Benchmarking apps are useful for measuring the performance of your device and comparing the scores with similar devices. They test the performance of processors, graphics systems, Web browsing, and more. Here are five benchmarking apps for Android devices that you can use to see how your device measures up:

Quadrant Standard Edition
Quadrant Standard Edition tests CPU, I/O, and 3D graphics. After running through the tests, you're required to submit the score to the company's servers in order to see the results. The bar chart shows your overall score and compares it with other devices.

Linpack
Linpack is a benchmark that's been used to measure the CPU performance of some of the world's fastest computers. Now, you can use the same benchmark to test your Android phone or tablet. The final score is given in MFLOPS and is a quick and simple test of your device's performance. People who use custom ROMs and overclock their Android systems often use Linpack to monitor performance improvements.

Neocore
Neocore was originally developed by Qualcomm to test its Adreno GPU but can be used to measure the 3D graphics performance of Android devices with non-Adreno GPU's. Scores are provided in FPS.

AnTuTu
AnTuTu tests CPU, RAM, graphics, database, and SD card components and provides scores for each component as well as an overall score. It's similar to Quadrant Standard but AnTuTu allows you to see all subscores. Once the test is completed, you can view your score in a nice bar chart next to other Android devices. As a fun option, you can also submit your score to the AnTuTu servers to see your device's world ranking.

Vellamo
Vellamo, like Neocore, was developed by Qualcomm. It measures the Web browsing performance of Android devices in four categories--rendering, javascript, user experience, and networking.

You can download all the apps mentioned above for free from the Android Market. Share your scores with us in the comments to see how your Android smartphone or tablet measures up!

Originally posted at How To

Benchmarking apps are useful for measuring the performance of your device and comparing the scores with similar devices. They test the performance of processors, graphics systems, Web browsing, and more. Here are five benchmarking apps for Android devices that you can use to see how your device measures up:

Quadrant Standard Edition
Quadrant Standard Edition tests CPU, I/O, and 3D graphics. After running through the tests, you're required to submit the score to the company's servers in order to see the results. The bar chart shows your overall score and compares it with other devices.

Linpack
Linpack is a benchmark that's been used to measure the CPU performance of some of the world's fastest computers. Now, you can use the same benchmark to test your Android phone or tablet. The final score is given in MFLOPS and is a quick and simple test of your device's performance. People who use custom ROMs and overclock their Android systems often use Linpack to monitor performance improvements.

Neocore
Neocore was originally developed by Qualcomm to test its Adreno GPU but can be used to measure the 3D graphics performance of Android devices with non-Adreno GPU's. Scores are provided in FPS.

AnTuTu
AnTuTu tests CPU, RAM, graphics, database, and SD card components and provides scores for each component as well as an overall score. It's similar to Quadrant Standard but AnTuTu allows you to see all subscores. Once the test is completed, you can view your score in a nice bar chart next to other Android devices. As a fun option, you can also submit your score to the AnTuTu servers to see your device's world ranking.

Vellamo
Vellamo, like Neocore, was developed by Qualcomm. It measures the Web browsing performance of Android devices in four categories--rendering, javascript, user experience, and networking.

You can download all the apps mentioned above for free from the Android Market. Share your scores with us in the comments to see how your Android smartphone or tablet measures up!

Maybe you just need to see how a download is progressing, or maybe you need to kill a process that's eating your network alive. If you're on-site, it's easy, but if you're working remotely, you need a solution. PC Monitor lets you check in with and exert control over your Windows or Linux machine from almost any smartphone. Here's how to get started with it: 

1. Download and install PC Monitor on your computer and on your smartphone. 
2. Run PC Monitor on your computer. (You will need to set up an account the first time you run it. This is pretty straightforward.) 
   

   Step 2: Set up account.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)
3. Check and change any settings or notifications that are of interest. There are a lot of settings, but you needn't concern yourself about all of them at first. 
   

   Step 3: PC Monitor settings.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)
4. Run PC Monitor on your mobile device, enter your username and password, then click the "Devices" tab on your PC to set higher security. By selecting "Allow only authorized devices..." you can limit the devices that have access to your PC. 
   

   Step 4: Authorize device.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)
5. Click "Start Service" on your PC to begin monitoring. You should now be able to check your PC status on your mobile device. There's a lot you can do remotely, so explore and figure out what works best for you. 
   

   Step 5: Monitor PC remotely.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)

Remember that anything that grants you this kind of access could potentially grant anyone else access. This software is secure, but it's only as secure as your password, so change it frequently. PC Monitor is free for up to three computers; after that, you need to purchase a subscription.

Originally posted at How To

Benchmarking apps are useful for measuring the performance of your device and comparing the scores with similar devices. They test the performance of processors, graphics systems, Web browsing, and more. Here are five benchmarking apps for Android devices that you can use to see how your device measures up:

Quadrant Standard Edition
Quadrant Standard Edition tests CPU, I/O, and 3D graphics. After running through the tests, you're required to submit the score to the company's servers in order to see the results. The bar chart shows your overall score and compares it with other devices.

Linpack
Linpack is a benchmark that's been used to measure the CPU performance of some of the world's fastest computers. Now, you can use the same benchmark to test your Android phone or tablet. The final score is given in MFLOPS and is a quick and simple test of your device's performance. People who use custom ROMs and overclock their Android systems often use Linpack to monitor performance improvements.

Neocore
Neocore was originally developed by Qualcomm to test its Adreno GPU but can be used to measure the 3D graphics performance of Android devices with non-Adreno GPU's. Scores are provided in FPS.

AnTuTu
AnTuTu tests CPU, RAM, graphics, database, and SD card components and provides scores for each component as well as an overall score. It's similar to Quadrant Standard but AnTuTu allows you to see all subscores. Once the test is completed, you can view your score in a nice bar chart next to other Android devices. As a fun option, you can also submit your score to the AnTuTu servers to see your device's world ranking.

Vellamo
Vellamo, like Neocore, was developed by Qualcomm. It measures the Web browsing performance of Android devices in four categories--rendering, javascript, user experience, and networking.

You can download all the apps mentioned above for free from the Android Market. Share your scores with us in the comments to see how your Android smartphone or tablet measures up!

Maybe you just need to see how a download is progressing, or maybe you need to kill a process that's eating your network alive. If you're on-site, it's easy, but if you're working remotely, you need a solution. PC Monitor lets you check in with and exert control over your Windows or Linux machine from almost any smartphone. Here's how to get started with it: 

1. Download and install PC Monitor on your computer and on your smartphone. 
2. Run PC Monitor on your computer. (You will need to set up an account the first time you run it. This is pretty straightforward.) 
   

   Step 2: Set up account.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)
3. Check and change any settings or notifications that are of interest. There are a lot of settings, but you needn't concern yourself about all of them at first. 
   

   Step 3: PC Monitor settings.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)
4. Run PC Monitor on your mobile device, enter your username and password, then click the "Devices" tab on your PC to set higher security. By selecting "Allow only authorized devices..." you can limit the devices that have access to your PC. 
   

   Step 4: Authorize device.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)
5. Click "Start Service" on your PC to begin monitoring. You should now be able to check your PC status on your mobile device. There's a lot you can do remotely, so explore and figure out what works best for you. 
   

   Step 5: Monitor PC remotely.

   (Credit: Screenshot by Rob Lightner)

Remember that anything that grants you this kind of access could potentially grant anyone else access. This software is secure, but it's only as secure as your password, so change it frequently. PC Monitor is free for up to three computers; after that, you need to purchase a subscription.

Facebook today doubled down on its mobile efforts with a new mobile application that breaks out its messaging service into a single app.

Dubbed "Messenger," Facebook is making the app available for both Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Users can log in with their Facebook credentials to get access to existing chats and message threads from Facebook for interacting with them on the go. Included is group messaging, along with a component that lets users share photos and their location.

"The Messenger app is an extension of Facebook messages, so all your conversations are in one place, including your texts, chats, e-mails, and messages. Whether you're on your phone or on the Web, you can see the full history of all your messages," Lucy Zhang, Beluga co-founder and Facebook engineer, said in a post on Facebook's blog.

For all intents and purposes, the app is the same as Beluga, a group-messaging app Facebook acquired in March. In fact, the team that made Facebook Messenger is the same one that made that application, and the feature set reflects that. Nonetheless, this app is not replacing Beluga, according to Facebook.

"Nothing is going to change for Beluga right now," a Facebook representative told CNET. "The apps will remain separate. We're considering ways to possibly migrate Beluga messages over to Facebook Messenger but have no specifics to announce at the moment."

The move to break out messaging is of special note, given the murmurs of Facebook doing something similar for photo sharing. A report in June from TechCrunch pulled together screenshots of such an app in the works that would combine sharing elements akin to apps like Instagram, Color, Picplz, and others, while tapping into Facebook's photo servers. That differs substantially from Facebook's existing mobile strategy, which has been to pull the various site features together into one experience, similar to what's available for desktop users.

Notably missing from this iteration, and Facebook's other apps, is video chat--a feature it launched as part of a partnership with Skype last month. In a question-and-answer session following the unveiling of that feature at Facebook's headquarters, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the two companies would begin work to bring that feature to mobile phones immediately.

Update at 2:25 p.m. PT: You can grab the app from iTunes here. Android users, can get it here. The company is also offering to send download links directly to your device from its Messenger home page.

Originally posted at News - Digital Media