Apple’s Social Networking Solutions – Brand New Streaming Music Service

According to reports, Apple’s social networking solutions is said to be joined with a brand new streaming music service similar to Ping, the defunct iTunes features which enables artists in maintaining public pages for sharing music, photos, concert dates and much more.

This means that iTunes account holders on several platforms could comment on and `like’ the artist posts as well as pages though unlike Ping, the users would not have the ability in creating their own profile, thus making the network only slightly interactive.

While Spotify provides a watered down version of the upcoming social media test, enabling subscribers in following generated artist pages which automatically combines same band related information, Apple on the other hand is said to be looking to strike special deals and partnerships together with top music acts for its streaming music offers that could be directed to a more personal platform.

Recent reports indicate evidence which have been discovered in Apple’s most recent iOS 8.4 beta build that comprises of a Restrictions toggle setting for displaying `Artist Activity’ in the app for Music.

Rebranding of Beats Music

Though Apple is still to make an official announcement with regards to its streaming music ambition, the industry sources together with internal disclosures indicate a potential rebranding of Beats Music which could be launched in the near future.

There are reports also claiming that Apple is negotiating with record labels for additional attractive licensing deals though the talks have turned out to be unsuccessful. Apple though continues to negotiate with artists and record labels for its streaming music services. It has also been disclosed that Apple plans to name its streaming music service as Apple Music.

Apple had earlier planned to unveil the new feature with iOS 8.4 though it is recently indicated that a delay is foreseen. Apple seemed to have a tough time closing negotiations with the artists as well as record label in providing the music to be streamed. As a consequence according to some sources, it is indicated that there would not be enough content for a June launch while some other state that Apple has its focus in launching the service next month.

Apple to Offer Free Trial of One to Three Months to Subscribers 

It is believed that the Justice Department would look on Apple since the company has apparently asked record labels with whom they are in talks with, to compel Spotify in putting an end to its ad-supported free tier of service. It is said that around 75% of Spotify subscribers are non-paying consumers. Moreover it is also assumed that Apple has promised Universal Music that it would be reimbursing it for lost royalties if it stops offering YouTube with music.

Inspite of several attempts in stopping the competitors from providing free music, speculations are on that Apple would be offering potential subscribers with a free trial lasting from one to three months wherein after the trail period, it has been rumoured that Apple would be charging the subscribes around $8 per month which would be an undercut of $10 monthly which Spotify has been charging for its paid services.

Through “Highlight” feature users can get the summary of best Twitter Tweets

After the introduction of the popular feature like ‘While you were away’, Twitter has now come up with another feature called the ‘Highlights’ to blow the mind of their users. This feature will about providing a simple summary of the most popular tweets to the users every day. As per the latest information uploaded on the official blog of Twitter, the user will receive the summary of the daily tweets via push notification.
What is the new feature all about?

As per the blog post of Twitter, the recent feature of “Highlight” will help the twitter user to catch up on the best stuff of the day quickly and ensuring that all the information is relevant to the user. However, what remains a mystery is how Twitter will be able to pick the right highlight according to the user? The answer lies in a simple fact that now twitter is looking into the conversations of users and in their accounts that are followed by the user, the kind of tweets that is shared by the user with other people, the topics and the events that will be currently trending in the user’s network as well as in the area of the user. The company will also check on the people who are either trending or most popular that you follow every day.

On the other side, the users will also have the option of turning-on this feature to get all the benefits Highlights. Once the user has been able to activate the Highlight feature, they will be notified twice every day and upon clicking on the notification, the user will be directed to the main Twitter app, which in turn will display the latest highlights in a completely new interface. The users will have to swipe to check all the highlights of tweets. In present the “Highlight” feature is only available to all the Android users in English language.

The users will have to go their settings and access the tab for mobile notifications and click on the Highlights. Twitter has also launches its quality feature, which has been aimed at restricting the abusive tweets on the user’s account. At present, this feature is only available to some of the verified users of iOS. The company also indicated that they are constantly working towards updating their policy to deal with abuses. The company is currently working on their violent threat policy. They want to ensure that this policy features any violence or threats against another person or anyone who is promoting violence.

The company has also rolled out latest features that enable all the twitter users to receive Direct Messages even from the people who are not following the user. Earlier every person will have to follow another person in order send out a direct message on Twitter. With the launch of these new features, twitter has again made a critical change in their strategy and products with the hopes of boosting the user engagement.

Designing Your Slides for Your Next Presentation

A PowerPoint presentation can be a great asset for those who are preparing a presentation, whether at work, school or a social organization. The key to having a PowerPoint presentation that is compelling and interesting lies in how you design each slide. Here are some tips on creating aesthetically pleasing PowerPoint slide designs.

Choose Neutral Colors

No matter how loud and exciting your presentation may be, you will still want to use neutral or muted colors. If you don't audience members may have a difficult time reading text on your slides.

Combine Text with Visuals

No one wants to see slide after slide of nothing but text. That's boring. To make sure your slides are interesting, provide a mixture of text, photos, short videos, charts and more. You can try them on alternating slides or combine them on the same slide.

Stay Consistent

They easiest way to distract an audience or lose their attention all together is to not be consistent in your slides. You are staying consistent in your spoken message, so your slides should reflect the same care. Make sure that the same color scheme and fonts are used throughout to avoid distracting changes.
With professional looking PowerPoint slides, you will be able to ace any presentation you have to give.

Apple to Aid Japan's Elderly with iPads in latest fruits of IBM alliance

Apple & IBM Partnership – iPad to Aid Elders 

Apple will be providing the iPads and IBM would be developing custom software, a low tech scheme wherein postal workers from Japan Post checked in on how elderly would be functioning on hi-tech with the help of iPads as reported by Walls Street Journal. The pilot scheme which is the outcome of Apple and IBM partnership will be seeing Japan Post, give out free iPads to around 1,000 senior citizens to enable close and more regular checks.

 `Watch Over’ so called is a niche which had been started by Japan Post in 2013 wherein mail carriers check in on elderly people providing consultation and share in information with family members. A Japanese Post official had commented that `by handing iPads to the elderly, we can closely check in on them more often, not only confirming if they are doing fine but also making sure that they are not involved in any trouble like a scam targeting the elderly’. Nikkei reports that IBM’s Watson computer would be analysing data from the iPads.

Project – A Commercial Service

The focus lies in turning the project into a commercial service and those caring for their elders could pay a minimum monthly fee for monitoring where the low tech service costs Y 1,000 ($8.40) per month. At a press conference IBM had stated that the goal was to reach 4-5 million clients by 2020 thus providing an improvement for iPad sales. Apple has released an official press release with regards to the initiative. Calling it the `first of its kind initiative which has been focused in improving the quality of life of millions of Japanese seniors’, the program would be including IBM apps which would connect the elderly to services, healthcare, community as well as their families.

The population of Japan comprises of 33 million seniors, which represents around 25 percent of the country’s total population. Taizo Nishimuro, CEO of Japan Post Group commented that they are joining with two of the world’s most respected leaders in technology in bringing elderly generation in the connected world, expand the businesses by deepening relationships and discover new ways of strengthen the fabric of our society and economy’.

The Japan Post Deal – Apple & IBM’s MobileFirst Partnership 

The software by IBM would be reminding the seniors to take their medication, suggesting exercises and diet changes help in tasks like grocery shopping and job matching. The company would also be catering to several behind the scenes services like system integration as well as training. Ginni Rometty, President, Chairman and CEO of IBM stated that they were starting draws on IBM’s long heritage of innovation at the intersection of technology, business and society.

The potential seen here as broad as national economics and as specific as the quality of life of individuals along with their families is an example of the potential of mobile led transformation anywhere in the world where issue of an aging population exist’. The Japan Post deal branched from Apple and IBM’s MobileFirst partnership. The combination of both the companies has given rise to a development of a range of template iOS apps and services for enterprise with divided support responsibilities when organization tend to agree to a contract.

HTC Mobiles

High-Tech Computer Corporation – Taiwanese Manufacturer of Smartphones

The HTC Company which was earlier High-Tech Computer Corporation is a manufacturer of smartphones as well as tablet. It was founded in 1997 and began initially as an original design manufacturer and original equipment manufacturer, designing and developing devices like mobile phones, touchscreen phone as well as PDAs, based on Windows Mobile OS and Brew MP to market to mobile network operators who preferred to pay a contract manufacturer for the purpose of customized products. After its initial development in smartphones which was focused on Windows Mobile it branched out its focus to devices based on the Android in 2009 and towards 2010 to Windows Phone. From 2011, HTC released and marketed its HTC Mobiles under the HTC brand and ranked 98th of the top brand on Interbrand’s Best Global Brands according to the 2011 report.

Founding Member for Open Handset Alliance 

HTC is the founding member for the Open Handset Alliance which is a group of handset manufacturers as well as mobile network operators devoted to the creation of the Android mobile device platform. The HTC dream is marketed by T-Mobile in several countries as the T-Mobile G1 or Era G1, which is the first phone to use the Android mobile device platform on the market. There are various devices, price points together with operating system to choose from their array of collection. The company is endeavouring in updates, to fit the requirements of the customers. It has been reveal from a report published that HTC is working to develop its own mobile operating system to compete with Apple’s iOS. For fast web surfing as well as seamless gaming, HTC has introduced a powerful quad core in its phone and the design set is simple though unique and smart. For good user experience, one could choose from the various options available.

Some Options Available 

Some worth mentioning include:

Android Jelly Bean – If one prefers HTC and is interested in a supersized screen to the likes of the Galaxy Note 3 and Xperia Z Ultra, the One Max is the preferred option. It comprises of a full HD, with a 5.9 inch display with good screen space to offer, together with a 1.7GHz quad-core process, 2GB of RAM of internal storage, 4MP Ultrapixel rear camera and Android Jelly Bean. One Max tends to be big and heavy.

Windows Phone 8–The HTC 8S seems to be attractive, a highly portable Windows Phone handset, a package which is instinctive with style and substance. Besides this, it is fast and slick for a mid-range phone with an edge over some of the top end Windows Phone 8 handsets especially with the inclusion of a micro SD card slot. The battery is average and web browsing could be a bit slow. It does not tend to stand out much in the apps or media department. Overall it is a decent handset.

Android Ice-Cream Sandwich – The lowest HTC range of models is the HTC Desire C which seems a little out of place since the Desire range was once the jewel in the HTC crown. The selling price of the HTC Desire C is the low cost and hence the 600 MHz processor could be overlooked or the HVGA 3.5 inch screen. Looking at the device, the HTC Desire C could pass off as a high end device.