Tom Clarke - Softonic English

Facebook rolls out redesigned Timeline

The new Facebook Timeline, originally released to New Zealand users in January, is now being made available to users around the world.

The new design, which simplifies the Timeline into two main columns, makes your profile page into a much more complete view of your activity on Facebook and other websites. The main column now displays your updates and life events, while the left column includes your personal info and pulls in content from Instagram, Good Reads, Spotify and other social apps linked to Facebook.

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If the future of games is online only, you can count me out

I’m not interested in online multiplayer games.

While I enjoy plenty of games, I’ve just never really seen the attraction of playing online with a bunch of strangers. Now, rumors suggest that all gaming might one day be 100% online. If that’s the case, I guess I’ll just stop playing.

My reasons for not bothering with online play are various but simple. I generally enjoy games as a solitary way to relax. Sure, I’ve done my time with Super Mario Kart, Wipeout, that sort of thing. But give me the far west of Red Dead Redemption to explore quietly on my own and I’m really much happier. Every time I’ve tried that particular game’s multiplayer, for example, I’ve ended up being shot by someone on a far away mountain with a sniper rifle, moments after spawning. It’s not much fun and it gets boring pretty fast. I’m also not that good at games and like the opportunity to go back and try again, a tendency which would render me a dangerous liability in any kind of team game like MAG.

So what is my point? Well, I’m worried that games seem to be heading towards a future where it’s online and multiplayer, or nothing. Rumors surrounding the PS4 and Xbox720 suggest that both systems ‘might’ use online-only DRM mechanisms to prevent game piracy, and reduce the alleged profit loss caused by second-hand games sales. Similarly, EA’s SimCity, launching shortly, apparently must be connected to the internet to run.

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Analyze your Facebook data with Wolfram Alpha

What I love about Wolfram|Alpha is that whenever it rolls out a new tool, there’s always genuinely interesting data to discover. The self-styled Computational Knowledge Engine’s latest feature lets you analyze your Facebook user data and visualize your friends and networks in interesting new ways. By visiting Wolfram and connecting your Facebook profile, the web tool generates a series of fascinating data sets and graphs on a variety of topics, from your friends’ hometowns to the time of day you post photos. Continue reading “Analyze your Facebook data with Wolfram Alpha”

DNS Changer Malware – How to check if you’re infected

Over 300,000 computers around the world may be infected with a trojan which will prevent them connecting to the internet this Monday, July 9th. Known as the DNS Changer Malware, this malicious software is designed to alter your computer’s DNS settings without you knowing, effectively stopping you from getting online. The infection can be stopped and fixed using simple anti-virus software.

DNS is the worldwide system used by computers connected to the internet to turn IP addresses (like 46.28.209.13) into web addresses (like http://en.softonic.com). The DNS Malware Changer maliciously changes your computer’s DNS settings so that all your your traffic runs through the malware creator’s own servers. This is dangerous as the criminals behind DNS Malware Changer would be able to hijack your searches, direct you to malicious websites and potentially promote dangerous or malicious products or services. Continue reading “DNS Changer Malware – How to check if you’re infected”

TU Me – disappointing new voice and messages app

Do we really need another app for staying in touch with friends and family? Telefónica certainly seems to think so. Today, it launched TU Me, which bundles free messaging, voice calls, photo sharing, and more together in a simple-ish iPhone app.

TU Me’s main advantage over similar WhatsApp is its voice calling, apparently based on Jajah which Telefónica bought in 2010. Photo sharing, location sharing, audio messages – these all feature in both apps. But WhatsApp also offers video sharing, contact sharing and it’s multi-platform.

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What is Twitter?

New to Twitter? Wondering what all the fuss is about? Never fear! Our simple guide will explain all the Twitter basics so you get started with the popular social network.

So what is Twitter?

Twitter is an online network that lets you post news, updates, links and pictures. You can use it on the web in your browser and you can use it as an app on your phone, PC or Mac. Each time you share an item it’s called a Tweet or an update.

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Farewell To Android

Or: why I’ve finally switched to iPhone.

I’ve had my new iPhone for a couple of weeks now. It took me an hour or two to get my Google accounts and apps set up. Then I erased and reset my Nexus S. I haven’t even thought about picking it up again since.

And so, it seems, my decision to go for an Android phone three long years ago (that’s also three phones ago) now counts for nothing. In that time, I evangelized for Android, and probably helped convince a few people to opt for an HTC or Samsung over the ‘ubiquitous’ iPhone. But over the last 6 months or so, I found I was evangelizing less. I was starting to tire of Android and I was starting to covet the iPhones I saw around me. Here’s why:

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Google Play is the new Android Market

Google has today rebranded the Android Market as Google Play. A single service that provides Android users with access to apps, video, music, books and games, Google Play is clearly intended to provide better competition to Apple’s one-stop-shop, iTunes.

Everything in one store

Until now, Google had a pretty confusing approach to providing content for Android devices. Apps and movies were in the Android Market but books and music were available from separate, seemingly unconnected websites. Combining everything into a single marketplace clearly makes sense both from a user standpoint and strategically for Google.

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GTA V announced – trailer on its way

As a huge fan of the Grand Theft Auto series, I’m overjoyed to pass on the news that GTA 5 has been announced by Rockstar Games! The surprise confirmation, made on Rockstar’s Twitter feed, links to a teaser image on the developer’s homepage. The image confirms that a trailer for the latest GTA will be available from November 2nd.

GTA V has been announced

While the image itself doesn’t seem to contain too many clues, it’s worth noting that the typeface of the ‘FIVE’ text is lifted from a $5 bill. My expectation (shared with Jon and lots of other people, it seems) is that GTA V will take place in roughly the same setting as San Andreas (which covered fictional cities inspired by Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas). There is also some speculation that the ‘new’ number (moving to ‘V’ rather than continuing with ‘IV’) suggests a new engine might be used in the game.

What do you think? Where… and when… do you think the game will be set? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. And if you’re unfamiliar with GTA, you can still get the GTA IV screensaver here.

How to get a Google+ invite

If you’re into social media and tech, you can’t have missed the news that Google has sort-of-launched a beta for its new social network, Google+.

Like Facebook, the system allows users to add friends and share updates, photos, videos and links. Unlike Facebook, Google+ also offers Hangouts (group video chat), Circles (a better way of grouping your contacts) and Sparks (a not very well integrated way of subscribing to topics).

Google+ was originally opened up to a select bunch of übergeeks, who in turn started to invite friends onto the service. Then Google closed the invites system. So now it seems you just have to wait….

…Or do you?

I tested this method found via a friend on Google+ and it worked. Firstly, you need to know someone who’s already on Google+. Then, get them to create a new Circle – it doesn’t matter what it’s called. Next, have your friend add you to the Circle, which you can do by inserting an email address and then a name. Finally, send an update to that Circle, checking the ‘Also email x people not yet using Google+’ checkbox before sending the update.

If everything goes according to plan, you should get an email from Google+ that includes a link to view the new update. Clicking the link takes you to a page that allows you to join the service immediately.

Google is currently throttling the number of people who can join via this method. Therefore, it may not work all the time. But keep trying and you should get lucky soon.

If you don’t know anyone who’s already on Google+, leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to invite you when Google relaxes invitation controls. I can’t guarantee that everyone will get an invitation but I’ll do what I can.