October 27th 2006
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Life, Misc.
The Windows Live empire just spat out it’s next idea - Windows Live Barcode. To be honest, when I first heard this I thought loads of things like a mobile shopping scanner (why did I think this?!) or assigning your Windows Live account to a barcode. Well, I was nearly there. Windows Live Barcode is a way of storing your personal and business information in the form of an image. The service takes the traditional idea of a barcode and turns it on its head by turning it into a square and managing it to hold more information. This then can be scanned by a device such as a phone or PDA and decoded to display the information. Personally, I think this is a great idea but I don’t think it will have the success that Skype did in the world of business. I can see many uses of this idea and you can use it now if you’ve got a Windows enabled phone and in-built camera - all you have to do is download the decoding software.
Quick Response Code
The barcode is called a ‘Quick Response Code’, a two-dimensional image that can store up to 450 characters of alphanumerical information - much more than a traditional barcode you see on the back of products you get at Tesco. 
It works by storing information both horizontally and vertically in the image. The example to the right is one I created to test the service and you can have a go as well at the site - but it’s Internet Explorer only at the moment.
What can it do?
There’s a short tour on the idea over at the site which is rather interesting and explains the concept nicely. It basically shows one use of the idea: that you can put your barcode on business cards and allow those who can and who want to, to add your information quickly and simply without having to manually input the information. This is a time saving idea.
Besides the implementations that the site shows, there are numerous other ways to use the service. The barcodes could be placed on websites, in e-mails, in text messages, on paperwork - on anything that requires your personal details to be there. If it’s on a computer screen, it can be captured odd the screen. If it’s on paper, it can be captured of that easily. It reminds me of my GCSE examinations that I took just a few months ago with which, most noticeably on the science papers, had our personal information printed on them along with a barcode. This is exactly the same thing - the Windows Live Barcode service can hold any information as long as it’s under 450 characters.
Foreseen Problems
There’s always some problems - especially with any Microsoft service - but there are some here that would mean the barcodes would basically be superfluous. To decode the information contained in the barcode, it needs to be captured by a camera within the phone or device. This created a problem. 
Although the cameras contained within these phones and PDAs are getting better and better every week, the user has to take a picture of the barcode - any movement or any focus issues can cause it to fail decoding and more time is spent scanning it again. Though, the actual barcode itself goes some way to try and avoid this by containing the 3 corner squares as a reference for the decoding software and so it should decode images that are just slightly blurred.
I don’t have a Windows Mobile powered phone, nor the software to try this service out in a real world test so I can’t comment on the usability of this service nor the practicality of it, but the idea is something I like and I think that many businesses will employ, even if just internally. One issue does remain though; will the service be free? I’m going to bet that there will be a charge somewhere, maybe for the software download. Even so, I think that the idea of a digital contact card could be a useful tool for business men and women on the go. Although this will be much more popular in places like America and Japan, it will spread. Give it a go, try it out and leave a comment on what you think. Will the idea go further than the suggestion box at Microsoft and what other uses can you think of?
October 25th 2006
Blogging, Internet, Misc., News, Technology
I couldn’t go without doing a post on Mozilla Firefox 2, could I now. Yesterday night, Mozilla released the much awaited next version of their ever popular web browser Firefox. The launch wasn’t as publicised or, it seemed, as important as the 1.0 launch but none the less it took place and made a lot of people happy. The launch of version 2 of the browser has meant the inclusion of some much needed features, a user interface refresh and both minor and major bug fixes (although one still hasn’t been fixed even though they say they have! The release of the new version has brought about World Firefox Day, Firefox Party, an improved add-ons site (that has a search that actually searches for what you tell it to) and even a commemorative t-shirt (which I have!), but is all the hype that surrounded this version worth it? Make up your own mind at the end of this post, if you will. So, when is version 3 out anyway…
New Features
Firefox 2 introduces some new features like automatic in-built spell checking, a new default theme and phishing protection. All these things were provided by third-party extensions in previous versions of Firefox but are now built in for ease of use. I’m particularly pleased that a spell checker has been implemented because it will mean less spelling mistakes in my posts! But, this also means that you can install different dictionaries so I can keep learning Spanish. The good thing about the spell checker is that it works with ‘interactive’ text areas such as TinyMCE and other - something it didn’t use to do.
The new default theme is… different from the previous ‘winstripe’ theme that Firefox had before (on Windows). Personally, I’m not a fan because the icons are a little dull for my liking and the go button is something also not to my taste. But, apparently it’s had a very warm reception anyway. The theme introduces an update on the way Firefox handles tabs as well. 
Tabs now have their own individual close buttons and they’re styled differently and I do have to say it looks pretty nice the way the tabs are styled. At the right end of the tabs bar there’s also a drop-down list of open tabs so selecting one if you’ve a few tabs open is now easier than going through all of them via trial and error.
With the new release, Mozilla have put a lot of emphasis on security by introducing a phishing filter. In previous versions of Firefox this was also provided by a third-party extension such as the Google Toolbar but is now provided by both Mozilla and Google, in-built into Firefox. This is handy and puts the browser in good running with the less experienced web users as well as internet regulars such as myself, ahem :). As usual, if you use Google as your phishing filter, every website you visit is sent to them and this may deter some users from using the service (as was discussed in a previous post on Google).
Another feature that’s been introduced, following in the footsteps of Opera is session restoration. Firefox can now restore tabs you’ve lost or if you close the browser accidentally, you can open it again with the sites you were viewing before it closed. This is a very nifty feature for those who underestimate the might of their mouse!
Enhancements
There has been a lot of enhancements applied to Firefox 2. These include thousands of bug fixes and security upgrades. Firefox is one of the, if not the, most safest free web browser available on the internet thanks to thousands of security experts. The enhancements that have been made include upgraded security, more customisation options and improved feed viewing as well as the others I’ve mentioned above.
Firefox 2, as I’ve mentioned, introduces a phishing filter to help stop identity theft as well as a number of bug fixes but it also introduces a better add-on (themes and extensions) manager as well as a search engine manager and a new options interface. They’re all designed to make things easier, simpler and more aesthetically pleasing but at the same time providing more options for the user. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of available extensions and themes available for everyone to utilise - only Firefox offers that amount of customisation. The new options interface features some new icons as well as the new options for handling web feeds and the new security options. It’s all presented neatly and is actually very inviting. There are loads of options you can edit to your liking and they’re all sub-divided as well; how handy.
The Firefox Following
Firefox has a huge following of almost every type of user you can think of. In just over two years, Firefox has jumped into the mainstream limelight and was pushed into a market that was begging for an alternative to Internet Explorer and Safari. Almost everyone I know uses Firefox and if they don’t, they don’t use Internet Explorer. 
It’s a testament to the Mozilla folks and everyone who’s contributed to Firefox that the word is now out. Rocket Boom did a piece a while back where they went out into the city and asked random people whether they used Internet Explorer or Firefox. The results were surprising to many - the word of Mozilla Firefox had spread further than many had thought. Look how far it’s come.
Mozilla Firefox is gaining more and more of the market share every month and Microsoft is losing share every month. Community sites like SpreadFirefox are a hub of communication for suggestions, news and experiences between users and it’s free, open and inviting. Mozilla has expanded into Europe and Japan and is selling merchandise to help fund their venture - something worth while in my opinion. For some reason Mozilla fuels it’s community, it empowers them to make their products better. You can put names and faces to the people of Mozilla like Aza Dotzler and Ben Goodger unlike some other browsers which makes it a more personal affair.
The Best Thing
I carried out a small and simple survey over MSN Windows Live Messenger while writing this and asked people what’s the one best thing about Firefox in your opinion?. These were the top 5 answers I received with the top answer being the most popular:
- Tabbed browsing
- Easy to use
- New security features
- Session restore feature
- Customisation options
So, Firefox 2. In the words of Cow, is Firefox fixing the wheel or is it just reinventing it? Try it out for your self, download it now and give it a whirl. Check out the add-on site also to extend Firefox’s capabilities.
October 18th 2006
Internet, Life, Misc., Technology
A web browser is one of the most important pieces of software on any computer today. The web browser now plays an integral part of the life of any computer and is, in my experience, one of the most used pieces of software used on my computer. The ‘market’ has been flooded with browsers in the last couple of years with forks of Mozilla Firefox appearing here, there and everywhere. Mozilla Firefox has undergone immense changes, Opera has become free and is available for mobile devices and is spreading into other devices such as the Nintendo DS and the Wii. While all this has gone on, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has been building up until the official release of Internet Explorer 7 sometime this week or next week. So, with those three main contenders, is there room for the likes of Flock or Netscape?
Getting It Known
I bet that those who are reading this, when you saw the image above, automatically knew what each logo was and which browser it was connected to. This shows how much each of these 3 major browsers have come. I was introduced to Mozilla Firefox by a friend but I can’t remember when and I’ve asked several other people if they could remember when they switched to their current browser of choice and they can’t remember either. The fact is though that all the people I talked to had used or knew about all three browsers - Opera, Firefox and Internet Explorer. The difference is why each browser is known. Internet Explorer is obviously packaged with all Windows operating systems and so is known to all Windows users. But Opera and Mozilla Firefox are a different breed. Their popularity is due to their communities and the amount of freedom they provide the user. Both of them rely on user contribution and the user’s creativity to fuel them. Although Opera not so much, they each use these factors to their advantage.
A Photo Finish?
Before the end of 2006, both Internet Explorer 7 and Mozilla Firefox 2 are to be released - a major milestone for both browsers. But, I pose the question whether both these browsers are losing steam. Microsoft took the route of offering public betas and release candidates of this version of Internet Explorer which generated a lot of attention but Mozilla hasn’t really been in the spotlight. Sure, they let users’ names appear in the credits of version 2 but it’s not even close to what happened with the release of Mozilla Firefox 1. That was an amazing release. If you can remember back to the 9th November 2004, Mozilla held a live webcast and IRC chat for the release - I even got my question asked and answered! That was amazing. I would have thought that version 2 would be an even bigger event. Things seem to suggest it won’t be. But, as always, that’s not to say that it doesn’t have a decent backing. Internet Explorer 7 has caught up with the other major browsers in some respects, but it will always lag behind due to less than regular releases.
Hey Presto! Meet Gecko and Trident
Mozilla has already been developing Firefox 3 and has been planning version 4 but there’s a (not-so) new kid on the block. Opera has been around for a bloody long time - since 1996 but it wasn’t free. This all changed on 20th September 2005 when the Opera browser became totally free; taking a page out of most other browsers’ books. I think this propelled Opera into something they could of never reached by selling their browser. They gave it a new look (with the weird people, I think you all remember) and introduced new features that probably the common user wouldn’t use. On the underground, Opera is known as one of the first browsers to support up and coming web standards and features that other browsers don’t implement for months in official releases - also increasing their popularity within the developer community. This may be well and good but if they’re up and coming features, they won’t be in general use over the web and so the common user most likely isn’t going to bump into them. I’m going off on a tangent here. Cue another paragraph.
The Choice is Yours
You’ve got an exceptional choice when choosing an internet browser. You want something that works and is on Windows already? Internet Explorer is there. You want something that is customisable, safer, fast and expandable? Mozilla Firefox is your man. Want something that is feature-packed (bloated?), available on your mobile, strictly standards based and actually very fast? I must reluctantly advertise Opera, then. If you want to be different then you have a choice of the ‘rebel’ browsers such as the socially-orientated Mozilla Firefox fork, Flock. You could even go for the bruised reincarnation of Netscape - if you needed to.
As I’m a Windows user (buy me a Mac, I may be persuaded to defect) I’ve only highlighted browsers here that are available for Windows. Firefox and Opera are both available on quite a few other operating systems so I’m not leaving you out. Mac users also have Safari and Camino to look at. The browser market is flooded and the choice for consumers is bigger than ever. More and more browsers are becoming free and gaining a large community behind them, adopting the Mozilla philosophy and fueling their own success.
My Final Thoughts
As I’ve said, I’ve been an avid Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox fan since Khlo introduced me to the browser in February 2004; Firefox 0.8. Blimey, it’s only been just over 2 years. I feel like I’ve been using for more than that. I suppose that with the pace of development and all the releases it would feel longer. I like Mozilla Firefox because it is an image of simplicity yet allows a user to make it personal and enables everyone to extend it through extensions/add-ons and themes. But, my faith has been wavering lately. I’ve been using the release candidates of version 2 since RC1 and I’ve not been impressed. The new default theme and toolbar layout is something that I feel should not have happened. Yes, this is changable via themes but the default theme should be something a user should like because he or she will see and use it atleast once. Plus, I feel that Firefox is lagging behind other browsers like Flock and Opera - tests on Opera’s rendering engine (’Presto’) and JavaScript support have left Firefox and Internet Explorer eating Opera’s dust. But, don’t worry, I’m sticking with Mozilla Firefox for the meanwhile because Opera is just a bloated monster filled with helium. Well, a browser is like a religion I suppose. What are your comments and experience on the browsers I’ve been discussing? Comment.
October 6th 2006
Blogging, Internet, Life, Misc.
It’s been a long time since Google was just a search engine. Today, Google is pretty much into everything and the name is known globally. We’ve all most probably either been on the Google website or installed a piece of Google software - whatever operating system you work on. Today, while I was in one of my many thought provoking moments, I realised that Google plays an integral part of my life on the computer. Is Google taking over our e-lives?
Calculator
This post has stemmed from my thoughts on how a simple program that comes with most, maybe all operating systems - the calculator. Windows provides all users with both a standard and scientific calculator to work with. Yet, when I want to calculate something, I open Firefox (if it’s not already open) and enter my calculation into Google. I prefer to write the calculation into Google’s search box rather than into the Windows Calculator interface. This simple act lead me on to think about other ways I employ Google in my everyday life.
You’ve Got Mail Google
Nearly everyone who’s keen on internet technology has a Google Mail account and uses it quite regularly. I use Google Mail as my secondary e-mail account although I use it more because it’s the e-mail I use for my alias around the web. I also use my e-mail address provided by my ISP via Mozilla Thunderbird but that is used only occasionaly for formal communication and to check my parents’ e-mail. Also, as a Mozilla Firefox user, I use the unofficial Gmail Notifier extension to notify me of new mail. Google Mail is now not only a website I visit, but it has a presence on every page I visit in my browser.
One Stop Shop
Google is really the one stop shop for everything anyone needs. Google has created tools for the common internet user, webmasters, corporations, small businesses and everyone else; even tools that no one will probably ever use but looks good. Google Earth, Google Mail, Google Blog Search, Google Code Search, Google Reader, Google Analytics, Google Picasa, Google Talk, Google Writely, Google Trends, Google Calendar, Google Adsence, Google Spreadsheet, Google Video and the list goes on and on…
Google is pretty much the jack of all trades and usually the master of all of them. They’ve taken a presence on many businesses’ websites websites under the ‘Finding Us’ header and they have really been the dominant provider of search results over past years. Google recently took a move into schools by getting British school children to design a Google logo in the theme of Britain for a competition - you don’t have to use a computer to see Google anymore. More often than not, especially on the news, you’ll see a faint Google logo in the bottom right of your screen as they use graphics generated from Google Earth to show you things from around the world. Google is on your TV. In America, Google is trying out radio adverts. Google is everywhere.
Google & You
If you use any Google service, you’ve most likely got a Google Account. I know for me, Google has collected a lot of information about me, and as long as it doesn’t do an AOL, I’m pretty fine with that. I seem to trust Google with my data. Whatever you search, any e-mail you send or recieve and any images you look at; Google know. Any Google service you use, Google collects data. What it does with it, I’ve no idea but it must be useful to them in some way. Google is much like Microsoft. Just go with me here for the moment. I mean in terms of Microsoft’s Passport idea. The Google Account is fast becoming a universal login. But, as more services either use the Google Account for logins, or are bought by Google (is YouTube about to become the next family member?), will you still trust Google to gather your data from all the services you use or is Google becoming ‘evil’ at this point? It may be handy to have one account for all the services you use, but is it practical? What happens if someone guesses your password? What happens if all your data is lost? All your services lost.
Google is slowly moving into a bigger chunk of our lives - even our language - but is there a point where Google should stop? A point where Google is going too far? Is Google becoming evil? What do you think and what are your experiences?
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