21 Oct 2013

BREAKING NEWS [UPDATED]: BBM Now Available for Android and iOS Users!

After uncountable delays and god knows how many fake apps in the Play Store. BBM for Android is about to really arrive in Google Play and the Apple App Store. This will mark the first time Blackberry's premier messaging service has been available on a non-Blackberry device. You'll be able to download the app today, but you might not be able to actually use it.


BBM for Android was leaked a few weeks back and the flood of users caused server shutdown for the company. This time the number of users will be controlled by a waiting list that you'll signup for in the app. Just enter an email address and Blackberry will let you know when the time has come for you to start using the app.
The company promises to move people through the queue as quickly as possible, but you'll probably want to get on it early if you just can't wait. All those leaked installs at least show there is still some demand for BBM even if the company's phones aren't of much interest anymore.
We will let you know when the app is live.

UPDATE: Blackberry Messenger has gone live in certain countries on the Play Store and worldwide on the Apple App Store. To download click here.  

SHARE the news people!

Source: Blackberry Blog

20 Oct 2013

'Doctor Who': All 11 Doctors in One

BBC has finally started advertising the 50th anniversary special of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who!


The promotion includes the poster showing all 11 ''Doctors' till date. For full size image click here.

Also released is a teaser trailer for the upcoming special — titled “Day of the Doctor.” The special airs Nov. 23 and is going to be broadcast live simultaneously in several countries. The teaser shows all the previous doctors, from William Hartnell to Matt Smith (and a few foes). Although it is still missing any actual new footage from the upcoming special.


Excited?

TechGooner Explains: Why Does Rebooting Help Fix Most of the Problems?

Recently, I met a guy who put some really interesting, yet basic questions in front of me regarding stuff on Windows, Android, etc. This gave me the idea of starting a new series ‘TechGooner Explains’. Here we go with the first one..

The moment your PC starts showing problems the first thing that comes in your head is “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” This is the standard response any computer geek will give you (even if they have not watched The IT Crowd). So the question that pops up is, why don’t geeks try to identify and fix problems rather than use the blunt hammer of “reboot”?


Firstly, remember this reset philosophy/process is not restricted to Windows, it is applicable on routers, phones, iPads, sound systems and even software’s! Ever had extensions crash in Chrome?


To illustrate the requirement of a reboot, I’m going to use the most famous example – the blue screen of death! The problem is usually caused because of problems in hardware drivers or hardware malfunction. Windows has reached a state where it does not understand the error. So it stops all functions, shows the blue-screen of death and gathers the require information about the problem in the background. After this Windows automatically restarts the computer for you. This restart fixes the blue screen of death.


Another usual occurrence is the loss of Graphic Drivers. Earlier (Windows XP and the ones before it), a crash in the Graphic Drivers would ‘hang’ the system, and one had to force reboot it. Windows has improved, the desktop will lose its fancy graphical effects for a few moments before regaining them. Behind the scenes, Windows is restarting the malfunctioning graphics driver.

But why doesn't Windows simply fix the problem rather than restarting the computer itself?  Well, because it can’t — the code has encountered a problem and stopped working completely, so there’s no way for it to continue. By restarting, the code can start from square one and hopefully it won’t encounter the same problem again.

Examples of Restarting Fixing Problems

Windows is Slow: Windows running slowly, usually means that a program is misbehaving and using up a major chunk of the CPU. A geek could head to the task manager and look around, hoping to locate the misbehaving process an end it. If an average user encountered this same problem, they could simply reboot their computer to fix it.



Browser is Using Too Much Memory: Internet browsers including Firefox and Chrome are well known for memory leaks. Over time, the browser would often consume more and more memory, getting larger and larger and slowing down. Closing the application will cause it to relinquish all of its memory. When it starts again, it will start from a clean state without any leaked memory. This doesn’t just apply to Firefox and Chrome, but applies to any software with memory leaks.

Internet or Wi-Fi Network Problems: If you have a problem with your Wi-Fi or Internet connection, the software on your router or modem may have encountered a problem. Resetting the router — just by unplugging it from its power socket and then plugging it back in — is a common solution for connection problems. On the computer front, resetting the adapter works, but rebooting does the same trick.

In all cases, a restart wipes away the current state of the software. Any code that’s stuck in a misbehaving state will be swept away, too. When you restart, the computer or device will bring the system up from scratch, restarting all the software from square one so it will work just as well as it was working before.

Ultimately, the answer is that “resetting a computer wipes away the current state of the software, including any problems that have developed, and allows it to start over from square one.” It’s easier and faster to start from a clean state than identify and fix any problems that may be occurring — in fact, in some cases, it may be impossible to fix problems without beginning from that clean state.

If you want a certain topic in the next edition of TechGooner Explains, leave it in the comment section below.

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18 Oct 2013

Nexus 5 - Full-Size Official Press Photo Released

If the numerous leaks/rumors surrounding the Nexus 5 were not sufficient to convince you of the latest device from the Mountain View company, this 'leak' should do it. The device appeared in the device listings in the US Play Store out of nowhere (Yes, it was taken down quickly).

Feast your eyes, on the NEXUS 5.

The price for the 16 GB model is listed as $349. While that's a higher barrier to entry than we saw with the Nexus 4, which also cost $349 at 16GB but had a $299 8GB model, it's still an attractively low price for what appears to be a more than capable device. Google's tagline for the LG-made phone is "Capture the everyday and the epic in fresh new ways."

Nexus 5 is expected to have a 5-inch Full HD display (441 PPI), a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera, NFC and wireless charging. Let’s stop a second to let that marinate. Even fans of Samsung devices, which consistently have the latest, most bleeding-edge specs, will be fawning over the Nexus 5’s potential. It sounds nothing short of amazing. Not only will it be fast, and compatible with plenty of networks here in the U.S, it should feature the latest version of Android, KitKat 4.4. Other possible specs include a 2,300mAh battery for the 16GB model, 3,000mAh model for the 32GB model, a cavalcade of sensors, notification light, Bluetooth 4.0 and Slimport compatibility. 


Google is yet to announce anything official about the Nexus 5, but it can't be far off now.

P.S: 
The time is 4:40. How typical of Google. :D