meta is the name of such a project. The developers of meta think that their device will offer users a new way to view the world, literally. They are so confident that people will love their design, that they have started a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for their first line of meta AR glasses.

The end of the flat screen?

These augmented reality glasses are the brainchild of Meron Gribetz and his team from Columbia University. The device is able to overlay a virtual environment over the real world, with which the user can interact. Unlike other devices, like Google Glass which give users an overlay on one side of their field of view, meta uses everything around the user and overlays the virtual elements in his entire field of view.

It does this by seeing the world exactly like the user, via two cameras mounted on top of the clear display. By using two cameras, the device sees the world in 3D, allowing the user to view and interact with objects in all dimensions. The clear display was created in partnership with Epson, but the hardware is only a small part of what meta is.

The magic behind meta’s potential is the endless lines of state of the art coding that was written by the developers, in order for the device to process all the information in three dimensions render virtual graphics in real time. Also, it does not require any fiducial markers, so the user will interact with it naturally at any time.

Hardware specs

This is the first development kit of the meta, so even if it might seem a bit bulky at the moment, the developers think that in the next kits, they will be able to shrink it down to the relative size of a normal pair of glasses.

• Field of view: 23 degrees for each eye
• Projection: 2 individual cameras (one for each eye)
• Resolution: 960 x 540 for each eye (which makes FullHD 1920 x 1080 overall)
• Weight: 0.3 kilograms
• Input: HDMI and USB

On the software side, the device is supported on Windows OS for the moment, so interested software developers can create apps with Unity3D. Support for other platforms will follow at a later time. The SDK that will come with the meta 1 dev kit will also have some awesome features of its own:

• Gestures / Finger tracking
• Depth data for objects that are in the range of the cameras
• RGB data and surface tracking (allows the user to use real world planes and meshes of surfaces for anchoring virtual objects to them, or augmenting them)

In the long run, the developers of the meta AR glasses hope to build a app store where developers that buy this device can upload their apps and users can download and use them, just like they would use a smartphone’s app store. This device will have many uses, and thanks to its affordable price tag (estimated $750), many will afford it.

Potential uses for this technology go far beyond entertainment and there are many that are excited to see it in action. From 3D developers to architects, everyone sees a potential use for the meta 3D glasses. At the moment, there is still a long way to go, and for those who want to support this project, they can head over to their Kickstarter page and back them.

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Rumors have it that not one, but two variants of the Galaxy SIV will soon be announced officially. The first one, entitled Zoom, should have a high-end optical sensor capable of 10x optical zooming while the second, named Active, should be a rugged handset aimed for those outdoorsy. As it figured, pictures and precious details about the Active have leaked.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active – a smarter Xcover 2

Samsung has made a habit out of exploiting every possible sector of the market. Although it’s a try and fail process, the manufacturer has managed to attract a very broad area of customers. This time, it’s trying the sea with a high-end rugged smartphone like no other. Compared with the Galaxy Xcover 2 we saw a couple of months ago at MWC, the Galaxy S4 Active comes with a better processor, slimmer forms and a wide range of smart functions. But what does separate the Active from the classic S4?

Internally known as I9295, the Active is powered by a quad-core 1.9GHz processor packing an Adreno 320 GPU, probably from Snapdragon 600 origins, which is less than the usual eight-core attached to the original model. Rumors claim that the display manages to rise up to expectations by supplying the same 1080p quality (Full HD), a bigger pixel density of 480 ppi and a screen slightly smaller than 5-inch. When it comes to the camera, the rear unit can supply only 8-megapixels, a clear downgrade from the 13MP sensor.

Even though all of these details are pure speculations at the moment, it turns out that the handset has been recently displayed in Croatia, so Samsung might take the stage any moment. From the pictures spotted, we can observe that the form, shape and general design of the Active is completely different than those of the casual S4. The shell is fully metallic, with bolts on the back and three hardware buttons present on the front-facing side, right below the screen.

The smartphone should be waterproof and dust-resistant, as shown by the change log of latest version of the WatchON TV control application, developed by Samsung’s partner Peel. In the lines detailing what the new version is capable of, readers could also observe the unofficial confirmation of the Galaxy SIV Mega, possibly a smarter phablet version of the recently-announced Galaxy Mega 6.3 and 5.8. Also, the Mini variant was mentioned.

Spigen Slim Armor Case Lookalike

The design of Samsung Galaxy S4 Active looks dangerously close to Spigen’s Slim Armor case. We were alerted by an alert reader of the similarity and it does look like Samsung is heavily inspired from Spigen’s design. Spigen has made a name for itself as a quality rugged case maker for several smartphones (including the Galaxy S4) with a double layered TPU case and a polycarbonate hard case. Let us wait and see how close the Galaxy S4 Active design comes to this. [H/T: Daniel Kujawa]

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Last week’s list with the best Android applications in our opinion isn’t exactly obsolete, so do check it out. Without further ado, let’s check out how productive this week has been in the Android apps world! We have a lot of games this time, which means more fun. If you also spotted some worthy mentions, do let us know in the comments section.

Google+ Hangouts (Free)

The Google+ Hangouts standalone app has been released at the Google I/O conference from last week. The app unites three previous products:  Talk, Google+ Messenger, and Hangouts in a single one – Google+ Hangouts. You can talk for free with your friends and also have video call for free up to 10 contacts. Sadly for those looking to stay anonymous, you can no longer stay “invisible” as you did in Google Talk.

Sonic the Hedgehog ($2.99)

Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most iconic figures in the history of gaming. We have recently reviewed Sonic Dash (iOS), so if you’re a fan of the game, have a look. This is a remake of the original game that started it all. Besides Sonic, for the first time ever, you will also be playing with his friends Tails & Knuckle.

Karateka Classic ($0.99)

Karateka Classic is even older than Sonic the Hedgehog, bringing back memories of the highly successful Karateka game from 1984. Jordan Mechner is the creator of the app, he also made the Karateka original game, as well as Prince of Persia. You fight as the lone hero to save the princess from the evil warlord Akuma. Best of luck!

Kidpix (Free)

The Kidpix Android app is based on a wonderful idea – giving you the right tool to store and even share your kid’s artwork. No matter what they draw or what they create, it’s important for you to store their creations. You have frames that you add to the pictures of their artwork and you can also arrange them in different collections.

Blitz Brigade (Free)

Gameloft is one of the best mobile games developer company in the world. Their games have stunning graphics and this is the same with Blitz Brigade. This is a FPS multiplayer game where you can play on the Axis or Allied forces. Choose who you want to be - Soldier, Gunner, Medic, Sniper, Stealth and fight against 11 other users from all over the world.

Beach Buggy Blitz (Free)

Beach Buggy Blitz is another game from a top developer and has recently been the Editor’s Choice on the Google Play. With this game, you will also be able to enjoy the new Google Play games services. Drive your beach buggy around the mysterious island to defeat crabs, yetis and stay away from burning hot lava. All this to get some awesome awards.

Super Stickman Golf 2 (Free)

If you’ve played Super Stickman Golf then you will definitely be enjoying its sequel. And this is not your usual golf game as you have a lot of challenging holes which  will put your angle-knowleadge to test. An entertaining physics game where you also can play against others to become the ultimate golfer.

Rivals at War (Free)

Rivals at War is one of the best Android games I’ve seen in a while. Great graphics and gaming are the main reasons why you’ll love this game. Recruit and train your soldiers to fight against teams from all over the world in a war multiplayer game. You can be a Commander, Sniper, Saw Gunner, Breacher, Radioman or even a Medic.

We Heart It (Free)

We Heat It, the great online place where you can find daily awesome pictures and quotes, has recently released its Android application, allowing you to get more inspiration straight from your device. And even if this is the first time you hear about We Heart It, perhaps it’s the right moment to start exploring this spirit lifting network.

Nimble Ques (Free)

I have a special love for games that have “pixelated” characters. Don’t know exactly why, but it somehow the game look more fun, thanks to its retro aspect. In Nimble Quest, you get to lead heroes into their fight against countless numbers of enemies. You can also aside others in Guilds and complete quests.

DVD Profiler ($8.99)

This isn’t exactly a cheap application, but it is a very useful one for those needy. Knowing how to efficiently store your movies is one thing, but keeping track of all the movies that you saw and you liked is something else. DVD Profiler helps you with that, thanks to its huge database of more than 600,000 titles.

Bass Booster Pr ($1.99)

Bass Booster Pro is a sound enhancing application for Android that deals not only with the Bass feature. You have some useful features as the virtualizer, preset auto-detection which will change the preset according to the type of music you’re listening. If you’re listening some New Age, it will arrange the preset according to that.

Now Playing ($1.99)

Another great Android app for music lovers, the Now Playing music player is one of the best looking we’ve stumbled on so far. It is actually, as the developer describes it, elegant. It has a Google Now-esque look, which is so gentle on the eyes. A great feature is that it automatically fetches lyrics for the songs you’re listening.

Whisper (Free)

“Whisper is an anonymous social network that lets you share confessions, express yourself and meet new people” – this is how the official description reads. I had a few doubts before including this one in our list, though. Let’s hope that this won’t turn out to be a place where confessions will lead to arrests. On the bright side, this is a great way to let out some of your secrets and release the burden.

Moshcam

Sometimes, live music can transmit emotions much better than the official, recorded song. Moshcam is the place where you can find live music videos and interviews completely for free. And free doesn’t mean poor quality, as the shows are filmed by professional and are of high quality.

© Raju PP for Technology Personalized, 2013. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

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Worry not, as it turns out fixing your web browser to reshape it to get the maximum out of it isn’t a tough nut to crack. Here are some add-ons and other tools that will help you fix your gateway to the internet.

Clear the cache

Before even getting into it, let’s clear your browser’s cache, shall we? Every browser that you use stores some files in your browser. Well, cache aren’t really a vestigial thing per se. It helps you save data by retrieving things off of your hard drive instead of downloading it every time you visit the same page. This way they also maintain a cordial relationship with web servers and kills the lagging time in the process.

The downside of this is, as you browse more and more web pages, the cache files just starts heaping up and starts taking too much undue memory on your hard drive. Also, at the same time, you don’t really want to keep cookies in your browser for a long period of time. Another sparkling reason of why you should make a habit of cleaning your browser’s cache is that sometimes your browser may end saving some vicious files in your hard drive, and keeping it long in your system is of course running a risk.

To clear the cache, almost every browser facilitates that option in its settings. But if you are one of those people who don’t like getting into much details, you could use a freeware utility such as CCleaner, tick the Cache and hit Run Cleaner.

Kill idle tabs wasting memory

While this sight leaves you with a good first impression, it doesn’t necessarily hold well on the memory. The more tabs you have opened in any active session, the more network as well as system resources it will share. To prevent such clumsy experience, there are many extensions that could bail you out of this. TooManyTabs for Chrome is one of the most functional ones around. It is available for Firefox users as well. It lets you stop, suspend, and freeze any page whenever you want. You can also save the page’s state and open it when you want to use it again.

Another free alternate extension for Chrome user is One-Tab. As we tested in our review, it not only lets you integrate all your tabs and manage it more efficiently, but also save upto 95% of bandwidth.

Speeding up network speed of Firefox

Firefox users can also tweak their browser settings to avail some swift benefits. Plenty of forums suggest several tedious ways that includes anything from script hacking to deleting some .dll files to codifying about:config. Since all of that sounds dapple, there is one add-on that cuts down the clumsiness and reduces your work to entering few numbers only. The aforementioned add-on is Tweak Network, once installed, all you are required to do is change default values. Change the value of “Max persistent connections per server” from 6 to 16. And also, tick the “Pipelining” square button. What it does, is allow the browser to fetch content from the websites more quickly using more number of requests and connections. For Chrome users, things are little sad as there is no way to configure such things just yet.

Preview links without clicking on them

Thanks to URL shortening tools, now anyone can shrink their ladder long URLs to a few characters. The downside of this is when you see such links, until you click on them, you won’t be able to figure the actual parent link. Additionally, in this time where cyber-crimes especially phishing have mixed itself with social media so abruptly, it is not only time and bandwidth data we should be worried about, but your privacy and security are at stake as well.

To fix this broken model, Chrome users could use an extension named SwiftPreview. SwiftPreview pop-ups a window when you hover your mouse over any shrunk link and shows you a preview of it in that popped up window. This tool could really come handy for avid social networking users. Firefox users need not to be disheartened, as there is a cool alternative of SwiftPreview, called CoolPreview, that will let you do that job just well.

Alternatively, you can also use nifty extensions like Link Revealer and Untiny which essentially do the same task.

Block the trackers

In one of my previous posts, I wrote about how advertisers are tracking people, and why it is terribly bad for your privacy. The other drawback of it, is that it hogs your network as well, resulting in slow internet connectivity.

You could use a great utility called DisconnectMe which will keep all your trackers away.

Noteworthy mentions

Apart from using above mentioned tools, there are many other tools that can help you stay more productive.

• Using Gmail with keyboard: CNET shows how you access your Gmail account and perform all the operations without having to use your mouse.

• Lazarus will save everything you write: Lazarus is one of my favorite utilities that lets its users save whatever they were typing on any form, comment section or anywhere (except password fills, of course).
• Disable Java and Flash: yes it is indeed one thing you can always look for while speeding up your browser’s speed.
• Turn off images: If you are really running short on your data, or if the internet speed is really very slow, you could also from the settings disable images for some time.
• Use mobile version of the webpage: Of course you could always opt for mobile version of any page – that will surely be render pages fast and consume less bandwidth.

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The app is called Itsdagram (It’s-da-gram, geddit?) and it is available for $1.49 from the Windows Phone Store (available only for Windows Phone 8 at the time of writing, so WP7 users cannot join the party). At 4 MB, it is a light enough download and installs smoothly enough. It claims to be the “only full-featured Instagram client in the market” and well, it certainly delivers a good dollop for the dollar and a half it bills you (there is a free avatar too – but we would suggest giving it a miss). You can log in to the app using your Instagram credentials, which seems a bit odd because you are actually asked to log into “Itsdagram” – for a minute, we actually considered registering for it before common sense kicked in and we used our Instagram credentials. Mind you, a note to this effect would not have been out of the way at the login page.

Once logged in, you can check the images posted by those you are following, the ones you have uploaded yourself, and the most popular pictures on the network at that moment. You can also follow people, like and comment on images, and well, best of all, actually upload images to Instagram from your Windows Phone 8 device. No, it does not come with exactly the same filters as Instagram, but it has a healthy collection including some celebrity ‘sketch-oriented’ effects like Da Vinci and Van Gogh.

So you can see images, post images with filters and effects (if not the same ones on Instagram), and indicate likes and make comments, as well as elect to follow people. And it’s all woven very neatly into Windows Phone’s tiled interface – you scroll to the side for different sections. That’s pretty much the Instagram experience, isn’t it? Well, not quite. Those missing filters apart, there are a few rough edges here. While you can view your profile and change your password in Itsdagram, you cannot edit your profile. There is also no Photo Map facility here and while you can add tags, there seems to be no auto-complete facility so you have to actually remember the usernames of the people you are tagging (a tad tough if you are following dozens of them!). Finally, there is a penchant for crashing at odd moments and for occasionally double posting. And finally finally (yes!), there will be those who will complain about having to fork out cash for an app whose official version is free on both Android and iOS.

The answer to that last query is the same reason that made Itsdagram our app for the day – the fact that it is the only app that comes close to replicating the Instagram experience on Windows Phone 8. If you have a WP8 device and love tinkering around with effects and photographs, this is perhaps one paid app that you ignore at your peril.

Available from: Windows Phone Store
Price: $1.49

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If you want to learn more about the Jolla smartphone, then keep on reading, as we will give you some information about the device and what it can do. The company also announced the price for the Jolla smartphone, and it is quite competitive with similar ones.

What’s so interesting about the Jolla phone?

At a first glance, you might not think that the Jolla phone is pretty special, after all, it looks very similar to a Nokia device, apart from the seam between the front and the back side of the smartphone. And it is exactly that difference that makes Jolla so special. The specs of the device are pretty good, but nothing special would drop any jaws, however, the detachable back side of the smartphone is a crucial part of the entire Jolla experience.

Users can have multiple back covers, and when they change them, the smartphone “senses” what cover it has and it changes its theme colors to match it. Users can also customize other aspects of the phone and link them with a cover, so they can change the look of the UI with a simple swap of the back cover. The design is pretty clean, with a full glass front face and no buttons, a volume rocker and power button on the side, a headphone jack at the top and the speakers on the bottom. The back side of the device has the camera and LED flash.

Other specs of the device are as follows:

• 4.5 inch “Estrade” Display
• Dual Core Processor
• 16 GB of internal storage space (upgradable via microSD card)
• 4G LTE Connectivity
• 8MP AF  Rear Camera
• User-replaceable battery

There is no information at this time of what kind of Dual Core processor the device has, or the amount of RAM that it has. Also, there was no announcement about the front facing camera. Jolla did announce that the device has a replaceable battery.

The Sailfish Operating System

Many of the features that the Jolla smartphone has are provided by its operating system. Derived from the Nokia N9 MeeGo OS, the Sailfish is designed to be used only by touch and swipes. The UI of the operating system is clean and intuitive, so users will quickly learn how to access all its features. Jolla’s own words about it:

We developed the revolutionary UI around the concept of effortless interaction, designed to offer world’s best multitasking experience.  Using your Jolla is so intuitive, that you can operate your favorite features without even looking at the device.

Jolla announced that the phone will be Android “compliant”, which allows users to install Android apps on their smartphone. While this is a great feature, it is somewhat unclear how this will work, what apps will be compatible and how the users will have access to them.

Price and Availability

During the announcement, we learned that the Jolla Phone will be priced at €399.99  (around $510) and it will be available in certain parts of Europe. After the European release, there will probably be a US and Asia release, but there is no information about this right now. For more information about the device, you can check out their website. Also, for those interested in the Jolla phone, the company has started receiving pre-orders, and users who decide to order a device, will receive a €100 once the device will be released, as well as Jolla T-Shirt.

The Jolla phone will be released by the end of this year, but there was no official date announced. The success of Jolla greatly depends on how well developers adopt this platform and the number of apps that users will have access to. Also, thanks to the possibility of installing Android apps on the device, there will probably be a decently populated App Store for the Jolla smartphone.

Radu Tyrsina contributed to this post

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There are lots of apps that can help you improve your home, and they range from DIY apps to home automation, shopping and everything in between. These apps are designed to make your everyday life easier by providing you with the necessary information that you need to improve your home. Today, we’ll give you a few examples of such apps.

What can a home improvement app do for you?

Well, for starters, an app is a easy and simple way to obtain information about pretty much any household item, as well as means of searching and buying certain items online, thus saving you time and effort. Think of them as virtual toolboxes.

There are a few types of apps that will help you around the house, so, depending on what you need, you will have a few to choose from. We previously talked about some apps that you can use, and we will remind you of them if you’ve missed those posts. There are a number of apps that will help you around the house. We’ll provide you with some of the best ones from each category, so you will have a good idea of what you can use.

Automation Apps

If you don’t remember, we talked a while back about how to control home electronics, and a part of that was by using automation systems that allow you to control certain appliances and other electronics from your mobile device via dedicated apps. These are probably the best ways for someone to use apps to improve their house. Also, remember that some smart thermostats also allow remote control via apps on your smartphone, so you can use your mobile device as a universal remote.

If you want to see a few ways in which you can automate some of your household appliances, then be sure to check out our tutorial on controlling home electronics, where you can see both automation apps as well as some solutions for DIY.

DIY Apps

Many like to make things with own two hands, and when something gets broken, fixing, rather than replacing is the prefered way. For those who are into DIY, there are a lot of apps available on pretty much any mobile platform, as well as lots of websites where users can find lots of projects and information. These range from simple fixes or creating home furniture and other household items to electronics and complex projects that can help your home. All this information is literally available in the palm of your hand.

• DIY DO IT - iOS / $0.99
• Handy Man DIY - iOS / $1.99
• iHandy Carpenter – iOS and Android / $1.99
• eHow - iOS and Windows Phone / Free
• Do it yourself (DIY) - Android / Free
• Handyman Calculator - Android / Free
• Craftsman Tools and DIY App - Android / Free
• Make Your Home - Android / Free
• Good Housekeeping @Home - Android / Free
• Home Improvement Calcs – iOS / $1.99
• iHandy Level Free - iOS / Free

Design Apps

If you have downloaded your prefered DIY app and you learned how to make bedroom furniture or other items, you might want to look at some interior and exterior design apps. While these apps are not as useful as the others, they provide you with lots of ideas of what you can do with your own home. There are some very well known design apps that have made many users happy and they have helped these people create their dream homes. If you want your home to be tailor made for you, then you need to some research, and by using a design app, you will be able to do it.

• Houzz - Android and iOS / Free
• Photo Measures – iOS / $4.99
• Color Capture - iOS / Free
• Home Design 3D – iOS / $2.99
• Home Decorator Pro – iOS / $0.99
• Home Design DIY - iOS / $2.99
• I.D. Wood – iOS / $4.99
• Feng Shui Bagua Map – iOS / $1.99

Shopping Apps

The lazy man’s best friend is a app that allows him to do his shopping from home, without the need of going from store to store in search of a lamp or the perfect table. The best thing about online shopping is that you save a lot of time and you can visit different stores and compare prices on different items. Thanks to the fact that many online stores offer mobile apps for their customers, it’s easy to download them and start browsing the virtual shelves for the very best items.

• Lowe’s - Android and iOS / Free
• Home Depot - Android, iOS, Windows Phone / Free
• eBay – Android, iOS, Windows Phone / Free
• Amazon – Android, iOS, Windows Phone / Free
• IKEA – Android, iOS / Free

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The post 21 Creative Home Improvement Apps: DIY, Design & Shopping appeared first on Technology Personalized.

For instance, what happens when you accidently remove a picture? It is lost forever or there are ways of recovering the file? Luckily, the short answer favors those careless and in the following lines we are going to explain why deleted photos can be recovered from a digital camera and most important, how.

How a digital camera actually works?

These days everybody owns a digital camera and uses it for different reasons, from capturing important family moments to just taking photos of a beautiful landscape. All in all, they represent a better solution than old cameras in many ways, such as the capability of organizing photos much better or the possibility to share pictures via social networking sites.

Practically, a digital camera stores all photos on a flash memory card which can be a SD, CF, Memory Stick, MMC card or other types. They are made by different manufacturers, have different sizes and appearances, but they have the same essence – one very similar to a floppy disk or a hard drive.

When you choose to delete a picture or a video, your digital camera will locate the space allocated and mark that space as available for future usage. The picture is not actually deleted until another image takes its place. So basically, the photo is still there and it is very important to stop taking other pictures or the chances of recovering pictures that have been accidentally deleted will be reduced.

So plug-in your camera or connect the memory card to your laptop’s card reader and use one of the tools presented below:

Asoftech Photo Recovery Software

Asoftech Photo Recovery Software is a specialized program in recovering deleted, formatted or corrupted photos and videos from your digital camera. It supports all memory card types including MMC, Memory Stick, CF Card, SDHC and several file types.

The interface is bright purple, easy to use and even allows a personalized search, limiting file types for better and quicker processes. Users reported that the software showed some problems in recovering movies in .mov format, but for pictures everything functioned smoothly and quick and they were all recovered.

To undelete files, simply launch the program and choose the mounted memory card. After that, specify the save path, click “Start” and all recovered data will show up. From the results page you can also choose only certain photos or videos which you want to save on the personal computer.

A big disadvantage of Asoftech is the price, because even if it’s so good at recovering pictures you will have to pay $29.95 to really use it. The demo version will only find lost pictures and videos on a memory card, but it will not offer the possibility to save them. Also, the compatibility in the demo version is limited to four major file types: JPEG, BMP, GIF and PNG.

PhotoRec

PhotoRec is a powerful application which can recover photos and videos from almost any device. Developers are saying that it recognizes over 390 different file types and it works with every memory disk, hard disk or USB stick that exists on the market.

However, the interface may represent a big disadvantage for some users because the program runs in a DOS box or from a command line, which may not appear so user-friendly. Another problem is that PhotoRec is actually a surrogate program to TestDisk and if you want to get it, you will also have to install TestDisk.

Once you have it, simply open the program and a menu will pop-up with a list of all storage devices that are connected to your computer, including hard-drives, removable drives and mounted cards. Choose the problematic memory stick and select search parameters, which can be for example “Bruteforce” that recovers more fragmented JPEG files or “Low memory” if your computer has crashed during past recoveries.

Next, select the place where you want to save all recovered pictures and wait, because everything else is automated. In case the process takes too much, the program allows you to stop the operations and to resume later.

Besides the Windows version, PhotoRec is available also for Linux and Mac OSX and can be downloaded for free from their official page.

Recuva

In case you deleted photos or videos from a digital camera, Recuva may represent a viable solution. This program is developed by Piriform, the same company which made the famous CCleaner optimization tool. Recuva has a nice interface, user-friendly and a wizard that will guide you through the process of recovering pictures. It can make personalized searches for different file types, specific drives or enable a deep scan that will find pictures even on a damaged memory stick. To do this, just follow this simple guide:

1. Start the application and click “Next” on the “Welcome to the Recuva Wizard” page.
2. Now choose the type of files you want to recover.
3. Choose the location of the memory card from the “File Location” page and click “Next”.
4. The next page allows you to select a deep search option, which is preferred in the case of a corrupted memory stick.
5. Click “Next” and wait until the search finishes. Select the desired pictures and press “Recover” to save them on the computer.

After searching finishes, a list with the found pictures is shown along with their health and other detailed information. Health refers to the fact that the picture was partly overwritten or not. Results can be also shown in a thumbnail view which will might help navigating between various results.

Besides major file types (JPEG, PNG, GIF) the program is able to recover also Nikon RAW and Canon RAW (.CRW) formats, representing a good choice even for pro consumers. The interesting thing about Recuva is that it comes also in a free portable version so that in case you don’t have internet you can move it between the laptop and computer. The free version is fully-featured, while Pro and Business Editions cost $19.95 and $24.95 and they will only add support from developers.

CardRecovery

CardRecovery is an application specially designed to recover files from memory cards used by digital cameras. It supports all main file formats and memory cards, from compact digital cameras (JPEG, PNG) used by common users to DSLR cameras (raw format) used by professionals.

The interface speaks for itself because everything is placed where it should be and the three step wizard will guide you through a very simple process. All you have to do is to enter the location of the memory card, choose the camera brand (optional) and the destination folder where to put recovered pictures.

Everything else is automated and to browse through pictures you will have to wait until the whole process is finished. Developers are saying that for an 8 GB SDHC card you will have to wait approximately 14 minutes to complete a full search. The program also offers a thumbnail preview, only for JPEG pictures and unfortunately, it will show only six pictures on a page which can be a little bit discouraging when you are searching for a particular photo between hundreds of photos.

Besides the Windows version, CardRecovery is also available for Mac OSX and can be tried before purchase. Developers offer a free version which will scan memory sticks and find lost pictures, but for the ability to save them, you will have to pay $39.

SoftAmbulance Photo Undelete

SoftAmbulance Photo Undelete is a powerful tool specialized in recovering and repairing deleted or corrupted photos / videos. It can restore images directly from a wide range of digital cameras, so that you will not need to pull out the memory card and use it through a card reader.This application is also able to recover pictures and videos from hard disk drives, DVD’s, CD’s and Blue Ray disks. Formats like JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP and RAW are all supported along with other dozens of different file types.

The interface of the program is very simple and light because this program has implemented an intuitive, easy-to-use wizard which will guide you through all processes. Just select the desired device, press scan and it will locate all deleted or corrupted photos and show previews of them, so that you can choose which one should be saved.

If the memory stick is corrupted or damaged, SA Photo Undelete has the option of deep scanning, sector by sector, which will find any available pictures in no-time.The program also comes with a free evaluation copy which allows only previewing search results, while recovering will cost $44.9.

EaseUS Card Recovery Wizard

Another interesting option is EaseUS Card Recovery Wizard which is a card recovery program that retrieves deleted photos, videos and audio files from any flash memory cards, USB or SD cards used by cameras and phones.

Connect the memory card to your computer and open the software which has two modes: Deleted File Recovery and Deep Scan. While the first is for recovering all deleted photos or videos from a memory card, the second is used to recover from damaged or inaccessible storage devices. When the scanning is over, you can choose which pictures or videos should be saved. Easy and reliable, EaseUS Card Recovery Wizard can be purchased for $39.95.

© Raju PP for Technology Personalized, 2013. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

The post How to Restore Deleted Photos & Videos From a Digital Camera appeared first on Technology Personalized.

What’s the formula for success? Clearly, Samsung knows a thing or two about this, having followed a similar strategy for its Galaxy S, S2 and S III smartphones – each model a bigger success than its predecessor. And with its latest flagship, the Galaxy S4, the Korean manufacturer hasn’t broken the mold, and is attempting to follow the same tried and tested route to the top. Each and every aspect of the S III has been beefed up – from the hardware to the software, to come up with a device that’s so loaded that a hard copy of its spec and features sheet probably weigh much more than the handset itself. And then of course, there’s the matter of its plastic construction and how it compares to its nemesis, the HTC One, widely touted as the best Android phone there is. Bear with us, as we attempt to decode the S4′s DNA and present it to you stripped of its hype, just so you can figure out whether this is a galaxy you want to explore or not.

Design and hardware

Yes, it’s made of plastic. No, it doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. Yes, the HTC One feels much, much more premium. No, that probably won’t be a deal breaker for most. The best part about the Galaxy S4′s design has to be how Samsung has managed to squeeze in a larger screen compared to the S III in a body that’s physically smaller, thinner and lighter. Toting a design that’s not drastically different, it’s a smooth slab with rounded corners.

The best part about the Galaxy S4′s design has to be how Samsung has managed to squeeze in a larger screen compared to the S III in a body that’s physically smaller, thinner and lighter

There’s a 5-inch screen in front along with a dark, thin border, a rounded home button at the bottom with a chrome lining and flanked by two capacitive touch keys, while the top is home to the phone earpiece, sensors, a notification LED and the front-facing camera. A chrome band encircles the spine on all four sides and ups the ante in terms of its premium feel. The metallic power / sleep key is on the right, the volume rocker on the left, microUSB cum MHL port at the bottom along with the microphone, while the 3.5mm headset socket can be found on top next to the secondary microphone and an infrared blaster. Flip the phone over and you’re greeted by a textured pattern that’s smooth to the touch and a bit of a fingerprint magnet. Our review unit came in black, but there’s a white option available as well.

The 13-megapixel snapper and an LED flash are placed close to the top, with a Samsung logo in the middle and a speaker close to the bottom. As we mentioned earlier, the device doesn’t compare in build to the HTC One’s aluminum unibody construction, and while we aren’t sure how Samsung’s new flagship will take hard falls, at least it doesn’t feel cheap and is lighter to boot.

Rating: 8.5/10

Display

The Galaxy S III has a 720p screen, so it’s only apt that the S4 gets a bigger, better screen. With its full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel screen, the S4 joins the elite club that currently has the likes of the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z and the HTC Butterfly as its members. The Super AMOLED display on the S4 boasts a pixel density of 441 ppi and is a treat for the eyes. It’s hard to find fault with it, since it works well in all aspects – from the colors to viewing angles. Sunlight legibility isn’t bad either. The text is crisp, the icons float, the images pop out and the videos look alive.

Apart from the usual auto brightness feature that adjusts screen brightness as per ambient light, there are quite a few other tweaks available that let you customize the S4′s display. Like the S III, there’s an option to switch the display between dynamic, standard, photo and movie modes depending upon your preferences and usage. A new option called “adapt display” has also been added, tuning the display automatically. This aside, there’s also an option to increase touch sensitivity for use with gloved hands – useful for those residing in or traveling to chilly climes. It’s a superb screen, and will not disappoint you whatever your usage might be.

Rating: 9/10

Camera

While a 2-megapixel snapper handles video calling at the front, the Galaxy S4 has been armed with a 13-megapixel main camera. After loading it up with megapixels, Samsung went ahead and crammed every software feature it could find, ending up with quite a few gimmicks in the process as well. Not too long ago, there was a time when we used to talk about features like HDR and panorama, and wax lyrical about smartphones cameras that sported them. The S4′s shooter has all of this, and so much more. Par for the course, there’s control over ISO, white balance, exposure, and metering. You can set the volume key to control digital zoom or to capture stills or video.

The S4′s snapper is much more versatile and serves up good results in almost all other scenarios. The frills and the gimmicks are bonus.

Just like the LG Optimus G, the shutter can be triggered using voice commands. There’s an editable quick menu so you can place shortcuts to your favorite settings right upfront. The camera UI allows you to capture stills and videos from the same screen, and tapping on an arrow below throws up the available filters and effects, each with live previews. Tap on the “Mode” key, and you’re presented with the range of shooting modes on offer. This is where you can select the usual ones such as panorama, HDR, night, sports, beauty face etc, but there are also a few others. “Eraser” and “Drama” are two features we’ve seen previously on the HTC One, with the former capturing a series of images and erasing undesired elements such as bystanders from a photo, and the latter combining a series to stitch them into a sequence action shot. There’s also a “Sound & shot” mode that lets you capture a short audio clip with a still, and “Animated photo” that enables animating a part of an image to create a .GIF.

Next, a Dual Shot feature combines images from both the front and the rear cameras to capture a single shot that gets you into the action while shooting, so to speak. How’s the quality, you ask? In one word, outstanding. Pristine images, detailed and accurate colors, and sharp, crisp results are yours for the taking. The camera excels in all sorts of shooting conditions, especially those with good lighting, both indoors and outdoors. It’s quite usable in low light as well, though the HTC One takes the cake there. However, the S4′s snapper is much more versatile and serves up good results in almost all other scenarios. The frills and the gimmicks are bonus.

Photo Samples

Video Samples

Rating: 9/10

Software

Where there’s a Samsung Galaxy, there’s TouchWiz, the manufacturer’s custom skin that drapes over Android. And this time, the Android offering is the latest version of Mountain View’s world-beating mobile OS, version 4.2.2.

Sammy has made sure that the software features and content offerings are so loaded that no other rival can even think about coming close

While this version brings its own pluses to the table including lock screen widgets, Sammy has made sure that the software features and content offerings are so loaded that no other rival can even think about coming close. As one would expect, the goodies we’ve seen earlier are all there, from Samsung’s own apps covering the likes of ChatOn, S Voice, S Planner and S Memo, right along with the Samsung Apps storefront.

Features we’ve see earlier such as Multi window and Smart Stay are also present. Text input is handled by the Samsung Keyboard, which offers a dedicated row of numbers on the top. It also features text prediction, auto correct, and swipe-based text input. The only problem with it is that it feels a tad cramped, but in case you don’t get friendly with it after a while, you can always opt for one of the third-party options such as the excellent SwiftKey off the Play Store.

There’s a new app called WatchOn which is powered by Peel and works hand-in-glove with the IR blaster located on the top. This is another feature we’ve seen in the HTC One and lets you use your device as a universal remote to control your TV and DVR, apart from presenting a program guide. The one-time setup process on the S4 is fairly straightforward, and while India isn’t mentioned in the list of countries, we were able to control our LG TV and Tata Sky set-top box after a bit of hit and trial, and choosing UK as our location and Sky+ as the provider. Most functions of the Tata Sky + box are supported, including the onscreen guide as well as recording and playback functions, and while it isn’t really a must-have feature, it’s certainly a useful one.

Then there’s Story Album that lets you create photo albums using your camera images, and Group Play, a feature that lets you share music, pictures and documents, and also play multiplayer games with other S4 devices. S Health is another new addition, and is a full-fledged fitness app that lets you monitor your health and keep track of workouts, steps taken, calorie intake etc. Samsung Hub acts as the main content hub and integrates books, games, videos and learning material that includes educational titles, TED Talks and sample question papers. Make no mistake, there’s a lot on offer here, and we aren’t finished yet.

While there’s the question of how many of these features are actually useful and will be used regularly over the long term, there’s no denying that these work in the device’s favor to differentiate from the pack

Taking a cue from features such as Air View that worked using the S Pen on the Note II, along with the Smart Stay concept that uses the front camera to detect your eyes on the screen and keeps the screen awake, Samsung has crammed the S4 with a slew of gestures and tricks that let you control the device without even touching it. Air View now works using just your finger, and displays previews of emails or contact details just by hovering your finger over the screen. Swiping your hand above the screen while the device is on standby can awaken it to display notifications, and you can even use the same action to accept incoming calls or scroll through images in the gallery or long web pages – all without actually touching the screen.

Then there are others, such as Smart Pause that pauses a video automatically when you look away, and continues playback when you turn your face back towards the screen. Similarly, Smart Scroll lets you scroll web pages just by tilting your head. It’s an overwhelming package, and in our testing, we had mixed success in getting many of these to work. While there’s the question of how many of these features are actually useful and will be used regularly by S4 owners over the long term, there’s no denying that these work in the device’s favor to differentiate and make it stand out from the rest of the pack.

Rating: 8.5/10

Performance and battery life

With an Exynos 5 Octa 5410 processor under the hood, mated to 2GB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX 544MP3 GPU, the Galaxy S4′s core specs are top notch. The Octa-core processor is slightly misleading in the sense that while it does have eight cores, only four are in operation at a time. The chipset combines 1.6GHz Cortex-A15 quad-core and 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 quad-core silicon, and the speedier cores only kick in for tasks that require their prowess, switching the A7 cores off in the process. Similar to Tegra 3′s 4-PLUS-1 structure, this is a battery saving feature.

The 2,600 mAh pack here keeps the phone alive for a full working day with medium usage. A little more however, and you may need a top-up charge during the day.

As far as pure performance is concerned, this is Samsung’s new age flagship we’re talking about here, and as such, there are absolutely no speed bumps anywhere. This smartphone flies and zips through everything that’s thrown at it, and the going is butter smooth. There’s only a little over 8GB of available storage accessible by the user out of the built-in 16GB, and while that’s a bit of a disappointment, at least you can add more via the microSD slot.

In terms of connectivity, there’s the whole gamut – from Wi-Fi 802.11 ac to MHL 2.0, NFC, DLNA and Wi-Fi Direct – no quibbles here. Unlike most of its closest rivals, the Galaxy S4 offers a removable battery, and the 2,600 mAh pack here keeps the phone alive for a full working day with medium usage. A little more however, and you may need a top-up charge during the day, especially if you’re working late or have a late evening do to attend.

Rating: 9/10

Video Review

Conclusion

Too much of a good thing can be a problem, and Samsung’s attempt to cram the S4 with so many features could have a negative side as well. It even defies the 80:20 rule, which we think, holds true for smartphones too.

It’s a bit like an all-you-can-eat buffet by the end of which you feel stuffed, but not really satiated.

With the ubiquitous smartphone handling so much of our tasks, from communications to media, social networking to personal organization, navigation to shooting, very few of the conventional users actually use all of a device’s capabilities, especially a powerful, flagship one. And considering the S4′s capabilities, how many of these are actually useful on a day-to-day basis, assuming they all work as advertised? We reckon it’s a bit like an all-you-can-eat buffet by the end of which you feel stuffed, but not really satiated.

Truth be told, these gripes could very well be the rants of those like us who follow this space closely, and may not mean much to the average user. The Galaxy S4 is an overwhelming, powerful device that will not disappoint, unless you really hate plastic devices and prefer metal. Priced at Rs 41,500 (~ $760), it certainly doesn’t come cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One – What to buy?

As diplomatic as it may sound, there’s little doubt that both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are both extremely capable in their own right, but if you’re having trouble trying to figure out where to lay your hard-earned dosh, check out both of them and get a first-hand feel before you buy. The HTC One is certainly the one to own if you’re a fan of great build quality, and value a snapper that’ll deliver amazing shots in low light – a scenario where most of us end up clicking pictures regularly anyway. Think parties, dinners, et al.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S4′s beauty lies in it being a device loaded with a ton of features, some of which are fun, some handy, some amazing, and some gimmicky, along with that all-rounder of a camera. Being the evolution it is, the S4 may not be a totally unexplored galaxy that promises exciting adventures, but it can certainly boast a maze of features for keeping you occupied. Or lost. Or at least help you shout, “look ma, no hands!”, if nothing else. Depends on you, really.

Overall Rating: 9/10

© Raju PP for Technology Personalized, 2013. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Review: a Smartphone that Packs it all appeared first on Technology Personalized.

“Good evening, sir. Welcome to CCC – Cellulite Celluloid Cellular – the place where you come, you see and make calls. Can I help you?”

“Well, yes, actually, I was looking for a smartphone…”

“I thought so the moment I saw you, sir. Absolutely. This is a man, I said, who wants a smartphone. And knows what he wants. Which is what we have in common.”

“Er…what?”

“We both know what you want, sir. Now, tell me your budget.”

“Well, I don’t want to spend too much.”

“Wise, sir. For about 450 dollars…”

“Er…could we halve that?”

“Indeed we could, sir. The economy tailspin, after all. Just give me a second. Here you go.”

“What’s that?”

“That’s your smartphone, sir. 3G, 4G and a guarantee to upgrade to 5G by 2020 if it is still working. 2 TB storage, decent camera, 10 GHz Squad Core processor…”

“Wait a minute!”

“…and Android 7.5 (Billy Jean), with a steel stylus optional, plastic stylus compulsory, and a glass stylus if you really want to show off. You were saying, sir?”

“I mean this is big…”

“Of course it is, sir. 7.8 inch full HD display. To see the big picture.”

“But this is a phone…”

“Yes, it is. See those holes at the bottom? Microphones. One noise canceling. One noise dismembering. One noise destroying – it actually shuts the phone down, between the two of us, but…”

“Look, it’s too big! Why can’t I just have a 6-inch display device?”

“Of course it is not big, sir. Here…see it fits right against your cheek. Snug.”

“You mean to say it is occupying half my face…”

“Absolutely, with Blows seven way speakers, imagine the sound you would get.”

“No,but it barely fits my hand…”

“Give it time, sir. Your hand will grow into it. The fingers are pliable, they will stretch and…”

“I do NOT want them to grow into it, dammit!”

“Please be calm, sir. I can understand your fearing the wear and tear on your hands. Some people do not like their fingers stretched…”

“I certainly do not!”

“Which is why we have this handy King Kong cell holder glove. Wear it and use your phone without harming your fingers. Tell you what, I will get you a sweet deal on them if you buy the phone…”

“Hang on, this is not a phone. This is a tablet!”

“Oh, that is so clever, sir. And then you keep saying we salespersons use jargon. Of course, it is not a tablet, sir. It makes calls. Sends messages. Does messaging….”

“Forget that. Look at its size!”

“Sir, can you ever see the big picture on a small screen?”

“Wha…”

“Sir, this is your third screen. You need to be able to get a good viewing experience…”

“I already HAVE a tablet, a Tipple ByePad…”

“Excellent. Give it to use and we swing you an OMG EMI swap scheme!”

“No, but I like it!”

“Oh come, sir. Don’t you believe in convergence?”

“Wait…”

“This phone can act as as your tablet, your TV, your computer, your pillow, your plate…and of course, it is a phone too!”

“But…”

“Just one SIM card inside it is all it takes, my friend. Apps, taps, slaps, swipes, wipes, everything is in your trouser pocket!”

“That thing won’t fit in my trouser pocket!”

“Which is why we are selling it with our range of CellularCellulite Cargos With Embargos. With special pockets for special phones. We like to say it can store the Titanic!”

“Isn’t there something smaller? It would look silly against my face…”

“Nonsense, sir. Just add this SliceDice trimmer accessory and the phone will shave you as you take a call…”

“Hang on…”

“Indeed it will, sir. Just remember to hold it against alternate ears. Your face will be like a baby’s…”

“I do not want to hold it to my face!”

“Well, in that case why don’t you try our headsets with BigBlackTeeth technology wireless connectivity. For really big sound.”

“All right, that seems better…”

“Here you go, sir. Perfect fit for heads large and small…”

“That is a ghetto blaster!”

“Big speakers for big sound, sir. There’s a special slot in the back of the CellularCellulite Cargos With Embargos in which to place them. They allow you to sit on them, and even vibrate pleasantly. Sir? Sir? Anyone seen where he went?”

© Raju PP for Technology Personalized, 2013. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

The post Buying a Phone in the Future [Humor] appeared first on Technology Personalized.