Google Drive set to take on Dropbox for your easy backup needs

 

The rumors are true.  Google Drive is ready to come out and play with the cloud store age world.  So far it is not as integrated at Apple’s iCloud but that is only a matter of time. Google says you can create, share, collaborate, and keep all of your stuff. They do mean all of it. You can save anything from videos, photos, Google Docs, PDFs and even executable files.  You can upload and access all of your files from any device including iOS. It is yet to be seen if this little beauty will have enough of what it takes to go up against the current Cloud Favorite DropBox.  Drive gives you 5GB of storage for free from the start and it is well integrated with your Google account already. That in its self maybe a pro and a con. I personal think Google knows to much about me already. Do I want to give them my files as well? If 5GB is not enough for you, you can choose to upgrade to 25GB for $2.49/month, 100GB for $4.99/month or even 1TB for $49.99/month.  The bonus of that is your Gmail account storage will get a bump to 25GB. You can request to be notified when Google Drive goes live by going over to drive.google.com/start.

What can you do with Google Drive? Ask no more:

• Create and collaborate. Google Docs is built right into Google Drive, so you can work with others in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you choose to share content with others, you can add and reply to comments on anything (PDF, image, video file, etc.) and receive notifications when other people comment on shared items.
• Store everything safely and access it anywhere (especially while on the go). All your stuff is just… there. You can access your stuff from anywhere—on the web, in your home, at the office, while running errands and from all of your devices. You can install Drive on your Mac or PC and can download the Drive app to your Android phone or tablet. We’re also working hard on a Drive app for your iOS devices. And regardless of platform, blind users can access Drive with a screen reader.
• Search everything. Search by keyword and filter by file type, owner and more. Drive can even recognize text in scanned documents using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. Let’s say you upload a scanned image of an old newspaper clipping. You can search for a word from the text of the actual article. We also use image recognition so that if you drag and drop photos from your Grand Canyon trip into Drive, you can later search for [grand canyon] and photos of its gorges should pop up. This technology is still in its early stages, and we expect it to get better over time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft and Facebook play nice with Patents. Apple and Samsung tae should take note.

Dear Apple and Samsung,

You might want take  note of what Microsoft and Facebook did today. Rather than squabbling over patents they worked out a $550 million patent agreement in which the social networking giant will purchase a portion of the patent portfolio Microsoft recently acquired recently from Aol. Facebook gets 650 patents and license the remaining patents from Microsoft. Microsoft will keep 275  patents and license 650 it transferred to Facebook.  Brad Smith, EVP and general counsel of Microsoft said that “Today’s agreement with Facebook enables us to recoup over half of our costs while achieving our goals from the AOL auction. As we said earlier this month, we had submitted the winning AOL bid in order to obtain a durable license to the full AOL portfolio and ownership of certain patents that complement our existing portfolio.” Ted Ullyot, Facebook’s general counsel, said, “this is another significant step in our ongoing process of building an intellectual property portfolio to protect Facebook’s interests over the long term.”

Microsoft, Facebook Announce Patent Agreement

April 23, 2012
REDMOND, Wash. and MENLO PARK, Calif. — April 23, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. and Facebook announced today a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will assign to Facebook the right to purchase a portion of the patent portfolio it recently agreed to acquire from AOL Inc. Facebook has agreed to purchase this portion for $550 million in cash.

In the initial AOL auction, Microsoft secured the ability to own or assign approximately 925 U.S. patents and patent applications plus a license to AOL’s remaining patent portfolio, which contains approximately 300 additional patents that were not for sale.

As a result of today’s agreement, Facebook will obtain ownership of approximately 650 AOL patents and patent applications, plus a license to the AOL patents and applications that Microsoft will purchase and own.

Upon closing of this transaction with Facebook, Microsoft will retain ownership of approximately 275 AOL patents and applications; a license to the approximately 650 AOL patents and applications that will now be owned by Facebook; and a license to approximately 300 patents that AOL did not sell in its auction.

“Today’s agreement with Facebook enables us to recoup over half of our costs while achieving our goals from the AOL auction,” said Brad Smith, executive vice president and general counsel, Microsoft. “As we said earlier this month, we had submitted the winning AOL bid in order to obtain a durable license to the full AOL portfolio and ownership of certain patents that complement our existing portfolio.”

“Today’s agreement with Microsoft represents an important acquisition for Facebook,” said Ted Ullyot, general counsel, Facebook. “This is another significant step in our ongoing process of building an intellectual property portfolio to protect Facebook’s interests over the long term.”

The parties are evaluating the accounting treatment for these transactions. These transactions are also subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

Gmail down for the count. YahooMail might pick up new users?… Nah

 

Gmail is down for the moment so says the InterWebs. I am not having issues but that seems to not to be the norm.  Temporary Error 500 errors are all over Twitter and Facebook. They are just now popping up on blog sites.  This is not the first time that Gmail has gone down. There have been numerous outages over the years of Google’s email service crashing.  Google said that it is “investigating reports of an issue with Google Mail.” In the meantime F5 is  your friend.  Side note: The mobile apps are working just fine.

Google gets a $25,000 slap on the wrist and warning of more punishment for its Street View

Google was fined $25,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for accessing unsecured networks and collected personal information without users’ permission. The  U.S. investigation is not even done yet but seems that things will not turn out so well for the Big G. The investigation all stems from the data collection scandal surrounding its Street View project.  The FCC said that “Google refused to identify any employees or produce any e-mails. The company could not supply compliant declarations without identifying employees it preferred not to identify,” . “Misconduct of this nature threatens to compromise the commission’s ability to effectively investigate possible violations of the Communications Act and the commission’s rules.”

Google  for its part said that “As the FCC notes in their report, we provided all the materials the regulators felt they needed to conclude their investigation and we were not found to have violated any laws. We disagree with the FCC’s characterization of our cooperation in their investigation and will be filing a response.”

Facebook buys Instagram: This is how to transfer your pictures out.

When I heard that Facebook had brought my beloved Instagram; I was shocked, angry, sad, and finally at peace. Someone told me those are similar emotions felt when you lose a loved one. It was enough to open the floodgates to Android. I was happy for that move but to sell out to Facebook is taking a big plunge into the unknown. Everyone is aware of the privacy issues Facebook has. That is the reason I hardly use the social network.

Instagram is a model of what all programs hope to be. Loved and valuable. Instagram managed to attract not only a loyal but dare I say rabid fan base. The side effect of that success was the release of a plethora of clones on the AppStore harping for some of the spotlight. None however could manage to shine brighter than the original.

What I noticed right away was that Instagram had no advertisement. No pop-ups, not so much as a in app upgrade feature. The app it’s self was free to download. So, that’s millions of users on a nonmonetized app. Surely there must be a plan to cash in. It seems there was a plan brewing behind the curtain. One wonders how many meetings Instagram had with Facebook before papers were signed. Was the release of an Android app a stipulation of the deal or was it a show of good will? Did millions of downloads overnight jack up the asking price?

1 billion dollars!? That’s $1,000,000,000 for what can best be described as Flickr with filters mixed with Twitter. To be fair, to Facebook that’s pocket change. Never the less, Facebook does not spend money without a plan. Look for tight integration between Instagram and Facebook. Further integration means full out control by Zuck and company. That is a red flag for me. I’m one of those people that like to get into things before they become trends and ruined; I mean part of pop culture.

Instagram has lost that hip and exclusive feel for me. Not to mention my concerns with how Facebook will analyze my pictures. If you’re like me and want to jump ship but need a lifeboat for your pictures; rejoice for there is hope. Like the Holy Trinity there are 3. Three options to take your pictures with you. Copygr.am, InstaBackup and Instaport. The latter has gone down due to high traffic. I tried all three and Copygr.me had all my pictures, over 400 of them in my inbox within 5 minutes. Don’t frank out, you get a zip file. Even if you don’t leave Instagram, it’s good practice to backup your pictures before Facebook closes the API.

Amazon Fire Phone: Dear Google we can do an Android phone & we can do it better

Google’s Android device makers love Android because it is open source. What they don’t like is that they have to pay Google to use parts of it and that so much of it is locked down. Amazon’s Kindle Fire showed them another way it and they want to release their own.  Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet runs on Android 2.3, gingerbread but Amazon has done such a great job with modding it; one can barely resembles Android.  Android’s source code is readily available, companies can do what they want with it. The only thing keeping them tied to Google has been, up to now, the desire to be part of the official lineup of Android Play and other Google apps.

However Amazon went their own way with a store and it worked. More and more companies plan to do the same thing. Sony already does something similar with Vita. This trend is great news for fans of the Android platform. This is not a good thing for  Google who will continue to lose what little control they have over it.

It is yet to be seen can Amazon work with major carriers to offer a phone.  There could and most likely will be a conflict of interest since Amazon currently sells phones. What is to stop them from marketing just their own phone and leaving everyone else on the shelf. That said it would be a PR nightmare if they did. I for one I’m looking forward to some competition to the Apple dominance and Android mediocreness.

Can Next Issue Media’s all you can read Digital Magazine Subscriptions work and will Apple’s Newstand be effected

Do you a tablet? Do you like magazines? Do you hate the Apple Newstand? Well Next Issue Media was hoping you would say yes to all the above.  Tablets are everywhere. As we all know Apple’s iPad has a virtual monopoly on the tablet market and as such on the magazine market. That also helps them sell everything. You can find pretty much any magazine you want to buy in Apple‘s Newsstand app. The problem is  you still have to  download each magazine’s reader app. Some of those apps are nothing but a glorified PDF reader.  Magazine publishers want some of the action that the Newstand now enjoys. Conde Nast, Hearst, Time Inc., Meredith and News Corp. have teamed together to form Next Issue Media.

Next Issue Media’s CEO Morgan Guenther said “On the consumer experience side, at least from our perspective, there’s been very little innovation. At the moment, one of the chief unmet needs is simplicity.”   The new tablet only newsstand lets users pick between different magazines for one low subscription price.  The prices are as follows; $14.99 covers weekly & monthly titles. You also can pay just $9.99 for only monthly titles. I love this idea and can’t wait to try it. Unfortunately,  right now the app is only on Android tablets running Honeycomb or higher but an  iOS app will out in a few weeks.

The only thing that people might not like is that users have to go to Next Issue Media’s website to manage their subscription purchases. You will not be able to do from within the app. That is very smart on the part of  Next Issue Media. This way they do not have to pay Apple 30% that everyone else has too. This is a very smart idea.

HTC EVO 4G comes to Sprint for $199

The HTC HTC EVO 4G LTE  will be on Sprint and really packs a punch. Is it strong enough to dent the world of Apple? Better yet will help Sprint’s bottom line at all? The EVO 45 LTE has  a 4.7-inch Super LCD display , a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, an 8-megapixel camera , Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 16GB of internal storage. If you need more space it also supports  microSD. To help that Snapdragon out it also has 1GB of RAM, NFC, 4G LTE and a 2,000 mAh battery.  HTC EVO 4G LTE pre-sales begin May 7th for $199.99 on contract.

 

Press Release:

HTC EVO 4G LTE, Exclusively from Sprint, First HD Voice-capable Smartphone Available in the U.S.;
Offers Best-in-Class Features, including Beats Audio,
Amazing Camera and HD Display

Next-generation EVO offers the ability to enjoy industry-leading features
without fear of overage charges or throttling with unlimited data plans
for new and existing Sprint customers

Available in Q2 for $199.99; Register for updates at www.sprint.com/evo4glte

NEW YORK – April 4, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S), the only national wireless carrier offering truly unlimited data for all phones while on the Sprint network¹, and HTC, a global designer of smartphones, announce the next evolution of the  award-winning HTC EVO™ family: HTC EVO™ 4G LTE. HTC EVO 4G LTE focuses on exceptional improvements in camera technology, audio and voice quality on both the network and device.

HTC EVO 4G LTE will be available in the second quarter for $199.99 (excludes taxes and surcharges). The availability date will be announced later. Customers can sign up for updates today at www.sprint.com/evo4glte, and pre-order will begin Monday, May 7, at www.sprint.com.

HTC EVO 4G LTE is built on Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, integrated with HTC Sense™ 4. HTC EVO 4G LTE boasts brilliant features, including a vibrant 4.7-inch HD display, HD voice capabilities, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, large 2000mAh embedded battery and dual-cameras (8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing) with instant capture capability. HTC EVO 4G LTE brings back the fan-favorite kickstand built into the smartphone’s refined, slim design.

With the launch of HTC EVO 4G LTE, Sprint becomes the first U.S. carrier to announce plans for a nationwide HD Voice network beginning in late 2012 as part of Sprint’s Network Vision program.

HD Voice is the next-generation evolution of voice quality and the future of voice communications for mobile phones. The service will provide fuller, more natural-sounding and less fatiguing voice quality and should reduce troublesome background noises often found in a cafe or on the street.² Users should expect to identify voices and hear every word better than ever. Sprint’s commitment to HD Voice starts with HTC EVO 4G LTE, Sprint’s first HD Voice capable device.

“Sprint has a long history of leading the wireless industry in innovation, and the debut of HTC EVO 4G LTE marks another chapter in that innovation story,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse. “Once again, we are partnering with HTC to deliver the benchmark Android device for the year with the next generation of our award-winning EVO brand. We know our customers will appreciate the focus on audio and voice quality with EVO 4G LTE, including the addition of Beats Audio and HD Voice capability.”

HTC EVO 4G LTE is Sprint’s first device with HTC’s Authentic Sound experience integrating Beats Audio™. The technology enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs.

HTC EVO 4G LTE incorporates Beats Audio across the entire phone experience, including playing music stored on the device, streaming from a favorite service, watching a movie or YouTube™ video, or playing the latest hot game. HTC Sync Manager software also lets users easily get their music on the device from their PC, and it works with current programs, including iTunes^®.

“The partnership between HTC and Sprint has resulted in one of the most popular and successful smartphone brands of all time with over 7 million EVO devices sold to date,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Corporation. “With HTC EVO 4G LTE, we’ve created a desirable successor that is sure to excite the millions of current EVO customers and beyond with HTC’s distinct design, amazing camera and authentic sound.”

ADVANCING SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

HTC EVO 4G LTE makes mobile photography and video easy and intuitive.

• The on-screen photo and video buttons are right next to each other so users don’t have to switch modes. This allows the user to take video and still photos concurrently.
• It makes the whole idea of “video mode” or “photo mode” irrelevant. While shooting a video, the user can just tap the shutter button and it captures a still image of that exact moment. Still images can also be captured during video playback.
• HTC EVO 4G LTE’s camera has a super-fast start-up and auto-focus time. With the fast auto-focus, users can easily stay with a moving object or person, taking numerous pictures just by holding the shutter button.

In addition, HTC ImageSense™ technology combines hardware and software advancements to the camera lens, sensor and software, including integration of a new custom HTC ImageChip, to take great photos even in adverse conditions. The best-in-class f/2.0 camera lens lets in 44 percent more light than the lenses used on most camera phones. The Smart Flash also adjusts the flash strength based on how far away the object is, so users won’t get photos where everything looks washed out.

REFINED STYLE AND DESIGN

Crafted from aluminum spaceframe in an anodized black finish, HTC EVO 4G LTE delivers cutting-edge function and style in a thin and distinctive design. The smartphone’s 4.7-inch display and 80-degree viewing angle makes it easier to share pictures and video with others. The multiposition kickstand allows users to watch videos hands-free.

HTC EVO 4G LTE customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones³ – a savings of $40 per month vs. Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web, or $10 per month savings vs. Verizon’s 450-minute plan with unlimited text and 2GB Web.

Sprint recently announced Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio are expected to have 4G LTE and enhanced 3G service in mid-year 2012. Sprint 4G LTE will enable faster speeds for data applications, and the enhanced 3G service promises better signal strength, faster data speeds, expanded coverage and better in-building performance. The launch of these large metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. Sprint customers in these areas will soon enjoy ultra-fast data speeds and improved 3G voice quality. Whether a Sprint customer is using a smartphone to share a video, checking the Web via a mobile hotspot, Sprint 4G LTE will make it easier. And, when someone makes an important voice call, they can expect to find a clearer connection and a stronger signal in more areas. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

Project Glass: Another cool Google dream that will never be used.

This looks very cool but will it work as an everyday type of device? Now if we take this a step further and have the technology inserted into contacts like the Six Million Dollar Man, that would be very cool and practical at the same time. Check out the concept video.

 

Google states on their blog “We think technology should work for you—to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t. We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input. So we took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do.”

Google DuckDuckGo and see what Bings.

When it comes to the Internet and technology in general, hackers discover it first. Than when it becomes mainstream others follow. So is the case with the newest search engine on the block. The alternative search engine DuckDuckGo is growing at a staggering 227% a year. The bump is usage was ignited by a new and much more streamlined visual redesign. Google and Bing may have to take notice.

What makes DuckDuckGo different from other search engines is that it puts a concentrated effort to be privacy-friendly. With Google’s recent privacy change and Congress saying is alright for your boss to get your Facebook password; a little privacy seems like a great thing.

DuckDuckGo raised funding from Union Square Ventures and angel investors in October 2011. DuckDuckGo’s currently focused on ‘better programming queries’ and speed enhancements. Give it a try.