Dropbox gets more user friendly and gives away extra space

Photos page is going to make Dropbox an even more helpful tool than it already is.  The  Android app  automatically uploads  pictures. Now  Dropbox will let you automatically upload your memories from any source. Well, any source that can get online to internet. It does not matter if it is a phone,  camera or a tablet.  Once it is online you can  view your uploaded pictures on the web from the  new Photos page.

Getting pictures off your camera has always been a huge pain. So we put our heads down and worked worked worked to ensure that automatic upload would play nicely with anything that might have a photo or video on it. With the newest version for Mac or Windows, you can just plug your camera, phone, or SD card into your computer and with a few clicks of the mouse all your photos and videos are in your Dropbox!

Automatic uploading from the desktop is similar to Apple’s Photo Stream. So one should think first before having every picture you take go to your desktop. Your photos are uploaded in their original size and quality. Thumbnails of your pictures are grouped by month. IF you move your mouse over a picture you will get information about the picture. If you click the picture you will get a full screen picture and  the option to download and a link to share them.

Dropbox will  give you 500 MB of Dropbox space for your first automatic upload.  You can also get up to 3 GB extra for free. I loved Dropbox before; this just makes the relationship better.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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.”

RIM throws up the white flag; acknowledges iOS in the enterprise space.

Today Research In Motion has pretty much said if we can’t beat them, lets profit of them. They have launched a new enterprise mobile device management tool called BlackBerry MobileFusion.  With this tool IT managers can manage BlackBerry smartphones and  the little used BlackBerry PlayBook. The software will also be able to manage tablets and smartphones running Android and iOS. So a IT manager will be able to do the following to your iDevice should you have it on the company network.

• Activate and configure devices and profiles over the air
• Enable access to enterprise Mail, Calendar and PIM
• Administer users and groups, natively and directory based
• Establish corporate IT Policies and Security
• Manage lost devices – Password Reset, Device Lock, Device Wipe
• Deploy internally-developed apps
• Define (and enforce) public applications as mandatory or optional
• Provides Rooting & Jailbreak Detection
• Prevent apps from accessing corporate mail accounts

Blackberry says “IT managers need to accommodate individually purchased units that come into the enterprise, whether by a sales rep deciding to expense the latest handset, a doctor bringing in their personal phone for hospital work, or a field worker getting whatever’s available on special as a replacement unit.”

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion server software is  a free download and  Client Access Licenses are included free for 60 days at the moment as well too. This will give IT managers a chance to try it out before a full roll out.

iPad 3 or iPad HD: Here is what to expect

 

Apple + press conference in San Francisco tomorrow. This means only one thing. Apple will have an announcement that will change the landscape of the world once more.  As always supply chains have leaked all kinds of info. As a result we have a pretty clear picture of what the iPad 3 will look like. We will find out tomorrow.  Here is what we can expect.

•  Retina display that should have  (2,048 x 1,536)
• 4G LTE connectivity
• Quad-core thanks to the Apple A6.
•  Thicker case thanks to the bigger battery and LTE chip
• Same battery life
• 8-megapixel camera just like the iPhone 4S.
• iOS 5.1
• Same prices at $499, $599 and $699, and cellular connectivity available for each at a $130 premium.

Will we be right? Tune in at 1PM