Raptr is like all the Instant messaging services you use combined into 1 program. It allows you to connect to facebook, xbox, psn, and many more. Although it does not work with skype which I am pretty bummed about because if it did support skype I would probably uninstall skype. It also supports ingame chat which I have not tried out yet though and it also checks what games you have installed and when you play that game it will show you as playing it which is kinda cool. Each game also has its own page like a Facebook page that you can like and write on.All in all it is a good program to have if you have alot of different Instant messaging services.
Just 20 years ago nobody had even heard of the internet, and now, we can’t live without it. The internet has become an extension of our own personalities; a platform in which we can communicate to anyone, anywhere in the world. We can express feelings, emotions, become knowledgeable, complete degrees, partake in tabooed subjects, connect with long lost friends, and even buy our shopping all in the comfort of our own home.
The internet has completely changed the way the modern human lives, works and communicates – but what if we turned it off?
Like the fabled imaginings of sci-fi movies, are we entering a new generation of technology that could potentially cause chaos with the way we live? Will Terminator like prophecies come true? Will the machines take over? Come-on, we need an answer! What type of capabilities will we have at our disposal in 20 years?
Just think of how far we’ve come, with regards to technology, in just two decades. We’ve vastly improved the motorcar to become cleaner, faster, safer and more intelligent. We’ve seen dial-up internet speeds become broadband, and now we’re entering the age of fibre-optic internet speed. We’ve seen the iPod, the introduction of the mobile phone as an entity, the birth of the Euro Fighter Typhoon; it’s been an intense and scarily quick change in the power of the technology we use every day. So, if all of a sudden, someone turned our beloved internet off, would we be too bothered? Well, simply put, yes!
On a daily basis we take for granted that we rely on the internet for so much instant information and answers to everyday questions. So much so that modern generations are seemingly unaware of the fact that such information also lies in print form in a public library.
It’s speculative to say that the younger generations would dislike any turn off the most, as the older generations who grew up with no internet could just go back to the old way of social networking – which, for the young ones reading, is meeting up, in person, and talking to each other in a verbal shared dialogue.
Social networking might be one thing, but there is a darker and more important concept to the internet – no, not pornography – but political conceptions. With the recent Wikileaks scandal causing untold embarrassment and shame upon our most famous and powerful political figures, could the world leaders decide on shutting the web down? The decision would be a brave one, but it is a way of controlling the masses, reducing political bias and blocking the bloggers.
We now think of the internet as we think of our car, home and electric – essential. It has become a fabric of life, our escape to another world and a way of keeping in touch with old friends – and looking at their photos to see if they’ve gone uglier. Just imagine all of that being taken away from you. You wake up tomorrow morning and you look at your iPhone to see what people are up to on Facebook but all you get is “no mobile internet service”. In a panic, you turn on your PC to find that either your modem is completely broken or someone has done the unthinkable and turned off the World Wide Web.
There would be worldwide riots, protest and unrest – similar to that in the middle-east at the moment. We would probably see many deaths, recessions in the majority of the western world and a drop off in industrial manufacturing. Many people would lose their jobs, homes and lives. It would be an absolute economic disaster.
However, as Bill Gates says: “It’s not that hard to shut the internet down if you have military power where you can tell people that’s what’s going to happen”…“Whenever you do something extraordinary like that you’re sort of showing people you’re afraid of the truth getting out, so it’s a very difficult tactic, but it can certainly be shut off.”
And if you think that actually turning the internet off would be difficult, think again…
All the government would have to do is ask the providers like Virgin, BT and Sky to turn them off and stop providing the service – that’s it! Just like that, every modem in the country would cease working. We would be without iTunes, Facebook, YouTube, pornography and Justin Beiber [– thank god].
Could you cope? Without trying it, we’ll never know, but one thing is sure, if that day ever presented itself, there would be a majority dislike to the decision, and it would be inevitable that heavy rioting and action would be taken by the public.
Think of the public as a collective and singular three-year old child who has just had its favourite toy taken from it – there would be hell to pay!
Guest post by: Amy Greenacre writes on behalf of Broadbandchoices.co.uk, for comprehensive and impartial advice on broadband phone and tv.
Boxee has just announced that the are planning on launching their own iPad application. The Boxee iPad application will be able to stream content between devices running its software. Thus, users will be able to watch movies and tv shows through the internet on their iPad via the Boxee set top box.
Boxee was going to adopt Apple’s Airplay technology into their box, but they have decided to create their own technology. The iPad app will launch very soon and will be completely compatible with the original iPad and Boxee version 1.1.
How many times did we wondered about “Thelma & Louise” ending? Thinking: “What if these girls could use a smartphone and Bing?”… None? Ok, me neither. But apparently Microsoft does.
If we think about one of the most dramatic endings in a movie, “Thelma & Louise” finale should be in the top 5. But fortunately Bing created a new ending, and while they were at it, they mentioned Google’s “inefficient” way to find places.
Take a look to this publicity from Microsoft’s Bing:
After I saw the car flying in the air, I thought this is a terrible way to use a movie reference; but after seeing the car didn’t get smashed I think the publicity is not horrible, just lame
A big part of writing online, and even just being alive today, is knowing what’s happening around the world. One way I do this is to set up Google Alerts so I know what’s happening in my field. Another way is to use an online tool to see what’s being searched and posted on the Internet such as Trends Buzz. This is how many news firms pick up stories in far away lands quickly.
As you can see from the screenshot above, it takes note of what people are searching for in Google and Yahoo!. They also have Twitter monitored so you can find out what’s happening there too which is significant considering news spreads fastest on Twitter. Then, smaller sites such as the New York Times and Alexa are covered followed by smaller search engines.
The service is currently in public Beta and it will be interesting to see what the team comes up with once its ready for the full launch.
Since the iPad was officially unveiled over a week ago now, everyone been praising some of its aspects and slamming others. I know quite a few people who aren’t too pleased with paying hundreds of dollars for an “oversized iPad”. Regardless of what you think of the price, it won’t really matter for Austrians.
3, the popular mobile network, will be offering a 333 Euro ($455) discount on the iPad once you take out a data plan at thirty euro a month. We’re not too such exactly what the European price will be for the iPad, but judging from US prices, this discount means you could hand over fifty Euro on the day of purchase and then pay thirty Euro a month for the next two years. But that thirty Euro ain’t for nothing. You’ll be getting a portable broadband modem which will create a WiFi hotspot around you. Thus you can surf the net on your WiFi iPad wherever you are!
This deal isn’t too bad, particularly in the short run. However, as a warning to all our Austrian readers, I’d think long and hard about how much you really need an iPad both now and two years down the line, because once you’re in, you’re in.
There are few things out there that are beautiful enough to just look at for hours. What if a TV was so beautiful whether it was on or off you could just stare at the amazing design? The Sony Bravia builds the aesthetic appeal to an all-time high with their new NX800 HDTV. A design that looks like something Apple would create, is sleek, monolithic, and clean. With the barrage of TV’s shown at CES earlier this month, this is one of those TV’s that is just jam packed with technology that any tech geek or otherwise will drool at what it has to offer.
Naturally the TV, being HD, offers up a full 1080p display. It comes in varying sizes ranging from 46-, 52-, or 60-inches with an LED backlit LCD screen. The two big ones for me is the integrated WIFI which opens up a lot of opportunities and the inclusion of an ambient light sensor is always nice for quick adjustments. The TV is also internet ready with its own set of proprietary widgets. I’d like to see these in action in the real world to see if it’s something people will actually use.
The Sony Bravia NX800 HDTV will retail at $2300 to $3500 so save your nickels and dimes and see if this TV is what you’re looking for in a full entertainment experience.
Sony Bravia offers full online and offline entertainment options.
The coming year is sure to be filled with big things for all of us. One of my personal goals is to publish my work in book format. As a writer I’ve
Self publish your work.
spent years collecting works on my personal sites that would work well in book format. The idea is to take out the middleman, publishers, and put your work in your hands by giving you the options you need to get your work out to the world. But it’s not just for writers, opportunities are abound for photographers as well who want to feature their work in magazine or calendar format.
Lulu has offered self publishing opportunities for all of us for many years now, and since its launch, has expanded it’s offerings. Take your work in one of many formats, books, ebooks, calendars, photo books, cookbooks, cd’s and dvd’s. Lulu also offers distribution services to get your book out in as many markets as possible, and the fees are minimal compared to what you’d get having to work with an agent and a publisher. I don’t want to take anything away from the traditional models that exist for publishing, they definitely have a place in the world of content publishing, but self publishing offers us so many new opportunities.
At the pro level there are many great options you have, should you choose to go this route, that mimics what working with a real publisher is like. Services include publishing packages, retail listings, children’s book packages, and all inclusive packages. Each of them come with their own distinct professional connections that as a self publisher allows you to truly get a hands on the process of getting your book out to the masses.
Exercising and technology have merged and now tracking your fitness levels has never been easier. As we approach a new year, many of us are already planning those gym memberships and in awe over dreams of losing weight. There’s nothing wrong with that, but sometimes we need a motivator, something to encourage us. Nike+ was an excellent introduction and pairing itself with Apple forged a relationship between two of the most recognized brands in the world. Nike+ has cornered the market in min-tracking devices for your exercising habits, but perhaps their days have been numbered by a new Adidas product.
If you had a chance to update your apps today then perhaps you were surprised by an update for your Linkedin mobile app. The buzz across the media sites is Linkedin’s new shiny app that offers 100% more functionality than the prior version of the app did. For all purposes the prior version was useless. The limited functionality made it one of those apps you had because you hoped, but you just never used. Luckily, following Facebook’s recent app update, the new Linkedin app gives users more of what they want with a few interesting extras.
which I am pretty bummed about because if it did support skype I would probably uninstall skype. It also supports ingame chat which I have not tried out yet though and it also checks what games you have installed and when you play that game it will show you as playing it which is kinda cool. Each game also has its own page like a Facebook page that you can like and write on.All in all it is a good program to have if you have alot of different Instant messaging services.
