Saturday 31 August 2013

Digg finally arrives on Android


Digg, the RSS reader of Betaworks, has announced the launch of its Android application. Of course, it allows you to enjoy the "Top Stories” articles handpicked, as well as the aggregator. However, some important features still missing as display only unread content and synchronization in the background. Following the announcement of the closure of Google Reader, Digg decided to embark on the adventure of RSS aggregators. Indeed, the company was proposing a community site or the users voted for they considered relevant or the useful content. The most interesting and or popular were then highlighted. Digg request user feedback but do not necessarily take into account. But before diving Digg organized several surveys to collect the opinions of Internet users, the goal was to offer a product that meets their expectations. But in practice, there is sometimes a gap: while the direct sharing by email and research streams were in high demand, they are not yet available in Digg Reader as currently proposed.

 However, the company does not remain inactive and just put online a first version of its highly anticipated Android app too, obviously. Anyway, after two months of waiting, it is now available, but it sorely lacks some basic features. It is obviously possible to navigate through the “Top Stories” and in your various RSS feeds, save (via Pocket, Instapaper and Readability) and share via social networks. In addition, you can sort, add and delete files and streams. By cons, this first version do not displays your unread content, which is unfortunate. Note that when the closure of Google Reader in early July, the site was in the same situation, but this feature is quickly arriving later, hope it will be the same here. It is not possible to change the screen orientation (portrait by default), the font size and activate the update stream in the background. This should, however, make an appearance before the announcement of the Premium model, long planned.

Logitech TK820 an all-in-one keyboard with integrated touchpad


An integrated pad you use it as a Smartphone or tablet touch screen. Wipe back and tap with up to four fingers and 13 special gestures to recognize the TK820. On the touch surface that is larger than the sensor area of conventional notebooks, the cursor could be precisely controlled so that the use of an additional mouse is not necessary. Logitech integrates the functionality of a tablet surface into a keyboard; the wireless all-in-one keyboard TK820 recognizes zoom-, smudge-and other finger gestures. Logitech TK820, the all-in-one keyboard comes with integrated touchpad. The highlight of the keyboard is you can use an integrated pad as a Smartphone or tablet touch screen. Wipe back and tap with up to four fingers and 13 special gestures to recognize the TK820. On the touch surface that is the sensor area which is Innovative design: Wireless All-in-One Keyboard Logitech TK820 The Unifying wireless receiver provides wireless connectivity to a PC up to a distance of ten meters. Power involves the 780 gram light keyboard of four AA batteries, which allow the manufacturer an average operating time of six months. Downside: The touchpad is permanently mounted on the right side. Therefore, left-handers have no way to put the keyboard on their needs. According to sources the release will be happen at the IFA on 6 to September 11, 2013 in Berlin and the TK820 will be available for about 100 Euros.

Firefox Marketplace, Mozilla introduces Firefox App Store for OS



Mozilla Firefox Marketplace particularly the App Store for Firefox OS presents users with interesting apps like a social network. The App Store for Firefox OS contains elements that turn it into a social network. The first Smartphones with Firefox OS are already available in market, but on an App Store users will have to wait. Mozilla Firefox is working busily on Marketplace. A current prototype includes features such as a social network and wants to recommend apps that should be of interest to the users. In a long entry in the blog of the Mozilla UX designer Liu told how he has integrated the functions of social feeds in the App Store of Firefox OS along with the rest of the team Firefox Marketplace.


 In their analysis, the users of other mobile operating systems often face the problem that they find interesting or subject to an application being sought. Here, the feed of the Mozilla Marketplace try to give remedy to the situation and show the individual users for them interesting apps and updates to their applications. To express your interest in such an app; In a search result or a category by clicking a heart icon - roughly equivalent to the "Like" on Facebook or "followers” status on Twitter. You will receive not only information on new versions of the apps highlighted, but also pointed to similar content. In addition, to give the feeling of social network community hubs, app developers have added pictures and statistics such as number of downloads. A replacement for Facebook, Twitter other social hubs will not and cannot be Firefox Marketplace , but if the social elements lead to better results in the App Store , it should also hold in the iTunes App Store and Google Play collection.

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch



Watch connected Samsung Galaxy Gear should carry a 2.5-inch OLED screen, an integrated sensor capable of making 720p videos would turn and Android Jelly Bean. The sources give new information on the specifications of the connected Galaxy Gear shows, which will be presented by Samsung to the press for the first time on 4 September in Berlin. Thus, the watch has a 2.5-inch OLED screen would turn to a Android Jelly Bean (4.3) and provide a display of 320x320 pixels. A double-heart processor, Galaxy Gear includes 1 GB of RAM and a video sensor allowing it to record 720p videos. Further more it is announced that it have 10-hour battery (it will indeed learn to recharge regularly watch) and marketing of two models of the Galaxy Gear: 6 or 8 GB Nothing has leaked yet on the other hand the price of the new terminal and the date of its launch.

Friday 30 August 2013

The History Of The Computer

Computers are such a major part of our daily lives, that for most of us, we largely take their existence for granted.  Yet the complex machines that we use today once had very humble beginnings, with the advancement in computer technology escalating in the last 50 years or so.  Here's how the computer's story all began.
The very beginnings
The history of computers can be traced back to the middle 1800s, designed by Charles Babbage.  Although these computers looked nothing like what we would imagine computers to look like today, the concepts of data inputting and outputting, separating storage from processing and the logical structure of computers are very similar to that of today.
Early 1900s
Electro-mechanical computers were built in the 1930s.  They were either analogue or digital. Many of today's concepts in computing originated from these early electro-mechanical machines.  The first program-controlled digital computer was built around this time, which used floating-point numbers in computations.
The first electronic computers came about during WWII.  They were used to decrypt German codes.  The first named one was called Colossus.  Another important computer at this time was called The Baby, which was the first of its type to use an early form of random access memory (RAM) using a cathode-ray tube.
1950s
The 1950s saw a change in the way that computers were used.  Earlier, they had served scientific, mathematical and defence functions.  But, now, they were being used for business purposes, such as accounting and banking functions.  The first mass-produced computer was UNIVAC.
Another major development in computing took place in the mid 1950s, and this was the development of transistor computers.  Transistors replaced vacuum tubes.  The end result was smaller computers.
1960s/1970s
In the 1960s and 70s, the microchip took over computer technology, leading to the microprocesor.  Computers became even smaller.
The first personal computers came about in the early 1970s.  The Commodore PET was one such notable early PC.
1980s/1990s
The advent of portable computers came into existence in the 1980s.  They were by no means portable in the sense we would expect today, as some of them were large and cumbersome to carry!  The first marketed 'laptop' was the Gavilan SC in 1983.  Laptop technology advanced quickly thereafter.
2000s
The new century has seen some of the most exciting developments in computer history.  The introduction of Smartphones has changed the way we use computers today, with a basic phone capable of performing most of the functions that a computer can do.
The development of netbook computers has also catapulted computer technology to the fore, with many having their own in-built WiFi capabilities.
The future
So what can we expect from computers of the future?  Will they develop and change as rapidly as they have done in the last few decades?  Leading experts believe that future computers will be able to process data much faster than today.  Computers will be able to handle ever-increasing complex problems.
Some experts even go as far as to say that computers of the future will be invisible, where computers are actually integrated into everything around us, even the clothing you wear.
Whatever we can expect, the likelihood is that the development will be exciting.
When at school the other kids used to laugh at Crispin Jones for his nerdy obsession with computers. He has now turned his hobby into a paid job and writes about hosting for CWCS.