Category Archives: Internet

Sesame Smart Lock Accommodates New Technology

Palo Alto, CA, April 21, 2015 — Sesame – the world’s first instant smart lock – is now one of the hottest projects on Kickstarter, which has raised more than one million dollars since launch. Currently, more than 6,000 supporters have backed the project.

Sesame allows users to lock and unlock their doors using the Sesame app on their smartphones. It is the only smart lock that syncs the movement of the lock with the phone, providing exact control of the angle to which the lock turns.

Jerming Gu, the inventor of Sesame, said he wanted to bring the joy of technology to regular people with affordable prices. Sesame is also designed to accommodate the fast changing nature of technology.

In deed, the consumer electronics technology changes year by year. Any users of consumer electronic products – whether it’s a lock or a phone – they will be forced to upgrade the hardware often.

Here are some examples:
1) iPhone 4 (Bluetooth 3.0) is not compatible with iPhone 4S (Bluetooth 4.0);
2) RFID (clipper bus card) is not compatible with NFC (Apple Pay/some credit card);
3) z-wave (most old digital locks) is not compatible with Zigbee (newer digital locks);

“You might want to have a new phone every year but you may not want to construct the door every year just for a newer digital lock,” said Gu.

That’s the problem Sesame is trying to solve.

Now Bluetooth 4.2 is coming, Gu just swapped to the new version 3 Bluetooth chip in mass production.

“Also, the long-distance wireless charging technology is about to hit the market, I feel everything is changing too fast,” said Gu.

With five-patented design, Sesame works with just about any deadbolt in the world. Users can install it in seconds, without replacing existing lock or removing anything. Current model is optimized for US/Canada/northern Europe Markets.

CANDY HOUSE also offers optional access point, which connects Sesame to the Internet when plugged into any nearby outlet. It lets users control Sesame wherever they are.

With Internet connection capability, users can allow guests in remotely. They can also control who has access and when. To ensure safety, the Sesame app also sends out a notification whenever the door opens or closes.

About CANDY HOUSE
Founded and developed by Stanford University students, CANDY HOUSE, Inc. is a candy store that sells dreams, putting the joy and surprise of innovative technology in the hands of consumers, just like candy. It is also a design house, developing and manufacturing products that inspire a minimal lifestyle. It launched its first product – Sesame, the world’s first instant smart lock – in February 2015. For more information about CANDY HOUSE, Inc., visit the site online or follow it on Facebook or Twitter.

Contact CANDY HOUSE
media@candyhouse.co
(650) 644-5681

Via EPR Network

Sesame – smart lock that changes the world

Palo Alto, CA, March 27, 2015 — Sesame, the world’s first instant smart lock, raised more than seven times of its funding goal on Kickstarter. Launched on Kickstarter on Feb. 25, 2015, Sesame has raised more than $760,000 from backers all over the world.

The smart lock, which allows users to control their door with a smartphone app, attracted thousands.

Connected to users’ phone via Bluetooth, Sesame allows users full control of the lock, even to the exact angle a lock turns. With the optional Wi-Fi Access Point that connects Sesame to the Internet, users don’t even have to be physically near Sesame. The remote control feature allows people to send access to their friends and keep track of whether the door’s locked wherever they are.

With five-patented design, Sesame works with just about any deadbolt in the world. Users can install it in seconds, without replacing existing lock or removing anything. Current model is optimized for US/Canada/Singapore/Norway/Sweden Markets.

With market of Internet of Things (IoT) expanding rapidly, backers are turning more and more attention to smart gadgets that make their life easier. Founded by two students from Stanford University, CANDY HOUSE Inc. designs and manufactures products that inspire a minimal yet joyful lifestyle.

“People will carry less and less things when leave the house, that’s the trend,” said Jerming Gu, founder of Candy House.

Wallet, keys, and cell phone. People used to bring three things when they leave home. Now walltet is gradually replaced by keys. The Starbucks app pays your green tea frappuccino, you Venmo money to a friend for getting late-night pizza, you hop on a Uber without worrying about cab fare or tip.

“With Sesame, the next thing to disappear are the keys,” said Gu.

Contact-Details: CANDY HOUSE Inc.
media@candyhouse.co

Via EPR Network

New iPad App Gets Children School-Ready

Parents are preparing to send their children off to school for the first time. An Australian Mother of two has developed a way to give children entering school in this technological age a head start by creating an educational iPad app.

Rebecca Monument said that she, like most parents were aware that basic literacy skills developed in the home long before a child starts school.

“I created the app because I wanted to give my children the best of every possible opportunity,” said Ms Monument. “I was worried as my kids weren’t learning the correct way to write the alphabet, that they would have to re-learn it when they started school.”

After the application was released in October this year Ms Monument approached a local teacher for feedback. Ms Tanya Burton from Whitehouse Primary School in Australia agrees that Writeforschool is a resourceful learning tool for young children, and that the app that will complement the introduction of iPads into the prep classrooms in 2013.

“The application combines many features that other similar writing applications fail to deliver, like a variety of accents and a choice of the writing fonts taught in Australian schools” Ms Burton notes. “The large number of fonts back up what is taught in the school curriculum; it not only includes letters and numbers but blends of letters.”

The idea came to Ms Monument and she began developing the iPad application Writeforschool after her children, aged five and six began taking great interest in playing the games on her iPad.

“I thought if I could make educational game for my children, they could begin to learn to write in the cursive they are taught at their school the correct way,” Ms Monument explained. “My children love the app and its exciting graphics that can be completely personalised.”

Ms Monument hopes that her application is able to help as many young children as possible get a head start for this school year.

Via EPR Network

New Online Social Network Offers Revolutionary WEshares(tm) to its Members

What do you get out of online social networks? Probably nothing more than just that: Online social networking. A multi-billion dollar corporation is allowing you to communicate with others while using all your information to make huge profits. Not only are you helping them make loads of money from advertising, but you are guaranteeing that a few people make a lot of money off your efforts.

ExpatOdyssey.com is a new online social network that goes against this business model. We also want to make a few bucks, but we want you to share in the success. We want to share something sustainable, unique, and revolutionary. ExpatOdyssey wants to give you more than a few pointless prizes or vouchers. Let us help you help yourself!

You’re probably wondering how this works because it sounds a little too good to be true. Simple. You become a member and use ExpatOdyssey to do what you usually do on online social networks. However, this is the point at which ExpatOdyssey.com is completely different. You are also an actual owner. The moment you sign up, you are awarded WEshares(tm). You are contributing to the website by being a member, so you deserve a reward. Every time you upload photographs, invite friends, create forums, or any one of the innumerable things you can do on ExpatOdyssey, you accumulate WEshares(tm). Like shares in a company, they represent what percentage of ExpatOdyssey.com you own.

Carlo Jacobs, Founder of ExpatOdyssey.com comments: “When the Occupy Wall Street movement began, my wife and I decided that the time was finally right for a venture that included and benefitted everyone, the 99% who have been left behind. We decided not to accept venture capitalists to create ExpatOdyssey.com or any large investors and struggled along with some meagre savings. A few friends heard about our novel idea and invested some money so that ExpatOdyssey.com could be shared with everyone out there. From that point onwards, we knew that our decision for all members to have the opportunity to get or earn Free WEshares(tm), or invest, was the right one.”

In fact, ExpatOdyssey.com has made investment so accessible to everyone that if they want, members can invest from as little as $5 with WEshares currently priced at only 0.1cents per WEshare. We are all passionate about changing the current status quo, or at least doing our part to make a significant difference and giving everyone the chance to own a piece of the future. Businesses usually offer shares when the price is already unattainable. Instead ExpatOdyssey.com is giving everyone the chance to get a piece of the pie at the beginning when it matters most! What’s more is that because our members are owners, we listen to our members’ suggestions, what they want and need and as a result, over time, ExpatOdyssey.com will end up being the world’s best online social network.

Via EPR Network

Youzzers: the anti-Facebook?

Steven Hori, a Swiss Internet and network specialist, is launching Youzzers, the first social network which is 100% secure and totally protects its members’ personal data. Thus when an account is deleted, the totality of all personal data is deleted. Youzzers is also available on iPhone, Androïd and notebooks.

A network that provides a large range of features and services.

Youzzers is both a professional social network and an interactive one. It provides a wide range of features and services. All of these are regrouped on a single platform and are managed at will by the user. It offers a higher level of confidentiality in comparison to other competitors. Ergonomic, simplified and secure, Youzzers does not require any particular skills to be used.

E-learning
Youzzers offers a network to schools and universities which allows them to make their courses available online. The network users can take these courses starting from the modest sum of 1 to 2 €.

Safety Box
Directly incorporated into Youzzers, this function offers the storage of personal data which is protected by a security encryption ranging from 128 to 256 bits so that it is only accessible to the user himself.

Mailboxes
Youzzers allows one to create an e-mail address my-email@youzzers.com to send/receive e-mails to/from members and non-members. It allows a POP connection on additional mailboxes, the sending/receiving of mail by SMTP, all of which is protected by antispam and anti-virus.

Personal multimedia albums
Youzzers accepts all formats (Photos, Audio, Video, Documents) on a simplified interface for better management of albums. They can be configured to be visible or secured and are available on mobile phones and notebooks.

Live meeting (audio/video)
Youzzers also includes an instant messaging service with incorporated whiteboard. This system allows “multiusers” to work together with bridges to MSN, AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, software.

Presently, Youzzers is available in French, English, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Turkish, Dutch and Arabic will be available by May 15th along with other features.

Youzzers also provides news, e-commerce, creation and consultation of ads, forums and surveys.

The site is open: www.youzzers.com.

Via EPR Network

MusiCHI Suite – an innovative app to manage your music files

MusiCHI Suite is the first integrated computer software application to manage your music files, completely dedicated to classical, jazz or other more demanding genre of music. It is the only digital music suite where the user can actually play and organize his music in an intelligent way, allowing him to change the order and number of columns on the screen and find his tracks in the most flexible manner. MusiCHI Suite includes 4 applications (Player, Ripper, Tagger, Library Manager), each optimized for their task, where newly introduced fields, such as Instruments, Composition, Period, Performers, Style, relevant to music classification can be utilized. Unlike other programs, in theMusiCHI Suite any field, any data, you see on screen is written inside the audio files , therefore, reducing the importance of the library, which becomes just the temporarily catalog of the files’ metadata, used only for fast and flexible searches. Bringing back the focus to the music files themselves and freeing you from any proprietary software library database.

Furthermore, we use a database engine that allows virtually unlimited size of libraries. MusiCHI Suite is a multi – library system , allowing for one more level of grouping, for example Classical, Jazz, World Music, etc. According to the library, the user interface, audio tracks data and tagging pick lists can change, since different styles of music have different logic and personalities: with classical music Composer/Composition is more valuable information than Artist/Album, for example.

The Suite is equipped with a complete reference database (MusiCHI Clean ©®) for classical music, where more than 5000 entries (composers, performers, orchestras, etc.) have been properly corrected and normalized with full respect of their local spelling (umlaut, accents etc.), i.e. the program is fully Unicode compliant. Furthermore, it has a composition engine search covering for the moment the integrated music collection of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Vivaldi. The composition engine search will soon be completed with the compositions of other famous composers.

MusiCHI Suite Version 2.1 comes with step by step tutorials and help files leading the user to learn the program and its powerful features quickly and easily. In Version 2.1, new capabilities have been added such as the possibility to play music files without them being part of a music library, the possibility to see the album/compositions covers in a graphical carousel view, the possibility to change the fonts sizes so that the user can play with the software remotely from his couch, the possibility to extract the content of the music library for printing via a spreadsheet. Furthermore, the player can read directly the CD booklet (in pdf format) with a single click, can browse any relevant internet pages linked to a track (Wikipedia etc.), potentially transforming the application to be a front-end to a music knowledge based system. Via the Windows clipboard, the Ripper can use, for its metadata, pretty much any source coming from the WEB or other documents. The playlists are now compatible with the m3u and m3u8 formats. In order to explore the numerous capabilities of the software, you can download from http://www.musichi.eu/index.php/en/downloaddemo, the free trial version (the full featured program with a limited activation time). We have also, included a demo librarywith prepared musical clips (courtesy of Hyperion Records), that can show how classical music can be tagged, “the MusiCHI way”. With these files you can experiment with the other tools of the Suite, especially our tag editor that is considered undoubtedly one of the best (if not the best) of its kind.

MusiCHI Suite Version 2.1 can play FLAC files up to 24 bits/ 385.2 KHZ, and offers additional support for MP3, MP4, APE, WMA and M4A. As we do not offer volume adjustment within the player, we do not add any digital distortion. MusiCHI Suite is ASIO Drivers compatible, including ASIO4ALL, allowing to by-pass the video sound mixer of Windows and achieving bit perfect digital output (we have passed bit transparency tests with a Weiss DAC202). MusiCHI Suite is designed to run on Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista or 7).

MusiCHI Suite is available in 3 versions: MusiCHI Studio (launching price 39 euros, approx. 54 US$) which includes the 4 applications (Player, Ripper, Tagger, Library Manager), MusiCHI Portable (launching price 19 euros, approx. 26 US$) a unique application that allows the user to transport and play all his digital music libra on any other PC without any further configuration than plug a USB drive and MusiCHI Ultimo(launching price 49 euros, approx. 68 US$) which apart from the 4 applications, includes also the Portable Edition.

MusiCHI Suite is available through the website address: www.musichi.eu.

Via EPR Network

Enhance Your Cooking Experience with Cooktorial iPhone Application

WEBST Consulting S.A., a mobile application developer, proudly announces the launch of its new project, «Cooktorial», available for iPhone and iPod Touch. Cooktorial is a recipes application, mainly addressed to the novice cook, although it can be of value to the more skilled cook as well, given that its main idea is to suggest what can be cooked based solely on the ingredients already available at home.

In fact, the main attribute setting Cooktorial apart from the rest of the cooking applications available on App Store is that, using Cooktorial, one can browse recipes which can be cooked using ingredients they already have, instead of finding a recipe which will, almost certainly, require a visit to the super-market. Cooktorial implements an easy-to-use interface, a database of over 1.000 recipes, images and thorough description of each recipe, as well as providing the user with the option of filtering the results by preparation time, cuisine type and difficulty level.

Furthermore, with a single tap the user can generate a list with the most commonly found ingredients, which can be easily edited and will be automatically stored for future use.

Last but not least, using Cooktorial does not require an internet connection, allowing thus the user to browse recipes without the use of a 3G or a Wi-Fi network. Cooktorial is a Free application available on Apple’s App Store. Users may enhance it by purchasing any of the two available In Apps, allowing them to perform unlimited number of searches within the app and to remove the Ads.

Via EPR Network

The iTunes Word Game Hit Wordle is Now Available to Android devices

GeniusWave announces Wordle for Android. The word play anagram game, is now available in over 10 Android App Stores Worldwide. The highly popular iTunes app brings the exciting and fast pace game that you can play solo or with a team, in three or thirty minutes to Android devices. The new version also enhances the 3500 puzzles and built in dictionary, making it even easier to pickup, play and learn. A great family game for both kids and adults, this anagram game comes with different levels and is quick to learn and play. Kids and adults alike build vocabulary, improve spelling and have some competitive fun along the way. Watch out, the challenge can be so addictive. Simply combine six letters on a shelf to make as many words as a player can build in three minutes.

“With the growth in popular of Android devices, we have had a lot of requests to bring the popular app to Android,” says Greg Dierickse, Founder and CMO at GeniusWave. Greg also adds, “We love the early reaction from our Android users, especially ones where Moms and kids have commented that is a much better use of time, than playing games where you destroy zombies, bunnies or birds. “Not only did we bring it Android we want to put the app in multiple stores, including stores worldwide. A worldwide availability also helps kids and adults learning English as a second language have access to a fun way to improve their vocabulary”, says Erwin Chiong, Founder and CTO at GeniusWave.

The key features of the game that users have fallen in love with:

Building a vocabulary is fun:

• Play 3500 puzzles and tens of thousands of words to help you build your vocabulary

• View definitions of words you are not familiar with

• Play for 3 minutes, 30 minutes or whenever a player has a spare moment. Games are saved automatically upon exiting or receiving a call

Instant family game or high score competition:

• Team up and play a fast round where ever players are: in the car, at a restaurant, or waiting in line

• Compete against online high scores, or share scores with Facebook friends

• Mix it up – play games that exercises the brain, not just destroying things. Wordplay gives a mental workout, builds vocabulary and helps achieve learning goals. Kids can work on spelling lists or those learning English as a second language, can enhnce their studies.

A mobile challenge:

• Built for mobile wordplay, players can easily play on the go, uses 3 or 30 minutes

• For people who like Sudoko, Soltaire, or Scabble, you’ll love how easy it is to squeeze a game in

• Don’t leave home without it, “I’m addicted, there’s nothing quite like the speed and excitement of a good, frenetic round of Wordle. I don’t leave my house without it” Heather R, Danville, CA.

Via EPR Network

Dexetra already has 5 Apps on iOS, 8 on Android, 3 on BlackBerry and 2 Apps on the Windows Phone7 marketplace

Dexetra, a burgeoning new application developer focusing on mobile software solutions, has announced the end to a very special and successful first year on April 1, 2011. The company founded on the principle of creating products that adds value to its users’ life, has gone a long way in accomplishing the targets it had set for itself. Dexetra already has 5 Apps on iOS, 8 on Android, 3 on BlackBerry and 2 Apps on the Windows Phone7 marketplace.

“As with any new age company, we also do believe that the value being offered to the end users should be the highest priority. Unless the motive is to help people enhance their life experience, success would, inevitably, be an elusive virtue” says Narayan Babu, CEO & CTO, Dexetra.

The company has industry giants to thank for; Google & Microsoft through the Biz spark Initiative. It was the Google Developer Challenge that made a group of techies to come together and form a team to come up path breaking and revolutionary product to lay claim to the honors. It was not long before the young entrepreneurs knew what was going to be the “Winner” Product: Friday. The goal was to help users remember their lives forever. “We thought since your smartphone would be the gadget that spends most the time with you, why not tap into it, to mine information. The App would log the info with minimal manual efforts. And later, here comes the best part, the user could ask questions in English and ‘Friday’ would give them accurate results. Another way to look at it? ‘Google search of your life’. A way to honor our motivators” Quotes Mr.Babu. It was not long before the founders were convinced that the Friday needed more attention and subsequently Dexetra was incorporated.

On this very special day, Dexetra has come up with its own way to show its gratitude towards the SmartPhone users. Dexetra is offering all its Paid Apps on iPhone and BlackBerry for Free. The price for the Android Apps would be set at the lowest permissible limit for an Android App.

iOS Apps:

SpeedSense :

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedsense/id410507294?mt=8

 

TryCube 2:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trycube-2-0/id395890524?mt=8&

 

SecureKeys:

http://itunes.apple.com/app/securekeys/id400653039?mt=8

 

Android:

SpeedSense Pro:

http://market.android.com/details?id=com.dex.speedsensepro

SecureKeys:

http://market.android.com/details?id=com.dex.util.securekeys&feature=search_result

 

SmokeSense: Smokers’ Ticker:

http://market.android.com/details?id=com.dex.smokeapp&feature=search_result

 

BlackBerry:

SecureKeys:

https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/17964?lang=

 

SpeedSense:

https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/14833

 

SpeedSense Plus:

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/18963?lang=en

In addition to this, Dexetra is also launching its latest offering for Android (Mobillionaire). Mobillionaire is multiplayer strategy game. The company would be introducing this to the iOS in the near future. The company hopes the support would continue to grow even further and would be a motivating factor for Dexetra come up with more innovative products.

Via EPR Network

Muozi.com – Africa’s Hottest Social Networking Site Is Seen As The Second Coming Of Facebook!

African and Global web users have already spoken: social networking site fanatics find Muozi as the most convenient and user-friendly site and the toughest competitor of Facebook in Africa.

www.Muozi.com is a social networking site that allows people from different parts of Africa to connect with their family, friends, as well as old lost friends anytime and anywhere at their own convenience. This social networking site is a true hit among grownups and teenagers.

The target audiences of this newly launched site are not only the Africans but the global web users as well.Owner and Founder, Patrick Ndukwe a Master’s degree holder in Information System and a graduate of BA in Philosophy and BA in Economics once said in an interview, “I am positive that Africans has to have a social network engine that will do to Africans the same thing that Facebook, MySpace and others like it are doing to the developed world. Muozi.com was born out of the need to equalize the techno-gap; the need to give Africa what other developed world has.” “Muozi has about 15 partners with all having degrees in Law, Marketing, journalism, film & Video, Music and PR.

These partners are both here in the US and in Africa. Muozi have music artist and film producers on board as partners.”, Ndukwe told the interviewer.Ndukwe also specified how Muozi has partnered with some Universities in Africa and have a lot of professors on board as partners. “We, at Muozi take pride in what we are hoping to achieve, which is creating a bridge to Africa from developed world; we will take the best of what is in the develop world and bring it to Africans as relates to Social Networking and technology in general.”

Muozi users are also permitted to add or incorporate a “Documents tab” for every group if they want. Users are authorized to upload and display documents in group.

Furthermore, all users are also allowed to download documents, print, share, rate documents, add tags, categorize and leave a comment without a glitch. Other than that, the group designers or creators are free to set or place a document uploading option or document viewing permissions for different respective groups.

“Muozi is just starting; we intend to equalize the cost of calling Africa or calls from Africa as close to FREE as it can be in the near future”, Ndukwe expressed with great excitement.

Muozi also offers flash video chat, instant messaging service, and more! There are also separate tabs or sections for blogging, classified ads, forums, games, as well as videos. Users can share anything with their families and friends wherever they are.

Furthermore, in an interview conducted by the research team of Muozi.com, Nuji a new Muozi user said, “I am very impressed with the layout and the features offered by this social networking site, it is far better compared to other social networks that I came across with. I am personally recommending this site to my fellow social networking fanatics. Keep up the good work Muozi!”It’s undeniable that Muozi is truly the new face of social networking in Africa. This site allows people to create free account and log in to the website using their existing account on facebook, twitter, google and other selected social networking sites. These are the primary reasons why Mouzi is considered as the toughest competitor of Facebook today. Muozi is a private company connecting Africans to the world at large.

Via EPR Network

Intelligent Intranet Software Supplier and an On-Line Mind Mapping Software Provider Announce a Strategic Technology Partnership

Interact, a leading supplier in intelligent intranet software and MindMeister, providers of on-line mind mapping software, are pleased to announce a strategic technology partnership. The agreement allows the two companies to combine their industry leading software solutions.

MindMeister is the market leading and multiple award-winning web-based collaboration solution that uses proven mind mapping concepts to facilitate multi-user planning, brainstorming, and project management sessions all from within a standard web browser.

Interact Intranet is an easy to use, collaborative turnkey solution trusted by over 250,000 users. It is an intelligent intranet solution that learns as people use it, adapts and automatically connects relevant information to people. Powerful enterprise networking tools actively promote internal communication, collaboration, idea sharing and cross-organisation participation. It is modular in its architecture allowing organisations to add the components, resources, and services that are required as the business evolves and grows.

As a result of the new integration, Interact Intranet users will be able to access the MindMeister mind maps via the intranet to brainstorm or plan new projects. They will be able to simultaneously work with colleagues on the same map and see changes as they happen within the intuitive and familiar intranet interface.

Commenting on the partnership Scott Hitchins, Global Partner Manager at Interact said: “At Interact we are continually looking to establish new strategic alliances to build-upon and reinforce our intranet platform and we are very excited about the partnership with MindMeister.”

“We constantly seek to innovate and develop Interact Intranet to add value for our users. Creativity and collaboration are the basis of every successful business and the MindMeister mind mapping and visual thinking application is a natural extension to our existing collaborative capabilities. Like Interact Intranet, MindMeister has an intuitive user interface so the integration offers the best solution for functionality and ease of use.”

Interact Intranet is an ideal platform for forming strategic relationships. With over 250,000 users worldwide and an ever-expanding list of high-profile customers, opportunities are consistently being produced to cross-promote new solutions for the end-user via the Interact Intranet Partner Program.

Via EPR Network

Yola – Stop Browsing, Start Building

Yola now provides you with a range of step-by-step website enhancement tutorials that are easy to understand. They will not only help you to efficiently build your own free website, but will also show you how to optimise it for search engines and carry advertising using Google’s Adsense.

 Three of the most effective tools available are Google Webmaster (to help manage Google’s indexing of your website), search engine optimisation (SEO) and Google Adsense (adding advertising to your website as a revenue stream).Yola’s in-depth tutorials for these tools give you clear and simple instructions on how to implement and get the most out of them. They contain step-by-step instructions, illustrative screenshots from the actual tools and FAQs covering additional issues that users typically encounter.With these guides Yola has added an extra dimension to its www.yola.com free website building tools – Yola now also gives you what you need to get your website ahead.

 

Via EPR Network

BlooSee Brings Web 2.0 to Ocean Lovers

BlooSee.com, a new, free Internet service, brings Web 2.0 to ocean lovers by allowing people from all over the world to map and share information about the ocean.BlooSee It’s a bit like wikipedia, but uses Google Earth/Maps imagery and a very intuitive interface. Also, BlooSee is a social network and it’s linked to other networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

BlooSee.com assigns a URL to each ocean or coastal location—which allows users to share information via social networks. “If I want to blog, Tweet, or Facebook about a movie or a book, I can link to a website. But what if I want to blog, Tweet, or Facebook about a seal pod, a snorkeling spot, or a dangerous rip current? Or what if I want to have conversations about the ocean using social networks? Now I can do all of the above with BlooSee”, said Manuel Maqueda, VP of Community and Strategy of BlooSee.

On BlooSee user contributions are called “infopoints,” which are bits of information shown on precise geographical coordinates over satellite images of the world’s oceans and coasts.Right now users can create 110 different types of infopoints on BlooSee. Some infopoints are navigation-related (e.g., lighthouses, harbors, and Coastguard stations) while others are related to water sports (e.g., surfing and snorkeling spots, or underwater caves). Sixteen types ofinfopoints are dedicated to dangers such as rip currents, uncharted underwater rocks, or pirate attacks. Other Infopoints are dedicated to marine art and history, such as museums, monuments, and historical sites.

The ocean is the largest ecosystem on the planet, and BlooSee is also a place where users can find protected natural areas, sea turtle nesting beaches, whale watching spots, and more.In addition, BlooSee is a place to share and find practical information, such as fuel docks, chandlers, restaurants, bait shops, surfing schools, and restaurants. According to Manuel Maqueda, “In a sense, BlooSee is ‘the Yelp of the sea,’ because it allows sea lovers to find and rate the businesses and services they need.”

The BlooSee social network is synched with Twitter and Facebook, allowing Twitter followers and Facebook friends to experience the users’ activity on BlooSee. BlooSee users retain total control over how they want their BlooSee activity to be broadcast.

According to Manuel Maqueda, “BlooSee is like having Wikipedia, Google Maps, Facebook, and Yelp all in one place, focused on the enjoyment, knowledge, and conservation of the ocean.”

BlooSee is in public beta and open to all users for free.

Via EPR Network

Dude – The iPhone App That Features Dozens Of Hilarious “Dude” Recordings

“Seriously Dude? An APP about Dude? Cool.” The iTunes store today began distributing Dude and Dude Deluxe, the first Dude Apps to be released for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Dude Apps feature dozens of hilarious “Dude” recordings. Get ready to laugh along with our pop culture’s greatest living word “Dude” and try to figure out what each “Dude” recording really means.

“Dude is one of the most entertaining and interesting words in any language, it means so many different things. In fact, it can mean everything. People can even converse saying nothing else but Dude,” professes Jason Moskowitz, a partner at The APP Company, the developer of Dude. “Dude is a way to say, ‘Hey read my mind right now’ and so it can mean anything.”

Dude is very famous as well, appearing in Bud Light commercials, headlining major motion pictures like “Dude, Where’s my car,” helping launch the career of Keanu Reeves and that other guy in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and appearing as the title character “The Dude” inThe Big Lebowski.

“Our goal with Dude and Dude Deluxe is to laugh out loud with one of our pop culture’s greatest living words, Dude. We want to give it the special place it deserves, with its own iPhone App dedicated to nothing but the glory of Dude,” says Scot Robinson, a partner at The APP Company and now a fan of Dude. “Early on I thought it was a stupid idea, but when I started researching and listening to people, I was amazed at how common the word really is spoken.”

The APP Company has created a website and employed researchers to create a repository for all things Dude. Moskowitz explains, “It is set up like a super interactive and fun Wikipedia listing dedicated exclusively to the hilarious and interesting uses and meanings of the wordDude;”

The Dude Lexicon:

Dude is one of the most versatile words in any language. John Swansberg of Slate identifies “at least six distinct usages of Dude:”

The admonitory Dude: the dude deployed when your buddy won’t stop humming “Umbrella” on a long car ride. As in, “Dude, enough.”

The interrogative Dude: useful for ascertaining whether you’ve dropped a call. “Dude? Are you still there?”

The deflated Dude: the dude of bad news. “Dude. Tom Brady’s wearing a boot.”

The exclamatory Dude: the dude of good news. “Dude! Tom Brady is no longer wearing a boot!”

The sotto voce (under one’s breath) Dude: for classified briefings. “Dude: Here comes that tall drink of water from accounting.”

The blissed-out Dude: more accurately rendered as duhuhude. The dude issued upon rediscovering a long-lost (Grateful) Dead tape.

 

 

Dude and Dude Deluxe

Both Dude and Dude Deluxe have been launched simultaneously. Dude is a free App and contains most of the features of Dude Deluxe. For 99 cents, users of Dude Deluxe receive additional Dude recordings, have the ability to set any Dude recording as a ringtone, can send recordings via email as MP3 files, and can prank their friends with Dude Alarms and Dude Bombs.

 

About The APP Company

The APP Company is a leading iPhone applications development company. The APP Company has two divisions, one that develops iPhone applications internally, and the second, APP Last Mile™ which partners with entrepreneurs to invest, develop and provide marketing and management services for their app ideas. The APP company’s core purpose is to provide iPhone owners with interesting, exciting and useful applications by investing in the most creative and selective ideas.

Via EPR Network

Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction

“Sramana Mitra’s Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction is a book for our time because it’s something real out of Silicon Valley. No more stories about legendary VC fundings of startup-to-IPO in six months. …This book has some fascinating histories of the different paths people take to entrepreneurship, and the difficulties they face. I would only have wished each of the interviews to be longer and deeper, because every story is worth telling.” – Fast Company

In a world battered by economic crisis, Sramana Mitra believes entrepreneurship is the only sustainable path forward to a healthy economic world order. And core to the success of entrepreneurial ventures today is the invigorating art of bootstrapping. Sramana Mitra–a serial entrepreneur, strategy consultant and Forbes columnist–takes aim at this essential route along the roadmap to startup success with Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction (Entrepreneur Journeys Vol. 2; BookSurge; June 1, 2009; $16.95 paperback).

Along with the incisive analysis and commentary that have popularized popularized her blog “Sramana Mitra on Strategy” and Forbes columns, Mitra showcases a dozen successful entrepreneurs and their lessons from the bootstrapping trenches. Overflowing with lively entrepreneurial tangents, theories and behind-closed-doors-experience, the book rises to the level of economic policy discussion while simultaneously offering practical advice from experienced bootstrappers. Important issues like doing more with less, getting started with little or no capital, and validating the market on the cheap are discussed with the likes of Om Malik of GigaOm and Greg Gianforte of RightNow.

In her characteristic narrative style, Mitra shepherds established and aspiring entrepreneurs through another inspiring and page-turning expedition into venture land, a territory she hopes will be claimed by many more in the years to come.

“From my perspective it is clear that small business must be a top policy priority,” explains Mitra. “Let us hope that in the coming decade the number of small businesses will double, then triple and quadruple. For here is the most powerful engine of economic growth and sustenance. Here is our way back.”

More Praise for Bootstrapping:

“Mitra clearly has a passion for small businesses. This useful volume is largely comprised of interviews with the founders of such companies. Her skilled questioning prompts a discussion of the many issues involved in starting and growing a business. The entrepreneurs share wisdom and insight useful to any budding or existing business owner. The reader will be struck by the vision, inventiveness and sheer determination of these entrepreneurial heroes, who operate businesses that are successful but far below the radar. A highly relevant and timely work on entrepreneurship’s role in economic reconstruction.” – Kirkus Discoveries

“Sramana’s work on bootstrapped entrepreneurs is an inspiration in these tough economic times. The solutions to our economic problems ultimately lie with the entrepreneur who brings imagination, resourcefulness and good old-fashioned elbow grease to tackle old problems in new ways, create new solutions and new industries. It is all too easy to forget this, particularly when we feed on the depressing daily diet of endless bailouts and hear trillions of dollars being thrown around. A great entrepreneur can do a lot with ten thousand dollars. This book is a good antidote to the depressing mood of these times.” – Sridhar Vembu, CEO of AdventNet and Zoho, Bootstrapped to over $50 million in annual revenue

“In the end, a true entrepreneur will not be denied. What Sramana captures with simple grace are the riveting personal stories of modern day business alchemists, who mix vision, pragmatism and relentless effort to forge creative new and successful ventures. Her collection of interviews will make for an engaging, educational read, for those in the entrepreneurial space, those considering joining the game and those just plain curious about the formative innovators whose efforts provide outsize social returns of the most concrete and enduring nature.” – Don Hutchison, Silicon Valley Angel Investor

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sramana Mitra is a technology entrepreneur and strategy consultant in Silicon Valley. She has founded three companies, is a columnist for Forbes, and writes a business blog, Sramana Mitra on Strategy (www.sramanamitra.com). She has a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.

Via EPR Network

New Site Helps iPhone And iPod Touch App Developers And Publishers Generate More Publicity

Mobile app Developers and Publishers looking for exposure can now do so with a new website that allows them to giveaway their iPhone/iPod Touch apps by way of a promotional giveaway. App Giveaway (www.appgiveaway.com), allows Publishers and Developers to feature their apps on the website in return for promo codes which they receive from the Apple Store – and maximise potential revenue. The website has been created as a way of helping both mobile Developers/Publishers promote their apps whilst at the same time giving something back to the users of the iPhone/iPod Touch devices.

App Giveaway, (www.appgiveaway.com) went live this week and does exactly what it says on the tin – it features iPhone and iPod Touch apps that are ready to be distributed to the online community. What makes the site unique is that it’s free for all to participate and all we ask for in return are promo codes which we can distribute to our online users, thereby maximising exposure and potential revenue in the future from direct links and referrals.

Application Developers and Publishers that are already receiving exposure on the App Giveaway website include Game Systems with their iPhone application “T.A.N.K. Arena Battle” and an app called “Earth Quake Watch” developed by an aspiring 11 year old.

The idea developed after Apple agreed to provide developers 50 promo codes each: “I heard Apple was providing Developers upto 50 iPhone promo codes for new apps and/or updated apps featured in the Apple Store. I thought, ‘That’s it, why don’t I provide Developers and Publishers a central platform where they can giveaway their promo codes whilst promoting their app much more effectively?’ Then I thought I might as well include categories, too, as this will give visitors a much more convenient way of looking for apps.”Al says.

George Sutty of G.A.M.E.S. says “I am very excited to work with AppGiveaway to help me promote my game. After talking to other iPhone developers, it’s very clear, that without the right exposure, the odds of getting noticed among the other 40,000+ iPhone applications are pretty slim. It is hard enough to get a review noticed, and that’s assuming you can get the review written in the first place. The giveaway is such an easy way for a developer to get noticed”.

The site also maximizes exposure by serving as a useful app directory, because all iPhone and iPod Touch apps are categorized in a sidebar. Categories include Books, Business, Entertainment, Finance, Games, and many more.

Al has big plans for the site: “I want the www.appgiveaway.com website to be the biggest promoter of iPhone and iPod Touch applications. I also want to provide a service for people to feature and visit useful apps. I believe the app giveaway website will have a profound effect on the way we find, download and forward useful apps in the future. We also have plans to launch an iPhone app version of the app giveaway website very soon”

App Giveaway also features articles. Al says: “I’m a big fan of writing, so I would like to write a few words related to mobile applications on the website.”

Via EPR Network

Bitrix’s all new Intranet Portal 8.0 – Collaborate, Communicate and Socialize

Bitrix Inc., an enterprise 2.0 software company that develops portal solutions for businesses, announced the all new Bitrix Intranet Portal 8.0 – designed to revolutionize online collaboration.

“The new version of the product embodies the principles of Enterprise 2.0. We call them “Three Cs” – Collaboration, Communication and Corporate Culture. The perfect integration with MS Office Outlook, built-in instant messaging server, collaboration tools and personal dashboard – they all allow companies to improve business efficiency and enhance decision making.” said Sergey Rizhikov, CEO of Bitrix, Inc.

The Bitrix Intranet Portal 8.0 is a real breakthrough in Enterprise 2.0 solutions. For the first time in IT history, the unique instant messaging server, XMPP/JABBER, has been built right into an Intranet Portal. All you need is to install one of widespread clients for JABBER – Miranda IM, Trillian Pro, Adium or any other, depending on your operating system (Windows, MAC, or UNIX). Connecting through your mobile device also just got easier. Any handset will get along and all you need to do it to synchronize your handset with the portal. Once you are logged in you can see who all are online, chat with colleagues, share files with them and even set your mood status.

Two-way integration with MS Office Outlook – Bitrix Intranet Portal has complete, two-way synchronization with Microsoft Outlook contacts, calendar (appointments) and tasks. Now you don’t need to flip between screens to keep track of your meetings. You can add events to the Outlook calendar and your personal portal calendar will be automatically u p d a t e d.

Booking a meeting room – Bitrix Intranet Portal 8.0 allows you to see which rooms are available and when, streamline and manage scheduling processes in real-time, request equipment or setup services at the time of booking. It’s a dream come true for anyone who schedules meetings — and anyone who has to attend them.

Personal dashboard – Bitrix Intranet Portal 8.0 allows you to customize the layout of the main and personal user page according to your personal preferences. You can modify the look and feel of the portal page by including different columns such as events, working groups, company news and RSS-feed information about weather, traffic, etc. A few clicks and your personal portal is ready!

Proactive Protection – build in Proactive Protection Module is a robust combination of proactive filter (Web Application Firewall), disposable passwords, fast and effective anti-malware, protection of authorized sessions, activity control, intrusion log, Control Panel page access blocking by IP, Stop List and integrity control tools to defend against the majority of Internet risks.

Check out the Bitrix Intranet Portal 8.0 today with a 30 day trial offer: http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/intranet/demo.php#tab-trial-link 

You can even test a live system – just visit our virtual lab: http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/intranet/demo.php 

Bitrix Intranet Portal 8.0: http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/intranet/index.php#tab-ver8-link 

Proactive Protection Module: http://www.bitrixsoft.com/products/cms/features/proactive.php

 

About Bitrix

Bitrix, Inc. specializes in the development of content management systems and portal solutions formanaging web projects and multifunctional information systems on the Internet. Bitrix specialists, by their considerable efforts and skill, developed the Bitrix Site Manager software—a standalone application that provides complex web solutions. This software tech-corp was established in 1998 by a group of IT specialists. Bitrix continues to hold a leading position in the web development market, always offering high-standard solutions to its clients and partners.

Via EPR Network

Start-Up Weebiz.Com Launches With The Promise To Give Away 1.000.000€ To Its Most Influential Company

Weemagine, a Portuguese Web 2.0 startup, is launching Weebiz.com (its first product). Weebiz is just like a business expo, but with the utilities of a social network, where companies from all around the globe can leverage their business contacts to find opportunities and achieve success.

To promote and incentivize further networking, Weebiz is going to offer a prize of ONE MILLION Euros to its most influential company.

Registering a company and using Weebiz is free, although there are First-Class accounts that give company profiles an Authenticated badge as well as other advantages like permanent business headlines, unlimited products, etc.

All First-Class accounts will be eligible to win the 1.000.000€ challenge and the winner will be the company that uses Weebiz to its full potential (which will be determined by a score, calculated according with a formula available at Weebiz.com).

João Santos, General Manager of Weemagine, believes that “In a moment of economic uncertainty and fragility, more and more companies are finding that the internet is a platform bursting with opportunities. Web 2.0 applications and social software have proven to be highly efficient and cost-effective tools whose usefulness is nowadays unquestionable. So, in a moment when businesses must find new markets and clients, partners and alliances, new ways to promote themselves and their brands, Weebiz aims at providing them with exactly the kind of new approach to business that they need to succeed in the rough economic environment of today.”

About Weemagine:

A technology startup based in Leiria, Portugal. Weemagine is an ambitious project of a small team of enthusiastic, senior year students and recently graduates from the University of Coimbra.

Via EPR Network

Wix.Com – An Online Web Design Platform That Lets Non-Tech Savvy Musicians Create Dynamic Flash Website

How are up-and-coming bands marketing themselves more effectively than signed artists–and putting the final nail in the record company coffin in the process?

The answer: new online web design platforms like Wix.com that let non-tech savvy musicians create dynamic flash website and MySpace pages (for free) that not only rival, but exceed the quality of professionally made websites.

As I’m sure you know, record companies have been taking it on the chin the past few years with music sales drying up. But their saving grace has been their powerful marketing arms, which for top artists has always been the best way to achieve market penetration. No longer.

Web 2.0 has leveled the playing field. Musicians can send e-flyers with embedded music about upcoming gigs, create customizable widgets for their MySpace page, and create band Flash websites that match the artistic value of their music.

The result: young and up-and-coming bands are now marketing themselves more effectively than big name artists. That’s why in just a few months nearly 200,000 musicians have already signed up with Wix.com web design platform.

About Wix

www.wix.com is a free, DIY and easy-to use Web design platform. Wix is the only web publishing platform that allows users to create stunning and completely original Flash websites. Founded in September 2006 and launched in open beta in April 2008, Wix was born out of the founders’ frustration with creating dynamic looking Websites that didn’t involve coding or programming. Wix has received $8.5 million funding from Bessemer Venture Partners and Mangrove Capital Partners. and is headquartered in New York and offices in Tel Aviv. www.wix.com.

Via EPR Network

Konoker, a Location-Specific Jobsite Launches on Facebook’s Platform

KONOKER Jobs, a job advertisement and job search tool built on Facebook Platform, was launched by 1902 Software Development Corporation on March 19, 2009.

Using the KONOKER Jobs application, Facebook users can advertise regular and freelance jobs for free, apply for postings and share them with friends, thus unleashing the power of the Facebook social graph.The application is very easy to use, both for advertisers and jobseekers alike. Job advertisers can post an unlimited number of job ads in KONOKER Jobs without spending a single penny. On the jobseeker’s part, all that has to be done to apply for a job is to click a button. One practical highlight of KONOKER Jobs is its location-specific job searching feature, which makes it very easy for jobseekers to find job openings in their locality or geographic region.

With KONOKER Jobs, companies and jobseekers alike can advertise themselves, their specialization, their services, or specify the job they are looking for. That way, they can easily be identified by prospective employers, employees, or clients.With one click, KONOKER Jobs makes it possible for a person to send job ads and resumes to his or her friends, either on Facebook or via email. “We’ve been wondering why there wasn’t an application on Facebook Platform that was both location-sensitive and detailed and not part of an established jobsite. So, we built one that is sort of a Facebook-only jobsite,” says Peter Skouhus, president of 1902 Software Development Corporation. “As an IT company, we’ve had our share of difficulty in finding the right people. Using KONOKER Jobs, we want to explore the potential of Facebook to find the right talent,” Skouhus adds. For more information about KONOKER Jobs, visit http://www.konoker.com or install the application by going to: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=49571109387

KONOKER Jobs was developed by 1902 Software Development Corporation, a Danish-managed software outsourcing company based in Manila, Philippines. 1902 Software Development Corporation specializes on web applications based on .Net and PHP technology. The company has been in the software development industry for over ten years now since it inception in 1998. To know more about 1902 Software Development Corporation, visit http://www.1902software.com.

Via EPR Network