Daily Bits

Real-time Document Editing with Etherpad

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The real appeal of the web is how its reduced the time it takes to get your work done. And compared to other web based services, productivity software have established revenue models with offering premium services or hosted services specifically for businesses. A new start-up called Etherpad now adds another layer to online collaboration by supporting real-time editing of documents across the net.

Etherpad allows users to share the URL of the document with anyone and make real time changes to the document. Each user is assigned a background text color so they can track the changes as they are being made. The feature has its skeptics and supporters. Some contend that live editing is not a necessary requirement. But when it comes to note taking during meetings, or collaborating within a group on a piece of literature, this is one cool way to track of changes and edits.

Its not that other online text editors cannot support similar feature. Perhaps its not a feature on top of their wish-list. The service does not require any signing up.

40 Killer Gmail Tips

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The guys from Tech Radar compiled a list with 40 brilliant Gmail hints, hacks and secrets. If you are not using Gmail yet, well, you are with the minority. Here are the first 3 items on the list:

1. If you haven’t already created a Gmail account, you no longer need an invitation to do so. Just go to www.gmail.com and click Sign up for Google Mail.

2. Gmail blocks most executable filetypes as a virus protection measure. If you absolutely have to send EXE or DLL files to a colleague, use something like DropSend. You can send up to five files per month for free.

3. Attachments sent in formats that Google Documents can read can be opened direct in your browser. That list includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and RTF files.

Check the link above to read the full article.

Adobe to Bring Flash to ARM

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Adobe will soon be porting the full fledged Flash Player to the ARM processor, bridging the gap between its offering for the desktop and mobiles. Earlier Adobe had pushed ahead Flash Lite, a scaled down version of Flash but now with its plans to bring Flash to ARM processors, the attempt is to snag a major share of mobile devices internet experience.

An excerpt from Technology Review:

Specifically, the companies say that Adobe’s Flash Player 10 and AIR (a platform for building complex Web applications) will be compatible and optimized for the ARM chips available in 2009. While ARM is used in a huge number of mobile phones, the announcement has broader implications: the chips are also used in set-top boxes, mobile Internet devices, personal media players, and automotive platforms.

Though Flash is not coming to the iPhone, its hoped that this initiative will aid that process too by showing that it is possible to run full blown Flash functionality without slowing down the mobile device. Developers of mobile software also stand to benefit from the availability of the same technology across multiple devices, essentially negating the need to work on portability issues. Adobe does not want to miss out from being the major format for videos on mobile as well, especially considering how Microsoft is pushing Silverlight.

Is Voice Search the Killer App for Mobiles?

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Google’s release of the search-by-voice application on iPhone has received rave reviews and may be indication of how things may finally be coming around for mobile applications. Voice search looks to be the kind of application that will create its niche as a localized search option of choice. The logic being that if I am searching for a restaurant, street or movie, there is a good chance that I don’t have the luxury or time to open my laptop, forget along having net connectivity.

The search by voice application has been found to be fairly accurate. It has also spurred a demand that the basic phone functions should also accept voice input. Interesting thing to note is that Google did not try to make this app available across only the Android based handsets first. Goes to show where they have their priorities (more search eyeballs than people using Android). And the fair accuracy of the service is a significant achievement considering that services get better over time.

Also, the new application fits the first criteria indicated by Google Vice President, Merissa Meyer a couple of month’s back.

First, why couldn’t I do these searches right then, when I needed to? Because search still isn’t accessible enough or easy enough. Search needs to be more mobile – it should be available and easy to use in cell phones and in cars and on handheld, wearable devices that we don’t even have yet.

So, what are the future indications. For one, we can fairly expect Android Software Stack to extend beyond the mobile devices front. A scenario with Embedded Internet access may not be that far fetched in Google’s radar. And yes, to have a link to the Google Voice Application, you can try here.

Microsoft Spins Social Web Around Hotmail, Messenger and Other Live Services

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In one of the most significant social moves from the Redmond giant, Windows Live Messenger, Hotmail and other Live services will include features that make it possible for users to maintain and share notifications across their network of online contacts. What is more interesting is that the services will support notifications from third party web applications too ( e.g. Twitter, Flickr, LinkedIn, iLike, Yelp, WordPress Blogs among others).

An excerpt from SearchEngineJournal:

The new Microsoft Live Service portal would bring together Windows Live Messenger which is by far one of Microsoft’s most popular web service and infused them with both new and refurbished old online services such as an upgraded Hotmail, Windows Live Group, photo gallery, toolbar, calendar and many more.

All companies with major web properties have been announcing social features to better service and retain their users. Google had announced its single profile for all services which is a step towards greater integration across its umbrella of services. Yahoo had announced its Y!OS initiative to make social data accessible across services.

But real integration means you can have access to your networks from any service. This is where the absence integration with FaceBook and MySpace for the Microsoft initiative matters. But it is hoped that those nitty gritties will be resolved in due course.

Broadband Over Power Line

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The recent news around opening up of White Space spectrum was significant because it allowed introduction of devices that could provide broadband internet access over fairly large distances. These would bring the internet to rural and less accessible areas.

A similar technology that promises to increase access to internet is Broadband over power line. The appeal of broadband over power lines is that rural areas are not commercially attractive areas for companies to create dedicated internet infrastructure. But power companies already have established stretches of power lines. At its core Broadband over Power lines is about sending data over the power lines on a frequency that does not interfere with the frequency of electric current. A modem plugged into the socket at the receiver end decodes the signal and routes the packets to computers.

An excerpt from News.com:

In recent years, new modulation techniques supported by other technological advances have helped BPL evolve. Most services today are capable of delivering between 512Kbps and 3Mbps of throughput, which is comparable to most DSL offerings.

In rural areas in particular, BPL technology could finally bring high-speed Internet access to people who otherwise couldn’t get it. Traditional phone and cable companies often find it too expensive to deploy new infrastructure to provide service to the far reaches of rural America.

The impediments in adoption of Broadband over power lines has been the limited speed as compared to cable or DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and interference with other radio frequencies. Recently IBM bagged a $9 million worth project from International Broadband Electric Communications Inc to install equipment that could potentially provide internet access to 340,000 homes in Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Latest developments in this field also include technology to detect presence of other signals in a frequency before transmission. Many projects in past years have failed to provide complete implementation of this, but that is no reason to lose hope in a technology that could potentially provide access to a wide majority excluded from Internet as we know it.