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Chrome 37 beta arrives with DirectWrite on Windows, revamped password manager, and drops sign-in for apps

Jul17
by on July 17, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Design & Dev, Google, Insider

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Just a day after releasing the stable version of Chrome 36, Google has announced the release of Chrome 37 beta for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Unlike the Chrome 36 beta, the new features have a consumer focus rather than strictly developer additions. First and foremost, Windows users will be happy to learn support for DirectWrite, a text layout rendering API that first arrived in Windows Vista, has finally been implemented. The question of improving how text appears in the browser on Windows was first brought up in the Chromium bug tracker back in October 2009. Google finally confirmed the feature…

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The beginner’s guide to Facebook ads for startups, small businesses and non-profits

Jul17
by on July 17, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Entrepreneur, How-To's, Social Media

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Rewind the clock a few years and you’d frequently hear people suggesting that Facebook is a great marketing channel because it was free to have a presence. If you built a good Facebook page for your business and attracted lots of fans, you’d have a valuable platform to talk to potential and existing customers. But times have changed and Facebook are pulling in the reigns. Its advertisement algorithm continues to adapt as Facebook controls more of what users get to see in their news feeds. As a result, many brands have seen the organic reach of their pages decline rapidly. According to…

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Psykopaint iPad painting app serves up Monet, Van Gogh brush strokes with 3D flair

Jul17
by on July 17, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Product Launches

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There’s no shortage of drawing and painting apps for the iPad, but a new one has just hit the scene that will be sure to capture both your eye and your imagination. Using 3D technology, Psykopaint from Psykosoft – the company that brought you the online painting app as well as the Mac app of the same name – now simulates real-time environmental lighting conditions and visual depth for realistic paintings on the go. The app’s 3D features apply to the interface as well as the artistic output for a total immersive experience. As you launch the app, use your finger or a stylus to navigate through various…

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Facebook launches Mentions, an iPhone app just for famous people

Jul17
by on July 17, 2014 at 3:25 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider

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More than ever before, Facebook is thinking mobile. After Paper and Slingshot, the company is expanding its repertoire with Mentions, a new iOS app geared towards celebrities and public figures. Built by Facebook Creative Labs, it’s designed to help actors, athletes, musicians and other so-called “influencers” to contribute and engage on its platform. While it looks similar to the normal Facebook app on the surface – with a vertical feed and navigation bar at the bottom – a closer look reveals a refined and reworked experience for the iPhone. The News Feed is split into Following and Trending, which Facebook says will make…

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Flayvr pivots to MyRoll, an intelligent mobile gallery app that displays all your best photos

Jul17
by on July 17, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, Insider, Product Reviews

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We last caught up with Flayvr way back in May last year, just as the startup finally shook off its iOS-only roots with an Android incarnation. The idea behind Flayvr has always been simple – it monitors your camera roll for photos and videos, and groups them into albums based on the time and location they were taken. These can then be shared via the usual social channels, and are viewable by anyone via Flayvr’s website. Now, two years on and two million users down the line, Flayvr is being rebranded as MyRoll, and is pivoting ever so slightly to…

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