Instagram for Android is now available

After 18 months as an iPhone exclusive, photo-sharing app Instagram arrived for AndroidTuesday. Instagram allows you to take photos, apply a variety of filters, and easily share your work to many different places, including Instagram’s own home-built social network.

I’m a frequent—okay, obsessive—user of Instagram on my iPhone, so I was curious to see how the Android version measured up.

I downloaded the Instagram for Android app from Google Play onto the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) and the Samsung Galaxy Blaze 4G (running Android 2.3 Gingerbread) and gave it a spin on both phones.

First things first: This app took up nearly 17MB of space on my Galaxy Nexus, so if your phone is running short of storage space, be aware. Also, before you get too excited, check to see what version of Android you’re running. If it’s below 2.2, you won’t be able to use Instagram–and you should probably check to see if there’s an update available for your phone!

Once I logged into the Instagram account I use on my iPhone, I felt right at home using Instagram for Android. The same feed I see on my iPhone was right there on my Galaxy Nexus, complete with all my friends’ most recent photos featuring Instagram’s well-known image filters.

Fragmentation Bites

The process of capturing, editing, and sharing a photo in Instagram for Android isn’t always what it’s like on the iPhone. On the Galaxy Nexus, things were pretty similar, though: Clicking the Camera/Share button in the center of the Android app’s toolbar brought me directly to a picture-taking screen. Just as on my iPhone, I had the option to either view the existing gallery of photos on my phone (represented on Android by a box with a mountain in it, rather than the interlocking squares on the iOS app). I also had the option to switch to the front-facing camera, turn the flash on or off, or cancel out of camera mode entirely.

But the camera mode experience on the Galaxy Blaze 4G didn’t match up to what I experienced on the Galaxy Nexus. Yes, this is Android fragmentation at its finest! On the Galaxy Blaze 4G, when I tried to take a photo, a dialog box asked me to pick a source: Camera or Photo Gallery. When I picked Camera, I was switched to the Galaxy Blaze’s native photo app. That familiar Instagram camera interface I’ve come to know and love was gone.

You can tweak these settings to force the app to take pictures itself by going to the app’s settings on the homescreen. This only seems to work on certain phones, however. On the LG Marquee, the app crashed when I tried to open the Instagram camera. Instead, I had to take my photo in the native camera app and crop it, and only then was I switched back to the Instagram user interface.

Then again, maybe it doesn’t matter much where you shoot your Instagram photos on Android right now. That’s because, unfortunately, Instagram app for Android is missing a feature recently added to the iOS app: The ability to view a live preview of a filter before you shoot. You can still add one after you shoot, but I’ve gotten used to being able to mess around with filters before I take my shot.

Also missing from the Android app is the Tilt Shift/Blur feature, which lets you selectively blur out certain areas of your photos. This function is really cool, as you can fake a shallow depth of field in your photos or blur out the background of your photo to focus on a single object.

Familiar Effects

After you take your photo, the options are pretty much what iOS users have come to expect: Instagram gives you access to a series of image filters that let you stylize your photo. You can add or remove a frame that’s added to your image by some of the filters, and you can rotate or brighten your image. The filters are almost identical to the iOS version, though I noticed one funny difference: There’s an X-pro II filter on the iPhone and an X-Pro filter on Android. The Android filter looked a little darker.

Once you’ve applied an effect, you can share your photo from your Android phone to Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Foursquare. You can share to all these networks on the iOS version, but additionally to Flickr, Posterous, or via e-mail. And given that this is Android, I would have also loved to see some Google+ integration here.

Viewing the feed containing your friends’ photos is basically the same on both platforms. You have the option to Like a photo, comment on it, share it, or delete it. When you click Share on the Android app, you have the option to share it via Bluetooth, Gmail, Message, and—hey, look at that, now you can share it to Google+.

It is worth mentioning that quite a few photography apps are available for Android that offer more filters and better effects than Instagram, including Camera360 and MagicHour. Instagram also isn’t the first photo-sharing site for Android. The Lightbox photo community has been around for a few years and was specifically designed for the Android platform by a former Google employee. And I like its interface for Android better than Instagram, though the user community is a lot smaller.

Even so, it is exciting to see a longstanding iOS-only app finally make its way to Android. Instagram on Android is faithful to the original iOS version, but the company really needs to work on improving the consistency across various Android phones. It’s no good to have an app behave differently on different phones with the same operating system…but, then, that may say more about Android than about Instagram.

Fragmentation aside, I hope that Instagram will bring the Tilt Shift/Blur and live filter preview features to Android in a later update. Both features are a joy to use on iOS, and Android users deserve to have them, too.

Ubuntu TV making its debut at CES

Canonical’s Mark Shuttleworth promised that Ubuntu would come to TVs eventually, but we never expected it would arrive so quickly. A concept preview is here at CES for convention goers to get their eyeballs on and we’ll be swinging through the company’s booth to get some hands-on. For now it’s largely a technical demo and concept, but there are already some neat features on display like a 3D dash, searchable guide and streaming video apps. The goal, the company says, is to “uncomplicate television” by removing as much of the paraphernalia that accompanies it — primarily the boxes and cables.

Amazon’s Appstore for Android

Amazon has opened the Appstore for Android, providing another option for app shopping to U.S. users of smartphones with Google’s operating system.

Amazon is trying to lure users away from Google’s Market by offering users a free paid app every day. The first such application is Angry Birds Rio, which usually costs US$0.99, and is an exclusive for Android users via Amazon’s store. Users can also test applications with a feature called “Test Drive,” which runs applications on a simulated smartphone.

Amazon will also have an approval process for applications submitted to its store. The company will be testing apps to verify that they work as outlined in the product description and to make sure hat they don’t impair the functionality of the smartphone or put customer data at risk once installed.

In many ways Amazon’s Appstore for Android works in the same way as the rest of its store. Users can view app recommendations based on past purchases from Amazon and pay in the same way as if they were buying a book. Applications can be purchased from a computer, a smartphone or a tablet.

At about 1:30 p.m. Central European Time on Tuesday, the top five paid applications were Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, Fruit Ninja and Shazam Encore. The top five free apps were ZombieBooth, Angry Birds Seasons Free, Angry Birds Free, Amazon Mobile and Paper Toss.

Amazon has been trying to attract developers for some time. In January, the company launched a portal where developers can submit applications.

The app store is available to users in the U.S., excluding AT&T subscribers. However, AT&T is working to change that, and users can sign up at a website to be notified when the operator has finalized its plan, it said.

Amazon’s use of the name Appstore hasn’t gone unnoticed by Apple. On Friday, it sued Amazon, claiming rights to the name App Store.

Apple iOS 4.3 Arrives Today

Sources close to Apple have been in contact with BGR to advise that Apple’s newest iOS version, iOS 4.3 may be available today at 10 AM PT. If this does turn out to be correct, it will be ahead of schedule because originally, this software update was expected to be available on March 11th which is the day that the new Apple iPad 2 becomes available.

Like past revisions, this new version of the Apple mobile operating system will bring with it some new features including iTunes Home Sharing which will enable Apple users to stream files from their iTunes library across a variety of supported Apple devices.

Another feature to roll-out with iOS 4.3 is personal Hotspots, but according to the source, this feature will be slightly different then originally reported because users will not be limited to just 3 devices as was originally believed. Rather, this decision may be left up to the mobile carrier, so if the carrier wants to offer expanded service to support 5 devices, this will now be a possibility. By default however, the limit will be three, but again, mobile carriers will have the final say on this.

Using A Key Logger Program To Catch A Thief

Certainly this is probably not a reason to download a key logger program or maybe it is. When you think of a key logger program you’re most likely wanting to help safeguard your children when they browse the internet or chat online with friends or maybe you’re hoping to catch a cheating spouse. The bottom line is that no matter what you’re using a key logger for you might be able to utilize this program to track a thief if your laptop, home computer, or mobile internet device is stolen.

Certainly this is probably not a reason to download a key logger program or maybe it is. When you think of a key logger program you’re most likely wanting to help safeguard your children when they browse the internet or chat online with friends or maybe you’re hoping to catch a cheating spouse. The bottom line is that no matter what you’re using a key logger for you might be able to utilize this program to track a thief if your laptop, home computer, or mobile internet device is stolen.

On a computer with a key logger program you will have the ability to get e-mail alerts when people are on the internet and this will be able to also tell you what they are looking at. Since a key logger program is invisible, if somebody does take your device with this program installed in it they will not even know that it’s there. When they use your computer or internet ready device you are going to receive an e-mail alert and the police will be able to utilize this information to track the computer’s whereabouts and possibly recover your stolen items for you.

Since most thieves are usually not very smart this program has assisted many people to recover their stolen property and to get the information that they require to not only get their belongings back but in many cases to even prosecute those who have stolen from them. It’s one of the simple perks of having this kind of program installed in your computer, it’ll continue to monitor even after your device is gone.

For a minimal cost, which can be paid on the internet, you can very easily install a key logger program into your home computer. As a matter of fact you can access a wide array of these programs on the internet and can easily download them instantly from an internet site and once installed they will not be visible to anyone who does not know their location.

Using a key logger program is a good way to monitor your kids’ online usage, to catch a cheating spouse, or even to just find out when your kids go online even if you are at work. If by chance you get your device stolen with a keylogger program on it and e-mail alerts then you can also use this program to help you recover your property and prosecute the criminals involved in the robbery for a very nominal fee a key logger can provide you with a multitude of benefits.

Patch Management Software

The widely publicized attacks and vulnerabilities to software system have lead to the development of patch management. It discovers and defenses your system against vulnerabilities. Many organizations with pro-active security patch management in place are not affected by these attacks, as they get the information in advance of the attack.

Patch management software allows you to scan, detect, assess, and remediate any security vulnerability on your network. The software identifies the threat and provides you with tools to remediate vulnerabilities and install missing patches. Patch management software determines footprints, perform vulnerability analysis and reports, and define domain, machine and location inventories. The advantages of patch management are – documentation, defines domain, establishment and link speed between locations. Patch management software has become one of the fastest growing segments of software market, as they are designed specifically to test and deploy fixes for software defects and alter any security vulnerabilities. Patch management tools don’t just automate rolling out patches but help to prevent many problems. Sachs Consulting offers patch management solution that is cost effective and reliable.

Depending on the number of systems in an organization and the seriousness of their operation, the workflow elements of a patch management tool becomes important due to its ability to deliver the patches. The first part of the patch management process is to determine the vulnerable system. Next step is to make sure that the patches will work and they won’t break other software. Finally the patches come out of the machine. Patch management tools also ensure that the new systems on the network, such as mobile users connecting from a laptop, are quickly brought up to proper patch level. And if a patch turns out to cause more problems then the vulnerability it fixes, patch management tools help to remove or roll back the offending fix. However, the first line of defense for the average network agency is still well enforced user policies and standardized system. Patch management can at least help system administrators to keep focus on those while taking the grunt work of patch management off their hands.

Evernote for iPhone and iPad Update

Evernote for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been updated to include support in preparation for iOS 4.2 when it arrives sometime this month.

As well as supporting the new iOS, particularly multi tasking on the iPad, Evernote has also had a few new features added to it to make more useful than before.

New features in the Evernote iOS 4.2 update include the ability to add multiple photos, up to 5, to notes created. Audio notes have also been increased allowing up to 90 minute recordings to be captured if needed.

As well as the audio and photo sections getting an update, there’s also support within other apps such as Safari to open up PDF documents (and other types) in Evernote.

Evernote is a free app available from iTunes with a paid subscription model should you choose to want more transfer allowances each month.

Facebook Email

Facebook is about to launch a new email service in a move that could directly challenge the likes of Hotmail and Google’s Gmail, according to reports.

The social networking site is expected to unveil the new venture – dubbed the “Gmail killer” – at an event in San Francisco at about 6pm UK time.

Technology blog Techcrunch suggests Facebook, which has more than 500 million users, will offer a “fully-fledged” webmail service.

Email addresses would be expected to have the @facebook.com suffix.

The company has been involved in a number of disputes with Google – such as when it was banned from allowing Facebook users to import their Gmail contacts.

But one source “with knowledge of Facebook’s plans” has told the New York Times that the new service would not just be about email.

The source was quoted as saying: “They’re not trying to do a standalone rival to Gmail.

“They are building an integrated experience in everything they do.”

The Top 10 Labs That Make Gmail Better

Now that you've customized your iGoogle page exactly the way you like it, why not do the same with your Gmail inbox as well? Thanks to Gmail Labs, there are numerous ways to enhance your Gmail experience. When you are signed into Gmail, click on the tiny green science lab flask to the left of the settings tab. Here you will find all of great Gmail Labs. Last week I talked about Google's latest lab, offline Gmail that allows you to switch to offline mode and use Gmail features as if you were online. Have a look at my slideshow to see ten more of my favorite Labs!

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GoogleTube: The Best of Both Worlds

There's only one thing that GoogleTube does, but it does it very well: this Firefox extension adds a YouTube icon to your Google results so you can watch videos in the same window. No more opening multiple tabs, using the back button or getting lost within the many channels of YouTube.



Just click on the YouTube icon that shows up next to video results and a small, floating window pops out so you can watch it right there on the page. Sweet and simple.

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