Gboard keyboard for iOS

Gboard for iOS 

The Apple's iOS is seeing an increase in the third party keyboards available in the app store. Just a month after its biggest rival Microsoft released Wordflow Keyboard for the US another giant, Google takes a big leap by introducing Gboard for iPhone and iPad. 

Gboard though aesthetically average and simple consists the power of web. It has a search functionality integrated with the keyboard which helps user to search for content on Google and it's services like YouTube and share that content with users without having the trouble to open a separate application.

The Google button at the top left of the keyboard opens a mini screen where you search and look for the right content to share. You can even search for emoji and gif for that right moment in any conversation. This makes searching for any content like text and image seamless. 

Along with this Gboard packs the usual features like swipe-to-type and predictions which work pretty well too. Google has launched Gboard for US only users, but you can download it by creating a US based Apple ID. 

Gboard is a must have for people constantly going across web while in-conversation to share content like images, gifs and videos. 

Inshorts News in 60 words

Inshorts : On-the-go News

Inshorts helps you keep updated with news in your busy schedule. Most of us don't like to go through long articles on websites and newspapers to keep up with the daily national and international happenings. Inshorts brings all the news to you in just 60 words. 

The content is curated by writers who downsize the long and lengthy articles from across the web into 60 words while keeping in the important facts. The sources include a variety of news publishing websites and media websites such as YouTube. The stories get updated frequently to keep you up to speed. The articles also mentions the source of the content which can be navigated to if you want to read the full article. The link opens as a webpage in-app

You get to chose your language as Hindi or English which can be changed from the settings menu anytime. The articles are also divided into various categories that can be browsed through the side menu. The app also tells how many of the articles are still unread.

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Inshorts is best suited for people catching up on news on their commute or during short breaks between work.

Download Inshort for Android
Download Inshort for iOS

Backdrops : Wallpapers

Wallpaper App for Big Screens

Backdrops is a bliss for those of us who want the perfect wallpaper. It took quite a while for a beautifully designed app with rich content to show up on the playstore which could do justice to the full HD screens of our devices. 

Backdrop is designed into tabs namely community, explore and favorites. The huge collection of amazing wallpapers are uploaded by users across the globe. You can sign up to submit your photographs as wallpapers too. 

The community and explore tab are refreshed with new wallpapers everyday. You can set any wallpaper from inside the application. However you may only save wallpapers from the community tab. Saving wallpapers to your device from the explore tab requires the pro version.

While most wallpaper apps provide compressed images that appear grainy on the large screens, Backdrops does not shy away from listing wallpapers with size as much as 3-4 mb with exceptional quality, which in turn is required for the full HD screens. 

This application is a must try for people using big screen android device. 

Download Backdrops

What Everyone is Playing - Clash Royale

What everyone is Playing - CLASH ROYALE

The game developers at Supercell are back with an exciting new installment Clash Royale after the massive success of their previous title Clash of Clans. The game is essentially a card combat game where you fight against one enemy with the cards in your deck. It’s a real time strategy game where you would win only by choosing the right cards at the right time. Let’s dig a little deeper to find out why this game has everyone hooked.

THE GAME

The game consists of each player having a selected deck of 8 cards which can be used to attack or defend against the enemy. The cards are unlocked as you move up in the game and by opening different kind of chests earned after winning battles. Each card needs a certain amount of elixir to be deployed into the battlefield, the elixir refills itself during the battle. There are three towers for each player to defend and attack. Destroying the middle one (where the king sits) instantly wins you the battle. There is also a time limit for each battle which might be extended if there is no clear winner. The game matches you to battle against the players all over the world. You can also have friendly matches with your friends from your clan.

     

THE REWARDS

Your win in each battle is rewarded by a chest that can be silver, gold or magical. These chests have a time gap before they can be opened. Each chests contains gold for buying upgrades for the cards, gems for special perks and cards of new characters. The game also gives you a free chest to open after every 4 hours so that you keep revisiting the game.

      

THE CHARACTERS

This game borrows a lot of the characters from its predecessor Clash of Clans and introduces some new ones. The characters are in the form of cards which when deployed on the battlefield attack according to their skills. Each character requires a particular amount of elixir to deploy. There are a lot of characters in the game. Each card is also upgraded once you have collected enough cards to move to next level. There are some really cool new characters to be unlocked at every level and you can handpick any of these numerous characters for your deck.

       

WHY TO PLAY

For starters this game is extremely easy to learn and play, the tutorial in the game makes sure of that. You can run this game on your mobile data and does not require very high speed Wi-Fi network to play. You get free chests and upgrades if you revisit the game and no in app purchases are required. The game has enough to keep you hooked and you can easily move up the game by selecting through unlocked characters and using them in your deck. This is one of those classics game that every one of your friends is playing and you have to give it a try. Believe me you won’t regret it.

Hidden Telegram Tricks

Hidden features of Telegram Messenger 

Telegram is an emerging cloud based instant messaging application that has over 100 million users and 350,000 users joining daily. Founded in 2013 this application has gained a reputation for secure messaging and end-to-end encryption, so much so, that the founders Nikolai and Pavel Durov have announced an award of $200,000 for cracking Telegram’s algorithm. It is lighter than its immediate rival application WhatsApp and provides an array of features that have gained popularity. Take a look at some of these hidden features of Telegram that you must know for an even better experience on the application:

1.       Managing Sessions in Telegram:

One of the most remarkable features of the Telegram is using and managing sessions. Telegram is available across all the platforms and allows access to one’s account from multiple devices at the same time. As cited earlier it is a cloud based service so all the chats are kept synchronized on every device. Sessions can also be managed under Privacy Settings to view all the active sessions and terminate sessions with one tap.

   

2.       Using Telegram on web browser:

Telegram allows access to account through the web browsers on web.telegram.org. The chats and contacts would appear on the window and messages can be sent seamlessly without using the application. This web version is also accessible from mobile browsers and general functionality like sending photo or video is also available.

            

    

3.       Using secret chats:

Boasting of security features like end-to-end encryption, Telegram also provides a feature called Secret Chats which provides self-destructing messages that are by design deleted once read or viewed. The Secret Chat can be started from the new chat option and selecting the contact. One can also choose the period from the self-destruct timer for which the message is available to be read or viewed which would thereafter be deleted. The timer starts when the message is read or an image is opened. The application also sends a notification if the receiver has taken a screenshot.

     

                   
   

4.       Hiding the last seen from specific contact:

Even as most messaging apps provide the feature of hiding the last seen from contacts, Telegram provides an added aspect of hiding the last seen from a specific contact. Under the Last Seen menu of Privacy Settings in the application one can specify the people with whom to not share the last seen.

                                               

5.       Blocking people from adding you in groups:

On numerous occasions people start adding you to unknown groups and channels which is annoying. Henceforth to reduce the effort of exiting unknown groups repeatedly, Telegram provides a feature where you can specify the people who can add you into groups and channels. This Setting is available under the Groups menu in Privacy settings.

                                                    

6.       Setting and Using Username:

The Username menu under Settings allows you to choose a username for your account for other people to contact you without knowing your phone number. This is an improvement wherein you don’t have to share your phone number with other people as it is considered more personal.

                                                       

7.       Channels on Telegram:

Channels are tools to broadcast messages to a large number of audiences. You can join existing channels or create your own channels. As the creator of the channel you can broadcast messages, delete any messages, add members, remove members, change the channel's name, profile image and link, as well as delete the channel completely. The creator can also add and remove administrators to help manage the channel. There are two types of channels Public and Private. Public channels have a username and can be viewed and joined by anyone. One can join a channel by visiting telegram.me/channelname on the web browser and then opening the link through telegram or by sending a message @channelname to one of the contacts and tapping on that link. There is a catalog of channels on tchannels.me

    

    

8.     Using @ in Telegram:

Telegram introduced inline bots which are used to communicate in a more efficient way by searching and sending the content relevant to the conversation right from the chat screen. You can send relevant gifs or information from websites like Wikipedia, Imdb to the users groups or channels instantly. Several sample bots like @gif, @imdb, @wiki, @bing, @bold can be used. You just need to type @username of the bot you want to use along with the keyword to get the relevant content.

       

9.       Using editor while sending photos:

Sending photos is one of the universal features provided by any instant messaging application. Telegram provides an added feature to edit the images before sending it to the contacts or groups. The editor can be used to crop and edit effects to enhance the photos before sharing.

      

                                       

10.   Using Passcode lock and Two-Step verification:

App locks provide an easy and efficient method to keep the private chats secure from prying eyes of friends and family. Though there are numerous App locks available for the Android applications, iOS does not have efficient third party App locks. Telegram provides Passcode feature to secure your application. Furthermore it provides a two-step verification password feature that sets a regular password for when you sign in from a new device along with the pass code you receive on the number. This is an added security feature to keep a track of the new sessions from multiple devices.

      

                

You can comment any queries and suggestions.

Essential Instagram Tricks to know!

Essential Instagram Tricks

Instagram is first of its kind photo sharing social network that has come a long way since its launch in 2010. Starting only with square photo sharing, Instagram has evolved by introducing numerous features and sharing of videos as well as gifs on its platform.

Here are some essential Instagram Tricks that would make the app even more accessible: 

Tap and Hold Camera Button to directly jump to Camera Roll

To be frank there is none of us who use Instagram’s native camera to click those mesmerizing photos that we share, but every time we want to post a photo we click on the camera button at the middle and that annoying camera opens. To skip it, you can just click and hold on that camera button to directly go to your camera roll.

                        

                          

Hold on to a username to directly mention them in comments

If you are a regular Instagramer then you know the pain of replying to the people commenting on your photos by searching them in the comment box, but there is a trick to skip that. Just hold on to any username you want to mention in the comments and it would appear in the comment box. You can then directly reply to them and they will get the notifications. You can also slide to the comment to reveal more options for the users.

                       

                                                   

 Rearrange and Hide filters according to your need

There are some filters we just love on Instagram. And finding them every time among the list is a pain. To avoid that you can just hold onto any filter and drag to rearrange and hide them as per need. Don’t worry the hidden filters are not going anywhere you can get them back by the manage filters button.

                     

                             

Fix Angle and Perspective of your photos

Sometimes those beautiful photos you click require slight adjustments of angle and perspective. You can do that easily by using the Tools menu in the app and adjust the angle and perspective on your photos. Not only does it help to fix your photos but also enhances it.

               

                                      

Get all your liked photos

How many times has it happened that you want to show your friends that one photo you liked weeks ago on Instagram but just couldn’t find?  Well under the settings menu you’ll find ‘Posts You’ve Liked’ inside which you’ll find all the photos and videos you have liked under one roof.

                       

                                   

 Hide sponsored Advertisements

You must have come across the annoying advertisements on Instagram, one can recognize these posts with Sponsored written on the top. They may use cellular data, so if you want to hide these Sponsored ads just click on the ‘Sponsored’ written in blue above the post and select ‘Hide This’. Then it would ask you for a reason to hide it, select any of the reason and the post would be hidden from your feed.

                         

                            

Embed Instagram photos on the web

Like an Instagram photo so much that you want to embed it on your website or blog? You can do that by visiting www.instagram.com  on the web. Select the photo you want to embed and click the three dots below it. You’ll see and option to embed it, from there you can copy the code and embed the photo on your website or blog.

            

 

           

Get Your Website URL below your name

This is an interesting one. Ever wondered how you see website names below usernames on the Instagram feed. That is an excellent way to promote your website or blog. It’s a two step process.

First, go to your mobile Facebook app and click on check in. Write the name of the website you want to promote(You cannot use http). Next click on Add the place to map. After this you will be asked to select a category for the place you are adding, you can just select ‘Just For Fun’. You’ll also be asked to give a location to that place and photo and other info. After giving all the info you want create the Place. Now this place is added to the map of where you are.

                             

       

Second, now go to your Instagram app and select the photo you want to share and add location to the photo and search for that place and now you can add the URL as a location below your username. Neat, right?

Get a Backup of all your instagram photos

Want to store all your Instagram photos on your Local Disk on the computer? Now you can do that easily by www.instaport.me it’s a website that allows you to sign in with your instagram account and get a backup of the photos you’ve uploaded on Instagram. You can select the photos you want for eg. All the Photos or the Photos between specific dates.

                                      
                                    

Make Cool gifs with Boomerang

Later last year Instagram launched an app Boomerang to create and share gifs on the Platform. It is easy to use and makes excellent gifs. It helps to create short videos which are then looped to make gifs and then can be shared on Instagram.

PS: These tricks have been tested on iOS and may not work for other platforms.

Follow me on Instagram @nomadhd