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Google officially launches Google Drive

Murtaza Frosh — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:42:05 +0000

We’ve heard the rumors for weeks, and seen leaked versions during an Android developer’s Google+ Hangout and in one employee presentation. But now Google Drive, Google’s cloud-storage service, is official.

Announced on the company blog Tuesday, the service will integrate with Google Docs and will allow you to access files from anywhere and collaborate on documents with colleagues.

Google Docs is built right into Google Drive, which means you can work with others in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you’ve shared content with someone else, you can add and reply to comments on anything (PDF, image, video file, etc.) and you’ll receive notifications when other people comment the items you’ve shared.

One interesting feature of the service is smart tagging, which allows you to tag items stored on your drive. So if you’ve uploaded a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge to your drive, the next time you perform a search for the bridge, your photo will show up along with other results.

Google Drive also uses image recognition — so if you drag and drop photos from your recent vacation into Drive, you can later search for locations you’ve visited and those photos will show up.

Using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, Drive can also recognize text in scanned documents. That means if you’ve scanned in a page from an old book, for instance, you can search for words in that document.

When it comes time to access your files, the service can open a variety of different files types – 30 of them to be exact – within your browser, regardless of whether or not you have the required software installed. Supported file types include PDFs, HD video, and images from Illustrator and Photoshop.

You can install Drive on your Mac or PC , and use the service via an app on your Android phone or tablet. Google also has plans for an iOS app in the future. Blind users can access Drive with a screen reader.

Google is offering all users 5GB of storage on the service for free. If you need more than the 5GB, then it is offering several tiers of storage options.

You can choose to upgrade to 25GB for $2.49/month, 100GB for $4.99/month or 1TB for $49.99/month. When you upgrade to a paid account, your Gmail account storage also expands to 25GB.

You can check out Google Drive for yourself at the service’s brand-new homepage.

Dual monitor setup: Two monitors are better than one

Murtaza Frosh — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:56:28 +0000

You can never have enough screen space. Instead of buying a larger computer monitor, you can buy an inexpensive second monitor or make use of a spare one and connect it to your computer (if you’re using Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP)—instantly doubling your desktop space.

Dual monitor setup checklist

There’s a good chance you already have everything you need to set up your second monitor.

If you need more detail about the necessary equipment, you’ll find it in the Know your equipment section.

Two monitors (one, if you’re setting up a laptop), which may be flat-panel LCD monitors or CRT monitors or one of each—it doesn’t matter. You can even use a TV screen as a monitor. If you’re going to buy a monitor, there are many points to consider in addition to the price. For example, picture quality, screen size, screen resolution, compatibility with your computer port, higher contrast ratio, and richness of color are some of the most important factors.
Although we refer to two monitors in this article, you can use more than two as long as you have the connectors available on your computer.
Two monitor cables to connect the monitors to the computer (one for a laptop). These need to match the connection types available on your computer.
A monitor connection on your computer for each monitor you want to connect. These may be Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connectors, Video Graphics Array (VGA) connectors, HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors, or S-Video connectors for using your TV as a monitor. The connections will need to match the monitor cables. These ports connect to video cards in your computer. They are usually located on the back of your desktop computer and on the side or back of your laptop computer.
If you don’t have the connectors you need for your monitors, you can install a video adapter to change the connector type, or, if you’re using a desktop computer, you can replace your video card or install additional cards. This involves opening your computer, so you may want to seek assistance from a local computer retailer or watch this video for help to do it yourself.

Know your equipment

The following table provides more information about the components for setting up an extra monitor.

Equipment	Description	More information
	LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor	LCD monitors are thin, light, and high-resolution. Purchase an LCD monitor.
	CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor: An older, bulkier monitor, still popular because of its low cost	CRTs are larger, heavier, and require more desk space but are cheaper than LCD models. Purchase a CRT monitor.Get a used one for less.
	VGA (Video Graphic Array) port	VGA ports are the most common computer ports, using an analog system to transfer dispislay data.
	DVI (Digital Video Interface) port	A DVI port provides a high-quality display using digital techniques to transfer the display data.
	HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port	HDMI ports are the interface standard used for audio-visual equipment, such as HDTVs or home theater systems.
	S-Video port	An S-Video port is one of the most common ways to connect computers to TVs.
	Monitor cable	A monitor cable carries information in graphic form from the computer to the monitor. The connectors on the cables you use must match the connectors on your computer. Purchase a monitor cable.
	Video adapter cable or converter	You’ll only need a converter if you’re trying to connect a computer with one type of graphics card, such as VGA, to a monitor using another technology, like DVI. Purchase an adapter cable.

How to set up your second monitor

Connect the monitor cables

When you’re ready to connect the monitor cable to the connector on your computer, make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on. Your computer should automatically detect the second monitor, although you may have to restart your computer first. If you’re using Windows XP, you’ll need to enable Dualview.

When your computer detects the monitor, it should also automatically detect and apply the display settings appropriate for the monitor.

Configure your displays

You may want to adjust display settings yourself, as described in the following articles.

The settings shown here are for Windows 7, but they are basically the same as those available for Windows Vista and Windows XP. If necessary, you can drag the monitor icons so that they are arranged in the same way as the monitors on your desk. Click Identify to verify which monitor is 1 and which monitor is 2. You’ll see the numbers appear on your monitors.

Under Multiple displays, you can also adjust what you see on the second monitor. You have the following choices:

Extend your displays.This spreads your desktop over both monitors and lets you drag items between the two screens. This is how most people use two monitors, and it’s the default setting for desktop computers. After your monitor is set up, you can use your mouse to grab the title bar (the top portion) of a window and drag it to your new display. If a window does not move when you drag it, double-click the title bar first, and then drag it
Duplicate your displays.This displays the same desktop on both monitors. For a laptop, this is the default setting. This is useful if you’re giving a presentation with your laptop connected to a projector or large monitor.
Show your desktop on only one monitor.This is most commonly used with a laptop if you want to keep your laptop screen blank after you connect to a large desktop monitor.

When you disconnect the additional monitor, the original display settings are restored to your primary display. In addition, all open files and program windows are moved to the primary display. The next time that you connect the same monitor, the Windows operating system automatically applies the display settings that you used the last time that you connected this monitor.

Troubleshooting: Normally, the process of setting up and using a second monitor is seamless and automatic. However, because it involves hardware and software from multiple sources, you may need to troubleshoot problems and make adjustments. For example, if your computer fails to detect the second monitor, first make sure it’s plugged in and turned on, and then, in the display settings, click Detect. Or your computer might not support multiple displays. Visit Microsoft Update, click Custom, and install any available hardware updates. You may also need to visit your computer manufacturer’s website to install an updated display driver. Or you may need to install an additional display adapter. Read this troubleshooting article for Windows Vista which also includes tips that pertain to other versions of Windows.

You’ll find that having two monitors can forever change the way you work with your computer. Be creative and experiment with the sizing of application windows and what information you can keep in constant view while doing multiple tasks. If you’re looking for more ideas on what to do with all of the extra viewing space you will have, read the article, Work and play better with multiple monitors.

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Interactive billboard

Murtaza Frosh — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:16:43 +0000

The National Centre for Domestic Violence has placed an interactive billboard at Euston Station in London which encourages onlookers to use their phones to drag an abusive man away from his partner…

The campaign, created by JWT London, features a man violently admonishing his partner on a screen in the station concourse. Viewers are encouraged to visit a website featured on the billboard via their phones, where they can then swipe the screen to drag the man away. This action is reflected in the station, with the man shown being moved across adjacent billboards, while messages encouraging people to report domestic violence appear. The film below shows how it works:

The challenge for these types of campaigns is getting people to interact in the first place. In this sense, a station is the perfect place to position this campaign, as there will be a number of people standing around, waiting for trains, who are more likely to spend the time required to look up the site. Viewers can also interact with the site via QR codes shown on other screens in the station.

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Jay-Z, logo designer?

Murtaza Frosh — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:07:40 +0000

Multi-platinum selling rapper, music mogul and Mr Beyoncé Jay-Z has unveiled a new string to his bow – graphic designer. The erstwhile Shawn Carter has reportedly ‘designed’ the new identity for the basketball team he co-owns, the Brooklyn Nets

Google+ Gets a Make-over: Will it Become the Apex Social Network?

Murtaza Frosh — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:41:15 +0000

Ever since its inception, Google+ has had its share of (rightfully deserved) attention. Hailed as the Grim Reaper for the likes of Facebook by some, and another (soon-to-be-abandoned) experiment like Google Buzz by others, G+ has always been in the spotlight, ever since day one of its existence.

Now, loving (or hating) a particular social service depends on personal preferences. However, that does not mean we can take the goodness that G+ brings to the table, away from it. Recently, Google+ has undergone a massive ~~revamp~~, ~~facelift~~, redesign. Here at 1WD, even though we aren’t generally intrigued enough to denote an entire article to a particular website’s redesign, with the level of attention that G+ tends to receive, it makes sense to take a deeper look at it.

However, before we take a look at the new G+, let us first spend some time discussing the old one. As most of you must’ve seen, earlier, G+ was divided into three columns – and a horizontal bar on top for search, profile, etc. Clean, simple, minimal – and so on. Truth be told, the old Google+ reminded us of Facebook’s layout, of course without the blue color.

The Redesign

Layout

Unlike the older design, the newer look of G+ does away with traditional layout. Now, the interface is packed with buttons, that provide both menus and sub-menus (on hover). Shades of gray have been used to complement the white interface – overall, the new look does well, and is impressive. Plus, the buttons and menus ensure that there exists a properly defined hierarchy on pages.

Actually, the new layout of G+ is way more complicated than the older one – you have the chat segment to your right, adjacent to the suggestions/trending sections, the navigation buttons on your left, and of course the main content stream right in front. Links about your circles sit in a horizontal bar on the top of the main segment, but below the extra-large search bar.
The new G+ Layout

Speaking of colors, the primary portions are in white while the secondary portions are in gray. Also, Google+ comes with its own Nomenclature:

Navigation strip on the left: RIBBON
Buttons on the Ribbon: APPLICATIONS
The main content region: CARD
Region under each post with comments, shares, etc.: ACTIVITY DRAWER

Icons

The older Google+ had simple, abstract icons – the newer one retains the simplicity, but has added some amount of gradience and subtlety. The icons in general are not prominently colored, but they become full colored as soon as you hover your cursor over them. In fact, this color-on-hover effect is visible all throughout the new G+ interface.

Icons in G+

Sidebar

Right between the main content region and the chat section, lies the sidebar, containing useful stuff such as ‘Trending’ (popular hash-tags), ‘You Might Like’ (people/pages that resemble your interests) and ‘You Might Know’ (people you might be knowing). The sidebar is neatly organized and yes, the hover effect is visible on the links.

G+ Sidebar

Profile

Once you open your profile page, the first thing that will meet your eyes is the cover image – an obvious import from Facebook. However, unlike FB, G+ has also placed a default cover image with, well, bubbles. The profile picture, unlike the previous layout, is now placed on the right hand side – and is bigger as compared to the profile pictures on Facebook.

Profile in G+ with Cover Image

Drawbacks and Criticism

Nothing is perfect. While the redesigned Google+ does have many interesting features, it has also received its share of criticism.

For a start, the website is a good example of minimal and responsive web design done incorrectly. If you are on a large display, you will be greeted with an awkward level of whitespace. There is a patch for the same, but it exists only for Google Chrome users – if you are using a different web browser, get used to the whitespace, until it is cured. Alternatively, you can try being innovative, and share some hilarious laughs owing to the whitespace:

A G+ whitespace meme

Source

And another one:

Another G+ whitespace joke

Source

You can check out some more similar jokes here: One | Two | Three

Apart from that, certain features of G+ redesign look blatant imports from FB – apart from the cover image, the chat box is now on the right (with names and profile pictures), and so on.

Google+ – Present Promises, Future Dreams?

Google have had their share of experimenting with social networks in the past – Wave, Buzz and even Orkut – all were launched/adopted with a lot of hype, but fell out of favor quite soon. At the moment, Google+ has over 100 million active users. Compared to Facebook, this user base is relatively small, but keeping in mind the 140+ million user base of Twitter, G+ surely has a good chance to be the second most used social network. Obviously, Google does not seem to have any thoughts of abandoning G+ like its previous experiments.

With the new redesign, Google+ is trying to stand apart. The aim is not to project itself as an alternative to Facebook, but instead, to carve an identity of its own (much like Twitter has done). The new interface is surely fun to use, and has certain interesting innovations. The initial hiccups can and will certainly be taken care of, and once that is done, G+ can propagate itself as a social network with its own distinct identity, not merely a clone of Facebook.

The above aim is well highlighted in the new look of G+. The design gives prominence to features that are identified with G+ – Hangouts, for instance. While features such as cover image for profiles are clear imports from FB, overall the design is refreshing.

What are your thoughts about recent Google+ redesign – love it, hate it? Why?

8 Tips To Maximize Your Brand’s YouTube Presence

Murtaza Frosh — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:26:21 +0000

Creating an account on YouTube is simple, and building a channel for your brand is quick and easy. But at a time when most brand managers know the potential of this video-hosting medium, it’s not enough to simply have a presence. A brand must stand out to viewers by turning its channel into a destination. Otherwise, it runs the risk of getting lost among the more than 3 billion videos already viewed on YouTube each day.

This is why brands need a YouTube game plan that covers all aspects of the brand channel, including aesthetic, video content, and comment moderation. Below are eight tips for creating such a plan and turning your brand’s YouTube channel into a video hotspot.

1. Create a Schedule

While every brand may not have the resources to churn out new videos every week, laying out a schedule and adhering to it will force you to create fresh content. That will draw people back to the channel, which is what you want. One way to make sure you’re creating regular video content is to develop a recurring series with a theme. This will make it easier to come up with ideas when you are stuck. DirecTV, for instance, has a playlist on their official channel devoted to how-to videos that provide users valuable information on their dish product.

Using an activity calendar like the one shown above, you can remind your social networks about the type of content you’re publishing. You can create one yourself by syncing your YouTube content schedule with your other social networks to map out a strategy for cross-promotion.

2. Keep it Short

YouTube generally caps videos at 15 minutes, but the closer you get to that limit, the less likely you are to keep viewers engaged. Consider that those watching may not have that kind of time. Telling a story in one or two minutes will help ensure that anyone watching sees your entire message. Many brands upload their television ads, which are usually under five minutes, to YouTube. A good example is Acura’s Super Bowl commercial featuring Jerry Seinfeld, which has received more than 18 million views.

3. Promote

One of the great things about YouTube is its sharing functionality. On the other hand, with 48 hours of video being uploaded to YouTube every minute, there is a lot of competition for eyeballs on the site. This is why you must use existing digital assets to promote your channel and its content.

Start by posting your videos across social networks to increase viewership, but remember that this will not necessarily drive traffic. You must also make sure you are posting links to the channel itself and actively encouraging users to subscribe. Earning subscribers will increase the chance that people will see new videos as soon as they log in to the YouTube homepage.

It is also critical to optimize videos by entering a title with targeted keywords, a detailed description (the more the better!), and relevant keywords in the tags field. Filling in the important textual details will make it easier for users to find your videos because Google displays YouTube videos on the first page of search results.

4. Have a Channel Aesthetic

YouTube gives you plenty of options to create a customized appearance for your channel. Make sure you create an aesthetic reflective of your brand’s overall digital presence. To ensure that visitors know they are watching a video coming straight from your organization, use logos and colors they already associate with your brand. In this example, Ford uses a simple design with a header that provides a familiar feeling to those accustomed to seeing Ford’s online presence.

5. Don’t Ignore the Comments Section

There are two separate areas where you need to monitor comments. Users can comment on your channel homepage as well as below individual videos. YouTube administrators have the option to allow all comments, moderate comments before they are approved, or disable all comments. This is the case for both the channel and for individual videos. Additionally, comments can be moderated after the fact, by reporting them as spam or simply removing them from the comments section.

It is important to monitor the chatter on videos and your channel page to make sure you are responding to conversations that warrant a response, as well as moderating inappropriate content that may pop up. Because comments are displayed so prominently, you can’t ignore them. Of course, you shouldn’t delete every negative comment, but you can set standards for deleting comments with foul language or other offensive content.

6. Choose Your Featured Video Wisely

First impressions are everything. So when someone lands on your channel, don’t you want to put your best foot forward? Select a high-quality video that is entertaining, timely, and relevant. Switch the featured video regularly in order to keep your channel fresh and appealing. You also want to make sure your featured video has an eye-catching title that will make people want to watch it.

The homepage for the Under Armour channel has a good example featuring Cam Newton. Notice the starter image that appears beneath the play button. You have the option to change the starter thumbnail within the video’s settings, too.

7. Make Playlists of Related Content

Creating playlists are a great way to help viewers find more relevant content once they are finished watching a video. With the new YouTube layout, brands can place featured playlists front-and-center on the channel page. Within a playlist viewers can easily find related videos and can watch them, one after the next, without needing to manually press the play button. It’s important to make sure your playlists are accurately labeled so that users know exactly what they will find within each one.

8. Pay Attention to Analytics

YouTube provides free analytics for your channel. This means you have access to performance data (views, subscribers); engagement data (likes, comments, shares, etc.); demographic data (location and gender of viewers); and per-video metrics. By reviewing this information you can better gauge how effectively you are utilizing the content on your channel and how you can fine-tune it to create an even better experience for your viewers and subscribers.

Convert and YouTube videos in any format in ONE CLICK!

Google Glasses

Murtaza Frosh — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:48:25 +0000

Google Glass: Hope I live long enough to see this day.

Comics of the week

Murtaza Frosh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:53:52 +0000

Copyright confusion

Outdated font

A site that works

Can you relate to these situations? Please share your funny stories and comments below…

Make Pictures with Text! – Tekzilla Daily Tip

Murtaza Frosh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:23:21 +0000

Really cool tool

Published on Tekzilla (Large MP4) | shared via feedly

Looking for a more creative way to display your pictures? Text-Image will create ASCII art, or draw your photo with the text of your choosing, or even use Japanese characters a la The Matrix. Veronica shows you some examples, on today's Tekzilla Daily.

Help, My Website Is Missing!

Murtaza Frosh — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:53:51 +0000

This has to rank as one of the biggest stressors out there. You go to your site and it is not there! You get one of many messages. You panic. You wait on hold for the hosting company ’s tech support to answer. You message your tech. You call friends and ask them if they see your site. Here is what you should do first. Just go to this site (and be sure to bookmark): DownforEveryoneOrJust Me Now wasn’t that easy? At least you know if the problem is on your end or global!

One Response to “Help, My Website Is Missing!”

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