Bit.ly Pro goes free, custom short domains and analytics for all

 Bitly has moved its Bitly Pro service out of beta and straight into its core offering, now providing domain shortening and link analytics completely free of charge.

 All that a user needs to do is change the DNS settings to point to Bit.ly’s servers and then sign up for the service in account settings.

the users will not only  get a short domain, they will be able to register for tracking statistics, allowing users to check how their content is performing on social networks including Twitter and Facebook. Any Bitly link that points to the same domain will also be tracked in the dashboard.

All of these features require an account, so if you haven’t signed up yet then sign up for a new account like twitter or any other account of your choice and setup the features.

JELLY BELLY OFFERS SWEET CASES FOR YOUR DEVICES!

Did you ever imagine that a candy company that makes jelly belly will ever make sweet scented cases for devices such as iPhone, iPod, and Blackberry---but thats true!
These cases are made of durable TPI platsic and scented with the jelly belly smell, where you can choose from five different flavours--- Strawberry, Cheesecake, Very cherry, Blueberry, Licorice and Berryblue.
These jelly belly cases for iPhone, iPods, Blackberries and headphones are available at various retailor, retailing for $14.99 a pop.

Google live streams lunar eclipse!

The great lunar eclipse of 2011 is happening right now. A phenomenon that occurs when the sun earth and moon are aligned exactly, or very closely , with the earth in the middle.

So people who are afraid that they're going to miss today's lunar eclipse, google has a solution for that. Google homepage is using it as its google doodle showing the eclipse almost in real time. The picture says "google" , updates every 2 minutes. The images were provided by Slooh, an astronomy website that did the sky images for a layer of google earth!

So dont miss it.... click here to see the latest google doodle



iPhone 5 in Final Testing, Due in September

Right on schedule, we are now hearing from 9to5Mac that the iPhone 5 has reached the final testing stage and should be ready in time for a September launch. 

for more details : click here

How blogging gives student journalists an edge in the job market

At an event in London late last year, three young journalists discussed how blogging helped to kickstart their careers. As reported at the time by Journalism.co.uk, Guardian technology and media reporter Josh Halliday stated that “The most important thing I did at university, including my degree, was to blog and get online. That’s what got me the job.”

The growing list of student bloggers who have found their way into good ‘pro’ jobs also includesHannah Waldram, who founded the Bournville Village blog, ended up taking to professional local blogging as the Cardiff ‘beatblogger‘ for The Guardian’s now mothballed Local project before becoming a community coordinator for the same newspaper, and Dave Lee, who founded The Linc newspaper and website in his university town of Lincoln before moving on to a varied career that currently sees him covering technology news for the BBC.

So, is blogging the perfect way for student journalists to get a foot on the ladder? Paul Bradshaw, leader of the MA Journalism course at Birmingham City University and Visiting Professor at City University London in the UK, believes so. “It’s definitely something I’ve been encouraging my students to do for a few years now,” he says.

“I think students entering the marketplace who have never run their own news website are at an increasing disadvantage,” explains Bradshaw. “Pretty much every employer I talk to says that they would ask serious questions about why an applicant was not already doing their journalism on some sort of online platform. There’s also a new opportunity for students to build assets – a URL, a network, a reputation – that employers will be looking for.”

The ability for anyone to set up a blog in minutes, at no cost, makes it a no-brainer that someone wanting to find paid work as a journalist would want to cut their teeth with some form of news blogging.

read more : original article

Nomura: Samsung to become world’s largest smartphone maker this quarter

Samsung will become the world’s largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter of 2011, replacing beleaguered mobile manufacturer Nokia, which has held top position for the past fourteen years,according to Nomura

“In 1996 Nokia launched the Communicator and the smartphone market that it has led in unit terms ever since. After about 14 years at the top, Nokia looks set to relinquish its smartphone crown,” Nomura analysts said in a research note.

Nokia has lost initiative in the smartphone market to Apple’s iPhone and Google Inc’s Android devices, and at the lower end, to more nimble Asian rivals.

Overall, Nokia still makes more cellphones than Samsung due to its strong position in basic cellphones and its wider distribution network in emerging countries.

The company is switching to Microsoft Corp’s software from its own Symbian platform as part of an overhaul of its phone business set out in February by new Chief Executive Stephen Elop.

On May 31 Nokia abandoned hope of meeting key targets just weeks after setting them, raising questions over whether its new boss can deliver on the turnaround he promised.

White House to announce IT-powered smart grid on Monday

image source: zdnet.com

On Monday, the Obama administration is preparing announce the next steps that the US will take to build its 21st century electric grid, and IT is expected to play a big part in the plans.

The White House is hosting a 90-minute media event called “Building the 21st Century Electric Grid” and is releasing a new report on what it will take for lawmakers and the private sector to come together to solve this aspect of the energy challenge.


source: zdnet.com

Apple: "Amazon's store is 'inferior' !"

There has been a dispute between the two competitors, Apple and Amazon over the phrase "app store". apple is has currently sued Amazon for opening the Android-only App store on its site. There has been recent court filings over this issue and in the latest one Apple argued that Amazon's use of the phrase for its Android "app store" will confuse its costumers that amazon is offering its own storefront for the Apple App store. However, Amazon claimed that the phrase is generic. Apple further argued that the Amazon's services are inferior and that their "inferior services" will damage the Apple's brand image for their consumers.Apple is also afraid that Amazon might also confuse its consumers further by offering its own "App store" for Apple iOS devices.

Further issues that Apple is having with Amazon is that it is offering softwares for Android devices that are "rooted"---the Android equivalent of "Jail-broken" Apple device.

Moreover, Amazon has also intended to target Apple's costumers by launching a new service that would allow the consumers to download softwares for MAC personal computers from Amazon.

so what do you think.... will Android users pick Amazon's app store over Apple's. Why? leave your comments below!

The Chinese Twitter Clone!

Twitter: Here's How Your Chinese Rival Plans To Make More Money Than You:


It seems unlikely that there can be a competitor to Twitter, at least not in the English speaking world. However, in China, Social Media is taking off with competitors to Twitter (and Facebook) who are grabbing market share nearly as fast as the bird itself did it its early days. And, it may open up a great opporutnity for 3rd party developers who heavily contributed to Twitter's rapid growth.
Sina Weibo, the biggest Twitter clone in China, has had to deal with the same problem as Twitter: huge growth, not enough revenue.

It has a plan to fix all that, however, and it might be worth for Twitter to take a look. 

Sina Weibo is a Chinese microblogging site, is a social media site similar to a hybrid of Twitter and Facebook,  launched by SINA Corporation, China's biggest web portal, in August 2009. According to Sina, the Weibo microblogging has more than 140 million users and millions of posts per day, and is adding 20 million new users per month. According to iResearch, Weibo has 56.5% of the microblogging market based on active users and 86.6% based on browsing time over competitors such as Tencent and Baidu. Sina has said it has more than 60,000 verified accounts, consisting of celebrities, sports stars and other VIPs. The top 100 users now have over 180 million followers combined. Furthermore, Sina said that more than 5,000 companies and 2,700 media organizations in China are currently using Weibo. The site is maintained by a growing microblogging department of 200 employees responsible for technology, design, operations, and marketing.  The site is currently available in both simplified and traditional Chinese characters.

According to Kathrin Hille of the Financial Times, "Sina Corp, Weibo’s parent, has developed features to make it more suitable than Twitter for commercial use. Pictures and videos can be easily posted and re-posted. Re-posted messages form a long thread in which pictures remain visible, and such a conversation makes it much easier for a commercial product or service to go viral."

Perhaps the most interesting thing Weibo has done is immediately make it more commercialized. Something Twitter has always had a love-hate relationship with 3rd party apps over.

Twitter to launch automated ad solution as Google exec claims display ads impressions to drop 25% by 2015

Social networking giant Twitter has said it may launch an advertising initiative for small businesses later this year that will automate ad buying in an attempt to drive up revenue and expand its advertising clout to SMEs.

But the report comes as Google vice president of display advertising Neal Mohan said during a presentation at the Interactive Advertising Bureau that the number of display ad impressions will fall by 25% per person by 2015, but ads will become much more tailored to personal profiles.

Mohan made a number of bets during the conference, saying that people will begin to connect and respond to display advertisements in different ways. Not only will the number of display ad impressions drop by 25%, but engagement rates across all display ads will increase by 50%.

"As ads become less cluttered, more relevant, more engaging and more attractive, we'll see the rate at which people interact with display ads (such as watching videos or playing games) increase dramatically."

"I believe the trend will be for people to ultimately see fewer, but better ads," he said.

Mohan also predicts businesses will start producing much more interactive advertisements, saying they will have a direct say in one quarter of all the ads they see online, whether they be in video ads or other types of displays.

"Whether by choosing to watch – or not watch – video ads, updating their ads preferences to customise the ads they see or actively subscribing to or choosing to receive particular ads, users will be more in control of when and how they see ads online."

Mohan also predicts 35% of campaigns will begin using metrics that are not just "clicks and conversions", saying marketers will start measuring their ads with tools such as engagement, and their subsequent impact on offline behaviour.

"We see a longer-term future where these become the primary metrics used to measure the success of a campaign, meaning marketers will be able to deliver the ads that potential customers say they like the most."

Forrester Research senior analyst Steven Noble says there is definitely a trend towards measuring the customer, rather than the channel through which they view ads.

"That's definitely the trend, and once you focus your measurement on the customer, then inherently you are collecting data that goes through channels. But so far organisations are struggling do this, and they face many barriers in getting there."

Nevertheless, Mohan continues making predictions, saying more people will start thinking of display ads as their favourite content, as companies start making more interesting ads that can be customised and individualised.

"We see a longer-term future where these become the primary metrics used to measure the success of a campaign, meaning marketers will be able to deliver the ads that potential customers say they like the most."

Meanwhile, Twitter president of global revenue Adam Bain has told Forbes that the company will be looking at releasing its turnkey ad solution "later this year".

Twitter has been struggling to gain revenue several years after launching, and has been attempting to boost its ad business – but the wide array of third-party clients, through which ads are diluted, make it hard for the company to earn money.

However, it has been controlling more of its ecosystem lately. The company recently acquired TweetDeck, a popular third-party client. Streaming SME ads through such networks could see a substantial increase in revenue.

Motorola announces dual-screen Motorola Wilder

Motorola has finally unveiled its leaked dual displayphone, it would be called the Motorola Wilder. TheMotorola Wilder would be a dust proof and water resistant phone (similar to the Motorola Defy) and will feature a secondary OLED display. 

The Wilder sports a 2.8-inch QVGA TFT resistive touchscreen display and the 0.7-inch 1-line OLED secondary display, the latter would be use for notifications. It comes as an inexpensive phone, although the pricing is not yet revealed. 

It seems that the device would be targeted towards social network enthusiast as it includes Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube integration. It also includes a 2-megapixel fixed focus camera, music player, FM radio and comes with several pre-loaded games. It will support microSD cards up to 32 GB and we are quite sure this device runs Qualcomm's Brew OS. 

While the Motorola Wilder is currently available in the UK markets, there is no confirmation about its availability in other regions. However, considering that the Wilder would be an affordable ruggedized device, it could make a dent in India's price-sensitive market. 

Analyst says future Apple, Android tablets to sell for around $300

It’s certainly nο tip thаt tablets — generally Apple’s iPad аnԁ iPad 2 — аrе hot. Consumer seductiveness continues building аѕ nеw models arrive οn sell shelves. Motorola, Asus, аnԁ Acer hаνе аƖƖ hаԁ assuage fulfilment wіth thеіr Android tablets аnԁ HP’s TouchPad іѕ set tο launch οn Jul 1st.

Speaking аt Open Mobile Summit, researcher Richard Windsor feels thаt dose pricing іѕ аbουt tο ѕtаrt a vital slide. Wіth Samsung banishment adult іtѕ nеw ѕhοw production facility, аnԁ PC vendors (whο аrе used tο handling οn slim distinction margins) nearing οn thе scene, Windsor ѕауѕ sought-аftеr tablets — counting destiny offerings frοm Apple — ѕhουƖԁ sell fοr аbουt $300. It’s substantially value observant thаt a name few tablets аrе already accessible аt thіѕ cost — Viewsonic’s 1Ghz Tegra 2G dose hаѕ even bееn sale labelled аѕ low аѕ $249 οn ѕοmе sites.

Thаt’s nοt thе οnƖу reason Windsor’s explain certainly doesn’t vigilance Ɩіkе a revelation. Tablets аrе, аftеr аƖƖ, јυѕt removing ѕtаrtеԁ аѕ a mainstream gadget. Whеn netbooks initial ѕtаrtеԁ selling, аn underpowered 7″ cost around $500 — now уου саn collect adult a dual-core Atom netbook fοr reduction thаn $200. Historically, gadgets hаνе always gotten cheaper аѕ time passes.

Dοеѕ thаt indispensably meant Apple wіƖƖ need tο dump іtѕ prices tο say sprightly sales? CеrtаіnƖу nοt. Thіѕ іѕ, аftеr аƖƖ, a association thаt wаѕ believed tο bе rising a netbook aspirant аnԁ thеn outed thе MacBook Air аt around $1,000. Apple wіƖƖ continue offered іtѕ products аt prices consumers аrе peaceful tο compensate іn sequence tο bе a раrt οf іtѕexperience

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 video mocks Apple's iPad 2

Samsung has released a new advertising video for its reshaped Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which mocks the Apple iPad 2's inability to play Flash content.

Picking a fight with its market-dominating competitor, Samsung’s latest video for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, available below,shows the slim-line tablet touting all of its impressive credentials with its Flash integration used to mock a user of Apple’s second-gen tablet, a device that famously lacks the ability to play Flash content.

Californian Mac technician accused of installing spyware to photograph women

A 20-year-old computer technician working as a Mac repairman was arrested by police in southern California on Wednesday for allegedly installing spyware on laptops that he fixed, thereby enabling him to gain control of the computer’s webcam and remotely take photos of women in various states of undress.

Nintendo stock plunges amid doubts about new Wii

TOKYO – Nintendo stock plunged Wednesday in Tokyo amid doubts about the consumer appeal of the Wii U, the much ballyhooed successor to its hit Wii video game console.

The demonstration of a prototype at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry's annual convention, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, appeared to leave investors disappointed and skeptical.

Nintendo Co. shares closed at 16,970 yen ($212.44), down more than 5 percent. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended flat.

Shuji Hosoi, analyst at Daiwa Securities Co., said it was unclear how successfully the machine would compete against smartphones and tablet PCs, when device-based gaming was already having to vie against social networks.

It is hard to see how it was different enough to woo users of smartphones and tablet PCs back to gaming, he said.

"People are puzzled whether this will really sell."

Hosoi acknowledged the stock price may recover if Kyoto-based Nintendo could convince investors that the new machine was as fun as smartphones and other new devices.

"But it would be extremely difficult because the competition is so intense," he said, referring to products such as the iPad from Apple Inc. and other rivals. "People have already changed."

The Japanese gaming giant behind Pokemon and Super Mario games said the Wii U will broadcast high-definition video and feature a touchscreen controller that can detect motion. Its price was not disclosed.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told E3 the new controller for Wii U, with its 6.2 inch built-in screen, means players don't necessarily have to watch the TV set.

Nintendo said the Wii U will be released between April and December next year and will be compatible with older Wii games and controllers.

Sales of the Wii have slumped for two years. But the Wii remains the overall top-selling home video game console against Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 and Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3.

Anonymous Launches Operation India | Geekword

Anonymous Launches Operation India | Geekword