Google has surprised more than one, me included, releasing today its own browser Chrome. This may well be the beginning of a dramatic change of the web as we know it and nobody noticed it until the tsunami hit the web.
From what I could see in the comics style introduction of the browser's motivations and features, it seams that Google has decided to turn the browsers game inside out. They have broken almost any written rule about how to build a browser, yet it seams they were able to come with very usable and stunningly fast browser.
It is good to see that someone in the open source community finally remembers what innovation is all about and doesn't just aspire to catch someone else.
And God knows we needed such revolution badly because, let's face it, Firefox lost its mojo long ago and started to fade as a innovative browser.
If current trends continue, they will beat Firefox 2.0 launch success, even when it is currently only available for Windows (annoying, isn't it?). I just can't wait until the Linux version kicks out the door.
Wednesday 3 September 2008
Wednesday 6 August 2008
Shaping the future
3d printing is the technology to create 3d objects by depositing droplets of plastic layer by layer, much like a conventional ink injection printer prints a picture. Such kind of printers or fabs have been used in the industry to create prototypes of new designs.
Some time ago, the Fab@home project started to offer an open source specification of a 3d printer, which according to the project's web page, will democratize innovation allowing anyone to create and manufacture his own designs. However, the target price was still well on the thousands dollars, making this technology affordable for small shops or independent professionals, but hardly for casual users.
Now, Shapeways, a spinout of Phillips is offering the service to allow user to "submit digital designs of products that are then printed, using 3-D printers, and shipped back", "delivering the tangible object within 10 days of ordering, with prices typically between $50 and $150". This service really opens the word of 3d printing to anyone.
I can image action figure hobbyist making they own character designs and getting them printed as real objects, which then could be painted at home. Also, it will open a new opportunity for skilled designers to sell their designs of home accessories which users can print at home.
In the long term, this new technology will lead to the ultimate customization of products. For example, by allowing each one to create its own mobile phone covers: I will finally get my start trek themed phone!
And you, what will you print?
Some time ago, the Fab@home project started to offer an open source specification of a 3d printer, which according to the project's web page, will democratize innovation allowing anyone to create and manufacture his own designs. However, the target price was still well on the thousands dollars, making this technology affordable for small shops or independent professionals, but hardly for casual users.
Now, Shapeways, a spinout of Phillips is offering the service to allow user to "submit digital designs of products that are then printed, using 3-D printers, and shipped back", "delivering the tangible object within 10 days of ordering, with prices typically between $50 and $150". This service really opens the word of 3d printing to anyone.
I can image action figure hobbyist making they own character designs and getting them printed as real objects, which then could be painted at home. Also, it will open a new opportunity for skilled designers to sell their designs of home accessories which users can print at home.
In the long term, this new technology will lead to the ultimate customization of products. For example, by allowing each one to create its own mobile phone covers: I will finally get my start trek themed phone!
And you, what will you print?
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Social voyeurism
The importance of social networks in shaping the future of Internet was recognized by the Times magazine when declared it the "person of the year" in 2006.
Until now, I've been reluctant to "join the crowd" and found such sites a little bit childish and definitely a source of "ambient noise" and information saturation.
However, the idea of meeting people I have lost the contact with many year ago finally seduced me and I decided to join Facebook. Since then, I have contacted people who I haven't know about for 25+ years! it is just amazing.
However, what have captivated me is another feature: the status update. I found just fascinating to follow my friend's emotional states and small day to day events by means of this short messages.
This interest lead me to another social network site, Twitter, which allows sending small status updates (tweets) and follow other people's status. I also integrated it with facebook, such that my last tweet becomes my facebook's status.
Next step is to integrate twitter with my chat application to send a tweet without entering twitter's web page, as I find the need to open the browser and login into a site a big barrier for a fluid social experience.
Until now, I've been reluctant to "join the crowd" and found such sites a little bit childish and definitely a source of "ambient noise" and information saturation.
However, the idea of meeting people I have lost the contact with many year ago finally seduced me and I decided to join Facebook. Since then, I have contacted people who I haven't know about for 25+ years! it is just amazing.
However, what have captivated me is another feature: the status update. I found just fascinating to follow my friend's emotional states and small day to day events by means of this short messages.
This interest lead me to another social network site, Twitter, which allows sending small status updates (tweets) and follow other people's status. I also integrated it with facebook, such that my last tweet becomes my facebook's status.
Next step is to integrate twitter with my chat application to send a tweet without entering twitter's web page, as I find the need to open the browser and login into a site a big barrier for a fluid social experience.
Thursday 12 June 2008
Poor man's Itelligence Amplification
The concept of Intelligence Amplification (AI) has been receiving some media attention lately thanks to the growing hype of the Technological Singularity .
The main idea is to enhance human intelligence by tight coupling with computer devices for augmented memory, enhanced senses, computer-brain interfaces, direct connection with ambient sensors and with the internet for immediate information access.
However, while we wait all this technological wonders to come a reality (or in some cases, to be widely available), I've found that some pretty simple tools can be used to boost our day-to-day productivity some orders of magnitude just by helping us to keep track of all the information we generate and consume. Actually, the key concept is to allows us to generate even more information (mostly in the form of short notes) and the allows us to access it in a smart way.
Here is a short list of tools I've just started to use:
The main idea is to enhance human intelligence by tight coupling with computer devices for augmented memory, enhanced senses, computer-brain interfaces, direct connection with ambient sensors and with the internet for immediate information access.
However, while we wait all this technological wonders to come a reality (or in some cases, to be widely available), I've found that some pretty simple tools can be used to boost our day-to-day productivity some orders of magnitude just by helping us to keep track of all the information we generate and consume. Actually, the key concept is to allows us to generate even more information (mostly in the form of short notes) and the allows us to access it in a smart way.
Here is a short list of tools I've just started to use:
- Tomboy: a note taking desktop application. Allows to create notes and put links to web pages, emails and other information sources and to other notes. It can be then used to annotate information. Has some interesting plugins to export notes to diverse formals and also to show links among notes.
- View Your Mind: is a tool for creating mind maps. Interestingly, there is Tomboy pluging to export notes to VYM.
- Gnome-do: is an intelligent application launcher that use search technologies to find items like files and applications and allows you to execute actions on them (e.g. open, run). Also comes with many plugins for common applications like music players, google applications and this one to interact with Tomboy.
Saturday 19 January 2008
When less is more and simple is beautiful
Recently, there has been a great shift towards cheap subnotebook portables like Asus' eeePC, Everex's CloudBook and E-lead's NoahPad. These portables, which might result under powered and far from the "state or the art", have been received with enthusiasm by potential tech savvy customers and have even made its way into the general audience (to the extend that general media have started to cover them)
I personally found these cheap portables, targeted to a specific function, more attractive that those over priced "high end" portables which are neither a good desktop replacement, not portable enough. Actually, I'm just waiting impatiently to put my hands on a NoahPad.
One interesting conclusion from the general reaction is the discovery of a new category of users, for whom a simple, affordable and ultra portable device to surf the web is a real gain. But these devices are also appealing for the millions of home uses that only want to read email, print some photos and little more.
But even more important, such portables seams to be the killer devices for the final Linux take over of the desktop.
I personally found these cheap portables, targeted to a specific function, more attractive that those over priced "high end" portables which are neither a good desktop replacement, not portable enough. Actually, I'm just waiting impatiently to put my hands on a NoahPad.
One interesting conclusion from the general reaction is the discovery of a new category of users, for whom a simple, affordable and ultra portable device to surf the web is a real gain. But these devices are also appealing for the millions of home uses that only want to read email, print some photos and little more.
But even more important, such portables seams to be the killer devices for the final Linux take over of the desktop.
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