Say goodbye to Netscape Browser

One of the first browser that many of us had once used will officially say goodbye on 1st Febuary 2008.

Netscape Navigator started in Oct 1994 and was took over by AOL on Nov 1998 for $4.2 billion.

But well there are still so many browsers available although internet explorer and firefox remain to be the most popular in these few years.

Eight features you didn’t know about in Ubuntu

Ubuntu has caused GNU/Linux based operating systems to have many reviews recently, most concentrating on the more flashy parts such as the infamous rotating cube or wobbly windows provided by compiz fusion, rather than the things that actually make it such a enjoyable operating system to use.

I tried to pick some features that I have not seen mentioned before - these are some of the things that change my everyday use of the computer, so I feel they are worth mentioning. Some of the below features are provided by Gnome, some by Compiz Fusion. All are not exclusive to Ubuntu, but as that’s what I have installed at the moment I’ll demo them on that.

1. Clicking on the date shows your calendar from Evolution. I have linked my google calendar, so that’s shown here. Although I love this feature, it’s really about the system wide integration that OSS seems to promote. Windows just tries to change the time when you click it’s clock.

2. Keep windows on top. I use this so often, whether it’s IM windows or when writing an assignment, it’s nice to have things kept on top. I often copy data from websites into a document using this technique.



3. Add emblems to files. Since using System 6 on the Mac and being able to label files I have missed this. There are loads of emblems that can be overlaid on file icons to remind you to do things. I often mark assignments as completed or work in progress using this.



4. The recently released Gnome Do. It’s awesome! This is new, but has a lot of potential. Try it!



5. Icons for removable media change to represent the media in question. I use this to easily distinguish between camera cards, iPods, and memory sticks. This is such a genius idea and makes things simpler when working quickly.



6. The scale plug in for compiz fusion rearranges your windows and scales them down to fit the screen. Useful when working with loads of windows. They are still updated in real time as well, so videos still play etc. Again, simple but effective.



7. Avant window navigator (AWN) provides a nice little dock that looks good and works well.



8. Representing virtual desktops as a wall seems more logical than a cube to me. Get this by pressing meta+E when running compiz fusion. Straightforward and easy to use.



source taken from : http://richbradshaw.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/featuresyoudidntknowinubuntulinux/

New Western Digital HD disabling Media transfer over network

Some product to give it a miss I would say.

image from : http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/images/2007/12/06/wdfmybook_world_1n_2.jpg

The new 1 TB Western Digital HD is disabling media file transfer over the network.
That means you are not able to transfer file formats listed here:
(ACC,AIF,AIFC,AIFF,AMF,ASF,ASXAVI,CDA,DVI,DVIX,,FAR,IT,ITZ,KAR,MDZ,MOV,
MP1,MP2,MP3,MP4,MPA,MPE,MPEG,MPG,MPGA,MPV2,OGG,OKT,PTM,QT,QT1,
VOB,VOC,WM,WMA,WMV

Basically all your common media formats are denied and even those not media linked format are being blocked too. I think one can only transfer powerpt,word,pdf,applications using this super ultra big 1 TB harddrive. Think perhaps it will really take us a few years of hard work before we can fill it up.

But one thing to take note is that I personally feel that the design of this hdd is rather nice :P

Facebook -- Increasing number of clone accounts

Written by: Windslash

As read previously from techcrunch, facebook currently increasing at a rate of 250,000 new accounts per day. But ever since a few months after they release their API. I have started to notice a new trend - clone accounts.

Why the increase of clone accounts in facebook?
Not as though people wanted to create clone accounts to cheat or scam but that due to the applications add-ons creating such an effect in users.

Especially in gaming where users get rewarded for recruiting new players in or that creating multiple accounts to gain an edge over other players.

A few examples would be the recently popular facebook gaming apps, WarBook and Dota.
In WarBook, players fight to gain more lands and to recruit more armies and golds. By recruiting a new player, you will receive 150,000 gold. Also, with multiple accounts, one would be able to use their "main" account to farm on their "bank" aka their multis.

While in Dota, the more allies one have the more likely you will win when verus-ing another player. Also, items would be cheaper if you get another player to buy and send to you. So, naturally, there will be player creating multiple accounts to give themselves a better stand over the rest.

So, I believe facebook accounts will be increasing at an exponential rate. But, unique visitors will not reflect that high. Just my point of view.

Google Pre-Launches New iPhone Interface

by Michael Arrington

We heard a rumor that Google was going to launch a new interface for users accessing the site via an iPhone in the next few days. But an anonymous tip let us know it actually launched without any warning or announcement this evening. If you visit Google.com from an iPhone, you now get a menu of services to choose from - home (search box), Gmail, Calendar, Reader and More (docs, sms, goog-411, news, photos, blogger and notebook). It’s basically all of the core Google services, accessible from a single easy to use menu. The new application has what is now considered a signature look for the iPhone. The look and feel of many of the interface elements are similar to those created by Joe Hewitt, whose sample framework and code have been used in dozens of iPhone applications (see his Facebook product here). I don’t know if Google used any of his freely offered code, but it certainly has the look of one of his applications.

Accessing the site through other mobile devices continues to deliver the old Google Mobile interface.

More pictures of the interface are below, created with a simulator. Real but poor quality images are here.



Source taken from : here

Interesting ads in google ads

what can you see in this google ad.. do not worry.. it's just a image..


<< facebook ads marketing










<< yahoo ads marketing



So facebook and yahoo have both taken a step forward to advertise their advertising ad in google adwords. So what if google was to advertise in facebook and yahoo ads?
so basically they are all just doing free marketing? since the money they earn from one will just be used to advertise back. Circular advertising.. sounds rather cool

source : http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/28/straight-out-of-left-field-google-experimenting-with-digg-style-voting-on-search-results/

Google Experimenting With Digg Style Voting On Search Results

If you saw this one coming, give yourself a very large prize. Google is experimenting with Digg style voting features on search results that allow users to vote up or bury search results they see.

The program, part of Google Labs, works like this:

This experiment lets you influence your search experience by adding, moving, and removing search results. When you search for the same keywords again, you’ll continue to see those changes. If you later want to revert your changes, you can undo any modifications you’ve made.

At the moment the results of the program will only be stored per user and not applied to the general search index, so that sites buried (”I don’t like”) will not appear in future results for the user, where as sites voted up will stay up. Google Labs notes that “this is an experimental feature and may be available for only a few weeks,” still, who would have thought that Google would even experiment with Digg style social voting.

Screen shot below directly from the programs site:
http://www.google.com/experimental/a840e102.html



source: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/28/straight-out-of-left-field-google-
experimenting-with-digg-style-voting-on-search-results/