Daily Bits

Mobile

Fennec Alpha Mobile: Firefox for Android

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Considering just how dependent we are on the Internet, it is not a surprise that browser developers are in a perpetual race to deliver the “best” browser to consumers. With mobile phones being used by more and more people to get on the Internet, mobile Internet browsers, naturally, are in demand. While going online via your phone is quite convenient, sometimes, the features of mobile browsers are simply incomparable to the experience offered by browsers for computers.

Here’s a bit of good news for those of you who are yearning for a better browsing experience on their Android phones – Mozilla has just released the alpha version of mobile browser. Dubbed Fennec Alpha, the mobile browser can be used on Nokia N9000 mobile phones as well. The exciting thing about Fennec is that it is based on the same technology that is used for the Firefox we all know and love.

By the way, this mobile browser is not the first version. In April, Fennec prealpha was released. Early reviewers had a lot to say about that version – many of them negative. The Fennec Alpha, however, is set to offer enhanced performance and is supposed to be more responsive to user needs. More specifically, the newer version includes Firefox Sync capabilities, making browsing more convenient for users. Android users will also be happy to know that the Fennec Alpha supports browser add-ons – one of the main reasons that Firefox is such a joy to use.

You may download the mobile browser from Mozilla’s web site, but if I were you, do not expect too much. The software is intended for testing purposes and not for regular use.

Bit of trivia: Fennec comes from the Arabic word for fox. 😉

Picplz: New iPhone App

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Apps for the iPhone are all over the place, and yet people are on the perennial quest to find a new one that they will obsess about.  For those who cannot get enough pictures and cannot wait to upload them to the Internet as soon as possible, here is a new iPhone app that will satisfy your needs easily: picplz.

This app has been around for a while, but not specifically for the iPhone.  It is developed by the founders of Imeem, the social media service that gained popularity several years ago.  In its heyday, lots of people availed of Imeem’s sharing service – videos, music, and photos.  It has been closed down, though, thanks to its acquisition by MySpace.

Anyhow, the same people behind Imeem have made picplz available for use on the iPhone.  It’s really not that revolutionary if you think about it  -it functions much like Twitter, except that it’s meant especially for photos.  Now that the iPhone has a decent camera, it is a simple matter to snap pictures and share them with your friends anytime.

You may be thinking – but there is a host of other apps that offer a similar service.  So why should anyone bother to give picplz a try?  For now, the value lies in instant uploading and tagging the location (which seems to be all the rage these days).  The founders are also working on providing more features in the future.  Besides, the app is FREE, so you really have nothing to lose by trying it out.  Oh, and this app is also available for Android phones.

MobileASL – Sign Language On Mobile Phones

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What do you use your mobile phone for? If this question were asked 10 to 15 years ago, the most common answer would probably be “for voice calls.” Today, text messaging and browsing the web just might be the “winning answers.”

I bet, though, that communicating using sign language over the phone is not going to be in anyone’s list of anyone’s answers. If a group of engineers from the University of Washington is successful, millions of deaf people around the world will be able to use their mobile phones to make calls; and instead of using voice to communicate, they can use American Sign Language!

The team has dubbed themselves the MobileASL, and they have been working on a technology that compresses video signals. The technology focuses on the face and the hands of the user, optimizing the use of the bandwidth. In addition to that, the engineers are also looking at conserving battery life by detecting whether or not the user is signing. At “idle” moments, the power use can be lowered to extend the battery life.

At this point, the brains behind the technology still want to know more about how it will perform in real life situations. They have conducted studies with “real” users, and the response has been positive so far. The edge that MobileASL has is the fact that they are aiming to make the technology available over a broad range of devices. No iPhone-only application from these guys – if they have their way, practically anyone will be able to make use of their creation.

TechCrunch Claiming iPhone to Verizon in January – What if?

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There’s an interesting post up on TechCrunch that makes a pretty bold claim. From the site:

Smartphones like the iPhone are built from a collection of components, which are sourced individually from suppliers—e.g. the iPhone 4’s cellular baseband (the core chipset used in mobile phones to handle voice and data communications) comes from Infineon and its GPS chipset from Broadcom.

Component purchases and manufacturing starts don’t typically reveal strong links to individual handset OEMs. But in some cases components have a DNA which is traceable through the supply chain. For example, iPad rumors became much more concrete when we knew Apple was procuring large LCD screens.

[Read more…] about TechCrunch Claiming iPhone to Verizon in January – What if?

Will Ferrell and Wired Tie Up

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The Apple iPad is one of the most sought after gadgets today – and no wonder. While it is small enough to be portable, it delivers only the most excellent graphics. That is why countless content providers have jumped into the fray, developing content for specifically for the iPad.

Wired.com is one such provider, but it seems that it has been having difficulty attracting enough subscribers for its iPad application. One factor is that a lot of the content offered in the paid version is also available in the web site for free.

Now, the provider is scrambling to get paid subscribers. As part of its efforts, Wired.com has created exclusive videos that can only be viewed via the iPad application. More so, it has employed the help of comedian Will Ferrell. While not everyone thinks Will Ferrell is funny (for the record, I think he is hilarious), this collaboration should serve to make the Wired iPad app more marketable.

Here’s a sampling of what is on offer.

Wired – Will Ferrell Short from Nick Bilton on Vimeo.

This is only the beginning for Wired.com’s expansion, though. In the near future, various content will be available for other gadgets such as the iPhone, tablet computers, Android phones, and the like. More so, by fall of this year, Wired.com is also planning on including social networking and sharing features.

Wired.com does provide interesting content, and the move to join forces with Will Ferrell just might be a good thing for them. Will this entice you to pay $5 for the app, though?

3 Android Games You Need to Have

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While we’re on the topic of Android phones, why don’t we take a look at some of the apps that are getting lots of people addicted as I write? While it’s true that iPhone apps are very addictive and that their graphics can be quite impressive, there are Android games out there that can keep you glued to your phone as well. Here are three of those games.

Bonsai Blast
There are many reasons this game is the first on the list. One, it’s free. Two, it’s completely addictive. It is just like Zuma in terms of graphics and gameplay. You’ll see marbles of different colors and blow them up by matching the patterns. Simple but you can spend hours playing the game.

Speed Forge 3D
This one costs $4.99, but people who’ve played it say it’s worth the small price you have to pay. It’s a racing game that is set in the future, in the Red Planet. The bored citizens have turned to racing for entertainment. Some users have likened the game to Wipeout. There are 6 tracks, 3 different vehicles, and weapons as well. The graphics are in full 3D.

Zenonia
Korean company Gamevil is the one behind this acclaimed mobile RPG. According to critics, the game’s richness of detail is nothing short of amazing. Wikipedia describes the game: Zenonia’s protagonist is Regret, a young man whose origins are initially unknown. His primary mission in the game is to find the reason for the death of his adoptive father at the hands of a demon and subsequently a more powerful evil that is at work.

If you haven’t gotten these games yet, what’s stopping you?