Yoke – One More On-the-Spot Matchmaker

It goes without saying that people are all about socializing, and the speeding up popularity of social networks only proves this point. Here, in addition to online communication with our friends, colleagues or family members in Gmail, Skype, 4shared (don’t forget about the service’s option to send PM’s to your friends) and Facebook or Twitter, of course, most SM users tend to search for new friends on the Web as well. In fact, some of us, who are either too shy in real life, or don’t have enough time for meeting new people in person somewhere at the excibition, in a gym or even in a pub, get frequently prone to signing up for versatile matchmaking services as well. These are specifically designed to bring the new couples, usually from all over the world, together, and often require nothing, but your provided bio, photos and, certainly, time.

At one point the the dating sites have evolved to the integration into social media, like the famous and yet terribly annoying Badoo on Facebook, which is, besides, really hard to unsubscribe from, even though you didn’t even subscribe to it at all.

As for now, it’s about time the online matchmaking market was introduced with another player, the more upgraded application Yoke, recently presented for FB users. Having moved beyond the limits of an average dating service, the application does all work for you by collecting and comparing the info about your hobbies and interests with the facts that other users mention about themselves and makes a suggestion, that your match and you should start communicating. Not bad, ha?

Well, for those, who are interested in finding a couple online, Yoke can be considered an exciting option to try, but in general, it is still very similar to other, formerly-known matchmaking sites, just for lazier users, who don’t even want to type in the requirements for a possible soulmate into a search bar. Its significant peculiarity, at the same time, is related to the match being based on one’s interests, rather than a person’s appearance, hair cut, or else.

What is disappointing is that Yoke founders haven’t found it necessary to organize at least the minimum separate site for it, except for the FB page, offering you to start using the actual app and find out about its features during the alpha-test. In this respect, the service gets fewer chances to become noticeable and recognizable for users, especially if to consider its name. The thing is that, I have already encountered separate services, called YokeApp, Yoke Messenger, etc. which aren’t aimed at matchmaking at all. Undoubtedly, all of the mentioned factors can’t but take a toll on the app popularity, from my point of view.

Generally speaking, Yoke is seemingly one more toy for people, who get bored, or may be, wish to try something new in terms of online communication. Apparently, it can also become promising for lonely Web surfers, who can’t (or can’t stand)))) getting acquainted with people in person. Well, everyone deserves to be happy.

Google Takes Action in a File-Sharing Scandal: Reasons & Causes

With SOPA haste seeming to be now over, the file-sharing scandal, involving MegaUpload, has taken an interesting twist with Google saying its defending word in court. In fact, the IT giant has also officially claimed its position in the case with accusations of HotFile, recently made by MPAA (the abbreviation corresponds to The Motion Picture Association of America).

In particular, Google representatives claim, that any complaints towards HotFile, and even MegaUpload accordingly, are rather groundless, as both services are recognized to follow DMCA (The Digital Millennium Copyright Act), which makes their work legal, except for the links to files at MegaUpload, protected by copyright, which should, undoubtedly, be removed immediately.

What makes such a position of Google so peculiar is that the company has nothing to do with either HotFile or MegaUpload, regarding the shareholding aspect, for instance; yet, it has decided to stand out and say its word in, perhaps, the most media covered scandal recently. Nonetheless, if to take a closer look at the whole situation, Google’s actions turn out to be absolutely justified.

The most essential reason, in this respect, is the fact that the company’s own services, like YouTube, also happen to follow the mentioned DMCA, and they are generally considered 100% legal. At the same time, if HotFile is being accused of violating the law, what can prevent such companies, as MPAA, from accusing Google itself in future? That is the question.

Here, what can Google’s actions in the case with MegaUpload and Hotfile cases change? There’re, actually, several ways, in which the situation can develop. On the one hand, since Google is commonly known as one of the most influential IT companies ever, its official opinion is, obviously, highly valued. Moreover, the enterprise has a point when emphasizing the necessity of following the general laws, and DMCA is what the most reputable file hosting services, like 4shared.com, are pursuant to.

On the other hand, if the above-mentioned cases finish with guilty verdicts, can it lead to implementation of changes in DMCA itself? Hopefully, not.

But, we’ll see.


Stay cool)
Andy

Twixtor: Peculiar Video Software at Users’ Disposal

To be honest, I’ve never been a YouTube fan, in terms of creating thousands of funny or interesting videos of mine on a permanent basis and submitting them for other users’ review. At the same time, I frequently find it exciting to create a sort of video-greeting for my friends abroad, who I can share it with at 4shared (TG I am provided with enough space at my 4shared account).

Much because of that, I’m really interested in versatile video camera peculiarities as much as in specifically designed video software, which enables to make my digital masterpiece truly unique.
Having been for long accustomed to Sony Vegas Pro with its relatively convenient interface and a wide array of available functions, I’ve lately encountered one more service Twixtor that happens to be much more advantageous in creating slow-motion videos.

With provided motion control and management functionality, not to mention possibilities to modify motion sensitivity and frame interpolation, Twixtor appears to be a wonderful tool for everyone, who wishes to create various high-quality videos, especially with customized slow-motion and quick-motion parts.

As for Twixtor interface, it won’t be really hard to grasp, but much because of such numerous features, it’d be better to figure out their inns and outs in advance not to get confused. Fortunately, there are plenty of tutorials on the Web, explaining how this or that peculiarity of the service can be implemented to modify the already created video in the way you need to.

In a whole, I could tell you further, how useful and advantageous Twixtor surely is, but I won’t. It’s so, because, you should open it up yourself and start creating your own best videos, which would strike everyone.

Take it as a call to action;))


Stay cool
Andy

Visual.ly Goes Beyond Limits

I have already written about Visual.ly in one of my previous posts, yet I find it highly essential to dedicate one more piece to the service, much because the recently introduced updates have caused large media coverage and attracted a great amount of attention from the side of users as well.

What I am actually talking about is the new available function, which enables to create your own inforgraphic, using an array of provided templates, not just upload your own pieces to the site’s database. Moreover, it’s likewise simple to either enter your own creadentials (for instance, in a Twitter-related infographic), but check the popular masterpieces, created on the basis of the same template as well.

One of the most essential advantages of the newly-offered feature is its being free for registered users, as virtually anyone interested can try his/her hand at building an certain inforgraphic. The only thing needed is to enter the required details and wait till the system generates it.

Moreover, what I really admire is the wide coverage of the great news in the media. Much due to this, even yesterday Visual.ly Twitter account was already full of users’ wishes for the best, versatile congrats and positive feedback.

At the same time, as with absolutely anything in our world, I have also encountered a few drawbacks in the feature. In particular, it took me quite a while to get the first infographic done, and the process is very vulnerable to short-term Internet coonection abrupts, at least this is what I have experienced during my alpha-test. Nonetheless, the site itself is loading in a normal way, despite the fact that a great number of users are presumably trying to open it simultaneously.

In a whole, I would also like to join the happy user community and wish Visual.ly all the best, as the company has really done a great job and put much time and efforts into developing more useful features and tools for its clients.

As for me personally, I will perhaps stay in the group of not-so-permanent users, even though I have already saved 2 of my infographics at my 4shared account. Who knows, may be I’ll find where to use those some day.


Stay cool)
Andy

Highlight App in the Limelight

It goes without saying that the variety of newly-appearing apps for different mobile OS’s is so striking today, that it can amaze even the most fastidious and picky users, including the helful and beneficial tools as well as fun entertainment options.

As for the latter case with apps for entertainment, the fresh newbie, created for iPhones and iPads, Highlight is seemingly a wonderful way to get acquainted with people around. At least, that’s how the authors of the application present their masterpiece to the public.

The essence of Highlight is crystal clear: you’ll get a notification with an automatically opened user profile, in case anyone standing/sitting near by is also registered in the app database. This profile will inform you, whether you have got anything in common, so that you can figure out some interesting topics for discussion with this very person. These, in particular, might include the common file storage, like 4shared, for instance, or the similar hobbies of yours. The suggestions might also comprise your common acquaintances or friends, if those are also registered users of Highlight.

Undoubtedly, Highlight is fun to try, and you’ll be shocked how really small the city or town you live in is. At the same time, it’s a bit weird to check the strangers’ profiles, just because you happen to use the same bus with them, for example. Moreover, I highly doubt that adequate people, having a normal life (and please, don’t ask me to define “normal”))) with sufficient number of friends will be ready to open all of their interests to public access of others on the street, in the transport, in the night club, or anywhere else.

Yet, Highlight is supposingly a good way to communicate with others, in case a person is too shy or unconfident in real life, as the application might appear to be a useful way to eliminate some of the social boundaries, in this respect.

In a whole, I’m absolutely sure of the fact that Highlight will be a huge success in the nearest future, as there’re a great number of people even just on the US territory, especially adolescents, who feel lonely or just love to gossip about some of their friends with others.

On the other hand, I don’t really think there’s a good reason for more or less mature adults to start using Highlight on a permanent basis (of course, we’re all curious to take a shot and try it for once just to check how it actually works). That’s, in fact, so as there’s always a chance to talk to someone you are acquainted with in person, via phone, SMS, Skype, Facebook or 4shared messaging (I’m not sure if other file storages provide this option to their users) without any additional apps. And may strangers remain just strangers, until you meet them for real.

Stay cool)
Andy