Blog 12: Whatsapp

Whatsapp!

WhatsApp Logo

What is WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is an instant messaging application for smartphones. Users can send images, videos and audios as well as text messages using this application to the person they desire as long as the other person has the app on their phone. The types of software this is available on are Android, BlackBerry OS, Blackerry 10, iOS, Series 40, Symbian (S60) and Windows Phone.

WhatsApp on iPhone

WhatsApp on Andriod

Interesting Facts

This application was founded in 2009 by Brain Acton and Jan Koum who are veterans of Yahoo!. The company is located at Santa Clara, California. In April 2012 WhatsApp was handling two billion messages per day which increased to ten billion per day by August 2012. It is said by Financial Times that WhatsApp "has done to SMS on mobile phones what Skype did to international calling on landlines."

Where to Download WhatsApp?

If you are downloading for iOS then it is available in at the apple app store for $0.99 and for any Andriods/Windows phone you can get it at Google play for free.

The entire WhatsApp Layout for iPhone

How to use WhatsApp?

When you install WhatsApp it will make a user account for you using your phone number as your username. Then WhatsApp itself will look through all the contacts you have to find out who has WhatsApp. This way you could easily find and add any contacts you already have. Now you can instantly message the people and stare a lot more with them that you couldn't via texting! You can also create statuses as this is like MSN but using your phone number and contacts. You could broadcast a message to all of your contacts or add certain people and make group chats. You will also be able to favourite contacts (perhaps the ones that you message the most). In your chats you can attach files such as music, photos, links, videos and other audios. It is very accurate as you can send locations and all your messages are timed right beside (therefore you know when you last spoke to the person, the time and date).

Following is WhatsApp on a Windows Phone:

Blog 11: Google Maps

Google Maps 

What is Google Maps?

Google Maps is a web mapping service that is provided by Google. It is a map-based service. There is the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit. The app offers us streets maps, a route planner for traveling by food, car, bike or public transportation. There are satellites that give us the images of the location even though they are not updated in real time and are several months or years old. A related app is Google Earth, which allows us more globe-viewing features, including showing polar areas which Google Maps cannot do.

The layout of Google Maps on a computer

Where Can I Download Google Maps?

You can download Google Maps on our phone or easily visit this website to access this technology from your computer. Your computer can be of any kind as long as it has internet and can access a website. This application is available for iPhones and Androids.

Google Maps on Iphone

Google Maps on Android

How to Use Google Maps on a Computer to Get Directions?

1. Go the Google Maps website
2. Type in the location you would like to travel to in the search bar and press enter
3. On the left hand corner it gives you a street view
4. You'll see option such as directions
5. Click on that
6. Now on A write your current location and press enter
7. You will now see many options beneath you
8. Pick which ever applies to you and is more efficient 
9. You can also decide in between getting directions from a bus, walking, car or biking
10. The options are given above the address box A

Following is a related video:

Blog 10: Cineplex App

What is the Cineplex App?

The Cineplex App is an app that works with the Cineplex Entertainment Group. This is a service that provides us with movies released and concessions. The application helps you plan out what movie you want to go to and what not. It gives you all he details about the movie as well. 

The layout of the app

How to Use this App?

When you have this app, there are five tabs at the bottom. Tab one is Theatres, and this will show you all the threatres available in your city and the closest ones to you. You can click on the theatre you want to go to and check all the movie timings in that specific theatre. You could click on the specific movies for for the information on it's cast, a trailer, what auditorium it is playing in or to purchase it in advance. Tab two is Movies, and this shows all the new movies that are out and gives you information about them and their trailers. Tab three is the Cineplex Store. Tab four  is your Scene card that will help you earn points and get you 10 % discount on movies and concessions. Lastly tab 5 is More information such as Magazines, your tickets, gift cards, media, news, search, contests, settings and help and about.

The Threatres Tab

Information on a specific movie

The Stores Tab in an older version of the app

Where Can I Download this App?

You can download this app for your iPod, iPad or iPhone via the apple store or you can get it for your Android via Google Play. The app is free of cost.

Following is a video review on the app:

Blog 9: Dropbox

"Simplify your life"

What is Dropbox?

Dropbox is a file hosting service created by Dropbox Inc. It it a service that allows you to store your files in the cloud. It offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and client software. It lets users create a special folder on each of their computers. Files that are put in these folders can be also accessed by a website and the mobile phone application. It was founded in 2001 by MIT students Drew Houston and Arash Fedowsi. You can use this application to store files on your phone as well. Suppose your phone storage was full and you would like to delete a few files yet keep them on your computer, all you have to do is download Dropbox for free. Once you have it download you can just go ahead and save all your files there and delete it from your computer. This will save space on your phone and you will still have the files saved on an application. 

The layout for Dropbox on a computer

Where can I get Dropbox?

You can make an account to Dropbox on their website: https://www.dropbox.com/

The softwares that can operate this are, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linus, Andriod, iOS, Blackberry OS and web browsers, as well as unofficial ports to Symbian, Windows Phone and MeeGo.

Software in which Dropbox is usable 

How to use Dropbox?

1. The following are steps that will help a first time Dropbox user use Dropbox (phone application):
2. Make an account for Dropbox
3. Sign into your account
4. If you're using it in a mobile device, download the app from the store that applies to you and log in
5. Once you've logged in, you'll see various options (Dropbox, Photos, Favorites and Settings)
6. To upload a file go to the Dropbox section and press the addition button to add a file or create a folder
7. All your photos uploaded will be available in the photo section of the application
8. Whatever you chose to favorite via the star button will be shown under the favorite section
9. Under the settings section you'll see your account information and settings to camera uploads (from phone) and passcode lock. You will also see help, legal & privacy and the details on the app version. 
10. You're also given an option of either telling a friend about the app or sending feedback

The layout for Dropbox on an Android

Following is a video that gives you more details about Dropbox:

Blog 8: Songza

"Good Music Makes Good Times"

What is Songza?

Songza is a free music streaming and recommendation service that is used by many people. It has playlists for things such as waking up, working out, commuting, concentrating, unwinding, entertaining and even sleeping. These playlists are made by music experts. It has music based on your mood too. You can also navigate using themes, interests  and eras  such as "90's One-Hit Wonders" and "Music of Fashion Week". Songza is located in Long Island City and was created by Aza Raskin and Scott Robbin.

The start-up screen for Songza

Where Can I Find Songza?

You get download Songza easily on your iPod, iPad or iPhone via the Apple Store. You could also get Songza for Windows PC or Android Phones through Google Play. It is free of cost and easy to use. All you have to do is install this app into your device. You have to create an account.

Songza on iPad and iPod touch

How to Use Songza?

Here are a list of steps that will help you when using Songza for the first time:

1. Download this app for free from which ever online store is convenient to you.
2. Once it has successfully downloaded, you can open the app.
3. You can sign up and create an account. Then log in.
4. You will see 6 boxes after the start up screen is gone, they will help you explore playlists.
5. On the bottom tab you will see more options to explore playlists. On the concierge tab there is an   option to change the date and the time of the day (evening, morning, etc).
6. Under the my playlist sector, you will see your recently played playlists and your favourite playlists.
7. Under popular, you will see the featured playlists, the ones that are trending, and the all-time best playlists.
8. Under search you will see genres, activities  moods, decades, culture, record-store clerk to the playlists that apply.You can also search names of artists in the search bar to see related playlists to them.
9. Under the settings sector, you will see that you can manage alarm, sleep timer, clock view (these are pretty self explanatory when you press on them).
10. You can also Send Feedback to the makers, rate the app, tell a friends about it, see the app version or sign out.

The options/sectors given in Songza

Farther options in Songza

Comments and Opinions on Songza

"Songza is a great app that allows you to find the music you are in the mood for, and it won't only find you one but it'll find you a whole playlist full of them" is the reaction of a fellow Songza user. Overall the app isn't slow and can be repetitive at times. It stays up with the latest music (after 1-2 weeks).

Following is a video that shows Songza Employees and their tasks:

Blog 7: Rocket Man

An Application focused on the TTC

The Rocket Man Icon

What is the Rocket Man App?

Rocket Man on an iPhone

Rocket Man is an application that can be found on Android phones or apple products such as an iPhone, iPad or even an iPod touch. This app allows you to see the schedules for buses and street cars. It designed to work for all of Toronto and works with the Toronto Transit Commission. This is a free application.

How does Rocket Man work?

Your phone has a location device that you can turn on. What this does is that it lets your phone locate you. It will find what location you are standing at. The Rocket Man works with this technology. This way Rocket Man locates where you are standing (with a blue dot) and what the closest bus stops to you are. The bus stops appear as a red dot. If you click on these dots on either side of the roads you will see options to bus numbers that will stop at that given bus stop. You will also notice that there are east, south, north and west given to help you identify which way you or the bus are going.

The Street View Screen

You click on the given option for the bus stops and you will come to a screen that looks like this:

The Bus Information Screen

This screen gives you all the information about the arrival of the bus. For example, the 504-King bus which is going East Towards Broadview station via king will arrive in 2:12 minutes which is 5:18 PM. 

If the given bus is a bus you tend to use a lot you can easily favorite it. To favorite it you have to click the start beside the bus information, and once the star has turned yellow you've favorited the bus number and which direction/station its going towards. This saves a lot of time when you're in a rush because to find the bus all you have to do is open the app and in the main screen at the bottom you'll see a bar with a lot of options, you click on the option that says favorite to find the buses you have favorited.

More about this Rocket Man

You'll notice at the bottom bar you are also given the choices of "more" and "alerts". If you click on the more section you will find information about it's twitter and facebook page and how to contact them. You an also share this app with friends and rate it. 

The More Section of the App

In the "alerts" section of the app you're given three sections. The three sections are alerts, news and events. Alerts is warming you about closed buses and whatnot. News is news about the TTC such as ones that deal with workers and what not. Events is any event that the TTC might be holding or is involved in.

The Alert Section of the App

Opinions on Rocket Man

This app is very helpful to the people who live in Toronto and constantly use the TTC to travel. They can save time and be punctual through the help of this app. Also the weather is very unpredictable, so they can decide when to leave their house and what not to catch a bus rather than waiting outside and freezing for a bus that will come 30 minutes late. Over all it's a great app that you can find in the Apple Store and Google Play.

Blog 6: SoundHound

"Whats that song?"

What is SoundHound?

SoundHound is an application that allows users to identify music by humming, singing or playing a recorded tracks. It is only available on mobile services, specifically iPhone and Androids. It was launched in 2007 by Melodis Corporation by Keyvan Mohajer. It was funded by Global Catalyst Partners, TransLink Capital and Walden Venture Capital. You can download this app for free on the Apple App Store, Google Play and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. You can also speak or type the name of the artist or song. 

SoundHound on an iPhone and an iPad

What Makes SoundHound Effective?

SoundHound's competitors is Shazam. But unlike Shazam, SoundHound can recognize music from singing, humming, speaking typing as well as from a recording. The company has a 'Sound2Sound" technology that helps with recognizing the song. This technology can make poorly-hummed performances to professional recording. 

The app also shows lyrics, links to the video of the song on YouTube, links on iTunes, the ability to launch Pandora Radio and recommendation to other songs. The feature that displays the lyrics is called LiveLyrics. You can double tap the points of the lyrics and this will move the song to the part where those lyrics are played.

There are three versions of this app, SoundHound, SoundHound Infinity and Hound. SoundHound is the free version but includes banner ads, SoundHound Infinity is $6.99 USD but does not have banner ads. Hound is only available to search songs by speaking into it.

Example of a song with lyrics

How to Use SoundHound?

1. Download the app from the store convenient for you (for example the Apple App Store for iPhone users).
2. Once you've download the app, take your device near the song that you want to identify.
3. Play the song, and hold your device near it.
4. Once the app recognizes the song you've exposed it to, it will how you options to what the song may be.
5. Click on the one that you think is correct.
6. You will be provided with options to lyrics, bookmark, share, buy and etc.

For more information on SoundHound click here

The Layout to various screens of SoundHound