Hasta La Gadget!

Google+ has just issued an update that brings the remote desktop feature to Hangouts. With Hangouts Remote Desktop, your friends can give you permission to control their desktop through the Hangouts app. Because you’re in a Hangout, you are still able to see each other and voice chat with each other while you’re controlling the other person’s computer, making troubleshooting much easier.

Hangouts Remote Desktop uses the same technology as Chrome Remote Desktop. To access Hangouts Remote Desktop, you have to initiate a Hangout with someone first. After joining a Hangout, navigate to the “View More Apps” button on the left panel of the Hangout screen. Click “Add Apps” and install the Remote Desktop app. Everything is all set up after that. If you send a request to control your friend/family member’s computer, they will receive a notification at the bottom of their screen to accept your request, or decline.

After you friend accepts your help, their main screen will be replaced with a green box that says [Your name] is helping you, however they will still be able to see your webcam feed at one of the lower screens. To end the Remote Desktop session, the other party just needs to click the “end” button located at the top of their screen. The entire process is easy, and with the way Hangouts Remote Desktop is all set-up, using it will make it much more easier to help your friends and family members with technical problems.

Many users are already giving positive reviews for Hangouts Remote Desktop. Now instead of having to deal with extensions and access codes with Chrome Remote Desktop, or having to deal with IP Addresses, usernames and passwords for Remote Desktop for Windows, all you need to do is successfully convince the tech-challenged party to sign up for Google+ and you’ll be fixing their issues in no time.

[via Daniel Caiafa]

Google+ Hangouts get Remote Desktop feature using Chrome technology is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The connection between Microsoft and Facebook is becoming tighter as Microsoft has announced what they’re calling the Facebook for Windows Phone Beta app program. This marks the first time that the Facebook app for Windows Phone will enter into an extensive beta program, but it will allow users to submit bugs and feedback to improve on the app.

Microsoft says this new beta program is targeted to those who like to mess around with experimental software, so folks that hate when apps crash or don’t perform smoothly most likely don’t need to apply. However, anyone can join in, as it’s not just limited to developers, and Microsoft is encouraging anyone to try it out.

The beta app for Facebook underwent major redesign, and it comes a lot of new features, including support for high-resolution photos, improved post sharing, and Facebook’s Timeline. If you spot a bug or just want to give your overall feedback about the app, you can head to Settings > About in the app to report information.

If you didn’t know Microsoft actually develops the Facebook app for Windows Phone, and it’s the same way with BlackBerry, so essentially, Facebook only actively develops mobile apps for iOS and Android. However, with the social network’s permission, Microsoft can develop their own Facebook app for Windows Phone users.

Facebook for Windows Phone enters beta, brings high-res photos and Timeline is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apparently Budweiser feels that drinking isn’t a social enough activity. They want to integrate your drinking with Facebook. How will they do this? With the Buddy Cup.

This new beer cup has a chip in the base that allows it to detect the presence of another Buddy Cup. Thanks to a QR like code on the bottom of the cup, you can link it to your Facebook account. Once your cup is Facebook aware, the fun begins. If you toast another Buddy Cup, you automatically become friends on the popular social network.

The problem is we mostly drink with people we already know, so what’s the point? Perhaps it’s just a clever marketing campaign that perhaps hasn’t been thought out as well as it could have been. What do you guys think?

[via Geeky Gadgets]

The Obama Administration is once again dipping into social media, this time announcing the creation of an account on Tumblr, which is currently composed of a single post and image. Says the White House, the Tumblr will be used in conjunction with the administration’s other social media accounts to help make it the “most open and accessible administration in history.”

Of course, the White House isn’t likely to provide the same content you usually see on Tumblr – we’d be surprised to see any cat GIFs, for example – although the announcement does say that “yes, of course there will be GIFs.” We’re eager to see what kind the administration puts up, but that aside, the Tumblr will be used to provide things of a more interesting and informative nature.

Users who keep an eye on the administration’s latest social account will find quotes from President Obama, as well as content that is relevant to the administration and White House, such as videos of notable visits and photographs that feature the president. The announcement also promises “wonky charts,” although it doesn’t specify what kind of charts that includes.

And as with similar announcements it has made in the past, the Administration is inviting public participation, requesting that users let them know how they can improve the White House’s Tumblr, ask questions, and share stories with them. Such a task is possible via the Submission Tool. If Tumblr’s not your thing, you can also check out the administration’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts.

[via White House]

White House joins Tumblr, says to expect GIFs is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While the 2012 NFL Draft was marred online by insider parties using Twitter to announce picks before television broadcasts could so so themselves, sources this week are making clear a new expected etiquette of those present at the event. The word being used this week by news officials is “speculation”: before the NFL commissioner makes an announcement, mum’s the word. Even so, hard-and-fast rules on this situation appear to be able to be bent, just so long as they’re not broken.

It would appear that ESPN is at the tip of this year’s reign-in of “early” news flashes, with several heads noting several different sides of the story this week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter spoke with the Sherman Report about revealing key information on Twitter, saying that “run of the mill” picks will not be touched by him. Quarterback picks or “bold moves,” as he put it, will have no restrictions – Twitter action will continue in that regard.

“Basically. During the second round, only one or two picks are headline worthy. If it is the headline of that day, and I’m fortunate enough to get that pick, I’m going to report it.

I am almost certain–not to put words in someone’s mouth–that the NFL has to spoken to ESPN and ESPN has told me to be more selective about what I’m tweeting in advance. I am trying to be as considerate as possible and [not] tweet everything we’re getting, but I am going to tweet the headline-making items.” – Schefter

The actual dialog between Schefter, his boss Seth Markman, and possibly the NFL itself is not known – what he’s made plain is the fact that someone higher up than Schefter would rather he didn’t use Twitter to speak about any Draft picks at all – at least not until they’re publicly available through the NFL’s own channels. The difference between the NFL posting information, ESPN speaking this information on a television broadcast, and a Twitter post can be a matter of minutes – but sometimes that’s a whole lot longer than one would expect – and a lot more important.

What’s your opinion on the Twitter situation here with the NFL Draft? Are you a follower of those sources that find out picks before they’re made official through the NFL itself? Let us know if you want to see picks first on Twitter, if you’d rather watch them on television, or if you want the NFL to speak directly to you with a telegram!

Twitter spoiler cut-back tipped for 2013 NFL Draft is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.