TechSource: BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android: Too Little Too Late?

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BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android: Too Little Too Late? Posted: 29 Oct 2013 02:12 AM PDT Remember the days when having a BBM pin was sort of a status symbol? People merrily flaunted their BBM Pins across their social circles as if it was their phone number. In retrospect, for many, it was more than just a phone number. BlackBerry Messenger, also known as BBM, was one of the most popular modes of communication. Not only did it allow you to send messages to your buddies and coworkers, it also let you share images, videos, and songs. And remember those funky status messages your buddies used to put up? Well, those days are gone. But here is the weird part. No one is sad about it. No one is missing BBM. Nor do people miss owning a BlackBerry device (unless of course, they belong to the select minority who prefer to own a smartphone with a physical keyboard). BlackBerry's glory days, in short, are over. First came the iPhone, then Android stepping up the smartphone game to such a degree that it made Research in Motion difficult to keep up with the changing trends. It reiterated their design, lowered the prices, and tried pretty much everything. But the level of innovation that Android and iPhone had put on display made BlackBerry sink deeper into the quicksand of failures. Shares tumbled. Deals were broken. Customers were lost. Efforts were made, but in vain. As the sales of the devices fell sharply, many speculated that BlackBerry might pull out their trump card by making BBM a cross-platform application. As customers were running away, it had only one hope of salvation: bringing BBM to the iPhone and Android and generate a whole new customer base. However, BlackBerry didn't heed the warning call and tumbled down the hill. It was after the fact that most BlackBerry users had already joined either the Apple or the Google faction, that RIM decided to bring BBM to other platforms. The question is that, is it too late? Can Droid or Apple save the dying hero? The answer is no. Neither Android nor Apple will be able to save BlackBerry. Bringing BBM to the masses who are already hooked on WhatsApp is a big challenge as it is. Those who have never used BBM, for example, will be reluctant to adopt to this new app. Old-time BBM users, on the other hand, might give it a try. But Android users have way too many choices these days to fall back on BBM. If, at the moment, BlackBerry is relying solely on BBM's expansion to bring back the company from the dead, they are headed for disaster. What does this mean to Android? BBM for Android only makes the Google-made mobile operating system stronger. Though it has nothing to brag about, especially to its biggest rival Apple, the messenger is a welcome addition to Android and can provide massive value to the system. Let's take the biggest chat client, which is WhatsApp. The free-yet-proprietary chat client is available for Android, BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Series 40, Symbian (S60), and Windows Phone. That's a lot of platforms. However, BlackBerry if it sticks to the top two platforms, that is Android and iOS, it can help some of the BlackBerry users switch to Android itself. Imagine a user frustrated and stuck with his old BlackBerry device but unable to upgrade due to the unavailability of BBM on Android. This change will finally help users make the move to Android without ditching BlackBerry entirely. In a sense, it is a win-win scenario for both Android and BlackBerry, that is, if BlackBerry manages to leverage it properly. What can save BlackBerry then? A complete rethinking. BlackBerry has to stop relying on old ways of getting into the market now. There's no more room at the top if it wants to keep selling smartphones. One strategy would be to rely more upon BBM and develop it to such a point that it gets more users than WhatsApp. Also, it could try to come up with new apps centered around the BBM brand and branch out in the software world. The road to BlackBerry's success is a very steep climb. Only time can tell whether it will manage to reclaim some of its past glory. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Best Linux Applications for 2013 (so far)

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Best Linux Applications for 2013 (so far) Posted: 24 Oct 2013 10:23 PM PDT 2013 has been the year of Android. With the Google-based operating system stealing the show with amazing devices, it's hard to believe that an open-source project has reached such heights. With stellar competitors like Microsoft and Apple, Android has once again proved that in the tech industry, anything is possible. That said, its freedom-loving brother Linux is still struggling to gain a foothold in the desktop market. As the demand for the desktop itself has started waning, the dominance of Microsoft that once bothered Linuxians, now seems like a thing of the past. However, that's not to say that Linux isn't growing. In fact, it has seen many new developments recently that have pushed it even further into the mainstream market. One of the key aspects that will help Linux ensure a sustainable growth in the market is the number of software applications available. These days, the number of quality apps that an OS has, somehow signifies its popularity. In that case, here too Linux has seen surprising growth. This year, a lot of new applications were released for Linux. And yes, more are there to come with the Ubuntu App Showdown underway. However, not all apps that have come up on Linux have been that good in terms of quality. Some of them, well, they've raised the standards of the platform itself. In this article, we'll mention the best applications that the are available for Linux so far this year: Lightworks Though Lightworks was announced way earlier in 2012, Linuxians were impatiently waiting to get their hands on the professional tool. Used in many Hollywood movies, Lightworks is a professional-grade video editor from EditShare. The editor is free to try and use; however, if you want more, you can upgrade to the PRO version by paying. The application, though in beta, can be downloaded on your Ubuntu or Mint desktop right now. Brackets Out here in the Linux world, we aren't really big fans of Adobe especially after they stopped supporting Flash on this platform. However, this time, they've pleasantly surprised not only many FOSS supporters but also developers as well. In 2013, Adobe released Brackets, an open-source code editor for the web. Yep, open-source and Adobe sounds strange to hear in a single phrase, but that's the truth. Built with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, the lightweight code-editor can serve as a worthwhile upgrade from gedit or Kate. Brackets is really worth a try even if you are not a fan of Adobe.  BitTorrent Sync In the age of NSA spying and all sorts of privacy concerns, an application like BitTorrent Sync comes as a breath of fresh air. The free, cross-platform application lets you sync and share your files across multiple devices, safely and securely. All file transfers are encrypted, thus making the application NSA proof. And yes, BT sync handles large files exceptionally well thus making it a good alternative to Dropbox. Viber Viber is a Skype rival that lets you make HD-quality video calls to your friends and family. What makes Viber so special is that it is tied to your phone number. This means that unlike Skype, you won't have to remember any User ids. All you have to do is add the contacts that are there on your phone and let Viber sync them across all platforms. So, whether you are using Blackberry, Mac, Windows, Android, or even iOS, Viber works almost everywhere. And now, it's on Linux too. This is definitely good news for those who use Viber regularly. You can download Viber HERE.  Steam Well, this year was a big one for Linux all because of the release of Steam on Linux. While Windows gamers are silently mocking penguinians for their childlike enthusiasm about this announcement, only true FOSS supporters will understand how big a step it is towards the progress of Linux as a platform, both in terms of general usage and gaming as well. Steam, though it doesn't boast of many games as of now, is still a treat for gamers on the Linux platform. Let's hope the efforts of the gaming community continue this way to make Linux a true gaming platform of the future. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Google Nexus 5: Rumor Roundup and Our Expectations

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Google Nexus 5: Rumor Roundup and Our Expectations Posted: 21 Oct 2013 07:58 PM PDT Google is generating a lot of buzz with the audience impatiently awaiting a new Nexus smartphone. There's no clear indication of how the phone will look like, how much it will cost, and what the specs will be. Rumor mills, however, are filled with purported specs, pricing, screenshots, and even release dates of the new phone. So, we decided to do a roundup of some of the most famous rumors and yes, we're also going to discuss about the things we expect of this flagship smartphone from Google. Rumors: * New Android version. From Key Lime Pie to KitKat. Rumors about Google's new smartphone have been circulating for months. Earlier, people expected them to announce a new OS called Key Lime Pie with the new phone. However, the search giant announced recently that it would be partnering with Nestle KitKat for this release. And yes, quelling those old rumors of an Android 5.0 device, Google has decided to call this OS release as Android 4.4.    * Pricing Many rumors have suggested that the Nexus 5 will be priced around $300 for the 8GB model and $350 for the 16GB one. However, some rumors suggest that the 16GB model might be priced at $300. We'll have to find that out. * October 24 Release Date Many sources are suggesting that Google might release the Nexus 5 a few days from now. However, there has been no such announcement from Google and thus, many believe that Google might release this phone without much fanfare. We, at TechSource, highly doubt this rumor. * An Awesome Camera. Vic Gundotra had posted this in February on Google Plus: "We are committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras. Just you wait and see," If rumors are to be believed, Google might be partnering with Nikon to make a mind blowing camera phone that might make iPhone junkies jealous. Other rumors hint at a 13 Mega Pixel Camera. * 5-inch screen This is one of the most believable rumors of the list. It's highly probable that Google will launch the Nexus 5 with a 5-inch display. * 2 GB RAM and a Snapdragon Processor. Many rumors have suggested that the Nexus 5 might come with a 2.3 GHz Snapdragon processor and 2GB RAM. Those are, when compared to competitors, amazing specs for a phone that runs vanilla Android.  * Bigger Battery Many sources suggest that the Nexus 5 will sport a 3300 mAh battery. This will give it enough juice to run high-quality applications all day. * Screenshots Earlier, a Japanese site called Redstar has published some screenshots of what looks like the new Nexus phone. Recently, Google accidentally revealed the Nexus 5 on the Play Store. Check out the official photo: Our Expectations: We have a lot of expectations from this smartphone. Since it is made by Google, we expect some high quality specs thrown in here. One of the best things about Nexus devices is that they're carefully crafted so as to work seamlessly with the hardware. Unlike Samsung devices, which have a rather plasticky feel to them, a Nexus device seems like a solid, well-built phone. We expect the same build quality to continue with this release. * Future proof Since it's a Nexus phone, we expect some of the best specs in the phone industry. Nexus 4 was a stellar device with amazing specs at a low price. We expect similar and better things from Nexus 5. Also, Nexus 5 has to be something that I can brag about to not only my iPhone-loving friends but also my Samsung-crazy buddies. We're counting on you, Google. * Low price  Nexus devices are known for their affordable prices. We want this one to be priced as low as $300 so that everyone can afford it. * Good battery life The Note 3 has set the standards high with a whoppingly huge battery. Nexus 5, hopefully, will provide something on the same lines. Overall, we expect the battery life good enough to last a whole day. * Better camera The Nexus 4's camera was disappointing. And yes, Google knows that. We expect Google to pull up their socks and work hard on making this an awesome smartphone experience. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Best Evernote Alternatives for Android

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Best Evernote Alternatives for Android Posted: 17 Oct 2013 09:13 PM PDT Evernote is one of the best note-taking software out there. In fact, it is more than just a note-taking application. It is a full-blown personal management service that comes in handy in almost every department of life. Be it taking notes about your next novel or planning your daughter's birthday, the cloud-based organization service is used by millions of people across the globe. Such is the popularity of Evernote that despite being a young startup it has had the privilege of calling itself a platform. Personally, I love Evernote, I use it every day for clipping pages, taking written notes, and I even take audio notes with it. There's also another feature that lets you take pictures of written notes with your smartphone's camera and organize them in the cloud. Though I don't use the camera feature, I can safely say that Evernote is a service I'd recommend to anyone whether or not he or she is in need of a personal information organizer. As good as Evernote is, there are a few downsides to this almost-perfect service. Firstly, it doesn't work across Linux. Secondly, the web version of the software is painfully slow. Also, if you are an Android user, the app works a bit slower when compared to other plain note-taking apps. In fact, on Android, there are many Evernote-like apps that are much faster and are easier to use. So, whether you are fed up of Evernote in general or simply need to try something new, here are a few nice Android-based alternatives for the service. Microsoft OneNote Microsoft OneNote is an incredible service that lets you capture everything that's important to you. Be it images, text, or even Excel sheets, OneNote works extremely well with any kind of data. One of the best things about the tool is that it is very neatly organized and displays your data very well. That said, it is not a perfect alternative to the mighty Evernote. It has its own share of flaws and you can only blame Microsoft for it. Nevertheless, if you're using OneNote on the desktop, this app is perfect for you.  DOWNLOAD HERE Google Keep Google Keep is the best alternative to Evernote if you are on Android. Google's recently launched service for taking notes is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It's lightweight, supports to-do lists, and even lets you set reminders for your tasks. One of the best things about Keep is that, when compared to Evernote, it is much lighter and takes a lot less time to load. Also -- and this is one of the best things about Keep -- the service integrates perfectly well with Google Reminders thus making it a perfect fit for your Android device. Despite its lightness and ease of use, Google Keep is not as feature-loaded as Evernote. If you are someone who doesn't make full use of Evernote's powerful features, by all means switch to Keep. DOWNLOAD HERE ColorNote ColorNote is known as one of the best note-taking applications for Android. It is free, it lets you organize stuff, and it is almost as powerful as Evernote in many aspects. What makes ColorNote so popular is that it lets you write your notes in any way you want. You can either make a to-do list, set sticky notes, and even set reminders with it. If you are someone who likes to have it all nicely backed up, ColorNote even offers AES-encrypted cloud-based backup. This makes it a good choice for storing sensitive information like bank passwords. The only downside to ColorNote is that, unlike Evernote, it doesn't have a web version. If you are willing to overlook that caveat, I'd say ColorNote is a perfect replacement for Evernote.  DOWNLOAD HERE GNotes GNotes is a nice note-taking service for Android that lets you capture notes, add photos, create to-do lists, record voice memos and much more. You can then organize those notes in notebooks much like you do on Evernote. One of the best things about GNotes is that it syncs with Gmail. So, any note you take on your smartphone or tablet is synced to your Gmail account. If you are using Google Apps, then too this service can synchronize with your email address. Similar to what you have on Evernote, GNotes too lets you add reminders and protect your notes. The only caveat of this service is that it doesn't have a dedicated web-based version. DOWNLOAD HERE Papyrus Though not a perfect alternative to Evernote, Papyrus does deserve a worth mention on the list. In a world inundated with apps that let you type in your notes, there's a veritable dearth of tools that let you take notes old-school. Papyrus feels in that need by letting you take freehand notes either by using the Samsung S-pen or your hand. Not only can you take notes quickly with this tool, you can even organize them later so that you won't have to keep looking for them now and then. One of the best things about this application is that it lets you share your notes with Evernote as well. So, I'd recommend using this app in conjunction with Evernote. However, if you want to go truly Evernote-free, this app lets you export your notes in PDF, PNG, and JPEG format and sync them later with Dropbox. DOWNLOAD HERE

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TechSource: How To Send and Receive SMS From Your Desktop Using Google Chrome

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How To Send and Receive SMS From Your Desktop Using Google Chrome Posted: 15 Oct 2013 07:13 AM PDT With the meteoric rise of instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, BBM, and iMessage, the traditional SMS has taken somewhat of a back seat. You'd rarely find people SMSing someone, unless of course, they don't own a smartphone at all. As days go by, the popularity of SMS is steadily declining that might end up making it an obsolete form of communication in the next few years. Having said that, it's not as if SMS has gone completely out of fashion. Not only do many communication apps rely on SMS (for verification purposes) but also, banks and many other organizations prefer communicating with their clients using this system. Despite the declining usage, SMS has taken a rather formal role in communication. These days, you'd rather SMS your colleague or your boss than sending him/her a message on WhatsApp. If you are someone who uses both SMS and instant messaging, you know how annoying it gets when you get an SMS. With a WhatsApp message or an iCloud message, you can choose to ignore messages without being rude. But SMS, it's something you have to get up and respond to every time. This, for someone who sits in front of the computer most of the time, seems like an act of betrayal to the mighty desktop. If you know what I'm talking about, there are a few solutions that will help you read, manage, and send SMSes right from your desktop. Yes, you won't even have to get up from your chair. So, for the lazy SMS addict in you, here are some of the best Chrome apps and extensions that let you send and receive SMS from your desktop. AirDroid AirDroid is a fabulous app, not just for sending SMSes but also for managing your smartphone in general. This shiny-looking app makes you completely cableless so that you can transfer music, photos, and even apps to and from your phone. The application, once installed, emulates a real-looking desktop screen. There, you can check messages, delete the old ones, and even send new messages. And yes, you won't even have to remember the numbers of your contacts. AirDroid features a contact manager that suggests names of the people you want to send messages to. If you're looking for a one-stop solution that lets you do everything from your desktop (including SMS of course) AirDroid should be your best bet.  MightyText MightyText is an application designed specially for helping you send SMS via your desktop. Once installed, it syncs all the messages from your Android device with your computer. Though the aforementioned Airdroid offers similar functionality, MightyText stands apart from the list of apps in this category with a few unique features. It features a Chrome extension that adds a Compose SMS button to your Gmail inbox. The button sits right below the compose button of Gmail and pops up a neat-looking message window every time you click on it. This is extremely useful for people who spend a lot of time replying to emails and other messages. In short, if you are looking for an app that is specially designed for sending SMSes on your desktop, MightyText is your best bet. Pi SMS Pi SMS is an extension that lets you make use of free messaging services to send messages to your friends and family right from your desktop. Used best for group messaging and broadcasting, Pi SMS has support for contacts, message delivery notification, and background message delivery. The extension is best suited for Indian users as these services are more popular in India. BrowserTexting BrowserTexting, as the name suggests, lets you send and receive text messages using just your browser. Once installed, you have to pair your phone with the extension first before sending any messages. BrowserTexting supports contacts and even notifies you of any incoming messages. One of the best features about BrowserTexting is that it also allows you to send group messages, something that many extensions in this category don't offer.  Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Top Monster Games for Android

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Top Monster Games for Android Posted: 11 Oct 2013 08:42 PM PDT When people think of monsters, everything from Frankenstein to Adams' Family comes to mind. But for gamers, monsters have a special significance. Monsters represent, in gaming culture, a mighty opponent to the hero/heroine in his quest towards success. If you've played games like Final Fantasy, monsters are everywhere. In fact, in Final Fantasy XIII-2, you can even collect different monsters like you do in Pokemon. However, in this era of smartphones and tablets, monsters have started getting some special attention from game developers, especially on the Android platform. These days, many new games have come up that allow you to tame monsters, battle with them, and play as a monster yourself. So, if you're looking for some good monster games for Android, here's a list of the best ones: Paper Monsters Paper Monsters is a 2D side scrolling game with gorgeous 3D backdrops. The game is set in Paperland with an adorable main character. In fact, the main character's quirkiness is what makes the game even more interesting. Once you start playing, you'll be going through a lot of different environments that are meticulously designed and manage to provide a great sense of novelty with every level. The side scrolling motion adds to the fun by making the 3D backdrops even more engaging. Though not free, Paper Monsters is definitely worth your hard-earned cash. Don't blame us if you get hooked to it for hours. DOWNLOAD HERE Monster Blade If playing with cute monsters isn't your cup of tea then Monster Blade is a game that might interest you more. In this game, you get to slay powerful dragons and monsters in a complete 3D environment. This online arcade and action game is fast-paced along with a captivating storyline. You, of course, get to play the hero of the tale by saving the Elemental Plains from the rising power of the evil Godbeasts. Monster Blade, apart from being a captivating 3D game also lets you extend the adventure by playing with your friends.  DOWNLOAD HERE Monster Story Another game that almost has an overload of monster cuteness is Monster Story. This casual fun game lets you collect various kinds of adorable monsters and then watch them grow. Monster Story has a magical evolution totem wherein you evolve your creatures pretty much like you did with your Pokemons. The game is online and finds itself pretty much in the genre of games like Farmville wherein you've to invest a certain amount of time before starting to enjoy the actual game. DOWNLOAD HERE Cut the Rope With over 300 million downloads to boast of Cut the Rope is a game that deserves a worthy mention in this list. Little monster Om Nom is hungry and your job is to feed him candy. In doing that, you encounter various types of engaging physics-based puzzles that keep you hooked for hours. And, that's not all. Along the way, you get to collect gold stars, discover hidden puzzles, and unlock new levels thus making the game completely worth your time as well as money. It's definitely the best game on this list.  DOWNLOAD HERE Monster Galaxy A unique monster game on the list is Monster Galaxy. This arcade-style role-playing game derives heavily from Pokemon by allowing you to capture monsters and battle them. Monster Galaxy is set in Zodiac islands wherein the monsters have suddenly gone wild. It is up to you to capture them and make sure that they battle each other out. The game has as many as 125 interesting and cute monsters you can capture along with 14 zodiac-themed islands. There are also levels wherein you get to fight with interesting bosses and defeat the final boss as well. Monster Galaxy is free to play and can also be played on Facebook. Overall, it is a great game if you miss Pokemon a lot. DOWNLOAD HERE

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