OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows

ommwriter
I have a thing for full-screen text editing. I use WriteMonkey for my creative writing needs, and VIM in a full-screen PuTTY session for my Web development work. That being the case, I'm all over the monospace, dark-background, focused editing scene.

OmmWriter attempts to take that aesthetic and make it somehow more spiritual, with three picturesque backgrounds and ambient background audio tracks (there are seven of each in the paid version).

I'm of two minds about this app. On the one hand, yes, it's beautiful. But if you want music as a background to your writing, why not pick your own soundtrack with Winamp or Foobar2000 running in the background?

OmmWriter also offers three keyboard-clicking sounds, which are kind of nice. None of these features are groundbreaking, really. OmmWriter could be seen as a way to gently ease into the world of distraction-free writing -- in case something like WriteMonkey's dark background is just too oppressive for you.

After the fold you can see a video showcasing several of OmmWriter's features and creative soundscapes.

Continue reading OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows

OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/ommwriter-brings-its-clean-calm-writing-interface-to-windows/

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Nintendo launches the Wii U, anyone putting their iPad down for it?

Nintendo launches the Wii U, anyone putting their iPad down for it?

Nintendo is launching their next-generation video game console today, the Wii U, and just like the last one, it seems to be garnering more than its fair share of incredibly mixed reviews. The bottom line on original Wii was "best selling console collecting dust on the shelf" as hard-core and online gaming went to Xbox, and casual gaming to iOS. Now, however, Nintendo has added it's own iPad-like tablet controller to the Wii U, along with HD graphics, and perhaps even better online services.

Again, however, reviews are incredibly mixed. The Wii U tablet is sometimes a mirror, sometimes a second screen, but always a resistive touchscreen like phones pre-2007, difficult to use and flummoxing to understand. Nintendo's first party titles, including Mario, of course, are great, but good third party support is as questionable as always. I bought a Wii at launch and played it quite a lot at first, but haven't touched it in over a year. I'll be waiting on the Wii U.

Gone are the days I'm willing to buy Nintendo kit no questions asked. They haven't kept up with the times as well as I wish they had. Never mind not making Mario for iOS, that's their right and decision, but the Wii U just looks like the wrong solution for modern gaming, especially with the "Xbox 720" and "PlayStation 4" on the way -- and iOS encroaching on the living room with AirPlay. It looks complex and confused, and I'd rather see where it's going before I put any money into it.

Here are some reviews:

Anyone picking up a Nintendo Wii U today? If so, let me know what you think of it!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/UT7oZ2Vb_t8/story01.htm

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Google Talk Guru answers questions via your IM app

google talk guru answersBots -- like the kind which automate IRC rooms and Google Wave -- are a good thing to know about. There are plenty of useful bots worth knowing about, too, including the Google Talk Guru.

Just add guru@googlelabs.com to your GTalk buddies, and you can start firing off questions. Lifehacker suggests that the same types of queries supported by Google SMS will work, though we didn't have any luck getting a response out of the Guru with phrases like "score detroit red wings" or "sushi R3N 1Y1."

Still, Guru does answer a good variety of questions and it works right within your favorite IM app. It's well worth adding to your friend list, especially for getting answers on the go on your mobile device of choice.

Google Talk Guru answers questions via your IM app originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/google-talk-guru-answers-questions-via-your-im-app/

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BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

bbm 6
A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.

CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.

Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/blackberry-messenger-6-0-screenshots-leak/

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PSA: Nintendo Wii U day-one patch now live, includes entire online infrastructure

PSA Nintendo Wii U day one patch now live, includes TKTK

It's well past midnight, you're home with your brand new Nintendo Wii U -- now what? Well, you've got yourself a hefty firmware update to download should you wish to do anything other than play disc-based Wii U games. Say, for instance, you wanna check out Nintendo's Mii-based social network, Miiverse? You're gonna need that update. Or you want to check out the digital storefront, the eShop? Update. Browse the internet? Up ... you get the picture. The file download clocks in at just over an hour (at least on our retail units ahead of launch), and the install takes another five minutes, so we'd suggest you grab it ASAP before the rest of the world is trying to hungrily snap it up as well. Remember: your brand new Wii U can do literally nothing outside of build Miis and play disc-based games before the update, so don't go freaking out when your console seems to be missing a few key functions out of the box.

And no, this doesn't include Nintendo TVii, which Nintendo says won't arrive until some time in December. We'll update this post with more specifics as we explore the update further, so keep an eye out!

Update: The update includes, from what we've seen thus far, the entire eShop, Miiverse, an internet browser, and access to Netflix. Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube remain conspicuously absent, but should be available "in the coming weeks" (per Nintendo's update earlier this week). Backwards compatibility is also packed in the update, in form of the entire original Wii menu (which makes us feel like we just downloaded the entire Wii console to our Wii U -- the future!). The Wii U actually fully resets to launch the Wii menu, and can only be navigated using a classic Wii remote control. Kinda bogus, but it sure is nice having a full Wii built in to the Wii U.

Update 2: Netflix is a separate download required (an update) for use.

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PSA: Nintendo Wii U day-one patch now live, includes entire online infrastructure originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/17/psa-day-one-patch-wii-u/

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Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 get an official ClockWorkMod recovery

CWM

Koush has released the official builds of ClockWorkMod recovery for the LG Nexus 4 and the Samsung Nexus 10 this afternoon, giving us all a quick and easy way to back everything up and flash bleeding-edge stuff and try to break out new Nexus devices.

You'll find them in the usual places -- the ClockWorkMod site and ROM Manager, but for now Koush is suggesting everyone skip the ROM Manager route and flash by hand. 

Because I can't seem to listen to instruction or reason, I had to try the ROM Manager method, and sure enough it doesn't work. If you are as thick-headed as I am and try, you just need to flash the stock recovery back into place and boot into it once to fix your non-booting Nexus 4. Flashing or booting from fastboot works a treat though. 

Now we have root and recovery for the N4, let's see how bad we can break stuff!

Source: +Koushik Dutta. 

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/EphQ1nkF_BQ/story01.htm

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Backed Or Whacked: The Ad Blocker And The Beat Rocker Hit Kickstarter

Backed or Whacked logoEditor?s note: Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research and writer for Engadget. His column examines crowdfunded products that have either met or missed their funding goals. Designers of innovative high-tech products often face a dilemma between two of Kickstarter?s more popular categories. Should they mix in with the host of camera stabilizers, video dollies and iPhone acessories that populate the Product Design category? Or should they take their chances in the geekier, enthusiast project-driven Technology category? This week?s campaigns -- launched on the same day -- opted for the latter, but have achieved different levels of momentum.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/c-iSLSm91NE/

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Watch a Nexus 7 Die a Painful Death In This Brutal Overkill Drop Test

The worst drop any of your gadgets are likely to suffer is a couple of feet. Maybe a little more if you're dangling one over the edge of a balcony or drop it down the stairs or something. But gadgets, no matter how robust, aren't build to handle more than that. That's why this 65-foot drop test is insane and frankly unfair (if you take it seriously, anyway). It's also kind of awesome. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/tKh4G5THNP4/watch-a-nexus-7-die-a-painful-death-in-this-brutal-overkill-drop-test

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T-Mobile USA appoints new Chief Marketing Officer

T-Mobile Logo

T-Mobile USA is in a bit of a transition phase right now to say the least. After picking up a new CEO, it is now pushing forward into its acquisition (really a reverse takeover) with MetroPCS. There's now a little more shakeup going around, and T-Mobile is appointing a new CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) to the company. Michael Sievert is a marketing veteran with over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry, formerly holding positions at Clearwire, AT&T Wireless, Microsoft and IBM.

The appointment of a new CMO will be important to the future of T-Mobile's branding and image, which has suffered as of late. As the company attempts to transition from postpaid to prepaid and move away from its dependence on device subsidies, T-Mobile is going to need plenty of marketing help to figure things out and keep customers on board.

Source: T-Mobile

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/bnfYyg8hCQo/story01.htm

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