TechSource: Best Desktop-Ready Chrome Applications that Work Great on Linux

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Best Desktop-Ready Chrome Applications that Work Great on Linux Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:56 AM PST A few years ago, Google completely took the web by surprise by launching its own browser. The crowd, which was busy transitioning from the outmoded Internet Explorer to the trendy Firefox, initially took little notice of the search giant's endeavor. However, due to its availability across all platforms, and also its blazing fast speed, Google Chrome became a darling of the web user within a few months. This, in turn, pushed Google to bring more features to Chrome thereby sending the partially open-source browser into a spiral of success. There were many reasons for Chrome's amazing success, which even took a giant like Mozilla by surprise. Firstly, it was amazing speed at which the browser performed. Not only did it load pages faster, it also showed a lean memory usage and a clean interface when compared to other competitors. In fact, if you compared the freshly launched Chrome with its competitors, it looked like a Ferrari amidst a bunch of pickup trucks. Secondly, integration with the world's best search engine made it a browser that was hard to miss. Every other IE or Firefox user in those days (and today too) set their homepages to Google so that if they have to find anything quickly, they'll have a search engine at hand. Chrome, however, took this one step further by integrating the search engine into the address bar thus making it a delightful experience for the users. With continual efforts by the search behemoth, Chrome has found itself on almost every other device. A few weeks ago, Google made another innovation to its browser bringing the Google experience to the desktop. It launched a dozen of desktop-compatible applications that work separately making it easier for developers to create 'near-native' applications that are cross-platform. The following is a list of the best applications from that collection: Pixlr Touch Up Not all of us are rich enough to own a copy of Adobe Photoshop to retouch our photos. Neither are we lucky enough to have a professional photo editor at our disposal 24-7. To fill in that need, Autodesk has come up with a new app called Pixlr Touch Up. Not only does the app let you retouch your photos, it also lets you add filters to it, a la Instagram. Furthermore, the app works offline perfectly across all platforms thus making it a perfect photo-editing tool to have at your disposal. DOWNLOAD HERE Pocket Ever come across an interesting web article only to realize that you don't have enough time to read it completely? Meet Pocket. It is a free service that lets you bookmark important links for reading later so that you can work on the things that matter the most. The service is so useful that we had covered it in our earlier article about productivity. At that time, the service was called Read it Later. The new app by Pocket lets you read your list of saved articles online as well as offline. The best part about Pocket is that once you save an article to your list, it gets downloaded automatically for offline access. What's more, you can save videos, songs, and pretty much everything you come across the Internet while surfing. DOWNLOAD HERE Google Keep If you are an Evernote junkie but tired of its slow, platform-restricted interface, you should give Google Keep a try. Google's new note-taking service makes it easier for you to capture notes, make todo lists, set reminders, and do much more. When compared to Evernote, the features are quite lackluster; however, if you are looking for a lightweight service that integrates with Google Now, Keep is your best bet. The application, once installed, works offline on your desktop in its separate little window. It's worth a try.  DOWNLOAD HERE Any.do Any.do is a beautifully designed task management application that works across all major platforms. It has a well-integrated Android app that lets you add pending phone calls as tasks as well. Another big feature in Any.do when it comes to the desktop is that it lets you add emails as tasks so that you won't have to worry about pending replies. The app works offline and opens up in a nice little slim window without taking up much space. If you are someone who takes productivity seriously and are looking for a minimalistic application, Any.do will fit perfectly in your workflow.   DOWNLOAD HERE

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TechSource: Google Nexus 5 vs. Apple iPhone 5s

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Google Nexus 5 vs. Apple iPhone 5s Posted: 05 Feb 2014 01:11 AM PST Nexus 5 is the smartphone every Android fanboy and fangirl is drooling over right now. It is budget friendly, feature loaded, and comes with the latest and greatest version of Android. But, it's not the only phone in the market. In fact, it is competing with a longstanding mobile titan known as the iPhone. Apple's latest incarnation of one of world's most popular smartphone brings a slew of new features to the gradually waning iOS fanbase. Moving away from skeuomorphic design and embracing the latest trend of flat icons, iPhone 5s is a powerful device that is at par with the latest specs of an ideal modern phone. The Nexus 5 on the other hand looks like a modest device but performs like a beast. And, of course, there is the faithfully devoted Android army that touts the Nexus as their dream smartphone. The Nexus line, which evolved from a developer's device to a premium phone, is now a serious threat to iPhone. But, the consumers don't care about the smartphone wars as much as we do. For them, it's a lingering question as to which phone to invest their hard-earned money into given that both devices offer spectacular features. So, if you're confused as to which smartphone to buy, here's a quick comparison between the two giants. Phone Design Nexus 5 is a fabulously designed device that looks no different from any other phone in the market. It comes in two colors: white and black and has a ring-shaped camera that gives the smartphone its unique look. In other words, from a crowd of smartphones, it's probably difficult to single out this device. The iPhone 5s, however, leaves no stones unturned when it comes to design. While the Nexus 5 looks solid and sturdy with a matte finish, the iPhone 5s looks stunningly premium with the new gold and the improved silver look. Its carefully crafted curved edges and the fingerprint-sensing home button give many users their money's worth. That said, we don't mean that the Nexus 5 is poorly designed. It's just that it pales in comparison with the quality of built Apple has been coming up with for so many years. This department is Apple's forte and it will stay like that for a few years to come. Winner: iPhone 5s   Display On the specs front, the Nexus 5 is a solid device. It has a True HD IPS+ capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors. The 5-inch screen makes sure that you get to capture every bit of detail on your screen. This makes it a great device for reading e-books and watching movies as well. With a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, watching videos in HD is a treat on this phone. When compared to iPhone 5s, this smartphone still scores higher despite the Apple's heavily publicized Retina display. The iPhone comes with a LED-backlit IPS display that isn't that bad, but when you look at the recent trends, the 4-incher looks like a box of Tic-tacs when compared to Android-based devices in the market. The small display on iPhone is somewhat of a disappointment, especially when the industry has already moved on to 5-inch and even 6-inch displays. Time to go big, Apple. Winner: Nexus 5 Performance Both Nexus and Apple have done some major rework on their performance. With Android 4.4, you get an OS that is optimized to run on devices like the Galaxy Nexus. The same OS, when running on a Snapdragon 800 processor runs like butter. With optimizations to make KitKat run on devices with 512 MB RAM, you'll find absolutely no lags in performance, even with heavy gaming. The same story goes with iPhone 5s. It's a device that comes with the best of specs with an OS that is designed to run on previous-generation devices too. So, as far as performance is concerned, both are equal in this department. Verdict: Tie Camera Despite being touted as a camera phone, the Nexus 5 majorly lacks in this department. The camera was hugely disappointing; at least as far as iPhone 5s is concerned. The shots were not even close to what the iPhone 5s produced. We're hoping that future versions of Nexus device will fix this issue. But for now, we have a clear winner here. Winner: iPhone 5s Value for Money Yes, this is a big area wherein Apple has always fallen behind. When it comes to providing value for money, Nexus 5 is a killer. At a very low price, it provides the features of a very high-end smartphone. It will take a major shift in strategy for Apple to ever beat Google in this department. Winner: Nexus 5 Extra Features While Samsung overwhelms the user with a boatload of gimmicky features, Nexus makes sure that users get what they want: a properly working smartphone. Thus, you won't see any special features being added to the Nexus 5. On the other hand, the iPhone announced a big feature this time, and that was the fingerprint sensor. This feature enabled users to unlock their phones using their fingerprints. While the privacy concerns are a topic that we can discuss some other day, it is still a feature that makes things easy for many users. Winner: iPhone 5s OS and Features While Apple introduced iOS7, Android revolutionized its open-source operating system with the introduction of KitKat. iOS7 focuses more on an aesthetic redesign more than anything else. KitKat on the other hand makes Google the backbone of your smartphone experience. Search is everywhere, and so is Google Now. Also, there have been many changes with the caller ID and the SMS app. In other words, Android 4.4 is the perfect example of what a sweet blend of hardware and software can do. While iOS users have been boasting about their hardware-software blend for years, Android users who were once green with envy will now be filled with pride and joy once they use KitKat. Android 4.4, thus, can proudly claim that it has become a premium operating system not just for project developers to tinker with. On the features front, you have print and QuickOffice on your smartphone. This feature is often overlooked, but can appeal to a large number of office-goers who prefer working on their smartphone or tablet computer. Winner: Nexus 5 Conclusion Nexus devices don't have the same craze as iPhones do. You won't find people lining up to buy the latest Nexus smartphone. These phones are announced pretty modestly, but as soon as they get into the public eye, a slew of Android fans scamper to get their hands on the device. The craze of Nexus phone is probably at its peak right now. Time and again, despite facing heavy competition, not just from Apple, but from Samsung as well, Google has proved that it can come up with a solid device at a very low price. Apple, on the other hand, probably doesn't even consider Nexus devices a threat. At least, not as big a threat as Samsung. That's why, the iPhone 5c was released to tackle the small-scale markets that Samsung is hoarding. The iPhone 5s, on the other hand, continues the iPhone legacy of the best blend of hardware and software. When compared to the bloated Samsung phones, the iPhone 5s might stand a chance, but when competing against the mighty Nexus 5, Apple has to work a lot harder. Overall Winner: Nexus 5 Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Best Firefox Add-ons for Social Media Junkies

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Best Firefox Add-ons for Social Media Junkies Posted: 29 Jan 2014 05:35 PM PST If social media is something you swear by everyday, you have to make sure that your browser is packed with add-ons that help you stay connected. Be it Twitter, Facebook, or any other social network, adding a few add-ons to Firefox will make your work easier as a social media junkie. That's why we have for you some of the best Firefox add-ons that will help you make your social media addiction a tad easier to deal with: HootSuite Hootlet HootSuite is the lifeline of many social media pros. Not only does the service allow you to share to multiple social networks at the same time, it also lets you schedule your posts. One of the best ways to make the most out of HootSuite is by installing the Hootlet. The Hootlet, once installed, enables you to share any page without leaving the current tab. Right from the same page, you can choose which networks you'll share the page with and when the post will be published. Another great companion add-on for HootSuite lovers is the Hootbar, which allows you to tweet from the address bar.  Buffer Buffer is one of the best applications as far as social media management is concerned. We have so many profiles, be it Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr, and it's often so hard to post to each and every network at the same time. Also, we come across so many new stuff that it is difficult to share all of it at once. Buffer is a popular service that solves that problem by letting you "buffer" your social media posts to be automatically posted later to all of your social media networks. This not only saves you a lot of time, it also avoids making you look like a social spammer. It's definitely worth trying out.  Facebook Photo Zoom Facebook Photo Zoom is one of the most useful add-ons for Facebook fans. If you use Facebook a lot, you must know how annoying it is to click on each and every pic to zoom it and see it. The add-on automatically zooms an image every time you hover it. Simply place your mouse over a pic you spot on your newsfeed, it will automatically zoom. Once you leave the mouse, it will go away. Twitter Address Bar Search This official application by Twitter lets you integrate the social media site with Firefox. Once installed, you can search for people directly from your address bar. Furthermore, if you pin the Twitter tab on your tab bar, the Twitter icon will glow every time you receive new tweets. The integration is pretty straightforward and simple and it's a great way for a Twitter addict to use the site without bloating the browser with unnecessary add-ons.  Yoono Sidebar Yoono is a great Firefox sidebar for all IM as well as social media needs. Integrating perfectly with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Yammer, AIM, and Yahoo IM, Yonoo lets you easily share links, images, and videos right from the page you're on. If you want to see the latest updates on your social media feeds, simply open the sidebar and you'll have all the information at your fingertips. Though a little old and clunky, Yonoo is a great choice if you want a fully integrated solution for all your social media needs. Facebook Messenger for Firefox Facebook Messenger for Firefox is the most perfect application for Facebook addicts. Not only does the blend of Firefox and Facebook work seamlessly, it also helps you get rid of your constant nagging habit of checking Facebook to see if there's any new notification. With support for notifications built into your browser, you won't have to worry about the latest things happening on your newsfeed. Just install the app and relax, as Facebook becomes a part of your browsing experience. Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: 7 Things We Expect from Ubuntu in 2014

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7 Things We Expect from Ubuntu in 2014 Posted: 27 Jan 2014 07:21 PM PST 2013 was a milestone year for Canonical. Not only did Ubuntu expand its wings to other arenas like tablets and smartphones, it also propelled itself into the world of gaming. With major milestones like Steam, Ubuntu Edge, and Ubuntu Touch under its belt, Ubuntu has its eyes set on convergence in 2014. That said, you won't get to see a convergent desktop this year. 2014 is just a setting stage for Shuttleworth's ambitious plans to spread the reach of Ubuntu to every device. Since 2013 for Ubuntu was a roller coaster ride, this year, we expect much more from Canonical. End users, system administrators, and even programmers, have different expectations from the world's favorite open-source desktop. And yes, there is no doubt that Canonical is working very hard to get there. As the year begins, we too have our own expectations from Ubuntu in 2014. As demanding as we may seem, here's a list of a few of our expectations. New Icons Set A whole new icon set is something Ubuntu users have been waiting for for years. The old icon set has been around for quite a while now and frankly, many users have gotten rather bored of it. We expect Canonical to match the desktop to the same rigorous design standards that Ubuntu Touch keeps. Also, keeping in line with the latest flat trends would be a great thing. Everyone from Twitter to Apple is making sure they follow the trendy flat design, which will be around at least for the next 5 years. Finally, the icon set should be congruent with the design of Ubuntu on other devices. Having different icons on different devices is definitely a no-go. A Little UI Overhaul Ubuntu 13.10 disappointed many users for its lack of novelty. As much as we love the hardworking Canonical team, we have to say the release left a lot to be desired. Apart from the wallpaper set and a few changes here and there, aesthetics for the salamander weren't as saucy as we'd expected. Even if Canonical focuses on stability and performance in 14.04, we'd like some eye-candy, at least to satisfy the novelty-seeking inner child in us. So, Mark Shuttleworth, if you're reading this article, please make sure you include a new theme and a default wallpaper that isn't just a color inversion of the older one. Improved Ubuntu Software Center Though the Software Center in its current incarnation is fast and satisfying, we believe that there's still more work that can be put into the application. After all, with the blooming mobile craze, the App Center has become one of the most important parts of the operating system. Currently, upon opening the software center, all the users see are applications that are geared towards developers and enthusiasts. The front page needs a little revamp to showcase the best of USC. More Developer Friendly We expect that 2014 will be year wherein developers would have it easier when it comes to publishing their applications. The approval process is in dire need of a speed up so that maximum developers can get benefit from it. Furthermore, Canonical also can actively encourage users from the community to develop more apps by giving them incentives through developer contests. An E-book reader app Yep, you heard that right. We want Canonical to include an e-book reader app in the desktop OS. Ubuntu, as of now, lacks a decent e-book reader. While Calibre is there, it's not as good as we hope it would be. An e-book reader app is definitely a good investment if Ubuntu has to gain some traction in the tablet department. Accurate Smart Scopes The new Smart Scopes service is good. However, it isn't up to the mark and sometimes throws the wrong results. We're hoping Canonical puts some energy into improving this service. There's a lot in the service that needs tweaking till it becomes a powerful feature users can rely on. A Better Boot Experience Though Ubuntu boots quite fast, there's one nagging thing about it that irks many users. Firstly, for people who dual boot, the GRUB menu is a bit old school. Many developers have made some impressive mock ups about a better boot experience with icons denoting specific operating systems. Also a new boot logo would be a great addition to get a complete overhaul for the experience.

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TechSource: How to Give your Android Smartphone the iOS 7 Look

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How to Give your Android Smartphone the iOS 7 Look Posted: 25 Jan 2014 08:23 AM PST iOS7 was a huge release for Apple. It strongly adheres to the late Steve Jobs' minimalist principles of design and borrows heavily from the modern trends in user interfaces. With Jony Ive at the helm, iOS 7 brings a refreshing change to the outmoded skeuomorphic design. No longer would you see any shiny buttons, heavily rounded corners, or gaudy gradients. The design is flat, minimalistic, and uses basic colors. Of course, iOS 7 isn't perfect, but when compared to Android, it is a force to reckon with. On first glance, it looks gorgeous and works pretty much as you'd expect it to. In fact, many Android fans --including me -- who weren't impressed by iOS before are starting to develop a liking for the latest iteration of the mobile phone OS. For people in this category, owning an Android smartphone is enough to get a taste of the mobile OS. As Android allows limitless customization, bringing the iOS 7 look to the droid world is easy. The following are some simple ways in customizing the Android user interface and make it look like iOS 7: iOS Apex/Nova Theme To set the foundation right, you'll need to install a launcher that will help completely transform the look of your Android phone into iOS 7. Once installed, this theme will give your phone the complete iOS 7 look. It is compatible with most launchers out there; however we'd suggest you stick with Nova or Apex as they are more stable. The theme has as many as 1,800 icons that have been tailored to give you the iOS experience. Once you install this theme, you'll have pretty much all the basic UI elements of the latest iOS version.  DOWNLOAD HERE To polish things and take customization even further, the following apps will come in handy: iPhone Keyboard The keyboard is one of the most frequently used applications on your phone. That's why theming the keyboard to match iOS 7 is extremely important. This app helps you get that greyish-white keyboard on Android.  DOWNLOAD HERE Galaxy iOS 7 Parallax Live WP One of the most popular additions to the iOS update is the parallax wallpaper. The effect gives a spacey 3D-ish feel when moving around your phone. If you fancy it and want it on your droid to complete the iOS7 experience, then simply install it on your Android as a live wallpaper.  DOWNLOAD HERE iOS 7 Lockscreen Parallax HD To make sure all elements fit in, install this lockscreen replacement that even lets you set a wallpaper. Furthermore, you can also enjoy the parallax effect that many iOS 7 fanboys and fangirls swear by. DOWNLOAD HERE iOS 7 Calculator To take things to the very extreme, making the calculator look like it was made by Apple isn't a bad idea. After all, everything should fit perfectly. This app by Touchwood gives you the calculator that is featured in iOS 7. Even if you are not someone who wants to get the iOS 7 look, we highly recommend you check that app out because it's gorgeous.   DOWNLOAD HERE Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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