Flickr the photo-sharing service has unveiled its first Android app, along with a new social feature known as Photo Session.
Available as a free download the Android Market, the app allows users to stake, filter and upload their photos directly to Facebook, Twitter or Flickr, from their Android mobile phone.
Features include camera functions like flash, ratio selection, and shutter focus, and ten filters.
LaCie announced the LaPlug, a simple solution to share any USB hard drive or key over a local network. The LaPlug also offers a convenient way to access data at home or on the go, as well as share personal files such as vacation or birthday photos with family and friends. Additionally, the LaPlug can stream multimedia content and back up multiple computers to one central location. Even better, all this functionality can be achieved with USB hard drives a user already owns.
SHARE USB DISKS ON YOUR NETWORK—WIRELESSLY
The LaPlug turns any USB hard drive into a network storage device sharing files wirelessly throughout the home. Simply connect the LaPlug to the network then connect the drive to the LaPlug. Instantly the user has an easy and cost-effective way to make files stored on their USB hard drives more accessible than ever. For ultimate convenience a user can connect a USB printer to the LaPlug and make it wirelessly available to all computers on the network.
ACCESSIBILITY AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD
Not only does the LaPlug make USB hard drives accessible throughout the home, it even supports remote access. Instead of emailing large files between friends, just give them access to the LaPlug – all they need is an Internet connection. The user can even set up a custom web address so access to the LaPlug is as easy as typing a URL.
MULTIMEDIA STREAMING
It is easy to access USB drives connected to the LaPlug from any networked equipment that’s UPnP™/DLNA®-certified, such as the PlayStation®3 or Xbox®360, as well as the LaCie LaCinema Classic HD. If a user has movies on a USB key they can just connect it to the LaPlug then play the movie using the multimedia device on the network. Instantly watch movies from the comfort of your living room even if the LaPlug is located in another part of the house. The LaPlug also plays music files from a USB drive or streams music to computers on the network running iTunes®.
CENTRALIZE BACKUP FOR CONVENIENCE AND SECURITY
The LaPlug offers a convenient way to automatically back up all computers in a household onto one central location. Use the included backup software or Time Machine®. Either way, simply configure automatic backups once then rest assured knowing all data is secure. Since the LaPlug supports Wi-Fi, once the computer is configured the user does not need to connect it to the LaPlug in order to initiate backups. It works as soon as the computer is connected to the local network.
AVAILABILITY
The LaCie LaPlug will be available through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie PROgram+ Partners and LaCie PROgram+ Reseller starting at the suggested retail price of $74.99. For more information, visit www.lacie.com.
Canonical have launched the Ubuntu App Developer platform with guides, tutorials and other resources to help them create apps specifically for the Linux OS, or to port other apps to the platform. No registration and No fees. are required.
Ubuntu recommend using PyGTK to create applications for Ubuntu. Quickly will get you up and running with a PyGTK app right away.
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian GNU/Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu (“humanity towards others”).
Ubuntu is designed primarily for use on personal computers, although a server edition also exists. Ubuntu holds an estimated global usage of more than 12 million desktop users, making it the most popular desktop Linux distribution[9] with about 50% of Linux desktop marketshare. It is fourth most popular on web servers, and its popularity is increasing rapidly. – Wikipedia
More info: http://developer.ubuntu.com/
Google+ has updated it’s iPhone app with Hangouts functionality for iOS.
The app’s Huddle feature, has been renamed as “Messenger,” and supports photos, as well.
What’s New in Version 1.0.4.2326
* Join Hangouts from the mobile app
* Huddle is now Messenger
* Send photos in Messenger
* +1 on comments
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google/id447119634?mt=8
“Google+ just opened its doors to the world by enabling open signups and moving to the beta, testing phase. The nascent social network is still thin on features and ways for businesses to properly use it, but its minimalist approach has gained Google+ millions of users in a very short period.”, writes Angela West, on PCWorld
Google is preparing Google+ for businesses, features include rich analytics and the ability to connect to AdWords as Christian Oestlien, Product Manager for Google+, explains in the video below.
onOne Software have said that they are in the process of upgrading the DSLR camera remote from the present 1.3 version to a more superior 1.4 version. One of the expected upgrade will be an additional support for the Canon 60D and the Nikon D7000. The first ever to be produced DSLR Camera Remote was mainly produced to function with the iPhone or iPod Touch.
“DSLR Camera Remote is highly popular among professionals and hobbyist photographers who appreciate the significance of shooting remotely and we are tremendously thrilled to present a new and distinct version that enhances iPad support and the ability start, stop and monitor video as a direct response to their requests,” said Craig Keudell, president of OnOne Software. ”We anticipate to fullyexploit the available new platforms in the ever changing digital photography sector in order to offer customers with tools that will assist them in spending additional time behind the camera.”
Additional Features of the DSLR Camera Remote:
UPGRADED IPAD: The latest version of the DSLR Camera Remote HD has completely made use of the large screen or interface. It also has other unique features which include the image thumbnails and larger previews as well as a speedy access to various available options such as the intervalometer and auto bracketing.
Latest Video Mode: This includes the Start and stop video recording for supported cameras and even distant monitor video on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. The latest iPad version also has Video mode.
More info: http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/dslr-camera-remote/
CANON U.S.A. ANNOUNCES SELECT PIXMA PRINTERS NOW SUPPORT APPLE’S AIRPRINT ENABLING WIRELESS PRINTING FROM iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch
Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced that the PIXMA MG8220, MG6220 and MG5320 Wireless Photo All-In-One inkjet photo printers will now support AirPrint* wireless printing for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. AirPrint allows users to wirelessly print photos, emails, web pages and other documents without the need to install device drivers, saving time and making for a seamless user experience.
AirPrint will be supported by the majority of Canon PIXMA inkjet printers launched from this point forward. AirPrint works with iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPod touch (3rd generation and later) running using iOS 4.2 or later.
For more information on the support models and other details, please visit www.usa.canon.com/airprint.
†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.
Availability, prices, and specifications of all products are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.
iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. AirPrint and the AirPrint logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
* Printer firmware update is necessary for AirPrint function. Certain exception may apply. AirPrint functionality requires an iPad, iPhone 3GS or later, or iPod touch 3rd generation or later device running iOS 4.2 or later, and an AirPrint-enabled printer connected to the same network as your iOS device. A printer connected to the USB port of your Mac, PC, AirPort Base Station, or Time Capsule is not supported.
The Wall Street Journal today announced the beta launch of WSJ Social, a news app for Facebook allowing users to seamlessly read, share and comment on articles from the Journal within the Facebook environment.
Beginning today, users can add the WSJ Social app to their Facebook account via http://social.wsj.com or by searching “WSJ.com” on Facebook. Content includes articles and blogs from WSJ.com, including breaking news, columns, analysis and opinion. All content in WSJ Social is available for free for the first month courtesy of Dell, the exclusive launch advertiser for the app. As part of this beta release, additional features, including customization and further content integration, will be added in the coming days and weeks.
“We’re breaking the mold of using Facebook simply to drive traffic to our websites and are now creating an opportunity to engage with the Journal directly on the Facebook platform,” said Alisa Bowen, general manager of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network. “WSJ Social creates a more integrated experience for users and innovative opportunities for advertisers.”
WSJ Social users customize their own Journal experience by becoming “editors” and sharing stories, which then surface for others within their WSJ Social network. Users can also add to their “editor” list by selecting those who curate content of most relevance and interest to them. The top “editors” who amass the greatest following are recognized on a leaderboard in the app.
In addition, all Journal content shared – or ‘liked’ – by a WSJ Social user within the app will be pushed to their main Facebook profile newsfeed.
“Because the capabilities of these platforms are evolving all the time, we’ll be continuously developing WSJ Social in a range of directions – from additional custom views for our ‘editor’ or integrating content from our other properties, such as MarketWatch, to new ways of sharing or ‘liking’ the content,” said Bowen.
Following the introductory period, content within the app will be a mix of free and subscriber-only content. The WSJ Social app will remain free to add, while full access to all content will be available via the Journal’s Digital Bundle subscription, which includes access to WSJ.com as well as Journal apps for tablets and smartphones.
The launch of WSJ Social comes on the heels of the new WSJ Live interactive video app release. Both are integral to the company’s ‘Journal Everywhere’ strategy of making Journal content available wherever audiences are, with user experiences specifically designed for each platform.
Users can add the app directly from Facebook by visiting http://social.wsj.com
Google has officially launched its Google Wallet, the application launches initially for Citi MasterCard credit card holders, but Google announced Monday that Visa, Discover and American Express will be able to add their cards to future versions of Google Wallet.
The inital roll out of Google Wallet is to all Sprint Nexus S 4G phones through an over-the-air update, said Osama Bedier, Google’s Vice President of Payments.
More at: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/launching-google-wallet-on-sprint-and.html
Google has announced a Stable release of Chrome 14 with extras for Mac OS X Lion users allowing access to overlay scrollbars within the browser. Chrome can also can also upsize itself now , with a tap of the full-screen button or by Ctrl+Shift+F.
“This release contains two significant technologies which allow developers to create even more powerful web apps and games:
The Web Audio API enables developers to add fancy audio effects such as room simulation and spatialization.
Native Client is an open-source technology which allows C and C++ code to be seamlessly and securely executed inside the browser. Currently, Native Client only supports applications listed in the Chrome Web Store, but we are working to remove this limitation as soon as possible.
This release also contains some changes for our Chrome users on Mac OS X Lion. For all web pages, Chrome uses Lion’s overlay scrollbars, which appear only while you’re scrolling. We’ve also added initial support for Lion’s full-screen mode, triggered by a full-screen button or Ctrl+Shift+F. Finally, we’ve fixed many crash bugs, and added some all-around visual polish.”
More at: http://chrome.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-stable-release-of-chrome-expanding.html
Canon Inc. announced that an ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor developed by the company has enabled the video recording across a wide 3.3° x 3.3° field of view of meteors with an equivalent apparent magnitude of 10.*1 The sensor, with a chip size measuring 202 x 205 mm, the world’s largest*2 surface area for a CMOS sensor, was installed in the Schmidt telescope at the University of Tokyo’s Kiso Observatory, Institute of Astronomy, School of Science (Kiso-gun, Nagano prefecture).
With a chip size of 202 x 205 mm, the ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, developed by Canon last year, is among the largest that can be produced from an approximately 300-mm (12 inch) wafer.*2 The device is approximately 40 times the size of Canon’s largest commercial CMOS sensor*3 and makes possible video recording in dark conditions with as little as 0.3 lux*4 of illumination. In January this year, the CMOS sensor was installed on the focal plane of the Kiso Observatory’s 105 cm Schmidt telescope and used to record video at approximately 60 frames per second, resulting in the successful video recording of faint meteors with an equivalent apparent magnitude of 10 across a wide 3.3° x 3.3° field of view.
Detecting faint meteors with apparent magnitudes greater than 7 has proven difficult using conventional observation technologies, with sightings of meteors with an equivalent apparent magnitude of 10 limited to only 10 per year. However, video recorded using the ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, combined with the Schmidt telescope, which enables observation across a wide field of view, yielded a one-minute segment during which more meteors with an equivalent apparent magnitude of 10 could be detected than could previously be identified during the span of a year.
Statistical analysis of the video data could lead to an increased understanding of the influence that meteors may have exerted on the development of life on Earth.
Additionally, because the combination of the CMOS sensor and Schmidt telescope facilitates the highly efficient investigation of objects traveling at high speeds across the sky, it makes possible the detection of an increased number of celestial phenomena in addition to meteors, such as space debris*5 and heavenly bodies moving in the solar system. Accordingly, the technology is expected to contribute to improved measuring accuracy in determining the position and speed of these objects.
Through the further development of distinctive CMOS image sensors, Canon will break new ground in the world of new image expression, in the areas of still images as well as video.
The results of the abovementioned observations will be presented at the Astronomical Society of Japan’s autumn 2011 meeting, which will be held from September 19 (Mon.) to 22 (Thu.) at Kagoshima University in Kyushu, Japan.
*1
Apparent magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness as seen by an observer on Earth. The brighter the celestial body appears, the lower the value of its apparent magnitude. The darkest star visible to the naked eye has an apparent magnitude of approximately 6.
*2
As of September 12, 2011. Based on a Canon study.
*3
The approximately 21.1 megapixel 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor employed in the company’s EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR cameras.
*4
The level of brightness during a full moon.
*5
Refers to a variety of human-made debris in orbit around Earth, including artificial satellites and the rockets used to launch them into orbit.
“Facebook Teams up with Twitter; Danger for Google+?. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” This is, currently, the motto of both Facebook and Twitter as both of them have joined forces for a better social networking experience. Could this spell doom for Google+?” reports IB Times.
“Facebook, which currently has over 750 million active users, will now allow users to update Twitter accounts on their Facebook platform. This new feature will enable the Facebook user account to update the twitter account, which is linked, with every update from Facebook.
The new feature will allow users post updates on both Facebook and Twitter at the same time, and will provide more content to Twitter. Facebook, now, will also be updating Twitter feeds. To start, the user needs to go to facebook.com/twitter and link the profile page to the twitter account.”