Posts Tagged Snap

Here are some of our favorite apps of 2011

Posted by on Saturday, 31 December, 2011

Apps are, at the end of the day, very personal pieces of software. And your favorite mobile app isn’t mine. So we decided to poll the staff here at GigaOM to see what apps changed our lives in 2011. It could be apps that just launched this year, or it could be programs that really came of age or matured greatly through updates. Or it could just be an app we missed before.

Some are very familiar but others may be new to you, but all have played a big part in our lives this year. Take a look and then tell us your favorite app in the comments.

Colleen Taylor: Hipmunk for Android

Android typically takes a backseat to iOS when it comes to getting slick apps. That’s why it’s so refreshing that Hipmunk, the travel search engine, put real time and effort into making its Android app just as awesome as its web and iOS offerings. Shopping for plane tickets in general can be a real headache, and doing it on a mobile device is usually impossible. But I’ve priced out and purchased plane tickets with this app, and it’s a pleasure to use.

Darrell Etherington: Path for iPhone

Path is great because it’s a beautiful-looking tool for people who might not share a lot of content, but like to keep on top of what their friends are doing without feeling overwhelmed. It feels like Facebook did before apps, games and the need to monetize made it a noisy, privacy nightmare. Path’s relatively pristine environment probably can’t last, but for now, that’s what makes it great.

Erica Ogg: Hotel Tonight for iPhone

This is the best if you’re regularly passing through cities on short notice. It does what it says: finds you a hotel for tonight only. But they don’t bombard you with options. Hotel Tonight helpfully curates the lodging choices for you: there’s usually just a couple to pick from among the categories basic, hip and luxury. They have relationships with the hotels so using it is a snap. I used this to locate the best local hotel deals night-to-night when we were between apartments in our new city. And it’s especially helpful if you want to make a last-minute trip to pricey cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Kevin C. Tofel: WiFi File Transfer for Android

This free app is a must have for transferring files from an Android device to any other device on the same Wi-Fi network. Works as a small web server on your Android and shows up as a nicely formatted file directory on other devices: great for shooting files, photos, or videos off of Android device instead of e-mailing them. For .40, the Pro version allows you to add files to the phone or tablet.
Kevin C. Tofel: TED Air for Android

I didn’t find this app until late in the year, but I try to hit it daily now for a new TED talks. It’s great for mobile use because you can download the videos while on a home Wi-Fi connection and view it later on the phone and not use up any mobile broadband.

Mathew Ingram: Instagram for iPhone

I started using Instagram mostly because it gave me an easy way to upload photos from my iPhone to a bunch of different services at once, including Flickr — where I archive photos — and Twitter and Facebook, where I share them with others. Other apps from Flickr, Facebook and Twitter make it easy to share with that specific network, but don’t make it easy to distribute them to multiple places at once. I liked Instagram’s filters, but that isn’t what kept me using the service — what kept me coming back was the social aspects, the ability to see and comment on friends’ photos and have them see and comment on mine. This is something Flickr should have owned, but it failed to capitalize on it and Instagram swooped in and seized the market.

Kevin Fitchard: Paprika for iPad, iPhone and Mac

Though this iPad recipe management app has been around more than a year, Paprika made the service infinitely more useful with the launch of its Mac version this year. The iPad’s big screen but compact size is great for propping on the kitchen counter, but if you’re like me, you would rather research and annotate your recipes on a computer. The iPhone app completes the triumverate, allowing you to ship shopping lists directly to your phone. You have to pay for all of these apps separately of course, and there’s no Android support. Paprika also does have some limitations on the recipes it can import, but no more than any of the other recipe saving apps on the market, and of those its definitely the most streamlined.

Ryan Kim: Foursquare for iPhone

This is an app that’s been around for a while, but this year, it got a lot more useful for me. The specials have been greatly improved including new deals with American Express. And features like Explore have been a big help in finding recommendations for new places to try out. I’m also becoming heavily dependent on Foursquare Tips in the past year to know what to order in new restaurants. The updated list feature is turning Foursquare data into a lasting resource you can share with others. I never got into the race for Mayorships and even the point standings among my friends really don’t mean much to me. But all the new features and updates really make the app powerful for me in ways that wasn’t the case before.

Om Malik: Camera+ for iPhone

Camera+ is the only app I use to take photos just as iPhone is the only camera I use to take photos. It is an app that can turn rank amateurs into photo-artists. Add filters and effects and you have photo magic in the form of an app.

Katie Fehrenbacher: PowerMax for Android

This has made my old school HTC Incredible not suck so much battery power. It used to be that I couldn’t keep the phone running for a whole day before I installed. But I’m ditching the HTC for an iPhone in the New Year, so I won’t need PowerMax in 2012 anymore.

Janko Roettgers: Google+ for Android

The Google+ app for Android rocks, if only for one reason: Automatic media uploading. I’ve shared many more photos since I’ve installed this on my phone, simply because sharing something you’ve already uploaded is incredibly easy.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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  • Connected world: the consumer technology revolution
  • Carrier IQ and the continued erosion of operator trust
  • Forecast: the evolution of the e-book market



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Squids and Octopi Change From Invisible to Camouflaged in a Snap [Science]

Posted by on Friday, 11 November, 2011

Toshiba’s Camileo P100 and B10 continue their world tour, arrive stateside

Posted by on Tuesday, 14 June, 2011
We’re pretty sure that most of the attention Toshiba receives today will center around the handful of laptops it unveiled this morning (particularly this handsome devil). But the outfit also managed to slip in some camcorder news — those Camileo P100 and B10 models it announced for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are now on sale in the US. If you recall, both camcorders shoot 1080p video and snap 16 megapixel stills, though the pistol-shaped P100 adds 5X optical zoom — still an uncommon spec for pocket cam. The P100 is available now for 0, while the Flip-inspired B10 can be had for 0. PR after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba’s Camileo P100 and B10 continue their world tour, arrive stateside

Toshiba’s Camileo P100 and B10 continue their world tour, arrive stateside originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can Life Like Slot Cars Really Provide You With Fast Racing Excitement For Young And Old Alike?

Posted by on Sunday, 15 May, 2011

Slot Cars, who can forget about them? Fans, rookies and also authorities all state that slot car racing initiates a fantastic feeling. From the sound of the tires on the race track, to the cheers of your family, buddies, as well as viewers (especially when somebody wins), and to your own cheers of excitement while racing your slot cars — all of these add to the fact that racing slot cars stands out as one of the most enjoyable things to do. But if you are having doubts whether this will definitely deliver family excitement, permit this article to spell out just how Life Like slot cars can give your family a memorable time of entertaining and thrills.

You can play your slot cars any time you want. You’ll be able to listen to cheers and jeers as well as view laughs, smiles, and obvious thrills coming from their faces. At this point, what disappoints all people by far the most is whenever a car all of a sudden flies off and breaks. The track might also suddenly separate and ruin everyone’s mood. The good thing is, with Life Like slot cars the excitement won’t finish. The only issue is, you have to come across quality racers to drive quick, resilient and captivating slot cars.

Perhaps you have looked at the Life Like NASCAR race set while on the lookout for slot cars to buy? You don’t have to get this slot car set however one thing is for sure; racing with this set set you will not be bored to tears for hours at a stretch, with amazing high-speed chases and thrilling periods with everyone. This slot car set contains the newest Life-Like Tracker “T” Chassis and with possibly the the fastest HO scale motor currently available. The T-style chassis utilizes a one piece snap-in electric motor and it has a significantly simpler style and design than earlier motors, as a result it’s easier to take care of. A tune up kit is provided with this slot car set. You can also get repair parts and tune-up kits on the web or in a hobby store in your town.

The Life Like Slot cars have a powerful “downforce” due to the 2 small neodymium magnets that are in the slot car straight above the track’s power rail. These keep your cars from flying up and away.

You need a simple to put together race track to keep your cars on the go. You can keep having fun knowing full well that it will stay joined up a result of the Dura-Lock system; in addition it contributes to simplicity of assembly and track security. With Life Like slot cars sets, you will get long and easy to put together tracks with lap counters to check your laps. Who says that racing slot cars is merely for the children? Everyone can enjoy Life Like slot cars sets.

Select from the numerous options readily available on the internet; or you can probably get them at a specialist retailer in your area. Buy your preferred bit of race metal, set up the track and cars, and race to your heart’s desire! With Life Like, every moment is a moment ideal for friends and family enjoyment.

If you are searching for information in relation to Life Like slot cars and various other slot car models please visit us at http://www.myslotcarracing.com


Get The Great Website Design

Posted by on Sunday, 27 March, 2011

Web Design Software is a secret that many website designers don’t want their clients to know about. So, if you are planning to make your own website or trying to learn the art of website design, then you should be able to find website design software that is easy to use, such as XSitePro. Also, you need to take into consideration the following tips so that the website that you are going to make will not only be aesthetically beautiful, but also efficient when it comes to Internet marketing and attracting targeted traffic.

Since there are literally millions of websites on the World Wide Web, you need to make your site stand out so people will stay and consider staying on your site and read the articles and pieces of information that you have posted. Recent research from the University of Harvard has found that you only have 3 seconds to maintain the attention of a user. Websites need to look great and of course this is very important. Make it easier on yourself by using appropriate web design software to build your website. In fact, you can even create one in a snap if the website designer software you use is not complicated to operate. It can be difficult getting that right combination of general structure, where to puts ads and pictures, color choice and so on. You need to make sure that the design and the general feel of your site is harmonious.

An integral part of web design is easier navigation across the website. Typically, flash animations, although nice to look at, can take a long time to fully load, and users can get fed up with waiting. Thus, you might as well skip flash and go straight to the meat of your site. Transitions from navigating the website should be much easier for the users, so that they can get exactly what they wanted from the website, in essence fulfilling their reason for visiting. If creating a site map, or making your website much easier to navigate, is outside your knowledge base, fear not. You can count on website design software such as XSitePro to assist you in various aspects of website design such as these.

It is imperative that things are done in moderation across your website. Websites with far too much written text or huge galleries of images are commonplace with many people’s websites. Make it easy for people to get the information they need from your website, which you can make using web design software, by not going overboard.


Organize And Expand Your Business Through Document Scanning Services

Posted by on Sunday, 27 February, 2011

When you start a company, your main target is to be in a position to grow that business which you own. Reaching this target does not take place with just a snap of your finger. It needs time and a lot of energy. Once you have attained this target thru time, you do not truly notice that with accomplishing this target, you also accumulate an enormous quantity of docs, agreements and lots of other crucial docs along the way.

Perhaps at the beginning, when you were just starting your business, the need for document scanning services is needless. But as you accumulate more docs that are still in the shape of paper, it gradually takes a large amount of space in your office. More so, filing it can become impractical particularly because as time go by, you get to collect more docs. The quantity of the docs that you’re going to take a hold of might even be more than what you used to get because your business operation becomes larger as time flies by. When this occurs, then you need to start looking out for a company that offers document scanning services immediately. You simply can’t delay any further.

Keeping paper files for corporations that store lots of important docs is just not safe. In addition to that, it is unreal and ineffectual too.

Managing a large quantity of files in the shape of paper takes a large amount of manpower. Organising it, sieving through it, and filing them will take plenty of hours to do, and one individual to do all these jobs is just unthinkable. When you have to go looking for stored docs in the ocean of those paper files, it will potentially take a day before you get the data. It is simply not appropriate for an organization that is huge and where each minute lost, means cash is being wasted too.

The space that these docs will occupy in your building will be too large. If ever there will be a fire in your building, then the paper files will also be annihilated, either by the fire or the water sprinkler the fire will signal to turn on. When this occurs, then you can say goodbye to them for keeps.

The document scanning will allow you to grab control of your docs whatever the quantity of the files. Security also will be much more controlled and tight. Providing back-up docs is also practicable. Therefore , you do not need to fret for accidents.

If you want to make your company more effective, then jumping from paper files to digital files will definitely help. So , go find an organization that offers document scanning services or pick up a document scanner now.