After reading dozens of articles about the wonders of Ubuntu and hearing some of my workmates constantly praising it, I was so curious to test it for myself that I couldn’t help it: I’ve downloaded the latest version of this popular Linux distro from their official website and I’m just about to install it. I want to see it with my own eyes and check if Ubuntu really deserves all those kind words. I plan to be using Ubuntu for a few days, not only to test it as an operating system, but also to test myself and see if I can manage to accomplish the most basic tasks (browsing the web, downloading software, blogging, listening to music, editing photos…) in a completely new operating system. If you’re also curious about Ubuntu, get ready because the trip is about to start!

They say that a thousand mile journey starts with a single step and in this case, our first step is obviously installing Ubuntu. After downloading the Ubuntu 9.04 ISO file, burn it to a CD with your favorite burning app, following these instructions if necessary. Insert the newly recorded CD into the CD drive and restart your system so that it boots from the CD drive and launches the installation. You may have to modify the boot-up sequence on your system to do this.

The first step is choosing the language used for installation. Note that this will also be the default language for the system once Ubuntu is installed. Read the rest of this entry »

Apple’s prestigious Worldwide Developers Conference got underway in San Francisco yesterday and delegates finally got to see the long awaited next incarnation of Mac OS X - Snow Leopard - in action. I wrote about what to expect from Snow Leopard a few weeks ago and there seems no reason to refute any of the claims made there, except that Safari will no longer be in beta stage when it will be released, probably in September. There are however some new revelations that weren’t originally mentioned:

Higher Resolution iChats - Better video quality yet only consuming a third of the bandwidth

Support for Chinese - Including those written on a trackpad writing and predictive typing

Enhanced Exposé - Click and hold a dock icon to reveal windows for that program

Drag and Drop Features - Drag and drop items and images between different programs

Cheap Upgrade - Leopard users can upgrade for just $29 (family license is $49)

Those that we already knew about but now have more details on include:

Enhanced Stacks - Handles a larger range of files and allow you to drill-down sub folders

Microsoft Exchange Support - Browse global Exchange addresses and integration with iCal

More Discreet Quicktime - The interface hides as soon as your cursor leaves the window

As I mentioned before, the most noticeable benefit for most general users will probably be speed enhancements. That said, the long-awaited support for Microsoft Exchange is bound to be a big pull for business users. And for programmers, Snow Leopard presents the most exciting developments of all with support for 64-bit architecture, Grand Central Dispatch and OpenCL. Many of the other subtle enhancements mentioned above aren’t exactly essential but they will streamline your workflow. And for just $29 dollars to upgrade, you can’t really go wrong.

At the E3 conference, all three console manufacturers announced new motion sensing controllers - from Nintendo’s Wii-motion and Sony’s wand, to Microsoft’s controller-less Project Natal. Along with recent improvements in touchscreen technology, it’s reasonable to conclude control will change quite a lot over the coming months and years.

Here’s Microsoft’s promotional video for Natal

That looks pretty energetic to me!  Like the Wii, I imagine this will be loads of fun, but won’t replace existing controls either - after all, wireless joypads allow you to play in a relaxed way, and sometimes that’s fine. As I wrote a while ago, I think if we treat new methods of control as replacements, we’re in danger of losing good things that aren’t broken.

I would be happy to have a touchscreen monitor, or one that I could manipulate with gestures. But as long as we still use writing, having a physical keyboard will be essential. Watching the PlayStation’s motion controller in action, it looks good, but a little inaccurate - it still looks a lot harder to pick stuff up on screen than it does in real life.

With some development though, it might be a nice way to interact with your Windows desktop. Using your hands to grab things on the screen and move them around would be cool. Personally, I think control from a distance is much more sensible for large devices. A touchscreen for my phone or laptop, but here in the office I wouldn’t want to be stretching to touch my screens all the time.

So far I’ve heard a lot about PC touchscreens but for me - and maybe I’m  lazy - I like the idea of sitting back from a screen, so motion sensing controllers sound much more exciting. How long it takes for anything like this to be adapted for PCs or Windows is anyone’s guess though.

I’m more than a little excited about the launch of the Palm Pre this weekend. However, I’ve just watched the commercial for the new wonder phone and it’s almost made me not want to buy the device on principle. It’s got to be one of the corniest ads I’ve ever seen - it says nothing of the benefits of the Palm Pre and looks more like a shampoo advert than a pitch for a piece of cutting-edge technology. Then I started thinking though, that this isn’t the first awful commercial for a tech product. In fact, there’s been some real doozies throughout history, and many that were far worse than the wishy washy Palm Pre spot. Here are some of the worst:

10.  Pole Position - I suspect Atari’s ad for its cutting edge racer from 1982 was a designed to be a little tongue-in-cheek. But it took some guts for them to mix in-game footage with shots of a family racing around a go-kart track. See if you can spot which is real and which is computerized:

9. X-Box 360 Rock Band 2 - Truly one of the strangest adverts I’ve ever seen, I’m not sure what the thinking was behind this one. We see a shot of a woman with a moronic grin spread across her face then the camera pans around to reveal the back of her head has been hollowed out and a band is playing rock in her brain. Very weird. See it (and loads more) after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »

BlackBerry: Did you know that BlackBerrys can help you lose weight? Or at least they can if you install Health & Diet Manager on them. This app allows you to take control of your nutrition and overall health, to help you lose weight and give you more energy. Health & Diet Manager helps you manage all kinds of aspects of your daily life, from tracking your health related stats (pulse, blood pressure, hours slept, etc.), to creating an action plan for your eating and exercise.

Mac: Nowadays, having a Mac doesn’t mean you have to do without Windows. In fact, you can use both at the same time if you run one in a virtual environment like VirtualBox (now updated to version 2.2.4). With VirtualBox, you can install any version of Windows (as long as you have the boot disk), Linux, Solaris and just about any other operating system you can think of. Best of all, it’s absolutely free to use!

Windows: Whenever you use any application on your computer, you leave certain traces on the system that not only compromise your privacy but also take up valuable disk space. With Wipe you can easily get rid of those usage traces, deleting history items, auto-complete entries and recent document lists in just two clicks.

iTunes 8.2 released [Softonic]

China blocks access to Twitter and Flickr [Blog Herald]

Acer Android netbooks coming this autumn [BetaNews]

Nokia N97 on sale worldwide this month [Nokia Conversations]

Google working on ‘Wave’ communications tool [Google]

Although Apple haven’t given an official release date, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is widely expected to be unveiled this summer. As Jon wrote a few weeks ago, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference takes place in early June where the unveiling will almost certainly take place. However, this doesn’t mean it will necessarily be released in stores at the same time and Apple may well wait until after the summer to launch it.

So what can we expect? The first thing Mac users should be aware of is that there’s nothing eye-popping in Snow Leopard that’s going to have you scrambling to upgrade. The focus of OS X 10.6 is simply to improve overall efficiency and reduce it’s footprint. However, there are a few interesting new features that will certainly interest some users. Here are some of the most notable:

Slimmer QuickTime Player

Maybe inspired by the success of VLC Player, “QuickTime X” will feature a simplified GUI with a greater focus on codec support

Cocoa Based Finder

Finder is expected to include a glossy new Cocoa Desktop Window and Contextual Menu

Safari Beta 4 Default Browser

In an unusual (and some might say slightly desperate move) Apple will include a beta version of Safari 4 with Snow Leopard presumably in a bid to give it a leg-up against Firefox.

Microsoft Exchange Server Support

A smart business move that will surely attract more corporate users. Mac users will now be able to connect to Microsoft Exchange 2007 servers via Mail, Address Book, and iCal

Faster Installation Time

May not be of much interest to single users but network administrators installing Snow Leopard on multiple machines can expect to install it in around 15 minutes compared to around an hour for Leopard. Testmac.net completed an install in an incredible 13 minutes.

More Stacks Control

Stacks will be improved to allow users to drill-down the contents of sub-folder

In view of all these relatively minor revelations and for the expected cost of around $130, it’s unlikely Mac users will be flocking to upgrade. However, if you’re finding your Mac is operating increasingly slowly, then for speed alone it might be worth the upgrade. Those that have tested Snow Leopard confirm that its the under the hood improvements that you’ll really notice when trying Snow Leopard. Testmac.net reports:

Snow Leopard is fast. Very fast. Like, surprisingly fast. From boot times to general application usage, Snow Leopard was noticeably quicker than Leopard when using the same system. Apple and 3rd party applications alike, they all launched faster and performed smoother. I’m sure this can be attributed to the new 64-bit architecture, but its amazing how much of a difference it really is.

In addition, its also fair to say that developers will find much to be happy about about in Snow Leopard. The integration of Grand Central, OpenCL and a 64 bit kernel will finally allow them to take full advantage of the dual processing power of Intel Macs and produce some stunning applications.

So there you have it, we’ve already got a pretty good fully formed picture of what Snow Leopard will look like. Now the only question that remains is when will Apple run out of cat names for their operating systems?

Hulu looks set for UK launch in September [Daily Telegraph]

Rockstar co-founders form 4mm Games [gamesindustry.biz]

Universal and Warner sue internet TV station Zattoo [Last100]

Beautiful ‘Rosie’ Android UI video surfaces [AndroidGuys]

Mac OS X Java security hole exposed [TUAW]

Symbian boss talks up Symbian for netbooks (yeah…) [Engadget]

Java phones: If you’re a Google Calendar user then you’ll know just how effective the application can be for organizing your life. But what happens if you want to use the program while you’re out and about? One option is to install GCal 0.3.5 on your Java-enabled phone. GCal is designed to provide a simple way of checking and editing your Google Calendar while you’re on the go.

Windows: If the Windows 7 RC ISO file is taking too long to download, you can try Seven Remix XP meanwhile. This comprehensive visual theme will transform your good old Windows XP into the brand new Windows 7 without hassle. It’s easy to install and uninstall, includes many goodies (skins, logon screens, wallpapers, icons and more) and doesn’t require a powerful system.

Mac: The Twitter client wars are going into overdrive at the moment and Tweetie surely ranks up there as one of the best yet for Mac. Tweetie has it all - good looks, threaded conversations, instant search, URL previews and much more. Added to a ton of preferences which make it highly customisable, Tweetie is a must-try Twitter client.

One myth that should be exploded about Macs is that they don’t slow down over time. I remember asking many several Mac users about this issue before I switched from Windows (which admittedly, is still far worse at slowing-down over time) and all boasted that no such slow-down problems existed on Mac. Typical responses were, “Mac’s don’t require defragging”, “Macs defrag themselves naturally”, “My Mac is as fast today as the day I bought it”, “My Mac is so fast I had to sue Apple for whiplash.”

Ok, the last one I made-up but the fact is, I’ve learned from experience that Macs do slow down. My Mac had a startup sequence of around 10 seconds when I got it. That’s now been extended to almost a minute not to mention the frequent spinning beach ball for a cursor while it thinks about what to do next.

There are literally thousands of tips out there to speed-up your Mac ranging from cleaning your cache to reducing the room temperature to -50 and resting your Mac on a pillow. Many of them are often quoted but in reality not effective - Repairing Disk Permissions being one of the most notable. Here are 5 tips that I’ve found are genuinely effective:

1. Install more RAM: It may not be free but installing just another 2GB of RAM to your Mac can make a world of difference to the smooth operation of your machine. The more applications you install, the more demand you put on your Mac’s memory so it’s only fair you give your machine a fighting chance to handle it all.

2. Keep folders to a minimum: Every folder you create requires caching by OS X and indexing by Spotlight which can slow down your hard drive. Try to not to create unnecessary files and folders and keep them organised. Even better, move very large folders that you don’t need much to an external USB or Firewire drive. Read the rest of this entry »

Mac: Although uTorrent has come along and proved stiff competition, Transmission (updated to version 1.60) remains one of best torrent clients out there on Mac thanks to a beautiful interface and a simple set of intuitive features. This new version brings many more improvements to an already solid release. You can set different priority levels for torrents and establish stall limit times, new speed limit modes and have more control over bandwidth.

Pocket PC: Install VirusChaser and a bug will be unleashed on your PDA, that no antivirus software can save you from. Instead you’ll have to do the job yourself. Don’t panic, because VirusChaser is just a game, in which you need to prevent a green bug escaping from a network of tiles. To do this you need to block its way by creating barriers from green tiles. Just click on a tile to turn it green. Hurry up though before you get infected!

Windows: After a few months of beta testing, Microsoft has finally launched Windows 7 RC. This version fixes hundreds of bugs and improves the system’s general performance, while keeping the same cool new features we already saw in the Beta.  You can ownload the ISO file - Windows Live account required - and try it for free until June 1st, 2010.

What are we expecting from the Worldwide Developers Conference in June? Lots of people are predicting that Palm will launch their much hyped Pre handset on June 7th, just a day before the Apple conference begins. Maybe Palm are hoping to overshadow any Apple announcements, but that looks dangerous to me, as Apple are likely to have some cool stuff up their sleeves.

Here at OnSoftware we’ve been wondering out loud what might happen, so starting with the most likely things, here we go:

1: Snow Leopard. Surely there’ll be an exhibition of the next version of OSX, 10.6, which sounds like it will build on what is already my favourite operating system. The most interesting thing about it for me is that it will have an overall smaller hard drive and RAM footprint (like Windows 7) - efficiency is always a good thing. We know that Windows 7 is lighter so it can work on netbooks…. Probability: 100%

2: The next surest thing, and it’s a pretty sure thing too, is an announcement of a third generation iPhone. What’s it going to be like? I wouldn’t expect much of a visual difference (it won’t be available in pink any time soon), but should do the things people think it should already do, like video capture or maybe a compass (like the HTC Magic). Perhaps you’ll be able to alter the backlight time too? Reading that back, maybe Palm are right to gamble, or maybe Apple have something really cool for the next gen iPhone? Probability: 90%

2.5:  Rumours abound that working with Verizon, there might be an iPhone lite in the works, and some have claimed to have actually seen the device. It’s worth remembering that Apple went as far as creating fake prototypes to keep people from knowing the truth about the original iPhone… I think an iPhone lite is a pretty underwhelming concept too. Probability: 30%

3: Mystery item! With all the stories about Apple ordering 10 inch touchscreens, Snow Leopard being easier on resources and the success of netbooks in general, there are many predicting Apple will announce something between a Macbook and iPhone. Tim Cook, Apple’s COO recently said that netbooks “suck”, but that could be a precursor to “but ours are cool”. Bets are divided between some kind of netbook or keyboard free tablet device. The 10 inch touchscreen tablet sounds like a sweet idea - a device for browsing and watching media. However, in my head that looks like a big iPhone, which shows a lack of imagination on my part! Probability: 50%

We’ve seen numerous alleged photos of Apple netbooks, or Macbook minis, but none of them look convincing (or good!)!

*thanks to our resident Apple insider Tom for the secret Apple iPhonebook image!

If you didn’t have enough with our review about Windows 7 RC and the blog post with further details about the Release Candidate, here’s a video where you’ll be able to see Microsoft’s new operating system in action while waiting for the 2.36 GB file to download.

After a few months of beta testing, Microsoft has finally launched the release candidate of their highly-anticipated new operating system: Windows 7. I don’t know whether this will be the first of a series of RC versions or just the only one before Windows 7 Final is launched in October, but in any case I must say it’s quite similar to the Beta we tested a while ago.

While Windows 7 RC doesn’t introduce any remarkable changes - at least that we can notice – Microsoft developers have fixed loads of bugs and improved the system’s general performance, thanks to the feedback of thousands of beta testers. This means we can enjoy an even more stable, smoothly-running system that doesn’t hog system resources and includes some nice new features that can make your computer experience easier and more enjoyable.

The Release Candidate keeps the same Vista-like appearance, and all the Windows 7 goodies as well: fully revamped versions of Wordpad, Paint and the Windows Calculator, which have become quite powerful apps now; a new toolbar with enhanced functionality; the all-new Windows Media Center and Windows Libraries, that help you manage media files in a better way; and also the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

The Windows 7 new taskbar is probably one of the most outstanding characteristics in Microsoft’s new operating system. Like the Mac Dock, it features quick launch shortcuts to your most frequently used apps which can also be used to switch between running programs. The similar window grouping tool has also been improved and now requires less mouse clicks to change from one window to another. Finally, the preview thumbnail function is really cool: it lets you have a sneak peek at the window’s content without having to open it. Read the rest of this entry »

[Image from Google]

Get more from Google Latitude [Google Mobile Blog]

Ubiquity to be integrated into Firefox [ghacks.net]

Apple & Google being investigated amid antitrust concerns [NYT]

Windows 7 RC released to consumers - exclusive video [Softonic]

UK spy agency’s £1bn Mastering The Internet project [Times Online]

Could Apple buy Twitter? [Gawker]