Firefox 3.5 Already Available

Just as predicted Firefox 3.5  is out:

• Firefox 3.5 (windows)
• Firefox 3.5 (linux)
  
  
• Other versions (languages/operationg systems)
  

With lots of new stuff for web developers and users alike.


Once you've installed it, check Firefox 3.5 realtime download stats, using HTML5' new features (in this case, the canvas element).
Zoom and drag the world map... and don't forget: there's no Flash in the page.:)

HTC TouchFLO v2.5

Better late than never! This new TouchFlo 3D for Windows Mobile created by HTC certainly looks great.

For the first time, this "flashy" interface goes deep under the hood, replacing even those "awkward" settings screens that ruined the feeling everytime you had to access it, showing you were still using a regular "Windows Mobile."
With this new TouchFlo, we can kiss those goodbye.

You'll be able to find this new improved TouchFLO 3D in the upcoming HTC Firestone, making it a prime candidate for all you Windows Mobile lovers out there.
(Hopefully, HTC will also release it as an update to its previous devices.)

iPhone 3GS gets Hot... Really HOT

It seems Apple's new iPhone model isn't quite bug-proof as you'd expect.

The iPhone 3Gs can be quite a hot comodity... to the point you can't even confortably handle it, and "toasting" its plastic enclosure.

Unless this is a problem affecting just some defective models, it's most likely caused by a charging/power saving bug in its firmware.

Even my 3G model once got really hot while charging - and though it just happened once, I believe it was something that was fixed in later firmware updates.

So, I expect Apple swiftly readies a OS 3.0.1 update to correct these (and other) flaws as soon as possible, people are tired of paying for "top" hardware and being treated as beta testers.

Or else, don't be surprised if people start using extreme cooling techniques, like... dropping your iPhone in a swimming pool.

OCZ Sabre OLED Gaming Keyboard

OCZ promissed to launch a "low cost" OLED keyboard for the masses... and they seem to have done it.

Of course, we still have to wait until we see this OCZ Sabre OLED Gaming Keyboard retail price, but we're hoping it will be a nice surprise.

To keep the costs acceptable, you only get 9 programmable OLED function keys, and in monochrome color - the extra touch is done by some blue led lighting on each side of the keyboard.

... Look at it this way: in a couple of years we'll be laughing about these "monochrome" OLED keyboards, everyone having full-color OLED displays in every key of our affordable keyboards. (I wish! :)

Natives in Town - Reverse Exploration

We live in a technological advanced world, where most of the surface of our planet has been probed and explored. However, I'm sure some of you have at least thought of going on an expedition to a remote tropical place, to see how some of those hard-to-reach tribes keep on living their lives and their old traditions in the 21st century.

But... what if we did the opposite?
What if we invited two natives - two papuan in this case - and brought them to experience our lives, our cities, our technology?

The result: The Reverse Exploration.

For eight monthseses, two papuans tribesmen - Polobi and Mondeya - were invited to visit France by photographer Marc Dozier.

An eye-opening experience that makes us rethink the way our society lives.

Secret of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal

Michael Jackson may no longer be among us, but he leaves behind lots of special moments that millions around the world will never forget.

For instance, do you remember those special gravity-defying moves in Smooth Criminal?



Want to know what it was done? There were no digital effects involved... It was a lot simpler and purely mechanical:

That's right, just some special shoes that dancers would skilfully attach to some pegs that were raised from the dance floor. From then one, they could lean as much as they want (though you'd still need to be in pretty good shape to stand that way. :)

Firefox 3.5 arrives on June 30

Get ready, it's nearly here: Firefox 3.5 the version that will mark the transition from the old pre-HTML5 web to a newer and more exciting internet.

Besides the mouch touted video tags, that allow us (at last) to embed a video in a web page without requiring 3rd party plugins, and local DB offline storage, there are a lot of new stuff under the hood - things you can find in the 35 days of Firefox 3.5 where you'll see examples of previously "impossible" things you couldn't do on the web.

Of course, much of it relies on the new and much improved Javascript performance. It even allows you to implement seamcarving resizing in realtime (just as an example, but... would you even consider it doing it in javascript until now?)

Or maybe you're more of a video kind of guy; how about using javascript to create a realtime pop-art video version of another video?

I've been using Firefox 3.5 RC2 for some time now, and have no big issued to point out. So, this will certainly be a  required update if you'd like to keep up with the improving web standards.

Samsung Jet

If you're tired of reading about the iPhone, how about a break from it with this Samsung Jet?

With a gorgeous looking 3.1" OLED screen that blows the competition out of the water, a speedy 800Mhz CPU, a 5Mp camera, integrated browser and Divx video support, this certainly looks good. Unfortunately, it runs its proprietary TouchWiz 2.0 OS - why can't we have it with Android instead? It would be a lot more appealing that way.

Even so, Samsung says it already has over 2 million pre-orders for this model that will cost around £350 in the UK.

iPhone OS 3.0 Problems and Suggestions

Altought the new iPhone OS 3.0 update has brought us lots of new featuresentenas and improvements, the truth is: there's still a lot to be done.


For instance, while we can now delete a single SMS/MMS in a thread (before you could only delete all the message from a single contact) the process isn't quite as straightforward as you'd expect from Apple.
First you have to select "Edit" and then choose the message(s) you want to delete, or presse the "clear all" button to delete it all.
At least they could implement a swipe to delete like in the email section, to prevent the edit-select-confirm steps.


Also, the App update information still doesn't show how big it is. I'd like to know if I'm about to download a 100Kb or 10MB update, to choose if I'll do it over 3G or wait until I get to a WiFi hotspot.


It's also a bit annoying not to know if you're trying to download a previously downloaded app *before* you "buy" it again. With thousands of similar apps, it's quite risky to press the buy button thinking you're doing it for a previously bought app, only to find you're just bought a different one that doesn't quite suit you.
How about that message showing up *before* you risk spending more money?



There are also some API flaws (I suspect) that should be addressed. Don't you find it annoying when you click to share or email a friend inside an App and get thrown out to the email app? Why can't a 3rd party app just use the email function *without* exiting? Having to go back to the previous app and finding exactly where you were... It's really so un-apple-like!



And last but not least, some simple suggestions that I'd expect Apple to have done by now.
For a company that spent time animating the "Airplane mode" toggle with a small airplane zooming by, I can't understand why they haven't done any of these:

The calendar App shows the current day, right? Why can't they do the same with some other Apps?

For instance, the  Weather App could easily show the current weather status for the last displayed city. It could allow us to configure it to automatically update every "X" hour, or even via silent "push notifications". I'd prefer to see the current weather conditions instead of the always sunny state.

Talking about the Calendar App, why does the iPhone allow us to enter birthday data to our contacts, but then fails to notify us of any upcoming anniversary? I've been using FastContacts and Google Calendar for that, but it would be nice if Apple did it in the iPhone.

Also still on the calendar, why can't we set an event reminder to be sooner than just 2 days? Why can't I set a reminder 1 week or 1 month before an event? Unexplainable!


And last, also a tiny detail - the kind you'd expect Apple to take pride in doing right - the Clock App. Why can't it display the proper time instead of the static 10:15 time?
It's not as if it would drain you battery dry or use precious CPU time. They'd only have to ensure it was up to date once they were about to display it; and if you were on the menu screen (hardly needing CPU) it would just update it again once every minute. No big deal, no wasting CPU cycles if you're inside a CPU hungre 3D game.

Susbscribe New Posts by Email

Just to remiond you that, although I recommend subscribing to new articles on this blog via RSS feed, you can also subscribe new posts via email.

Just head on to feedburner's RSS feed page and click on the the get Internet Best Secrets delivered by email link.

That way you can be sure not to miss a new post and can read it from the comfort of your own email inbox. :)

(And of course, you're free to unsubscribe from it at any time.)

Navigon Turn-by-Turn Navigation for iPhone

TomTom may have shown their GPS navigation app at Apple's presentation, but Navigon beat them to the App Store.

The highly antecipated high quality turn-by-turn GPS navigation software is finally arriving to the App Store in full, and this Navigon is one of the first you should really consider.



However, keep in mind that I still think this isn't such a great deal: this app costs 75 Euros. For just a bit more you could buy a dedicated GPS navigation unit!
And keep in mind that if you receive or make a phone call (not that unusual on a phone) you'll stop receiving instructions on where you should turn...

What's new in Firefox 3.5?

With Firefox 3.5 RC (release candidate) already available and indicating the final version is nearly here, it's a good time to check what new tricks this new Firefox browser has learned:



Short list:

• Even faster browsing
• Private browsing mode
• Re-opening closed tabs and windows
• HTML audio and video support - goodbye 3rd party plugins/flash for that
  
• Geolocation services
• and much more...

I'm sure this Firefox 3.5 will be a major milestone in our path to a better web.

Samsung OLED e-Passport

You might recall seeing something similar in Sci-Fi movies, but Samsung is making it possible.

Just watch this amazing Passport with integrated OLED display, that shows a video when placed near a wireless reader.



The 2" QVGA OLED display uses so little power that is powered by the RF energy of the reader.

Amazing!

via [OLED-Info]

Panasonic unveils 85" Plasma

While most of us have to come to terms that those 103" and 150" plasmas aren't really suited for most people - unless you happen to be Cristiano Ronaldo - how about a more modest model... like a 85" Plasma?

Even so, Panasonic has able to keep the entire package to a mere 99mm thick in this 85" Plasma, and it weighs just 130Kg (30% less than its bigger 103" brother).
It should be available by the end of the year... right in time for the next Christmas season. Start saving! :)

Changing iPhone Operator Logo

Are you tired of having some plain text operator indicator in your iPhone display?
How about replacing it for something more hi-tech and stylish?
How to replace the operator text for a nicer logo?

That's what I'm about to explain to you...

For instance, in my case, my iPhone showed Vodafone Portugal indicator "VF P" which now became a much nicer Vodafone symbol:

Top: the new improved Vodafone logo
Bottom: the old "VF P" text

Although it requires some messing around with files, you don't have to jailbreak your iPhone, nor hack it any complex way - we'll be using the official ipcc file (iphone carrier configuration files) and just replace the default images the iPhone displays.

For that, you first need to get your carrier/phone operator .ipcc file. (You can use this method, to get it from apple itself - just be sure you get the correct file for your carrier/country; and doule check you choose the latest version.)

As always, the first step is to make a full backup before messing with anything else. Although this is a straightforward low-risk procedure, you never know what might go wrong.
Which reminds me....
[Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for anything going wrong and ruining your iPhone!]

Once you get the .ipcc file for your carrier:

1. Change the .ipcc file extension to .zip;
2. Unpack the file to a working folder;
3. Inside the payload folder you'll find your carrier folder (something like: Payload/Vodafone_pt.bundle) and you just need to replace those two png image files for some new ones (keeping their original names).
   For instance, for Vodafone and Optimus (you could use these):
   
   
4. Then you just need to pack everything into a new .ipcc file
   
5. And then you can send the altered ipcc to your iPhones using iTunes, by pressing the ALT key while choosing restore. It will ask you for a file location; choose the one you've just crated and it's done!

Update: If iTunes doesn't let you select the .ipcc file, on a Mac you'll have to do this:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE

... or, in Windows:

“%CommonProgramFiles%\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\defaults.exe write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE”


This is how you change your carrier logo in the iPhone without jailbreaking.

The end result:

P.S: Of course, nothing stops you from choosing any other custom made image to show off your iPhone - just customize it as you please. You can have your iPhone displaying your loved ones, favorite team, or any other thing in there.

Ame's Window and Color Perception [optical illusions]

Just watch it.

I present you Ame's Window (by Adelbert Ames) - a rotating window that misteriously seems to invert its rotation and have a tube cross it in impossible ways. o_O




But now that I'm talking about optical illusions, how about one regarding color perceptions (the kind that never ceases to amaze me.)
Look at the following cube:

What if I told you that the center square in the top face (the brown square) is the exact same color of the center square in the face stading in the shadow (the "orange" square)?

Indeed it's true... check it anyway you want.
You can better play with it using this interactive version (it's the third test.)

iPhone 3G S - Is it really worth it?

I still haven't decided if the new iPhone 3G S is worth the upgrade cost...

Sure it is quite a bit faster, and the new auto-focus camera with video recording is a nice apetizer but... for anyone having an old iPhone 3G, the cost of replacing it with the new model is almost enough to buy a Palm Pre or an Andoid phone.

When I bought my 3G last year, I was fairly certain I would keep it for at least 2 years (or at least, I was hoping I would.) When the first rumours came, I wasn't that much impressed, and was still planning on keeping my trusty 3G; wich, with the new OS 3.0 is now better than it ever was - even if most of this stuff should have been done a long time ago.

Then the first side-by-side videos showed up.. and I was horrified!

I suddenly felt the urge I actually might have to consider upgrading my iPhone... The speed difference was just so... unbearable.

But I know how these things are... it happens with all the gadgets out there. There are a lot we want and crave for; but the question is... even if we can afford it, is it really worth it?

That why I'm still considering whether I should replace my trusty old 3G for the new 3GS.
(For which you can already found a few reviews here: http://bit.ly/gYPHg - even though its launch wasn't as crazy as the previous ones.)


Whenever I use my iPhone, I end up thinking: this is perfectly ok, it does the job I want it to do.
Sure it takes a few extra seconds... But is it enough for me to justify spending a few hundred dollars more to get the new model? Even more considering that next year the same will happen again; and again I'd have to consider spending some hundred dollars more upgrading it again.

I still don't know... and thankfully, the 3GS will only be available here within a few weeks - so that leaves me a lot of time to consider it carefully and think about it over and over again.

iPhone 3GS WAF

For many, the fact that the new iPhone 3GS is so much alike the old 3G model is something to be concerned about.

After all, when you upgrade your gadgets, you want it to be something different, something that will be instantly recognized as the latest/badest gadget in town.

However, if you already owned an iPhone 3G and you replace it for a 3GS, very few people (or most likely: none) will even notice you changed it...

But, I think this is quite a big bonus!

Although most people might spend their money as they wish without worrying about someone else, for other things can be slightly more complicated.... And buying a new gadget might require quite a deal of family discussion.

After spending hundreds of dolars just last year (and probably promissing not to do it again for at least a couple of years) your hopes to upgrade to the new 3GS model might seem... hopeless. Unless...

Well - I'm not saying you should do anything behind your partner's back - but... considering they look so much alike... Would he/she notice it if you happen to use your super-secret-hidden-emergengy-gadget-affordability-fund to get the new iPhone 3GS?

Don't blame me... this is just some WAF tactic you're free to consider...! :)

How to Force Quit an App in iPhone OS 3.0

In the previous iPhone OS versions (1,x and 2.x), you could force quit an App - whether because it was unresponsive or just because you wanted to clear up some extra RAM to run a memory intensive app - by simply holding downd the Home button for 5 or more seconds. The iPhone would pop back to the main menu screen, and the App would be completely gone from memory.

(This was handy to quit some always-running apps like Mail and Safari, that keep using precious RAM memory even when you're not using it.)

However, with the new OS 3.0 holding down the home button on the new iPhone 3GS now launches Voice Control, and does nothing on the iPhone 3G and 1st gen models.


So, how do you do Force Quit now?


Now, to Force Quit an app you hold down the sleep button until the the red “slide to power off” shows up. Then you must hold the Home button down (don't forget to let go of  the sleep button!) and - after a while, don't give up - you’ll be taken back to the Home Screen and the current process will have been terminated.

Hope that helps!

[via iPhoneBlog]

LOMO turns 25

Unkown to many, loved by others, the curious cheap plastic camera LOMO turns 25 today.

The popular Lomo Compact Automat (LC-A) began shipment from St. Petersburg-Leningrad Optical Mechanical Organization (LOMO) on June 19th, 25 years ago.

If you want to know a little more about the history behind lomography, be sure to read this Wired article.

iPhone OS 3.0 Tethering

One of the things that was missing after updating to iPhone OS 3.0 was tethering. No matter what how much I tried to find it, it just wasn't there.

Well, now you can use your iPhone to share your internet connection over USB or bluetooth; and you don't even have to jailbreak your iPhone. You just need to head to help.benm.at and select your country and phone operator.

For Portugal, we have all the operators in there: Optimus, TMN and Vodafone.

As always, be sure to make a backup before you mess with with these configurations - you're on your own if anything goes wrong.

iPhone 3GS vs iPhone 3G

After writing about the recent OS 3.0 update, it's time to talk about the new kid on the block: the new iPhone 3GS and how it compares to the iPhone 3G.

The first tests seem to indicate that the "s" in 3GS is indeed an S for Speed!

Just check the comparison video of the iPhone 3GS side by side with a 3G model - it is really depressing I must say.
But... it's the price of progress, and while the old iPhones are still quite capable machines (even more so with the OS 3.0 update) there's always room for improvement, and the extra speed certainly comes in handy as you can see in the video... It makes us wonder how the "old" iPhone seemed so much faster before we had the new 3GS to compare it with.

But, on for the other differences: the fingerprint-resistant surface treatment.

Though they both look smudged, the new iPhone 3GS never stops having an easily gliding surface - unlike the "sticky" feeling you sometimes get on the other iPhones. It also makes it a lot easier to clean by just rubbing it with any sorts of cloth.

As for the LCD itself, the new 3GS has a slightly warmer tone, just like the 3G had when compared to the 1st gen iPhone. It's easier on the eyes when at full brightness or in dark places.

As for the camera... at last you can finally take a close up shot thanks to its auto-focus and macro and say goodbye to the blurry images. Barcode scanning apps will finally be usable!

Truth be told, I wasn't thinking of replacing my iPhone 3G for at least another year; and I was hoping the new OS 3.0 kept me from doing it. But after watching the performance diference in the comparison video I couldn't help but start wondering which of my friend might be interested in getting my iPhone 3G for a nice price. :)

I guess I'll have to wait till we know the oficial prices for the 3GS here in Portugal... and start saving for it!

iPhone OS 3.0 Update

In case you've been living under a rock lately (but even then, if you have an iPhone, you still should know this anyway) I want to remind you should have the OS 3.0 update for your iPhone available in your iTunes by now.

Cut, Copy & Paste

Quickly and easily cut, copy, and paste text from application to application. Select entire blocks of web text with a tap. Copy and paste images from the web, too.

Landscape Keyboard

Want more room to type? Rotate iPhone to landscape to use a larger keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Safari.

MMS

Send MMS messages and include video, photos, audio, and contact info. Even tap to snap a picture or shoot a video right inside Messages.MMS support from AT&T coming in late summer.

Spotlight Search

Find what you’re looking for across your iPhone, all from one place. Spotlight searches all of your contacts, email, calendars, and notes, as well as everything in your iPod.

Voice Memos

Capture a memo, a meeting, or any audio recording on the go. Voice Memos works with the built-in iPhone microphone or with the mic on your headset.

Improved Calendar

Create meetings via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and subscribe to calendars with new CalDAV support.

Buy Movies, TV Shows, and Audiobooks

Download movies, TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store on your iPhone.

Enhanced Stocks App

Get more at-a-glance information and view charts in landscape.

Safari Improvements

Enjoy faster performance, autofill user names and passwords, and more.

Internet Tethering

Share your Internet connection with your laptop with Internet tethering via Bluetooth or USB. Tethering is not currently offered in the U.S. and some other countries. See your carrier for availability.

Stereo Bluetooth

Connect compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones, car kits, or other accessories.

Automatic Wi-Fi Login

Log in to a Wi-Fi hotspot and iPhone automatically logs you in when you connect again.

Sync Notes

Never leave a note behind. Now you can sync all the notes you write on your iPhone back to your Mac or PC.

Parental Controls

Decide what music, videos, and apps your kids can access.

iTunes Store Account

Create and log in to one or more iTunes Store accounts directly from your iPhone.

YouTube Login

Log in to your YouTube account to save and sync bookmarks and rate favorites.

Shake to Shuffle

Give iPhone a shake and it shuffles to a different song in your music library.

New Languages

iPhone supports 30 languages and more than 40 keyboard layouts.

MobileMe Find My iPhone and Remote Wipe

Find your iPhone if you lose it and protect your privacy with Remote Wipe.

Run the Latest Apps

Run the next generation of iPhone apps, like peer-to-peer games and more.

I'll write something about it as soon as I upgrade my iPhone.


[Update]

I've just finished updating my iPhone 3G and... it definitely feels quite a bit faster.
MMS showed up only after I rebooted the iPhone, and all the new and expected features are there - unfortunately the video and voice controls are still missing (and only oficially available for the new 3GS.)
The camera app is also faster and more "instantaneous" to take photos (and low light sensitivity seems to be slightly improved - I forgot to take a reference photo to make a "before/after" comparison.)
Nonetheless this update certainly makes the iPhone feel better than it ever was and is highly recommended.

Just as a side note: bedore you update your iPhone, be sure to leave an empty app "space" in the first screen for the new voice memo app. I haven't, and I ended up with one App overflowing to the second screen (which was full) and pushing all previous apps one extra screen to the right.


And for a full rundown of the new features, be sure to check this post at theIphoneBlog which covers most of it in an excellent way.