Posts tagged Twitter
Facebook clones twitter again, gets verified Pages & Profiles
Facebook is king of social media but even the king likes to mix it up with the common folk once in awhile. Facebook does this a lot. There favorite target happens to be Twitter. First with the feeds now with verified profiles and pages. At the moment you have to be a celebrity in order to get verified. Although,I am sure members of the press will follow soon enough. The small blue checkmark next to their name even looks like Twitter’s version.
Send to KindleApple releases a new standalone Podcast App. Is it good?
Apple is never one for putting out more than is needed. They seem to have the same thought with names. Apple has unveiled a new app specifically for podcasts, called Podcasts. The creatively named app is available for both iPhone and iPad. Apple says it is a better way to organize and discover podcast on your iDevice but it falls a little short. The design UI and controls are in sync but when compared to Downcast, Podcast just does not hold up.
Apple Says:
Podcasts app is the easiest way to discover, subscribe to and play your favorite podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts from the Podcasts Catalog, and play the most popular podcasts, organized for you by topic, with the all-new Top Stations feature.
Features:
• Enjoy all of your audio and video podcasts in a single app
• Explore hundreds of thousands of podcasts including shows in over 40 languages
• Try the innovative new Top Stations feature to find new podcast series in a variety of topics, including arts, business, comedy, music, news, sports, and more.
• Browse by Audio or Video podcasts, or see what’s most popular in Top Charts
• Tap subscribe for your favorites and automatically receive new episodes for free as they become available
• Stream episodes or download to listen while offline
• Skip forward and back using simple playback controls
• Turn on Sleep Timer to automatically stop playing a podcast while listening in bed
• Share your favorite episodes with friends using Twitter, Messages and Mail
• Optionally sync your favorite episodes from iTunes on your Mac or PC
• Sync your episode playback for seamless transition between devices
Requirements:
• Requires a device with iOS 5.1 or later
• Optionally syncing episodes requires iTunes 10.6.3 or later
• Streaming or downloading episodes requires internet access over a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection
Pro: This is a clean easy to use unapologetic simplistic Podcast app. It is free to use.
Con: The app works but it could have been designed just a little bit nicer. The load times needed to be faster. Even over wifi the speed at which podcast downloaded was not acceptable.
Cost: $0
Aye/Nay: This is a Aye. This program is simple to use and although it does not come close to the loveliness that is Downcast, Podcast is free. $0 is worth it.
iTunes Link: Podcasts
Send to KindleFord Keyfree Login is the best thing since bread if it were real
Ford Keyfree is the best thing since well..The iPhone…OK, that’s a bit much but you get the idea. Ford’s Keyfree login lets you unlock your social networking websites just by placing your iPhone near the computer. It sounds crazy but this thing really works. It is currently in beta and there are a few hoops to jump through but it is well worth the effort.
The steps or hoops as I call them are pretty simple. First you have to login to your social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Gmail using the app. Then you download “Ford keyfree login” Chrome extension. That is correct the app will only work on Chrome. I am a Chrome user anyway so that works out fine. Sorry IE and Firefox. Unfortunately at the moment it only works on Macs. That is not fine however. 3rd t simply place your iPhone near the computer. That’s it. Now each time you are near your computer and you have the app running; Ford’s Keyfree login will login any social network that you bring up on your computer. To logout just walk away with your phone.
Sounds great right? The video makes it seem even better. There is one big catch. The product is not out to the masses just yet.
Send to KindleTwitter lets the Fail Whale out to play
Twitter was down for a little bit. Whenever the Fail Whale jumps out of the ocean of calm tweets the world goes crazy. It was only for a short moment. Some people didn’t even experience anything at all. Twitter did however confirm “may be experiencing issues” via its Status Blog roughly an hour ago, Twitter has added that the concerns are “on-going.”
Send to KindleWWDC: Live (This is what happened)
Here is the update of what is going on at WWDC. Let’s see how many were correct in my prediction from this morning. Anything in green means I was right.
- Integration with Facebook like we with Twitter.
- Hardware, Hardware, hardware! New hardware redesign.
- iOS 6 new look metallic sliver just like the WWDC app.
- Mail VIP: Filter for your mail by people named in your VIP list.
- Siri for iPad with iOS6
- iCloud will do more and highly integrated with iOS 6.
- Facetime now works over cellular.
- GM, Ford, Toyota & Mercedes Benz all to get Siri by next year.
- Siri can now launch apps!
- Siri now plays nice with OpenTable and Yelp. No word on if Siri will have an open API. I doubt that it will
- MacBook Pro but as light as a MacAir. It has HDMI! You have USB 2/3, Thunderbolt, SD card slot. Cost of all that Super MacBook Pro goodness $2,199
- Built in turn-by-turn navigation!! Works from the lock screen and Siri too
- iOS 6 Beta comes out today. (If you are developer)
Send to KindleApple WWDC 2012: What to expect
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook told us to expect even more from this year. Well it’s 2012 and WWDC is here. The conference sold out in a day. Clearly people what to know what we can look forward to. We know that iOS 6 will be on full display. Surely there will be a hands on after the event but what about the new hardware. Will there be a new Macbook? How about the MacPro? We will see new hardware unlike previous WWDCs. I think WWDC this year will give a big chunk of time to hardware. Below are what I think will be discussed and what I’m pretty sure will not happen. The event starts at 10AM PT/1PM EST
What will happen
- Apple’s senior vice president of product marketing Phil Schiller will give the Apple keynotes not Tim Cook.
- Google Maps stays on iOS but you will have the option to use Apple’s.
- Integration with Facebook like we with Twitter.
- Hardware, Hardware, hardware! New hardware redesign.
- iOS 6 new look metallic sliver just like the WWDC app.
- Mail VIP: Filter for your mail by people named in your VIP list.
- Siri for iPad with iOS6
- iCloud will do more and highly integrated with iOS 6.
What will not happen
- Automatic app updates: I don’ think this will happen nor should it happen. There are a number of apps whose updates only break a perfectly working app.
- Social Hub: like Microsoft’s People hub that will sync your phone contacts with social networks. There are apps that already do this but native is always better.
- iWallet: Apple is testing a Bluetooth version of a payment system rather than NFC. Leave it to Apple to go against the grain but I don’t see this happening this year.
- Live Widget: Windows Phone and Android already do this. The app runs in the background and just gives you the latest info. I know it can be done because they are already doing it with Weather and Stocks apps in the notification center. Also the jailbreak community has Dashboard X that has a host of widgets running on the iOS without any issues.
Send to KindleFacebook 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.
Send to KindleTweet from Siri
It is looking very good for the world of Siri. I can not wait to see what comes out next for it.
Send to KindleTwitter gets a makeover
Twitter is not in any way shape or form complicated. What it is however is cluttered. Well, a new redesign of its web site and mobile apps have added four new tabs to help you out. The “Home”, “Connect”, “Discover” and “Me” — that make things a lot simpler to navigate. If this was too much to read, check out the video.
Send to KindleHow to use iPhone 4S Siri to send Twitter and Facebook post.
To send a message to Facebook is straight forward. The steps a below easy to do. In 3 steps you will be able to Post to Facebook with just the sound of your voice.
Post to Twitter on the on the other had is not as simple. Any mention of the word Twitter will cause Siri to remind you it can not send tweets. The work around is similar to the Facebook one but 1 extra step is added in.
Send to Kindle








