
MindWallet is a popular data-protection app that stores your account and password information behind military-grade encryption – a 128 bit AES algorithm.



Your Master Password doesn’t get stored anywhere in plain text, not even on your phone, so it’s a password that you don’t want to forget. It is your key to everything. Once you log in with that Master Password, you can store everything – bank account details, critical websites, your email account details, credit card accounts, and any other username/passwords you need to remember.



The cool thing is that you aren’t limited to the templates that come with MindWallet. If there’s information that’s very specific that you want to lock away, just create your own database entry fields and add them to your own custom “item” that you want to store inside your secure “wallet”.

cell phone surveillance

When it comes to surveillance, the main reason police and even journalists have been able to hack so easily into the personal details of cellphone users is because no one bothers to protect themselves. Voice and data gets transmitted without even a bit of security in most cases. By adding the sort of high-level encryption found in the apps above, you will make yourself a much smaller target that is nearly impenetrable to most surveillance attempts.
Encryption is the key. Give the apps above a try and let us know how well they worked out for you. Were they convenient enough, or did they hamper your use of communication apps? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Police via Shutterstock

Source: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/protect-government-cellphone-surveillance/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=2012-07-27

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NBC planning more than 5,000 hours of Olympic coverage

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 26 Juli 2012 0 komentar
NBC Olympics via The Detroit News




More than 1.1 million Comcast subscribers across Michigan, and those through other providers, are expected to have an unprecedented Summer Olympics viewing experience during the London Games.

NBC is scheduled to provide 5,535 hours of Olympics coverage, and cable subscribers who at least have the basic digital service will get to view events on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo and Telemundo, as well as online in real-time.

"People want content when they want it," said Patrick Paterno, a Comcast spokesman for the company's Heartland region. "We didn't have the kind of technology four years ago that we have now."

Subscribers of Comcast's on-demand service also will have the luxury of watching events whenever they want to — either on TV, or online, a tablet or mobile device.

If that isn't enough, NBC offers a mobile app called "Olympics Live Extra" that live-streams 3,500 program hours from a total of 32 Olympic events and the awarding of 302 medals.

Another mobile app, "NBC Olympics," will update viewers on the latest news with live results, TV and online viewing listings and social interaction opportunities during live broadcasts during the 17-night programming schedule.

Both mobile apps are free and available at itunes.com/app store or play.google.com.

The technological advances should excite viewers, said Mark Lazarus, NBC Sports Group's chairman.

"It is a tremendous undertaking — things that have never been done, to a level that's never been done before," Lazarus said in a recent teleconference. "We're going to build the optimum mix for viewership and for fan experience."

The Olympics Live Extra app only is available to verified cable and satellite providers, including Comcast, and requires activation through the service.

For information on Olympics Extra, visit nbcolympics.com/liveextra/help.

Given the number of Olympic events and broadcast hours, an event might end up on multiple NBC-affiliate channels or it could be limited to one.

All broadcasts times are subject to change, so cable subscribers should check their local listings daily.

The easiest way for Comcast subscribers to find which Olympic-related channels they have is to use the "Menu" function on their remote, press "Find shows" and search "2012 Olympics."


3D also available

NBC and Panasonic teamed up to provide coverage of the Olympics, and it's expected to be available in 80 percent of all United States homes.

This is an Olympics first.

Comcast, AT&T, Bright House Networks, Wide Open West and most other major cable providers have this service, part of the network's enhanced Olympics package.

The 3D coverage of events is expected to be on a one-day delay and can only be viewed with a 3D-ready TV and glasses.

This article first appeared on The Detroit News via NBC Olympics by Eric Lacy: NBC planning more than 5,000 hours of Olympic coverage


[My Take]

The NBC Olympics would be a more practical app to use if they create an app for Google TVs (LG/Sony) since Olympics games are normally watched on televisions. Imagine watching 2012 Olympic games while checking out the results and schedules at the same time on the same TV screen.




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Google Fiber Announcement in Kansas City, July 2012

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
Engadget


Google just kicked its Google Fiber efforts into overdrive. The company's Kansas City effort is getting a full launch and now includes Google Fiber TV -- a "real" TV service with recognizable channels and its own, fully searchable interface that mixes DVR results with Netflix and YouTube. As many as 500 shows can be stored in full 1080p HD, and several TVs within the home can tune in at the same time.. Not surprisingly, there's also a major mobile component taking advantage of that 1Gbps fiber link, as users will have the option of browsing, sharing and eventually watching live TV directly from tablet apps. The company is also promising an ever-evolving service that includes Google+ video hangouts. For hardware, Google has its own dedicated Network Box with a four-port gigabit Ethernet router and 802.11n WiFi, a TV Box with live viewing and a WiFi access point as well as a Storage Box DVR with 2TB of data and the ability to record eight shows at once. Your remote control? A free, bundled Nexus 7 tablet, naturally.

The overall service will come with 1TB of Google Drive space, although it's expensive to get started: there's a $300 "construction fee" (currently being waived) to wire a home for the fiber optics. Three packages will be on offer, starting with a Gigabit + TV package that includes the essentials, all major channels and "hundreds" of fiber channels (plus on-demand content) for $120 a month. Skip traditional TV and it costs $70 a month -- and if you're a local resident willing to pony up the construction free, you can get 5Mbps internet access for free for "at least" seven years. Key institutions are getting the full gigabit access for free, as well. Only small slices of Kansas City in both Missouri and Kansas state should have access at first, but Google is conducting a six-week "rally" where the most people paying a $10 pre-registration fee dictate where Google Fiber goes next. Now if only other cities would go the same route.



This article first appeared on Engadget by Jon Fingas: Google Fiber gets formal launch, adds Google Fiber TV



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LG Q2 profits climb thanks to cost cutting, but mobile business flounders

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
The Verge



Korean manufacturer LG Electronics has reported Q2 net profits of 159 billion won ($138 million), up 46 percent from the second quarter of last year. Attributable largely to a program of cost reductions and a shift away from low-margin products such as tablets, the jump comes amid a 10.6 percent decline in overall takings. While LG's home entertainment, appliance, and air conditioning divisions performed strongly, revenues from the company's mobile business fell 28.5 percent year-on-year.

LG Mobile Communications Company made a 57 billion won ($49 million) operating loss in the second quarter, which the company attributes to marketing expenses for devices such as the Optimus 4X HD. Reuters notes that LG has been squeezed from both ends of the mobile market in recent months, with Chinese manufacturers ZTE and Huawei putting pressure on the low end and the premium segment proving difficult to crack. LG's mobile division reported a 22 percent increase in smartphone shipments as a proportion of overall sales, but much of this can be attributed to a decline in demand for its lower-end feature phones.

LG Home Entertainment Company has posted far more positive results — while overall sales declined 5.8 percent year-on-year, Q2 operating profit more than doubled to 216 billion won ($188 million). The company's Cinema 3D TVs performed particularly well, and LG stresses that it will continue to "aggressively promote" the technology to drive further sales. It expects general demand for TVs to increase into next year, due partly to growing sales in the developing world. Whether this will be enough to jumpstart overall revenue growth in the coming quarters remains to be seen.


This article appeared on The Verge by Louis Goddard: LG Q2 profits climb thanks to cost cutting, but mobile business flounders


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Weekend Unplugged from Technology and from Being an Educator

Posted by Unknown Rabu, 25 Juli 2012 0 komentar
Those who have known me, know I have been an avid reader of Buddhist writings for the past five years. I've even tapped into some of that wisdom here on the blog from time to time. I say that not to promote that way of thought. Tonight, I thought I would just take a moment and let everyone know that I am "unplugging" this weekend. Beginning tomorrow afternoon sometime, I am passing into the mountains of North Carolina, away from cell towers and WiFi, to participate in three days of Mindfulness training and meditation. It should be a time for me, with the guidance of a teacher, explore my mind and techniques for becoming focused and aware. When I scheduled this session back in February, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity for me to reflect and recharge before our school year begins next week. It is my time to not just physically unplug from technology, but also unplug from my role as an administrator too.


Please understand, I am certainly not evangelizing or promoting my beliefs here. In fact, in true Buddhist fashion, I think we all have to explore that area and settle it for ourselves. I do share the fact that I am unplugging for a couple of days, simply because I have heard people say we all should do that once in a while. I honestly can't recall the last time I was away from Twitter, blogging, and other social media for three days. I also can't recall the last time I thought of myself as someone other than a school administrator or educator. This weekend I will do both, and I would be lying if I said was not a bit apprehensive and excited about the experience.

When I started this post, I had all these ideas of posting goals, objectives, things I wanted to explore this weekend, but I think doing that kind of misses the point. I need to unplug from those things too. I need to just be and let go of any and all expectations too. Perhaps I should have just posted, "I'm unplugged." See you next week. 


I think sometimes we all need to step away from technology and our educator roles and get back in touch with who we are away from those things.

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MS Office: We’re ready for Mountain Lion!

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The Verge
Make sure you have Office for Mac’s AutoUpdate enabled



We found quite a lot to like in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, but upgrading your computer's operating system always carries with it the potential to harm the stability of your essential apps. Users of Microsoft Office are in the clear, however, with Redmond stating today that both Office for Mac 2011 and Office for Mac 2008 work just fine with Apple's new operating system. There is one wrinkle, however: according to Microsoft, standalone software updates for Office won't launch due to Mountain Lion's Gatekeeper security feature. The solution is to enable Office's AutoUpdate component; initiating updates through that software will work correctly.

Of course, it's important to note that Redmond is simply talking about compatibility — Office won't suddenly allow you to save documents to your iCloud account, for example — but for Office users anxious to take the Mountain Lion plunge the news will no doubt be quite welcome.

This article appeared on The Verge by Bryan Bishop: Microsoft confirms Office for Mac is compatible with Mountain Lion


[My Take]

Good news but Google Docs have started to gradually replace my MS Office. Well, probably just simple word processing? I still make presentations on MS PowerPoint and account stuff using MS Excel.


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LG releases a new 3D TV Monitor with the DM2792D

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
[Akihabara News]




Here you are LG’s latest all in one monitor the DM279D. Available in either 17 or 27” this Cinema 3D Full HD Monitor come with an IPS Panel offering a 178 degrees view angle as well as natural color reproduction but also comes with a thing 1mm bezel.
The DM2792D comes with a pair of USB ports letting you access to movies and pictures stored on a USB Stick for example as well as basic PIP features.

Finally the DM2792D as been announced at around 500,000 Won in Korea and will be shortly available in other countries soon.

This article first appeared on Akihabara News via LG: LG releases a new 3D TV Monitor with the DM2792D

[My Take]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The award-winning design of the LG LM9600 was hailed by Red Dot Design and CNET so why not recycle the successful form and apply it onto other electronic products like this new monitor. It still sports the stunning ribbon-inspired design of the Cinema 3D Smart TV launched this year 2012.

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Apple to release Mountain Lion system

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
The Verge



As part of its quarterly earnings press release, Apple has confirmed that OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, the latest version of its desktop operating system, will be released via the Mac App Store tomorrow. Priced at $19.99, Mountain Lion brings a number of elements from iOS to the Mac with new features including Notification Center, expanded iCloud support, Reminders, a revamped Messages app, and more. We took an in-depth look at an early preview of OS X 10.8 back in February, and Apple has also detailed each of the 200+ new features you'll find inside the OS starting tomorrow. When the moment does finally arrive, you'll need to be running either Mac OS X Lion or the most recent version of Snow Leopard (10.6.8) to upgrade.

This article appeared on The Verge by Chris Welch: Apple announces OS X Mountain Lion will be released on Wednesday

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LG introduces new IPS Monitors with Cinema Screen Design and MHL

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 24 Juli 2012 0 komentar
[Akihabara News]




LG announced the global roll-out of its premium IPS7 series monitors, launching first in the Asian markets of Korea and China, including Hong Kong. The IPS7 series features LG’s own CINEMA SCREEN Design, with an almost invisible bezel for an unobstructed entertainment experience and a sophisticated, modern appearance. The IPS7 series also delivers lifelike color consistency and representa-tion across a wider viewing angle, thanks to LG’s own IPS technology. The addition of Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) makes it easy to connect external devices, like smartphones, for immersive viewing on a larger screen.

Incorporation of LG’s CINEMA SCREEN Design results in an impressively thin 1.2mm bezel, practically eliminating any visual distraction and allowing for greater viewing immersion. In addition to the incredibly narrow bezel, the overall depth of LG’s IPS7 moni-tors has been reduced to a mere 14.1mm. The streamlined metallic stand creates an aesthetically sharp profile and the cable management feature further enhances the visual appeal. What’s more, traditional plastic buttons have been replaced by capacitive touch controls for a sleeker look. CINEMA SCREEN Design delivers in style what LG’s advanced IPS technology provides in stunning picture quality. The clean lines and modern, minimal design add value to any space, while the lifelike colors and crisp tones add up to a visual experi-ence that is second to none.

Addressing the need for easier connectivity, LG has provided the perfect solution with today’s newest technology: MHL. With Mobile High-Definition Link technology, IPS7 series owners can easily connect mobile devices to the monitor with a single cable to the HDMI input port. With MHL, photographs and movies stored on smartphones can be viewed on the larger monitor screen. The IPS7 series even charges connected mobile devices while users enjoy their favorite content.

Full Entertainment Experience with Lifelike Colors and Ultimate Visual Comfort
The IPS7 series uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels rather than conventional Twisted Nematic (TN) technology found in most monitors. This brings advantages in picture quality and color consistency, letting users enjoy the most vivid and true-to-life colors around. The IPS7 series produces an incredibly smooth viewing experience, without the blur that often accompanies rapid motion in action scenes, sports and video games. This means less stress on the eyes, even when using the monitor for an extended period of time. With improved response times when viewing motion pictures, users can enjoy the benefit of the smoothest entertainment experience around.

And IPS panels excel under a wider range of viewing angles when compared to their TN counterpart. Users can play games or watch videos while sitting, standing or lying down without experiencing any color shift or distortion.

Specifications
Screen Size: IPS277L (27-inch) and IPS237L (23-inch)
Panel Type: LED IPS
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Brightness: 250nit
Contrast Ratio: Mega
Response Time: 5ms
Viewing Angle: 178/178
Functions: H/W Calibration Ready, Dual Smart Solution, Super Energy Saving, 6 Axis Control, Factory Calibration

This article first appeared on Japan Probe via Akihabara News: LG introduces new IPS Monitors with Cinema Screen Design and MHL!


[My Take]

Can this Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) which is a proposed industry standard display better video and picture quality compare with the quality shown through LG's own Smart Share on TVs in the LG Cinema 3D Smart TV product line?

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Google's first Nexus 7 commercial airs on YouTube

Posted by Unknown Senin, 23 Juli 2012 0 komentar
The Verge



Google's Camping commercial for the Nexus 7 has just hit YouTube, bringing with it all manner of schmaltz. Watch as a bearded gentleman and (we're assuming) his son strengthen their bond through the glory of camping, Google apps, and an unusually strong outdoor Wi-Fi signal. The entire family bonding scenario reminds us of a commercial produced by one of Google's tablet OEMs, Acer, which depicted a similar scene of idyllic family fun facilitated by an Android tablet — we'll let you decide which of the two glosses over the lack of tablet-optimized apps the best.

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How To Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar

From LIfeHacker.com

Google Voice is great, but it isn't an entirely free voice-over-internet service if you have to pay a phone bill to use it. With a few tweaks, though, you can make completely free internet phone calls with Google Voice. Here's how.


Note: Gizmo5's desktop software once offered great free VoIP calling through Google Voice. So great, in fact, that Google bought the maker, closed sign-ups, and now sits on it. Here's the new, up-to-date, and completely free way to make free internet calls with Google Voice.
When you've got Sipgate set up as one of your Google Voice numbers, you can, basically make and receive calls from your computer as if it were just a large and awkwardly designed cellphone. You can still pick up calls to your main number on your cellphone or other lines, or just pick it up on your laptop or desktop, with a good headset or just your built-in mic and speakers. You'll save yourself cellular minutes, possibly experience better call quality, and record calls with ease.


Not quite sure what Google Voice does, or why you'd want it? We've been there ourselves. Skim through our takes on whether you'd actually need Google Voice, how to ease your transition to Google Voice, or simply skim through Google's comprehensive video guide, the introduction to which is below:
When you're done setting up a free VoIP service through Google Voice, you'll be able to pull off the same kind of free calling from your desktop as you could once do with Gizmo5—but with Gizmo5 closed to sign-ups at the moment, and no word from Google on future digital calling, this is the cheap and easy way to go, for the time being.

What You'll Need

  • Google Voice account: Google Voice is a free service that, as of June 22nd (today if you're reading this when it published), is available for everyone in the U.S. and Canada. All you need to use it is your Google account, so head to the Google Voice homepage and sign on in to get started (if you haven't already).
  • Sipgate account & phone number: Both are free—even the real phone number that folks can call you on all they want. Sipgate has many neat services to recommend it beyond its free Sipgate One service-with some cheap hardware, you could set up what amounts to a very cheap digital phone network, in your house or with a small telecommuting team. For now, though, we're just going to hook up a Sipgate One phone account and number up to Google Voice.
  • Audio tools for computer calls: You can make and take phone calls using your laptop's microphone and speakers, but if you're going to be talking regularly, you'll probably want to upgrade to a decent USB headset with microphone.
  • Cellphone with text messaging: Just for a verification code that Sipgate sends. You won't need the cellphone to actually use your free VoIP setup.

Step 1: Set Up Sipgate

Setting up a Sipgate account is a pretty familiar process, and less intensive then, say, Google Voice. Here's the abbreviated walkthrough:


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice

Head to the Sipgate One site and click the "Sign up now" button. You'll be asked to provide your cellphone number and carrier, then get a text message with a short verification code.


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice

After filling it in, you'll be asked to provide some information: name, address, email, and a password. The email must be real and used, because you'll use it to verify your account further. The address, if you don't love the idea of giving it away, can be relative—it's used primarily to pin down your location and figure out which area codes you'd want.

About those area codes—Sipgate doesn't offer all of them. In fact, in upstate New York, Sipgate only offered 518 and 845, and after selecting 518, it turns out Sipgate plum ran out. I had to pretend like I lived in San Diego (good people live there!) to pin down a number, but since this is a software phone and I'm connecting through my proper Google Voice number, it didn't really matter to me. Your mileage may vary, but your friends and contacts are only calling your Google Voice number, which then rings you on your computer, so the actual number doesn't matter all that much.


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice

Once you've picked out and confirmed your number, you'll be asked to download and install the software. I'd recommend just downloading, but not yet installing and launching the Sipgate desktop software. Respond to your email activation message, and keep moving through the setup process.
You'll eventually arrive at a screen where you'll have to pin down an exact address, for what I've reasoned is the inclusion of E-911 data with the phone number Sipgate is issuing you. Depending on the area you're trying to obtain a phone number in, you may end up with a failure message indicating that there are no numbers available for the address and area code you picked out. This is how I ended up virtually moving to San Diego. Be sure to pick out the options indicated for a free, single number, so that your sign-up form looks akin to this:


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice


Head into your Sipgate settings by signing in (upper right corner) at Sipgate.com, then clicking "Settings" in the upper-right corner. In the default "Phone" section, you'll likely see the cellphone you provided as linked to your account. Mouse over that cellphone, and select either "Delete device" (which most of us can safely do), or "Deactivate" (if you think you might pull off some fancy VoIP-to-cell tricks in the future). Either way, you want "Phone of (Your Name)" to be the primary call taker, since that's your Sipgate number. If Sipgate bugs you to set up routing to your phone, go ahead and click the link to do so. Your Sipgate routing setup should, in the end, be very simple—one phone number rings one (virtual) phone.


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice


There's one last area to address inside Sipgate, because the service tends to capture its incoming calls with its own voicemail system, rather than letting Google Voice pick up the unanswered call. Head into Sipgate's voicemail, call forwarding and hunting rules.


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice

To put it simply, you're going to clear out everything—any forwarding rules, the basic voicemail condition, all of it. When you're done, this settings area should look like the example at left, with Sipgate indicating "You have not set up voicemail or call forwarding" for either your number or your account.
Once that's done, you could log into your Sipgate software and test it out by calling your new number from a cellphone or landline, but you don't need to—we're going to have Google Voice call you anyways, to connect your number.

Step 2: Connecting to Google Voice

Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice


Head to your Google Voice "Phones" settings and click the "Add another phone" link at the bottom of your list. Enter a name (maybe "Sipgate") and the phone number Sipgate assigned you, with area code, along with picking a phone type ("Home" or "Work" should play) and un-checking the "Receive text messages" option, then hit "Save." Google Voice will now ask to call that number and have you punch in a two-digit code to verify it's yours.
Make sure your Sipgate software is running, and that you're signed in, and then go ahead and authorize Google Voice to call. When the call comes through, switch over to the "Dialpad" tab on your Sipgate window, type in the code provided at the Google Voice site, and you'll hear Voice congratulate you on hooking the two together. You can now head back to your Phones settings at Google Voice, choose Advanced Settings, and detail exactly when your Sipgate number should ring.

Step 3: Using Sipgate from Your Computer

Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice

On both Windows and Mac, Sipgate's software is fairly minimalist—if you're used to Skype's mannerisms, it'll seem nearly invisible. It's a rectangular box with just four tabs, and its main purpose is to sit there and wait for you to dial a number or receive a call. That's fine for accepting calls—when you want to make a call, you're going to use Google Voice tools.


Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice


Sipgate gives you 60 free outbound call minutes with your phone number, but you don't really need to use them. Google Voice is a pretty ubiquitous service, at least where internet service is available. From a laptop or desktop, you can use a few tools to place an outgoing call—which will technically call you on your Sipgate number, then connect the call when you pick up.
  • Browser extensions: Google has an official Chrome extension that's pretty nifty, and Chad Smith regularly patches up an unofficial, experimental Firefox add-on that offers similar capabilities: click-to-call, call logs, SMS, and the like.
  • Google Voice web site: Keep it open in a tab, or maybe as a stand-alone browser app, and learn the basic shortcuts—specifically, "c" to make a call. There are, of course, many others to master.
  • Desktop tools: In addition to the single-site browser tools we've detailed that would work great with Google Voice, a few tools have been put together to tuck Google Voice calling onto your taskbar or system tray: Google Voice for Adobe AIR (all platforms), and Voice Mac (Mac only).
Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice


One final note on a little side-benefit of Sipgate—the software can natively record calls. Google Voice can record calls, too—but only on an incoming call, and you have to pull up the dialpad and press "4." Sipgate's desktop software simply records your call and offers it up as an MP3 when you're done. Like Google Voice, Sipgate will make a very obvious announcement that it's recording the call, to comply with the many different call-recording laws, but it's a pretty nice feature on the whole.

Big thanks go to reader Justin, who originally came across the Sipgate/Voice combo and blogged about it, along with tipping us. Got your Google Voice/Sipgate setup running and digging it so far? Having a problem, missing a feature from Gizmo5, or have another tip for a better free phone life? Tell us your take in the comments.

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5349506/make-free-voip-calls-from-google-voice

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iPhone 5 Release Date & Rumors Roundup

Posted by Unknown Minggu, 22 Juli 2012 0 komentar
 The release date of the new brilliant iPhone 5 is quite a thing to debate about. The truth is - we just don't know anything for sure until Apple tells us! People expected it to be out in June, yet here we are - awaiting the end of July and still no news about anything important related to the highly anticipated iPhone 5. Are the rumors about the iPhone 5 2013 release due to the battery dispute true? Hope not! Foxconn CEO reminded us not to worry and that the new product that they are creating for Apple will be quite a charming device that will blow away the competition. No doubt that we trust in his words, but the question remains - when will we see that happen already?


 We can agree that the longer Apple waits, the harder things will get and more will be expected of the new iPhone 5. Fans are furious already and while true Apple addicts (no disrespect meant, I'm one of them!) will wait for the new release before selling their old phone and upgrading, many will go over to other manufacturers. In particular I am referring to Android OS based phones such as Samsung and HTC which are honestly very brilliant.  A rumor on the release date is also that we can expect it on October 5th as a tribute to Steve Jobs which would probably be a lovely thing and a smart move considering that it is often good to make people buy things out of emotions. Yes, its not a very nice thing to do, but it is a smart thing to do for Apple!

List of other rumors/announcements:



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"Digital-Divide" Is Not an Excuse to Avoid Implementing a BYOD Policy at Your School

Posted by Unknown Sabtu, 21 Juli 2012 0 komentar

Recently, I found myself entangled with several people in a Twitter debate about whether BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies actually perpetuate or aggravate the digital divide our students currently experience. During the conversation, I could sense the frustration teachers feel when they stand before classrooms where large number of students barely have a home to go to in the evenings, much less their own technological devices to bring and use within school. Our economic mess has truly put a large number of our students in situations where they experience major disadvantages. Having a BYOD policy would seem to perpetuate the divide between the tech-haves and tech-have-nots. Still, I can't help but support any measures that give our students access. I do not buy into the argument of "no access for anyone until everyone can have it." Instead, I think we must do what Marc Prensky argues which is to find ways to "Bridge and eliminate this digital divide" and provide digital access to our students. As Prensky suggests, we are going to have to accept that there is always going to be some inequality, but there are things we should be doing as educators to mediate the impact of the digital divide, and trying to keep the playing field level by refusing anyone access until all have it is not the ethical thing to do.

As educators we must be concerned with our "students wanting or needing access to a minimal level of digital technology and not being able to get it." "We can make it our business to see that every student has 'enough' access rather than 'equal' access to digital technology." In addition, we can make sure our students are engaged in using this technology in stimulating, collaborative, and authentic, globally challenging ways. BYOD policies are a way for educators to give students that adequate access to technology to engage in 21st century learning, and do so, often with much less cost than 1:1 programs. To refuse instituting BYOD policies because not all students will be able to "bring their own devices" is, in my opinion, a dereliction of my duty as a 21st century administrator because I should be seeking every means possible to provide 21st century learning opportunities for all students. I would love to have a 1:1 program that puts devices into the hands of everyone of my students, and I will keep advocating for those days. But our current reality is that we must take advantage of our limited resources to make the most of digital opportunities for all students and that means providing BYOD access.

Still, we do need to be concerned about the effects of the digital divide under our BYOD policy. Here are some ways we might minimize the digital divide effects under BYOD policies:
  • Make sure the technology we currently have in our buildings is actually being used by the students. For example, if we have iPads, are these devices in the hands of the students as they engage in real-world problem-solving or is the teacher using the device to project to a video or a multimedia presentation? Our schools have technology, but often teachers and administrators use the technology and students watch.
  • Find ways to maximize how students share existing technology. Place students in deliberate groups so that every student can engage in activities that ask them to join in using that technology. Give each student in these groups tasks that need to be accomplished by using shared technological devices.
  • Find ways to increase access time. Keep computer labs open after school. If funding and staff allow, open the labs far beyond the length of the school day or on weekends.
  • Make sure all students know where additional areas of access are. Communicate to parents other places like public libraries where technology access is available. Our school is located within a town that has chosen to provide free wireless access in the downtown area. Making sure students and parents know were additional access is available is important.
  • Do everything  we can to advocate and get technology for those who don't have access. As a principal, my duty is to be an advocate for the education of all the students in my school. This does not mean using that there will always be unequal access to technology as an excuse for me to give up trying to push for better access to all. As a 21st century educational leader, equity is always the greatest of concerns and I need to pushing for equity too.
I am sure there are other ways 21st century school leaders can work to minimize the effects of the digital divide while engaging in the implementation of Bring Your Own Device measures. As we move further and further into the 21st century, we have a duty to provide our students with the level of technology access they need to be 21st century learners and that means finding ways to implement policies like BYOD that enhance learning for all of our students.

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