Upgrade to Windows 8 for just 699 Rupees!

The prices for Windows 8 have been set. It's looking good for India.

FIX IT! A list of gaping issues with Facebook!

Facebook is a very well built streamlined website, loaded with Javascript. No matter which way you look at it, it is very efficient. Just ask its 800 Million users. I feel there are some huge improvements that can be made to Facebook, I hope you agree with me. Here they are:

Another Glimpse at Google Glasses!!

Google has taken a group a photographer's out on a spin. Did I mention they got to use Google Glasses, on their walk? Rather than discuss the endless possiblities of theses glasses, here's a set of pictures taken on the walk( and elsewhere) with Google Glasses. All I can say is, these pictures are awesome especially considering that they've been taken with some of the most rarified technology in the world.
These photo  were found form this Google+ site and this one.
Read on...

Microsoft launches its own Social Network, it's not like Facebook

Microsoft has finally, officially launched it's own Social network. So.cl, is what it's called. Not very imaginative is it?

It works like this:

Hackability, How it effects which phone you want to buy

Hackability is the trending topic, and often an overlooked one too. Usually when you go out and buy an Android phone you look at a few reviews, the screen size and quality, OS version, RAM, blah, blah, etc. We also have a superb tendency to by cheaper phones from smaller companies, or slightly under-specced phones just to cut costs a bit. Now there's nothing wrong with that. Not everyone can afford the  Samsung Galaxy S3, or HTC One, and the HUGE range and variety of phones running Android OS is one of the reasons for it's popularity. But there's one sticking point.

Get S Voice on your Android Phone (seriously...any device) {UPDATED, TWICE}

After the Flipboard .apk leak, we were pretty sure this was coming, and here it is. You can now install S Voice, which until recently was only available for the Galaxy S3, on your Android phone. S Voice is the all new voice recognition helper, and is a feature of the Samsung Galaxy S3. Here's how to get it...

One Rumour confirmed, 15+ to go {iPhone 5}

Finally, a rumor has been confirmed, well, almost. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters have pretty much confirmed that the iPhone 5 is going to get a bigger display of at least 4 inches width (diagonally). One of my most wanted features on the iPhone 5 is coming true! Go BoTB (Bits of Tech Bytes' abbreviation)! Read more...

Ditch Media Player, and check out Foobar2000

Windows Media Player is bundled with Windows computers, which means nearly everyone uses it for their playback requirements. Along with the occasional use of VLC Media Player, for playing nearly every format available. But when your library hits the XL level such as 10GB, your probably on the look out for a more streamlined, lighter, simplistic player. Meet Foobar2000...

Siri says the best smartphone ever is the Nokia Lumia {UPDATED}

No, you didn't misread that. It's true.

Free MacX DVD Ripper Pro and Video Converter

Until May 23rd, as part of Digiarty MacX's 2nd Anniversary celebrations you can get DVD Ripper Pro and Video Converter absolutely free, no joke. Here's how...

How to get Flipboard (that awesome reader for iOS) on your Android

Not just for iOS anymore

The very, popular, sleek and beautiful app Flipboard was recently debuted exclusively on the brand new Samsung Galaxy S3. Until...

Samsung Galaxy S3, Down to Dirt, literally

Well the Samsung Galaxy S3 has released, finally. First impressions tell us that this device is a winner. Let's get down to dirt, literally (read about Design).

What's wrong with the new iPad

Three million units of the third-generation iPad were sold within three days of it's launch. Its definitely one of the best tablets on the market. Not so much due to it's hardware but due to the quality and quantity of apps, fluid-interface, and of course how could I miss that screen. The screen is what decides a tablets since it's your only connection to its innards.. It's got more pixels than your HDTV and the only thing all those pixels can do stuffed into that screen is make everything you see on the iPad look simply gorgeous. The quad-core A5x coupled with that screen make sure that the gorgeous graphics on the optimized games, and HD movies play the way they're meant to. The iPad's processor is matched only by the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime (it's powered by a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3, even the name sounds cool).

Anyways we've pretty much established that the new iPad is the best tablet on the market. So why shouldn't you buy the iPad (for now atleast)?

The Return of the King, the Samsung Galaxy S3

The Samsung Galaxy S3

The new Samsung Galaxy S3 has released. After seeing it there's only one thought on my mind, "Where's the competition for this phone?".

Another reminder from Samsung that we don't need

If you check out A Galaxy Unpacked , then you'd know that Samsung has issued a reminder. But if you didn't, well, good for you because you get to see the reminder right here on Bits of Tech Bytes!

A year without the internet?

Could you spend a year without the Internet? Well Paul Miller of The Verge, is going to do exactly that.

Be a God on your Windows 7 PC

Wanna be God? Of course you do. But this trick limits your godliness to your computer (We don't need another Bruce Almighty, do we?). 

The new Google Easter Egg is a game!

We've found a new Easter Egg!!! It's an interactive game just like that Pacman doodle!

What we know and what we think we know about the "next Galaxy"

With the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy "whatsit" only days away, its time for a round up of the mostly likely to be true rumors and the true rumors (well then thy're not rumors, right?). Let's get started...

Angry Birds Space gets the Update we were waiting for!

For all you Angry Birds fans who've flung your bird to the end of "Space", another void has opened up!

The backlighted E-book reader- A Glance

Most e-book readers have these advanced e-ink displays that while provide a reading experience close to that of normal books.

Breathe life into your desktop with these wallpapers

Most Windows desktops usually have a default wallpaper or maybe a sports team's logo covered by a whole load of icons.
We already showed you how to get rid of icons,  how to add Rocketdock to give your desktop some bling, how Rainmeter works, and more posts about this are soon to come.
Anyways all you need is a great wallpaper to top it off. How about a shift from the action-packed wallpapers you see and go for something minimal, you might like it ( I do)?

Will the Samsung Galaxy S3 disappoint?

Samsung has finally released a teaser video of the it's upcoming phone, to kick start an exciting day. Firstly Samsung posted the following tweet on twitter: “Destination: tgeltaayehxnx”, then Android Authority announced a contest in which they would giveaway a Galaxy S3 after it releases,(this contest's definitely going to draw more than a few eyeballs). So what caused the flurry of activity?

+5 Features I want in the next iPhone

The new iPhone is coming out in June or October or whenever it decides show up( there are way too many rumors floating around). Anyways, here's a list of my most wanted additions to the upcoming iPhone.

When will companies learn that consumers aren’t dumb?

     Whether 2012 will become the “Year of Smart devices” remains to be seen. What is clear is that companies seem to believe (for now at aleast) that we need “smart” in not just phones but nearly every electronic( or top of the line TV).

RIM is getting serious about India, makes its move

Yesterday, Research In Motion announced its most affordable smartphone from it’s Blackberry 7 lineup, exclusively for customers in India. The Blackberry Curve 9220, will cost around Rs.10,990.

What’s holding Android back?

      There was some confusion earlier today about whether all the Windows Phone Mango’s will get Windows Phone 8 (Apollo). According to The Verge however this is wrong. Apparently no Mango phones will be getting the upgrade. Probably makes people who just purchased, say, a Lumia 710 pretty annoyed. Even Android gets it’s updates to it’s users, eventually.

      Speaking of updates, why is it that Android updates take an agonizingly long time to reach our devices?

Free Software that's free and you've probably never heard of it

"The system that millions of people use, and often refer to as “Linux”, is a variant of the GNU system." - Richard Stallman.

     Here is Richard Stallman. He's the founder of the Free Software Movement, which means he campaigns for computer users' freedom, he also developed GNU. Linux users, without this man your Operating System wouldn't exist. The freedom he campaigns for is your freedom to redistribute, and/or control the software you use. Being the founder of the Free Software Movement, means he has to set an example, and set an example he does! Richard Stallman does not use proprietary software at all. For your information proprietary software, is software that can be only manufactured and sold by the person(or company) that owns the rights. This restriction hinders a user's freedom so Richard Stallman, doesn't even step close to this type of software. Now you might think that nearly every type of software you know is proprietary, so what does Richard Stallman use?

Protect your WiFi and phone's Bluetooth with this simple trick

      We all hate it when our neighbors piggyback of our WiFi access. It's annoying and they could always be using your precious bandwidth. The same for cellphone users,

Angry Birds has blasted off to Space!

    They've taken Earth, some Seasons, Rio, and now the Final Frontier, Space!. Yes, our favorite birds with the short tempers are back in an adventure that takes them to Space.

5 things you didn't know you could do with Google

Google's iconic logo

There are lots of things that Google does other than the search engine. One example being the Google Glasses which were from the Google X Labs (an awesome R&D branch of Google that deserves it's own post). But I must take a moment to reduce my anger at Google for shutting down Google Labs.

Would you actually wear Google Glasses?

       
       Ummm...hmmm...I'd give this answer a conditional yes. That is if I do decide to drop $250 - 600 on a set, which depends on how functional and comfortable they are.

An Introduction to Project Glass

       For those of you who don't know Project Glass, it's a R&D program by Google to develop Google Glasses, which is an basically as you can see above an augumented reality display that you wear like sunglasses.

The Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 Tablet has been unveiled...on Youtube!

     

This weekend Lenovo unveiled a product tour for it's IdeaTab S2109 tablet over the weekend on Youtube. For reasons unknown they've been quite discreet for this unveiling. Anyhow, I'll tell you what I know.

Net Neutrality... YOU deserve it!!!

    When we log on to the internet we all assume that we will be able to access whatever we want, any website, application, blog, etc. We assume that we can make use of any service we want to, be it watching videos, chatting, checking our feeds, using Facebook, or anything. What makes all of these assumptions possible is known as Net Neutrality, and it's in danger.

Vanity URls for all...Come and get'em!

 So Facebook pages...the basic display of ourselve to our friends and the world, usually with a flattering profile picture or these days a display picture (thank you Timeline). Here's one more thing that you can add to impress your friends and direct your friends to a page's URL that they are more likely to remember than a random string of numbers and letters.

Desktop Customization - Rainmeter

So in this post, we look at a handy tool called Rainmeter.

 First, check out some random guy’s desktop…

               

        Nice, right? Now you want one too? This desktop was created using a desktop customization software called Rainmeter. Simply put, Rainmeter creates a transparent layer (called an overlay) over your desktop, on which you can put all sorts of widgets, like clocks, disk usage statistics, weather, etc.      

Productivity Technique 1 - 3,2,1.. Pomodoro!

   Before you think I've lost my marbles, hear me out. This post is about a useful productivity technique called "Pomodoro". Believe me follow it and you'll find yourself getting more things done.I use another technique for completing things in the long term but they do work together well. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato, thus the tomato is the logo.


What you need:
1. A kitchen timer (shaped like a tomato maybe?), or a software timer is also fine.
2. A pad or paper

  
Start your task after setting the timer to 25 minutes. Stop when the timer goes of. You my friend have just completed one pomodoro. Take a 3-4 minute rest. Then restart your activity with total concentration. After 4 pomodoros treat yourself to a break of 15-20 minutes. That's it. The technique was created by Francesco Cirillo and is very popular among software developers. Probably because programming requires so much concentration and this technique encourages concentration while avoiding a burnout.

Next time you've got something to complete just give it a try, essay writing, studying, programming, anything!!



Stay tuned for more posts!!

No More Ads with this little software...I'm serious

   So this little bit of software is super useful. It's called Adblock Plus. It literally blocks all ads on a webpage. If there is some ad that isn't blocked then just right-click the little disturbance, select "Block Image.." and follow the steps until the disturbance has been vanquished (sounds like directions to an extermination product). But I guess thats what it is. It exterminates all your ads. Did I mention it does it to popups too?

Make your eyes like your screen better..

         Ever notice how at night when you use your computer your face has a blue glow? That is because our monitors are designed for use in the day, so the light coming from them is supposed to be like the sun. But it can't be good for your eyes to look at the sun at say, 9 PM or 2 AM. I know a lot of people use the computer after dark so this is a very useful application.
  Its called F.lux. You can get it here. It is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Iphone, and Ipad.

"So what exactly does F.lux do to save my eyes from a lot of strain?" you may ask.

    It changes the warmth of the colors on the screen to suit the time of day.

Pandora outside the US, and how to use it properly!

     Let me start today by telling you exactly what Pandora is. Pandora is an Internet radio service. What you do to start is type in a song you like. Then Pandora will start with that song and automatically play songs relevant and similar to the song. I think that's great. You don't need to search for songs you like and purchase them either. With your Pandora account you can save your stations. For each song or I guess it becomes a "type of song" you want just create a station. That's it. The Pandora "now playing" page displays a horde of information. Along with the artist, song name, album art, etc it also shows you the lyrics, a bit about the artist/band, and similar artists.


    There are some disadvantages to Pandora.Since it is a radio station you are at the mercy of what Pandora want you to listen to. However, it does a superb job of selecting relevant tracks.

How to hide your desktop icons so you can actually see your gorgeous wallpaper

     So another problem for Windows users is the accumulation of desktop icons. You have a great wallpaper but you can't even see it behind all those icons. Yet you don't want to delete the icons, what do you do?

INSTALL FENCES.

With Fences in view

Oogling at your friend's Mac? Now there's a solution for U..

    Have you spent all day wistfully dreaming of an Apple iMac. Well Bits of Tech Bytes is now here to help all Windows users make their desktops as productive, beautiful, and as downright gorgeous as possible.


          Well here we are showing you this very handy tool that brings to your desktop a dock that look very much like the one found on Mac's.

Hey readers!!

     Welcome to Bits of Tech Bytes!!!
I'm Suhith the starter of the blog dedicated to helping you with your tech life with tips and tricks, here and there along with the occasional review and much more!! I know all of you will enjoy this blog and it will only get better.
So stay tuned!!