hackcenter
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Monday, September 28, 2015
How to Remove WhatsApp Blue Ticks aka Read Receipts
Much to the chagrin of its users, WhatsApp quietly introduced read receipts (letting people see exactly when a message is read, not just delivered) earlier this month. The app always showed one tick mark when you sent a message, which changed to two grey ticks when it was delivered. Now, the app shows two blue ticks when the recipient has read your message
This feature was rolled out without an update to the app itself. This means that there was no privacy setting to disable read receipts when the feature was rolled out. The lack of this basic feature in WhatsApp really ticked us off, and we had promised that we'd be back with a tutorial on how to disable WhatsApp blue ticks as soon as it was possible. True to our word, here we are now that WhatsApp has unveiled this feature for Android.
Here's how to get rid of those annoying blue ticks in WhatsApp - but if you do this, then you won't be able to see the receipts either. If you want to check when other people see your messages, then you need to allow them to see read receipts from you. For now, this is only possible for Android users, and only if you manually update the app via the WhatsApp website. WhatsApp typically releases updates first via its website, and then rolls out the update for Android's Google Play store, followed by updates for other platforms, so the update will be available for all devices soon.
This feature was rolled out without an update to the app itself. This means that there was no privacy setting to disable read receipts when the feature was rolled out. The lack of this basic feature in WhatsApp really ticked us off, and we had promised that we'd be back with a tutorial on how to disable WhatsApp blue ticks as soon as it was possible. True to our word, here we are now that WhatsApp has unveiled this feature for Android.
Here's how to get rid of those annoying blue ticks in WhatsApp - but if you do this, then you won't be able to see the receipts either. If you want to check when other people see your messages, then you need to allow them to see read receipts from you. For now, this is only possible for Android users, and only if you manually update the app via the WhatsApp website. WhatsApp typically releases updates first via its website, and then rolls out the update for Android's Google Play store, followed by updates for other platforms, so the update will be available for all devices soon.
The first step is to get the latest APK file from WhatsApp:
- Download the latest (version 2.11.444) WhatsApp apk from the official website.
- On your Android phone, go to Settings > Security > Check Unknown sources, to enable installing apps from outside Google Play. Note that the exact path to the setting can vary depending on your device manufacturer and Android version - the important thing to note is that you enable installing apps from unknown sources.
- Open the apk on your Android phone. This will install the latest version of the app on your device.
(Also see: How to Backup WhatsApp Messages)
Once the app is installed, here's how to disable read receipts:
- Open WhatsApp and tap three vertical dots icon on the top right.
- Now go to Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Uncheck Read receipts
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- That will disable the blue ticks on WhatsApp. As we noted above, feature isn't available on other platforms or on Google Play as yet, but now that this feature has appeared on the official WhatsApp apk, we can hope that an update will bring it to all platforms. We will update this article when that happens.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Facebook launches new photo sharing App, Moments
Facebook has launched a standalone app for sharing the photographs among friends. The launch was reported on official facebook newsroom by Will Ruben(Product Manager).
Moments syncs your photographs with all the people who are in those photographs. Moments groups the photos on your phone based on when they were taken and, using facial recognition technology, which friends are in them. You can then privately sync those photos quickly and easily with specific friends, and they can choose to sync their photos with you as well. So, you have all the photos that you are in.
Moments also keeps all of your synced photos organized and even lets you search them to find the ones that you or specific friends are in. Moments uses facial recognition technology to group your photos based on the friends who are in them. According to Facebook, this is the same technology that powers tag suggestions on Facebook.
Moments also gives you options for sharing your private photographs with other friends on Facebook or Instagram. The app has been launched on June 15 in US. It will be launched in other parts of the world soon.
What is Google’s New and Upcoming Service Called 'YouTube Red'?
Interestingly, Google has recently updated its YouTube app that includes a text describing a product called YouTube Red. It’s a service that enables background and ad-free music playback, a feature that was absent in the Music Key subscription service.
The next week, on September 29, Google is holding an event and it’s expected to launch heavyweight products like new Nexus phone as well as Android Marshmallow
It’s expected that YouTube Red will be playing a bigger role in the upcoming Google Movie.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Internet.org is Now Free Basics by Facebook Zuckerberg Launching “Special” Wi-Fi in India
The social networking website Facebook has struggled to create an environment of consensus among the masses for its free internet initiative Internet.org. The company has said that it is working on new ways to enhance the internet connectivity in India.
Along the similar lines, the company has renamed its controversial Internet.org app as Free Basics. With the help of its app, Facebook aims to provide certain free data services and websites to the mobile users.
A few months ago, amid widespread controversies, Facebook opened up the Internet.org platform to the developers. Currently, this moonshot project of Zuckerberg includes 60 new services focused at productivity.
The new app Free Basics by Facebook is also equipped with stronger security measures and aims to get more users online all over the world.
“We’re making this change to better distinguish the Internet.org initiative from the programes and services that Facebook provides, including Free Basics,” says Internet.org Vice-President Chris Daniels.
He adds, “Anyone currently using the app will be able to continue using the Android app though it will now be called Free Basics by Facebook in Google Play.”
The previous Internet.org web URL is now redirected to Freebasics.com.
In India, the social networking website is also piloting Express WiFi service that will encourage the local entrepreneurs to set up WiFi hotspots in various areas.
“We help them in terms of technical solutions, business model and marketing,” said Munish Seth, Country Manager Facebook Connectivity Solutions India. Facebook has already set up such hotspots in partnership with ISPs in parts of Uttarakhand and Bangalore.
Are you excited to use these services? Tell me in the comments.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Windows 10 Countdown: How And Why To Reserve Your Free Copy
It’s just over a 20 days till Microsoft makes Windows 10 available in its final form to the masses and as you may already know, it’s free and can be downloaded using Windows Update.
More information is being revealed every week about how the OS will take shape on your system in terms of downloading and installing it, but in the last couple of weeks, a small icon has been appearing on up-to-date copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8. This allows you to reserve your download and be notified the instant Windows 10 is released.
The reason for adding reservations is two-fold. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, Microsoft is spreading the load on its servers, by allowing the 3gb Windows 10 download to be installed gradually beforehand by users that opt-in to the reservation scheme.
By opting into the reservation now, you’re essentially allowing Microsoft to begin downloading (but not installing) the OS to your PC prior to the release on 29th July so it can be installed instantly.
At the very least, the bulk of the download will hopefully have been completed. Otherwise, you’ll be joining the queue to download on the day and with such a big, popular download hitting Windows Update, this has the potential to massively overload Microsoft’s servers as millions hit the download button.
It’s certainly one of the biggest download events Microsoft has attempted – far bigger than any previous service pack. The release happens on a Wednesday so it’s unlikely that everyone would choose to perform such a massive upgrade to their systems midweek – personally I’ll be waiting till the weekend for most of my systems but I’ll be covering the roll out first hand on at least one.
Secondly, it will allow users who aren’t that fussed about the new OS to be notified of its launch and jump on the bandwagon the instant the OS is available. This does make sense, although it will also add to the launch date download figures for Microsoft to trumpet forever more.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Mobiles, cloud shake up Silicon Valley power structure
Smartphones, tablets and other gadgets aren't just changing the way we live and work. They are shaking up Silicon Valley's balance of power and splitting up businesses. Long-established companies such as hp and eBay are scrambling to regain their footing to better compete against mobile-savvy trend-setters like Apple and Google, as well as rising technology stars that have built businesses around cloud computing.
That term covers a swath of internet-driven services that shifted technology from the days software users paid a one-time fee to buy and install programs on individual machines where they also stored all their data on hard drives. But with the advent of the "cloud,'' people can now rent software to use over the internet. This enables customers to access documents, pictures and other vital information from any kind of internet-connected device, a convenience that's become a necessity during the past few years as people increasingly rely on smartphones and tablets instead of laptop and desktop computers.
Business software makers such as Salesforce.com, VMware and Workday built their entire business models around the cloud. All have delivered impressive revenue growth that turned their stocks into hot commodities. Online storage services Dropbox and Box have yet to go public. But they have been minted with big valuations from venture capitalists who believe they will thrive amid the increased usage of mobile devices and cloud-computing services.
That term covers a swath of internet-driven services that shifted technology from the days software users paid a one-time fee to buy and install programs on individual machines where they also stored all their data on hard drives. But with the advent of the "cloud,'' people can now rent software to use over the internet. This enables customers to access documents, pictures and other vital information from any kind of internet-connected device, a convenience that's become a necessity during the past few years as people increasingly rely on smartphones and tablets instead of laptop and desktop computers.
Business software makers such as Salesforce.com, VMware and Workday built their entire business models around the cloud. All have delivered impressive revenue growth that turned their stocks into hot commodities. Online storage services Dropbox and Box have yet to go public. But they have been minted with big valuations from venture capitalists who believe they will thrive amid the increased usage of mobile devices and cloud-computing services.
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