Google introduces support for NFC tagging in Android app for Google+

The Android app for Google’s social network Google+ has been reportedly found to ‘tag’ content automatically using NFC (Near Field Communication)-based technology. Readwriteweb.com reported that Singapore-based developer Ridzuan Ashim showed the feature working in a circulated video (shown below)

On scanning, the text stored in the tag is automatically placed in the 'Share your thoughts' screen in the Google+ Android app, which is typically used to post Facebook-style status updates to the social network. 

NFC is a wireless technology which facilitates data transfer at short distances and is often used for contactless payments. As more handsets support the technology, further uses of the technology like performing check-ins, sharing of contact information etc. could emerge. 

Dell rolls out cloud service

Dell has quietly rolled out a cloud service offering that is set to take on iCloud from Apple. Dubbed Stage, the release of the software did not have the hype surrounding that of iCloud from Apple or 666 from Microsoft and began shipping last week.

It allows a user who takes a snap with their Stage-enabled Dell Streak or Dell mobile device to automatically upload it to a free 2 Gbyte pool of storage. Devices can also  remotely control and playback shared audio and video using the new software. Dell has also included support for podcasts; integrated a Noisey application showcasing music and an enhanced Napster home page.

Printer to produce personalised 3D chocolate

Exciting news for chocolate lovers!! They may soon be able to print their own 3D designs for chocolate. Researchers at the University of  Exeter in the UK have been able to design a 3D printer that uses chocolate and uses layers of chocolate instead of ink or plastic. Several retailers have expressed the desire of taking one such device which is still a prototype.

Once the prototype takes the shape of a finished product, it is likely to become a part of the restaurant and food preparation industry. 

Becoming part of social networks

Lead scientist Dr Liang Hao's team wants to take he printer into cyberspace. Dr Hao said next to come would be creating a chocolate oriented website.

As told by Dr Hao to BBC News, "Now we have an opportunity to combine chocolate with digital technology, including the design, digital manufacturing and social networking".

"Chocolate has a lot of social purpose, so our intention is to develop a community and share the designs, ideas and experience about it."

South Korea to digitize textbooks by 2015

South Korea is set to transform elementary education in the next three years which will result in a huge market for home grown electronics.
All elementary-level education material in the country will be digitized by 2014. By 2015, all school-age curriculum is to be delivered through computers, smartphones and tablets. The country's education ministry has revealed that it will spend $2.4billion on purchase of the tablets and digitizing material for them.

Debates about whether or not students learn better from display screens or printed material are already on. Also being discussed is the ideal form factor of devices to be used in place of text books.

This seems to be a huge business opportunity for Samsung as governments and students are considered as captive audience. 

Google Chrome exceeds 20% market share, IE keeps sliding

The continuing rise in popularity of the Google Chrome browser took it past the milestone of 20% worldwide market share for browsers, according to StatCounter, the free website analytics company. 

From 2.8% in June 2009, Chrome rose to a worldwide share of 20.7% in June 2011. Internet Explorer from Microsoft slid from 59% to 44% during the same period. 

StatCounter's method of tracking highlights Google's strength of attracting power users. Another usage tracker, Net Applications too shows Chrome rising fast, up to more than 13% usage in comparison to IE's 54% and Firefox's 22%. 

The groups count differently as Net Applications tracks the total number of users for a browser while StatCounter measures the total number of website clicks. This means that the StatCounter ranking gives more weight to a Chrome user who surfs the Web more often than an Internet Explorer user.  

The performance of Chrome has been particularly well in South America where it overtook Firefox in April to become the number two browser. In June it touched 29.7%, ahead of Firefox's 24.6% and behind IE at 44.1%.

Vodafone launches content channel in Android market

Vodafone announced that it has become the first company in Europe to launch a content channel of its own brand in the Android Market. The channel will offer customers regular updates on Vodafone services apart from the best news, sports, information and gaming apps, which would all be sourced from Vodafone's global and local partnerships, either on an exclusive, free or discounted basis. While the channel is already available in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and Spain, launches are also planned for Greece, Portugal and Ireland. The store is only available to Vodafone customers using a handset running on a customized version of Android from Vodafone.

GSM completes 20 years of commercial service

On 1st July 2011, GSM services completed 20 glorious years of commercial service. It was on 1st July 1991 that the first ever GSM call was made over a commercial network in Finland. To commemorate the landmark a press release was issued by Nokia Seimens Network (NSN). The first commercial GSM network was built for the  Finnish operator Radiolinja by Telenokia and Seimens and the historic first converstaion was between the Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri in Helsinki and Kaarina Sounio (Mayor in the city of Tampere).

In 1987, the basic parameters of the GSM standard had been agreed upon and adopted as the standard for digital mobile technology in Europe. The second generation (2G)  technology was capable of both voice and data communication and enabled the advent of services such as the SMS. The total number of subscribers worldwide for GSM services has now crossed 4.4 billion and over 1 million new subscribers join in everyday.