and then I started figuring out ways to stop spammers and bots.

After lots of tweaking and breaking, I got the forum ready to block spam posts. But, I started noticing some user sign ups with suspicious mail IDs. These definitely were bots or spammers. But how are they finding my new forum?

This entry in the search engine terms of blog stats gave me the answer. intext:powered by wordpress inurl:regist

This was one of the search engine keywords bringing traffic to the forum. Clearly, spammers were using Google to find out wordpress powered websites with registration pages.

Removing the text “powered by wordpress” was not a good option. I could change the second criteria of their search keyword. I changed the slug (url) of the sign up page on my forum, and that has reduced the number of spammers registering on my forum.

So, there, a small thing I learned while getting a forum ready. I am sure this will come handy if you have a blog or forum with option for users to sign up.

Bots Registering on Your WordPress or bbPress Site? Here is a Small Tip To Reduce It is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

I loved the design of this Sony tablet. They proved that tablets can look different than the iPad and still be stylish. But when I read some reviews, I got to know that there were a lot of drawbacks for their first Android tablet attempt (they released more tablets after that, and I am sure they have fixed all that)

Sony Android Tablet

Samsung, you hear me? Get those designers!

Samsung, You Must Hire Designers Who Made That Sony Tablet is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

Don’t believe me? Okay, lets get started.

If you are reading this on a desktop, stop and just observe the distance between you and your screen. You have your keyboard and mouse right in front of you, but the monitor is little away from you.

Now, look around (works well if you are reading at work!) and observe how others are using their desktop PCs right now. Aren’t they all a little away from their screens?

Here is another test, do an image search on Google for  man in front of desktop pc or something similar and see how they all use dekstop computers

I dont have a clear answer as to why we all do this, but may be because the size of the screen or this extra piece of keyboard and mouse that stays always between a desktop monitor and us. We tend to stay closer to laptop screens and tablet screens, but not the desktop screen.

How many of you will be comfortable spreading your hand once in a while to reach for the  monitor and use the touch control? Not may I think and that is why I said, for a normal user, it won’t make much sense to have a touch screen desktop computer.

Where It Works

That being said, there may be a few use cases where you will find the touch screen a good option. I can already think of a few. When a computer is used just for display, say information or entertainment etc, to let users interact or perform a search or any other action.

Touchscreen PC will be a good option for kids too. They will love to use touch screen controls instead of keyboard and mouse. But anyways, they will prefer your smartphone or tablet to the PC, don’t you think?

So, that’s what I think of touch screen desktop computers. Do let me know your thoughts!

ps: and again, I am back with a tech post on my personal blog.. turns out, I can talk only about technology these days…!!!

Why Touch Screen for Desktop Computers Doesn’t Make Much Sense is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

and then I found Paperland

Paperland is a live wallpaper for Android and it is totally cool! There is a free version and a paid version available. Paid version gives you more customization options.

Here is how it looks like, by default.

But that’s not all. You can go to settings > randomize to get a different mix of colors, and all the other elements you see there. You can control speed as well.

Paperland can sync with your clock and display the wallpaper according to the time of the day. So for me, during day, I have cars, clouds, birds and the sun. When its night, the sun will be replaced by moon. The cars you see there, they all will have their headlight turned on.

I can go on and on about this live wallpaper, but to get the actual feel, you need to try it out!

Get it from here.

ps: I sometimes spend sometime just looking at this cute wallpaper!!

The Best Android Live Wallpaper I’ve Ever Used is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

You can now download the .apk file from the location shared here at XDA. Enjoy!

Flipboard on Galaxy Note

Flipboard is an app which I really really wanted on my Galaxy Note. I love Flipboard and I feel it will be a good combination with the huge screen of the Note.

I got what I wanted today.

I am going to try this out and if everything is smooth, I will probably remove Feedly apps for reading and have all in Flipboard.

Flipboard on Android

Feedly is an app that transforms your Google Reader stream in to a magazine styled UI, giving you a pleasant reading experience. I use it every day on Chrome, but not always on my phone, it takes a while to get my content loaded there, not sure if it is because my connection is slow. But, if Flipboard does this job better, I will move in there!

Flipboard for Android Is Here!! is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

1. Cover the Screen With Your Palm to Pause Music

This is a cool thing that you can show off in front of your friends. While playing music, cover the screen with your palm (at least half of the screen from above) to pause playing. Music resumes when you take your palm off the screen. Here is a video demo.

2. Touch And Twist

Did that title tell you something? If not, here is a little more detail. Go to Gallery on your Galaxy Note and open up any image. Touch and hold the image with one finger and then twist it towards right, the image rotates to the side you moved your finger. Still confused? here is your video

3. Take Screenshot with Your Palm/Hand

You might have taken screenshots on your galaxy note with the S Pen. Now, here is another cool trick. Keep your palm in vertical position and slide from left to right, a screenshot will be captured.

It is not easy to master this trick, but its good to know, and is cool enough to show your friends!

4. Disable All Controls While Watching Videos

When you are watching videos on your Galaxy Note (which I must say is a pleasant experience on Galaxy Note’s biiggg screen) there are chances that you touch the screen, or press the home button or menu button and it interrupts your video. What if you can disable everything while watching videos?

• Touch Screen
• Menu Button
• Home Button
• Back Button

Yes, it is possible, and also easy to do. Just press the power button once and you will see a lock icon on the screen for few seconds. Now try touching the screen or key. They all are disable.

To enable them again, just press the power button one more time.

 5. Control Brightness from Notification Bar

When you have “Automatic Brightness” disabled, you can control brightness of the screen by sliding left or right on the notification bar. Slide your finger to the left to reduce brightness and towards right to increase it.

Hope you learned something new here today. Please share if you liked them!!

5 Lesser Known Galaxy Note Tips is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

One thing I will really miss is the Flipboard app. It will be packed with the S3, exclusively for now. We all will have to wait until it shows up on Galaxy note and other Android phones and tablets.

I hope someone rips the .apk file off from the Galaxy S3 and posts online. I will definitely try it as soon as someone posts the download link online.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Samsung Galaxy Note Video is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

Read It Later is now Pocket. Vow, what a change buddy!!

Read It Later is my all time favorite. It is the only paid app on my phone as of now. Well, that too when there is a free version available for download. It was worth paying couple of dollars for this great app.

Read It Later is no longer “reading only”. It is getting ready to become your collection of favorite online content – articles, images, and videos ( and may be more stuff in future, who knows!) I guess that is why they wanted to rename the app. But, they did not just stop with a new name and icon. They redesigned the complete UI of the app. It is a new experience all together.

Pocket saves all your favorite content in an organized list making it available on all platforms – computer/tablet/phone and any connected device. On your phone and tablet, content is available offline too and that is the USP of the app.

I scan through lot of RSS feeds, articles and much more during the day. There are things I just want to read and let go, and there are some that I really want to spend time and read peacefully. I know with the short attention span problem, I won’t be able to do it when I am in front of my computer. When its in Pocket, I read it whenever I get free time, say, in the list, while in the bus, while waiting in the queue… anytime I get two or three minutes free, I pick up my phone, and go in to Pocket.

When You Don’t Want To Pay Roaming Charges

Here is another use case. Whenever I go to my hometown, I disable data plan because its not affordable. I don’t have an internet connection there at home so I wont be connecting to internet when I am there (which is good in one way). Filling something in the Pocket App is also part of my “packing” while getting ready to go home these days.

I add some nice articles to my Pocket App list and read them while on the train, and when I am at home with some free time. There are so many situations where I wont be able to carry a book with me, but phone is always with me. So, I make use of every single minute available to me these days.

It Helps In Kitchen Too!

I have added a tag for recipes with some nice stuff I like to cook. I carry my phone around while in the kitchen to refer my ingredients and the cooking method. (Well, I look at the recipe 100 times while cooking one dish!)

When my wife bought me a Galaxy Note as birthday gift, this reading experience on the phone became more exciting. The additional screen real estate played very well with the Pocket App.

I’m lovin it!!!! Get it today! and if you need a Chrome Extension to easily add content to your list, get it here.

“Read It Later” Is Now “Pocket” And It is Awesome! is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

This Sunday night I got an update message on my phone and I actually thought its the ICS update. I do not have experience with OTA updates so I didn’t know if  new OS updates also come in the same style.

The update was around 72MB and took few minutes to finish. Once done I restarted and looked around for changes, definitely not an ICS build. The only visible change I could notice was the new phone app icon.

The rumored date of ICS is March1 so I will keep my fingers crossed! Just few more days to go! I can finally try and play with the new Chrome for Android beta!!!

I’ll keep you all updated!!

Galaxy Note Gets Firmware Update and a New Phone Icon is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins

So, living with Galaxy Note. How is it?

I am quite happy with this new phone/tablet thingie so far. Its hard to say if it is a phone or a tablet, but that’s the beauty of it. Thanks to my big palms, it plays just like any other phone. The only thing I get used to is the surprised looks from people around me when I make a call or check email.

That said, this may not be for everyone. I happened to take less than 5 calls a day on this phone and use it mostly for reading articles/checking email/facebook etc… mostly web stuff. So, if you are someone who makes a lot of calls, this may not be for you.

If you are in to mobile gaming and watching movies on the go, this will be a good option.. provided you are ready to accept the additional size and weight of this phone.

My favorite apps continue to be ReaditLater and Feedly. After switching to Android, most of my content consumption happens during the waiting periods between work and home and other places….it also helps me keep my email box clean most of the times.

Okay, this rant comes after a long gap here. But I am not on any blogging break guys… chromestory.com is keeping me busy and I am enjoying it a lot there. Actually I am spending more time on blogging than I used to, in the past.

Living With A Galaxy Note is a post from: Blog of Small Things - Google Wave Plugins