TechHintz

Microsoft Office For Android Tablets Preview Makes It To The Play Store

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<time class="date dtreviewed" datetime="Tuesday, 06 January 2015 23:30:38" pubdate="" title="06 January 2015 23:30:38 PM">
 </time>Last November, Microsoft launched <a href="http://blog.gsmarena.com/microsoft-launches-office-android-tablets-preview-updates-iphone-ipad-apps/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a preview of Office for Android tablets</a>.
 However, this was only available to you after you completed a survey, 
and if you then got invited. Starting today, though, the preview has 
thankfully arrived on the Google Play Store, which is where you can go 
to download the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.word" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Word</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.excel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Excel</a>, and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.powerpoint" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a> apps for Android tablets.
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<img alt="Microsoft Office" class="aligncenter" src="http://cdn.gsmarena.com/pics/15/01/office-android-tablets/gsmarena_001.jpg" title="" width="660" /> 
What’s more, there’s now support for Android 5.0 Lollipop, so those 
of you who have Android’s latest on your tablet can finally try out the 
Office apps too. 
Previously, the preview was limited to devices running Android 4.4 
KitKat. You still can’t use these apps if you’re on an older iteration 
of Google’s mobile operating system, and you need a tablet with a screen
 size between 7″ and 10.1″ (so larger ones like Samsung’s Galaxy Note Pro or Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 are excluded for now). Oh, and only ARM-based devices need apply (sorry Intel fans). 
Microsoft says it’s very interested in your feedback, so if you 
download and use the Office apps for Android tablets, make sure to let 
the software giant know what you think over in its dedicated <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/103523368857649028735" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google+ community</a>.

Microsoft Office For Android Tablets Preview Makes It To The Play Store

Last November, Microsoft launched a preview of Office for Android tablets . However, this was only available to you a...

Facebook Challenges YouTube Channels With New Features For Pages

Twitter’s not the only one Facebook is battling for control of news and content distribution. With Pages getting quieted down in the feed,
 Facebook wants to make its home for businesses less like a newspaper 
that come to you and more like TV channels you turn on. That’s why it’s 
YouTube that’s getting flattered by the social network with a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abcnews/videos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new design for the Video section of Facebook Pages</a>. 
All businesses will soon be able to choose a featured video to be 
displayed extra-large with a live comment feed atop their Page, and 
cobble together playlists of more of their videos. This makes the Videos
 tabs of Pages look and feel a lot like YouTube Channels. TechCrunch 
spotted the new design and features on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abcnews/videos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ABC News’ Page</a>,
 and the company confirms it testing the format with a handful of Pages,
 and plans to roll it out to them all in the coming weeks. 
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<img alt="Facebook Challenges YouTube Channels With New Features For Pages" class="wp-image-1098256 size-large" height="680" src="https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/screen-shot-2014-12-23-at-3-25-55-pm.png?w=612&h=680" title="" width="612" /> 
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Facebook’s new design for Pages’ Videos tabs, with Featured Videos and Playlists</div>
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Facebook’s video product changes come alongside pushes on the monetization front. It just struck a deal with the NFL to show football game highlights on Facebook with post-roll ads for Verizon. Ad revenue will be split by the league and tech company. 
Teaching 1.35 billion old dogs new tricks is no easy feat, but 
Facebook is trying to turn Pages into destinations that business link to
 and people voluntarily visit. It’s a plot that sees Facebook fighting 
on all fronts. It’s given local business Pages contact details, reviews, and OpenTable integrations like Yelp. It’s opened communications channels and curation of evergreen content to compete with Google indexed websites. Now it’s poking at YouTube and television. 
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<img alt="Facebook Challenges YouTube Channels With New Features For Pages" class="wp-image-1098258 size-large" height="572" src="https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/youtube-channel.png?w=680&h=572" title="" width="680" /> 
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Current YouTube Channel design with…Featured Videos and Playlists</div>
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Pages will get the new design automatically. If they don’t select a 
featured video or make playlists, their videos will just show up in a 
chronological list, but with titles, length, Like counts, and view 
counts visible. Finally, Facebook is making the Videos tab more than 
just a mass of clips squashed into a photo album the way it does now, 
which <a href="https://www.facebook.com/techcrunch/videos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">looks pretty terrible</a>. 
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Facebook’s existing design of Videos tabs, with no Featured Videos, Playlists, or even titles on the thumbnails.</div>
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Facebook suddenly got serious about video consumption over the last year, first making videos auto-play, then introducing auto-play video ads.
 It gave video more room in the News Feed, and users gobbled it up 
(though it sometimes gobbled up their data plans). From May to July, 
video views per month increased 50%, and Facebook hit 1 billion views per day by September. 
Still, Facebook is embarrassingly behind when it comes to video creation. A year ago I wrote
 how its lack of tap-and-hold-to-capture, multi-shot recordings, editing
 features, filters, or stabilization make Facebook look horribly ancient
 compared to Vine, Snapchat, and its own Instagram. 
Hopefully, this Pages Video redesign and an accompanying one I’d bet 
comes to user profiles will be the last things it does on how videos are
 displayed before it catches up on capture. The more organic video 
content, the more Facebook can slip in video ads and absorb the TV ad 
spend shifting to digital. 
Facebook needs Pages to be more than ever-churning content rivers. 
Competition for space in the News Feed led to a big organic reach drop 
for Pages, and their admins are pissed. Now Facebook has to prove Pages 
and their Likes are still valuable.

Facebook Challenges YouTube Channels With New Features For Pages

Twitter’s not the only one Facebook is battling for control of news and content distribution. With Pages getting quieted down in the feed, ...

Google Unveils An Extremely Easy Way To Broadcast Audio From Your Phone To Stereo Speakers

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g7OeWgIhz0qdGlQlPrMcpBpkEP3KUxO5x7iAgOa7ZnK57oLCsaPbfVuEUTXbmmAMe-Iz7o7ZhkLeGg9PmXqa1rPi5xBZDygbOuj-nqPA1P9o43h-GIE3jO0lmUTiJOmSI83T5OLggNms/s1600/google+chromecast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Google Cast for audio" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g7OeWgIhz0qdGlQlPrMcpBpkEP3KUxO5x7iAgOa7ZnK57oLCsaPbfVuEUTXbmmAMe-Iz7o7ZhkLeGg9PmXqa1rPi5xBZDygbOuj-nqPA1P9o43h-GIE3jO0lmUTiJOmSI83T5OLggNms/s1600/google+chromecast.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a>Google announced its own streaming audio solution, which is 
designed to let hardware partners embed Chromecast audio capabilities 
into their speakers, sound-bars, receivers and other sound-producing 
devices. Google launching <a href="http://chrome.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cast for audio</a>
 means that its streaming solution is now more directly analogous to 
AirPlay, but it also allows you to use Android, iOS and even web-based 
sources through Chrome to stream your music, podcasts and more. 
 
Want to transmit music from your phone, tablet 
or desktop to an external device? Just click the cast button and find a 
Google Cast Ready speaker. It’s that easy. 
Once you’re connected, Google Cast Ready speakers will 
pull content directly from the cloud in order to ensure you’re 
getting the best possible audio quality.  
 
The ‘Cast Ready’ speakers that are launching today include devices 
from Sony, LG and Denon, and there should be lots more coming later this
 year. Google also intends to integrate its general Cast capabilities, 
including both audio and visual, to stuff like set-top boxes, television
 sets, consoles and more.
 
Already, there are lots of apps that support Cast audio streaming, 
including Google Play Music, Deezer, Pandora, Rdio, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, NPR One, Pandora, 
and more. It works just like the original video and app-streaming 
Casting, via an in-app button you tap to select your destination device. 
 
Google had already offered audio Casting from compatible software on 
mobile device that used its API, but now we’ll start seeing dedicated 
audio hardware devices that provide the same support that has been 
available via Chromecast streaming dongle and Android TV. It’s much 
closer to what Apple has offered for AirPlay,which already allows users to cast audio to their speakers,and has helped them 
expand their third-party device ecosystem even further since its was introduced. 
 
 
Watch a video of Google Cast for audio in action below: 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8q0yZomXuSw?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>

Google Unveils An Extremely Easy Way To Broadcast Audio From Your Phone To Stereo Speakers

Google announced its own streaming audio solution, which is designed to let hardware partners embed Chromecast audio capabilities into th...

Whatsapp Call Feature Leaked[ScreenShots]

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTuP13dLToKbh7bQGQtmGzcJ_4F8WrBYWLcDV_fqV0_mmjD1R32305kaxaHgiKA8J8Rvd_2L9dsxrSrkYzKveXXMi50i8pzcktLvu4inbqhwhQTWkY7WlbQe7P4XI1RHts7QO3FBI9zFS/s1600/Whatsaap+calling+feature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Whatsaap calling feature" border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTuP13dLToKbh7bQGQtmGzcJ_4F8WrBYWLcDV_fqV0_mmjD1R32305kaxaHgiKA8J8Rvd_2L9dsxrSrkYzKveXXMi50i8pzcktLvu4inbqhwhQTWkY7WlbQe7P4XI1RHts7QO3FBI9zFS/s1600/Whatsaap+calling+feature.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The possibility of<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/11/whatsapp-voice-calling-feature-pushed.html" target="_blank"> WhatsApp Call Feature</a> has been floating around for quite some time now. While it has never been officially confirmed, little rumours have been popping out here and there. 
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Recently a few interesting screenshots have surfaced, showcasing the popular chat application enhanced with lustrous new voice call features. 
 
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While the functionality is still not available and probably not even fully complete,whatsapp enthusiasts have managed to dig up a glimpse of what it may look like. 
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As it turns out, the Android version of WhatsApp exists in two main build branches, One stable branch, which can be found on the Play Store and which almost everybody has on their devices and another one, distributed directly off of the company’s website. 
 
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The latter gets updated a lot more frequently and eager Android tinkerers and developers have figured out that it often includes features that are still in the making. Those are hidden away for testing purposes. 
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The latest version of the application, supplied by the Facebook owned company, includes a lot of new secret screens that set the ground for a future voice calling function. 
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Related:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/11/whatsapp-voice-calling-feature-pushed.html">WhatsApp Voice Calling Feature Pushed Back To Early 2015 due to Technical Hurdles</a> 
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 Screenshots</div>
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 The images, but also texts and application layouts. We have the information and images combined in a number of 'screenshots'.</div>
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<img alt="WhatsApp Outgoing Call Menu" src="http://cdn3.androidworld.nl/1d1b21a171/media/thumbnails/35/1a/351aa84978ef32f4ec20016c76cd0c2d.png" style="border: 0px none; display: block; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="" /></div>
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Since a few versions back,Whatsapp[GooglePlay Store version] ask permission to turn on Bluetooth. This has to do with the chime feature of WhatsApp: Bluetooth can be turned on in order to connect with a Bluetooth headset. The interface is also fairly simple.</div>
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<img alt="WhatsApp Call log Menu" src="http://cdn3.androidworld.nl/1d1b21a171/media/thumbnails/a2/b4/a2b44e59e31e6a2d1abe941d2fe049ef.png" style="border: 0px none; display: block; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="WhatsApp call" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">There are a few bits of information that can be discovered by analyzing the screenshots. For one, the whole calling functionality seems, at least at present, pretty much separated from the chat function. There are separate screens that handle dialing, call logs and of course, the obligatory contacts screen and call status., you can do all this by pressing the Call button at the top of the screen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUwb_rQOmjk1yZQVBmmIZymTGyiQWC3dqwU3ZmLTXdZmryxS0emHVYh-3UYpvndaro-IJCFckbrwzCSD9WUIdv0picy84BwEWyBNqNBe-0MN9gBjdATXITTOpQJ0hPbTFDNbByPgUIR8U/s1600/wassup+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="whatsapp call feature" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUwb_rQOmjk1yZQVBmmIZymTGyiQWC3dqwU3ZmLTXdZmryxS0emHVYh-3UYpvndaro-IJCFckbrwzCSD9WUIdv0picy84BwEWyBNqNBe-0MN9gBjdATXITTOpQJ0hPbTFDNbByPgUIR8U/s1600/wassup+(2).png" title="" /></a></div>
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During conversations users can also see when someone calls or when you have a missed WhatsApp calls. This is just as shown as, for example, sent and received photos and messages.</div>
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<img alt="WhatsApp Call Info Menu" src="http://cdn3.androidworld.nl/1d1b21a171/media/thumbnails/db/2f/db2f297c5342f1353ff540e0d1693f1b.png" style="border: 0px none; display: block; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="WhatsApp call" />In the current version of the app is an information screen for each contact.</div>
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In the screensot you can see, for example, the phone number of your colleagues, but also media files that you have exchanged. It seems likely that the information about your call log will also be processed in this screen.</div>
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<img alt="WhatsApp Incoming Call Menu" src="http://cdn3.androidworld.nl/1d1b21a171/media/thumbnails/00/56/00560a89de0ad42d6b991c7e90bb96c2.png" style="border: 0px none; display: block; margin: 20px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="WhatsApp call" />Above that there will be a section to find that the call can be accepted or rejected. That accept or reject functionality will be just as in the normal chime feature of your smartphone: by swiping the screen. <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Another interesting possibility is that perhaps WhatsApp will allow for calls to be recorded and played back at a later time, which is definitely a nice little bonus.</div>
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Currently, the discovery is pretty interesting, but it is too early to draw any conclusions based on the early screenshots.</div>
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Be sure to check back with any interesting scoops. 
 
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Must Read:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/double-amputee-becomes-first-to-control.html" target="_blank">Double Amputee Becomes First To Control Two Robotic Arms With Only His Mind</a></div>
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Whatsapp Call Feature Leaked[ScreenShots]

The possibility of WhatsApp Call Feature has been floating around for quite some time now. While it has never been officially confirmed, l...

Facebook Is Testing ‘Sell Something’ Button On Select groups:Report

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhwwvYHXVbFo7_I6z9jhsZrzKjnLf2i47r3fLDo4pihWQixezwzMreL90Erv7kf0dn3XhVqXFu3jitZcjyJ5SUl3ytbSW7IWmXFRRCzbAjhv9r9SkReayy9Fj5HejI5j20MQN1kw_5vGjaIpHK3PCtZSyF8VfST0IJ2nT6bmIZIirRbC7SbYnESfhHo-QGjsYmi6DhrYY2H7MmkgqNM-A=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Facebook is testing ‘Sell Something’ button on select groups" border="0" height="225" src="http://stech2.firstpost.com/tech2images/640x359/proportional/jpeg/2014/01/facebook-624x351.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Facebook is testing a new feature which will allow users to sell goods when posting to a group, according to a report on The Next Web.</div>
<a href="http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2014/12/17/facebook-testing-official-way-sell-goods-groups/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The report</a>
 stated that when some users have noted a ‘Sell Something’ right next to
 the ‘Write Post’ button when they are trying to post something on a 
group. After you click on the ‘Sell button’ you can add a title, 
description, image, price, location and pick up/delivery options.” 
Once the post is shared, others can post their comments and ask 
questions about its availability and details. The website also states 
that it is not responsible for any action and the buyer and seller will 
have to negotiate and arrange delivery on their own. 
Facebook sent out an official statement to The Next Web  
confirming that it was testing the feature and that “this is a small 
test limited to select Facebook Groups that have active selling 
communities today.” 
Facebook had launched the <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/11/facebooks-new-groups-app-makes-it.html" target="_blank">Groups app for Android and iOS</a>
 last month. The Groups feature lets users create and interact with 
communities on the site, whether they’re based on hobbies, geography or 
culture. 
Previously, Facebook had introduced ‘Gifts’ on the site which allowed
 users to send their friends based in US certain actual gifts, but that 
wasn’t a big success. Now, they are hoping users will take to 
selling/buying goods on the site, via this new button, although this is 
still in beta mode. 
Of course, Facebook will need to get regulatory approval in most 
countries where it operates, if it plans a full roll out of the button.

Facebook Is Testing ‘Sell Something’ Button On Select groups:Report

Facebook is testing a new feature which will allow users to sell goods when posting to a group, according to a report on The Next Web. T...

Google+ Can Now Automatically Make Your Videos Look Better

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiIDQleIeBPTVtzAHlbHrqoexFGafC8Dyb7oMDo8LeI39KAWH4VVWwLcgiQ47gdKp8sJD8r_q_-sWu73r0JuCSjNAGFUSMBGUF5FvAvZwPD3urtVB9aJF7iKa11jaFF-FirmR6st1Wo1E/s1600/g+.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Open Sans', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Google plus" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiIDQleIeBPTVtzAHlbHrqoexFGafC8Dyb7oMDo8LeI39KAWH4VVWwLcgiQ47gdKp8sJD8r_q_-sWu73r0JuCSjNAGFUSMBGUF5FvAvZwPD3urtVB9aJF7iKa11jaFF-FirmR6st1Wo1E/s1600/g+.png" title="" /></a>For almost two years now, Google has been automatically enhancing the photos you upload<a href="https://plus.google.com/110394599356932147330/posts/foJQfWaz5Tz" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #089e00; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">(almost) the same with videos</a>, too. 
 to Google+; starting today it will do </div>
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It won’t do this automatically, though. Instead, whenever Google now thinks it can improve a video you upload, a banner will appear in the Google+ web app that asks you if you want to preview the potential changes. You can also opt to apply these automatic enhancements to any other video you upload to <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #089e00; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google+ Photos</a> (either directly or through Auto Backup) on a case-by-case basis.</div>
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As Google engineer Tim St. Clair <a href="https://plus.google.com/110394599356932147330/posts/foJQfWaz5Tz" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #089e00; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">writes</a> today, the new Google+ feature will be able to automatically enhance lighting, color and stability. Coming soon, it’ll also enhance speech in videos.</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="402" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SjDd0rkHAuA" width="659"></iframe>

It won’t do this automatically, though. Instead, whenever Google now thinks it can improve a video you upload, a banner will appear in the Google+ web app that asks you if you want to preview the potential changes. You can also opt to apply these automatic enhancements to any other video you upload to Google+ Photos (either directly or through Auto Backup) on a case-by-case basis. 
As Google engineer Tim St. Clair writes today, the new Google+ feature will be able to automatically enhance lighting, color and stability. Coming soon, it’ll also enhance speech in videos.  
 
The new feature is now available in Google+ on Mac, Windows and ChromeOS (you can find it behind the ‘More’ menu, as well as in the Google+ Photos app. 
 
Google automatically renders a low-res, side-by-side preview of your improved and unimproved videos once you opt to give it a try. At a rather blurry 240p (see above), that’s not necessarily the best way to preview these changes, but given that these enhancements take a bit of compute power, it’s likely the only way to show them to you in a reasonable time. 
 
While Google hasn’t prompted me to auto-enhance any videos yet, I’ve tried it on a few videos I’ve uploaded to Google+ over the last few months and it does indeed make a difference.  
 
Reasonable people can argue about the success of Google+ as a social network, but there can be little doubt that Google+ Photos has always been one of the most interesting and innovative aspects of the service.  
 
As more and more people now also take videos with their smartphones, it makes sense for Google to bring some of the technologies it has developed for photos (and YouTube) to these private videos, as well. Google has long offered a similar feature for YouTube users, so there is likely some overlap between the two systems here. While YouTube offers the option to “auto-fix” videos, though, it doesn’t automatically prompt its users to do this for them. YouTube also offers a number of manual tools for changing contrast, saturation and color temperature that Google+ doesn’t currently offer. 
 
Google’s announcement today comes only a few days after Facebook announced that it now also started auto-enhancing images that its users upload to its servers. That face that Google announced this new feature today is likely a coincidence, but it’s an interesting one.
 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagram-recently-announced-that-they.html" style="background-color: white; display: inline !important; line-height: 31.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">I</a><a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagram-recently-announced-that-they.html" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; line-height: 31.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">nstagram Deletes Millions Of Fake Accounts</a> 
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 </div>

Google+ Can Now Automatically Make Your Videos Look Better

For almost two years now, Google has been automatically enhancing the photos you upload (almost) the same with videos , too. to Google+; ...

Instagram Deletes Millions Of Fake Accounts

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5N1yFCrDbH_277LkqAXG3uIR4bI8IkrV0e43anhDHyi9fFdBfng5jG6AyYpNDeqRJ1S5GUA670P_OVMeGBafVwSoy_IS5zaUNqRorm2o_vuPUuTXOhYg6YlVjWUB8nQIfw9G3qMvCaurl/s1600/instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Insta" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5N1yFCrDbH_277LkqAXG3uIR4bI8IkrV0e43anhDHyi9fFdBfng5jG6AyYpNDeqRJ1S5GUA670P_OVMeGBafVwSoy_IS5zaUNqRorm2o_vuPUuTXOhYg6YlVjWUB8nQIfw9G3qMvCaurl/s1600/instagram.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a>Instagram recently announced that they had hit <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagram-now-has-300-million-active.html" target="_blank">300 million monthly active users</a>, the company also announced that they planned to delete fake or spam accounts.</div>
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The company has now deleted all of the fake and spam accounts, and a number of Instagramers, including some celebrities have lost a lot of followers.</div>
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Instagram have removed accounts that were either spam accounts or ones that violated the company’s terms of service, their own follower count dropped by some 18 million.</div>
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Celebrities like Justin Bieber lost 3.5 million followers, Kim Kardashian lost 1.3 million followers and Beyonce lost 830,000 followers, and web developer Zach Allia has created a list of the top 100 accounts, and now many followers they lost, </div>
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 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhbznHny1ARUNT5fbqRY6sAhvorcqB7VkYQLMJzB4jjPOYDwIXucn_P2r_BGibFRLtC4ezjspT2nN0fi-VxO5lm6zPykRpLKBOEAlEE84BkSn58KzRbx2AWUcGG3pImUONMT_Y8KRytzPg1BfWPpDaFbdlr4c4bYcPG0qW8A09mRSg=" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="insta" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-191798" height="385" src="http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/insta.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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It appears that a lot of people are upset about loosing their followers, and some people have seen massive drops, including some celebrities, Ma$e went from 1.6 million followers to just $100,000, and then decided to delete his account.</div>
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 </div>

Instagram Deletes Millions Of Fake Accounts

Instagram recently announced that they had hit 300 million monthly active users , the company also announced that they planned to delet...

How to record your webcam with VLC

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_hLgAxzYY042bmvX_-DyX0f7b0Xuj9X-quc5vzmWpCc39V1eZhcXFmH5RcWksbSOvMKSh3ZY9PMJCKjiEQYvG6QqkHECisjH3K4QxcZEO1gBYRJuix01mtJLmYomVdItUrD-vUJZeh5q/s1600/vlc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_hLgAxzYY042bmvX_-DyX0f7b0Xuj9X-quc5vzmWpCc39V1eZhcXFmH5RcWksbSOvMKSh3ZY9PMJCKjiEQYvG6QqkHECisjH3K4QxcZEO1gBYRJuix01mtJLmYomVdItUrD-vUJZeh5q/s1600/vlc.jpg" width="400" /></a>Whether you want to make a
 few YouTube videos, or you're practicing a speech, recording yourself 
with 
VLC is easy and offers lots of formatting options.

The provided software for some webcams can be a bit lackluster. 
While options for adjusting the brightness, contrast, or zoom exist, you
 may be looking for a way to record the feed. If you're already using 
VLC for watching videos or streaming podcasts, did you know you can also
 use it to record your webcam? 
 Don't have VLC yet but want to try it out? Grab a copy <a data-s-object-id="articleBody" href="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

The recording function in VLC can be turned on and off at will, or 
switched to a set and forget mode. This allows you to use the feature 
for a number of purposes, including studying your own abilities on 
camera, setting up a temporary security feed (hard drive space 
allowing), or just making a video for the Web. Check out these steps for
 recording video from your webcam: 
 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="VLC capture device settings." class="" data-original=" http://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/11/22/d22cbf9c-78ff-41b6-81a7-2fac9b1b13d7/02d4a9be39a98f9ae96691a2e4f3e2e7/vlc1.jpg" height="402" src="http://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/11/22/d22cbf9c-78ff-41b6-81a7-2fac9b1b13d7/02d4a9be39a98f9ae96691a2e4f3e2e7/vlc1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VLC capture device settings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<figure class="image pull-none image-original"><figcaption>VLC capture device settings.
 </figcaption></figure> Step 1: Head to Media > Open Capture Device and then adjust the following settings:

<ul>
<li>Capture Mode: DirectShow</li>
<li>Video device name: Select your webcam name.</li>
<li>Audio device name:
 Choose your microphone. This can be the one built into your webcam, a 
mic on a headset, or another free-standing mic you want to use.</li>
</ul>
 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="VLC advanced options for capture devices" class="" data-original=" http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/11/22/ae5e3555-59a2-4547-9051-302bc6473e66/366d47a6ca0cbea432dc08fbc5d47fc6/vlc2.jpg" src="http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/11/22/ae5e3555-59a2-4547-9051-302bc6473e66/366d47a6ca0cbea432dc08fbc5d47fc6/vlc2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">  VLC advanced options for capture devices.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<figure class="image pull-none image-original"><figcaption>                                                                 
 </figcaption></figure> Step 2: Click
 Advanced options and then adjust the Video input frame rate to 30 (a 
lower value will yield lower quality video). If you want to stick with 
the software settings for your webcam, then check the box next to Device
 properties. 
 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="VLC Convert menu" class="" data-original=" http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/11/22/442ddd23-2387-47d5-9009-da05a179329b/68e0fb31919612c4795ec1a3617aeadf/vlc3.jpg" height="387" src="http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/11/22/442ddd23-2387-47d5-9009-da05a179329b/68e0fb31919612c4795ec1a3617aeadf/vlc3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> VLC Convert menu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<figure class="image pull-none image-original"><figcaption>                                                      
 </figcaption></figure> Step 3: Pick one of these two recording methods: 
<ul>
<li>Live feed: You
 can choose to view the video as you're making it, which will require 
you to wear a headset to avoid audio feedback. Additionally, you'll need
 to click the Record button when you want to capture the feed, which will be saved in MP4 format in your VLC directory. Click Play at
 the bottom of the window to start this method. Missing the record 
button? You can enable it by going to View > Advanced Controls.</li>
<li>Direct save: If you don't want to wear headphones,
 and you're confident that your webcam is at the correct angle to 
capture what you want, then you may opt for this method of recording. 
When you're finished, press the stop button and the entire video will be
 saved. Click the arrow next to Play and select Convert to start this method. You can change the video format if you do not prefer MP4, and then you can click Browse to select a location and give the file a name to make it easier to find.</li>
</ul>
Once you're finished creating your videos, you can share them, or 
keep them private if you are examining your speech or video abilities 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/6-secret-apps-to-hide-your-private.html">6 Secret Apps To Hide Your Private Pictures</a>

How to record your webcam with VLC

Whether you want to make a few YouTube videos, or you're practicing a speech, recording yourself with VLC is easy and offers lots of ...

The biggest Hits And Misses Of Tech Products In 2014

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When it comes to technology, some ideas sound 
great on paper, and there’s often a media frenzy over some. Sometime 
they live up to hype, and even surpass expectations when everyone else 
has been critical. In other cases, hype doesn’t woo consumers and ideas 
don’t really take off. As we approach the end of 2014, here’s a look at 
the tech products that people went crazy about and those that failed to 
meet expectations.

Hits

1. Facebook Messenger

<img alt="Facebook Messenger" class="size-full wp-image-219204" data-original="http://stech3.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/facebook-messenger-voip-us.jpeg" height="360" src="http://stech3.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/facebook-messenger-voip-us.jpeg" style="display: inline;" title="" width="640" /><div class="prodtxtinf">
Facebook Messenger has been one of the biggest hits this year, even when people complained about it.</div>
So when Facebook moved the messaging feature away from the main 
social networking app, users cried foul as it meant they had to download
 a separate app to chat with their friends. The privacy-brouhaa started 
soon after the launch, and many reports wrongly accused Facebook 
Messenger for snooping on users for demanding access to your contacts and a full access to the network. None of this was of course true.

All criticism aside, Facebook Messenger was a hit and crossed 500 
million users and topped the charts of the Apple App store and Google 
Play Store. Guess Zuckerberg and David Marcus who was bought in to head 
Messenger this year, were right on this strategy.

2. Microsoft Office for iOS and Android

After Satya Nadela took the helm of Microsoft, he took everyone by 
surprise by announcing the launch of<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/11/microsoft-anounces-office-apps-for.html" target="_blank"> Office apps on the iPad </a>in early 
2014. Despite the presence of alternative office apps on the App store, 
the Office app by Microsoft became an instant hit thanks to the familiar
 features users were accustomed to with their desktops.

Later this year, the app was switched from the freemium model to 
making the app completely free for iOS and Android devices, which caused
 it to become one of the top three apps on the App store. Finally one big step from Microsoft that wooed its users.

3. Apple iPhone 6

Despite the series of controversies over the design and operating 
system, the latest iteration of the iPhone, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 
Plus have broken smartphone records. Within 24 hours of launching, Apple <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2014/09/15Apple-Announces-Record-Pre-orders-for-iPhone-6-iPhone-6-Plus-Top-Four-Million-in-First-24-Hours.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reported</a>
 pre-order sales of a whopping four million units. The iPhone 6, in 
particular, has been a key driver of Apple’s growth, which crossed the 
$700 million market cap in the US this year.

This was also the smartphone that ensured Apple’s entry into the 
phablet arena, something Apple had resisted for a long time. Now Apple 
has two huge-screen smartphones to offer and despite the high-price tag,
 Apple fans have been clamouring to get their hands on these.

4. Asus Zenfones

Asus entered the Indian smartphone market this year with the launch of its Zenfone 4, Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 6 handsets.
 The phones were strategically priced to cater to the the budget and 
mid-range segment. But unlike many other low-cost smartphones, the 
Zenfones were found to get all the basics right, with nippy Intel 
processors, high resolution displays and good cameras. The phones became
 an instant hit and Asus revealed that it sold over 40,000 units of the Zenfone series within four days of launching in India. 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/facebook-releases-list-of-2014s-most.html">Facebook releases list of 2014's most discussed topics(#YearInReview)</a>

Misses

1. Firefox OS smartphones

Firefox OS smartphones were launched in India this year with an aim 
to charm the low-budget smartphone segment. However, the few Firefox-OS 
based phones that were launched in India come with deplorable hardware
 in order to keep a sub-Rs 2,000 cost price and have failed to catch on 
with the burgeoning entry-level smartphone market in India.

2. Early Android One smartphones

Google announced it the promising Android One programme, with the 
idea to bring a pure Android experience to low cost smartphones. Google 
used India as the launchpad for the programme and announced its 
partnership with homegrown phone makers such as Intex, Micromax and 
Karbonn.

Despite the great initiative, Android One smartphones failed to take off
 in a big way as Android One reportedly offered thin margins to 
retailers who were selling them. As major retailers in India refuse to 
stock them, consumers have found it difficult to buy the early models of
 Android One devices. Plus the fact that all three manufacturers were 
offering the exact same specs, meant that users weren’t exactly spoiled 
for choice when it came to features.

3. Google Glass

Announced two years ago, there was a lot of hope riding on this 
futuristic gizmo by Google. Facebook, NYT, etc, were all building apps 
for  Google Glass. But with Google itself pushing back the Glass roll 
out to the mass market, it has left everyone losing interest in the 
device. This year, Reuters reported that key developers have abandoned the Glass project, as it failed to impress early adopters.

4. Amazon Fire Phone

<img alt="Amazon's smartphone" class="size-full wp-image-226084" data-original="http://stech2.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/amazon_firephone.jpg" height="360" src="http://stech2.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/amazon_firephone.jpg" style="display: inline;" title="" width="640" /><div class="prodtxtinf">
Amazon’s first smartphone</div>
When Amazon launched its much anticipated Fire Phone,
 on-lookers were rather excited by its glitzy features, though no one 
could really pin down how it would meet any practical uses. Despite 
getting the right hardware and a set of nifty features on its side, 
Amazon has struggled to sell a decent number of Fire Phone units. 
According to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/26/amazon-fire-phone-sales-data" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">research</a> by comScore and Chitika and some number-crunching by The Guardian, Amazon has sold no more than 35,000 phones.

The biggest Hits And Misses Of Tech Products In 2014

When it comes to technology, some ideas sound great on paper, and th...

Facebook releases list of 2014's most discussed topics(#YearInReview)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaytusEMBpPscDgXg1OeoSgHtPSuGMZlrXLV2IdgwglT3Ixw6fCa8b0xxGToPklvkOksioG3Hn1g-XS-bWrh6EdQj_wf6abr33eJgoGwyZLl2rvtP78aKojVsKJyaakN-t8B2GEOGs8pq/s1600/facebook+year+in+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaytusEMBpPscDgXg1OeoSgHtPSuGMZlrXLV2IdgwglT3Ixw6fCa8b0xxGToPklvkOksioG3Hn1g-XS-bWrh6EdQj_wf6abr33eJgoGwyZLl2rvtP78aKojVsKJyaakN-t8B2GEOGs8pq/s1600/facebook+year+in+review.jpg" width="400" /></a>On Tuesday, Facebook released its annual ranking of the most-talked about topics throughout 2014. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“At the end of each year, we reflect. We remember challenges and 
triumphs. We celebrate the moments that connect us,” </blockquote>
Facebook’s <a href="http://yearinreview.fb.com/explore/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Year in Review page</a> reads. 
 
While some of them happened more recently, others occurred months 
ago. Nonetheless, these rankings reveal a whirlwind of a year during 
which the world battled a fatal disease, searched relentlessly for a 
commercial airliner which seemingly vanished out of thin year and 
watched in utter horror as rockets were launched back and forth in the 
Middle East. 
 
Among the more recent most-discussed events include a landslide 
midterm election in which the power of Congress was shifted and the 
tragic shooting death of an unarmed man by a police officer, renewing a 
divisive centuries-long race debate. Beyond America’s borders, Western 
superpowers launched targeted airstrikes in response to gruesome 
beheadings of American and British hostages held by the Islamic State, 
or ISIS, prompting fear among many of another deadly war on terror. 
 
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_859658" style="width: 620px;">
<img alt=" beheadings of American and British hostages held by the Islamic State" class="size-large wp-image-859658" height="362" itemid="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ScreenSnapz007-620x362.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" src="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ScreenSnapz007-620x362.jpg" title="" width="620" /> 
<div class="wp-caption-text">
 </div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
Also Read:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/googles-top-treding-searches-of-2014.html">Google's Top Trending Searches of 2014(#YearInSearch)</a></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
 </div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
purports to show journalist Steven Sotloff being
 held by the militant group. (AP Photo)</div>
</div>

Each of these are sure to be topics of ongoing debates and 
discussions well into 2015 and beyond. But that’s not to diminish the 
fun, lighthearted subjects that will define 2014 as much as anything 
else. 
 
 

For example, we witnessed millions of gallons of ice-cold water 
dumped onto people’s heads. We sat biting our nails as Germany defeated 
Argentina in the World Cup and celebrated (or perhaps did just the 
opposite) as the Seattle Seahawks’ won the Super Bowl in a stunning 
victory against the Denver Broncos. 
 
 
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_855158" style="width: 600px;">
<img alt="Ice Bucket Challenge " class="size-full wp-image-855158" height="570" itemid="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/600x5701.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" src="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/600x5701.jpg" title="" width="600" /> </div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_855158" style="width: 600px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
Nashville
 recording artists the Marshall Lowry Band was issued the ALS Ice Bucket
 Challenge by Lowry’s uncle Steve McDonald. Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 
20, 2014 in Fairmont, West Virginia. (AP Photo/Times West Virginian, 
Tammy Shriver)</div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
 </div>
</div>

And let us not forget the Hollywood icon Robin Williams’ whose sudden
 and unexpected death brought back memories of “Mrs. Doubtfire” and 
“Dead Poets Society,” among countless other classics. 
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_867544" style="width: 620px;">
<img alt="Hollywood icon Robin Williams’ whose sudden and unexpected death" class="size-large wp-image-867544" height="451" itemid="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Screen-Shot-2014-09-20-at-10.23.11-AM-620x451.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" src="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Screen-Shot-2014-09-20-at-10.23.11-AM-620x451.jpg" title="" width="620" /> 
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 </div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_867544" style="width: 620px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
 </div>
</div>
So with no further ado, here’s a look at the most talked-about topics of 2014, according to Facebook: 
 
1. Ebola Virus Outbreak 
2. Ice Bucket Challenge 
3. Robin Williams 
4. Super Bowl 
5. Michael Brown & Ferguson 
6. World Cup 
7. Conflict in Gaza 
8. Midterm Elections 
9. Malaysia Airlines 
10. ISIS 
 
 
Facebook <a href="http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/12/2014-year-in-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ranked</a> the
 most discussed subjects of 2014 by measuring how often a topic was 
mentioned in Facebook posts between January and December 2014. Those 
posts were analyzed in an aggregated, anonymized way, and then ranked to
 create the list you see above.

Facebook releases list of 2014's most discussed topics(#YearInReview)

On Tuesday, Facebook released its annual ranking of the most-talked about topics throughout 2014. “At the end of each year, we reflect. We...

Skype's Real-Time Translator Feature Goes Live With Support For Spoken English And Spanish

<a href="http://static.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2014-12-15_16-45-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="SKYPE TRANSLATOR" border="0" height="217" src="http://static.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2014-12-15_16-45-30.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a>Microsoft’s Skype Translator is going live today in a preview
 phase covering two spoken languages, Spanish and English, plus over 40 
instant messaging languages. The real-time translation service makes it 
possible for people who speak completely different languages to 
communicate over Skype, while voice input from each other is delivered 
to the other end in their native tongue. 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/G87pHe6mP0I?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>

Microsoft says the tool is the result of years of work from its 
research team and Skype and it believes it could have a great impact in 
breaking barriers and helping change the way the world communicates in 
the future. 
The company has previously demonstrated
 the technology but only in controlled environments. It’ll be 
interesting to see how accurate Skype Translator is when a much wider 
audience starts using it. In fact, the tool relies on machine learning, 
so it should only get better as time passes. 
 
Skype offered some details about how its new Translator feature works in a <a href="http://blogs.skype.com/2014/12/15/skype-translator-how-it-works/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blog post</a>
 today alongside a video explaining the testing process, and another 
video showing students from Mexico and US playing a game of Mystery 
Skype. 
The preview program will be free of charge and limited to those with 
Windows 8.1 computers and tablets as well as Windows 10 Technical 
Preview users. Interested? You can request an invite at Microsoft’s 
Skype website. 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QRj5jpS09ic?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>

Source:techspot 
 
I Recommend:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/yahoo-start-prompting-internet-explorer.html">Yahoo Start Prompting Internet Explorer, Opera And Chrome Users To Switch To Firefox</a>

Skype's Real-Time Translator Feature Goes Live With Support For Spoken English And Spanish

Microsoft’s Skype Translator is going live today in a preview phase covering two spoken languages, Spanish and English, plus over 40 insta...

Yahoo Start Prompting Internet Explorer, Opera And Chrome Users To Switch To Firefox

<div class="ylHD">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2tZfTqZU3qIiZq4gRw-7ATMSVguu3PPUJkft6B9dcE8Mf3xcFo7bOxBfqTVRdhjHKjVw9PloIIdQCm_GnCHV2xRf5i3LjRkn2chL9K1Mti3GMopACuiog-TwELGt9jqMMVMBhyqCgjk-/s1600/Yahoo+Promt+to+upgrade+to+firefox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Yahoo Start Prompting Internet Explorer, Opera And Chrome Users To Switch To Firefox" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2tZfTqZU3qIiZq4gRw-7ATMSVguu3PPUJkft6B9dcE8Mf3xcFo7bOxBfqTVRdhjHKjVw9PloIIdQCm_GnCHV2xRf5i3LjRkn2chL9K1Mti3GMopACuiog-TwELGt9jqMMVMBhyqCgjk-/s1600/Yahoo+Promt+to+upgrade+to+firefox.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a>Yahoo has reportedly started prompting its users to upgrade to the new <a href="http://hsrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Ah1xh9A8yPxhuxnoMLWchR2bvZx4/RV=1/RE=1419891037/RH=aHNyZC55YWhvby5jb20-/RO=2/RU=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW96aWxsYS5vcmcvZmlyZWZveC9uZXcvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9eWFob28lMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXJlZmVycmFsJTI2dXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9dWglMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249eS11cGdyYWRlLW5ldy1maXJlZm94/RS=%5EADAkFcMNql5vANgrr24SR6MHARfUXU-" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Firefox</a> by displaying a link"Upgrade to the new Firefox" in the top-right corner of your browser window.the 
company has started prompting Internet Explorer,Opera,Google chrome users and even new Yandex browser to 
switch to Firefox Browser.However, the prompt is missing from Safari, which will surely raise a 
new round of speculation about Apple's rumored switch to Yahoo as its 
default search engine. </div>
 

The report also mentioned that
 Firefox’s user share has dropped quite a bit over the last few years, 
so Mozilla has no objections to putting the Firefox logo in front of as 
many Yahoo users as possible. 
 

It was reported last month that <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/11/firefox-drops-google-as-it-default.html" target="_blank">Firefox had dropped Google</a>
 as it’s default search engine and had inked a five-year deal with 
Yahoo, making Yahoo it's default search engine now. 
 
 This move doesn't come as a huge surprise. Yahoo clearly wants as many 
people as possible to use Firefox - and with it its search engine (which
 is powered by Microsoft Bing). 
 
A good deal for Firefox, but one has to wonder - how many people 
actually visit Yahoo properties who would also "upgrade" their browser? 
 

It was not until a few days ago that Firefox said that it was ready 
to be launched on the iOS platform, according to Mozilla. A recent <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/press/2014/12/designing-a-firefox-experience-for-ios/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blog post</a>
 from the company stated that it is designing a Firefox experience for 
iOS users. Google has been the default search engine for Apple’s 
Safari for the last five years but this partnership is set to expire in 
2015. 
 
Also Read:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagrams-nice-factor-is-key-to-its.html">Instagram's Nice Factor Is Key To Its Victory Over Twitter</a> 
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 </h1>

Yahoo Start Prompting Internet Explorer, Opera And Chrome Users To Switch To Firefox

Yahoo has reportedly started prompting its users to upgrade to the new Firefox by displaying a link "Upgrade to the new Firefox"...

Instagram's Nice Factor Is Key To Its Victory Over Twitter

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2zM_o-X4x2-jQM3-3SdcjGhh89jbnuV34km-zC3MsOcilTHxQCSjjB0CgSlDC3YjJRrKWa_QDh2Nf-eqpQBy2fqjnGQi0YqnnMjluSAsaBxvWKnMHNrdTU0_u-n5OfQr0XkvF_aFrLGl/s1600/Instagram-VS-Twitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="technewsgh.blogspot.com/Instagram vs Twitter" border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2zM_o-X4x2-jQM3-3SdcjGhh89jbnuV34km-zC3MsOcilTHxQCSjjB0CgSlDC3YjJRrKWa_QDh2Nf-eqpQBy2fqjnGQi0YqnnMjluSAsaBxvWKnMHNrdTU0_u-n5OfQr0XkvF_aFrLGl/s1600/Instagram-VS-Twitter.png" title="" width="400" /></a>When people think about ranking social networks, it's usually Facebook 
#1 and Twitter #2. Well, there's a new #2 in town and that's <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagram-now-has-300-million-active.html">Instagram </a> 
 
 
Keep this kind of diversity of content in mind when considering Instagram's big announcement
 on Wednesday that it now has <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagram-now-has-300-million-active.html">300 million monthly active users, zooming past Twitter's reported numbers of 284 million monthly actives </a>(per the company's latest figures). 
 
Those are old-ish numbers, though, so perhaps Twitter will catch up 
in its next quarterly announcement. Then again, Instagram's active user 
growth is off the charts.It hit 200 million in March while Twitter's
 growth has all but flatlined. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind which service is winning this game. 
 
The odd thing is that Twitter gets way more mentions from the media 
megaphone than its photographic brethren. News and magazine shows are 
often urging us to tweet; more rarely do they urge us to Instagram. That
 may be different in everyday conversation. Still, when we talk about 
tweeting, the assumption is we're involved in some sort of intense 
buzz-worthy conversation, be it reasonable debate or angry feud. When we
 talk about Instagramming, it calls up images of shallow selfies and 
food snaps. 
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="so-why-isnt-twitter"></a>

<blockquote class="microcontent-wrapper pullquote">
<div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="So why isn't Twitter growing faster?" data-fragment="so-why-isnt-twitter" data-url="">
</div>
So Why Isn't Twitter Growing Faster?</blockquote>
One explanation may be Facebook's purchase of Instagram, which gave it 
access to an audience of 1.35 billion. But even if that were true and 
Facebook hasn't exactly been pushing the service  it doesn't have 
anything to do with more users actively using it, month in, month out. 
 
 I glance at my Instagram feed again, and the answer seems obvious. 
Instagram is the only service (Facebook included) that offers all of the
 good aspects about Twitter the immediacy, the international aspect, 
the humor, the personal connection, the ability to follow anyone with 
little, if any, of the bad aspects. 
 
Over on my well-thumbed Twitter feed, the usual problem persists: too
 much noise, not enough signal. That doesn't mean I'm following the 
wrong people or that I'm not interested in what they have to say. On the
 contrary, I'm too interested, sucked into the stream of snark,
 the litany of links, the urgency of arguments. I could get distracted 
for hours and find myself amused, entertained, informed and connected to
 the conversation of a nation. But that all comes at a cost. 
 
<div class="see-also">
I'm often left with a slightly icky feeling after scrolling through 
my Twitter timeline a feeling that is hard to admit, since I'm a 
Twitter junkie. Sometimes, it's the same dismal sensation one gets from 
simply reading the news these days; other times, it's the sense that 
we're all increasing our attention deficits, never quite completing our 
thoughts, reading too fast, shouting too fast. We're all turning into 
smart alecks skating lightly over the deeper truth in search of a 
retweetable wisecrack. 
  </div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="i-often-end-a"></a>I often end a Twitter session irked by some casual injustice, the magnification of which is what the service seems to specialize in. For example, look at a story
 that cropped up time and again in my Twitter feed Wednesday: A Harvard 
Business School associate professor who wrote nutty emails to a local 
Chinese restaurant over what he thought was a $4 overcharge. 
There was an awful lot of sound and fury about this guy. Mostly, the 
fact it was shared, reshared and reshared signified that people love to 
pile it on when they find a case of perceived idiocy. They may be right;
 they're also displaying a mob mentality. Hence the slightly icky 
feeling. 
 
With Instagram, however, I feel refreshed, like I've just visited a 
miniature art gallery staffed by friends and talented strangers. In this
 app and it is still very much an app, given that the web version
 won't let you post pictures yet there is time to properly contemplate
 each window into another life. Each frame takes just enough artful 
composition that we tend to take our time in posting them. There's no 
Instagram equivalent of a tweetstorm. The volume is manageable. Check 
back a few times a day, and you're likely to actually see every photo in your feed. 
 
Based on the numbers, it's not hard to predict the winner in this 
race. Twitter has known this day would come for a long time, judging by 
its efforts over the last few years to reinvent itself as a photo 
service. 
Twitter has forced upon us in-line photos (you still can't opt out of them on the site); it has inundated us with photo filters;
 its app has prioritized pictures over text (remember when your photo 
stream wasn't the first thing to pop up when you hit "compose new 
tweet"?). 
 
Really, Twitter should have the advantage over Instagram when it 
comes to posting photos. You can post them at any aspect ratio without 
any square box limitations. And Instagram photos are still hobbled on 
Twitter, thanks to a two-year old dispute between the companies. 
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="did-any-of-that"></a>

<blockquote class="microcontent-wrapper pullquote">
<div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="Did any of that slow Instagram's growth? Not in the slightest." data-fragment="did-any-of-that" data-url="">
</div>
Did Any Of That slow Instagram's Growth? Not In The Slightest.
</blockquote>
It seems users don't really mind the creative constriction of that 
square box; rather, they find ways to make it work to their adventage. 
Not only does that box force users to think about composition, it also 
standardizes the photo stream. It's a level playing field: every photo 
on the service has the exact same number of pixels to play with. 
 
 Related:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/instagram-now-has-300-million-active.html" target="_blank">Instagram Now Has 300 Million Active Users More Than Twitter</a> 
<div class="see-also">
 </div>
Twitter, meanwhile, is saddled with all that pesky 
reverse-chronological text, though you get the sense from every update 
that the company wishes it were otherwise. It can tweak the service as 
much as it likes, but Twitter will never likely reach a point where the 
majority of tweets come with photos. Twitter is as much a fundamentally 
word-based medium as, say, a news website. 
This is not a bad thing. Twitter is a powerful service that has come 
to dominate real-time news and conversation, and that's a fine niche. It
 is never going to be all things to everyone. The Instagram statistic 
should be a wake-up call for social networks to focus less on user 
numbers and more on user engagement, the way a service like Pinterest 
does. 
As for Instagram? With 50% user base growth in 9 months, it's on a 
roll, and has certainly proved a very shrewd $768 million investment for
 Facebook. This is an art gallery we all want to lose ourselves in.

Instagram's Nice Factor Is Key To Its Victory Over Twitter

When people think about ranking social networks, it's usually Facebook #1 and Twitter #2. Well, there's a new #2 in town and that...

Instagram Now Has 300 Million Active Users More Than Twitter

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkiznNr8CylZ221OghISChJETqMSOyaKg3-3mtEtcTS_vbpmNtYtD_sizKCa70xkz9fWuUrzMiWdLLHjwUrvUPgLCEJyGsMDHtlGQNU82ZbpvQRFhZU9J6odf8hiqwb2GA54j8EbsSOUc/s1600/Instagram-automatic-sharing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="technewsgh.blogspot.com/Instagram " border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkiznNr8CylZ221OghISChJETqMSOyaKg3-3mtEtcTS_vbpmNtYtD_sizKCa70xkz9fWuUrzMiWdLLHjwUrvUPgLCEJyGsMDHtlGQNU82ZbpvQRFhZU9J6odf8hiqwb2GA54j8EbsSOUc/s1600/Instagram-automatic-sharing.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a>Instagram has announced its latest milestone,which puts the social service ahead of Twitter’s 284 million monthly active users. it now has more than 
300 million users,an increase of more than 100 million since March. 
 
Instagram users are sharing more than 70 million images each day that 
pull in an average of 2.5 billion “likes.” In total, users have shared 
more than 30 billion photos. Yeah, that’s a lot of pictures.

<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We’re proud to announce that there are now more than 300 million 
Instagrammers. Over the past four years, what began as two friends with a
 dream has grown into a global community that shares more than 70 
million photos and videos each day. Instagram is home to creativity in 
all of its forms, a place where you can find everything from images of 
the Nile River to the newest look from Herschel Supply or a peek inside 
the mind of Taylor Swift.

We’re thrilled to watch this community thrive and witness the amazing connections people make over shared passions and journeys,</blockquote>
 said Kevin Systrom, CEO, Instagram,in an interview with <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/102256195#." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CNBC</a> 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uCuoI3vWfcf-SWysLf_mbrw5aZ2Qw3LmxF9eqvverzCrR6WLNt1QbbRwh3fjktDj-XmCgpYHTZBIF5CPhVyXQhMghhu2eYv8DDn_lV_XZhYzPQ_5FdJw0NGxwaSG-HtBd_sG3hDA8IsQ/s1600/2014-12-10-image-12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="technewsgh.blogspot.com/ 300 Million Active Users" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uCuoI3vWfcf-SWysLf_mbrw5aZ2Qw3LmxF9eqvverzCrR6WLNt1QbbRwh3fjktDj-XmCgpYHTZBIF5CPhVyXQhMghhu2eYv8DDn_lV_XZhYzPQ_5FdJw0NGxwaSG-HtBd_sG3hDA8IsQ/s1600/2014-12-10-image-12.png" title="" width="400" /></a></div>

In related Instagram news, 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
 they’re working on rolling out verified 
badges for celebrities, athletes and brands. The move will help 
Instagram cut down on the creation of spam accounts to keep the 
experience as authentic as possible. Many of the existing spam accounts 
are also being eliminated,</blockquote>
 He added. 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/apple-watch-production-to-start-in.html">Apple Watch Production To Start In January</a> 
 
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Instagram Now Has 300 Million Active Users More Than Twitter

Instagram has announced its latest milestone,which puts the social service ahead of Twitter’s 284 million monthly active users. it now has m...

Blackphone To Peddle A Few Good Apps

<div class="title">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkkNIuEp-CbcQnJntSbI29ijMhUSyFwJqGvEeuUMG-WuSJb5PE0k4-sLyk8yT8Kj7PZFTa-Sfwi-YNmHzoej-slEOORCjg3rKzoJauhtxDFnbpcfNqD9wgSnz7lL8KRq1eMOCBBgyvjRD/s1600/blackphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="technewsgh.blogspot.com/Blackphone" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkkNIuEp-CbcQnJntSbI29ijMhUSyFwJqGvEeuUMG-WuSJb5PE0k4-sLyk8yT8Kj7PZFTa-Sfwi-YNmHzoej-slEOORCjg3rKzoJauhtxDFnbpcfNqD9wgSnz7lL8KRq1eMOCBBgyvjRD/s1600/blackphone.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a>Blackphone on Tuesday announced plans to open an app store for privacy-focused applications to run on its secure smartphone. The store is expected to launch in January.</div>
<div class="title">
 
The Blackphone runs PrivatOS, a modified version of Android 4.4.2 that comes bundled with tools that encrypt phone calls, texts, emails and Internet browsing. 
 
The app store will feature curated apps selected for their protection of users' security and privacy. 
 
The PrivatOS update scheduled for early 2015 will come with several preloaded apps. 
 
Blackphone also announced Spaces, a new capability that will let users of its device create separate containers for apps, data and accounts on one device. It uses Graphite Software's Secure Spaces, an OS-level virtualization and management solution. 
 
Samsung and BlackBerry offer similar container functionality with their Knox and Balance systems, respectively.  </div>
<div class="title">
 </div>
<div class="title">
 The Numbers Tell the Story 
 
Whether the Blackphone app store will offer enough secure apps to meet users' needs, and whether Blackphone can attract developers to create apps that meet its requirements, are questions that have yet to be answered. 
 
"Products like this are geared towards a very small section of the population that cares about certain kinds of things," Jan Dawson, chief analyst at JackDaw Research, told TechNewsWorld. 
 
That equates to a small market for developers, which might be less than attractive, as it will curtail their earnings. 
 
Microsoft has struggled to attract devs to create apps for its Windows Phone, for example, and has resorted to offering cash and other incentives. 
 
"This phone is not going to be for the mass market like the Samsung Galaxy S5," remarked Ramon Llamas, a research manager at IDC. "It's going to be for the small group of people who have an incredible distrust of everybody." 
Other Issues for Devs 
 
The Blackphone apps are likely to be expensive, Llamas told TechNewsWorld, because "you won't be able to take ads, so you'll have to charge a premium for them." 
 
PrivatOS is based on Android, and "you have a lot of the skeleton there in all the Android apps, but you can't just make a couple of tweaks and make them ready to go," he pointed out. 
 
Will Android users, who are notoriously averse to paying for apps, be willing to cough up for Blackphone apps? 
 
Perhaps. 
 
"You'll have this virtuous cycle of secure and private apps that function on a secure and private phone," Llamas said. 
Who's Gonne Take One Home Tonight? 
 
Blackphone probably will target enterprise users, suggested 451 Research analyst Boris Metodiev. 
 
The hope is that interest will spill over into the consumer market, but that's not likely to happen, he said, because games and social network apps likely will not be allowed on the Blackphones, which means they probably won't be users' first BYOD choice. 
 
Also Read:<a href="http://technewsgh.blogspot.com/2014/12/facebook-renovate-trending-news-to-make.html" target="_blank">Facebook Renovate Trending News To Make It Even More Like Twitter</a> 
 
 
Consumers are spending more time on their apps, Nielsen found earlier this year. Social networking and search were the apps they used the most. 
 
Mobile shopping -- another major threat to security -- is also on the rise. 
 
Seventy percent of consumers have made a purchase using a smartphone in the last six months, and 54 percent have used both mobile commerce sites and applications on their smartphones, CFI reported. 
 
Retail m-commerce revenues increased 52 percent, year over year, during the recent Thanksgiving week shopping period, according to Branding Brand. 
 
"When people get a smartphone, regardless of the platform, they'll want the same apps they've been using all along -- from entertainment to news to games and so on," Llamas said. "Just because you have a smartphone that focuses on privacy doesn't mean you'll want to forgo all those apps. 
 
source:TechNewsWorld. </div>

Blackphone To Peddle A Few Good Apps

Blackphone on Tuesday announced plans to open an app store for privacy-focused applications to run on its secure smartphone. The store is e...