10 Social Networking Apps

Popular apps to bring down your phone bill

With Internet-enabled phones, it has become easier to stay in touch with people at all times. With plenty of apps that offer text, audio or video-based options to stay connected, it can be difficult to pick ones that stand out from the crowd

Here is a list of some popular free calling applications in no particular order

1) Skype
Skype is the pioneer in this space and continues to be used by a large number of people. The app lets you do text, voice and video chats. It also enables users to do group calls and call landlines and mobile phones at a cost.

2) WeChat

WeChat is available across varied mobile platforms. The app offers features like Live Chat, Group chat, Video calling and push-to-talk. This app also comes with a 'Shake' feature to help you find new friends. To use this feature, all you have to do is shake your phone and the app will help you connect with other people, who are shaking their mobile at that time.

3) Google Hangouts

Google offers a free video chat service Google+ Hangouts. It lets you make free video calls that can be one-on-one or and group chats (maximum ten people at a time). This app is available for all Android smartphones running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or higher. In case of iOS, the devices should be running on iOS 6 or later

4) Tango

Tango is another nifty application that lets you make free calls. This app also comes with a "Push-to-Talk" feature, which helps in turning your smartphone into a walkie-talkie

5) Viber

With the help of Viber, users can make free calls, send free texts and share location and setting. For using Viber, you don't need to create a separate username, as your mobile number doubles up as your ID. After you have installed the Viber app, it syncs your mobile contact list, automatically detecting which contacts area already using Viber, similar to WhatsApp.

6) Nimbuzz

Nimbuzz lets you send free messages and call other Nimbuzz users. This app has started offering 'NimbuzzOut' service, which is a low cost Pay-As-You-Go option to make calls to other mobiles and landlines numbers across the World

7) Fring

Fring is also a free application that enables you to make free calls. The group calling feature helps you to talk simultaneously with up to 4 participants. Just like Skype, Fring can also be used to make calls to regular phones around the world at an additional cost

8) WhatsApp

WhatsApp is perhaps the most well know application in the list, outside of Skype, and has become the proffered alternate to SMS for millions across the globe.

9) Hike

Hike is a desi app that offers a feature-set very similar to WhatsApp, though it offers additional features like sending SMS to non-Hike users, walkie-talkie mode and more

10) Line

Line is another popular app that offers features similar to those in the list, including voice chat, stickers, and more

 Facebook Messenger

If you spend all day on Facebook, you don't need to look beyond Facebook Messenger

Microsoft Surface 2

Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro: First impact

The gaint software company Microsoft unveiled updates to its Surface tablet computers on Monday at an event in New York,

It almost seems unfair to categorize the new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 as tablets. Although they have touch-screen keyboards like regular tablets, they work best when attached to an optional cover with a keyboard on the inside.

The better one  the Type Cover 2. In addition to coming in four fun colors - pink, purple, blue and black - that cover has backlighting, silent keys and a typing feel similar to that of a laptop keyboard. At $130, it is just $10 more than a Touch Cover 2, which doesn't have movable keys like real keyboards.

The slick wireless mouse designed for the tablets is helpful, too, as is the docking station created to go with the Pro version of Surface.

The result is something that looks more like a laptop than an iPad or Android tablet. And that's what Microsoft wants, calling its tablets the most productive on the market. The Surface 2 model even comes with a version of Microsoft Office, including the Outlook email and calendar program for the first time.

The Surface 2 starts at $449 and runs a lightweight version of Windows called RT, meaning it works only with apps designed specifically for it. The Surface Pro 2 starts at $899 and runs a full version of Windows, so it works with programs designed for traditional desktops and laptops. Both come with 200 gigabytes of online storage through Microsoft's SkyDrive for two years.

With the Surface, Microsoft is trying to create a seamless transition between home, work and the field. Microsoft doesn't want this device to just replace your tablet and laptop, but your office PC as well. It's a great idea, and I'll be interested to see if it can actually work in practicality.
Like a laptop, both the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2 balanced well and didn't slide around on my lap when attached to keyboards.  Felt very comfortable typing and had a clear view of the screen.

For the new versions, Microsoft improved the built-in kickstand used to hold the tablet up like a laptop screen. It is sturdier and works in two positions, one for sitting on your lap and another for placing on a table. The kickstand on older Surfaces had just one position, for the table

Sony Xperia M Dual

Sony Xperia M Dual with Android 4.1 pre-order for Rs. 14,490

When it announced the Xperia M and Xperia M dual smartphones, Sony had promised a Quality circle 3 rollout for the entry-level devices. It looks like the company is keeping its word and the phones have finally made it to the Indian market.

The dual-SIM version of Sony's entry level smartphone, Xperia M, which was announced in June along with its single-SIM counterpart, is now available for pre-order through online retailer Flipcart for Rs. 14,490. It's worth mentioning that Sony has not officially announced the availability of the phone in India.
The website mentions the estimated release date of the Xperia M Dual as the first week of October. The phone is available in Black, White and Purple colour variants.

Tech Specs:

• The Sony Xperia M Dual is powered by 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8227 processor with 1GB of RAM. 
• It features 4-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 480x854 pixels and boasts a scratch-resistant display.
• It runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sony's Timescape UI on top. 
• The phone offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) support.
• The phone offers 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB with the help of microSD card. The Xperia M Dual sports  a5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front camera. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, aGPS and NFC. It also includes a 1,750mAh battery that can deliver 10 hours of talk time and 498 hours of standby time on 2G networks, according to Sony.