Connoisseur's Blog
Monday, August 30, 2010
Gmail Priority Inbox launches today !!!!!!
Priority Inbox is Google’s attempt to solve the e-mail woes of Gmail power users. At its core, the feature is an algorithm; Priority Inbox uses information such as keywords, the people you e-mail the most and your e-mail habits to select the most pressing e-mails in your inbox. Those e-mails are brought to the top of your Gmail and marked as important so you deal with them first.
Priority Inbox is also an adaptive algorithm. Marking items as important or unimportant teaches the system what types of messages you deem the most urgent. You can also use Gmail’s filters to automatically mark certain messages as important (for example, from your boss or your spouse),
The new feature appears as a new menu item just above the “Inbox” link. Instead of indicating how many unread e-mails you have in your inbox, Priority Inbox only displays how many priority e-mails still require your attention. These appear at the top of Gmail as “Important and unread.”
The second layer of the new layout is your starred e-mails. These messages appear in their own section under the Priority Inbox. The goal is to get users to star important e-mails they have read but for whatever reason still need in their inboxes. Under the “Starred” section is “Everything else,” which contains the rest of your unarchived inbox.
Priority Inbox is also an adaptive algorithm. Marking items as important or unimportant teaches the system what types of messages you deem the most urgent. You can also use Gmail’s filters to automatically mark certain messages as important (for example, from your boss or your spouse),
The new feature appears as a new menu item just above the “Inbox” link. Instead of indicating how many unread e-mails you have in your inbox, Priority Inbox only displays how many priority e-mails still require your attention. These appear at the top of Gmail as “Important and unread.”
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
See & Manage Social Networking Accounts all at once-TweetDeck
Previously,I had to visit each site on a daily or other regularly scheduled basis to manage my socila networking accounts...But now I found a really cool & a simple way to manage my SN accounts all at once through TweetDeck,without going to the websites and logging in each time....
Its a great time saver and lets us see all our updates "at a glance" in different columns...Its much easier to remember to post to all of our SN accounts on schedule..
Another good feature in TweetDeck (the PC version,not the more limited iPhone/iPad version) is that you can enter a post and then schedule it to be posted later..,I found this feature very useful & nice..
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Microsoft's coolest mouse ever
The wireless mouse can be arched for use, and then flattened out for easier portability.how cool is dat !!!!!!
Microsoft's coolest mouse ever?
sign language on a cellular phone
Yes, sign language on a cellular phone. I realize that this sounds like an incredibly sick joke, like a Driver’s Manual in Braille, but this is a study going on at the University of Washington (UW).
Now, you might think that the hearing impaired could communicate via text message and Instant Messages, but I’m sure that we all know how easily a simple message with its tone could be misinterpreted. In other words, they want something where they are free to use sign language to communicate.
While it is true that successful phones like the EVO 4G and the iPhone 4 can do video conferencing, this feature is dependent on the user holding the phone in one of their hands. That seriously limits sign language if you are doing it one handed.
There is also a problem of bandwith. Heavy bandwith conferencing could create some serious problems when the bill comes around. However, this UW team wants to use MobileASL with one tenth of the bandwith of the iPhone 4 FaceTime video conferencing.
This study uses 11 students who are “academically gifted deaf or hard-of hearing pupil interested in pursuing computer careers”. It uses 200 phone calls, each one lasting an average of 90 seconds.
I hope to see more about this study, as well as any improvements in mobile communication for the hearing impaired.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Black Berry may shutdown in India
The home secretary, the top civil servant over internal security, held talks with intelligence officials and state-run telecom operators BSNL and MTNL about how the government could access encryption details, the latest global headache for Canadian maker Research In Motion.
A telecoms ministry official, who asked not to be identified, described the talks as "inconclusive" after the meeting. Another source said private telecom operators could be invited later.
"The government first wants to be sure how to pin down Blackberry," the source said, when asked why private operators had not been invited.
An RIM official met India's interior minister separately on Thursday, a government source said. There were no more details.
In a matter of a few weeks, the BlackBerry device -- long the darling of the world's CEOs and politicians, including U.S. President Barack Obama -- has become a target for its encrypted email and messaging services with governments around the world.
The Indian demands follow a deal with Saudi Arabia, where a source said Research In Motion agreed to give authorities codes for BlackBerry Messenger users. The United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Algeria also seek access.
The government could ask mobile operators to block BlackBerry messaging and email until RIM provides access to data transmitted over the handset, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone's India unit are the largest providers of BlackBerry services in India.
A shutdown would affect one million of the smartphone's 41 million users. India is one of RIM's fastest growing markets.
If a shutdown takes effect, BlackBerry users in India would only be able to use the devices for calls and Internet browsing.
India wants access in a readable format to encrypted BlackBerry communication, on grounds it could be used by militants. Pakistani-based militants used mobile and satellite phones in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
Officials say RIM proposes tracking emails without sharing encryption details, but that is not enough. A spokesman in India for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company made no comment.
This year, India restricted imports of Chinese telecoms network equipment over security fears. It is also worried about the introduction of 3G wireless services with no monitoring system in place.
COMPETITION
RIM, unlike rivals Nokia and Apple, operates its own network through secure services located in Canada and other countries, such as Britain.
The BlackBerry image could suffer if users feel RIM has compromised its Enterprise email system. Corporate and consumer customers both use its BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging.
The German government has urged staffers not to use the BlackBerry and several ministries have banned them. The European Union Commission this month rejected the BlackBerry in favor of Apple's iPhone and HTC smartphones.
India seeks access to both email and Messenger, while Saudi Arabia has only targeted the instant messaging service.
RIM has said BlackBerry's Enterprise system lets customers create their own key, and the company has neither a master key nor a "back door" to allow it or any third party to access crucial corporate data.
Middle Eastern countries are concerned that BlackBerry users may spread pornography or violate restrictions on contact between unrelated men and women.
A telecoms ministry official, who asked not to be identified, described the talks as "inconclusive" after the meeting. Another source said private telecom operators could be invited later.
"The government first wants to be sure how to pin down Blackberry," the source said, when asked why private operators had not been invited.
An RIM official met India's interior minister separately on Thursday, a government source said. There were no more details.
In a matter of a few weeks, the BlackBerry device -- long the darling of the world's CEOs and politicians, including U.S. President Barack Obama -- has become a target for its encrypted email and messaging services with governments around the world.
The Indian demands follow a deal with Saudi Arabia, where a source said Research In Motion agreed to give authorities codes for BlackBerry Messenger users. The United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Algeria also seek access.
The government could ask mobile operators to block BlackBerry messaging and email until RIM provides access to data transmitted over the handset, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone's India unit are the largest providers of BlackBerry services in India.
A shutdown would affect one million of the smartphone's 41 million users. India is one of RIM's fastest growing markets.
If a shutdown takes effect, BlackBerry users in India would only be able to use the devices for calls and Internet browsing.
India wants access in a readable format to encrypted BlackBerry communication, on grounds it could be used by militants. Pakistani-based militants used mobile and satellite phones in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
Officials say RIM proposes tracking emails without sharing encryption details, but that is not enough. A spokesman in India for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company made no comment.
This year, India restricted imports of Chinese telecoms network equipment over security fears. It is also worried about the introduction of 3G wireless services with no monitoring system in place.
COMPETITION
RIM, unlike rivals Nokia and Apple, operates its own network through secure services located in Canada and other countries, such as Britain.
The BlackBerry image could suffer if users feel RIM has compromised its Enterprise email system. Corporate and consumer customers both use its BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging.
The German government has urged staffers not to use the BlackBerry and several ministries have banned them. The European Union Commission this month rejected the BlackBerry in favor of Apple's iPhone and HTC smartphones.
India seeks access to both email and Messenger, while Saudi Arabia has only targeted the instant messaging service.
RIM has said BlackBerry's Enterprise system lets customers create their own key, and the company has neither a master key nor a "back door" to allow it or any third party to access crucial corporate data.
Middle Eastern countries are concerned that BlackBerry users may spread pornography or violate restrictions on contact between unrelated men and women.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Notebook v/s Desktop
How important is the portability to you? Do you really need to take the machine with you? For many businesspeople, the answer is a resounding "YES!" However, some folks (including myself once, many years ago) talk themselves into buying notebooks by greatly overestimating how much traveling they will do, or based upon romantic notions of writing the Great American Novel on the beach in the moonlight. Unfortunately, that's not how things usually work out in the real world. :^) So be sure to be honest with yourself about your portability needs.
To be fair, there's one other important and usually overlooked advantage of notebooks that should be discussed: they come with LCD screens. Many people find LCD screens "night and day" superior to conventional PC CRTs, including this author. These screens are expensive, and their presence on a notebook PC is one of the reasons for the increased cost of notebooks. Now that LCD monitors are available for desktop PCs, and people are seeing their very hefty price tags, buyers are starting to better understand part of the reason why notebooks are so expensive. At any rate, if you are an LCD screen lover like me, be sure to add in the cost of a desktop LCD monitor into your comparison of desktops and notebooks; it will greatly narrow the cost gap (though the other limitations of notebooks will remain). If you haven't used an LCD screen before, compare one to a CRT sometime--you may find yourself hooked! :^)
Of course, the LCD screen on notebooks is also part of the reason why they use so much less power than desktops.
But Desktop is no less than Notebook,, With rare exceptions, new technologies show up in desktop PCs at least six to twelve months before they make their way to notebooks. Notebook users are always "behind the technology curve" relative to desktop users.
When ordering a new notebook you will have fewer options for customizing your configuration than you will for a desktop. Most notebook manufacturers have a number of different standard configurations from which you can choose, but limited options beyond that point
Most desktop PCs provide better performance than notebook PCs in addition to being cheaper. For example, you can't get at any costa standard hard disk for a notebook that is as large as the ones shipping in better desktop setups. You can't get a 10,000 RPM hard disk for a notebook. You can't get a 21" monitor; etc.
Many people use a notebook as their only PC today, and for some they offer advantages that make them very worthwhile. However, notebooks also represent a trap that far too many people fall into.
To be fair, there's one other important and usually overlooked advantage of notebooks that should be discussed: they come with LCD screens. Many people find LCD screens "night and day" superior to conventional PC CRTs, including this author. These screens are expensive, and their presence on a notebook PC is one of the reasons for the increased cost of notebooks. Now that LCD monitors are available for desktop PCs, and people are seeing their very hefty price tags, buyers are starting to better understand part of the reason why notebooks are so expensive. At any rate, if you are an LCD screen lover like me, be sure to add in the cost of a desktop LCD monitor into your comparison of desktops and notebooks; it will greatly narrow the cost gap (though the other limitations of notebooks will remain). If you haven't used an LCD screen before, compare one to a CRT sometime--you may find yourself hooked! :^)
Of course, the LCD screen on notebooks is also part of the reason why they use so much less power than desktops.
But Desktop is no less than Notebook,, With rare exceptions, new technologies show up in desktop PCs at least six to twelve months before they make their way to notebooks. Notebook users are always "behind the technology curve" relative to desktop users.
When ordering a new notebook you will have fewer options for customizing your configuration than you will for a desktop. Most notebook manufacturers have a number of different standard configurations from which you can choose, but limited options beyond that point
Most desktop PCs provide better performance than notebook PCs in addition to being cheaper. For example, you can't get at any costa standard hard disk for a notebook that is as large as the ones shipping in better desktop setups. You can't get a 10,000 RPM hard disk for a notebook. You can't get a 21" monitor; etc.
Many people use a notebook as their only PC today, and for some they offer advantages that make them very worthwhile. However, notebooks also represent a trap that far too many people fall into.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Get rid of the AutoPlay bar on YouTube
The new Autoplay bar that pops up on the bottom of your screen with recommended videos on YouTube is really annoying—and here's how to get rid of it.
Google Chrome users have user script support built right in, but if you're using Firefox you'll need to install the Greasemonkey extension first—once that's done you can simply install the user script by clicking the Install button, reload the YouTube page, and the Autoplay bar should be gone.
Removes Youtube's Subscription Bar/Autoplay [http://bit.ly/cZNNtY]
Google Chrome users have user script support built right in, but if you're using Firefox you'll need to install the Greasemonkey extension first—once that's done you can simply install the user script by clicking the Install button, reload the YouTube page, and the Autoplay bar should be gone.
Gmail Now Lets You Save Attachments to the Desktop via Drag-and-Drop
Google has added a new feature to Gmail: the ability to save file attachments by simply dragging-and-dropping them onto the desktop. If you hover over the file icon or the “Download” link for any attachment, you’ll notice the new text prompting you to drag the file to your desktop to save.
It’s really as simple as it sounds. There is one caveat to saving file attachments via drag-and-drop, though: the feature is only available in Google Chrome.
Click on the link below:
Now Drag and Drop Attachments From Gmail to Your Desktop (googletutor.com)
It’s really as simple as it sounds. There is one caveat to saving file attachments via drag-and-drop, though: the feature is only available in Google Chrome.
Click on the link below:
Now Drag and Drop Attachments From Gmail to Your Desktop (googletutor.com)
Block callers calling on your cell phone through Google Voice
Image via CrunchBaseLog in to your Google Voice account.
Find the call you want to block (or the voicemail that resulted from it).
Select the checkbox next to the call or voicemail.
Click the "more" link underneath the call.
Select "Block Caller."
Sunday, August 1, 2010
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