Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » février 19, 2014

BetaNews.Com (17 non lus)

Google Fiber explores expansion to more cities

Publié: février 19, 2014, 9:12pm CET par Alan Buckingham

You can't throw a rock without hitting someone who's fed up with their ISP. Services like Comcast are becoming an increasingly worrisome problem in today's world. Google provides its own ISP, but it is sadly only available in rather limited markets. And by limited, we are not kidding, there only three -- Kansas City, Provo and Austin.

However, those cities won't be able to feel special for much longer, because the search giant is considering more locales for its high-end ISP service. "We want to help build more ultra-fast networks. So we’ve invited cities in nine metro areas around the US -- 34 cities altogether -- to work with us to explore what it would take to bring them Google Fiber", states Google's Milo Medin.

Cities include Phoenix, Portland (the Oregon one), San Jose, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Nashville, San Antonio, and quite a number of other ones.

This obviously doesn't mean the service is coming to every place explored. Only a lucky few will likely be chosen. Google plans to make these decisions by the end of the year. "While we do want to bring Fiber to every one of these cities, it might not work out for everyone. But cities who go through this process with us will be more prepared for us or any provider who wants to build a fiber network", Medin explains.

Google plans to keep everyone updated on this process, and likely we'll all be looking for the company to bring this capability to our own little markets.
Microsoft gets a Spice Girl on Skype -- ask her what you want, what you really, really want (to know)

Publié: février 19, 2014, 6:53pm CET par Brian Fagioli

If you wanna be my lover, you've got to...err, enough of that. If there is one thing that technology enthusiasts love, it's the Spice Girls. Yes, their girl-power pop is the soundtrack for computer programmers, gamers and IT professionals the world over. In the BetaNews newsroom, we often have arguments over which Spice Girl is best. While I am partial to Baby Spice, Mark loves Scary.

However, many people love Posh Spice, otherwise known as Victoria Beckham. After all, she is married to the dreamy soccer player, David Beckham. Besides being a great singer, she is also a fashion designer. Today, Microsoft announces that it has managed to get her on Skype to field fashion-related questions from fans.

"Have you ever wanted to find out what life is really like for a top fashion designer? We are giving fans the chance to ask Victoria Beckham via Skype video message about her fashion journey and her creative inspiration on The Skype Collaboration Project. You'll be able to see Victoria answer some of your questions on the Skype Collaboration Project -- so stay tuned", says Jackie Lee-Joe, Skype.

Lee-Joe further explains, "the aim of the project is to shine a spotlight on the intersection between technology and the creative industries, and to help aspiring creatives get their start in fashion. It hosts ‘Five Years -- The Victoria Beckham Fashion Story', an immersive and exploratory view of a first-hand look at Victoria Beckham and her eponymous fashion label".

Victoria Beckham shares the following quotes with The Skype Collaboration Project:

I hope by sharing my story, I will inspire others who are interested in fashion and encourage them to work hard and follow their dreams as I did.

I had been waking up every morning and feeling like I was juggling glass balls. I lived in LA, my business was run out of London, and most evenings I was in front of Skype speaking to my studio in London.

Inspiring stuff, although as my colleague Alan Buckingham pointed out, her Skyping the London studio in the evenings is a bit odd, seeing as when it's evening in LA it's the middle of the night in London -- 8 hours ahead. I'll bet they just loved receiving those calls.

If you are interested in talking with her on Skype, please click here. If you get a chance to speak with her, share the details of the conversation in the comments.

Photo Credit: s_bukley/Shutterstock
FlightGear 3 improves scenery and aircraft models, now faster, easier to use

Publié: février 19, 2014, 6:39pm CET par Mike Williams

The FlightGear team has announced the availability of FlightGear 3.0, the latest edition of its powerful open source flight simulator.

A host of scenery enhancements mean the program looks better than ever. Smarter atmosphere rendering delivers more natural haze and fog, a global sea map ensures that ocean color now changes with depth, there are improved random building textures, and the new Scenery 2.0 delivers improved road and terrain data.

If you’re more interested in the hardware, the good news is there are several new and improved aircraft models: Robin DR400 Dauphin 180ch: Robin_DR400_Dauphin, CAP10C, Boeing 707, North American P-51D, and the Boeing 777.

It’s now far easier to customize an aircraft yourself. In particular, creating a navigation display no longer requires any programming experience; paste in a basic code template, tweak a few properties and you’re done.

Improved usability sees the tab key now cycle through mouse modes, while multiplayer voice comms client FGCom is bundled with the program.

Elsewhere, smarter terrain loading should notably improve performance, and the program supports more joysticks and rudder pedals out-of-the-box.

FlightGear 3.0 is available for download now.
Google Capital -- investing in the future

Publié: février 19, 2014, 6:36pm CET par Brian Fagioli

Starting a business can be very tricky. First of all, you need the money to put up in order to get it going. If you have no money, starting from scratch can be impossible. Many people who dream of starting a business probably plan on making money from it. In other words, it is a Catch 22 situation.

Sadly, if you do manage to get your business off the ground, having it be profitable is something else altogether. It is not uncommon for a new business to fold. Even if your business plan and products are solid, that does not guarantee success. However, there may be a new lifeline for innovative young companies. Today, Google announces that it is looking to invest in up-and-coming solid businesses through Google Capital.

"Ever since our founders began working out of a garage in Menlo Park, we've thought about what it takes for entrepreneurs to build the companies they dream of. Sometimes this means bringing great startups to Google -- but other times, it means we go to them. Today, we're launching Google Capital, a new growth equity fund backed by Google and led by partners David Lawee, Scott Tierney and Gene Frantz", says David Lawee, Partner, Google Capital.

Lawee further explains, "we'll be looking to invest in companies solely as they hit their growth phase. That means finding companies that have already built a solid foundation and are really ready to expand their business in big ways. We'll look across a range of industries for companies with new technologies and proven track records in their fields. Our investments to date include SurveyMonkey, Lending Club and Renaissance Learning -- with many more to come".

This a smart move by Google, as it can take advantage of a company's profits right as it hits its stride. In other words, Google can identify a company that is about to take off and make money. While this can benefit Google, it can also potentially help the business. After all, some dreams cannot become a reality without funding. Google steps in and takes everything to the next level.

This also has a more human approach than just outright buying companies. When Google acquires a company, it almost feels as if that company is being eaten by a monster. With Google simply investing, it has the appearance of being more like a helping hand.

What up and coming companies should Google Capital look into? Tell me in the comments.

Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox
Amazon spreads the wealth, Coins come to all Android devices

Publié: février 19, 2014, 5:30pm CET par Alan Buckingham

Amazon Coins have mostly flown beneath the radar -- you don't really hear much about them, but you probably know of their existence. That's because, in the past, they were available only for Kindle Fire tablets. Despite the popularity of those devices, the Coins haven't made big news.

Now Amazon is expanding the service out to encompass all Android devices, no matter what brand of phone or tablet you happen to be using. This does come with a requirement -- you'll need to be running the Amazon Store on your slate or handset, and it needs to be the latest version as well.

"Since the launch of Amazon Coins, we've been amazed by the number of customers using Coins, as well as how many Coins they're spending on apps and games", says Mike George, Vice President of Amazon Appstore and Games.

Customers can earn Coins simply by purchasing apps from the store, but also can outright buy the "currency" as well, which can result in a discount as high as 10-percent. The retailer cites several customer testimonials that illustrated the best possible reaction to its Coins -- "I bought these Coins so I don't have a lot of little charges on my credit card. I balance every single purchase I make, so writing down a silly 99 cent purchase my kids make can be annoying. I buy $10 worth of Coins every few months, and I save 50 cents and I also don't have to write down little purchases, so this is a win, win for me", is one.

This begins rolling out today, though there's no guarantee you'll get the update right away, as these things sometimes spread out over days. You can visit Amazon to learn more and purchase your own.
Skyhigh helps quantify the risk from corporate cloud usage

Publié: février 19, 2014, 5:16pm CET par Ian Barker

The cloud is increasingly popular with businesses because of its flexibility and low infrastructure costs, however, it does present risks when compared to running systems in house.

A new product from California-based Skyhigh Networks is aimed at quantifying the risks associated with public cloud services and takes the guesswork out of understanding and managing them.

Skyhigh's Enterprise CloudRisk Dashboard enables IT, security and executive teams to view a single score that encapsulates their overall cloud risk. They can also drill down to the metrics that make up the score, helping them understand the specific drivers of their risk. The product also produces recommendations to reduce risk and benchmarks the score both with a company's peers and between departments as well as tracking trends over time.

"For years, financial services' firms have been using objective, quantitative credit scores to evaluate potential risk," says Rajiv Gupta, CEO and founder of Skyhigh Networks. "With Enterprise CloudRisk Dashboard, we aim to bring a similar approach to managing cloud risk, so that our customers can adopt cloud services while minimizing risk."

The Dashboard has four key functions, the main one being a CloudRisk Score which provides a unique 1-10 score as well as showing its contributing factors. CloudRisk Recommendations produces actionable steps to reduce cloud risk, thereby improving the organization's CloudRisk Score.

CloudRisk Benchmarks allows the comparison of an organization's CloudRisk Score between internal departments and with industry peers, providing guidance on how the risk compares to organization norms and the industry. Finally CloudRisk Trends shows changes to the overall CloudRisk Score over time as well as trends in user, service and data risk.

Skyhigh also operates a CloudTrust Program to provide users with an objective assessment of a cloud service's security capabilities. Services that reach the most stringent standards can display the Skyhigh Enterprise-Ready logo on their site. The company is aiming for this to become an accepted standard for cloud safety as VeriSign is for secure web connections.

You can find out more about CloudRisk Dashboard on the Skyhigh website.

Image credit: Alexander Kirch /Shutterstock
Mount ISO, ZIP, CISO files as virtual drives with Pismo File Mount Audit Package

Publié: février 19, 2014, 5:00pm CET par Mike Williams

One small but welcome addition to Windows 8 is its support for ISO files. Right-click your image, select Mount, and it’s immediately available as a virtual drive, which you can browse, read or write like any other.

This is useful enough, but it’s a little basic. If you’d like more control, and support for many more file formats, then you might prefer the free Pismo File Mount Audit Package (PFMAP).

The program installs without incident, and can be used much like the standard Windows mount tool. Right-click your chosen file (ZIP, ISO, CISO, CFS, ISZ, DAA and PFO formats are supported), select "Quick Mount", and an Explorer window opens at your new virtual drive.

PFMAP gets more interesting if you select "Mount", instead. Now you’re able to choose your preferred drive letter. And there are options to select your drive’s visibility ("owner only", which doesn’t require administrative rights, or "entire system") and access mode (read/ read and write).

Mount several drives and you’ll appreciate PFMAP’s control console. Click its icon in your system tray and you’ll see a list of virtual drives which you can access or remove in a couple of clicks.

A slightly odd "bonus extra" allows you to create "private folders", encrypted containers within the image to store sensitive information. Hiding this container within another (an ISO image, perhaps) may make it a little harder to find, but we’d still prefer a specialist tool for this kind of task.

Perhaps more usefully, PFMAP also offers a full command line interface, enabling you to automate any of its features.

Pismo File Mount Audit Package isn’t the most feature-packed of mounting tools, then, but it supports a good range of formats, has one or two useful extras, and is easy to use. Take a look.
Misplace things often? Nokia Treasure Tag helps you find them

Publié: février 19, 2014, 2:39pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

That is the message Finnish maker Nokia tries to convey with its new Treasure Tag accessory. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the accompanying mobile app that is exclusively available for the company's Windows Phone 8 lineup, running the Lumia Black firmware which started to roll out earlier this year worldwide.

Nokia Treasure Tag is a small device, that comes in at 30 x 30 x 10 mm and 13 grams, which leverages Bluetooth and NFC (Near Field Communication) to communicate the position of the item it is linked to (attached) to a compatible Lumia smartphone. A common use for the nifty accessory will likely be attachment to the car and house keys (as shown in the marketing pic displayed in this post).

Nokia recommends using Treasure Tag with the Lumia 520, Lumia 625, Lumia 720 and Lumia 1520, but it will work with other of its Windows Phone 8 devices. The company explains that users simply have to pair the accessory to the smartphone via NFC or search for it using a Bluetooth connection. To make it easier for users, they will be prompted to download the needed mobile app when pairing Treasure Tag for the first time. Finding misplaced items is done using HERE Maps (to show their location on a map).

There are some other clever things too, like the option to pin live tiles with the color of the tag or a picture of the attached item on the Windows Phone 8 start screen. To keep battery consumption down, the Treasure Tag can be deactivated as well (this would come in handy when the item's location is known, but the user is nowhere near it, like at work).

The specifications include features like a battery level indicator and tones, a removable 220 mAh battery, buzzer alerts, 40 meters operating range and 180 days of standby time. The quoted range and battery life means that it can be used comfortably in real-life scenarios, but expect both to drop significantly depending on the location of the misplaced items and usage patterns (meaning the number of times the items are misplaced) of their owners.

In keeping up with tradition, Treasure Tag will be offered in multiple color options -- black, cyan, yellow and white. The recommended retail price is $29.90/€24.90, for its April launch. The accessory will be available worldwide, according to Nokia. The company also says that Android and iOS support for Treasure Tag will also come, but through third-party apps.
Simpler, faster analytics for QuickBooks with InsightSquared

Publié: février 19, 2014, 2:08pm CET par Ian Barker

When it comes to invoicing and accounting packages for smaller enterprises QuickBooks is one of the first names that comes to mind

Now analytics specialist InsightSquared has launched a SaaS package for QuickBooks that lets users have immediate access to financial dashboards and reports, in addition to sales & marketing data.

Like the company's existing product for Salesforce it's aimed at making small and medium businesses more competitive. It offers ease of use, access from anywhere and a unified view for data drawn from multiple sources. This means that decision makers no longer have to wait for the accounts department to create reports or export data to spreadsheets.

By providing real-time insights into business data via charts and supporting data tables the product gives users the ability to drill down and get the story behind the numbers. Reports can forecast cash flow, identify customers who are at risk of churn, see which customers are least likely to pay before the month’s end and more.

Fred Shilmover, CEO of InsightSquared says, "Our new QuickBooks product is an innovation that gives a competitive advantage to data-driven business users. We've empowered small and mid-size businesses to make the right decisions in ways never before thought possible".

InsightSquared can be deployed in under a day without any integration costs and comes pre-loaded with popular reports so it can be productive from the start. You can find out more on the InsightSquared website.
Yandex.Kit gives Android vendors a free substitute for Google apps and services

Publié: février 19, 2014, 1:29pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

While Android itself is a free, open-source operating system that can be used by any company and individual commercially, the Google apps and services we see bundled on popular devices do not share the same philosophy. Handsets have to be approved by the search giant in order to use the bread and butter of the Android world, which, among other things, includes access to the coveted Play store, and the Gmail and YouTube apps.

Because Google apps and services are not part of Android, we see lots of devices that are sold across the globe without them. Those come from lesser-known vendors, and may be available in anywhere from supermarkets to retail stores in emerging markets. To give those vendors a fighting chance against more popular rivals and increase its reach, Russian tech giant Yandex has announced Yandex.Kit, an Android suite that offers the company's own apps and services as a viable substitute for Google's own offerings on the platform.

Yandex is not new to the Android world as the company has already developed a number of solutions for the OS, including Yandex.Maps, Yandex.Mail, Yandex.Disk, Yandex.Store, Yandex.Shell and Yandex.Browser (the names are self-explanatory). Combined, they are what Yandex calls "a full-fledged Android 'ecosystem'".

Yandex.Kit is meant to be used "fee-free", and customized by Android vendors to their liking. The companies that wish to bundle it in Russia can use the full-fledged suite, which has 15 apps, while those that target other international markets only get Yandex.Shell UI, Yandex.Browser and Yandex.Store. In case you were wondering, the app store has over 100,000 offerings on tap.

Yandex is also giving Android vendors that choose to employ its suite the option to use the Yandex branding on their handsets, filling the gap left by the lack of a Google branding. Basically, Yandex is fighting the search giant on the latter's domain (Android). This option will be available in Russia, in order "to piggyback on the existing customer affinity for one of the most recognizable and strong brands in this country".

Judging by the information provided for Yandex.Kit (check the link in the second paragraph for the whole rundown on each component), the suite can successfully substitute Google's apps and services, as it mimics the latter's behavior and benefits.

Explay and Huawei will be the first Android vendors to showcase their devices with Yandex.Kit, at Mobile World Congress which is held in Barcelona later this month, according to Yandex. The handsets are set to reach the Russian market in March.
You don’t need an app for that: four ways to leverage mobile without building an app

Publié: février 19, 2014, 12:58pm CET par Stefan Debois

No one could argue very convincingly that mobile isn’t one of the most disruptive, transformational factors in business -- and in life -- today. Consumers are armed 24/7 with ever more powerful smartphones and tablets. But most aren’t dying to download the app you paid handsomely to develop.

Most consumers are using their mobile devices to access the web while away from home and from the couch. They’re using them to read your opt-in emails, clicking on your links and forwarding your offers to friends. They’re comparison-shopping, pitting brick-and-mortars with online stores, and reading reviews as part of their decision-making process. They’re relating their experiences with ratings and photos in real time with their social networks.

Anyone competing today for consumers' hard-earned income, loyalty or even just their attention simply MUST embrace mobile. And they must develop a multi-faceted strategy to take advantage of it.

Building your own mobile app is hardly ever a best first step. Building a useful app is a considerable investment in time and money. Instead, these four strategies can make you immediately mobile friendly. Plus, they can actually inform your future app development process.

1. Make your website mobile friendly

More than half of your customers are searching for your information using their smartphones. Three-quarters of them won’t come back if your site isn’t optimized for mobile. More than 90 percent of websites are not optimized for mobile, so optimizing yours becomes a competitive advantage. What’s more, your mobile site can incorporate features unique to mobile device like geolocation, tap-to-call and others.

An easy way to make your site mobile friendly is to create a dedicated mobile website, separate from your main site. This version would be served up automatically when people navigate to your site using a smartphone or tablet. The drawbacks to having separate sites are that the branding between the two can be limited and the need to coordinate the content between the main site and the mobile version.

Image Credit: 74studio

Responsive design is a set of web technologies that enables developers to change the visual appearance of specific elements of your website depending on the screen size the site is displayed on.

2. Collect customer and prospect contact info with a tablet in your store

People love to have insider access to special offers, flash sales and seasonal discounts. While they’re in your store or interacting with you at an event, use a tablet to collect their email address for exactly those purposes. Never use paper forms -- they send the wrong message in this age of mobile and require someone to input the data after it’s collected. Offering a coupon or chance to win in exchange for contact information will significantly increase the volume of contact details you collect.

Even if you don’t yet have a structured email marketing process in place, you can start collecting this info to build this very strategic asset for future marketing activities.

3. Use mobile to grow your social following

People engaged with a personable employee in your store or at an event are great candidates to become Facebook or other social media followers. All you have to do is ask. Why not have them -- right then and there -- use their personal mobile to like your FB page or follow you on your other social outlets?

Image Credit: Smiirl

4. Engage event attendees using mobile

Event attendees can be easily engaged with a mobile survey at your booth or out on the floor of the event. You can survey in real time via a QR code or offline with a tablet-based survey that will upload survey results the next time the tablet connects to the internet.

This real-time interaction with your audiences yields a goldmine of fresh insights and opinions you simply won’t be able to capture days or weeks later -- assuming you even have their email address.

Mobile has changed everything, and you can leverage it to your advantage.

Use some of these quick-strike strategies to begin creating a more well-rounded mobile strategy.

Image Credit: ecco/Shutterstock

Stefan Debois is Co-founder & CEO of Survey Anyplace. Survey Anyplace Mobile Surveys allow for the capture of real-time customer insights without an app or need for an email address.
Oracle delivers enterprise financial planning in the cloud

Publié: février 19, 2014, 11:12am CET par Ian Barker

Effective financial planning and budgeting is essential for all businesses, but the software needed to support it can be expensive.

ERP specialist Oracle has released its Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service to help businesses harness the power of integrated financial planning cost effectively and fast.

Part of the company's Enterprise Cloud Portfolio, Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service is a robust application that allows businesses to adopt a world-class solution with no need for infrastructure investment.

The product builds on the functionality of Oracle Hyperion Planning, including agile forecasting, predictive planning, rich scenario analysis and interactive dashboards. Cloud specific improvements include, pre-built starter kits, creation wizards and best-practice guides to allow faster deployments. There's Microsoft Office integration too so users can perform planning, reporting and analysis via the Web interface or in Microsoft Excel, reducing the need for training.

Administration and maintenance is easier too with automated scaling based on demand, run-time diagnostics built in and scheduled maintenance with managed software updates.

"Since we previewed Oracle Planning and Budget Cloud Service to customers and partners last year, we've seen a tremendous interest in adopting cloud-based solutions to streamline budgeting and improve forecasting," says Hari Sankar, vice president of product management at Oracle. "Today’s general availability reflects our commitment to helping organizations of all sizes harness world-class enterprise performance management in the delivery model of their choice".

For more information and to sign up for the service you can visit the Oracle website.

Image Credit: ra2studio / Shutterstock
SkyDrive relaunches as OneDrive, adds new features

Publié: février 19, 2014, 9:10am CET par Wayne Williams

Following a legal battle with satellite broadcaster BskyB, Microsoft was forced to change the name of its popular cloud storage service SkyDrive, opting to go with OneDrive. The name change was unveiled three weeks ago, but today the update begins rolling out across all compatible devices.

Microsoft hasn’t simply just changed the name and logo of its product, and switched the web address to onedrive.com, it’s added some additional features too, and to celebrate the launch is giving away a grand total of 10 petabytes of free storage.

"When we announced the new name OneDrive, we noted how it is much more aligned with our vision for the future. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to get all of your favorite stuff in one place -- one place that is accessible via all of the devices you use every day, at home and at work. Because let’s face it, until now, cloud storage services have been pretty hard to use, and the vast majority of us still have our stuff spread out everywhere. In fact, according to a recent poll, at least 77 percent of people who are familiar with the cloud still have content stored on a device that is not backed up elsewhere. We want to change that,” Microsoft says.

Android users can now enjoy automatic camera backup, so photos are uploaded to the cloud as soon as they are taken -- something that’s been possible for iOS and Windows Phone users for a while.

You can now share and view videos in OneDrive as easily as photos. Videos get transcoded on the fly, so they’re ready to watch at the optimal size on any device. In other words, if you upload a 720p clip and share it with a friend who wants to watch it on their smartphone over a 3G connection, it will be served up at the most appropriate resolution.

If you require more free storage than the default 7GB, OneDrive offers a choice of ways to earn additional space. Refer friends to the service and you’ll receive 500 MB per friend, up to a maximum of 5 GB and Microsoft will also give you 3 GB just for using the camera backup feature. If you want to pay for additional storage, there’s a new monthly payment plan.

To celebrate the official launch of OneDrive Microsoft is giving 100,000 people 100 GB of free storage for one year. For your chance to be one of those lucky people you’ll need to follow @OneDrive on Twitter and watch for clues.
Google offers do's and don'ts for classless Glass owners

Publié: février 19, 2014, 9:02am CET par Brian Fagioli

When I was young, one of my favorite things to do was read Highlights Magazine. If you aren't familiar, it is a magazine designed for kids. Besides looking for hidden pictures, my favorite was Goofus and Gallant. It was a short comic strip that showcased two boys that were polar opposites -- Goofus was a jerk and Gallant was good. For example, Goofus would run with scissors, while Gallant would walk nicely with them.

Unfortunately for Google, it seems owners of its Glass product are far more Goofus than Gallant. In other words, the search-giant seems concerned that rude owners will give Glass a bad reputation. And so, Google has produced a list of do's and don'ts for these knuckleheads.

"Our Glass Explorer community, which consists of people from all walks of life, actively participates in shaping the future of Glass. With new technology comes new questions, and our Explorers help to answer those questions. The first Explorers were developers from Google I/O 2012 and people who told us what they would do #ifihadglass. Since then, we've continued to expand the Explorer Program. We’re at the start of a long journey and we’re looking to our Explorers to help us develop this new technology" says Google.

The search-giant further says, "since the program started, our Explorers have gotten a lot of attention when they wear Glass out and about. Reactions range from the curious -- 'Wow! Are those the Google glasses?', 'How do they work?' -- to the suspect -- 'Goodness gracious do those things see into my soul?!' Luckily as the Explorer Community grows, so does their collective wisdom. We asked some long-time Explorers for their advice, and here it is".

Do's

Explore the world around you. Glass puts you more in control of your technology and frees you to look up and engage with the world around you rather than look down and be distracted from it. Have a hangout with your friends, get walking directions to a fantastic new restaurant, or get an update on that delayed flight.

Take advantage of the Glass voice commands. Glass can free your hands up to do other things like golfing, cooking, or juggling flaming torches while balancing on a beach ball (but also see Don'ts #2). This is great for looking up how many ounces in a cup while you cook, or taking a one-of-a-kind photo from your unique perspective.

Ask for permission. Standing alone in the corner of a room staring at people while recording them through Glass is not going to win you any friends (see Don’ts #4). The Glass camera function is no different from a cell phone so behave as you would with your phone and ask permission before taking photos or videos of others.

Use screen lock. Glass screen lock works like your smartphone's screen lock: it passcode-protects your device to help prevent others from using it. If you ever lose your device or have it stolen by a budding online resale entrepreneur, you can turn off Glassware and perform a remote wipe (e.g. factory reset) of the device, removing all your information from the device. All you need to do is go to your MyGlass page on your browser, or the MyGlass App on your phone.

Be an active and vocal member of the Glass Explorer Community. The Explorer Program was created in order to have a place where our Explorers can give feedback, share content and communicate with the Glass team. It’s been hugely successful over the past year and this is due to our wonderful group of Explorers. They are constantly sharing their worlds with us and with each other, allowing us to hear and work on all the great feedback and stories our Explorers give us (and, wow, do they give us a lot!).

Don'ts

Glass-out. Glass was built for short bursts of information and interactions that allow you to quickly get back to doing the other things you love. If you find yourself staring off into the prism for long periods of time you're probably looking pretty weird to the people around you. So don't read War and Peace on Glass. Things like that are better done on bigger screens.

Rock Glass while doing high-impact sports. Glass is a piece of technology, so use common sense. Water skiing, bull riding or cage fighting with Glass are probably not good ideas.

Wear it and expect to be ignored. Let's face it, you’re gonna get some questions. Be patient and explain that Glass has a lot of the same features as a mobile phone (camera, maps, email, etc.). Also, develop your own etiquette. If you're worried about someone interrupting that romantic dinner at a nice restaurant with a question about Glass, just take it off and put it around the back of your neck or in your bag.

Be creepy or rude (aka, a “Glasshole”). Respect others and if they have questions about Glass don't get snappy. Be polite and explain what Glass does and remember, a quick demo can go a long way. In places where cell phone cameras aren’t allowed, the same rules will apply to Glass. If you're asked to turn your phone off, turn Glass off as well. Breaking the rules or being rude will not get businesses excited about Glass and will ruin it for other Explorers.

Some of this seems pretty ridiculous. After all, adults are buying the product -- not children. If a product requires such advice, maybe there is a problem with it. In other words, many people think Google Glass will eventually be socially acceptable. If that is really true, should this list be necessary?

Are you a "Glasshole"? Tell me in the comments.
Google brings the Drive API to Code School

Publié: février 19, 2014, 3:06am CET par Brian Fagioli
For many people, learning to code or program is very hard. Young computer nerds often dream of becoming programmers, but reality hits them like a ton of bricks when they experience the level of difficulty. Of course, it doesn't have to be difficult. Quite frankly, many factors can cause a student to be overwhelmed by learning, such as a poor teacher or outdated curriculum.

With that said, where there is a will, there is a way. Many discouraged people may find that they can learn to program if they do it at their own pace and think outside the box. This is what makes Code School so intriguing -- students can pick what they want to learn and take it slowly. Today, Google announces that it is partnering with the online school.

"The most challenging part of learning anything new is often simply getting started. Unfortunately, when it comes to programming, the first few minutes (or more!) are often occupied with cumbersome details such as setting up an environment, which results in very little time spent actually writing code. We were certain there must be a better way", says Greg Knoke, Google Drive Developer Relations Team.

Knoke further explains, "Code School has been doing exciting things with learning to program online. This is why we decided to team up with them to create a way for developers to learn to use the Google Drive API, with no setup required. In the Discover Drive course, you can learn at your own pace from your web browser. You'll spend less time fussing with coding environments and more time writing code".

In other words, students can sign up for the class, free of charge, and learn more about coding with the Google Drive API. The search-giant touts the following lessons that will be taught:
- Level 1 -- Save to Drive Button
- Level 2 -- Google Picker with Drive
- Level 3 -- Authenticating with Drive
- Level 4 -- Uploading Files
- Level 5 -- Retrieving Metadata
- Level 6 -- Downloading & Sharing Files
- Level 7 -- Updating & Deleting Files
- Level 8 -- Folders
- Level 9 -- Push Notifications
- Level 10 -- Installing And Showcasing Your Application
This is really cool on Google's part. As the internet reaches more places globally, the opportunities to learn outside of a classroom setting should promote knowledge more freely. Ultimately, free courses such as this could become the new normal. Students falling asleep in boring lecture halls could become a thing of the past.

Image Credit: wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock
Showtime launches on Roku

Publié: février 19, 2014, 2:42am CET par Alan Buckingham

Roku has been continuously adding content, or what it terms channels. This refers to, in some cases, actual channels, while in others it is a service, like YouTube and more. Now the little set-top box company has partnered up with one more network to deliver content to its customers.

Showtime Anytime is the new addition, as reported by Roku's Ed Lee. "Users can now watch current and past seasons of award-winning Showtime original series including Homeland, Ray Donovan, Masters of Sex, House of Lies, Dexter, Nurse Jackie and more on available on all current-generation Roku devices in the US".

Needless to say, you will need to verify that you actually subscribe to Showtime through a cable or satellite service. That can be considered a catch, as there are only certain providers that have partnered up. These include Brighthouse, Cablevision, DirecTV, Verizon and a few others included in the deal.

I may sound like a broken record, but I will once again point out that these agreements need to go away. Customers should be able to subscribe to channels online without needing to verify provider information, as it really defeats the purpose. But, that's where we are, and it's a start.
Dude, you're getting a services contract -- Lufthansa selects Dell

Publié: février 19, 2014, 2:24am CET par Brian Fagioli

When people think of Dell, they usually associate the company with cheap Windows computers and the "dude, you're getting a Dell" guy, Ben Curtis. However, the company is also in the services business, which, as PC sales continue to decline, is increasingly important.

Lufthansa is the largest airline in Europe, so who it selects to work with is important. After all, simply being associated with the largest airline is a great boon to a company's reputation. Today, Dell announces that it is the recipient of a 5-year service contract with the airline.

"Dell today announced that it has won a five-year services contract with Lufthansa, the largest airline in Europe. Dell will provide maintenance and support for the front-end of Lufthansa's ticketing and reservations passenger booking system which not only ensures that any issues with the booking system are dealt with quickly and effectively but will also deliver significant cost savings", says Dell.

Volker Machulski, Senior IT Development Manager Direct Sales, Lufthansa explains, "we were looking for an external partner who could take over the support and programming tasks so we can focus on our core business. We have an elaborate booking system which supports many applications and different functions. We chose Dell because we need a reliable service provider who understands not only the software, but also the travel and transportation business".

It seems Dell won the contract, at least partially, because it has expertise in offshore customer service. However, it remains to be seen if Lufthansa customers will appreciate the offshore support. While offshore telephone support isn't always bad, it has the reputation of being frustrating to customers.

Do you fly Lufthansa? If so, do you think the airline made the right choice with Dell? Tell me in the comments.