webOS News and Speculation
It has been awhile since I last wrote about webOS. Over the last few months the fate of our beloved mobile operating system has been up in the air. On December 9th, we learned that HP will be giving webOS a stay of execution... in the form of making the operating system an open source project. What does that mean exactly? Not entirely sure. The type of licensing HP will pick is still unclear. Android, for example, is an open source project under the Apache License. The Apache License allows companies to make changes to the OS without having to provide code of their changes. This allows these companies to keep their enhancements to themselves, perhaps giving them an edge over other versions of the OS. If HP does pick this license it may draw phone manufacturers, giving them another alternative to using Android.
It is unclear how HP will be able to make money off of this decision. Google itself doesn't make money from Android licensing fees to third parties or app sales. Google makes their money from mobile advertisements in Apps. Could HP create or purchase their own mobile advertisement platform to compete with Google's AdMob or Apple's iAds, or is it too late?
HP has said that they do not plan to build any phones in the future, but plan to develop a new tablet (The TouchPad 2?) in the near future.
Free Classical Music!!!
I discovered this site sometime ago and was reminded of it while browsing through my old bookmarks. Musopen is a warehouse of free public domain classical music. After creating a free account you will be able to download a vast catalog of mp3's and sheet music. Musopen let's you browse by composer, performer, instrument, period, or form. If you do enjoy the site, I would recommend donating to the cause so they can pay for other performances to be recorded and uploaded for the use of the internet community.
Musopen Screencap
Opera Unite: Sharing Data
One of the coolest features about the new Opera Browser is it's ability to share data with other people. Opera Unite, is a way to share music, files, and even host a website from your own computer. All you need is an Opera Account, the latest build of Opera with Unite, and an internet connection. Once you setup a directory to keep your files in, Unite will create a url others can use to access your computer. You can password protect your files or share them publicly.
Check out this video from the Opera Unite Support Site to learn more:
Public Transit & the Palm Pre
For a few months now, the iPhone has had an app for the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). MassTransit(TM), created by the local Cambridge, MA company Sparkfish Creative, includes schedule information for all MBTA services. There isn't an app like this for the Palm Pre just yet, but I've grouped a few apps together that provides a similar functionality.
First on my list is Google Maps. Google Maps has transit directions. All you have to do is put in your current location (or have auto locate enabled which will enter your location for you), your destination, and the time you are leaving. It will give you a list of various times and routes you can choose from.
Google Maps Transit Directions
Second on my list is FeedReader. After you input the MBTA's RSS Feed in to the app, you'll be able to view all of the service alerts that the MBTA posts (Note: There will be a lot of service alerts throughout the day).
FeedReader MBTA RSS
Finally, third on my list is PDF Viewer. The MBTA provides a downloadable map of it's transit services in Portable Document Format. Although I don't use this (since I have memorized the MBTA's map), I have included this to round out my list.
PDF Viewer MBTA Map
Although this is not the most eligant solution, until a developer creates a fully functioning app for the MBTA, this is a free alternative for people living in the Boston area using the Palm Pre.
Backing Up DVD’s (Personal Use Only)
Making a backup of a DVD should be easy... right? Wrong! All recently released DVD's from big film companies have some sort of encryption to prevent you from creating back ups. Why would you want to create a backup of a movie that you paid for and own? DVD's, like CD's are vulnerable to scratches and dents. If this happens the disk becomes unreadable meaning you'd have to shell out another $20 to get a new copy with the risk of it happening again.
There are a few open source and freeware options that are available but fall short when it comes to the most recent movies (such as "Star Trek" 2009). Options that I have used in the past required a set of several programs to produce 1 movie usually taking a few hours to complete.
Recently, the good people at Giveaway of the Day and Digiarty Software allowed people to freely download WinX DVD Ripper Platinum. Normally $29.95, this program has performed flawlessly (with one exception). Even at $29.95, this software is a bargain considering it creates a backup of your movie library preventing you from losing potentially hundreds of dollars if your disks become broken.
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum
I also suggest downloading the open source program XBMC, which is a media player and entertainment hub for digital media on your computer. This program is able to use the internet to download information about your movies to sort them (by actor, year, genre, etc.). By enabling UPnP, game consoles like the PS3 will be able to see your computer as a media server and you will be able to steam your movies from your computer to your TV.
Disclaimer: This website is NOT endorsing the use of these programs for illegal file sharing. Use these programs for personal backup of DVD's you already own. Use these programs at your own risk.
New Computer? Need Apps? Enter Ninite.
If you're like me, you may have just purchased a Windows 7 machine. Once you find and buy a new computer, the "helpful" staff may suggest software you should buy to install on your new machine (and give them more commission). Before you splurge a few hundred dollars more, you should check out Ninite which lets you download several free and open source programs all at once.
The simple interface splits the software into several categories (Web Browsers, Messaging, Media, etc.). Just check off the programs that you wish to download and install and press the large green "Get Installer" button all the way at the bottom. Save the installer to your desktop and run it. It installs everything with no need for user input.
Ninite Easy PC Setup
I tried this to download three pieces of software and it worked seamlessly. This should be the first stop for anyone looking for new (free) applications for their systems.
Wanna Type Faster?
Sitting at a computer has made everyone a typist. If you want to be able to work proficiently, you should probably look into... I don't know... learning how to type! Typing tutor software has been around for as long as I can remember (Who doesn't remember those old DOS programs? Anyone?). Software can typically run you from between $10 and $50, but why pay for something when a community of programmers can offer you something just as good but for free? Enter the open source program TypeFaster Typing Tutor.
TypeFaster User Install
The beauty of this little gem is that you can setup multiple user accounts and track your progress and even use it in the classroom. There is a Teacher mode which allows you to view the progress of all the accounts (During the install you have to select Multiple Users and Support for Teachers). If you add multiple users, once you open the program you'll have to setup a new user (or teacher) before you can begin (single users can ignore this).
TypeFaster GUI
The user interface is dominated by an onscreen keyboard which highlights the key you should press in red. A white text box displays your cursor underneath the character you need to type as well. There are several built-in lessons and the software also lets you make a customized one. You can track your progress and even play a typing inspired jet fighter game.
I have used this at several computer labs and have had much success with it. One of the draw backs I have seen with similar programs is that there is too much flash. This can cause a distraction especially with younger children. This program does what it is supposed to do and does it well with a simple interface.
And the award goes to… Portable Apps!
Since it's big win at the 2009 SourceForge Community Choice Awards, I thought we should take a look at one of my favorite Open Source Projects.
I use a variety of software and time and time again when I'm at work I find myself using this one quite a bit. The software I'm talking about is Portable Apps. Like it sounds, it is software on the go. It can be run from any USB Drive or even an iPod connected via USB. What would the advantage of this be? Say you need to print a word document at a friend's house... then you come to realize that your friend doesn't have Word or OpenOffice. You're up a creek without a paddle... right? Wrong! The very same USB Drive that you have the document on can now be used to run a portable version of OpenOffice. Pretty neat huh?
Portable Apps
Installing Portable Apps to you USB is straightforward. Download the installation file to your computer. There are a couple of choices to choose from; the Suite (with no Applications), Suite Lite (with an assortment of Applications), and Suite Standard (with the Suite Lite Apps plus OpenOffice). Once downloaded, plug in your USB drive and install the program to the USB's root (when you plug in your USB, it will be given a letter drive such as "F:\"). This could take awhile depending on which Suite you're installing. (For more info on installing the Suite and other apps check out their support section. )
Portable Apps has a wide variety of open source software in portable form that you can choose from. At last count they had 72 programs available plus the attractive suite to access them from. Programs range from the aforementioned OpenOffice.org to Gimp and utilities like 7-Zip. So be more productive... and don't be stuck without your paddle... err usb drive.
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