Thursday, January 20, 2011

Katy Perry joins Mark Zuckerberg's social network

Katy Perry has a new Facebook friend.

The singer cosied up to the website's founder Mark Zuckerberg at the company's Palo Alto offices in California today.

The social networking enthusiast uploaded a picture of the pair to Twitter, writing: 'Ya know just hangin' @ "the" facebook with "the" CEO. Baller style. I like him!'

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Facebook friends: Katy Perry poses with founder Mark Zuckerberg at the Facebook offices today in Palo Alto

Facebook friends: Katy Perry poses with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at the offices today in Palo Alto

The 25-year-old was at the Facebook headquarters to appear on Facebook Live.

She used the live-streaming site to announce the US and Canadian leg of her tour.

The Firework hitmaker will play 41 dates, kicking off in Atlanta on June 7 and finishing up in her home town of Santa Barbara on August 14.

She will be supported on the American leg of her tour, which will also see her visit Australia, Japan, Europe and the UK this year, by Marina and the Diamonds and Robyn.

Catwoman: Perry, a cat lover, picked out her favourite office in the Facebook headquarters

Make yourself at home: Perry, a cat lover, picked out her favourite office in the Facebook headquarters

'The California Dreams tour is coming to the USA,' Perry said, adding, 'And Canada! You can't forget the Canadians, they get really p***** if you do.'

Asked why she had chosen the platform to make the announcement, she joked: 'This is Facebook. You're like the government.'

Katy, who has 17 million Facebook fans, will be collaborating with the company for the California Dreams tour.

'I love the internet and social networking,' she said, during the live stream. 'I am a child of the internet and am indebted to it.'

Perry revealed how she would upload her songs online before getting her break in the music industry.

Social networking enthusiast: Perry appeared on a live stream on Facebook to announce her US and Canadian tour dates

Social networking enthusiast: Perry appeared on a live stream on Facebook to announce her US and Canadian tour dates

'[The tour] will be interactive,' she said, explaining how she will use Facebook places and how fans can 'check in' to the tour venues, and receive prizes.

Attendees can also use Twitter and Facebook while at the venues, and their tweets will appear on a screen during the concert.

The singer revealed that the tour's creative designer will be Todd Thomas, who is behind the extravagant Victoria's Secret catwalk shows.

Perry met Thomas when she performed at last year's annual Victoria's Secret show.

'It's going to be an edible looking tour,' Perry said. 'It's going to be candy, a smorgasbord.'

Bizarrely, Perry also gave the Facebook offices a sneak preview of how the tour is 'going to smell.'

'Smorgasbord': Perry, pictured performing at the Victoria's Secret show in November, says her tour will be an 'edible' feast

'Smorgasbord': Perry, pictured performing at the Victoria's Secret show in November, says her tour will be an 'edible' feast

'Let's makes these offices reek!' she joked. Like her album, the tour venues will have their own unique fragrance.

During a live question and answer session, Katy was asked by a fan what she thought of a musical being made using her songs.

'I wouldn't mind that,' she replied, revealing that she is a big lover of musicals.

'I love the Cirque do Soleil, shows - I've seen the Elvis one and the Beatles ones,' she said.

'I really want to see the Spiderman musical too.'

But she declined to announce the bands supporting her for the European and Australasian legs of her tour.

Perry was in good spirits during her Facebook visit, despite being irritated by press reports about an ongoing feud between her and Madonna.

Several publications reignited an old story about Perry criticising the icon's use of religious iconography in her concerts and videos.

Katy had previously also blasted Lady Gaga's Alejandro music video, writing on Twitter last year: 'Using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling a fart joke.'

But the singer rubbished claims made in The Sun that she disapproved of Madonna being mounted on a cross during her 2008 Confessions tour.

She tweeted today: 'FYI I haven't given any interviews for a long while, the PRESS are just trying to recycle, flip, and rehash very old interviews RE: Madonna.'

Do you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683

Warning: Some offensive language


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Android gets Google Translate update

Google Translate (Credit: Google)

Android users who have found themselves fighting the language barrier have probably heard of Google Translate, a free translation app for Android. Although it's not the most feature-packed translator for Android, it offers a simple way to translate basic words and phrases among dozens of languages. It also includes spoken translations and romanization of non-Roman scripts. Although sentences may come out kind of wonky depending on the structure, it definitely works in a pinch.

Today, Google announced an update for its Translate app, with a focus on tweaks that aim to make the interface easier to navigate and the program more user-friendly. Among the changes: a more responsive input box, improved drop-down boxes for selecting languages to translate between, and a cleaner layout.

Google Translate is also introducing an experimental feature called Conversation Mode. The idea with this mode is to allow you to communicate fluidly with someone nearby who is speaking another language. With the press a button, the app will record your piece of the conversation; it will then translate your speech and read it aloud to the other person. At launch, Conversation Mode is only available between English and Spanish, and while it is in alpha, factors like background noise and regional dialects are expected to interfere somewhat with the functionality.

Install or update Google Chrome: Update Google Chrome

To make sure that you're protected by the latest security updates, Google Chrome automatically updates whenever it detects that a new version of the browser is available. The update process happens in the background and doesn't require any action on your part.

Check for updates

Updates are available if the wrench icon on the browser toolbar shows a little orange dot update notification. To apply the update, just follow these steps:

  1. Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar.
  2. Select Update Google Chrome.
  3. In the confirmation dialog that appears, click Restart. The browser saves your opened tabs and windows and reopens them automatically when it restarts. If you'd prefer not to restart right away, click Not now. The next time you restart your browser, the update will automatically be applied.

Mac users: Don't see a wrench icon? Go to the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Chrome, and select About Google Chrome. If an update is available, the Update Now button will be active. Click the button to update the browser.

Using Linux? Use your package manager to update Google Chrome.

Check your browser version

Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar and select About Google Chrome. The version number is the series of number beneath the "Google Chrome" heading.

Set up automatic updates (Mac)

If Google Chrome is installed in your Applications folder, you may be able to set up automatic browser updates for all users of your computer. Go to the "About Google Chrome" dialog and see if the Set Up Automatic Updates for All Users button is available. If it is, click the button and authenticate to set up automatic updates.

More information

Having problems updating? See troubleshooting information.

Learn about the features and fixes included in each update at the Google Chrome Releases blog.

Google Chrome uses a process called Google Update to periodically check for updates. This process sends information, such as version number, language, operating system, and other installation or update-related details, back to Google servers. This information is not associated with you or your Google Account. Learn more about how Google Update works.

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