Video experiment shows off HTML5 on Chrome

An accurate rendering of the view from the front door of my childhood home, provided courtesy of Google road View and the programmers behind the latest Google Chrome experiment.

(Credit: Google)

The official Google blog on Tuesday posted a link to an experimental music video for the Arcade flame tune "We Used To Wait" that shows off the capabilities of HTML5 with Google's Chrome browser.

I gave it a run earlier this afternoon. After I followed the instructions to close other applications and enter my home address, the video took about 15 seconds to start. My first impression was a flashback of visiting shady Web sites back in the days before pop-up blockers existed: a cascade of no fewer than eight browser windows opened, and trying to close any one of them displayed a message warning that I'd leave the application altogether.

But once I gave up trying to control my screen, the experience was pretty amazing. The application opens and closes browser windows in time with the music, and about halfway through, one of them displayed the exact view from the front door of my childhood home.

This freakishness is provided courtesy of Google Maps road View and some smart manipulation of the images to keep them looking fluid, rather than a bunch of disconnected snapshots. Later, a window asked me to write a letter to my childhood self, and I was able to both type and draw letters that sprouted trippy tendrils of black while the music and other video windows played on.

In every, it was a pretty impressive display that ran well on my five-year-old Dell gaming laptop. Unfortunately, the only release-level browser it works with is Chrome. Firefox 3.x and IE8 don't have sufficient HTML5 support, though that's changing soon: IE9 and Firefox 4, both in initial beta-testing now, will offer dramatically improved support for the emerging Web standard. (I tested it on the beta of Firefox 4, and while it loaded more slowly and had a couple stutters, it worked. I'll hold off testing it on IE9 until Microsoft releases a full browser beta later in September--right now, the preview versions are only basic shells.)

The same video could probably have been programmed in Adobe Systems' Flash format and worked in any browser, but it might have placed a greater load on my PC, (That's open to debate, and it depends on how the app is written and the precise specs of the machine running it). Nonetheless, it's a pretty good advertisement for the promise of HTML5--and an even better advertisement for Google products and technologies. Which, of course, was the real point.

The tune itself, "The Wilderness Downtown," was not bad, but it didn't grip me enough to want to run out and buy the album. That has been my reaction to most of the new Arcade flame album so far, though I like the idea of a concept album about the suburbs and the fact they released it on vinyl.

Originally posted at Digital Noise: Music and Tech

31 Aug 2010, 7:56 pm | click here to download

Karaoke + rhythm game = Lyric Legend

Best known for its social music- and lyric-finding service, TuneWiki launched a new venture Tuesday in the form of a game with a slightly different take on music discovery. Lyric Legend is a free app that combines aspects of a karaoke and a rhythm game into one visually stimulating package. I downloaded the app onto an iPhone 3GS to give it a spin.

Upon starting, Lyric Legend automatically attempts to connect to a network in order to retrieve high-score and other social info, as well as upload your game data to the scoreboard. However, you don't need a connection to start playing the game, which means roving iPod Touch owners are in the clear. The first screen presents a number of straightforward options surrounded by an appropriate background graphic of thumping speakers. You can select from single or multiplayer gaming, step into a "how to play" tutorial, or enter the tune store.

Those who have spent any time playing rhythm games will find the gameplay somewhat familiar. The lyrics for the tune in play float on the screen within colorful balls; you want to hit the words of the tune as it is being sung. The closer you receive to hitting at the exact moment a word is said, the better your score. In beginner mode, the balls line up in order of the lyrics to make things easier, and rings around each one help to call out which is coming up next. For parts of the tune with no words, TuneWiki has implemented a fun bonus round during which you tap glowing balls as they drop down.

As with any rhythm-based music game, Lyric Legend will take some practice before you receive the hang of it. Further, unlike Guitar Hero and similar offerings, actually knowing the words to the tune helps considerably. Luckily, Lyric Legend offers several levels of difficulty, from beginner to expert, so you'll have a chance to practice before moving up. As you step up in difficulty, the balls move around with varying frequency and--eventually--even the rings disappear.

As you might expect from a free app, Lyric Legend doesn't arrive loaded with very many games. You receive three packaged with the download: Metric's "Gimme Sympathy," Vampire Weekend's "Giving Up the Gun," and The every-American Rejects' "Move Along." As of press time, TuneWiki was offering more than 70 other songs for purchase in the tune store, most available in two-track artist "packs" for 99-cents.

every in every, I found Lyric Legend to be a fun and addictive game. Anyone who loves karaoke should certainly give it a look.

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas

31 Aug 2010, 7:18 pm | click here to download

PapayaMobile launches Android App of the Day

(Credit: PapayaMobile)

Papaya is best known for its mobile social platform dubbed PapayaMobile, which offers a variety of features from gaming to chat to photo sharing. Unlike many others in the space, PapayaMobile recently elected to abandon support for the iPhone OS in favor of focusing every of its efforts on Android apps. The benefit of this is the open-source nature of the Google platform, which means that SDK developers can create their possess programs to run in the Papaya interface. This functionality makes the service perfectly suited to its newest offering: Android App of the Day.

Android App of the Day, which is accessible both on Android devices and via the Web site AndroidAppOfTheDay.net, provides consumers with a simple and hassle-free way to discover new apps for free or at a discount. At the same time, the service caters to the needs of developers by letting them feature an app in a highly visible container for 24 hours. For both parties, this helps to alleviate the reliance on discovering new content via the Android Marketplace, which doesn't provide the best interface for viewing popular and promoted apps.

For an app to qualify for the service, developers must offer it for free for the day, or lower the price to 99-cents. Apps that are already free must provide a discount on virtual currency for the day. At the very least, Android users will receive some nice of deal, and developers will receive the visibility associated with a network of over four million PapayaMobile users. (Plus, those who sign up by September 12 will receive to submit and feature their apps for free.) Papaya estimates that the service will generate anywhere from 10,000 to one million additional downloads per month for featured games.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

31 Aug 2010, 10:01 am | click here to download

Two years on, Chrome reshapes browser market

It's been two years since the first public version of Chrome appeared, but in some ways, Google's browser remains a novelty.

On Thursday, Google released the sixth stable version of Chrome, though only the second for Mac OS and Linux users.

In others' hands, it would be called Chrome 6, but Google sees things differently.

To the company, a version number is a passing milestone on an indefinitely long road to improvement. By default, the browser is updated behind the scenes and automatically, downloading new versions and installing them after a browser restart. It sees the practice as similar to how Web applications are updated constantly, usually without the user being involved and often without even being told.

This update philosophy is one of several differences that has set Chrome apart since Google inadvertently scooped its possess announcement by prematurely issuing comic books describing Chrome just before its launch.

Google has attracted millions of allies. It's grown steadily to account for 7.5 percent of global browser usage, according to Net Applications' most recent statistics.

Besides numberless versions, another departure from prevailing custom was Google's idea that the browser should be as minimal a frame as possible around the content or application it's delivering. Chrome's minimal menu buttons--shrunk from two to one by the new version--its top-mounted tabs, and its lack of real estate for a status bar or search box reflect that philosophy. Programmers working on Mozilla's Firefox 4 and Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9, the new versions of the world's most-used browsers, have adopted similar goals.

Another departure was Chrome's focus on performance in processing Web-based JavaScript programs, loading pages, and other matters. Performance was important to other browsers, but Chrome's initial close-instant launch and notable JavaScript speed that concept at the top of every browser's agenda and raised Web developers' expectations of what they could tackle.

Chrome also led the way with a new approach to extensions. Those who write the add-ons use a combination of Web technologies including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS for formatting--the same as in Firefox's upcoming Jetpack framework below development now and just introduced to Apple's Safari 5. The technology is designed to be easier to program as well as less disruptive for users to install or update.

below the covers, Google broke with custom by isolating browser processes into separate memory compartments, too. That consumed more memory but added security and performance. And from a development perspective, Google aims for high velocity: a new "Canary" version changes even faster than the Chrome developer release, and Google plans to update the stable version of Chrome about every six weeks.

Finally, Google had an ambition to be different by transforming the browser into a full-fledged operating system called Chrome OS. Competitors agree that browsers should become a foundation for applications, but not quite to Chrome OS's extent. Google plans to release Chrome OS, which hides Linux below the covers for purposes of communicating with hardware, later this year for Netbooks, but it expects broader usage eventually.

Even without Chrome OS, Google's browser embodies the company's philosophy that the Web is the applications foundation of the future. That's because Google is building in not just faster JavaScript but also other potentially more powerful computing technology.

IE remains the dominant browser, but its share has slipped in the last year as Chrome rose.

(Credit: Net Applications / Stephen Shankland/CNET)

First is WebGL, a 3D graphics interface that mirrors the OpenGL standard for accelerated hardware graphics. Second is Native Client, which Google hopes will let downloaded code run natively and therefore quick on a PC or smartphone processor. It's got safety mechanisms built in to counteract the risks associated with running arbitrary software downloaded over the Net, and Google has made progress convincing at least some that it's safe to use.

To those who were baffled by Google's announcement of a browser two years ago, this type of work perhaps shows best the advantage Google gets out of Chrome. By largely controlling the development, Google can develop new technology and build it into a widely used if not dominant browser for testing and promotion. It also gives Google new clout in shaping new Web standards.

Google, of course, also has servers at the other end of the browser's Net connection. That lets the two work harmoniously. For example, Google is trying to develop a technology called SPDY that seeks to speed up the basic protocol used to request and send Web pages. It requires browsers and servers to cooperate, and Google's got both below its control. It's trying to standardize SPDY, but in the meantime Chrome can give a quick track to Google services.

When Chrome launched, it was a bare-bones browser missing every kinds of basic and advanced features other browsers possessed--anything to do with bookmark management, for example. Google has fleshed that out, though some relatively basic features such as print preview are still absent. At the same time, Google has added some useful basic features still missing in rival browsers.

One is tab-to-search, which lets keyboard-oriented folk quickly launch site-specific searches at Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Bing, Wikipedia, CNET, and other sites by typing the site address, then tab, then the search term. Another is automatic translation using Google's multilanguage services.

Google has several challenges. One big one is convincing skeptics that Google, with its ever-wider sprawl of services on the Net, is a safe place for personal data. Chrome's address box, called the omnibox, sends data as it's typed to Google servers that suggest search results straight from the box. That's convenient but raises some hackles.

These user interface features, though, are secondary to the broader Chrome ambition. Google is fundamentally a company about Web services, and Chrome is a vehicle to make those services work better.

The more activity there is on the Web--be it search and search advertising, Gmail and Gmail advertising, Google Docs and Google Apps subscriptions, Google Maps and locally targeted advertising--the more Google stands to profit. Even if Chrome never catches on widely, it still serves as competitive leverage to ensure Microsoft, Mozilla, Apple, and any other browser makers don't receive complacent.

How convenient for consumers that a better browser aligns so well with Google's commercial interests.

Originally posted at Deep Tech

2 Sep 2010, 9:37 am | click here to download

Today only--save 50 percent on Norton Internet Security

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2 Sep 2010, 2:00 am | click here to download

Tab tweaks land in Chrome Canary

The new about:labs feature in Chrome Canary gives Google a user-friendly way to test out experimental features.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

Google's "canary-in-the-mineshaft" version of its Chrome browser gained a new "labs" option for users to explore on Wednesday. Users of Chrome Canary, named to indicate that it's an even rougher version of Chrome than the developer's build, can now activate rougher, in-progress features by typing "about:labs" into the location bar. About:labs was first revealed last week.

The first feature to land in the lab is Side Tabs. To activate it, go to about:labs and click the Enable button below Side Tab. Restart Chrome Canary and when you right-click on any tab, pick the option at the bottom of the menu to Use Side Tabs. This will move your tabs into a vertical column on the left of the browser. To revert back to the tabs-on-top scheme, click on Use Side Tabs again.

The switch is perhaps useful for people with widescreen monitors who wish to look the dozens of their open tabs in a column form, exposing more of a Web site's title than would otherwise appear on the tab bar. However, the switch also forces an empty title bar at the top of the window; there's definitely room for more development in this particular lab experiment.

Depending on how Google implements it, one of the potential benefits of About:Labs could be to allow users to explore new features that would otherwise be available only through command line flags.

1 Sep 2010, 6:47 pm | click here to download

Skyfire promises Flash video playback on its iPhone app

Skyfire's first iPhone app try.

(Credit: Skyfire)

Mobile-browser builder Skyfire is striving to make good on its vow to receive a solution for streaming Flash video onto the iPhone--without breaking any of Apple's restrictions against third-party browsers.

On Wednesday, Skyfire submitted Skyfire for iPhone to the App Store, albeit five months after it had promised to follow in Opera's footsteps.

Skyfire for iPhone is modeled after the Skyfire for Android app that debuted in tardy April. As with that version, Skyfire's iPhone app will contain a video playback button to stream Web video through Skyfire's servers.

In order to receive the video playback through Apple's gauntlet, Skyfire will transcode the Flash video into HTML5 on the fly before pushing content down to your iPhone. What's more, the app will also compress video data by up to 75 percent.

These workarounds are technical and tricky. Will they be enough to gain Apple's coveted approval? Skyfire is confident that the answer is yes. The company has worked closely with Apple's guidelines for HTML5 on iOS, Skyfire said in a press release. Furthermore, Skyfire says it has reached out to Apple for feedback.

We'll receive you a hands-on review of the app as soon as we can. In the meantime, you can receive an idea of how Skyfire for iPhone may look and behave in the video below of Skyfire 2.0 beta for Android.

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas

1 Sep 2010, 3:00 pm | click here to download

New in iTunes: The nitty-gritty

Ping? Microsoft did it first with Zune Social.

(Credit: Apple)

Along with a refresh to most of its iPod line, Apple's annual digital media event included a refresh to iTunes. The music and video management software revved to version 10 and is supposed to be available today for both Windows and Mac users. I followed CNET's live coverage of the event as the announcement unfolded, including participating in a chat room loaded with Buzz Out noisy viewers, and the response to the refresh was a pretty much universal "meh."

I can't help but say that I agree with that general consensus. Version 10 of iTunes does not include a much-anticipated cloud music service, nor does it offer a subscription video service to go with the new Apple TV. Instead, Apple added the ability to rent TV shows a la carte--for 99 cents apiece. Call me a cheapskate, but this seems hideously expensive, especially considering the fact that iTunes has often offered specials in the past when you could purchase shows for 99 cents rather than $1.99. And I would be surprised if there's much interest in renting a 30-minute program (which are really more like 22 minutes in most cases) at that price. Even the studios aren't thrilled with the idea: only Fox and ABC have signed on for the initial launch.

The other big announcement for iTunes 10 is the introduction of Ping, a social feature that seems awfully familiar. Ping lets you select your favorite artists to follow, and then provides updated information on new music and concerts in your area (as well as a Twitter-like feed of comments from the artists). In addition, you can connect with your friends through iTunes by sending e-mail invites or by linking to your Facebook account. Ping is also built into the iTunes app, allowing users to access it on-the-go.

However, by far the most exciting new development from version 10 of the software is a brand-new iTunes logo. Gone is the old-school CD with a music note overlaid on top of it; now, you receive the much more applike icon pictured at right. Now there's an improvement I can receive on board with.

What about the relax of you? Are you utterly underwhelmed by the newest version of iTunes? Or is the social integration a long-awaited feature that's grossly underrated? And TV show rentals? Feel free to add your feedback to the comment section below.

1 Sep 2010, 2:52 pm | click here to download

Precautions to take before installing iTunes 10

Apple has released iTunes 10 for Windows and Mac, which brings a number of new features to the program including a new icon (finally!), a hybrid column view to prevent repetitive album listings, and a new social network for music called Ping.

The update is available through Software Update in OS X, but can also be downloaded from the iTunes Web site (Apple has updated their site to say iTunes 10 is "coming soon"); however, be sure to take a couple of precautions before installing it.

1. Let others test it

   We do not expect there will be major issues with the program, but being new software with new features there may be some initial bugs that will need to be addressed for a full and seamless experience. If you do not absolutely need the program, then allow others to experiment with it for a few weeks and read about potential problems here, in the Apple discussion forums, or other locations to ensure things are going smoothly.

2. Back up

   Before applying the update, be sure to have a full, bootable, and restorable backup of your system that you can use to revert any changes made when installing the program. In the past there have been issues with people losing their libraries, missing items, or having synchronization issues with various mobile devices.

3. Sync first

   If you use iTunes to sync your various devices, then be sure to fully sync them before updating so every the data is consistent. This should help reduce initial sync problems with the program after updating.

4. Deauthorize your system

   If you use iTunes to connect to the iTunes store, first deauthorize it, update, and then enter your account information again. This will help prevent the possibility of an mistake with the installation, resulting in the store thinking your computer is already authorized.

Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!
Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

Originally posted at MacFixIt

1 Sep 2010, 1:43 pm | click here to download

IE slips in usage share; Chrome resumes growth

IE remains the dominant browser, but its share has slipped in the last year as Chrome rose.

(Credit: Net Applications / Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Internet Explorer's growth slowed once again, and Chrome shook off its slump in August, new statistics show.

Although Microsoft made progress in its goal to exterminate IE6 in favor of IE8's more modern and secure design, Internet Explorer overall slipped from 60.7 percent to 60.4 percent of global usage, as measured by Net Applications.

Chrome had slipped for the first time in its history, sinking to 7.2 percent in July, but returned to growth with 7.5 percent of August usage, Net Applications said.

Mozilla's Firefox market share was essentially flat, with 22.9 percent usage. Apple's Safari rose from 5.1 percent to 5.2 percent, and Opera dipped from 2.5 percent to 2.4 percent.

After years in which IE's dominance led to a largely dormant browser market, the software has become highly competitive again, with new entrants and new uses. The Web is growing increasingly significant as a medium not just for browsing content but also for using applications; as Web technology evolves, so must browsers.

IE has been a laggard at this evolution, but Microsoft is trying to dramatically overhaul its browser with the upcoming IE9. It's released several Platform Preview versions in 2010 and plans to launch the first IE9 beta on September 15.

Microsoft's overall usage may have slipped for August, but the company is glad to look IE8 growing at the expense of IE6.

"For August, IE share worldwide decreased 0.34 [percentage points] to 60.40 percent worldwide, but in a world of customer choice, we are pleased that people are continuing to pick Internet Explorer 8 three times more often than other browsers when they make that move [away from IE6]," said Ryan Gavin, senior director of Internet Explorer Business and Marketing, in a blog post Wednesday. "While there is still a significant number of Internet Explorer 6 users who have not upgraded, most of these users are concentrated in developing or emerging markets, as well as enterprises with substantial application dependencies that take time to migrate."

Firefox, meanwhile, is racing to finish Firefox 4, in beta testing now but still 692 bugs and a few features away from final release. Google is set to release Chrome 6 soon, though with its behind-the-scenes automatic-update feature, few people know which version they're using.

Originally posted at Deep Tech

1 Sep 2010, 12:19 pm | click here to download