Songr | Review

Now-a-days music lovers have a bunch of options to download music tracks/albums via p2p sites, sharing sites, hosting sites and a lot more. For a newbie, it would be hard to search over and find such direct-linking sites. Even though, if someone has a list and access to a number of such hosting and sharing sites, they would have to go through a longgg time-consuming hectic process which may include clicking through endless URLs, skipping ads, passing CAPTCHAs and other unnecessary steps in order to get their download started. Shouldn’t be there one stop portal for searching, streaming and downloading music tracks/albums at once, for all?

Well, there is a solution: Songr! - Freeware desktop client used to search, stream and download music. Songr does not index nor host any mp3 files; it only searches the string entered in various search engines and returns results. Created by Andrea Martinelli, it is available in more than 27 languages, Songr works on Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac.

"Searching and downloading your favorite tracks was never this easy!"

With its simple, minimalistic interface and an integrated search box, you can search for your favorite tracks from 16 different third party mp3 search engines. Search for single tracks, artists, full albums (in ZIP/RAR formats) or even get the best result automatically and it’s easy to filter your results according to needs using Intelligent Sorting (displays high quality mp3s on the top of the list).

Songr 2 Preview

Artist Search: Playing Summmer of '69 by Bryan Adams in Songr 2. Songr loads the artist information instantly.

Songr 1.9 Stable Artist Search Interface

Songr 1.9 Track Search: Searching for One Republic's Good Life. You can either Play, Preview or Download tracks

Songr 1.9 Album Search: Searched for Linkin Park's Living Things album. Here's a list of download links and track listing

Searching through "Artist" displays information from Wikipedia about the artist searched along with a media player of the artist's songs. Plus, it also searches songs by their lyrics (powered by Bing). So, don’t get amazed while discovering music by typing some words in the Search by Lyrics panel and get an audio preview (powered by Amazon) instantly. You can also play music stored in your local hard drive! And, when you do that, Songr automatically loads the artist information and the lyrics – just like that.

Songr 1.9 Search by Lyrics: Searched for Adele - Rolling in the Deep through lyrics

Lyrics shown while playing music in Songr 2

One can also switch to Songr 2 Preview, which was launched on 31^st October 2012. It has a new clean interface (still simple and minimal in nature) and fluid navigation for discovering new music and updates separately from the current stable version.

And just think how cool it would be if you could not only download YouTube videos but also extract audio files? Yes! Songr lets you do that. You can download HD YouTube Videos and can even extract/convert mp3 out of them. It also includes automatic conversion of results to direct links to listen straightaway in Windows Media Player. Though downloads cannot be paused, users can preview songs before downloading.

Download YouTube videos directly or extract mp3 file

In addition to all this, Songr gives you an option to buy music from popular online stores like Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody and Zune.

Songr is more useful to non-torrent users who don’t have access to p2p sites/applications or to those who waste thousands of minutes searching for tracks all over the net. Hence, at the end of the day, the only thing that comes to mind for Songr is: Get hassle free music directly to hard drive without any mindboggling ads or restrictions!

You can download Songr from here.

The Dark Knight Rises | Movie Review

"Deh-Shay Deh-Shay, Bah Sah Rah Bah Sah Rah. Deh-Shay Deh-Shay, Bah Sah Rah Bah Sah Rah. Deh-Shay Deh-Shay, Bah Sah Rah Bah Sah Rah! "

"The Batman has to come back." He has to. "He must."

After eight year exile? Will he? "Is he back?"

Yes! He returns and rises again! :)

No words. EPIC! Ultimate conclusion to the trilogy. If you ask me whether you should watch it or not, then be prepared to be buried. You can watch it as many times as you wish! This is one of the best films I have ever seen in my life till now and one of the best from the Legendary director, Christopher Nolan who has the capacity to deliver beyond your imaginations and expectations every single time. And also, one of the best Batman films and a trilogy of its kind for ages. There will not be a Batman movie and a trilogy like this ever again in any sense. It has everything: Story line, Editing, Direction, Action, Sound, Score, Visuals and what not! The dialogues are very much moving and believable. Films need not be full of action, multi-superhero cast with a pinch of comedy in order to entertain you. TDKR proves it. A true cinematic experience! :)

The Dark Knight Rises Poster

With this finale, Christopher Nolan has become the first director to complete a full trilogy of Batman films. And, Christian Bale the first live action actor to portray Batman/Bruce Wayne in three Batman films. At 165 minutes long, this is the longest Batman film released to date as well as the longest film that Christopher Nolan has ever directed!

Though all the three films were dark themed; this is a bit different from The Dark Knight which was based on fear, distrust and breaking-the-spirit thing. This one reminds you of the Batman Begins. The story reconnects the plot with Batman Begins introducing Ra's al Ghul's principles and the return of the Leauge of Shawdows to fulfill Ra's mission, with the help of Bane, to destroy Gotham in order to restore balance from injustice and the corrupt. Nolan very cleverly introduced new characters, Robin and Catwoman who very well suitably blended in. There were many climaxes and twists but the end was amazing.

When the lights go off you can shout. When there is darkness, you can anticipate. When he rolls, we clap. And the cops say they will catch The Dark Knight; what a joke! :D

His entry: You can feel the goosebumps! Thanks to Hans Zimmer, as the music is simply outstanding!

While Lucius Fox always has something new to give away every time, even without any unusual request. BTW, who the bloody hell calls The Bat, a rat! :D The name is pretty appropriate though, for, The Bat could fly. And, yes, forgot to add that now-a-days, everything comes in black. :D

His psychological and intellect style of direction is worth watching as he used the conventional method to shoot the film rather than opting for the digital format to make this the biggest blockbuster on screen. No doubts, it will break many records at box office. It has already outdone everything! Absolutely 11/10

But the question remains... Who is he? A symbol? An element of trust? A man with a cape? A hero? A watchman? A guardian? The Dark Knight? But as Gordon just says it over and over again...

He is The Batman! :)

Ready for the next gen iPad? | Review

In just a less than a year with almost 15 million devices sold, Apple unveiled the second-gen of the iPad phenomenon. And this time the design is outstandingly brilliant and the aesthetics gets an improvement. iPad 2 seriously raised the bar through its sleek, sexy, lighter, nimble and mobile hardware.

The Next-Gen iPad 2

The first thing you'll definitely notice about the iPad 2 is that it's unbelievably thin (33% thicker). At its thickest point, the tablet is just 0.34-inch. The plastic plate makes it 15% lighter than it’s been ever before even if the back is carved of metal, demanding a protective case (Smart Cover). The device is slightly shorter than the previous model (at 9.5-inches tall), but also slightly less wide (just 7.3-inches versus the iPad's 7.47-inches). It looks and feels amazingly sleek - quite a feat considering what's packed inside the slate.

Talking about the soul features, while the iOS 4.3 holds its position, Apple has replaced last year's A4 CPU with a new, 1GHz dual core chip called as the A5. Memory has been increased from 256 MB to 512 MB DDR2. The screen is identical to the previous model, a 1024 x 768, stronger 9.7-inch IPS display with LED backlighting and a fingerprint and scratch-resistant oleophobic coating. The iPad has a 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that lasts 10 hours, like the original iPad. The battery is 2.5 mm thick, 59% smaller than the original and has three cells instead of two. It is charged via USB or included 10-watt, 2-amp power adapter.

This time iPad's mono speaker got relocated to the back of the device. The sound is clear; thanks to its Dolby Digital 5.1 stereo surround sound. Other specifications include 5x digital zoom VGA Dual cameras for video chat, HD video recording and stills, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 3G cellular HSDPA, 2G cellular EDGE, Geolocation, Assisted GPS, Apple databases, Improved AirPlay features and HDMI output (via optional adapter). And it should be noted that under the App Store over 65000 Apps are ready and waiting to get your hands on.

Apple offers both white and black versions of the iPad 2 in every price and configuration. The base model starts at Rs. 24,500 giving you 16GB of storage and a Wi-Fi. If you want more storage for all your applications, photos, music, and videos, you can jump up to the 32GB (Rs. 29,500) or 64GB (Rs. 34,500) models. 3G versions are also available in all the models for an extra Rs. 6000-7000.

New Launch: Motorola XOOM | Review

Given Moto's partnership with Google, the big launch of CES 2011 and the first Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet on the market; Motorola XOOM has got to live up to anything and everything if it has to make the much assumed inevitability of Apple’s iPad a very serious false reality. And let me tell you that this new toy in the market possess the potential to give a tough head-to-head fight to other established brands.

It has got a 10.1-inch 1280×800 widescreen display and is 12.7 mm thick. Packed with 5 MP Camera for HD recording and 2 MP in front Dual LED Flash, it features Google’s Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Performance can be expected gentle for its 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM and 10 Hrs. of battery backup.

The device also merges 720p Playback, 3D graphics acceleration, HDMI, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, GSM/EDGE Class 12, UMTS/HSDPA.

New Comer in the Galaxy Line: S2 | Review

This Korean firm may not be the Big Daddy in the list of smartphone manufacturers, but it now rises up with a new dynamism, making another step forward by putting all the best technology it can into a ridiculously thin mobile. Samsung’s flagship mobile handset line is the Galaxy S II, which is considered as a direct competitor of full-touch screen phones and environmentally friendly smartphones.

The Galaxy S2's main talking point is the 4.3” WVGA Super AMOLED+ screen covered with Gorilla glass, featuring a new color gamut, contrast ratio and apparent 80% reduced power over the previous versions.  The phone’s design is brilliant, for the Touch Screen comes with TouchWiz 4.0 UI and is just about 9mm thin.

It is inbuilt with 1.2 GHz Dual Core ARM SoC processor along with 1GB RAM for the first time. It runs on Google’s Android 2.3. The flash memory supports 16 and 32 GB space. The 1650mAh battery provides about 450 hours of standby and approximately 8 hours of talk time.

This device features an 8 MP camera with LED flash and AutoFocus, on the back, that can record videos in Full HD 1080p at 30 fps. There is also a front-facing 2-megapixel VGA camera for video calling. It supports almost every multimedia formats. It also has an HDMI, Bluetooth v3.0 + HS, USB 2.0, GPS System and Wi-fi a/b/g/n, 3G HSDPA and EDGE.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Microsoft has released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, allowing you to have a look at some of the new features before the final version of Windows 8 arrives later this year in October.

It is fast, secure, immersive, fluid, intuitive and interactive. With the all new Metro Style Apps, Microsoft has set the standards for the upcoming OS. I must say, with Windows 8, Microsoft has showed how an OS should be which focuses on people and apps giving you powerful new ways to use social technologies to connect with the people who are important to you.

It's Windows reimagined and reinvented! The Next Gen OS: Windows 8! :)

Here is a quick sneak peek:

Windows 8 Boot Screen

Hybrid Boot will use "advanced hibernation functionality" on shutdown to allow faster startup times.

Windows 8 Logon Screen.

You can sign in to your local account or using your Windows Live ID which allows the user's profile and setting to be synchronized over the internet and accessible from other computers running Windows 8, as well as integration with SkyDrive.

Apart from typing a password, a new authentication method allows users to use a set of gestures in the selected picture to login by clicking on the Logon Options.

Windows 8 Lock Screen.

Displaying App notifications at the bottom. Signing out and restarting will open from where you left off.

This is your new Start Menu: forget the old one. From now on this Metro Styled Start Screen with Live App Tiles will be all.

This is how you drag and rearrange the Live Tiles. They are called Live because they view live information from Windows 8 Metro Style Apps without actually accessing the apps.

By right clicking on the Start Menu, you can access each and every App available in your PC. You can pin them in the Start Menu as well.

It is called the Charms Bar.

It appears as you move your cursor to the bottom/up-right of the screen with a bunch of options. Charms can also be used to quickly configure settings for individual apps.

All sort of notifications can be accessed from here.

Charms Bar accessed by just moving cursor to the top right and when the cursor was moved a bit down, then the whole menu and a little notification status splashes.

This is kind of a control panel for Windows 8.

This is the new look of the Windows Explorer.

You can notice a few changes. First of all the Start Menu is gone. You can access it by tapping the Start Menu button or by moving your cursor to the bottom left of the screen where it was used to be.

Second thing, the Ribbon interface from the Microsoft Office Suite has been included to enhance discoverability of commands and bring relevant commands to users depending on their file selection.

The Ribbon interface was selected to bring forward the most commonly used commands for easy access. For example, selecting photos in a folder brings up tools to rotate the photos and to start a slide show.

Here, selecting a music file provokes a Play tab for further commands.

Windows Explorer features a new user interface for copying and moving files, offering both a simplified interface and an advanced interface for users to monitor the speed of the operations, viewing all simultaneous file operations in one consolidated window, and can pause file operations in progress.

A new interface has also been introduced for managing file name collisions in a file operation, allowing users to easily control which conflicting files are copied.

Windows Explorer can now also mount ISO, IMG, and VHD files as virtual drives through simple right-clicks or the Explorer toolbar without installing any external Apps.

When you open any type of file for the first time, it will ask you to choose the default program like this, even if you insert an USB.

Displaying notifications on the top right corner.

New Simple Task Manager.

You can see an expanded version by clicking on the More Details.

Expanded Version: The Processes tab now lists application names, application status, and overall usage data for CPU, memory, hard disk, and network resources for each process.

Resource utilization in the Processes tab is shown with various shades of yellow, with darker color representing heavier use.

The Performance tab is split into CPU, memory, disk, Ethernet, and wireless network (if applicable) sections. There are overall graphs for each, and clicking on one reaches details for that particular resource.

The New Taskbar can be seen by moving your cursor to the upper left of the screen. By just tapping there you can double switch between running Apps as you do by tapping Alt + Tab.

Windows 8 introduces the New Internet Explorer 10 with default full screen browsing.

Right clicking will provoke the tab bar. Add new tabs or switch between them. A simplified address bar is at the bottom.

Closing or restarting will open from where you left off.

Opening a new tab will display frequently visited web pages or pinned.

As I start typing any web address, it starts searching for it.

Windows 8 Metro Style Mail App.

Now, no need to open mail box in any browser. Your mail box right in your Start Menu.

Simple and Clean. Mail box to the left and Mail Previews to the right. And just the three buttons for every mail: New Message, Reply and Delete.

Again the same, closing or restarting the App will open from where you left off.

Adding Gmail Account to the Mail App.

By right clicking, you can access the folders.

Sending a message. Very simple and clean. Lot of options too.

Attaching a file in an email.

You want share? Share anything right from the Charms Bar. Here's is a picture I want to share.

You want share? Share anything right from the Charms Bar. Here's is a video I want to share.

You want share? Share anything right from the Charms Bar. Here's is an webpage I want to share.

This is the People's Hub/App, connected with all the social networking sites.

Like all in one place. Opening it will first display all your contacts from Google, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts; provided you have your Live ID associated with them.

What's new displays the News Feed from all the social networks. Closing or restarting the App will open from where you left off.

A post has been clicked. On the right side you can like or comment right from here. No need to open the sites in a different browser.

Windows 8 Metro Style Music App. More like ZUNE.

Search music in your local hard disk or in the marketplace.

Whenever you search an artist, it will retrieve information online about the artist and show you a list of collection you have in your local disk and songs from the marketplace.

Searching for music files from the Charms Bar. You can also search in Apps.

It plays music in full screen mode with an album art as background. You can dock all Metro Apps. And closing or restarting will open from where you left off.

Windows 8 Metro Style Messenger App & Windows 8 Metro Style Finance App

Windows 8 Metro Style Apps can be docked and worked simultaneously.

On the left, Windows 8 Metro Style Messenger App is docked where I can chat with my online friends; think it of as a multi-messenger service. And on the right Windows 8 Metro Style Finance App is docked. It provides rich insights of the market with a lot of parameters.

Windows 8 Metro Style Photos App.

You can access photos stored in your local hard disk, SkyDrive or from Facebook. Interface is amazing.

Windows 8 Metro Style Video App

I am watching a video in this App and accessing options for the App from the Charms Bar.

Windows 8 Metro Style Reader App.

Windows's own Pdf Reader App. No need to install Adobe Reader now. I am opening a file.

A file opened in Windows 8 Metro Style Reader App. Right clicking will show a list of options. Great interface. Closing and restarting will open from where you left off.

Windows 8 Metro Style SkyDrive App.

Accessing files stored on the cloud via SkyDrive App right from my Start Menu. No browser required.

Windows 8 Metro Style App Store.

Search, Buy, Try and Install Apps. Hundreds of them and more to be added.

Windows 8 Metro Style Apps

When you open any App, the interface is very much interactive and immersive. App name will be displayed at the top or center and loading UI will be right below it with dots cycling around.

Widows 8 Metro Style Yahoo Cricket App.

Upper image showing matches currently played on and the lower one showing scoreboard for a particular match.

Windows 8 Metro Style Dailymotion App

Windows 8 Metro Style NDTV App