Today we are discussing about the Telegram Messenger, an instant message carrier brought to you by Pavel Durov, who also brought VK.
What is Telegram?
Telegram is an instant messaging system mainly focussed on privacy and multi-platform availability. Telegram clients exist for both mobile (Android, iOS, Windows Phone) and desktop systems (Windows, OS X, Linux).
Telegram is run by a German nonprofit organization backed by entrepreneur and philanthropist Pavel Durov. Its client code is open-source software, while its server-side code is currently proprietary.
In short, Telegram is super fast, simple and way more secure than any of the messaging apps out there.
Features –
Connect from most remote locations with even the connections.
Coordinate groups of up to 20,000 members.
Synchronize your chats across all your devices.
Send documents of any type and size.
Encrypt personal & secret messages.
Destruct your messages with a timer.
Store your media in the cloud.
Build your own tools and bots on their API.
Why use Telegram when we have Whatsapp?
You might be thinking that why should one even bother about any other messaging app when one can use WhatsApp, following is the list of differences which make Telegram better than any other messaging app out there including WhatsApp.
It is cloud-based, which lets you access your messages from multiple devices.
It is open source.
It is secure. Not only the messages are encrypted but Telegram also offers Secret chat, in which after a set interval of time, the messages are deleted from all the devices.
It is distributed. Its servers are spread worldwide to enhance speed and security.
It enables you to share unlimited high-resolution photos, videos, and files of any type up to sizes of 1.5 GB.
It has Bots. For e.g. Add @ImageBot in your contacts, whenever you message it something like /get Ferrari, it would reply with an image of Ferrari. Telegram supports many different kinds of bots for different tasks. You can even make a bot for yourself if you want to.
It supports @replies, mentions and #hashtags. No this is nothing complex. It makes Group Chatting easier. For e.g., if I want to reply to person A in a group of 100 people. I can type @A followed by my message, and only A will be notified.
It is free and will stay free forever.
About the Developers
You can follow Telegram on Twitter, for ongoing news about it. Or check out its FAQ section.
Telegram is supported by Pavel and Nikolai Durov.
Pavel Durov is known as the Mark Zuckerberg of Russia because his VK userbase outnumbered Facebook users in own own country that is Russia. Pavel supports Telegram financially and ideologically, while Nikolai’s input is technological. To make Telegram possible, Nikolai developed a unique custom data protocol, which is open, secure and optimized for work with multiple data-centres. As a result, Telegram combines security, reliability and speed on any network.
Supported Platforms with Download links
Telegram is available on a number of different platforms and Operating Systems as listed below.
Today we found this great app known as Google Handwriting Input, which lets you type (or write) in any language, however regional or international.
What is Google Handwriting Input?
A couple of months ago, Google launched a new App, Google Handwriting Input.
‘Google Handwriting Input’ let users to write or scribble texts on the screen and converts it to text. Basically you can write instead of typing in your favourite language however regional or international it may be. It supports both printed and cursive writing input with or without any stylus. The best part it works offline too.
Why should one use this?
There are a lot of reasons, you may like this app, some of which are listed below –
It supports over 80 different languages in about 20 different scripts.
Emoji Support. It lets you draw any emoji, now no more searching for the perfect emoji.
Supports cursive writing too.
Works with or without stylus.
Works online as well as offline.
Typing text on a touchscreen is considered inconvenient by many.
If you just want to experience a new way to type on your phone.
Voice input is, not always available; neither it is available for regional dialects & languages.
It can help you improve your handwriting. 😉 I’m serious.
No more Auto-correct fails.
App Requirements
This app requires around 12MB of downloading for itself and additional download for the language you want to install. For e.g. downloading Hindi language required about 7.5MB. Other languages may require lower or higher data.
It is currently available for Android users only. It will work with Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above.
How to get and use this app?
Initial Setup –
You can download this app from the following link of Google Play Store.
Install the app. After installation launch the app.
You will see a pop-up of Google Privacy Policy. Tap OK to dismiss it.
Select ‘1 Enable Google Handwriting Input‘, it will redirect you to Language & input Settings. Enable Google Handwriting Input. A pop-up will appear to confirm enabling. Tap OK.
Select ‘3 Select Google Handwriting Input‘, a list of installed keyboards will appear. Select Google Handwriting Input.
Select ‘Configure languages‘, disable ‘Use system language‘, and select the languages you want to use among 82 different languages. I selected ‘Hindi‘. Go back.
Select ‘2 Download languages: xy.z MB‘, it will download your selected languages.
Optional steps –
You may enable ‘Help improve Google Handwriting Input‘ if you want to help Google by regularly uploading your usage statistics. I have disabled it to save my internet pack.
You can choose between 2 themes available for the keyboard, by tapping the ‘Dots on top right corner’ > Settings> Theme.
Adjust the recognition speed to match your writing speed in Settings > Auto Selection.
You can disable the Cloud button completely in Settings.
Using the App –
Globe button on the left of Space bar is used to toggle between Google Handwriting Input and any other installed Keyboard.
Cloud button is used to toggle between Online & Offline mode. Online mode is more accurate in handwriting recognition but requires internet.
Space bar. Holding the space bar toggles between different languages installed on device.
Backspace is used to delete the latest typed word.
Enter key is used to enter. It changes according to Go sometimes, like while in Google Search.
How does it work?
Let me be straight, I don’t know what those technologies mentioned in the next paragraph mean. But they surely make the app extra ordinarily accurate in identifying your handwriting and converting it to typed text.
By using techniques based on large-scale language modeling, robust multi-language OCR, and incorporating large-scale neural-networks and approximate nearest neighbor search for character classification, Google Handwriting Input supports languages that can be challenging to type on a virtual keyboard. For e.g. keyboards for ideographic languages (such as Chinese) are often based on a popular dialect of the language, but if a user isn’t familiar with that particular dialect, they may be hard to use.
Additionally, keyboards for complex vibrant scripts (of many South Asian languages) are less standardized and may be unfamiliar. Even for languages where virtual keyboards are more widely used (like English or Spanish), some users find handwriting to be more intuitive, faster, and generally more comfortable.
Today we are going to get our Android users some paid apps for free via an app called BlackMart Alpha.
Get paid apps for free in iOS 7 to iOS 10 without jailbreak. Read more...
Why a post on Downloading Paid Apps for free?
TechGlobule by no means is supporting or will ever support Piracy. We are with all our might against Piracy.
And the only reason we are showcasing BlackMart Alpha is to provide a way for users who are willing to pay for an app or game but want to try it first before paying their hard-earned money. Many of the times if not all, after buying an app, it seems unworthy of the money spent.
What is BlackMart Alpha?
BlackMart Alpha is an excellent substitute for the Google Play Store, because not only it can get you an app for free, but also it offers its market in multi-language selection which will attract any Android user of any country.
Features –
BlackMart Alpha also has the following features. that makes it easy to use :
Multilingual option for a global user experience.
Completely free, without the need for any payment methods.
It also offers apps that are not yet officially released in one’s country.
It also provides downloading of different versions of the same app.
It helps you update your apps before they are officially updated in your country.
How To Get BlackMart Alpha?
Download the latest version (as on date) of BlackMart Alpha from this link of BlackMart.us.
Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources. Make sure that Unknown Sources is checked.
Install the BlackMart App.
Launch the app, you will find a magnifying glass icon in the top right corner.
Tap on the icon, and type the app’s name you want.
Select the app you want to download from the search results.
Tap on Install, on the top right corner. You may be asked to one from 2 or more different versions of the same app.
Downloading will start. After downloading, it will ask you to install the app.
After installation of the app, enjoy.
Note – For bigger apps (usually more than 100MB), BlackMart Alpha will download the initial file (small-sized) and install it. When you will launch that app for the first time, it will download the rest.
Limitations
It will display some ads in between downloading and installing other apps.
Unlike Google Play Store, it fails to show compatible apps only, Thus, it is possible that you will not be able to run some of the apps you downloaded.
To prevent the second limitation, you can try to install a lower version of that app. And if needed, update the app from within.
Any app uploaded to BlackMart is instantly available for download without any moderation or testing. Thus, some of the apps may prove harmful to download.
Today, we are reviewing the Sherlock: The Network game based on the Sherlock series.
Sherlock Holmes
If you don’t know already, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He is a London-based “consulting detective” whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is known for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise and his use of forensic science to solve difficult cases. Even the police forces and other national security forces approached him on cases where they stuck.
Holmes, first appeared in print in 1887, and was featured in 4 Novels and 56 Short stories. The events in the stories took place from about 1880 to 1914. Most of his stories were written in third person by Dr. John H. Watson, his friend, with an exception of 4 stories.
Take this quiz to find out which Sherlock Holmes are you? I'm Dr. Robert Downey Jr. (thanks for asking).
Sherlock
Sherlock is a British crime drama T.V. series and a contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson. Nine episodes have been produced, the first three of which were broadcast in 2010. Series two was broadcast in 2012, and a third series was broadcast in 2014. The third series has become the UK’s most watched drama series since 2001. The iMDb ratings for the series are 9.3, in case you wanna watch the whole series like me. 🙂
Critical reception has been highly positive, with many reviews praising the quality of the writing, performances, and direction. Sherlock has been nominated for numerous awards including: BAFTAs, Emmys, and Golden Globe, winning several awards across a variety of categories. The show received the most number of wins at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for Moffat, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Cumberbatch, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Freeman. In addition, the show was also honoured with a Peabody Award in 2011.
Game’s Storyline
Become one of Sherlock’s trusted lieutenants by joining The Network (the homeless network). Immerse yourself in the world of Sherlock Holmes by joining The Network and helping him solve a series of new cases.
This official Sherlock app contains a lot of exclusive video and audio content featuring Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman), Mycroft Holmes (Mark Gratiss) and many other characters from the Sherlock series as well.
Along with above mentioned audio and video clips, it includes a lot of puzzling games, and an entire mystery for you and Sherlock to solve. Answer Sherlock’s messages to source and deliver information to him at 221B Baker Street. Navigate virtual London in search of information. Communicate with Sherlock and others in The Network. The more valuable you are, the higher you will rise in the ranks…
This app is currently available on Android and iDevices only. The game itself is free, and you can play & solve the first 2 cases without paying a cent. But the rest 9 cases, require an in-app purchase. But I assure you that the game is worth every penny.
Android users can download this app from Google Play Store or Amazon App Store. iPhone or iPod users can download it from this Apple App Store link, whereas iPad users can download the HD version of this app from this link.
If you want to buy the app in China, it is only available via the Tencent store for Android devices and Apple for iOS devices. This version is in Simplified Chinese.
Which devices are supported? What are the system requirements?
The app is supported on Appledevices running iOS 6 and above and on Android devices running Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above. Note, the app is only available in English and Simplified Chinese.
The app will requires a considerable but justified amount of storage space, so make sure your device have enough space. Android devices need about 720MB of storage space for this app to work properly, whereas iDevice users need about 520MB of storage space.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any further queries about the app, you can view the FAQ section of official website of this app.
Personal Experience
I, being an avid Sherlock Holmes fan, just loved this game, after watching the last episode of the Series which is, “His Last Vow“, I became a highly functioning sociopath with a dull routine (which means I was bored). Everything including my life started to seem slow and dull. Learning some tricks from Sherlock, I could easily guess like what my friends had for their breakfast but that didn’t gave me a purpose, I was just left with an option to wait for the Special episode which will come on Christmas, this year.
Then, I came across this very particular app, this is the best game of Sherlock ever made on a mobile device.
In the game, you play the role of a nameless member of Sherlock’s homeless network, newly inducted and just starting out on initially menial tasks set by the detective. You journey around London by foot, tube or taxi, the latter two options giving the first of the numerous mini-games that make up the structure of the app. The tube mini-game in particular is enjoyably challenging, I’m not giving any spoilers about the puzzle.
It not only exercises our brain with short games, like visual observation skills, taxi puzzles, or completing tubes, audio decryption or images, a bit of code breaking, but also every clue we find has some significance, and at the end, comes the most difficult part, Sherlock’s Mind Palace. The game also features some TV Trivia from the Sherlock series.
Mind Palace is a memorization technique which allows a person to remember every detail or fact he/she ever came across. In the Mind Palace, we have to use our own mind about which of the clues have some relationship and make sense. There is no hint. This is the best part of the game for me. If you are true fan, you will find the relation between clues in a couple of attempts, Or if you are Sherlock Holmes, you will complete the case in the first attempt only.
I would recommend this game to any fan of Sherlock Holmes, either his books or the Sherlock Series. Even those who haven’t heard of Sherlock Holmes, (which is a an unlikely scenario) should try this Detective game and exercise their mental skills and abilities.
Today we are discussing about the Google Search Lite, the latest feature brought to you by Google Inc.
What is Google?
Google.com is basically asearch engine, Android, cloud computing, and various other software.Most of its profits are derived from AdWords,which is basically online advertising service.
Google recently announced that they will be launching a new faster interface known as “Search Lite” especially optimized for slower mobile internet connections.
It is made to work in the low network coverage areas across the developing countries and will be launched in parts of Brazil and India by the end of June 2015. Google has already tested the feature in Indonesia, which has networks very similar to India.
Facebook has also launched a similar app Facebook Lite. Read more...
What’s the need? How is it different from traditional Search?
Companies like Facebook and Google have been focusing on India which is expected to have an internet user base of 550 million by 2018. This is the next step of Google to increase its foothold in the Indian Markets after “Android One“, under which it partnered with 3 Indian Handset Makers (Micromax, Karbonn, & Spice) to make affordable Android smartphones available for a larger number of people.
This feature will transcode pages for quicker delivery whenever it will detect a slow connection. Google claims that the new feature will load pages 4x faster and at the same time will consume 80% lesser data.
Google stated that publishers will also benefit from this, as they will see a 50% more page views. “Monetisation won’t be affected for publishers. There is an opt-out option for the users as well as publishers,” he said. “The feature is good for publishers as it will extend their reach,” he added.
Read Google’sviews on Google Search Lite on Google Plus.
How to use it?
Hiroto Tokusei, Product Manager, Google Inc, stated, “The new feature will come into play whenever a mobile user (will) be access search results from a very slow network. Google will capture the page and make it lighter.” He said, “With over 200 million Indians accessing the Internet from a smart phone, we’re working hard to make access faster and more affordable,” He added in India, where 2G network connections are very slow, getting information on phone can be tough, and frustrating.
The service will be available to users browsing on Chrome and other Android browsers from Google search results.
Limitations
“Some stylesheets… having high image quality take more data on a slow network. These are compressed using the new (Search Lite) feature, and sometimes the page looks slightly different,” said Tokusei.
Although the users will have the option to view the original Web-page, but they would not be able to intentionally switch to Search Lite feature.
Google has not specified how ‘slow’ network will be considered slow enough for Search Lite to kick in automatically. So users don’t really have an option to switch back and forth in Google Search and Search Lite. This might led to some criticism.
Personal Review for Google Search Lite
According to me, the feature is very good as we have nothing to download or update, the feature will automatically switch on or off according to our network speed. This is something I expected from Facebook Lite; but was disappointed.
Screenshots Gallery
Sorry Guys, I couldn’t manage any Screenshots because this feature isn’t rolled in India yet. Also I think there is not much visual difference in Google Search and Search Lite. The difference lies in speed only.
As the name suggests, Facebook’s new app is a Lite version of the former app with some of the features disappeared, but faster, smaller and lighter in terms of data consumption.
It is made to work in the low network coverage areas across the developing countries of Asia and will also be launched in parts of Latin America, Africa and Europe over the next couple of weeks.
Read more about Google's response on this in form of Google Search Lite.
Why Facebook Lite?
This app is designed to encourage users in the developing countries where mobile data services are limited as compared to the developed countries.
“In many areas, networks can be slow and not able to support all the functionality found in Facebook for Android. Facebook Lite was built for these situations, giving people a reliable Facebook experience when bandwidth is at a minimum,” Vijay Shankar, Product Manager for Facebook Lite, wrote in a blog post.
Read Mark Zuckerberg’sviews on Facebook Lite in his post yesterday.
How to get Facebook Lite?
Facebook Lite is currently launched for Android Devices only. You can download it via the following Google Play Storelink.
For them, in whose country, the app isn’t officially launched yet, can download Facebook Lite from this Google Drivelink.
Differences between Facebook and Facebook Lite
Facebook
Facebook Lite
Size
The size of the original Facebook app varies greatly with devices. But is remains mostly around 27 MB.
The size is greatly reduced. The app only takes about 436 KB of space. For comparison 436 KB = 0.4 MB
Data Consumption
The former app showcased an image rich News Feed as well as Auto – Playing videos; which obviously consumed a lot of data.
Facebook Lite, doesn’t allow users to watch a video. It also compresses images and with many other such techniques, it saves a lot of data. It uses less than a quarter of data as compared to the official Facebook App.
Features
Along with all the features of Facebook Lite. It also features, Saved, Instagram Link, On This Day, Create Groups, Suggest Edits, Help Center, Activity Log, Privacy Shortcuts, Code Generator, Account Settings, Like Pages, Beta Program (Android), Games etc.
Other than browsing profiles and like, share, and comment which are the meaning of Facebook. It features Chat, Photos, Search, Friend, Settings, News Feed, Messages, Notifications, Friend Requests, Pages, Groups, Events, Most Recent, Internet.org Link, Help, and About.
It is currently launched for Android Devices only. For them, in whose country, the app isn’t launched yet, can download from this Google Drive link.
Messenger
On certain platforms, Messenger is required for chatting with friends for e.g. iOS Devices. Messenger is available on Web, Android Devices, iOS Devices, and Windows Phone.
Messenger is in-built in the Facebook Lite App.
Personal review for FB Lite
Personally, I used it on Abdul’s Micromax Canvas 2 Plus. I will like to mention a few points about Facebook Lite –
After installation, on its first turn, it took about whopping 17.26 seconds to initialize its first run. It ruined its first impression and my expectations about that app. But on second run, it became faster with no more than 2 seconds.
It is best to work with 2G internet network though.
At first, I expected that it will adapt to the internet speed. But it didn’t; that is when I tried it on a WiFi network, it still displayed compressed images instead of HD.
As already said, if you are using Facebook Lite, forget about Videos, or Games.
At less than a MB in size, its worth a try, at least to experience a new data saving Facebook.
Screenshots Gallery
That’s all folks.
Image Source – redmondpie.com (Featured image), and Shubham Rajput’s Samsung Galaxy Note II.
Author – Swapnil Jha
Today we are gonna discuss about a common Benchmarking tool which is widely used to benchmark phones and devices based on the ARM architecture, known as the Antutu Benchmark.
What is Benchmark?
With such rapid development in world of mobile devices, it is getting complicated for users to choose a dream device of theirs. Here comes, a Benchmarking app in vision, it will help a user to benchmark his or her device and get a specific score which one can use to compare his device to a variety of different devices in spite of many differences in both the devices, like different software, hardware, operating device etc.
Why is Antutu Benchmark better?
Antutu 5The benchmark applications Antutu Benchmark gives a device a very precise and accurate score on the basis of its performance in a variety of tests. It gives it score in every test. And adds the sum total of all tests to give the device its final score.
Unlike other benchmarks, it provides the user to choice to customize the number of test to run.
Did we mentioned, it’s free to use…
It tests the device by testing the following –
UX (Multitask, Runtime)
UX means the test of User Experience of the Device.
CPU
CPU means the tests of Central Processing Unit of the device.
GPU
GPU means the test of Graphics Processing Unit of the device. The graphics like screen resolution and gaming graphics (both 2D and 3D Graphics) are tested.
RAM
RAM means the test of Random Access Memory of the device. This memory is allocated to different applications to run in realtime.
IO (Storage I/O, Database I/O)
IO means the tests of Input and Output of the device. This test the storage speeds and database accessing speeds of the device. In simple words, it is the data transfer speeds of the device.
How to get it?
Antutu Benchmark is easily available for a wide range of devices. It can be downloaded for any Android device (Play Store), iOS Device (App Store), as well as Windows Phone (Windows Store). It is free to download on all the listed devices.
How to use?
Antutu Test
You can download for your device from the above download links.
Install Antutu Benchmark on your device.
Launch the app.
It will probably show a Test Button.
And a lot of tests to choose from. You should choose all for a better overall result.
Wait a for a few minutes.
After a process is complete, you will see the final score of your device.
User’s verdict
Over 50 million (that is 50,000,000) downloads of Antutu Benchmark have been done from the Google Play Store only.
