Use Dropbox on iPhone or iPad, Get 3GB extra space for free

By 1 Comment

Dropbox today announced the release of its latest version of its iOS app. The new version comes with “camera upload feature” which lets you stores all the photos and videos taken by your iPhone or iPad to a Camera Uploads folder automatically. The best thing is that it stores all the photos and videos at its original quality.

Once the “camera upload feature” is selected, it give you the option whether or not you want existing photos and videos to be uploaded as well. The configuration options let you choose whether you want to enable the upload on all connection (i.e. even on your data plan) or WiFi only (advisable). Suggestible is to choose WiFi only as it will not eat a big chunk of your data plan and will upload the photos only when your iPhone or iPad connects to a WiFi network.

3 GB of extra space:

Similar to what Dropbox offered for its Android app, if you use the camera upload feature of the Dropbox app, you can get upto 3 GB of extra space on the top of what you already have. This extra space comes in the segments of 500 MB. Which means with your first photo/video upload you will get 500 MB of extra space. When you have used this 500 MB of space with camera uploads, you will get another 500 MB and so on up to 3GB. Obviously, 3 GB offer is nothing compared to Box.com’s offer of 50GB of free space for using its Android app but then Box is no Dropbox either.

Download the latest Dropbox app for I-OS from iTunes App Store now!

If you are an iPhone or iPad user, don’t miss this chance to get the extra space for free. Cheers :)

20 Must Have Applications for Your Mobile Device

By Leave a Comment

The variety of apps coming out these days for mobile devices like Android phones, IPhones and smart phones in general is nearly mind boggling. Sometimes it almost seems as if there is an app for nearly everything you could possibly need to do under the sun and sky. Al though you probably won’t find an app that cleans your house or walks your dog any time soon, (at least not until Android phones can turn into real androids) there are plenty of excellent must have apps your mobile device could probably use. Install these and you’ll make your mobile experience and life easier, more entertaining and more useful in all sorts of ways. Some of the apps below are for all kinds of mobiles, others for Android or iPhone devices. Check which ones apply to you and keep in mind that if an app is available for any one model, it might soon also be available for many more; the market is growing all the time!

Navigation

Google Maps Mobile (free):

Never carry a map with you anywhere you go from now on with Google Maps for Mobile devices. This handy little application hardly needs much introducing. It’s basically the same ever useful Google maps online system plugged directly into your mobile phone, helping you make sure you’re never lost or lacking for directions on how to reach point A, B C, or your nearest decent bar & grill.

The Google Maps mobile app also includes features for finding places, compass navigation, indoor maps and even offline navigation if you’ve cached your location data for certain areas.

MapQuest 4 Mobile (free):

The MapQuest 4 Mobile app is free for download and incredibly useful as a GPS navigation tool. You can spend a wad of money on a state of the art navigation system for your car, or you could simply download this MapQuest app without forking over a penny. Get access to turn by turn instructions, spoken driving directions and rerouting advice for those occasions in which you miss a turn or take the wrong road. MapQuest 4 Mobile is great for either driving or walking. Like Google maps, it also has a location finder that will tell you where the nearest cafes, bars, hotels and other venues are.

Social Networking

Facebook Mobile (free):

It seems that almost everyone around these days has a Facebook page. It’s understandable, the instant communications, photo and information sharing abilities it gives you are always handy. With the Facebook mobile app, which you can download from Facebook’s homepage, you can stay in contact with all your friends and coworkers just about anywhere, at any time.

Twitter Mobile (Free):

Like Facebook, Twitter has become nearly ubiquitous as a social networking tool for everyone from teenagers to Major corporate executives and Political figures. The quote and link sharing site that allows you to spill your random thoughts a thousand times a day to your list of followers is the perfect networking tool for mobile phones.

Music

Shazam App (free, with premium version):

Ever had a song you like come up on the radio and wanted to know its name? The Shazam app lets you simply bring your phone close to the music, and it will immediately tell you the song’s name, artist’s name and even feed you streaming lyrics as the song plays. The premium app, called Encore, also gives you music recommendations, handing over the names of tracks similar to the stuff you already like.

Grooveshark Mobile (free with premium version):

The Grooveshark mobile app lets you play all your favorite music in streaming audio format on a continuous basis from your mobile phone. The internal search feature can help you browse through thousands of songs and artists without hassle and the app’s file organization system lets you make as many playlists as you want. Grooveshark Mobile also has built in radio stations for random music listening.

Entertainment and Fun

Angry Birds (free):

Fire your angry birds at dozens of pigs all day with the angry birds game on your mobile phone. Angry birds, the sensationally popular iPhone-based strategy puzzle game, is now also free for download to other smart phone platforms.

Tracking Your Finances

Mint Personal Finance App (free):

It seems that nothing beats the Mint.com personal finance app for simplicity, usefulness and total reliability. This little app is becoming very popular and rightfully so. Its clean, easy to use features let you track almost all the imaginable details of your financial life and organize them into interactive visual graphics and categories for easy understanding and dollar planning, all stored in one single interface.

E*trade Mobile Pro (free):

E*trade has become recognized and indispensable to investors everywhere for its online investing platforms. Now, they’ve brought this same technology to your mobile device and packed it with more features than could be easily listed here… Either way, some of the E*trade mobile app’s key tools let you track the market and all your investments, while also letting you buy or sell stocks directly from your mobile phone.

XE Currency App (free):

This neat little app from the currency trading people at XE.com is about as useful as something gets for those travelling occasions in which you want to change from one international currency to another and have no idea what the current rates are. With the XE currency App, you can track and calculate exchange rates live from nearly anywhere.

Keeping up with the News

Reeder (free):

This app from the folks at Apple gives your iPhone a sleek new Google Reader based RSS app. Take a few minutes to format the Reeder app for all your favorite news or commentary sites, and you’ll see just how fast and navigable the news feed that flows into your phone is.

Pulse (Free):

An Android based news feed that arranges all the latest that’s happening in the world into an easy to navigate series of miniature image tiles, Pulse is best used for a low quantity of RSS feeds and works great for those who don’t want to deal with information overload but do have a few key sites whose feeds they’d like to keep up with.

Google Reader (free):

Google Reader has been around for a while, but only in web form. Now, however, it’s finally available as a mobile app. Google Reader is a simple, no frills or flash solution to getting the news feeds you want.

Video and Photo Fun

Instagram (free):

Recently bought by Facebook for $1 billion dollars in cash and stock, the Instagram app grew from 0 to more than 30 million users in just a couple years, and with good reason. It’s simple, has a cool feature and its completely free. Just take whatever photos you want with your phone, use Instagram’s filtering system to change the picture’s look and color, and then send it off to your friends through Facebook, twitter or another social network.

Staying Productive

Evernote (free with premium upgrade option):

This unbeatable note taking and agenda making app is available for all your wireless devices. It lets you take photo, text and audio notes, clip pieces of web pages for later storage and do text searches within photos and images. Best of all, you can store these personal notes remotely and synchronize them across multiple devices for constant up-to-the-minute recorded organization of your thoughts, ideas and personal or business notes. A premium version is also available if you want greater upload capacity, better sharing options and improved search features.

Dropbox (Free with several premium upgrades):

The remote data storage platform Dropbox is available for several different smart phone models, and can be a lifesaver when it comes to protecting your data. The basic free version allows you up to 2 gigabytes of storage and an additional 500 megabytes per referral you make to the site. Upgrades are available for up to terabytes of storage space. The great thing about Dropbox is that it lets you store your files, documents, photos, etc for viewing and use anywhere while also letting you share them with whomever you like quickly and easily. It even has offline viewing options available with a special “favorites” folder.

Mobile Security

Prey (Free, open source with premium version):

Prey is an ideal open source solution for protecting your phone, tablet or computer. This ingenious little app can be installed invisibly, easily and without taking up much space. After that it does nothing but wait until the moment you most need it – when your phone is stolen. That’s when it works its magic. With a simple internet or text message remote activation code, you can suddenly track your phones activity, location, hardware status and other data. Best of all, you can also remotely trigger your phone into locking up, sending messages to a thief and causing all sorts of trouble.

McAfee Mobile Security (free, with premium version):

This tough little security app is designed to protect your phone against intrusions, viruses and spyware. It also offers unlimited cloud backup storage of data and a notification feature that sends a message to a friend you choose in advance if your SIM card is replaced.

Random Extras

Spool (free):

This handy little app lets you save videos and web pages that you’ve opened up for later viewing on your smart phone while offline. It’s a pretty handy and entertaining app feature for those occasions when you know you’ll soon be traveling through a connectivity dark zone for a while.

Swackett (free):

The Swackett app covers one of those situations people have been dealing with since clothes and going out were invented – how to dress for the weather. Swackett gives you up-to-date weather forecasts and, most important of all, tells you how you should dress with a cool little human body visual called a “peep”.

About the Author: when he is not writing about the best in class business TV, internet, and phone bundles, Steven Taylor is immersed in the blogosphere covering topics ranging from mobile devices to social media.

3 Useful Personal Finance Apps

By Leave a Comment

If you do not know what an app is, then you have been living under a rock. An app is a smartphone application that can be used on your cell phone. There are thousands upon thousands of apps out there, for every need you have probably ever had. Apps range from games to driving direction providers to streaming videos and everything in between. There is literally an app for everything, and the same goes for personal finance. If you have trouble keeping or organizing a budget, there is an app for that. If you forget when you should pay your bills and how much you should pay, there is an app for that. If you have trouble calculating or keeping track of your taxes and tax records, well…there is an app for that! I think you get the idea, so here are 3 of the most useful personal finance apps on the market.

1. Keeping your money in “Mint” condition

Mint, an internet finance company, has created, by far, the most popular personal finance apps on the market. Currently, Mint has more than 7 million customers, thanks to their apps. The best thing is that the app is completely free to use. The app offers an all-inclusive examination of a person’s finances. You can track your spending categories in certain categories, and allows the user to design their own budget and see how well they are doing at following it. The app tracks all of your transactions via your checking and savings account, as well as any investments you may have.

2. Biting into PearBudget

PearBudget is another popular app on the market, although nowhere near as popular as the Mint app. PearBudget starts out as a free app, but then requires a $4.95 a month charge after a trial period. Essentially, PearBudget is identical to the Mint app, but with a few tweaks. For one thing, PearBudget tracks your transaction trends and expenses like Mint, but also exports that information to your personal computer so you have a hard copy that can be translated via Microsoft Excel. PearBudget also has an external website that can be accessed via a personal computer, and thus can expedite the sometimes lengthy- especially on a cell phone- sign-up process.

3. Keeping it simple with BudgetSimple

The BudgetSimple app is another completely free cell phone app. The stated goal of the company is to provide a simple spreadsheet budget application, which aims to help someone spend less than they bring in every month. Like the name of the app suggests, they are keeping it simple. The key to BudgetSimple is the plethora of graphs they give the user, which track all expenses in almost everyway you can think of. The app is like an automatically updated Excel spreadsheet. All you have to do is spend money and enter your desired budget and provide your bank information. The app does the rest of it for you.

About Author: Rob is working on masters in accounting online and does a lot with non-profits and his family on his weekends. 

How to Automatically Back Up All Camera Photos

By Leave a Comment

Digital cameras, especially today’s camera phones, are convenient for snapping lots of pics. The only downside to using digital cameras is that it’s all too easy to let those photos pile up inside your phone without ever seeing the light of day. When that phone eventually goes missing, you can say goodbye to all those memorable moments.

Finally, there is a way to automatically back up all camera photos. You don’t even need cords or access to your computer to back up your camera photos online and on your computer. There are two mobile storage apps available now that provide instant, automatic backups every time you snap a picture.

1. Dropbox Mobile

The Dropbox mobile app can use your phone’s WiFi or data plan to store all camera shots online. No cords, no lost photos. The cool thing about this solution is that Dropbox gives all new users 2 GB of free storage space for as long as they want it. You can sign up for an account at Dropbox today and never have to pay a thing unless you choose to upgrade.

Best of all, Dropbox is currently giving away extra free space to people that try the mobile phone app for uploading photos. The first photo that you upload with the automatic upload feature will get you an extra 500 MB of storage space. Upload more photos after that and you can get up to 3 GB of extra space.

Note: Dropbox also has a new feature that works with regular digital cameras. If you have the latest version of the Dropbox desktop app, you can set it up to automatically back up photos from your digital camera. All you have to do is plug your camera into your computer and Dropbox will automatically retrieve all photos and store them in your sync folder for online and offline storage.

Here’s how you can get started:

1. Get a free Dropbox account

Visit www.Dropbox.com and sign up for a free account. You will not be asked to supply your payment information.

2. Download the Dropbox mobile app

Dropbox has mobile apps for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry. Visit your phone’s app store and search for “Dropbox.” The official download will be the first result and it is free to install. Click the download/install button and follow the instructions on the screen to get Dropbox on your mobile device.

3. Turn on the “Camera Upload” feature

Run the Dropbox app on your phone and sign in to your existing account.

Press the menu button and then choose “settings.” In the settings area, there is an option to turn on the Camera Upload feature. When you click that button, you will be taken to a secondary options menu in which you can turn on automatic camera uploads.

4. Take pictures

Every picture that you take will now be automatically uploaded to your personal Dropbox account. If you have the Dropbox software installed on your desktop, those photos will also be transferred to your local Dropbox folder.

2. SugarSync Mobile

SugarSync also has a mobile app that can be used for automatic camera backups. This mobile app is even more impressive than the Dropbox app thanks to its long list of features and supported devices. Just like the Dropbox mobile app, SugarSync will automatically back up all photos and store them online. From there, those photos will also be synced to your home computer.

SugarSync has a free account that you can use to try both the desktop and mobile versions. New users get 5 GB of storage space and no payment information is necessary.

Here’s how you can get started with SugarSync:

1. Get a free SugarSync account

Visit www.SugarSync.com and click on the big “download now” button. After the download is complete, run the installation program and follow the instruction on the screen to get started with your free account. You can also sign up for a paid account if you wish.

2. Download SugarSync onto your mobile device

Android and iPhone users can visit their app stores and search for “SugarSync” to get the appropriate app. Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian users can visit the SugarSync website to download the apps manually.

3. Turn on automatic camera uploads

Now that you have the app installed, run it and press the menu button, then click on “actions.” Go to “settings” then “AutoSync Photos” then choose the “On” option. Every photo you take from now on will be automatically uploaded to your SugarSync account.

Author Bio: Sara Richardson is a tech blogger and contributes to a variety of tech related websites. She is currently working with a file storage site that provides storage reviews, news and tips.

The best way to spy on your employees without their knowledge

By

You’re one of those prospective employers, suddenly spending sleepless nights on returns on investments? As an employer, you’re mightily concerned over employee resentment against the management? You’re again one of those employers, who have a sixth sense that certain employees seem to be bad mouthing or bringing you down? As an overly concerned employer, you have this hunch that one of your employees seem to be making hand over fist? In general, one and many employers would be primarily concerned over his sagging business fortunes and well-being of employees. However, in this scenario, an employer would be confronted with the uncanny prospect of spying over his employees without their knowledge.

Well, how on earth would this uncanny spy-related phenomenon take place?

This can take place in the form of unique cell phone spy software known as the “Mobile Spy.”

History about Mobile Spy cell phone software application?

The Mobile Spy application is an offering from the acclaimed Mobistealth group. Despite being a relatively new entrant in the market, the Mobile Spy software seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. In a span of 2 years, Mobile Spy software seems to have attained astronomical sales figures, garnered positive reviews and have silenced a majority of critics.

What is a Mobile Spy cell phone software spy application?

It is basically a multilingual software product in the numerical sense, as it involves tracking of data and traces f information around various interconnected cell phones. The objective of this Mobile Spy application is to enable the licensed user or employer to gain access to first hand discreet information about suspect employees or intended targets.

What’s the cost of a Mobile Spy software application?

Well, Mobile Spy software retails for a minimum and measly bargain, starting from $39 for a 3-month period to an affordable $150 annual package. Of course, features would differ, nevertheless, with respect to basic and top Mobile Spy software versions.

How would Mobile Spy software benefit an overly concerned employer?

In general, volume and profitability of business would be highly subject to a substantial contribution from respective employees. Employees, as part of the marketing & advertising sector, would be known to develop and acquire new business by engaging and meeting new clients, for that matter. In extreme scenarios, certain workers would resort to underhand activity like unwarranted trade deals, undisclosed financial benefits, seeking of new employment, etc. In certain cases, a couple of employees could also be plotting to disrupt their own employer’s business, with the help of outside aid.

Further possible benefits of Mobile Spy software to a concerned employer?

The honesty and integrity of an employee are also questioned at the same time. Absenteeism and truancy of certain employees are also brought to light. The Mobile Spy software also acts as a great information tool for the management. Resentment, displeasure, idleness at workplace, scandalous behavior and under performance of workers would further be highlighted. The sole objective behind spying of an employee by an employer would be to keep track of one and many employee activities in general.

How compatible are Mobile Spy software applications?

Well, Mobile Spy software works on most Android, Symbian, Windows, Blackberry & iPhones in general.

What would be the nature of Mobile Spy software in general?

To begin with, even the basic enterprise application would be equipped with more than satisfactory features. On procurement or purchase of one, installation and uploading of relevant data happen in a jiffy. The user or licensed holder is then allotted a personal account on the web for further access. Being discreet in operation, it does not give the intended target the slightest hint about their monitored activities. Usually, Mobile Spy cell phone spy applications work amicably in the background of the target’s phone. They further do not disrupt any normal functioning of the employee’s phone, thereby putting to rest any doubts that may arise on behalf of the employee. Mobile Spy software is more of a web based driven applications, therefore, minimizing on additional billing issues.

Unique features of the Mobile Spy software?

  • Retrieval of SMS, call history and unnecessary browsing content by employees.
  • True to its versatility aspect, it would provide an employer a unique experience of being able to review concerned information from any corner of the globe.
  • Discreet by nature, it provides an employer the added comfort of all spying activity, going virtually unchallenged or invisible.
  • It could benefit or rather save a prospective employer from any possible monetary losses in the unfortunate event of misappropriation by a targeted employee.
  • It dispels the need for external professional security, thereby cutting down unnecessary additional expenditure.
  • Due to its unique GPS facility, it thereby tracks the position and location of the intended target.
  • Affordability would be further exemplified by the monitoring of 3 separate devices on purchase of a solitary Mobile Spy license.
  • With respect to legal issues, there would be little or no room for complacency or doubt for an employer to file libel suits against scrupulous targets.
  • Mobile Spy software application also discriminate actual usage, as compared to misappropriated cell phone usage of employees.

How to Make a Hit Mobile Gaming App

By Leave a Comment

With the news that the latest incarnation of Angry Birds – Angry Birds Space – has hit 10 million downloads within just three days of being released, we’ve been thinking: what’s the dead-cert formula for making an ultra-popular mobile gaming app to blow everything else out of the water? Games are the most popular downloaded apps by quite some distance. If, as a developer, you can successfully crack the art of mobile gaming, you’ll be in the money. Here are our hints on how to put together an unstoppable multi-platform mobile game – and as you can see, Angry Birds aces them all. If only we could code, we’d be rolling in it.

1. Short, snappy stages (Angry Birds, Cloudy, Air Control):

This one’s pretty obvious, but with mobile apps, most gamers are going to be using them at bus stops, on breaks at work, or waiting for the second part of Coronation Street to start – keeping your stages short and fast-paced is what it’s all about. If you’re good, no matter how often people sit down thinking they’re just going to play your game for a couple of minutes, you’ll still end up grabbing them for hours.

2. Appeal to the ‘I can do this!’ mentality (Angry Birds, Red Stone, Bejewelled):

Puzzle games will never go out of fashion, particularly when it comes to mobile gaming. We’ve all done it – spent three hours playing the same level again and again, thinking every next turn is going to be the last. The ‘I can do this!’ (or even ‘I will do this!’ for the overconfident) mentality is probably solely responsible for thousands of hours wasted on games. Build a puzzle element into your game and appeal to our inner egotists.

3. Cute, potentially angry animals (Angry Birds, Cat Physics, Bouncy Mouse):

Even those of us who manage to keep ourselves together in front of pet shop windows can’t resist the appeal of mobile games that include cute animals and characters. Maybe it’s the humorous contrast between their large, fluttering eyes and the abhorrent violence you’re about to make them undertake, but I like to think there’s an animal-lover in us all, and it’s in charge of your app downloads.

4. Keep it simple (Angry Birds, Cloudy):

With quad-core handsets set to take the world by storm in 2012, it’s no big surprise that there are plenty of heavy 3D games out there in the iPhone App Store and Google Play. That said, the games with the biggest download rates will always be the ones that everyone can play. Whether you’re on a quad-core Samsung Galaxy S3 or a 600MHz Galaxy Ace, making a game that can play on pretty much any smartphone with no lag is your key to becoming a gaming god.

So what you waiting for? Stop playing other people’s games and start developing your own!

About Author: This post was provided by Simon from Best Mobile Contracts, the UK’s leading mobile phone comparison website. 

Top 10 Healthcare I-Phone Apps

By 1 Comment

Thanks to the thousands of apps available in the iTunes market, your iPhone or iPad can be easily transformed into an encyclopedia of health and medical information. It can become a powerful reference tool with the right apps. Here are our picks for some of the best healthcare apps to give you the best tools and information available: [Read more…]

Get 3GB of free extra space on Dropbox

By 5 Comments

Its raining free online storage for Android users. Few days back Box.com announced 50 GB of free space just for using its Android app. Now Dropbox has followed the suite and announced upto 3 GB of extra space just for using its Camera Upload feature in its to put the photos and videos taken on your phone instantly to Dropbox. [Read more…]

How to fix: Android Samsung Galaxy S2 not recognized on Linux

By 51 Comments

Problem:

I was facing problems connecting my Samsung Galaxy S2 on Ubuntu, which is particularly annoying bearing in mind the total lack of support by Samsung for Linux (even Kies is of no use). Strange enough, it works flawlessly on Windows 7, where it recognises it instantly and I can transfer files between my phone and computer.
When I plug it into my Linux machine, it is recognised and I can see the contents of the root of /sdcard and the SD card but I cannot access the contents of any file or folder as all the folders are empty.
When I connect my phone to USB there is no “mount USB” option but just MTP application in the home screen. [Read more…]