TechSource: How to Turn Videos to Animated GIF Images Using Your Android Device

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How to Turn Videos to Animated GIF Images Using Your Android Device Posted: 29 Apr 2014 06:06 AM PDT GIFs have become the latest craze. Introduced by CompuServe in 1987, GIFs serve as the perfect medium for expressing your emotions on the Internet. Whether you're shocked or annoyed by the person commenting above you, a moving image is the best way to convey what you feel. Sites like Reddit are flooded with funny animated GIFs that go from being hilarious to outright weird. On the other hand, sites such as Reaction Gifs allow you to pick GIFs for expressing your reaction in forums and on other sites. If, however, you are more on the original side, you must have mulled over the idea of creating your own GIFs. While there are many apps and even websites that let you make such images, having your images transferred to your PC from your smartphone or tablet is a rather hectic task. Wouldn't it be cool if you could just shoot a video and then turn it into animated GIF? Well, there's a way to do that. Thanks to some great applications, you can now turn any video you shoot into a funky-looking GIF. You can then share that image with your friends and have a good laugh. Super Video Gif Maker: Step 1: Install Super Video Gif Maker from the Play Store HERE. Step 2: Choose your Movie Basically, Super Video GIf Maker functions as a wonderful movie player. It can play movies in various formats. So, if you have shot a few videos, you can browse through them as much as you want. Once you have decided which movie to turn into a GIF, skip to the part that you want to convert. Step 3: Create the GIF While playing the video, click on the button on the right-hand side of the video to choose the part that you want to turn into an image. From here, you can individually select frames to include in your GIF. To select frames, all you have to do is press the button on the left. Once you are done, save the image. You can play the GIF as many times as you want to make sure that it turned out the way you wanted. If you are having trouble using the aforementioned app, you can try using Android Video to GIF HERE. A Great Alternative: Cinemagram Cinemagram is more than just a animated GIF maker. If you are on the creative side of life, then this app will breathe a new life into your creativity. Basically, Cinemagram allows you to create a looping 4-minute video to which you can add various effects.  One of the most distinct qualities about Cinemagram is that many parts of the image are still while a single portion of it is moving. This creates a really beautiful effect that tempts the viewer to keep watching the image over and over again.

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TechSource: Best Android Apps to Help you Get Six-Pack Abs

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Best Android Apps to Help you Get Six-Pack Abs Posted: 25 Apr 2014 10:29 PM PDT Everyone wants a good-looking body. No matter where you go, you'll find people who are desperate to change the way they look. This is even more prevalent among people who are expected to look, for example, models, actors, talk show hosts, and pretty much every high-school teenager. The standards for beauty are Adonic. You must have a perfect skin, nice muscles, and yeah, six-pack abs. Six-pack abs, the most coveted look "du jour" has become a craze on the Internet. Almost every other guy or girl wants to have abs like the mighty Thor. Even James Bond, who used to be fit and healthy in his earlier incarnations now sports washboard abs. In other words, the six-pack abs craze is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. But hey, we won't judge you if you want a six pack for yourself. And being die-hard technophiles, we think that having apps with you that help you reach your goal is always a good thing. That's why we have curated for you a list of apps that help you get a perfectly toned tummy. Abs Workout Abs workout, as the name suggests, is a workout assistant to help you tone your stomach. Based on the Aerobic Weider Six program, this app comes with a daily workout of six exercises to perform every day. To make sure that you don't have any cheat days, this app also comes with a workout schedule of 42 days. This means that you will be working out every day for about a month and a half, which raises the chances of getting good results. Abs workout also provides voice feedback using text-to-speech (TTS) so that you won't lose any motivation during your workout sessions. DOWNLOAD HERE Runtastic Six-Pack Abs This app not just teaches you how to get six-pack abs but also shows you how to get a fit body as well. With HD avatars explaining each and every exercise in detail, Runtastic is an app that is a great free alternative to hiring a personal trainer. If you are a complete newbie to the world of exercise, Runtastic provides a good way to start by showing high-quality 1080p video explanations of many core exercises. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for a full-body workout rather than just abs. DOWNLOAD HERE 30 Days to Six Pack Much like Runtastic, this next app gives you a guide to complete guide to many core exercises that exist out there. However, '30 Days to Six Pack' put some extra emphasis on the tummy area. Though the app badly needs a design revamp, it does serve as a great reference to some important exercises. If you go to gym but don't have a trainer, using this app as a reference will help you quite a lot.  DOWNLOAD HERE Daily Ab Workout Free If you are looking for something simple and quick, then this next app will come in handy. Daily Ab Workout FREE provides quick 5-10 minute daily routines that encompass some of the best ab-sculpting exercises. If you were quite busy, then even spending a few minutes working on your core would do a lot of difference. This app, by being specially focused on core exercises, helps you get closer to your goal of six-pack abs. This app is definitely worth a try. DOWNLOAD HERE TechSource Tip As much as these aforementioned apps help you get a flat, toned, and muscular stomach, they won't, in any way, help you lose fat. Losing fat is the prerequisite to getting washboard abs. So, if you are overweight, try losing your body fat first before embarking upon grueling ab-workout sessions. A good way to lose body fat is to reduce your carb intake, limit eating processed foods, and have a simple workout regime like walking or running. That being said, there is no harm in continuing with ab exercises while you lose weight. In addition, you may also check out our previous post (Best Health and Fitness Apps For Android) that can help you reach your healthy goal. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: What Tech Lovers Can (and Cannot) Expect from Microsoft's New CEO

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What Tech Lovers Can (and Cannot) Expect from Microsoft's New CEO Posted: 21 Apr 2014 01:35 AM PDT Microsoft appointed Satya Nadella as their new CEO recently. He succeeded Steve Ballmer to become the third CEO of the company. Being one of the biggest companies in the world, Microsoft chose an internal candidate to undertake the huge responsibility. They wanted someone who knew the company very well and also someone who values Microsoft's vision for the future. And, Satya Nadella was exactly the man they were looking for. The 46-year-old is an electrical engineer who studied in India before continuing his education in the United States. Working for Microsoft since 1992, Satya took on many roles in the company, his recent one being that of executive vice president of the Cloud and Enterprise group. Many people credit Microsoft's success in the cloud to him. Considered as a "safe choice" by some critics while a deserving successor by many in the tech industry, Satya has a huge responsibility given the company's steady decline. We, as tech lovers, have a lot of expectations from him. Despite the FOSS community's torn relationship with Redmond, Ballmer's departure was seen as a positive development by many Linux lovers. That's why, we've compiled a list of things we can -- and cannot -- expect from the new CEO. Things to Expect from Satya Nadella 1. More Focus on Cloud Computing Satya is a cloud-first guy. His cloud expertise is known even outside of Microsoft. It's highly unlikely that he'll lose focus on one of his (and the company's) core competencies. Expect more cloud-based services rolling out from Redmond in the coming years. Also, we can hope to see many improvements in existing cloud-based services Microsoft provides. 2. New Challenges Microsoft will explore new markets under Satya's leadership. In fact, Satya Nadella recently announced that Microsoft is trying to build an economy smartphone for emerging markets. In other words, expect some out-of-the box thinking as well as action from Satya Nadella. 3. More Mistakes Yep, you heard that right. Mistakes are a part of taking brave challenges. Satya Nadella is known to be a lifelong learner who constantly buys books and signs up for online courses. What does this mean for Microsoft? It means that he will go for the bold ventures very few people have thought. For the first few years of his tenure, he'd probably be doing a lot of trial and error and then learning from them. 4. More Innovation Microsoft is not well known for innovation. Many people in the tech world call them monopolistic copycats. Even the late Steve Jobs once remarked that Microsoft lacked taste. How well is that going to change? We don't know. But given Satya's liking for innovation, we might see some creative products come out of Redmond. "Our industry does not respect tradition – it only respects innovation." -- Satya Nadella 5. Major Shuffle in Mobile Strategy The CEO recently announced that he would be focusing more of his efforts on the mobile front. Microsoft is already developing a mobile phone for the developing market. Expect some major changes in Microsoft's mobile strategy. Satya might be able to breathe a new life into Microsoft's mobile business that has barely managed to get the attention its other products get.  Things Not to Expect from Him 1. Microsoft Cozying up to Linux Though there is a slight possibility of this happening, Microsoft is a company that is steadily going downhill. At this point, they can't afford to take any big risks that would hurt their market share. After all, Linux still is a Microsoft competitor, especially in the server market. We might see a version of Office for Ubuntu, but there is a very slight chance of that happening. 2. Microsoft becoming a role model for honest business Despite how friendly and charming Satya seems in comparison to the brutal Ballmer, Microsoft still is Microsoft at its core. It's not a communist country run by a single leader that you'd expect a dramatic turnaround of core philosophies in just a couple of years. Microsoft still is, Microsoft at its core. It's a business and it will do anything it needs to do in order to keep its foothold in the marketspace. 3. Making Off-the-wall Comments Ballmer made some pretty snarky comments during his tenure, going so far as to call Linux a cancer. He was known for his bad temper and his infamous chair-throwing tantrum. Compared to Ballmer, Satya seems to be a very positive and pragmatic guy. It's highly unlikely to see him badmouthing his competitors.  4. Doing the "developers" Dance Because only Ballmer can pull it off. Period. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: How to Get Android Notifications on Your Desktop Browser (Chrome)

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How to Get Android Notifications on Your Desktop Browser (Chrome) Posted: 14 Apr 2014 05:53 PM PDT If your work involves using the web browser a lot, then you know how irritating it is to have your smartphone breaking your workflow every now and then. What's even more annoying is that every time the phone beeps, you have to get up from your chair, find the phone, unlock it, slide down the notification panel and voila, it's a WhatsApp message from that annoying friend who keeps forwarding silly jokes. Damn! We've all been there. We all wish that there were some ways you wouldn't have to get up from your chair every time your phone rings. We all wish that you could somehow keep your smartphone on silent while you work but still stay updated with what's important. We've all wished and guess what? It's coming true. The Play Store houses some fabulous apps that let you keep up with your Android notifications right from your web browser. So, if you are a Chrome user, use the following guide to get some peace of mind. Method 1: Use Pushbullet Pushbullet is a fabulous application that more than just mirrors your Android notifications. It's a full-fledged app that allows you to send files, links, images, and even to-do list from your phone to your desktop and back. Whatever notifications show up on your phone will also show up on your Chrome as desktop notifications. Here's how to use it: Step 1: To get Pushbullet working, first you have to do is install the Pushbullet application on your Android smartphone. Download HERE. Step 2: Then, install the Chrome extension. Download HERE. Step 3: Go to https://www.pushbullet.com and pair your devices. And voila! Your devices can now work hand in hand. Now sit back and relax as your smartphone notifications show up on your Chrome desktop. Alternative Method: Use Krome If you are looking for another way to achieve the same result, then Krome is your best bet. Krome is a paid application that uses Google's Cloud Messaging system to securely mirror your Android notifications to your Chrome browser. One of the cool things Krome does and Pushbullet doesn't is that it allows you to reply to SMSes right from the notification itself. This means that you click a notification and type the message below it. Cool! huh? To start using Krome, install the following extension from the Webstore HERE: Then, purchase and install the Android app from the Google Play Store HERE. Once installed, follow the simple instructions to pair your smartphone with your browser. Though worth the price, it doesn't match up to the sheer number of features Pushbullet features. But again, if you're looking for an app that just mirrors your notifications and does it well, then by all means go for Krome. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Best Alternative App Stores for Linux

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Best Alternative App Stores for Linux Posted: 11 Apr 2014 06:51 PM PDT The concept of app stores, though popularized by Apple, followed by Android, has been around for a long time. In fact, Linuxians know that it was in the penguinian world of software that the concept of app store basically originated. A software housing a collection of apps stored in a convenient location was something Linux users have loved and still love. Whether it is the iTunes app store or the Play Store by Google, budding developers get a huge exposure by publishing their apps in these arenas. Similarly, the relatively less popular Ubuntu Software Center is slowly becoming a melting pot for some of the best developers in the FOSS community. The app store has some of the most popular applications made by some talented developers. While most of the applications from Ubuntu Software Center are free, some of them are reasonably priced and allow developers to fund their own coding efforts. Another thing that's fascinating about Ubuntu Software Center is that these young developers are now competing against bigwigs like Steam and Microsoft (Skype), to make sure that their applications get the props they deserve. While some people might call it unjust, one cannot help but call it a healthy competition which will propel the growth of the Linux community. Overall, the Ubuntu Software Center has set a great foundation for a better open-source future. That said, if you are an Ubuntu user, you probably must have gotten tired of using Ubuntu Software Center already. It's clean, sleek, and does what it says on the tin; however, as a FOSS enthusiast you might be looking for something different. If that's the case, then we have for you a list of alternative app stores for Linux that will help you get the software you need instantly.  Deepin Software Center Deepin Software Center is a fabulous-looking application that comes as a part of the distro Linux Deepin. Not only is a good alternative to Ubuntu Software Center, it's also a great replacement for it since you'll find a few features that triumph the good old USC. Once installed, you get to choose from as many as 2,600 applications. You can install them by one click and finding what you want is never easier. The interface is clean, and to be frank, a notch better than Ubuntu Software Center. What's more, you can even skin the app store to your liking by choosing from any of the cool themes. What makes Deepin so interesting is that it has a multi-threaded download back end that makes downloads really fast. Also, the apps are regularly updated based on their ratings, making it a great app store to browse apps on. To install Deepin Software Center, type in or paste the following commands in your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T): sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/deepin-sc sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install deepin-software-center Apper Apper is the default KDE Package manager that serves as a good alternative to traditional app stores. Written in C++, Apper is designed to make things easier for users who want to look for software and not packages. Apart from listing all the latest software, it also allows users to remove old software and upgrade existing one. If you are on KDE, you already know about this app store. If not, it's a great simple app manager you can use even if you're not a KDE lover. To install Apper, type in or paste the following command in your terminal: sudo apt-get install apper App Grid App Grid is a solid alternative to the Ubuntu Software Center. Readily available to install on any distro, App Grid lets you browse apps in a neat, grid-like layout. Though far from perfect, the layout is much lighter and faster than USC's slightly bloated UI, thus making it a great alternative. It is faster to start, has very less memory usage, and is written in Python 3. Though proprietary, App Grid gives you a great set of features and lightness that you should have gotten from USC. It's definitely worth a try. To install App Grid, type in or paste the following commands in the terminal:   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:appgrid/stable sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install appgrid

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TechSource: How to Turn your Android Device into a Dynamic Photo Frame

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How to Turn your Android Device into a Dynamic Photo Frame Posted: 08 Apr 2014 03:40 AM PDT Photographs serve as our best memories. Through good times and some great times, photographs stay with us etching our emotions deftly onto a little piece of paper. Over the years, photographs have gone a major transformation. Few years ago, taking a photo meant that you had some memory that you thought would be worth sharing. You took a picture and then kept it with you for the rest of your life. These days, taking a picture is all about getting the maximum likes on Facebook or Instagram. Oh, and there's the bizarre trend of "selfies" that well, isn't that cool as you might think. For those who take photographs for keeping their memories alive, however, Facebook isn't a big obsession. For them, photographs are worthy to be cherished and even showcased on objects like photo frame. However, you won't get your hands on photo frames everywhere, especially if you travel a lot. In that case, allow us to share with you some ways on turning your Android smartphone or tablet into a dynamic photo frame: Dayframe If you are looking for a photo frame application that just works, then Dayframe is all you need. It has all the features you're looking for and you probably won't be needing any other apps on the list. Dayframe, apart from being a photo frame is also a social-connected photo application. The way the application works is very simple. Instead of you having to select photos from your collection or worse upload them, Dayframe automatically pulls your pictures from your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, 500px, Dropbox, and Google Plus accounts. Now, there are two ways to use Dayframe. Either you can use it to display your personal photos or you can use it to show beautiful pictures from some great photographers.  If you choose to go with the first option, the app will ask you to mention the sources from which Dayframe should pull your pictures. For example Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. To avoid chaos, once you select multiple sources, you can set filters so that only the photos you want will be displayed. So, say you want photos of your last vacation to be displayed. All you have to do is set a keyword so that Dayframe pulls only the specific photos related to that tag. The second way to go with using this application is to let the application pull photos from a wide variety of curated sources. The sources are curated according to your own taste thus making it a worthwhile experience. Finally, the best feature is that of the timer. The timer lets you display pictures only in a specific time slot. So, if you are not at home, don't worry, you can set Dayframe to work in a such a way that when you come back home, you'll have a set of beautiful pictures displayed in your living room. Photo Slides Photo Slides is another great app for turning your device into a dynamic photo frame. It pulls photos from your Gallery intelligently and displays your pictures as a nice slideshow. What's more interesting is that this app also supports G-sensor. This means that the photo frame will adjust itself according to the way you orient your smartphone or tablet. What's more, the application also comes with 8 different sliding effects thus letting you give your photo frames a slightly funky touch. Android Daydream Jelly Bean came with an often-overlooked feature called Daydream. Basically Daydream allows you to display a screensaver every time the phone is docked. What's great about Daydream is that it also lets you turn your phone into a nice-looking photo frame. Simply go to Settings then click on Display. From there, select Daydream. The feature allows you to set your own photos as a screensaver. In this way, you can turn your phone into a dynamic photo frame. The only caveat is that the phone needs to be docked or charging. That won't be a big issue with most people since they'd use the photo frame whilst docked so that they won't have to worry about battery drainage. The only caveat with this method is that your phone needs to have Jelly Bean installed. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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