Google+ has hogged all the limelight though Google pretended it did not want all the attention it is getting at the moment.
Of course, it was a clever PR strategy to hide something and reveal bits and pieces about it, invite a few and then bar the rest so that there is a flurry of activity and desperate attempts to get in. That is exactly what happened with Google+, and Google did succeed in getting all the positive attention it wanted.
However, what most of you may not know is that Google has been secretly working on Disco, a group messaging app for Smartphones. It is made by the Slide team within Google, and the company has refused to talk about it no matter what. According to an article written by MG Siegler moments ago, the Slide team is still furiously working on the Disco app, and today they have unveiled Version 3 of the app.
Things according to the reviewer have really begun to look great. Disco not only allows you to chat with a number of people at once, but the new version announced today allows the user to share photos, chat one to one, and also have surprisingly integrated rival products Twitter and Yelp. The new ‘Star’ command would allow you to choose to follow Twitter feeds if anybody within the Disco group and you could also call up Yelp recommendations from anyone within the group.
Finally, you can also create polls and get them answered by those who are in your Disco list. If your friends are not on Disco yet, you could even SMS them right from within the app. Neither the Slide team nor Google would talk about Disco and its developments, and it clearly shows that Google has not stopped at just Google+ and work is underway for further developments in the field of instant messaging and chatting. Disco is available at App Store and Android Market.
At the moment, Disco seems to be available only for US phones and it would allow group texting to almost 99 people, have private chartrooms, use ‘Star commands’ for feedback and answers, and even conduct polls as mentioned earlier. While the Facebook – Skype deal and Twitter’s BackType Acquisition have all pointed towards a larger social media battle, it looks like the big technology companies are leaving no loose ends that might cause competition to stifle their businesses.
incentive, I won’t do it all. But on the rare occasion that I feel energized enough to get off my couch and go for a run, I love CardioTrainer Pro. It’s got a ton of cool features: in-app music player, GPS route tracking, an exercise scheduler for each day of the week, and a nifty planner to plot your weight-loss goals on a long-term basis. It’s got a widget for your homescreen that shows your calorie-burning goals and how long it will take to achieve them, and if that isn’t enough incentive to get off your butt, you can even share your fitness progress with other CardioTrainer users. If you’re more of a casual trainer, start off with the free version—Pro will cost you $10. If you’re serious about fitness, though, it’s well worth the Hamilton. [
ones and zeroes before you know it. Unfortunately, not all carriers provide a convenient way to keep an eye on how much data you're burning through. However, if you've got a Sony Ericsson phone, then the manufacturer has you covered with a newly-released app on its Android Market channel. The Sony Ericsson Data Monitor app tracks mobile data consumption in both directions, and gives you the option to set an alert when your usage hits a certain level. If you're on a monthly contract, you can set the counter to reset at the start of your billing month. If you've already pre-paid for a set amount of data, there's the option to enter a start date instead. There's even a chart function included to allow you to see how your data usage has changed from day to day, or even during specific hours of the day. If you've got a Sony Ericsson phone and would like a little more control over how much mobile data you use, then this one is a no-brainer -- it's available for free from the SE channel on the Android Market. [
is a must have app. The homescreen of the app is very well done. It displays a variety of stories separated by category, such as Top Stories, US & Canada and Technology. It allows you to edit the topics that are displayed as well. The stories displayed have thumbnails that give users a quick glimpse as to the main theme of the story. There is also a nifty feature where you can swipe right and left on the categories to gain access to more stories. The app allows the stories to be shared to basically wherever you want, including Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Other features include live audio and video streams. This is a terrific news app that has an incredible UI and makes it easy to read and browse the top stories of the day. [
though I'm several years out of school, I still find it hard to get to sleep at a "normal" hour, and if something is occupying my mind at all, I can lay in bed for hours before I finally nod off, just to wake up restless in the morning. A few weeks ago, I started seeing reviews pop up for Pzizz, and they were positive enough that I decided to give it a try. How Pzizz works is you set it to go off and then this monotone voice will speak over background noise that the developer says will be unique each time. The guy talking says some pretty silly things, but the point of it isn't to listen to him, it's more like white noise that will help you calm down. I've used it pretty consistently since I first installed it and while it didn't "cure" my insomnia, I find it a lot easier to get to sleep on most nights, and for whatever reason I feel better in the morning as well. The app is on the pricey side, but if you're like me and are tired of waking up grumpy every morning, it could be the best $5 you'll spend this week. [
