REVIEW: Google+

Just in case you've been living under a rock, Google+ is a new social network outlet. Its in its beta phase and the only way to join as of now is to get an invite from someone who is already on it.

I have to admit, when I first joined I wasn't very impressed. To me, it seemed as if it was a dumb downed version of Facebook. After playing with it for a while, I have come to really enjoy it. This is what it would look like if Facebook and Twitter had a baby.

Right now the only features Google+ offers are:

• Status updates-share whats on your mind with your friends, they have the option to comment on it, share it or +1 it (+1 is like "liking" someone's status on Facebook)
• Photo/Video sharing-(you can also upload pics/videos to Cloud without public publishing)
• Grouping your friends in "Circles". Don't want Aunt Millie seeing you say "It's 4:20! Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!" You can use the option of sharing it with a certain circle. No one else except those people in that circle is able to see that status.
• Some sites have added a +1 button, that when you click on it, it shows up on your Google+ wall, sharing it with friends as well as listed as a site you +1'd under your +1 tab.
• Hangout: A multi-user video chat. This feature seems pretty cool. You can have up to 10 people in a huddle at one time. It shows whoever the person that is talking at the time's on cam.
• Huddle: A multi-user chat room. This is similar to PingChat. What's better about this is the fact that, unlike Pingchat, who allows only up to 14 people per thread, Huddle's is unlimited. 
• Tune into a YouTube video in real time with friends (within Hangouts) Anyone in the hangout has access to the controls (play, pause, etc) When the video starts, the group chat mutes by default but there is a button labeled "push to talk" that overrides it.
• Sparks: View curated content based on interests. It points you toward content that you want to find and explore.
• Make a typo in your status? You can edit posts after you published them.

Coming soon to Google+:

• Free SMS service
• Private Messaging System
• Hangout feature on Google+ Android application (No Hangout on iOS devices) 

I'm sure I missed some of the features but hopefully you'll get the picture. If you have an Android device, there's a Google+ app in the marketplace waiting for you to download. You can also take advantage of Huddle in the Google+ app. All in all I think Google+ definitely has some potential to be the future Facebook. Only time and added features will tell.

If you're interested in checking it out, send me a tweet and I'll hook you up!

Written By: Maryanne
Twitter: @BostonBombshell

REVIEW: Windows Phone - Samsung Focus

I always want to be the first to have the newest toy (cell phone) when it comes out, so it's no surprise I picked up the Samsung Focus for AT&T the first day it was released. I'm known as the guy that has a new phone every other week, but this one has impressed me, and I've been holding onto it a lot longer since I picked it up.

I've owned Palms, Androids, Apples, and Blackberries all within the past 2 years. I read up on, and know a lot about the ins and outs of all the major operating systems, upgrades, software, and hardware. Though, it's still in its infancy, the new Windows Phone OS is pretty chock full of plenty of goodies.

For one, it's definitely the smoothest and fastest phone I have ever owned. Not a new concept, but the way Windows integrated social networking into their phones, and along with the regularly updated live tiles, it makes using the phone to connect to the social world more enjoyable.



Back to the "smoothness." Scrolling through this phone, and selecting applications has been nearly flawless, and very fast. Animations, are not buggy whatsoever, when in to comparison to Androids and Blackberries I have used. I have not had a single freeze, or crash on this phone since I've been using the device for months.



Even though it's still young, the Marketplace has already surpassed 25,000 apps, which include all the major names you come to expect like every major social network app, tons of news and RSS readers, sports apps, weather apps, navigation apps, and popular games, such as Angry Birds and Need For Speed. The games are a plus, due to its integration with the XBOX Live Network.



For business owners, Microsoft has implemented its Microsoft Office business suite to the device. It comes equipped with One Note which I use daily for note taking, and writing short documents, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel...all which allow editing and starting new documents.



We cannot forget the built in Zune HD, and Zune Marketplace. Sync your phone with Zune to watch movies and music videos, or listen to your favorite music and subscribed podcasts.



Oh yeah! It's a phone too! Believe me, the phone works great, and the radio signal is nothing to complain about. The keyboard is the best I've ever used. You can sync your phone book contacts with your Google, Hotmail, Live, Yahoo, other email accounts, or Microsoft Exchange for quick and easy access to your friends, family, and business partners. The display is beautiful, and sound quality is above par.

Like all phones I've owned, none are perfect. I do have my gripes with certain areas. For one, copy and past just recently arrived to the device after a nearly half-year wait. The phone does not have true "multitasking" functionality. It's not the worst thing, but sometimes when you want to switch back and forth between applications, it could get frustrating. Also, I'd like to be able top listen to online streaming of my favorite live radio shows in the background. That is not possible. There's no custom ring tones, and colors available to change the themes are limited to a few. With that said, there is a major OS update set to be released this Fall. That's around the same time Apple's IOS5 update is being released, and I have to admit, that's a pretty impressive one as well. Check the video below for just a small sampling of what to expect from the new Windows Phone 7 update, titled "Mango."



Written By: Sal Traina
Twitter: @EdgeFMSal

REVIEW: HBO GO App (iPhone)

I'll be honest when I say this, I haven't put my iPhone down since I downloaded this app. It's the best app I ever got next to the Netflix app. What HBO did is take their "On Demand" service you get on TV and put it on an app that is 100% FREE. As long as you have HBO from your TV provider, you can watch unlimited HBO movies, TV shows, comedy specials & documentaries on the app.

The first thing you do when you get the app is go to the "Sign In" tab on the bottom right of the main menu. There, you select your TV provider. Once you enter your account number and password with your TV provider, it will bring you back to the main screen. You now have 100% access to the apps library of entertainment for free.

The app automatically updates to give you the latest HBO entertainment from new episodes of your favorite HBO shows, to the latest movies, stand up comedy specials and documentaries.

The video quality is also excellent. On a good Wi-Fi network, you won't get any lag at all in your stream. Even on 3G, the video quality only drops slightly, but still looks great. It's an even better quality than the Netflix stream on 3G. I must warn you AT&T users though, a 50 minute episode of Boardwalk Empire will have you using over 150MB of your data limit.

My favorite part about this app is all of the episodes from all 7 seasons of one of my favorite shows, Entourage, are available anytime I want to watch them. Netflix doesn't offer Entourage on it's streaming service. This is very convenient for the HBO GO app because I don't have to wait for Netflix to deliver the DVD's. Although I'm a very happy Netflix customer and love their service, I can catch up on episodes I haven't seen on the go, thanks to this app.

SUMMARY: The HBO GO app is a must have for all HBO subscribers. It operates the same as the Netflix app and is very easy to use. The video quality is also excellent and even when your not on a good Wi-Fi network, hardly ever lags.

RATING: 9.5/10

Written By: Hammy
Twitter: @BrainstuHammy

REVIEW: Amazon App Store (Android, Apple)

Here it is! The moment all Android users have been waiting for! The Amazon App Store! I have to say, being both an Android and Apple user, I was very excited to see what Amazon would be offering in their special, just for Android, App store. I quickly downloaded the App, and, to my dismay, was very disappointed in what I saw. It’s basically the Android Market with a different background. As far as I could tell, there were no different apps in the Amazon App Store that the Android Market didn’t already offer.

On a positive note, the Amazon App Store does offer a “paid app of the day” for free, and today was Angry Birds Rio, which normally sells for 0.99 cents. Myself, being an Angry Bird Addict, was thrilled to get it for free. (Sorry Apple users, Angry Birds Rio is not offered free in the Apple App Store)

The beginning process was easy, just log into your Amazon account via the Amazon App Store, find Angry Birds Rio (on the front page) and click download. Here’s where I encountered another disappointment: The App took FOREVER to download. On my Droid X it usually takes less than 30 seconds for an app to download on the Market. On the Amazon App Store, it took 3-4 minutes to complete the download (on 3G). I know for some of you that may not seem like a very long time, but for myself, who can be very impatient, it seemed like forever.

So, all in all, the concept of a second app store is a great idea. I’m hoping in the future Amazon will offer different apps than the Market already does and they improve their download speed. I give the Amazon App store a generous 6/10.

Written by: Maryanne
Twitter: @BostonBombshell