Google & Samsung - New Global Invasion?

Again, as I was saying, the rivals of Microsoft, like Google are seemingly much better in conducting the high-quality PR campaigns for their products and synchronizing their words with actions.

One more proof for this statesment is the latest news from the side of Google and Samsung, related to their announcement of the upcoming conference resumed as “What’s New from Android”. Here, the companies’ press-offices have already revealed the exact date and even the exact time of the conference in addition to its brief contents. My applauds, guys!

Now about the expected releases of this “What’s New from Android” event, guess that there can be made several interesting conclusions, regarding it:

- Android once again shows us its being, perhaps, the most promising OS now;
- Google does its best to cover all the aspects of global software market;
- Samsung is striving for beating Apple even more, than it used to.

Among these, the third point is, probably, the trickiest one. First of all, the recent tendencies reveal that Samsung has decided to put all the company’s efforts into becoming one of the strongest and the most powerful players on the smartphone and tablet market today (we still remember the recent presentation of the new Samsung Galaxy Tab with support of all conceivable services, like Adobe and 4shared Mobile).

Second of all, it seems like Google has one more time openly declared its union with Samsung in the battle against Apple by organizing the united Android event with it. Now that iPhone 5 hasn’t yet been officially released, both Google and Samsung have time to attract as much audience’s attention as possible.

The perspectives for the future of Google updated phones as well as Samsung Android tablets, for instance, are seemingly flourishing, it’s still hard to predict, whether they will manage to beat iProducts, or not.

For now, we’ll wait for the “What’s New from Android” conference.

Stay cool)
Andy

Windows 7.5 Fails before Start?

Have you heard? The fruit soft community is going face another update in the nearest future – Windows Phone 7.5. At least according to TechCrunch, this is the company’s ”Mango”.

Of course, only the time and testing will show, if the Microsoft Mango fruit is rotten, or not, yet, what is definite for now, the PR-campaign of the newest release could be better. No, it’s not that I underestimate the talents and creativity of devoted Microsoft employees; I’m just saying that the “pending action” can now be easily attributed to all promised new products of the enterprise.

The thing is that newest Windows Phone 7.5 has been openly advertised for long and the latest comments about it state that the release will take place in the nearest-nearest weeks, or even days… The only question that rises now is: so where is it, guys? Where’s the long-expected update?

The first and the foremost matter has already moved from the actual beneficial features of Mango Windows Phone, but the users’ actual ability to get and test it.

From my point of view, Microsoft should definitely take the better attitude to customers from its rivals, like Google, which declares the improvement and introduces it almost simultaneously (e.g. Free Google Music presentation), or even the players on different markets, like 4shared, for instance, as the guys don’t even tease you, they just tell you, what has already been added. Not bad, ha?

Anyway, hopefully, Windows Phone 7.5 will BE released soon, and we all be able to find out, if it can be taken as a decent rival for iPhones, or Android smartphones, or not.

Well, we’ll c)

Stay cool)
Andy

Minus.com - What's about it?

Undoubtedly, the number of latest software news and releases are truly stunning in terms of innovations and the opening opportunities in front of both software companies and us, users.

Although there sometimes happen the unexpected encounters, which might not even be new, but rather interesting. In particular, I’m now talking about another syncing service, Minus.com, which I’ve somehow missed to write about before.

To start with, the app looks pretty consise and reserved in the design, though is claimed to be multifunctional and, what is essential, presents you with 10 GB space for files. I won’t describe the whole testing process of the app, but will just try to point out the so to say pros and cons of it.

As a very positive-thinking person (yeah, that’s who I am, lol)) I’ll start with the advantageous or at least seemingly advantageous points of Minus file synchronization software:

1. Plain interface.
2. 10 GB free space.
3. Mobile and desktop apps included.
4. Simple registration.

I’ll leave the promised multifunctionality of Minus as a separate point as it’s on the one hand really tempting, but on the other hand, it seems too sweet-good, so I kinda felt like a fool when I was testing the app.

Now further on to so-called cons of Minus:

1. The annoying part with being a spammer to get more storage space. I really don’t get it, how it may be absolutely normal to get 15GB with 4Sync and be forced to invite everyone to get somewhat 1GB more with Minus, or even less with Drobox.

It’s humiliating and irritating, guys!

2. Limitations in the number of files in 1 folder.

Minus won’t allow you to store more, than 100 files in 1 folder. How come? Is it so hard to fix this? I dunno.

3. If compared to 4Sync, for instance, Minus app is heavier, and is 5,1 MB in size.

4. This flaw may not be considered a flaw by many people. Yet, I’ll put this feature here in the list of disadvantages. It’s the users’ ability to “turn on/off the lights” to change the background and font color of the Minus site))))))))

Truth be told, of course, if I were a blond gel I’d probably be delighted to use this function for thousands of times during each session, just for fun. But I’m not one, and frankly, I don’t really get why the mentioned blond gel would ever need to use a syncing service of this size. No offence, ladies.

Basically, this is it, as far as Minus.com is concerned.

Stay cool)
Andy

A bit more about Facebook Funny Stuff

You remember the stuff about Facebook multifunctional annoying routine that I wrote about yesterday, it didn’t take long for some more parts in the design of the pages, which have miraclously appeared today.

In particular, Mark Zuckerberg’s creation has now decided to call the posts – stories. Here, the only question that arises: what the heck, guys? Stories?? Really? Haha, and how about the added photos? Are they also stories? Well may be, but only if you’re fond of the philosophical approach: there’s a story behind every photo)

But the thing that I laughed at most is the Facebook clear e-mail notification that I’ve received today stating that I will no longer receive so many e-mail notifications aboout the updates. Oh, dear lord, guys, you’ve gotta be kidding))))

In this paticular what they should also realize in Facebook that the user is hardly very much attentive to reading the large text messages of such kind, and isn’t very much happy to get the great number of letters on the daily or weekly basis, for instance. Be more precise and more concise. Just the core points, like they do it at 4shared, for instance, something like “…we’ve got the new function to use. Here it is. Wish to try? Good. Don’t wish to try? Well, ok. It’s for you to decide.” No bla-bla-bla.

I perhaps need to clarify something – I really don’t hate Facebook, or something, but I’m writing about such funny things just to share my personal opinions, so that some software of PR manager in the company will encounter this post and modify the service somehow to satisfy their fans’ demands and expectations. So here you are, I’d be glad if you taken it into consideration.


This is for now.

Stay cool)
Andy

The Battle - Next Round: Google Wallet vs. New Facebook Buttons

As the way to continue my previous post about the war on the current software market, I’ve got some news more about the upcoming and already happening miraclous new features from Google and Facebook (Twitter has to fasten its innovations, perhaps, in this case))

So, what are the impressive functions?

1. K, let’s start with Facebook this time. The company has lately officially declared the soon introduction of “Listened”, “Watched” and “Read” Facebook buttons except for the old-known “Like”. Do you think it’d be fun? Well, I guess it seems so. At the same time, if to look at the update from more general perspective, it doesn’t look like something really useful.

Just think about it: what have we had by now? If you press “Like” under the link with a magazine article, what could you possibly do with the article, except for reading it? Can it be something like, “I’ve listened to the article”?)))) Imaginable, but not probable. In this respect, the whole sense of inserting the specific buttons for watching, reading or listening in Facebook really lose the whole sense in them. Thank you, FB, or better to say, Captian Obvious)))

Moreover, there’s the hell of a tendency to make the social networks too multifunctional. It’s not that more possibilities available for users are a bad thing, but me personally has already stopped paying attention to pop-up feature tour offers and the number of features I’m now using is pretty limited. May be, if I didn’t have my job, my girlfriend, my friends, and my hobbys, I’d have enough time for using all of them.

2. Now, about Google. Have you heard the incredible news? Google has officially presented its Google Wallet app working on the basis of HFC.

What does Google Wallet have to do with Near Field Communication technology? The app has been created to enable the user's paying with cell phone without taking the actual credit card out of the wallet. Simple? Well, of course, it is simple. Useful? Well, certainly it is. Yet, can you use the app in every Android phone? No! Unfortunately, Google Wallet only works with Sprint Nexus S in this release. Can you use every credit card? No, at least for now you can enjoy google payment app only if you’re a CitiMasterCard owner. Oh, or in case you’ve got Google pre-paid card.

Is it safe? I dunno. I mean, of course, it seems safe, but I’m always pretty cautious about my credit card info, really. It took me like the whole half of the year to get accustomed to online purchases, but only if they aren’t very expensive (like, $10 for a monthly 4shared Premium, or $20 a new exclusively-designed T-shirt from eBay), and from the trustworthy sites only. Here, thanks god that we have the internet-security warriors, like ITM Secure providing you with the listings of reliable sites and online-shops)).


Back to the battle, with these updates from Facebook and Google, who do you think have won this round? As for me, we need to wait for the next one to decide.

Stay cool)
Andy

Twitter Analytics vs. Follow Facebook Button - It’s a War, man!

For now, you can hardly find a person who doesn’t have an account in at least one of the popular social networks, even if you aren’t an active user. Here, it’s really obvious, why the war for users among the largest players, like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ is getting tougher with the paste of time. I haven’t mentioned specific networks, like LinkedIn, for instance, on purpose, as they aren’t taking part in the general struggle, they don’t need to, as in unique niche, they’ve taken there can’t currently be found many rivals.

If you happen to wonder why I have used the term “war” for the intense competition between the social network grandees, it’s so as the introduction of the new features has almost been synced nowadays. To expain it simpler, let’s check the latest example:

1.Twitter impressed many of us with the introduction of “View My Photos Right Here” option enabling to check the users’ photos & photo albums (uploaded to TwicPic or YFrog) right at their Twitter accounts.

Twitter went farther when offered Twitter analytics feature, so that the publishers can track the amount of traffic, they acquire having integrated their sites with the service.

2.Ta-dam, Google+ has presented the beta version of Google Music (which I’ve written about in my previous post, btw).

3.A day or two ago I encountered the news about Facebook – the network is now offering Follow Facebook button, which allows the users’ follow those ppl, they aren’t even friends with, as soon as the latter allow “Subscriptions” in their profile settings.

To say, it’s strange, why the service has introduced its follow on Facebook button only now, as it’s been included into Google+ and Twitter right from the very beginning. Moreover, even the file-sharing services, like 4shared(follow 4shared option), have already added this option for their users . I honestly have no idea about the answer.

Yet, Facebook Subscriptions possess their own peculiarity, concerning the exact type of updates you wish to subscribe for (you tick photos, games, apps, etc.) and the level of importance they carry (important, most or all). This is seemingly convenient on the one hand, but on the other hand, I’d get bored to define the importance of each photo I am uploding to Facebook, for instance. It’s just a photo, not the secret code))lol


Anyway, the struggle between social networks will continue, of course. But can we now predict the ultimate winner? Hm, no)


So, we’ll c)
Andy)

Free Google Music – Forecasts and Reality

This post’s subtitle should definitely be called smth like “I’ve told you so”, because, as you’ve probably got from the heading, it’s dedicated to newly-introduced Google Music.

New Google Music that is now only offered in its beta version is now expected to become the next fever after the initial Google+, with the invitations to it being begged for by everyone, who hasn’t yet gotten access to the marvel.

As it’s been predicted, Google Music player is designed now only for browsers, but for Android 2.2+ smartphones and tabets. This is rather logical with the current tendency of Android OS becoming the most popular one, even if compared to iOS, for instance. Yet, as for the offered functionality of Google Music android app, I’d say, I’ve been hoping for more. Really, may be the reason is that we are always looking forward to getting something even more incredible from Google.

To be short, with Google Music you can stream the tracks, save them on your computers, phones and tablets and create/manage playlists with the music you love most. Here, I couldn’t find any single decent advantage, really, so what’s so special about Google Music? I installed 4shared Music for Android, for example, several months ago and even the older versions contained pretty the same functions as Google Music. Moreover, the benefit is that you can also share the music you like, which is impossible in Google Music, or is it? I haven’t tested it to the fullest yet, unfortunately, as it’s still the beta version, like I’ve already said.

Besides, I’ve also become disappointed about the fact that unlike Google+ itself, Google Music’s beta version is available in the USA only, so the people in other parts of the world, aren’t even able to test it, unless they are familiar with how to use proxy-servers.

Anyway, it has already become quite noticeble that the users are now much more picky concerning both devices and apps they install, so why not at least the largest companies, like Google insert really more New features in their New products?)

But that’s just the thought


Stay cool)
Andy

Locai vs. Google AutoCorrect

To say, I’ve always been fond of some somewhat funny misunderstandings, which happen from time to time on the software market. So, when I encountered the news about the disappointing autocorrection crisis with Locai new Android app, I couldn’t but share it with you, guys!)

The thing is that, the silent autocorrection feature of Android Market keeps changing the entered word "Locai" into "local" without notification, so you simply can’t find the new Locai app on the site. I have checked it myself, and to tell the truth, it has stopped being fun anymore.

For what it takes, it’s rather annoying that such a reputable company as Google hasn’t managed to at least make the autocorrection optional for Google Android app Market users. Moreover, not only it’s really frustrating for any soft developer not to be able to share its new application, but it may even become frustrating for Google to be brought to court for the money loss, caused by such misundersatnding.

Just for a sec, let’s imagine that some huge service with billions of users, like hm, the large gaming company or the popular file-sharing service, like 4shared, for instance, faced the same trouble, when the users couldn’t find their apps at Android Market. Guess, this would be even worse for Google reputation.

Anyway, let’s just say that hopefully this occasional hurdle will be somehow fixed in the nearest future.


Well, we’ll c)

Stay cool)
Andy

What is iCloud - Syncing Rival Added

Wooohooo!! Seems like among the bunch of competitors on the file syncing market, there has appeared the new potentially powerful rival, or better to say, iRival in the field.

The thing is that, Apple has recently declared the news about the release its file syncing service – iCloud, for its users, which is planned to become a decent alternative to already famous 4shared Sync or Dropbox.

Yet, although the company sees the flourishing perspectives for iCloud, it seems to me, that it has few chances to get strong enough to fight back the grandees in the core charasteristica features. Here, I’m, certainly, talking about the free space, which is 5GB for iCloud users, which is on the one hand much better, than 2 GB, given by Dropbox. Still, 4shared Sync still stays at the top with its whole 15GB.

It seems strange, as for me, why have Apple even decided to release iCloud, which doesn’t have any obvious advantages over other services. Okay, we all have somewhat a passion for the company’s products, but come on, there’s gonna be at least one more motivation factor, don’t you think?

For now, the most essential question is that, whether the long-expected iCloud will provide any exclusive benefits to earn the popularity among users worldwide, or will it stay just a bonus service for those, who have got 30 GB of files, for instance.

We’ll c))


Stay cool)
Andy

Yahoo Futures– the Ship has Sailed!

I first got acquainted with Yahoo! service many years ago, or it just seems so now, as the paste of technological progress has already reached its cruising speed. And although I’m not its active user right now, Yahoo! will always be like the old-school toy, which you used to play being a mere child, but still can’t throw away into the trashbin…

Yet, no matter how nostalgic the service’s fans will be, it seems that Yahoo! will not be able to reach the popularity rate of its rivals, or at least stay competetive in the relative niche of the market. One of the reasons for that is the recent firing of Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, who used to be taken almost as the new “Steve Jobs” for the company, though the expectations were not fulfilled.

As for now, the future of the service is more, than vague, in spite of the fact that its top-managers keep saying that everything’s gonna be ok. From the objective perspective, it sounds more, like one of autotraining therapy sessions, than the logical long-term planning.

Moreover, since the competition’s getting tougher each day with Google worldwide expansion in almost every sphere of modern IT-technologies (introduction of Google+, the purchase of Motorola Mobility, or the release of Google Hotel Finder, for instance), Yahoo! isn’t seemingly strong enough to survive the battle with its mighty rival.

In this respect, Google has one more powerful engine to maintain its positions on the market – the company’s management is constantly searching for more niches to take and is ready to invest money in the innovative projects, if those seem promising. I’d not be surprised at all if the next step in Google development was the introduction of the company’s own file-syncing service, for example, to help the users back-up all their data online, similar to 4shared Sync, or SugarSync.

These are, of course, just the thoughts; likewise as the final ‘good-bye’ to old-known Yahoo! is yet to be said. Unfortunately, taking the recent events into account, this ‘good-bye’ can’t but take place in the recent future…


Stay cool)
Andy

Online Gaming Future – Inconceivable Opportunities Ahead?

Are you a gamer? I’m not, but for now, I rather feel as an exception of a rule, as the majority of people nowadays enjoy playing various games online, at least from time to time. What is interesting, the recent trends reveal the fact, that most of us prefer online platforms to classic games, which should be installed on a PC, for instance.

In this respect, it’s not at all surprising that there’s now noticed the burst in development of versatile paid and free online gaming portals and platforms offering a great deal of exciting adverntures to everyone: from the mere rookies to the most fastidious experienced players. Even if you’ve been playing for many years already, there are still numerous options at your disposal, and you only need to make a choice, which one to opt for first.

Here, in addition to the well-known popular online complex platforms for PCs and laptops, like Bigpoint games, for example, which has lately begun cooperating with 4shared service to expand the service’s audience, apparently, there have already been introduced the innovative mobile gaming platforms for people.

In particular, it has recently been revealed, that OpenFeint games have made their feature GameFeed available on 2 popular mobile OS’s - iOS and Android. To say, this is pretty much exciting both to the most devoted players and people, who often get bored, while travelling, and teenagers, who are crazy about everything new and trendy, and ….well, anyone else)))).

To say, I’m absolutely sure of the fact, that the mobile gaming platforms are gonna reach the top of their popularity in the nearest future, much because of the fact that the modern life is too stressful to live it without any so to say “emergency exit”, which may be used whenever you need to relax your mind.

The question is that, which innovations are yet to be presented? Guess the cyborg movies have good chances to become reality, no?



Stay cool)
Andy