Technology News

Facebook Home launched recently for Android devices. However, there are some devices like tablets and Smartphones that are not yet supported including Google Nexus 7. The fascination with this new arrangement of including MMS, SMS, applications and various other fully integrated Facebook features has caused a lot of interest in it. Now the question is, do you really need it? Let us find out all about Facebook Home when you decide to use it on your Samsung Galaxy S III.

Cover Feed

As soon as you install the app on your Smartphone you will be greeted with scrolling status messages, profile picture bubble and news feeds. To reveal your last used app press and scroll to the right, for messenger left and for revealing Apps tap the home key or move upwards. If you want to through your news feed then either flick right or left, you can also hide your profile picture by taping on it. Other features include liking and commenting. To blow up a picture on your screen just press and hold down.

Unified Messaging and Chat Heads

The Messenger app enables integrates MMS and SMS messages. This immediately alerts you as soon as you get an update or receive a message. Tap to reply the message that appears on the middle of your screen, this now opens up a Chat Head. Chat Heads depend upon the number of people who are chatting with you. If you find your screen cluttered with it then flick to bottom to remove it. However, there are some disappointing aspects about it as well. Although this does seems like unified messaging option but at times you will be confused as to which kind of message is being sent. It is easy getting confused between text and Facebook messages amongst the clutter of messages. Additionally, other platforms like Google voice, WhatsApp and Kik seem to be more popular amongst young users, why would one like to be confined within the walls of SMS and MMS. At times, you might feel annoyed with the bubble of Chat Head that keeps hanging until you flick it to remove it or answer back.

Security Concerns

Facebook Home sits on your screen and the moment you switch on your phone you start receiving the Cover Feeds. For those who are hooked on to it will enjoy instant updates of friends and their social network. As for those who have concerns of privacy and security might be annoyed by this and feel infringement of privacy as anyone who picks up your phone will be able to access them directly flashing on the screen. If in any case, you misplace or your device is stolen then anyone can easily misuse your Facebook account. To avoid all this you can make changes in the settings, Menu->Home Settings, uncheck the box next to the See Home When Screen Turns On. This revert back the lockscreen functionality. Again, what is the use of Facebook Home if you are removing the updates from your home screen.

Data Consumption

Updating the Cover Feed requires constant data packet exchange. This will result in quick battery drain and hiked bills. The higher amount of data exchange is used in pictures and updates, you can fix it by making changes in the settings.

Why you will not like Facebook Home?

The first thing to notice is the Android Jelly Bean that is all about keeping it clutter free and invisibility. With Facebook Home, it is just the opposite. Additionally, the folders and widgets are replaced by the app drawer divided into four screens with quick utility that includes photo, check in and status.

The biggest concern is about the privacy. Installing the app requires no permission from your device. Additionally, you will always be logged in your account and your location will be monitored including apps downloads and the apps you are currently using.

Is it a thing to be alarmed about?

It is true that Facebook Home will be monitoring your activities, your phone activities and your downloads. However, the same goes with Apple and Google but because these are well-established brands, so it seems safe. Still it is too early to assume that Facebook Home might be malicious.

Conclusion

If you are totally hooked to this social networking website then you will enjoy using it. For those who are not as active on Facebook this may seem the biggest annoyance ever. The Chat Heads for instance might cause clutter and the confusion with messaging is yet another factor. Interestingly HTC shipped their Smartphone with Facebook Home this indicates that there is hope for this app to catch on with technology enthusiasts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7666178

Recently the most popular social connect website Facebook has introduced its latest mode of reaching out to mobile users. The Facebook Home interface is designed for Android Smartphones. Let us find out more about it and its functionality.

The Home will be available on April 12, 2013 with AT&T ($99.99). Additionally, this app will be pushed on to the HTC One series including One X+ and Samsung Galaxy series with Note II.

What is Facebook Home all about?

The best feature seems to be the ability to fling away an icon from the screen with a mere flick of your finger. This is indicative of the highly advanced and responsive UI while making things easier for a user. Another thing to notice is the scroll functionality that is swift and smooth. You will find it easy to navigate between pictures without any lag in response.

Fetching E-mails Made Easy

Facebook Home is a surprise to those who have long been hooked on their Android and iPhone devices. This is because basic functionality like e-mail alerts is easy to fetch, it can now be dragged down to the bottom of the screen to be used later on as per your convenience. Now you need not access the menu functionality to access your e-mails.

Home and Display

You will be greeted by a home screen as soon as you will launch the app. The home screen displays an array of your news feed from your Facebook account. This functionality is a bit similar to that of News Feed. You will also be able to view the traditional layout of pictures and stories that you are able to see on the original website. Additionally, all your notifications that are related to your account and system updates will be made available to your with one tap. On the home screen, you will also see a News Filter item that is customized according to what you have chosen and how you want to see it appear on your screen. 

Initially you will find the Facebook Home free of any ads.

Apps and Other Functions

The app launcher is yet another interesting aspect that will pleasantly surprise you. This software is built from scratch to be compatible for the mobile utility. The launcher at the first glance might seem like a standard Android app interface that includes familiar buttons that can be tapped and are arranged in a row. You have the freedom to switch between most used apps to fully functional app menu. You will be easily able to move an app from within a menu to another menu.

The addition of Chat Heads is yet another surprise for users. This is a system that manages your chats including text messages, IM's from Facebook that will run effortlessly on the background. Even if you are busy with other app on the home screen or performing some other functionality the chat is still running.

With Facebook the Chat Heads gives you the extra benefit of providing you the visuals of the contact with whom you are chatting. The chat is displayed within a bubble with the picture of your friend appearing at the top of the chat screen. This allows you to quickly access a chat without having to go through the entire menu.

When you want to chat the bubbles transform into tabs on your chat screen. You can easily switch between your text conversations. Flipping between multiple chat users is easier while talking to them simultaneously. Just tap on the bubble and switch between chat users. On an average touch enabled screen display you will be easily able to view at least 6 tabs of conversation on your screen. If you are using a phone/ tablet like device then you will be able to accommodate more chat conversations simultaneously. It is like the larger the screen the better advantage you have of utilizing the Chat Heads. However you need to remember that if you have been idle for a long time then to resume your chat back you need to re-launch it again.

Conclusion

It is quite early to say anything about it yet but there seems to be some interesting features that have been incorporated in Facebook Home. The best seems to be the Chat Head as chat is the primary communication tool amongst most of the people online. Still some improvements can be made including adjustments in the idle time that will not log you off automatically. Other changes can be made on customizing more options for a user.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7619567

Cloud computing management software is an an integral part of any cloud-based IT system.

Imagine how annoying it is when you're stuck with an operating system or word processing program that you don't really like -- well you definitely don't want to get into that position with your cloud computing management software!

There are a lot of management programs out there. And as it become evermore popular to compute "in the cloud", the number of options available to you are only increasingly.

But that doesn't mean you should play Spin The Bottle with these management programs -- you might not be happy with the company you end up having to kiss!

It might be overwhelming, but try to take your time in wading through the options.

After all, many people and organizations are moving to the cloud because of the relief it will bring to their IT departments. So when you're looking at the different software options, you need to think of it in that way! You want to have a good relationship with your software, just as you would want with your IT person.

You need to choose a program that fits what your looking for. When it comes to cloud computing management, one size definitely does NOT fit all. You need to consider the setup and resources that you already have.

If you already have a full service IT department, you may want to look at utilizing open source software. Open source management software is good because it give users a lot of options and possibilities for customization. Also, because large numbers of users and developers have an input in the functioning of the software, you can be pretty confident that at its basic level, it will be a stable and reliable program.

However, if you're not running a huge operation, you may want to consider a more "full service" kind of software. This kind of software will probably be available to you via a large company that specializes in information technology systems. Under this scenario, you would essentially "out-source" the management of your cloud system to another company. This is when it is especially important to be picky about what software you choose to go with! So make sure you shop around to find the best company, with representatives that you feel can relate to you and your goals.

No matter which directions you go, choosing your cloud computing management software is an important step when moving into the cloud-- but don't let it daunt you! There is appropriate software out there for every business setup, and you'll undoubtedly find one that's a great match for your situation!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7682260

There seems to be a lot of misinformation floating around the internet about Windows 8. On certain message boards, you may find that the prevailing sentiment is that Windows 8 is a fundamentally broken, unnecessary piece of software. But is that really true?

On the other hand, there are plenty of people writing about how you absolutely should upgrade to Windows 8. (One very influential example is PCWorld.) These too need to be taken with a grain of salt. This is because, until February 2013, Microsoft was selling Windows 8 at the rather astonishing price of $40 American.

But now the price has gone up. If you aren't a student (students in Canada can get the product for around 70 bucks), Windows 8 will run you about $200. Which isn't small potatoes by any means. In fact, it's about half the price of a cheap laptop, and if you bought a new laptop today for $400, it would come with windows 8.

Don't get us wrong. Windows 8 is not a bad piece of software. Microsoft seems to have learned all the right lessons from the disastrous launch of Windows Vista, 2007's biggest OS scandal.

Having spent quite a few hours working with Windows 8, we're able to confirm that the operating system is indeed functional. However, it may not be for everyone.

If you are the kind of person who uses very expensive software like Adobe Creative Suite, music creating tools, or video streaming software, you may want to think twice about Windows 8. With complex software like this, glitches are almost inevitable when a new operating system appears. This means that, if you were to upgrade to Windows 8 tomorrow, you may not be able to use Photoshop anymore. So, that's a good reason to wait.

Bug and glitches are generally worked out completely in the first 6 months of an operating system's life. And here's the other side of the coin: Windows 8 is really fun to use.

Windows 8's interface is a huge improvement on Windows 7, especially if you're using a trackpad or a touch screen. Windows 8 is essentially Microsoft's answer to the interface work Apple has been doing in the recent years. The new operating system allows more fluid integration of multi-touch, which is a fantastic help if you're someone who likes to be able to move around an operating system quickly and easily.

However, for many that high price tag is going to outweigh the interface benefits. $200 dollars for a better looking, more fluid version of Windows 7 (remember, it's based on almost identical code) simply will not make sense to many people, especially to people who are using complex, high end software, which may fail to function correctly in Microsoft's new system.

Furthermore, the new system takes some time to learn. If you're used to clicking on your start button to bring up your programs, you will find the move to Windows 8 jarring and confusing. The start menu is simply gone. It's replaced with a fancy looking overlay that is difficult to locate if you don't know what you're looking for.

On the other hand, if you're in the market for a new laptop, you will likely want to get one with Windows 8 preinstalled. In fact, the way the market is right now, it'd be tough to find a single laptop without Windows 8 installed.

In either case, it's clear that Windows 8 is an improvement over the still excellent Windows 7. If anything, the inevitable Windows 7 price drop may be enough to convince people who are still using Windows XP (like many businesses or governmental organizations) to move to an operating system that does things substantially better. Seriously, if you're still using Windows XP, you should upgrade at least to Windows 7.

But if you're happy with Windows 7, you're not thinking of getting a new laptop, and you aren't interested in spending $200, Windows 8 may not be for you. However, if you need the very best in OS software you can get, and you aren't worried about some small glitches with the programs you currently use, by all means go for it! And have fun!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7642868

If you are looking for a thin and light notebook with uncompromised performance, the Lenovo IdeaPad Z500 is a great choice. You can carry your entertainment (and work) with you wherever you go. This notebook offers everything from great multimedia performance to enhanced productivity.

It may be a 15.6-inch laptop, but it's still portable. It's light enough to be carried around. According to Lenovo, it's actually 25% slimmer than standard laptops. It's proof that you can have a light and thin notebook without making sacrifices on speed and performance.

Not only is it slim, it's also sleek with its dark chocolate finish. This is one of the best looking notebooks out on the market today. The 15.6-inch display is backlit (LED) with a resolution of 1366x768. It's a widescreen model with a 16:9 ratio. You can watch your favorite movies and videos in high definition. Text is displayed clearly. You won't have to strain your eyes in an attempt to read the screen.

The display is available with or without touchscreen capabilities. It's up to you whether or not you want the touchscreen version or the standard version.

The system can hold up to 8 GB of memory, with 4 GB being the default option. It's up to you how much RAM you want it to be configured with. 4 GB is ideal if you only want to use this notebook for general tasks, such as reading email and watching standard quality YouTube videos. If you want to play games, stream movies, and run multimedia programs, you might want to go with the 8 GB option.

Need a lot of hard drive space? You'll be glad to know that you can go all the way up to 1 TB of storage space with the Z500. Your options include a 500 GB hard drive and a 1 TB hard drive. You can literally save thousands and thousands of files and documents with this kind of storage space.

The optical drive is a DVD recordable model that supports dual layer. You can access files via DVD, CD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and so forth. You can also write data and save backup copies of important files and documents.

Stay connected to the internet wirelessly with the Intel Centrino Wireless-N technology. If you want to take this IdeaPad with you when you travel, you can expect a decent battery life with the 4-Cell Lithium-Ion battery.

Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad Z500 is an affordable notebook filled with the technology you need for doing a variety of tasks. Entertainment, multimedia, work, productivity, multi-tasking: you can configure it to handle anything.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7573487

If you're looking for an ultrabook that can handle more than just internet surfing, then the Lenovo IdeaPad S300 just might be what you're looking for. This ultraportable device has a very stylish metallic finish. It's also available in pink and silver gray. With its powerful graphics and processor options, it can handle just about any task or process you throw at it.

It can handle up to AMD Radeon Graphics (7450M), so if you want to play games while traveling, you will be able to do so. Enjoy music with Dolby Advanced Audio (version 2) and stereo speakers.

Communication is another area where this notebook shines. Thanks to the latest WLAN technology, the S300 can sync files over a network at fast speeds. Transferring any type of data back and forth between the ultrabook and other device is a simple process.

The touchpad this ultrabook comes with spacious. It has a diagonal of 5 inches, which is standard for 17-inch notebooks. Considering that this is a 13.3-inch notebook, the touchpad is a pretty impressive size. The finger slides quickly and smoothly over the surface. Multi-touch gestures are recognized without any problems, thanks to the Synaptics ClickPad.

The keyboard is designed for easy typing. Fast typing can be accomplished on the Lenovo IdeaPad S300 thanks to well-designed keys.

As for the display, you can expect to see high-quality images and clear text. The 13.3-inch display is high definition. It has a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. With HDMI connectivity, you can connect the notebook to a larger display that supports 16:9, such as an HDTV. Other connectivity this machine comes with includes both USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports and a 2-in-1 card reader.

The battery life varies, depending on the settings and how long you let the system run without turning it off. At low settings, you can expect to less for 5 hours. This is about average for a notebook these days.

No Lenovo IdeaPad review would be complete without mention of the processor. This model can handle up to a 3rd generation Intel Core processor (i5).If you plan on doing a lot of multi-tasking, then you will want to add an i5 processor to your notebook when you place your order.

Last but not least, the S300 can handle up to 4 GB of memory and 500 GB of hard drive space. A 500 GB HDD is pretty impressive for an ultrabook.

Overall, this is a great PC that comes with plenty of convenient features. You can even upgrade some of the hardware if you need more speed and power. The Lenovo IdeaPad S300 is a must-have for anybody who wants a neat, affordable ultrabook that offers plenty of functionality.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7573496