filters

Path for Android adds lenses, continues to chase iOS version

For almost a year, fast-growing social networking app Path has offered iOS users lenses (photo filters) to spruce up the photos they share. With the tap of a finger, these users have been able to add vintage-looking vignettes or sepia tones to their work, and even purchase premium lenses for about a buck. Meanwhile, Android users have looked on with jealous eyes, as they were sadly not offered the same capabilities.

As of yesterday, that has all changed. Now Android users get the very same free filters that iOS users have, including Pro, Ansel, Instant, Diana, Lomo, Country, and Lake. … Read more

Mobicip: A kid-safe Web browser for Android

It's easy enough to childproof a computer, to keep kids away from the Web's unsavory spots. But what about their Android smartphones and tablets? Google's browser offers no parental controls to speak of, no filtering or monitoring or search guards.

Here's an easy fix: Mobicip Safe Browser for Android ($4.99), which offers a familiar Web interface, but with a raft of protections designed to keep kids safe. (It's also available for iOS.)… Read more

A beginner's guide to Instagram

Maybe you heard the news last week (as if you could escape it): Facebook bought Instagram.

Insta-what? Although this app/service launched back in October 2010, and has snowballed in popularity ever since, not everybody knows an Instagram from a telegram. (Wait, what the heck is a telegram? Yeah, obviously I'm skewing toward an older audience here.)

If you've been sitting on the Instagram sidelines, here's your chance to find out what all the fuss is about and get started using Facebook's new baby.… Read more

Flickr on the go

Flickr for Android lets users of the popular Yahoo-owned photo site connect with the Flickr community and upload photos while on the go. It's dead simple, looks great, and is a nifty tool for storing select mobile photos in the cloud.

In order to get started, you must have a Yahoo account set up. This holds true, even if you decide to log in using your Facebook account. Once you're set up with Yahoo, you get free access to Flickr, and are allowed to upload up to 300 MB of photos per month. If you need more than … Read more

Facebook buys Instagram...but for what?

There's a lot of speculation today about why Facebook would spend $1 billion to acquire the uber-hip photo-sharing app Instagram. To some, it seems obvious; to others, it's the biggest sign yet of a growing Web bubble. To me, it just raises question after question, and the biggest one is "why." What does Facebook gain from buying Instagram? Let's look at some of the possible reasons, shall we?

Users: Instagram has 30 million users and a potentially huge influx of more, thanks to its recent expansion onto the Android platform. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom says … Read more

Instagram for Android: The good, the bad, the ugly

To longtime Android users such as myself, the name Instagram might not mean much. Sure, we see the vignetted photos invading our Facebook and Twitter streams, and we notice the instagr.am links all over the place, but other than that, we don't really get it. I mean, what is it, exactly? Is it just a bunch of camera filters? Is it a Tumblr-like social network? Well, now that everyone's favorite hipster photo app is available, let's take a close look at how the Android version (download) of this uberpopular app works.

First thing I need to … Read more

Instagram for Android is more than a photo enhancer

More than just a free photo-enhancement app for Android, Instagram connects its users to a photo-based social network that's more than 30 million users strong. With this powerful social functionality, the app makes it incredibly easy to not just polish and share photos, but also to keep tabs on friends through the built-in Instagram photo stream.

Start by signing up for Instagram with an e-mail address, username, and password. From there, you can link your account to your Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, and Tumblr accounts. But don't worry, whenever you snap a picture, Instagram will still ask you which … Read more

Getting started with Pix: Pixel Maker for Android

Cool filters, effects, and frames without the emphasis on sharing them with everyone you know is what you'll find in Pix: Pixel Maker for Android.

The app features 30 filters (which you can combine, more on that later), 24 effects, and 16 frames. If you're not sure where to start with a photo, there's even a random button to get your creative powers going. Additionally, you'll be able to save your photos in full resolution, for free. Here's how to get started:

First you'll want to take a photo or choose … Read more

'Dark trade' in Web-censoring tools exposed by Pakistan plan

For years, Silicon Valley companies have quietly conducted a lucrative trade selling software and equipment to countries that restrict dissent over the Internet. But the recent dust-up involving an Internet filtering plan by Pakistan has turned the spotlight on a controversial business that may have a difficult time remaining secret much longer.

Broad public backlash appears to have prompted Pakistan officials to back off plans this week to build a system that will enable them to easily filter and block Internet content seen by the more than 170 million people living in the country. But Pakistan isn't the first … Read more

Pakistan pulling plug on controversial Internet filter--report

Pakistan may scrap a controversial plan to block and filter the Internet nationwide.

A member of Pakistan's National Assembly told the internationally affiliated newspaper Express Tribune that the Ministry of Information Technology had decided to withdraw the plan.

The legislator--Bushra Goha, who represents the country's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region--said she was informed by a senior ministry official that the plan is being withdrawn "due to the concern shown by various stakeholders."

Officially, the MoIT has neither confirmed nor denied the report, according to the paper. A spokesperson said to expect a statement on the project's future Tuesday.… Read more