Google confirms it's shutting down Google+ Local for iOS

Google+ Local for iOS  shutting down

Google is shutting down the Google+ Local places and discovery app for iOS devices and will be transitioning its features over to its Maps app, the company said Friday. 

Google+  Local

Google+ Local was an iOS-based app that offered several discovery services such as place recommendations based on the user’s friends and location, and also Zagat summaries and business reviews.

As of Aug. 7, it will close as a stand-alone product, although its features will be incorporated into Google’s Maps app for iOS, a spokeswoman said.

The app already appears to have been pulled from Apple’s App Store—searching for it returns a message saying it is currently not available in the U.S. store.

  

Google+ Local joins a range of other products and services recently closed by Google. The company officially announced Friday that it was also pulling the plug on its Shopper app for Android- and iOS-based devices, effective August 30, in an effort to focus instead on its search service and Google Shopping site. Shopper was an app that let people find information on products by scanning them or through voice and text search.

The company’s longstanding Google Reader service for RSS feeds met its demise earlier this month.

Google did not provide additional information about why Google+ Local was killed off. But it is clear that in recent months the company has focused on enhancing both its Maps product and Google+ social network, while at the same time streamlining other services through product closures.

Google Maps for IOS

On Android and iOS, Maps received a range of new features earlier this month including improved search, navigation and interface design. The company concurrently announced that Google Latitude and check-ins would be killed off as part of the update and incorporated over to the Google+ social network.

Even bigger changes to Maps were unveiled at the company’s I/O developers conference in May. Those enhancements included the ability for users to add personalized landmarks as long as they are logged into the service.

Meanwhile, Google faces mounting pressure to demonstrate value to users with its Google+ social network as it competes against Facebook and Twitter. A range of features for that product were also rolled out in May, such as a redesigned social stream, automatic hash tagging and photo-sharing enhancements.

Google+ Local launched in 2011. There was an Android version too, but it linked only to the old version of Google’s Maps app. When Maps for Android was updated earlier this month, Google+ Local’s functionality was integrated into that product.

Why Internet Explorer 11 is the right browser for business

Internet Explorer 11

 

Today, Microsoft released a Developer Preview version of IE 11 for Windows 7. Newer doesn’t always equal better, but IE 11 has some power under the hood that business users will benefit from. 


To some extent, a browser is a browser.

Internet Explorer 11

They all render and display content from the Web. However, since IE 8 Microsoft has invested significant effort and resources to push the envelope and expand the browser's capabilities. In a world where business is increasingly done online and in the cloud, it makes sense to have a browser that can deliver rich content and interactivity. 

The Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7 is very similar in scope and function to its Windows 8.1 sibling. Microsoft has tweaked performance, improved support for emerging Web standards, and expanded the ability to deliver an immersive experience from within the browser.

In IE 11, JavaScript runs 50 percent faster than in Chrome. It has improved support for HTML 5 features like drag and drop that will allow cloud-based tools like Microsoft’s SkyDrive and Office Web Apps to work more intuitively. IE 11 also supports WebGL for delivering smooth, 3D graphics over the Web.

A blog post from Microsoft explains some of the benefits of IE 11: “IE11 is the first browser to natively decode JPG images in real-time on the GPU, so pages load faster and use less memory, reducing power consumption and improving battery life. IE11 is also the first browser to render text on the GPU. Text and images are the heart of the Web, and accelerated text and JPG performance impacts nearly every page you see.”


More and more business is done through a Web browser.

Internet Explorer

The fact is, for many business users and consumers, the Web browser is by far the single most-used application on the PC.

As I said at the beginning, a browser is a browser in most scenarios. Some support protocols or formats that others don’t, but as long as you’re using the latest version of each they’re all very similar.

There’s always one that can claim to be the fastest, but we’re generally talking a millisecond here or there, and that torch is frequently passed among the major browsers.

There’s a new Web, though—Web 3.0. Web 1.0 was about simply displaying static HTML pages. Web 2.0 introduced interactivity, user-generated content, and Web applications. Now, we’re entering the Web 3.0 phase, the “intelligent Web” era of ubiquitous connectivity, data mining, and artificial intelligence.

The new Web requires new Web tools, and new Web tools need a browser capable of rendering and displaying the content. Microsoft is leading the way with Internet Explorer. You can check out Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 by downloading and installing the Developer Preview. 

 

 

Kate Middleton Baby Born: Duchess Of Cambridge Gives Birth to baby boy!

Kate Middleton and Prince William Welcome Baby Boy

Kate Middleton's baby is finally here! Buckingham Palace confirms that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, the first child for her and Prince William. 

 

An easel stands in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London carrying an official document to announce the birth of a baby boy at 4:24 p.m. to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital.

Kate was admitted to St Mary's Hospital on the morning of July 22. She and Prince William arrived via car through a secret side entrance.

 

Ed Perkins of Kensington Palace hands over the official birth notice outside the Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital after the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first chid. The driver was waiting to take the notice to Buckingham Palace.

The birth comes after an anxious waiting period. Beginning in early July, press and fans camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital waiting for the duchess to arrive on her speculative due date... only to be left waiting for days more. 

 

Kate Middleton and Prince William stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed a healthy baby boy Monday at 4:24 p.m. London time, Buckingham Palace announced.

The Duchess of Cambridge went into labor early Monday morning.

The baby, weighing in at a robust 8 pounds and 6 ounces, is third in line to the British throne, behind his grandfather, Prince Charles, and his joyful dad.

The new royal grandfather was in unusually high spirits.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth returns in a car to Buckingham Palace in London on Monday. 

 

“Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine, and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy,” Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, said in a statement.

The infant’s formal title is His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge. As for his name, it will be revealed “in due course,” the family statement said.

That might be a while — William’s name was not announced for a week.

The baby is likely to grow up to be the 43rd monarch of England in a line going back to 1066.

Watch Now! - New trailer for 'The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire' unveiled yesterday

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Brand new feature length trailer unveiled at Comic-Con!

The wait is over!

A new trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was officially released at Comic-Con Saturday. 

  Hunger Games 2 Official Theatrical Trailer

Jennifer Lawrence for Hunger Games

Lionsgate is on a (promotional) roll this week. The entertainment company first whipped out its series of Quarter Quell wetsuit posters for Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Then, Saturday afternoon, it premiered the movie's latest trailer at San Diego Comic-Con and  it includes the kiss between Jennifer Lawrence's character Katniss and Liam Hemsworth's character Gale.

The sequel, directed by Francis Lawrence, appears to stay true to the books showing the rebellion in Panem and Katniss and Josh Hutcherson's character Peta's fear of returning to the arena for an unexpected second go at the Hunger Games.

 Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) return for the second installment of the Hunger Games saga as competitors for the Quarter Quell — a deadly, quarter-century celebration version of the Games. The age limit (12 to 18) is not enacted in this showdown, but one male and one female from each of the 12 districts will still compete in a gruesome, televised contest against victors from other districts in the 75th Hunger Games, a.k.a. the  third Quarter Quell. 

  

   Josh Hutcherson in Hunger games 2

The first teaser trailer, which was released in April, gave fans and viewers context for the rebellion Katniss unintentionally incited in Panem, the fictitious nation in which the games take place, with her victory in the previous film. The second trailer (above) shows the first footage of stars Jena Malone, who plays Johanna Mason (a District 7 victor), and Sam Claflin, who plays Finnick Odair (a District 4 victor); it also gives the first glimpse of the Quarter Quell's arena.

 

Joining Lawrence and Hutcherson are Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland, who round out the cast; Francis Lawrence directed the film.Catching Fire is slated to hit theaters Nov. 22.

                                               

Superman to battle Batman in Man of Steel sequel

Superman and Batman will face off in 2015

At Comic-Con, Warner Bros. announced two superheroes will team up on the big screen.

Bale and Cavil portraying  Batman and Superman

"Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder took the stage for a surprise announcement at the tail end of the joint Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures preview panel.

"There's been a lot of speculation about what we're doing," he said, after thanking fans for their support. "It is official that we are going to make another Superman movie."

DC Comics

While both Superman and Batman are superheros in the DC universe, they have been portrayed as nemeses in DC's "Dark Knight" comics, from which Christopher Nolan adapted his "Dark Knight" Batman franchise. 

Nolan will serve as executive producer to the sequel, Warner Bros. said.


The studio is banking on the success of other recent films that have paired up heroes from the comic book universe, such as Disney's (DIS.N) Marvel superhero ensemble "The Avengers" in 2012, which made $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office.



Nolan's 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises,"starring Christian Bale as Batman, has made more than $1 billion at the global box office.

"Superman" has not always seen a success at the box office and 2006's sequel starring Brandon Routh did not perform up to industry expectations.

Zach Snyder in a press meet

The movie will be titled Superman & Batman according to The Los Angeles Times; Snyder will direct the film, slated for 2015; and—according to The Hollywood Reporter—Henry Cavill will reprise the role of Clark Kent/Superman, but it’s unclear who will play Batman. Bale has previously shot down rumors that he would play the masked hero again. Man of Steel screenwriter David S. Goyer will pen the script.

Greg Silverman, president of creative development at Warner Bros., said the studio could not think of any director better suited to bringing Superman and Batman together.

"Zach Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he's a fan first and he utterly gets this genre," he said in a statement.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N), showcased a number of upcoming films on Saturday at Comic-Con, including "Seventh Son," "300: Rise of an Empire," "Godzilla" and "The Lego Movie," which will bring together Superman and Batman in animated Lego form.

 

 

 

 

Simbu and Hansika Confirm their relationship on Twitter.

Hansika, Simbu in relationship. The Couple confirm on twitter.

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf

Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. 

Vaalu Poster

Hansika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Hansika confirmation tweet on her official twitter page

"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing

STR confirmation tweet on his official twitter page

STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.

 

Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".

Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.

While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu.

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf

CHENNAI: Southern actress Hansika Motwani and Tamil actor Silambarasan aka Simbu have confirmed that they are in a relationship. However, Simbu says any decision related to their marriage will be taken by their respective families.
Hanskika had been rubbishing rumours about her link-up with Simbu, but she has finally opened up on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"(I have) been hearing many rumours about my personal life, so just want to clear (the air).Yes, I'm seeing STR (Simbu) and hence I wouldn't like to talk about my personal life," Hansika posted on her Twitter page.
Confirming the news, Simbu posted on Twitter: "Yes, I'm with Hansika and right now she is doing really good and marriage will be decided by our family. (I) hope you will respect our privacy".
Ever since the duo started shooting for Tamil films "Vaalu" and "Vettai Mannan", it was reported that they had developed fondness for each other.
While Simbu is busy shooting for "Vaalu", Hansika is now busy wrapping up Tamil comedy "Biriyani" and Telugu untitled multi-starrer with Vishnu Manchu. - See more at: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/hansika-simbu-confirm-relationship/83077#sthash.7pEGn8aA.dpuf