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Senin, 27 Februari 2012

Ubuntu For Android: Do We Really Need it?

After Canonical’s decision to venture into the TV and mobile market, another surprising -- or rather shocking to some news started circulating on the Internet. Ubuntu for Android, Shuttleworth’s latest endeavor at wowing non-Ubuntu users was unveiled. Mainly aimed at corporate customers and mobility freaks, this desktop-in-a-phone marvel allows you to use your Android smartphone as a full-fledged desktop.

So, in short, you simply walk in to your office empty-handed, plug-in your smartphone to a sleek-looking dock, and fire up an Internet-capable desktop running your favorite operating system. Though, as a concept, this sounds really brilliant, it really depends much on how the whole product is brought in the market. Also, as the needs of the desktop consumers are more inclined towards anything that’s made by Apple and Microsoft, it’s really hard, at this point in time to predict whether the project will be a success or a failure. The main question, however, still lingers around: Do we really need it?


The target audience

Ubuntu for Android is, quite surprisingly, aimed at corporate customers and people who want to have a complete desktop experience at their disposal wherever they go. The desktop will be the verily familiar Ubuntu along with some added functionality like unified contacts, calendar coordination, call/SMS management and more. Now, of course, simply plugging in your Android smartphone and being welcomed with a shiny yet familiar desktop does feel like magic; however, the technology driving it is pretty simple. Ubuntu will leverage the high-end dual-core capabilities your Droid and bring you -- well, hopefully -- an innovative desktop experience.

Though all seems perfect on paper, there are a few caveats here and there. Agreed that Android is the dominating champion as far as mobile devices are concerned, also agreed that Android is the closest potential ally to Linux enthusiasts. However, when it comes to the target audience, the product only reaches a select set of customers. That is, only the high-end Android users will be able to benefit from this novelty. Also, only the phones that have docking capability and hardware support for HDMI and USB will work with Ubuntu. So, even though it’s our omnipresent Android that’s been used here, it’s only the select few models that would work with Shuttleworth’s idea.


Is it necessary?

Now, another question that seems to be lingering in every consumer’s mind is that, is it necessary? Do I really need to buy it? Oh, okay, it’s the beloved Ubuntu we’re talking about, but can’t I just install Ubuntu on my work computer and have everything synced using Dropbox and UbuntuOne?


Will people buy it?

There’s no point in guessing whether people will buy it or not. One reason why people may buy it is because it will help them have a personalized computer anywhere they go. Also, people who are already using Ubuntu or are die-hard Ubuntu fans will love to have this novelty at their home.

That, however, doesn't imply that everyone will buy this device. There are folks who prefer syncing everything with Dropbox and they might not need it. Also, there’s the generic excuse of needing Windows or Mac to run a particular application that isn't yet available on Linux. The pros and cons are aplenty; it really depends on how the market will respond to such a product.

Also, the success of Ubuntu on Android rests on the very fact that the product must be as stable and as usable as possible. The corporate crowd won’t tolerate a half-baked product like Unity in Natty, they’d want something that would be worth their every penny. So, Mr Shuttleworth, if you’re reading this, please make it as stable as possible.

Finally, it also boils down to the price. From the looks of it, the product will be targeted at high-end consumers; thus, the pricing may be a tad higher than we’d expect. But let’s hope that it’s not so high that it would be inaccessible to Ubuntu fanboys like us.


Will you buy it?

So, are you all excited about Ubuntu on Android? Will you be buying one for your Droid when it comes out? Leave your responses in the comments section.


Jumat, 24 Februari 2012

7 Cool and Useful VLC Tips And Tricks That You Should Know

VLC is perhaps one of the most versatile and feature-loaded media players around. The open-source, cross-platform software is known for its ability to play videos encoded in most of the well-known video and audio formats. Apart from being a media player, VideoLAN Client, or VLC, can also act as a streaming media server, a CD-ripper, a screen-capture tool and much more. Although many people use the renowned media tool as a video player, its amazing prowess in other areas often goes overlooked. So, if you’re one of those people looking to get the most out of this popular media player, read on as we cover the best tips and tricks for your VLC.


1. Converting files

VLC can also act as an audio and video converter, thus allowing you to switch your media to and from different formats like MP3, OGG, and MP4. To get started with file conversion, simply press Ctrl+R or if you aren't a big fan of keyboard shortcuts, simply go to the Media option in the menubar. Then, select the file or files you want to convert by using the Add button. Once you’re done adding them, hit the Convert/Save button. Now, a new window will pop up letting you choose the destination and the output format. Choose the appropriate settings and hit the start button.



Selasa, 21 Februari 2012

Awesome iOS Apps That Deserve To Be On Android

Our beloved Android outmatches the universally worshipped iPhone in almost every department. In fact, there are some areas where Android is miles ahead of the Cupertino marvel. For example, Android, as we very well know, is much more open and doesn't believe in the walled-garden philosophy that the late Steve Jobs obstinately stood by. Also, the Google-made operating system can be installed on any device, be it smartphones, tablets, and even desktop computers thus making Android hugely popular amongst tweakers, hackers, and yes, among Linux fans.

As the surge of Android continues, Apple still endures to display its might with some tempting iOS-only features and apps. One of the most mouth-watering of these treats is the charmingly servile personal assistant called Siri, which, thanks to its resourcefulness, has been received overwhelmingly by gadget fans worldwide. Having said that, die-hard Android fanboys like us tried to refute the perceived “dominance” of Apple by suggesting you a list of the best Siri alternatives for Android.

But hey, don’t get too excited just yet, because there are some areas where the Droids get beaten hands down, and that is the apps department. The Apple app store has a huge assortment of high-quality, popular applications that aren't yet available in Android market. Though few of these “exclusive” apps are made by Apple itself, some of them are made by independent developers thus raising their chances of arriving on Android. So, to make the Android fan in you green with envy, here are some of the best iOS apps that deserve to be on your Droid.


Senin, 20 Februari 2012

Top HTML5 Games Worth Playing

When the late Steve Jobs ranted about the things he hated about Flash, everyone, including those who dislike Apple, unanimously agreed with him. Not only is Flash bad for the progress of the web, it’s also a problem for developers who want their apps to perform without hogging the system’s resources. About 5-6 years ago, this enfant terrible of the World Wide Web was enjoying a monopoly its developers had rarely dreamed of. That, however, changed a lot once the much-awaited HTML5 came along.

This somewhat new technology will make Flash obsolete and makes the web a much better, and yes, an open place. No longer do developers and users have to be at Adobe’s mercy to run a fancy video or a web-based game; HTML5 does almost everything Flash could. And, what better way to showcase its amazing prowess than some great HTML5 games?



Sabtu, 18 Februari 2012

Best Video Surveillance / Security Apps For Android

Nothing has revolutionized personal security as much as technology. Thanks to powerful motion-detectors and DVRs, we’re able to monitor our homes and offices without being physically present.

That said, it’s not always easy to keep track of all your security cameras and to monitor them all continuously. Also, not everyone can afford a security camera; however, there are many people in need of a similar device. Fulfilling that need we have some great Android apps that let you either monitor your security cameras or help turn your phone into a fully equipped motion-sensing camera. Whatever your requirement may be, we've picked the best Android video surveillance / security apps just for you.



Kamis, 16 Februari 2012

Highly Recommended Text Editors For Ubuntu

When it comes to applications, Windows and Mac offers a huge variety of choices to its users. However, when it comes text-editing applications, Linux beats those two platforms hands down. Not only does Linux provide a huge variety of quality text editing applications, it also makes sure that their source code is available for everyone. The reason behind this is the fact that Linux, as an operating system, has more developers using it than the so-called “normal” users.

That said, the massive progress that Ubuntu has made in the usability department has made the text editor a tad outmoded. People usually prefer using word processors like LibreOffice or AbiWord for most of their office work, making most text editors a developer-only tool. Whatever be the case, the massive amount of choice users have in this department has left many new users a bit confused. To remedy that, here we are again with a list of the creme de la creme of text-editing applications for Ubuntu.



Senin, 13 Februari 2012

Best E-book Readers For Android

Love them or hate them, e-books have completely changed the way we access the written word. Kindles, iPads and Nooks are selling like pancakes whereas the bookstore around the corner struggles to make ends meet. It is also quite astounding that e-books, though first invented in the late 1940s, have achieved popularity only in the past five years. Scorned by purists, they have, without doubt, sparked a huge chasm between readers worldwide.

That said, reading e-books do have a lot of advantages. Firstly, e-books cater to a huge crowd that relies on instant gratification. Secondly, the ability to carry a thousand books in a sleek-looking multi-purpose device has, in a way, outmoded the bulky paperback. This surge in demand has made e-books available across all devices including smartphones and tablets running Android. And though, many e-book readers exist for our favorite mobile platform, only few can be deemed as the best ones. So, if you’re looking for e-book readers for your beloved Android device, read on as we cover all the best ones.



Jumat, 10 Februari 2012

Geeky Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

It’s the season of love, and your tired little mind is brainstorming for the much-dreaded gifting ritual. The whole process being tough as it is gets even more annoying when your significant other is a full-fledged geek. Well geeks, quite unlike their non-geeky counterparts have a completely different set of tastes, and making them happy might turn out to be a Herculean task. That’s why, this Valentine’s day, we at TechSource have decided to help you pick out the best gifts for your geeky lover. Some of them are geeky and some are downright nerdy, so do make sure you pick out the one that suits your partner. Oh, and before you add these items to your cart do make sure that he/she doesn’t already own any of these gifts.


Lightsaber Room Light

Inspired by the heavily worshiped Star Wars franchise comes a perfect weapon to light up your geeky bedroom (or basement). The Lightsaber Room Light, which can be mounted on any wall, lets you show off your true Jedi fanboyism/fangirlism to any friend who comes to visit your house.


Selasa, 07 Februari 2012

Best CRM Apps For Android

If you are a business owner, then there’s nothing more important than the relationship you have with your customers. Costumer Relationship Management or CRM helps you strengthen that relationship further and makes sure that the consumers always get what they want.

There are already plenty of software applications that let you do CRM as well as sales tracking, most of them are on Windows and Mac but there also some excellent CRM software for Linux. Now, as we move towards the era of smartphones and tablet computers, new mobile-based CRM apps have started popping up. Not only do these apps let you handle traditional CRM, they also let you do other things like sales tracking, task management, and reminders.

So, if you’re on Android and are looking for some good CRM apps, read on as we cover the best ones for this awesome platform.



Senin, 06 Februari 2012

How to Improve the Battery Life of Your Linux Laptop

For Linux users who enjoy a fragmentation-free and virus-immune laptop, there’s barely anything that makes them whine as much as their Redmond-loving counterparts. Linux, on a fully compatible machine, achieves a perfect blend of performance and stability. That said, there are some of us who want more than perfection, they want optimum performance and a beast-like computing speed. I know, overclocking is a bit risky, but tweaking isn't.

Earlier, we told you about the most amazing desktop-tweaking tools out there for Linux. In today’s article, though, our focus will be on Linux laptop users. We've heard them whining about their empty batteries and their always-plugged workdays, and yeah, as always, we couldn't help doling out some useful advice to those folks.


Dim the Lights

In most of the devices, including cellphones, the display is the biggest culprit when it comes to reduced battery life. A brightly lit laptop won’t really help you get through a whole workday. The best solution to this problem is to dim the screen as much as possible. If, in certain cases like movie-watching or reading you need a bright display, you can turn the brightness up for that period and them dim the screen back when you’re finished.


Jumat, 03 Februari 2012

Top Educational Android Apps For Kids

No tech company has really revolutionized education as much as Apple. With their student-friendly iPads and their recently announced iBooks 2 suite, they’ve taken learning to a whole new level. That said, not everyone owns an iPad, and not everyone likes one. There are the ones, like you and me of course, who prefer using products associated with Apple’s archrival Google.

As most of the schools prefer iPads over Android tablets, there is a dearth of good kid-friendly educational apps on the open-source platform. Moreover, thanks to Apple’s dominance in the tablet computer and smartphone market, education on Android gadgets hasn’t really taken off. Having said that, it’s not as if there aren’t any good Android apps that you can load on your tablet computers and give to your kids. In fact, there are quite a lot of good applications in this genre. However, most of them are not quite as good as the ones you find in the Apple App Store.

So, if you’re confused as to which apps you should hand over to your toddler, don’t worry just yet. We’ve compiled a list of the best educational applications that you can load on your Droid and make your kid learn stuff, the smart way.



Rabu, 01 Februari 2012

Desktop-Tweaking Tools For Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu Linux got a new look when the much-debated Unity was unveiled to users. The modern, search-based interface was liked as much as it was hated, making it one of Canonical’s most controversial decisions. The problem with Unity was not just that it was a new interface; the main issue this reborn Ubuntu faced was of basic usability gone wrong. So, as obvious as it may seem, many people are trying hard to disencumber themselves from this ‘innovation’. While most of those efforts are spent making alternative distros, some are busy tweaking the desktop.

When it comes to alternatives, there are many; in fact, there’s a horde of distros waiting to be tried out by non-geeky audiences. That said, despite its flaws, many people still prefer sticking to Ubuntu Linux, mainly because of its more mainstream nature as well as the more user-friendly aspects of it like the Software Center and Ubuntu One.

So, if you’re one of those Ubuntu fans who can’t stand the look of the new default desktop, there’s a thing or two you can do to give your screen a revamp. Here are some of the best desktop-tweaking tools for Ubuntu Linux: