Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Posted on August 27, 2008 - by Jason

Ubiquity Prototype Released by Mozilla Labs

Has our ability to easily work with all of the data and APIs available on the web been handicapped?

I’ve been thinking there must be a better way for non-technical users to work with Google Maps, flickr, search, and Wikipedia - and a better way for us all to post to Twitter among other things. Mozilla Labs may have provided the answer with Ubiquity.

Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.

As a preface to the installation instructions:  I initially posted began posting instructions because it appeared that installation on Mac OSX would be a little complicated.  However, installing Ubiquity turns out to be really easy on either Mac or Ubuntu.

Installation on Mac OSX 10.5:

(10.5.4 tested, but should work on all versions)

Just visit the Ubiquity Introduction Post at the Mozilla Labs Blog and click the link to Install the Prototype.  (Or, just click here.)

Installation on Ubuntu 8.04:

(This should work on all versions of Linux running FireFox 3)

Same as Mac OSX, just visit Ubiquity Introduction Post at the Mozilla Labs Blog and click the link to Install the Prototype.  (Or, here.)

Got it installed?  Now, you could visit the tutorial if you want, or you could head over here and get more verbs.

I have just started using Ubiquity this morning, and while I am a big fan of the Webkit and Safari, I could easily see Ubiquity taking me back to becoming a consistent FireFox user.

What do you think?

Posted on July 31, 2008 - by Jason

VMWare Fusion 2 Beta 2 Released

VMWare Fusion 2 Beta 2 includes Unity 2.0, mirroring of Mac folders, virtual machine snapshots, video improvements, and better memory management. I regularly run Windows XP and Ubuntu 8.04 using VMWare, and it really is quite impressive already. I’ll be testing out the beta today.

Posted on July 29, 2008 - by Jason

Cuil. Better Search Results Format?

I regularly check the Google Operating System Blog looking for what is new with Google, new Google products and projects, and interesting new technology.  Considering how much traffic the blog gets, I find it very interesting that they regularly talk about new and upcoming services that are similar or in competition with Google’s own services.

Today, is one such instance.  I hadn’t heard of Cuil before, but thanks this blog post, I imagine Cuil’s traffic has spiked.

The post is not entirely favorable, and not entirely negative either.  In fact, just performing one search on Cuil will likely lead you to very similar conclusions.

However, I quite like the look of Cuil and the display of results.  While you are not bombarded with as many urls as with a Google search per page, the layout is arguably much easier to read and much more useful when deciding which link to follow.

Give it a try yourself.

Posted on July 28, 2008 - by Jason

Virgin Galactic EVE revealed.

I’m waiting for the price to come down just a bit before I get my astronaut’s wings.

More Pictures and Source at PSFK.

Posted on July 14, 2008 - by Jason

Are you part of the iPhone economy?

With over 1 million iPhones sold in a weekend, and over 10 million apps downloaded, Apple has made history once again - and created a new business in iPhone application development in just a few days.

If anyone was not taking the platform seriously previously, take notice now.

Posted on June 18, 2008 - by Jason

Firefox 3 Hacking

So, we’ve all went out and downloaded the new version of Firefox 3, right?

Lifehacker has lined up a very nice list of hacks they label the Power User’s Guide to Firefox 3.

My favorite?  Making Firefox open mailto links with gmail.

Posted on June 9, 2008 - by Jason

As predicted everywhere, the iPhone 3G.

Well, I might have run out of excuses not to get one now.  (oh yeah, the Sprint $175 early contract termination fee x 3 lines might still hold me up!)

As predicted, the iPhone 3G is, well, 3G capable.  Also, it’s GPS capable (nice video @ Apple), Exchange capable, and there is a new App Store.

Best part?  It’s only $199.

Posted on June 7, 2008 - by Jason

iPhone 3G

CrunchGear looks like they have some pretty reliable info.  New colors, smaller form factor, iChat for video calling - if it’s accurate, Palm and RIM (and Samsung, LG, Motorola, etc…) will spend the next year trying to catch up again…

Posted on June 7, 2008 - by Jason

Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality?  As defined by Internet creator Tim Berners Lee:

If I pay to connect to the Net with a certain quality of service, and you pay to connect with that or greater quality of service, then we can communicate at that level.

Why have many of us found the Internet to be a better media than TV or radio? Because the Internet is a two way street: we interact with each other, the content is open and essentially limitless, we control the ideas and information that is shared with the world. The internet is yours. Keep it that way.

Wikipedia Article on Net Neutrality

Vint Cerf, co-inventor of the Internet Protocol:

The Internet was designed with no gatekeepers over new content or services. A lightweight but enforceable neutrality rule is needed to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive.

Posted on June 6, 2008 - by Jason

International Energy Agency wants “Energy Revolution”

The picture in the New York Times Article tells a lot.  If they wait on gas to put in scooters, what type of trouble is the United States headed for when our general means of transport is larger vehicles?

This has been said a million times and is an argument worn out by the media - but do we really need a F150 or Silverado to get the groceries?