The Inside Story of Flipboard, the App That Makes Digital Content Look Magazine Glossy

While some social media apps focus on a single service like Facebook or Twitter, Flipboard makes it easy to keep up to date on many service, from those two to Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tumblr, too. Unlike standard social media apps that just mimic timelines, Flipboard transforms timelines into lushly illustrated magazine-style pages, making reading updates and tweets more interesting and appealing than other apps. With its style and wide range of features, it's a top pick.

Read more here

The critique of  Flipboard is it is not discovered by a new generation of readers. Also, it is not monetizing that content at levels that are more comparable to print and making it look beautiful for today's devices

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Tumblr and Vine, Together at Last

Tumblr and Vine are among the most popular social media platforms that are used on mobile phones. Tumblr, the app that is Yahoo-owned and Vine, the app that Twitter-owned are finally getting together. Based on a tweet from the Tumblr official page on Twitter, these two apps are going to be working hand in hand. Previously, users could not embed a video from Vine into their blog, although there were other ways of getting the Vine video onto the blog, such as converting the Vine video into a GIF or embedding a tweet that contains the video. With the two apps now working together, users can embed Vines into their Tumblr posts just by copying the URL of the Vine video into the post box.

Full article at http://newmediarockstars.com/2014/07/tumblr-and-vine-together-at-last/ 

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LinkedIn: What do you need to know before a meeting?

LinkedIn wants to become a bigger part of its users lives by reminding them of networking details they ought to know, so they don’t have to bother remembering them.

Have you ever gone to a meeting unprepared? 

Yesterday, the company released a new app that helps you keep track of what's going on in the professional lives of the people you're connected with. You know its important; but doing it right takes a lot of effort. LinkedIn's goal is to make it all easier.

When you open LinkedIn's Connected app, you'll be greeted with a list of the most important updates in your network.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/07/10/linkedin-connected-app-predictive/

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Is Tinder Being Used to Advertise Prostitution?

Tinder is a mobile dating application that people, most commonly singles use to find a match for themselves. It shows the user all the single people(who have the app on their phone) in a given area. If the user likes the person then the user can swipe right and if they don't, the user can swipe right and if there is a match, the two people can start chatting. However, some people have more than chatting on their minds and use this app for other purposes. Certain profiles have pictures of attractive women and are followed by explicit ads that are offering sex. As quoted by the state senator Jacob Candelaria, "It provides a certain degree of anonymity for people who are trying to break the law and exploit others".

Source : http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3500282.shtml#.U8LgbfldW6M 

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WeChat Is Being Trialled To Make Hospitals More Efficient In China

The hospital system in China is in desperate need for repair. The WeChat app is being used to capture efficiency gains in the hospitals. The WeChat public account allows patients to communicate with the doctors and get news and updates from the hospital. There is a hospital in China that allows patients to pay for medicine and the registration fee through WeChat which makes it so much more easier for both the patients and the hospital. In this trial, WeChat QR codes were posted around the hospital to connect people to the public account. This service also allows patients to find out about specialist doctors and make appointments. 

View full article at :http://www.forbes.com/sites/jlim/2014/06/16/wechat-is-being-trialed-to-make-hospitals-more-efficient-in-china/ 

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Viber: Why You Must Have It Now On Your Smartphone

Viber is a very direct and simple application for calling and messaging both domestically and internationally for free. It is a mobile app that can be downloaded for free onto phones. Besides being able to make free phone calls, this app allows people to send videos and pictures to one another. There are also many emoticons and stickers that can make the text conversations more lively and fun. Furthermore, this app allows for group conversations for up to a hundred people. This app notifies the user whenever a contact of the user has installed Viber onto their phone.

Source: http://thefusejoplin.com/2014/07/viber-free-download-smartphone/

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Vine's New Loop Count

Vine is a short-form video sharing service. Founded in June 2012, it was acquired by micro-blogging  website Twitter in October 2012, just prior to its official launch. Vine officially launched on January 24, 2013, as a free app for iOS devices. On June 2, 2013, an Android version was released.

Advertisers quickly caught on. Vine celebrities cashed in on opportunities to share sponsored videos or started to make comedy Vines for corporate accounts. But Vine only tracked likes and comments both required to log in to the app to do. Then, on Tuesday, Vine introduced “loop counts.” Loop counts track how many times a user has watched the video — taking into account, smartly, the many times a user might sit and watch it in a row. Now advertisers can check their statistics in a much more accurate manner. It gives advertisers a sense of its reach to users.

"6 seconds is the new advertising."

Just seeing the video can make an impression that helps the brand, said Nicholas Megalis, who has made sponsored Vines for companies and has a whopping 4.3 million followers on Vine.

Tracking loops will show advertisers as well as the public that a Vine’s virality has value. That move could help cement Vine as a place brands come to reach young audiences with measurable results — which is always music to advertisers’ ears.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2014/07/01/vines-new-loop-count-is-perfect-for-advertisers/

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A messaging app from India: HIKE

Hike messenger is a cross-platform instant messaging mobile application. Apart from text messages, hike users can exchange stickers, video & audio media messages, documents (all type of documents supported), as well as send free SMS to users in India who don't have hike installed. Some of these features are unavailable for WhatsApp users.

The mobile chat space is increasingly crowded, but India is pushing hard to expand its international footprint as it announced language support for Spanish, French, Russian, and Portuguese. This will surely bring positive outcome, because the last time when they incorporated German language support saw its numbers increase steadily in Germany. This shows that 'Hike messenger' have enough guts to challenge WhatsApp; long-standing player.

The app is fast approaching the 10 million download mark, and Hike plans to add four to five languages each month in order to encourage continued international growth. Hike users can now choose which friends they share their 'Last Seen' status with. The update — which reflects the last time they were online — is now only visible to those included in their Circle of Friends, which Bharti Mittal says adds “a veil of privacy” that many had requested.

"The app is available for free and will likely stay that way."

Some of the Key features of Hike messenger.

File Size: Recently,Hike has updated its system and now it allows its users to send files of upto 100 MB each

Email Alternative: Hike supports media formats as well as documents including .ppt , .doc, docx and pdf file formats, therefore it is a good email alternative as email can tolerate an attachment which is a maximum of 25 MB of file size while hike can tolerate upto 100 MB of each attached file. 

Movable to SD Card: The latest version of hike can now be moved to SD card of the device after installation. This is a great feature for those who have a little phone memory or already loaded with other apps. While WhatsApp does not officially supports move-to-sdcard feature.

Read more: http://www.trickseek.com/#ixzz374RQoZuA
                    http://thenextweb.com/asia/2013/06/19/indian-messaging-app-hike-primed-for-europe-latin-america-push-with-new-languages-and-features/

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Snapchat's Latest BRILLIANT Feature

Eventhough its advantages are limited, Snapchat is slowly growing into a widely used app. It allows users to chat with their friends, send pictures and videos that disappears instantly and the cycle repeats again. As more and more people are joining the mobile messaging area, Snapchat is beginning to explore some new features that may attract more users to download this app.

Snapchat has begun testing certain features that allows users to have access to certain stickers by visiting various well-known locations as reported by Mail Online. Examples of this include a 'make it rain' sticker that showers users with dollar bills when they are around the area of NYC's financial territory and when Snapchatters are in Brooklyn, a 'Brooklyn' sticker will be made available.

                      

With these new cool features, I'm sure Snapchat will be able to pull the crowd towards downloading this app. It allows users to keep in touch with each other as well as entertain each other with the new features. As the pictures sent and received disappears after a few seconds, it will not stock up your gallery with thousands of pictures. Although it benefits users more now with its BRILLIANT features, Snapchat also has its drawbacks. Videos stop at a certain time in some Smartphones as it takes time for a video to transfer from a Smartphone to a server. You would not be able to save pictures or videos sent and received to and from your friends even if you want to. And besides, Snapchat is very addictive. 


Reference :
Epstein, Z. 2014. Snapchat's latest new feature is actually fairly brilliant. Retrieved from :
http://bgr.com/2014/07/02/snapchat-location-based-stickers/

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Pinch - The Mobile Dating Apps Incorperate with Facebook

Pinch, the most recent dating app from Ice Breaker LTD, turns your Facebook into a high-quality social dating pool. The improved design of it has just been updated yesterday, 9th July on iOS 7.

Simply "Pinch" two profiles together to initiate a compatibility game to create a match users. Once a "Pinch" has been initiated, Pinch offers singles a series of questions to answer. Therefore, together users find out their similarities and differences to reveal a compatibility score, which helps break the ice. 

Sources available from prMac. Download from Pinch App.

In my opinion, dating apps like Pinch become unsafe the moment they equip a minor to meet up with a stranger, hence the spotlight on risk. Also, some users are on the app to "hook up" briefly. This culture could emotionally damage a minor. 

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Make your social life wonderful with ooVoo

We all know about Skype, but have you heard of ooVoo?

It's one of the apps that offers you with free video call and voice calls.

ooVoo able to make one-to-one voice and video calls. You can also send text chats to easily connect with your friends and family.

Besides, it do allows you to have group conversations with up to 12 people and you are able to see 4 of them at a time on-screen.

This app has more than 100 million users around the world, so perhaps you are already one of them.

If not, then now might be a right time for you to do so.

You may get it now for your Android, iOS or Windows phone for FREE!

Read more about ooVoo on IT Pro Portal ( last updated on 8th July 2014 ).

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BeeTalk's Amazing Features

Some of the most talked about features of Beetalk that helps people connect with each other are, finding people they like and whispers. Beetalk gives you the ability to go through different people's profiles and you can choose to like or dislike them. If the feeling is mutual between you and the other person, you can chat and thereby become friends. Whispers is a feature that is very common in Snapchat where the message sent disappears one it has been read.

You also have the option of finding friends who eager to make new friends by shaking your phone. You will find people who are shaking their phones at the same instant when you do so. You can also locate people who are nearby to you. 

Besides that, cute doodles can be made and painted to be sent to your loved ones. There are also plenty of stickers to  be used to make your conversations more entertaining and interesting. Aside from free text messages, you can also make as many calls as possible for free!

Beetalk is now well-known for its dating features. 

Reference :

Rahman, A. 2014. Beetalk-The Best Features. Retrieved from :

http://thefusejoplin.com/2014/07/beetalk-features/

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Skype or Tango - The Better Free Calling App?

 

When it comes to video calls, Skype is said to be a top rated app. It can be used on various platforms and it comprises of mobile platforms such as Android and iOS. People from all around the world can be contacted and it works as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) client.

Skype to Skype calls are free but if a phone number is dialled using a Skype account, Skype credits can be used. Long distance calls can be made at a relatively cheap rate using Skype credits.

Skype is flexible in a way where not only calls can be made but text messages, chats and files can also be sent.

Tango is a simple app that is easy to install. All that is needed during the installation process is your phone number and it the app will be installed in no time! It then scans your contact list and the moment you have a list of contacts, you can start sending voice messages, video calls and talk to your friends and family for free.

Tango can be used on iOS, Android and even on your PC. Tango also allows you to share images, use other creative features during calls and play games.

Skype is definitely a better choice as it has more features and better clarity compared to Tango. Tango needs to come up with better features to attract users. If you are into an app that is simple and easy to use, then maybe Tango would be a better choice but for those who are looking for an app that will serve assorted needs concurrently, Skype may be the preferred choice.


Reference :
http://thefusejoplin.com/2014/07/analyzing-skype-tango-helping-figure-free-calling-app/

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Pixotale, Pixels + Tales

Two former Microsoft engineers have launched a new app that is described as a new social network based on videos and photos. The application they made has brought blogging to a level. This application makes it easier for everyone to share their stories and to be easily connected to others but it is however difficult to have a deeper relationships with those connections. An example of a story can be seen here http://pixotale.com/story/19277912/


View full article at http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/02/former-microsoft-engineers-launch-pixotale-a-social-networking-app-for-visual-storytelling/

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Camera360 Version 5.2 Introduces New Features!

The developer of the Camera360 app which is running successfully, Pinguo Inc, introduces their new features in the latest version of Camera360. This 5.2 version will include an ID Photo Camera mode as well as a redesigned Member Center.

The Member Center will allow users to access User Feedback, Cloud Service and Messaging Center directly. This version of Camera360 also allows users to use their social network accounts such as Facebook and Twitter and they will also be able to sign up directly with their emails.

Together with these features, this app brings to its users a new sequence of filters called the 'V2 Lights'. Members of Camera360 will now be provided with new attractive studio effects.

Read more at http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2014/06/25/camera360-introduces-brand-new-member-center-and-id-photo-camera-their-52-update#UDrHgTPluF5VPUXi.99

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Dropbox, simplify your life

Have you ever wonder how to add photos from your smart phone to your computer or vice versa without any cable? This is it, Dropbox.

Dropbox is a free service that allows you to bring all your photos, document and video anywhere and anytime. After you add photos into your Dropbox account, it will automatically saved to all your devices that linked your Dropbox account.

Besides, you can choose to sync your photos from your smart phone to the Dropbox. That means, any photo your capture using your phone, it will immediately uploaded to your Dropbox.

How nice is it?! Even if your phone has problem, you do not have to afraid about your precious photos! Your stuff is always safe in Dropbox!

In addition, this mobile application also allows you to share photos with your friends and family. It enhances your social life.
It do allows you to set a passcode before entering the Dropbox mobile application. It is safe and user friendly.

But the disadvantages is that, every photos you capture will uploaded to your Dropbox even if you mistakenly capture any unwanted picture.  Therefore, you have to delete it manually in your Dropbox account.

You may also read about one of the user's comment about Dropbox at here.
Download it now from here. Your stuff, anywhere.

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Twitter launches mobile apps install ads

Twitter has now followed Facebook’s footsteps to increase its advertising revenue by releasing mobile-application install ads. This was available in the Facebook mobile application since the late 2012, it’s about time Twitter caught up. Mobile application developers especially the gaming varieties are spending money to advertise on applications like Facebook. This will have a very positive impact on Twitter’s annual revenue.

View full article at http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/06/30/twitter-officially-rolls-out-mobile-app-install-ads/ 

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Mobile Advertising and Twitter

There is a growing importance of mobile for e-commerce and Twitter's acquisition of TapCommerce validates it. TapCommerce is the leader in mobile retargetting. They're trusted by the most successful mobile branches to deliver customers, revenue, and the return on investment across mobile platforms.

Twitter announced the deal on 30 June 2014, calling the company's tool set an important piece of the mobile advertising platform it is building for marketers, app developers and users.

TapCommerce enables real-time programmatic mobile ad buying across multiple exchanges through such tools and strategies as cross-exchange buying access, partner support and API availability. It reaches more than 50,000 apps.

This acquisition follows Twitter's purchase of MoPub last year. MoPub is a mobile-focused advertising exchange that allows mobile application publishers to manage their inventory and use multiple sources of advertising including direct ads, house ads, ad networks, and real-time bidding through the MoPub Marketplace.

MoPub and TapCommerce are complementary, and both will continue to offer their respective services, Twitter said.

"Twitter will need to prove to advertisers its targeting abilities are as powerful as Facebook"

Source: Wall Street Journal 

Link: http://tinyurl.com/ob839j8

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Meipai - Capture the Wonders The Popular Video App

According to AppBrain Stats, Meipai is one of the top 10 most downloaded new apps (last updated July 1, 2014). To see its features, review and rating at apptweak.

Meipai makes video creation much easier. With Meipai, you can transform your everyday moments into gorgeous musical videos as a film director does. In one tap, Meipai intelligently edits, applies stunning music video (MV) effects and adds cool music to your otherwise plain-looking video.

To be exact, Meipai is not only a video creation app, it is also a video community where you can see what your friends and favourite celebs up to through their video.

You can follow Meipai instagram account @meipai_app to know more about this interesting app. Also, if you are interested to create a cool and beautiful video, please take a look at Meipai. It is now available on iTunes Store and Google Play Store.

Well, the imperfect about Meipai is you cannot edit their video from your video albums, how Meipai works is you must record using it and edit your video on the spot. Additionally, only 10 seconds video is allowed, oh my god, a very short duration. Also, the resolution of the video will be downgraded if using Meipai to record.

Sample of Meipai Video

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Facebook's New Program - FbStart

500 to 800 companies that have applied has been accepted by Facebook to a program called FbStart. This program helps developers in accessing services like app testing and user research. Companies are only eligible if their apps are already in Apple or Google's app stores.

These are some of Facebook's partners who helped in creating this program:

This program is an effort made by Facebook to try and strengthen the mobile app market which according to research firm Gartner might be worth 77 billion dollars in the year 2017! 

Besides that, Facebook also wants to ensure that the developers will be able to recognize its products, its functions which allows users to log into an app and share its contents from the app on the social network.

                           

Reference:

Fleisher, L. 2014. With FbStart, Facebook Hands Out Goodies to Mobile App Makers. Retrieved from:

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/07/01/with-fbstart-facebook-hands-out-goodies-to-mobile-app-makers/

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Facebook Notifications Without The Facebook Application

You can now get Facebook notifications without using the mobile application using IFTTT (If This Then That). Basically, all you need is to link your Facebook mobile web site with your RSS feed and the application IFTTT. What’s the difference? Why must I download another application when I can keep the Facebook application itself? Well, this method allows you to use Facebook and receive notifications faster while using less battery than the normal Facebook mobile application. Not only that but this also gets rid of all the privacy permission the application needs.

View full article at http://lifehacker.com/get-facebook-notifications-without-the-mobile-app-using-1598270618 

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Capture your photos with sounds using OverHeard

There are many applications out there that designed for you to share photos, but not that have an element which can cater for sounds too.

Here is the recommendation for you - OverHeard.  This applications helps you to capture something audible and with some neat additional features.

With OverHeard, your friends and family are now able to get a real flavor of how good the things you capture and shared. You too able to listen your friend's amazing stories.

You can add photos and tag friends as well as tweet and share stuff on Facebook! How nice is it!!

The best part of OverHeard is that it actually record automatically, using its 3 minutes buffer to give you a window from which to save and share what you just heard.

More details article is now on IT Pro Portal ( updated on 4th July 2014).  Have a look and download it now for iOS.

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Line Selfie Sticker

Line the creators of Line Messenger has recently produced a new application that turns selfies into stickers. It is known as the “Line Selfie Sticker”. This app is currently available only on iPhones and Android.

Line is very well known for its stickers which give Line Messaging its very own personality. As selfies are getting more and more popular this new application is an innovation that would fit in perfectly in our community. 

You can then share these on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and of course directly through the Line app if you have the button.

View full article at http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/line-releases-new-app-will-help-convert-selfies-stickers-226839.html

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Capture and share the world's moment : Instagram

Instagram is a mobile apps created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and launched in October 2010.This service rapidly gained popularity, with over 200 million active users around the world.

The interesting part is that, Instagram did not start out as Instagram, it started out as Burbn.
You may read this interesting article on Mashable ( updated on 2nd July 2014 )

Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables you to take pictures and videos.

It is a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends and family with unlimited uploads! Users can interact with their friends through giving & receiving likes and comments.
In addition, you can also send posts directly to your friends.

With Instagram, you can choose to filter your photo and transform everyday moments into work of art. You can even share it to your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more!

Lastly, Instagram is always improving their app to let users have more fun. Their app was last updated on 1st July 2014.

It sound interesting isn't it? So, if you do not have an Instagram account yet, do get it now!
It is available in both iTunes store and Play Store for free.

But do remember the critique part is that, if your Instagram account is public, people outside can comment anything they want and use your photo without your permission. So think wisely whether to privatise your account or make it public. 

You can also visit this website for more details description. Instagram

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Google launches YouTube Creator Studio app for iOS

Following the release of YouTube Creator Studio for Android, Google has now made the app available for iOS devices. What’s the Creator Studio, you ask? Well, Google has finally created an all-in-one app hub for YouTube creators to access channel/video-specific information.

Essentially this app will provide quick access to video/channel analytics, comment moderation tools, YouTube-related notifications, and the traditional Video Manager that’s found on the desktop site. Within the Video Manager, you’ll also have the ability to edit your published video information such as titles, descriptions, tags, and more.

Basically, it’s only helpful if you actually make (or plan to make) YouTube videos. This app won’t do much unless you’re a YouTube creator.

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