Pocket - "DVR for the web"

My favorite app on my phone.

Read It Later, the "DVR for the web", is now Pocket

By Andrew Vacca  

Read It Later, the popular multi-platform "DVR for the web", is now Pocket, and is now available for free in the Google Play store. With a free account, Pocket will save the articles, photos, and videos of your choosing to your queue (or “pocket”), which is accessible from your phone, tablet or computer. The content you save is optimized in a layout that’s easy to read, and once you sync your pocket, it is available for offline viewing.

Along with the new name, the update brings new content filters, more organizing tools, and faster syncing. Accounts are free, and your Read It Later account will work seamlessly with Pocket. Hit the break for the full presser and the Google Play link.

More Than Just Reading - Top App “Read It Later’s” Newest Version Becomes the Now Free “Pocket” to Easily Save Web Articles, Videos and More to View Later

New Pocket App Leads Content Shifting Category with a Beautiful New Design that Makes Viewing Later on Any Post-PC Device Easy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, APRIL 17, 2012 - Four years ago, Read it Later was created to allow users to save their web content to view later on their own schedule. One year ago, Read It Later had 2.5 million users; now it has 4.5 million. This growth made it the number one paid news app for Android and Kindle Fire and a top app for iPhone and iPad. Today, the company announced a new version of their flagship app -- now free across all devices -- and a new name, Pocket.

Pocket is for when people discover an interesting article, video or web page, but don’t have time to view it. Once saved to Pocket, the list of content is visible on any device -- phone, tablet or computer. It can be viewed while waiting in line, on the couch or during commutes or travel -- even offline.

Pocket is available today for free in the App Store atwww.getpocket.com/ios, on Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace) at www.getpocket.com/android, and for Kindle Fire at www.getpocket.com/kindlefire.

“Nearly five items every second are saved to Pocket from the web and popular news apps, including videos, articles, recipes and more,” said Nate Weiner, founder of Read it Later and creator of Pocket.  “Pocket is the perfect name for our latest version as it expresses how simple it is to take any content users discover with them, no matter where they go.”

Pocket is different than “bookmarking,” apps, which organize links for long term storage. Instead, Pocket lets users save the content they discover on the web or inside any of over 300 leading apps--including Flipboard, Twitter, Pulse, and Zite--with a single tap and view it on any device.

Since its launch in 2007, over 200 million items have been saved, giving the company deep insight into how and when consumers save and view their web content. Key findings include:

• 33 percent of saved items come from 3rd party apps including Twitter, Zite, Flipboard and Pulse.
• 50 percent of items saved via Pocket are viewed on mobile screens (up from 34 percent in January).
• Web consumption peaks in the early morning and declines through the day, as consumers dig through their inboxes and find what they want to view later. iPad use peaks at night, as users view saved content in the pre-bedtime hours. Mobile consumption maps to commuting times, as users increasingly view content in transit.
• 40 percent of items saved are not articles; popular content include videos, images, things to buy, travel tips and recipes.
• YouTube is the apps’ most popular source of content, as users increasingly are saving videos for later viewing.
• The new Pocket update is focused on making the most important parts of the user experience as easy and simple as possible. It enhances all the features users already loved in Read it Later in a beautiful new interface.
• A Cleaner, Simpler UI. The new user interface of Pocket displays all of a user’s content in a beautiful, easy-to-view layout adapted to take full advantage of high definition displays.
• • Video & Image Filters. Most people save sites with videos and images, in addition to articles and text. Pocket automatically filters all content so users can quickly switch between articles, videos and images with just a tap.
• Enhanced Viewing Experience. Articles, videos and anything saved is displayed in a clean and simplified view with fewer toolbars and a redesigned full-screen mode.
• • Easier to Organize. New bulk editing, favoriting and tagging modes make organizing and browsing saved items easier. Users can find content by keywords, publications or create their own custom tags.
• Favorites. Users can star favorite content so it is always available when they want to find it.
• Pocket is Free on All Major Mobile Platforms. Pocket is now available, for free, on all major mobile platforms including Android phones and tablets, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Amazon Kindle Fire.

About Read it Later

Based in San Francisco, Read it Later was founded in 2007 by Nate Weiner to help users save what they find online and view it on any device at any time.  The service currently has over 4.5 million registered users and is integrated into over 300 apps including Flipboard, Twitter and Zite.  In April 2012 the Read it Later app became known as Pocket and focused on the most important parts of the content-shifting experience, making it easier and simpler than ever. Pocket is available for major devices and platforms including iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, all Android-based tablets and smartphones, Google Chrome, and Firefox.

Read It Later, the "DVR for the web", is now Pocket | Android Central

How to stop Facebook notification emails

Ask Dave Taylor: How do I stop Facebook notification email bugging me?

My Dad only lets me check Facebook once a week to ensure that I focus on my schoolwork, which is fine with me as it's usually just a huge waste of time. Problem is, Facebook keeps reminding me every day that I don't log in that I'm "missing out" on lots of updates. How can I just get Facebook to shut up about what's going on?

---

Dave's Answer:

I'm impressed that your Dad's given you a rule about Facebook usage and you're following it so strictly. He's done a good job of raising you, I'd say. But then again, I'm a Dad so I think fathers should get at least 50% if not 100% of the credit for raising great children. :-)

You're right to be wary of the time sink that is Facebook too. It's great fun and certainly interesting to see what's going on with your friends and family, but it can also be a never-ending process and one that's smart to ration. Yes, you'll miss things, but that's inevitable anyway unless you obsessively check out what's going on and if you're doing that, you've just relegated yourself to the role of observer, rather than someone who is actually doing cool and fun things and posting occasional updates that make other people want to know what's going on in your life.

Facebook also has about a million different events it can email you about, and they can be quite annoying because by default I think every single thing is enabled.

Let's fix that.

But before we do, here's a typical "you haven't visited for a while" email that you might get from Facebook if you're not connecting all the time:

All well and good, but if you don't want to be reminded that there are things going on in Facebook-land, rather annoying too.

To disable it, or just set it so that Facebook emails you when there's something actually important going on, log in and click on Account Settings:

On the left there's a menu. Pick "Notifications":

Now you'll see a sort of summary of what notifications have been sent, along with the ability to modify specific notification settings. Notice also on the top right the "Email Frequency" option:

You can click on the checkbox adjacent to "Email Frequency" if you'd like to just let Facebook slow down the flow of messages, but instead let's fine tune things ourselves because, well, it's Facebook's zeal at trying to get us to visit the site that's caused the problem in the first place!

Click on "Edit" adjacent to "Facebook" under the "All Notifications" section and you'll see that, as I suggested earlier, there are a zillion different settings:

I suggest you spend a few minutes going through this list and disable just about everything. Do you need an email when someone confirms a friend request? Joins FB after your invite? Posts content? Likes a post you're tagged in?

Yeah, I thought not.

Make the changes you want, then click on "Save Changes" and you're good to go.

My experience with social media is that it's all a huge time sink and while it's fun and interesting, I have a life to live, so I try to balance things because the digital world's always going to be there, but life itself is rather fleeting...

How do I stop Facebook notification email bugging me? :: Online Tech Support Help :: Ask Dave Taylor!®

Alternatives to Instagram for Android and iPhone

Done with Instagram? Here Are Six Great Alternatives for the iPhone

If Facebook's acquisition of Instagram has you put off from using the service, there are more than a handful of alternatives out there. Here's a look at other apps you can use to get the same results from a still-independent developer.

Wait, Should I Really Ditch Instagram?

No, I don't think you should and this post should not be read as an attack on Instagram. Personally, I like the service and don't care at all, whatsoever, that Facebook has acquired the company. Its developers, Mike and Kevin, have worked exceptionally hard to create a great photo-based social network and I think it's great that they're going to have Facebook's support going forward. That said, a lot of people aren't happy about Facebook owning Instagram and are worried about what may happen in the long run. If that's you, and you really want to leave Instagram behind, here are some alternatives. First things first, however, you might want to export your photos from the Instagram service.

By the way, this post only focuses on options for the iPhone because we tackled alternatives for Android last week (for another reason entirely). If you're an Android user, read this instead. iOS users, read on.

The Options

PicPlz

PicPlz is probably the most popular alternatives to Instagram because it was on of the only and best alternatives on Android. PicPlz has an iPhone app, too, so Instagram expats on the platform can switch over, too. Like Instagram, PicPlz offers photo filters and frames that you can easily apply with a couple of taps. You can also turn your image into a meme, draw on it, crop, rotate, and perform a few other actions you won't find in Instagram's app. You won't have some of the neat filters like Tilt Shift, but you do have pretty much the same sharing options. If you want an alternative that offers much of the same functionality, PicPlz is a good way to go.

Download PicPlz (Free)

PicYou

PicYou has an interface that's remarkably similar to Instagram and offers an instant sharing feature. Basically, you decide if you want to share on Twitter and/or Facebook automatically and PicYou makes that happen. Like all of the apps on this list, you can apply filters and frames. You can also access all your photos on the web from the PicYou web site. The primary downside to PicYou is that some filters cost $1 (as in-app purchases). It's certainly not the cheapest option, but it retains a lot of the elegance people have come to like about Instagram and it offers a very similar feature set.

Download PicYou (Free + In-App Purchases)

Hipstamatic

Hipstamatic was (probably) the original faux-vintage camera app and is great for people who like the tedium of actually using a camera from (likely) before they were born. With Hipstamatic you can swap lenses, flashes, and film stocks rather than just tapping a style and sticking with it. You also get the realism of having to pay for each of these items, as most are in-app purchases. Hipstamatic also emulates the developing process of a real camera. All of these things are either annoying or charming, depending on what kind of person you are. You'll also want to have a few dollars to blow if you do pick up this app as there are many things to purchase and the app, itself, starts at $2.

Download Hipstamatic ($2)

EyeEm

EyeEm is another filter and frames photo app with a social twist, allowing you to share photos in groups. Do you take pictures of coffee? Share them in a group of other pictures people have taken of coffee. You can share on pretty much all the popular services the other apps offer as well, but if you're into the group photography thing then EyeEm is worth a look.

Download EyeEm (Free)

Camera+

Camera+ is our favorite camera app for iPhone. It's not necessarily what you'd think of as an Instagram replacement, as it's not built for social photography, but you can share the photos you snap and it's got more filters and photo editing tools than you'll probably need. It's a really great app, costs $1, and will help you get better images out of your iPhone.

Download Camera+ ($1)

Camera Awesome

Camera Awesome is another non-social camera app, but it offers filters and effects as well. It's worth mentioning as a free alternative to Camera+. While we still prefer Camera+, Camera Awesome is a close second and definitely worthwhile for those of you who can't spare a dollar.

Download Camera Awesome (Free)

Five alternatives to Instagram on Android

by Cory Gunther

So Instagram is finally available for Android whether you like it or not. Although its been downloaded well over 5 million times and has tons of fans iPhone users aren’t happy it’s on Android, and now they’ve instantly lost tons of fans for being sellouts to Facebook. Today we’ve gathered five of our favorite Instagram alternatives for Android and they are all free but one. Check it out!

Many aren’t happy with the fact that Instagram is getting so much attention while it’s nothing more than a simple filter application and there’s already plenty available. Others are upset because after signing up and joining the bandwagon after landing on Android Instagram sold-out to Facebook for 1 billion dollars. Whether you love it or hate it you’ll want to see these other options.

Pixlr-o-matic
For starters I’m going to mention one of my personal favorites that I’ve used long before Instagram came around, and that is Pixlr-o-matic. Instagram is nothing more than a filter according to some — so that is exactly what you get with Pixlr. It doesn’t offer the social aspects of Instagram but they have tons more filters, not to mention awesome borders, tweaks, glare, glitter and more.

You can get it from the Google Play Store by clicking here, and it’s completely free. Many consider this the best photography app for Android and iOS period, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Flickr
For those that don’t remember Flickr actually released their own Android app last year that is quite awesome. It has everything we already know and love about Flickr, including its huge community, and adds filters, boarders and all the sharing to Facebook options that Instagram has too.

Flickr works worldwide and supports tons of languages, they just updated and added 9 more recently too. Some might not think to mention Flickr but it truly is just as good, or better than those so called “sellouts”. Get it from the Play Store right now.

StreamZoo
For those that want it all we’d have to also recommend Streamzoo for the fact that it has all the filters and everything you’d want, social aspects, and even makes it into a fun little game where you can collect badges and more. If you want all the features imaginable for a photo app — this is the answer.

Streamzoo is actually probably what I use the most and really has some awesome effects unlike anything else. Being able to add blur to certain areas or aspects of an image while leaving the rest in focus and more. It makes us cheaters seem like real photographers. Streamzoo has 14 filters to Instagrams 17 or so but they also have 15 borders and tons of options beyond those two traditional choices.

We’ve heard multiple tips that Streamzoo is one of the best, and couldn’t agree more. Get it right here.

Magic Hour
This is the only paid app that we wanted to mention, and they have a free version for those that would like to test it out first. Magic Hour just like all the others has just about every feature that Instagram has, and them some — Only lacking the social community aspects. Magic Hour will transform your photos into extraordinary ones and has no shortage of filters. What make it unique is you can download literally dozens and dozens, instead of the few available for the other photo apps.

Like we mentioned above Magic Hour comes both free and paid but you’ll need the paid version ($1.99) to do things like use photos from the gallery or download additional filters. The interface could be a little smoother, and creating a finished product takes a little longer than Instagram but it’s well worth it in the end. Get it from the market by clicking here.

Hipster
Last but definetaly not least is an awesome app called Hipster for those that think they are hip and cool. I just learned about this today but it very well could be my new favorite photo app. Hipster actually borrows a lot from Instagram but they do offer a few things to differentiate themselves such as postcard options. Another cool option is Geo-tagging so you can snap a photo of an awesome campsite or monument and tag it so everyone knows exactly where the photo was taken.

Just like Instagram the user interface is very straightforward and opens up instantly to something familiar. It is probably one of the quickest and easiest of the 5 mentioned here today (once you signup) and you’ll be snapping pictures and making postcards in no time. The loading of popular images was a little slow, but that could also be because it is pulling map and location data too. You can follow friends, or see pictures taken around you. Get Hipster right here!

So there you go folks! Five awesome alternatives to the popular and trendy Instagram that seems to be sooo cool as of late. We’ll see how long that lasts now that Facebook is about to take the reigns. I was actually kinda enjoying Instagram until I heard the news that they sold to Facebook, that left a sour taste in my mouth to be honest — then again that was too good a deal to pass up. Seriously? They get 1 billion while Kodak is going bankrupt? Explain that one.

Enjoy the suggestions and let us know what you think. Or just upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and use the “stock” filters provided by Google.

Done with Instagram? Here Are Six Great Alternatives for the iPhone

How do I sign in to Windows 7 automatically?

How do I sign in to Windows 7 automatically?

by Leo A. Notenboom, © 2011

I used to be able to set up my computer to sign me in automatically when I reboot. My new computer doesn't do that and I have to type in my password each time. How do I make it stop needing that?

It turns out that it's not that difficult to set up at all.

I'll walk you through the steps and I'll show you in a short video exactly how to do what you want.

Setting up auto sign-in

The quickest way to get to the setting that we need is to use Windows search to look for "netplwiz":

Click that when it shows up in the search results above the Start menu:

In the resulting dialog:

Make sure that "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" is unchecked.

If there is more than one account listed below, click the account that you want to have login automatically.

Now click OK.

When you click OK (or Apply), Windows will prompt you for the password of the account that you've selected to be automatically signed in. Windows will save this (securely) and use it at boot time to automatically sign in.

That's it. Reboot your computer to watch it sign in automatically.

Next Steps

We've covered only login - if you also want to make sure that a password is not required after Standby or Hibernation, you'll want to read How do I avoid needing a password after standby or hibernation?

Video

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How do I sign in to Windows 7 automatically?

Using RSS

by Leo A. Notenboom, © 2012

RSS is a convenient and powerful way to keep track of what websites and blogs are publishing without having to remember to visit each.

In this video excerpt from a recent Ask Leo! webinar I'll show how RSS and Google's RSS reading website can be used to keep track of a large number of websites and information streams with ease.

Download the video: rss-feeds.mp4 (79M).

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Using RSS