What has become one of the most popular phone apps for messaging internationally is becoming available via a web browser on the desktop (an extension). The browser version is a little odd as it needs an active phone session to operate which it then mirrors. All the messages still happen  on the phone, with the desktop as an interface. Another odd quirk is that the desktop does not work with Apple iPhone, just Android, Blackberry and Windows. The company is blaming Apple limitations for the lack of the new service.

If you have ever posted something on Facebook that you would not want the public to see, a new improved search function of the social network might bring that old post up from your timeline. The changes will be part of the desktop interface and the iOS app rolled out this week. The amount that gets shared is based on your privacy settings, but if you allow the public to see your timeline, then the new search will be better able to find the old stuff that would embarrass you today.

English: Logo for the Microsoft Corporation, used until 1987 Deutsch: Historisches Microsoft-Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently, GoDaddy and Microsoft announced their intentions to work together on various projects. Now they've revealed their latest collaboration. It's called Get Online Today. From this package, users receive Web hosting, site building services, and e-mail through Office 365 for $1.00 per month through Year One. Subscribers receive a free $50 credit toward Bing Ads, too.

Of course, GoDaddy offers tons of Web hosting and related products including Google Auctions. Each product is priced individually, and creating a custom package isn't always easy. Get Online Today offers users an all-in-one package, though. Without a doubt, both companies are trying to compete with sites like Squarespace and WordPress. More so than that, though, both companies are targeting inexperienced website owners.

The Bitcoin logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Microsoft stole a march over Google recently, having added the world's numero uno crypto-currency, the Bitcoin, in its search engine Bing's Currency Converter. This has far reaching applications as nobody expected the commonly perceived technology laggard and sleeping giant, the Microsoft Corporation, to wake up to the potential of the Bitcoin currency much before more nimble footed technology majors such as Google and Facebook.

The Amazing Bitcoin :
Bitcoin is what is called a crypto-currency, or a digital currency that exists only on the internet. To put it simply, it is nothing but "internet cash". The Bitcoin monetary system is completely decentralized with no governing or controlling authority. It is completely managed by the consensus of millions of user all over the world connected by the internet. 2013 was an incredible year for the Bitcoin, having appreciated by a phenomenal 1500 % against the US dollar. Currently, as of the time of this writing, a single Bitcoin is worth $ 658 USD. Because of such an incredible increase in value, the Bitcoin is attracting tremendous interest from the investment community. In fact, the highly regarded Silicon Valley venture capitalist, Chris Dixon, a partner with Andressen Horowitz, a major VC firm, has stated on record that a single Bitcoin would eventually be worth $ 100,000 USD.

Bing's Currency Converter and the Bitcoin :
Bitcoin is the latest addition to the currencies supported by the popular feature of Bing, its Currency Converter. Over 50 currencies are supported by the Bing Currency Converter so far. However, Bitcoin conversion may only be made against a much smaller number of more popular currencies, including the US Dollar, the Euro, the Indian Rupee and the British Pound. User may type simple commands such as " x Bitcoin to name-of-currency " to get a conversion from Bitcoin to the specified currency. Example, " 120 Bitcoin to USD" or say "12 Euros to Bitcoin".

This is icon for social networking website. This is part of Open Icon Library's webpage icon package. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Employment Laws And Facebook

California and Illinois are leaders in protecting your social media privacy from potential employers by banning employers from asking for Facebook passwords. Social media access gives employers a peek at how you spend your time outside of the office, and use the information in the screening process of new employee candidates.

California and Illinois lawmakers have passed a law prohibiting employers from asking for social networking passwords from their current employees and those seeking jobs with the business.  This new hiring protocol within the business world emerged when social media became popular with today's internet culture. Businesses found they can research a person's personality, morals, and ethics with a simply click of a mouse.

Instagram - 8 (Photo credit: BrentOzar)

TOS Lands Instagram In Court

Instagram is not pleased with what Santa left under the tree: a lawsuit. To be more specific, Instagram is now involved in a class action lawsuit after it changed its terms of service, a move that customers are none too happy about. According to Reuters, the suit was started by a California user who is claiming that Instagram breached its contract by changing its service term. Instagram, owned by Facebook, responded by denying any wrong-doing and vowing to fight the suit.

Capture One (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

YouTube Capture

Capture is a new iOS app from Google which will make recording and sharing YouTube content easier. It allows users to film videos and upload them to YouTube with just three clicks. When you use Capture, you can post videos simultaneously to YouTube, Google+, Twitter and Facebook, as well as uploading them to your own machine. The app also includes a number of editing features, such as color correction or adding music.

The first YouTube generated app for iOS was launched earlier this year, but at that time it did not include a way of uploading videos. This was seen as a major omission given the site's importance for uploading user generated videos. Even the move to more professional content does not affect YouTube's position as the main place for people to post their videos on the web.

Safe search. Safe surf. McAfee SiteAdvisor (Photo credit: Majiscup - The Papercup & Sleeve)

McAfee Founder Waits In Guatemala Jail

John McAfee is currently in jail in Guatemala, pending deportation to neighboring Belize, for questioning about a murder investigation. Meanwhile, McAfee has sold his story, tentatively called Running in the Background: The True Story of John McAfee, to Impact Future Media, in Canada.

Impact Future Media stated it may license the story to others, or develop it themselves. Regardless, the company's CEO, Francois Garcia, pointed out that they take the responsibility of telling the McAfee story very seriously, and will share it with the relevant partners in the industry.

the sexy santa assistants were there to take a photo of you in front of the xmas tree or you could just ask them to take a photo with you and pretend that your girlfriend is a sexy santa assistant See where this picture was taken. [?] (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Brace yourselves and your pockets, because the holiday season is here. Walking through crowded malls during the Yule is probably one of the biggest challenges for the holiday shopper. Impulse and tons of holiday spirit greatly influence excessive and unnecessary spending -- leaving you with barely any cash to buy the important stuff. But don't fret! There are plenty of tools and techniques that can help you save money this season, such as mobile applications that compare prices, and find you coupons. Here we will let you in on the 5 best ways to stay well-budgeted in the coming months!

Image via CrunchBase

Trends In Social Media Use

A recent report indicates that more people spend their time online on social media sites than any other type of site, meaning that it has definitely become a mainstream and accepted thing to do.

Those on a personal computer spent around 20 percent of their online time on a social media site of some type, while those using a tablet, smart phone or similar device to access the Internet spent about 30 percent of their online time on one or more sites. The survey was carried out by Nielsen and NM Incite.