Receive 4 Disney Land / Disney World Ticket Free - Another Scam

Received another scam - Receive 4 Disney Land / Disney World Ticket Free today. In order to get the "Free ticket", you need to invite your friend to join this event.  This is almost exactly same as the Starbucks one - Receive $100 Starbucks Gift Card for FREE (Official). I am telling you again. This is a scam / spam. 

1. When you click on the page they created, it's almost nothing there. Official page should have more information.

2. It's too good to be true, just invite 50 friends, you can get 1 Ticket. There's no free lunch.

3. The link will redirect to "http://lnkgt.com/8v3" which will ask you to pick up Apple stuff instead of Disney Land ticket and continue.

If you did make the mistake of sharing the scam link, then you are now spamming your friends with the very same message. Clean-up your newsfeed and profile to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).

Be on the lookout for more marketing offers arriving to your email inbox and physical address if you submitted that information to the scammers. Also be aware and alert for possible identity theft attempts.

Another great tablet coming soon - Google Nexus 7

If you have ever thought to buy a Kindle Fire, you should consider Google Nexus 7 now. Another new tablet coming out soon. The price is relative cheap. I bet it will be the cheapest tablet compare to others in the same category. Google has officially introduced the Nexus 7 manufacture by ASUS. The price is $199 USD for the 8GB and $249 USD for the 16GB. If you live in Canada, too bad you need to pay  $209CAD for the 8GB and $259CAD for the 16GB.  Another good thing with Nexus 7, when you buy one, Google will give you a $25 gift card to spend at Google Play Store and the Transformers Dark of the Moon movie, Borne Dominion book. Google Nexus 7 is the first Google device running Android 4.1 - Jellybean. Jellybean is the improvement of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. You won't see a big change visually, but you will see the improvement of the speed. The Google Nexus 7 will official come out in mid-July. We need to wait for 2-3 weeks. As a low end tablet, I think $209 is worth to give it a try. 

Picture by google.com/nexus 7

SCREEN

·         7” 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi)

·         Back-lit IPS display

·         Scratch-resistant Corning glass

·         1.2MP front-facing camera

WEIGHT

·         340 grams

MEMORY

·          8 or 16 GB internal storage

·         1 GB RAM

 BATTERY

·         4325 mAh (Up to 8 hours of active use)

CPU

·         Quad-core Tegra 3 processor

SIZE

·         198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm

WIRELESS

·          WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

·         Bluetooth

USB

·         Micro USB

OS

·         Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

FEATURES

·          Microphone

·         NFC (Android Beam)

·         Accelerometer

·         GPS

·         Magnetometer

·         Gyroscope

Source: Google Nexus

Receive $100 Starbucks Gift Card for FREE (Official) - SPAM !

Today I receive an invitation from my friend about receive $100 Starbucks gift card for FREE (Official). In order to get the gift card, you need to invite your friend to join this event. I almost invite all of my friends to this event, but I step back a little bit. I click the link show in step 3 first. I realized that this is a spam more than official.
1. When you click on the page they created, it's almost nothing there. Official page won't be like that.
2. It's too good to be true, just invite 50 friends, you can get $25 Voucher. There's no free lunch.
3. The link will redirect to http://lnkgt.com/8v3 which will ask you to pick up Apple stuff instead of Starbucks and continue.  

If you did make the mistake of sharing the scam link, then you are now spamming your friends with the very same message. Clean-up your newsfeed and profile to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).

Be on the lookout for more marketing offers arriving to your email inbox and physical address if you submitted that information to the scammers. Also be aware and alert for possible identity theft attempts.

Take a Screenshot in Mac

I used screenshot quite often. When I first tried to take a screenshot on my Mac. I found that there's no screenshot button on the keyboard. How do I take a screenshot in Mac? Thanks for the internet.  Here you go

• Command-Shift-3: Take a screenshot of the screen, and save it as a file on the desktop
• Command-Shift-4, then select an area: Take a screenshot of an area and save it as a file on the desktop
• Command-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it as a file on the desktop
• Command-Control-Shift-3: Take a screenshot of the screen, and save it to the clipboard
• Command-Control-Shift-4, then select an area: Take a screenshot of an area and save it to the clipboard
• Command-Control-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it to the clipboard

Source: MacRumors' Guide

Cloud Storage Comparsion

Google Drive VS SkyDrive VS iCloud VS Dropbox VS SugarSync

Google Driveis a file storage and sync service by Google that was released on April 24, 2012. Rumors about Google Drive began circulating as early as March 2006. Google Drive is an extension of Google Docs. Google Docs is a free, Web-based office suite and data storage service offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. Google Docs combines the features of Word and Spreadsheets with a presentation program incorporating technology designed by Tonic Systems. Data storage of files up to 1 GB total in size was introduced on January 13, 2010, but has since been increased to 10 GB, documents using Google Docs native formats do not count towards this quota.The largely anticipated cloud storage feature by Google is said to be replacing most of Docs' features in 2012. This extension or replacement of Google Docs called Google Drive was opened to the public on April 24, 2012.

SkyDrive(officially Microsoft SkyDrive, formerly Windows Live SkyDrive) is a file hosting service that allows users to upload and sync files to a cloud storage and then access them from a Web browser or their local device. It is part of the Windows Live range of online services and allows users to keep the files private, share them with contacts, or make the files public. Publicly shared files do not require a Windows Live ID to access. The service offers 7 GB of free storage for new users. Additional storage is available for purchase. Users who signed up to SkyDrive prior to April 22, 2012 could opt-in for a limited time offer of 25 GB of free storage upgrade. The service is built using HTML5 technologies, and files up to 300MB can be uploaded via drag and drop into the web browser,or up to 2GB via the SkyDrive desktop application for Windows and Mac OS X. On its launch, SkyDrive was provided as a limited beta available to a few testers in the United States. On August 1, 2007, the service was expanded to a wider audience. As of 22 May 2008 SkyDrive was available to 62 countries and regions.

iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple Inc. announced on June 6, 2011 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The service allows users to store data such as music files on remote computer servers for download to multiple devices such as iOS-based devices, and personal computers running OS X or Microsoft Windows. It also replaces Apple's MobileMe service, acting as a data syncing center for email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, to-do lists, and other data. MobileMe will be discontinued after June 30, 2012, with anyone who had an account before the unveiling of iCloud having their MobileMe service extended to that date, free of charge As of 2012, iCloud has over 125 million users.

Dropbox is file hosting service operated by Dropbox, Inc. that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and client software. Dropbox, Inc. was founded in 2007 by MIT graduates Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi, as a Y Combinator startup company. Dropbox's basic service follows the freemium business model. Dropbox announced a new service, "Dropbox for Teams",marketed to businesses and other groups in 2011.Dropbox provides client software for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, and BlackBerry OS, and web browsers. In 2008 Dropbox launched as a dead-simple cloud storage service that could be used by just about anyone. Even your grandparents can use Dropbox without calling you up, asking you to explain each of its features. Dropbox claims to have 50 million users worldwide.Apparently Apple wanted to buy Dropbox to launch their own cloud storage services before iCloud but surprisingly Dropbox refused.

SugarSync is a service that actively syncs files across computers and other devices. SugarSync is operated by SugarSync Inc. and is based in San Mateo, California. SugarSync enables its users to backup, access, sync and share all of your documents, photos, music and movies so that you can access them from your laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, or any other device. SugarSync is available for Windows and Mac OS X. For mobile devices, SugarSync has an app for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian devices, and a Windows Phone 7 app is in development. SugarSync was launched in March 2008. The software is designed to sync all of a user's files (documents, media, photos, etc.) across as multiple machines. The company, formerly called "Sharpcast", and its service have received press coverage and reviews from various media outlets. In September, 2011,Gizmodo reviewed SugarSync and 10 other services and named SugarSync the Best Cloud Service.

Here is the summary of comparison on different cloud service

I only used Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud. I cannot comment anything on Skydrive and Sugarsync.

I found that iCloud is more for the users with all the Apple devices. iPhone, iPad and Mac. If you are not using them all together, I can say iCloud is useless. For example, I can't even open Microsoft excel or word by using iCloud unless you install iWork.

I have been using Dropbox and Google Drive for a long time. Both of them offer very similar function. If you have an android phone and android tablet, Google Drive is very convenience for you. However, if you have android phone and iPad or iPhone and android tablet, I will suggest Dropbox. It's easier to access all your files.

Source: Phonearea.com, Wikipedia

The Truth Behind Success with Mobile Apps

I found this is very interesting fact on mobile apps.  App-Promo launched First Annual App Developer Survey to Understand App Success and Highlight the Business side of Applications in the beginning of the April. Survey time started from April 6 till April 22, 2012. They invite all the app developers from iOS, Andriod, BlackBerry, Windows and Symbian to participate. However, in the result of this graph, it didn't really show the sample size of the survey and the ratio of mobile platform. It's still good to know, especially if you want to develop mobile apps.

Source: app-promo

Tesco Opens Worlds First Virtual Store in South Korea

I heard about shopping in virtual store last year. The idea is great. People can buy groceries while they are waiting for subway at the station. You can simply use your smart phone scan the code shows on the screen. It will ship it to your home at the time you request. At that time, I didn't really pay attention, and I thought it just an concept. Now it comes true.  For me, I will stick shopping at the real store. I like to see the real products, especially for meat. 

Read this article from Archello.com 

Tesco Homeplus in South Korea is opening the world’s first virtual store today in the Seoul subway to help time-pressed commuters shop on the go using their smartphones.

The walls of the Seonreung subway station in downtown Seoul came to life today with virtual displays of over 500 of the most popular products with barcodes which customers can scan using the Homeplus app on their smartphones and get delivered right to their doorstep.

The beauty of the idea is that busy commuters can scan their groceries on their way to work in the morning and, as long as their order is placed before 13.00, their items will be delivered home that same evening, creating even greater speed and convenience in the whole shopping experience.

DW Seol, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Tesco Homeplus, said: “I am extremely proud of the great work the Tesco Homeplus team have done to launch this idea in the Seoul subway. We are always looking to make the shopping experience easier and more convenient for our customers and the introduction of the virtual store is a great achievement. This is a real triumph for the Korean retailing industry as it continues to be at the forefront of technological innovation.” 

The displays, which include a range of different daily items from milk and apples to pet food and stationery, will be placed on the pillars and the screen doors at the subway station. Commuters can then scan the QR code beneath the desired item via the Homeplus app on their smartphone and the item will then be delivered direct to the customer’s home at a time of their choosing.

Tesco Homeplus is actually owned by Tesco and Samsung. It is the second largest discount retail chain in South Korea. Back in 2008, the Homeplus CEO Lee Seung-han had the vision of starting virtual store at Seol leung station. He chose this location because over 200,000 commuters use it every day. Also, he foresaw the number of smartphone users is expected to skyrocket and noticed that the smart phones usually use at subway and bus stations. The virtual store works under a "order-and-delivery" model. Delivery time is flexible based on the customers' requests. 

Wow ! 10 million Angry Birds Space downloads in less than 3 days

I have no doubt Angry Birds is a popular game, but 10 million downloads in less than 3 days. Let's say it's a full 3 days. It is 3.33 millions downloads per day, 138,888 downloads per hour, 2,315 downloads per min, and 38 downloads per second. That's a bit crazy.

Via: Twitter

A game you should not miss Angry Birds Space

One of the most popular mobile game - Angry Birds. I was so addicted when I first played this game in 2010. It was on iPad platform. I played until 3 am in the morning. Honestly, it's a good game and very addictive, and very good time killer. I did enjoy playing the Angry Birds Season. The game got different theme like Christmas, Chinese New Year, Halloween, Valentines Day and etc. Those are good idea to play in Angry Birds version. I didn't get a chance to play Angry Birds Rio. Maybe I will try it later. Angry Birds Space just came out today, and I did try on it. I fall in love with this new Angry Birds game. If you like Angry Birds ,Angry Birds Season or Angry Birds Rio, you should not miss Angry Birds Space.

5 Likes on Angry Birds Space

First Like: I like the idea of playing in the space. Now I need to put a little bit of my physics knowledge - gravity and non gravity effect on this game. 

Second Like: I like the new looks for all the Birds and Pigs. They look very cool and smart. 

Third Like: I like the fact that Rovio asked NASA Astronaut shows how Angry Birds Space work in the actual space station. 

Forth Like: I like Angry Birds Space will able to play on Anrdoid, iOS, PC and MAC at the same time. Most of my friends are hardly to miss this game.

Fifth Like: I like the introduction of how Angry Birds get into Space. Of course, they stay the same chasing the eggs.

I can predict Angry Birds Space will be one of the best game in 2012. After playing couple hours, Here is my review. 

Graphic: 9/10

Sounds: 7/10

Creativity: 10/10

Overall : 8.6/10

This is still a very addictive game. Please be aware before you start playing.

Angry Birds Space Story Introduction

Angry Birds NASA Announcement 

New Look of Red Bird

New Look of Yellow Bird.. opps it changes to purple. Now they call it Lazer Bird

New Look of Bomb Bird

New Look of Blue Bird

New Look of The Big Red Bird.. Now it changes to The Big Green Bird

New Bird - Ice Bird

The new iPad or Android Tablet ?

The new iPad is coming out very soon on Mar 16, but before you go to buy it. Maybe it's good to look around for another option. Unless you are the died hard friend of Apple, some other android tablet will be another option. I found the below table from PCmagazine. It shows the differences among the New iPads and some other Android tablet

Some tests show that the Apple A5X chip has 1 Ghz Processer and 1GB of RAM. 

If the above existing Android tablet seems old to you, Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 very soon probably in Q2 2012.  

Galaxy Note 10.1 expected to have a 1.4Ghz dual-core processor, a 10.1-inch 1280×800 pixel TFT display, 1GB RAM and 16/32/64GB internal storage, a 3MP back camera and 2MP front camera, with optional 3G and running Android 4.0

Galaxy Tab 2, it has a dual-core 1 GHz Cortex A9 processor,a 10.1-inch 1280x800 pixel TFT, 1GB of RAM, 3.15-megapixel camera with LED flash, VGA front camera, 16/32GB internal storage, and running Android 4.0

I found this table on CNET. It seems like Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 has some features that the new iPad doesn't have. 

Should you wait for a bit more before you buy the new iPad?

Twitter interesting stats of the new iPad announcement

This is quite interesting. I found this from mobilesyrup

Twitter released the stats from the new iPad announcement.

When Apple announced the iPad 3/iPad HD or the official name The new iPad event opened at 10:am, there's about 2500 tweets per min. 

When explained what brings Apple to iPad, about 5,000 tweets per min. 

When announced the new iPad, about 9,900 tweets per min from 4,000 tweets per min.

When talked about next generation wireless, about 10,500 tweets per min

When talked about the price, about 11,000 tweets per min

When talked about the price for iPad 2, about 7,800 tweets per min

When the event closed, close to 8,000 tweets per min. 

Different Way to File your T4

Luckily, every time when I file my tax I don’t need to do it by hand. Even though I am using tax software, it still takes me a day or two to finish the filing. I cannot imagine how long it will take do it by hand. Thanks for the technology. When I was a student, I filed my tax online using Ufile because they offered a free service for students.  After graduated, I started using tax software sharing license key with friends to save money. I have never asked the accountants or Tax Service Company, like HR & Block, to file my tax because I think my tax filing wasn't that complicated. Another reason is that I think they are too expensive. 

Anyways, today I found Apple App call SnapTax. It's a very cool technology, and I have never thought about filing tax in this way. Maybe I am outdated, this SnapTax has been existed since 2010.  

SnapTax from TurboTax 

SnapTax can download on App Store. It's obvious, simply snap a photo of your T4, Answer a few simple question, and submit your tax file. The app is free, but submitting the tax file will charge you $9.99 I think it's good for people have iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, only need to file T4 and living in Canada. 

Too bad I can't try this App because I am using Android phone. 

Smartphone Patent War

Found these two image from PC magazine. Patent war will never stop, and no one will win except for the lawyer.