Firefox 3 makes it easy to select a default email application like Outlook or Thunderbird. When you click a mailto: link on a web site, that application will automatically open.

On Firefox 3 RC1 you can also choose a webmail application like Yahoo! Mail or Gmail.

• Selecting Yahoo! Mail as your default email provider is simple. Just hit the Tools button, select Options, navigate to the Applications tab, and select Yahoo! Mail from the dropdown list next to “mailto.”
• Lifehacker, here are the steps to add Gmail:

1. Type about:config in the URL bar, and click the I’ll be careful button to continue.
2. Type gecko.handlerservice into the filter field and find the listing that ends with allowRegisterFromDifferentHost. Click this button to change the value from false to true.
3. Copy this line of code into the URL bar:
   
   javascript:window.navigator.registerProtocolHandler(“mailto”,”https://mail.google.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s”,”GMail”)

4. A window will pop up asking if you want to add GMail, say yes and you should be all set.

Next time you click a mailto: link on a web site, you should get a choice of services to use including Gmail. You can then set Gmail as your preferred email service.

Source: Lifehacker via DownloadSquad

Tags: email, firefox, firefox 3, gmail, internet, mailto, mozilla, yahoo

Cory Doctorow wrote this Creative Commons-licensed fiction story for Radar Online magazine.

  Une version française est disponible ici

“Give me six lines written by the most honorable of men, and I will find an excuse in them to hang him.” –Cardinal Richelieu

“We don’t know enough about you.” –Google CEO Eric Schmidt

Greg landed at San Francisco International Airport at 8 p.m., but by the time he’d made it to the front of the customs line, it was after midnight. He’d emerged from first class, brown as a nut, unshaven, and loose-limbed after a month on the beach in Cabo (scuba diving three days a week, seducing French college girls the rest of the time). When he’d left the city a month before, he’d been a stoop-shouldered, potbellied wreck. Now he was a bronze god, drawing admiring glances from the stews at the front of the cabin.

Four hours later in the customs line, he’d slid from god back to man. His slight buzz had worn off, sweat ran down the crack of his ass, and his shoulders and neck were so tense his upper back felt like a tennis racket. The batteries on his iPod had long since died, leaving him with nothing to do except eavesdrop on the middle-age couple ahead of him.

“The marvels of modern technology,” said the woman, shrugging at a nearby sign: Immigration–Powered by Google.

“I thought that didn’t start until next month?” The man was alternately wearing and holding a large sombrero.

Googling at the border. Christ. Greg had vested out of Google six months before, cashing in his options and “taking some me time"–which turned out to be less rewarding than he’d expected. What he mostly did over the five months that followed was fix his friends’ PCs, watch daytime TV, and gain 10 pounds, which he blamed on being at home instead of in the Googleplex, with its well-appointed 24-hour gym.

He should have seen it coming, of course. The U.S. government had lavished $15 billion on a program to fingerprint and photograph visitors at the border, and hadn’t caught a single terrorist. Clearly, the public sector was not equipped to Do Search Right.

The DHS officer had bags under his eyes and squinted at his screen, prodding at his keyboard with sausage fingers. No wonder it was taking four hours to get out of the god damned airport.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2007, 24, access, account, air, airport, analysis, arc, arms, art, ATT, batteries, blog, book, brown, bt, camera, card, cars, ces, columbia, communication, computer, CTU, design, digital, dress, engine, explain, Festival, fiction, find, flash, free, Fun, google, google maps, History, HP, ia, ict, identify, im, International, internet, ipod, ITU, keyboard, King, lan, laptop, launch, law, LED, LG, light, live, map, MIT, money, network, nomadcom.net, nyt, officer, online, organize, pair, personal data, pet, photo, picture, police, politics, post, power, press, privacy, project, public, raw, release, science, sco, screen, scroogled, search, security, simple, social, soviet, storm, story, suspect, technology, term, terror, theme, touch, upgrade, USA, usage, user, violation, web, webcam, wifi, wonders, world, wp, www, XP, yahoo

It is impressive to see the quantity of bad news that reached Microsoft's headquarters this week.

Motivation may not be at its highest level in Redmond.

• Only 60 millions licenses (sic!) of Windows Vista have been sold. It is rather low considering that includes OEM and Corporate agreements (companies getting Vista licenses as part of their contract, but with no short-term plan to deploy it).

• Yahoo announced the acquisition of Zimbra, an open source server and client software for messaging and collaboration (email, group calendaring, contacts, and web document management and authoring).
• Google welcomed "Presentation", a new addition to the Google Docs & Spreadsheets family which has now all elements to compete with MS Office.
• IBM released the beta version of Symphony, a web-based open source office suite, based on the open document format (ODF).
• International Standard Organization (ISO) rejected Microsoft Office 2007 file format, called Office Open XML (OOXML), to be recognized as an ISO standard. Critics said the format was flawed and laden with MS-specific features.
• SCO group, a Microsoft ally to seize parts of the Linux market, took step of filing for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Last but not least

Microsoft lost its appeal before the European Court of First Instance regarding 2004 European Commission act that found MS abusing of its near-monopoly position. Final  Microsoft's bill in fines (689 millon USD) and penalties could reach about 2.8 billions USD.

Don't worry Bill, on Monday starts another week!  

Tags: 2007, agreement, api, appeal, art, blog, europe, google, ia, ibm, im, International, iso, IT World, lan, language, law, LED, Management, microsoft, nomadcom.net, odf, pet, press, release, sco, space, symphony, term, vista, web, windows, windows vista, wp, www, yahoo

AirTalkr is another multiple IM client application immediately available in its beta version for Windows, Linux , Mac OSX as well as on Web-based version.

IM supported protocols are MSN, ICQ, GTalk, Yahoo and AIM but AirTalkr also connects you to your YouTube and Flickr accounts. In addition, AirTalkr creator Hu Shunjie comes with an interesting concept called "AirCards". AirCards are profiling cards where you can add of your buddies information such their Twitter and blog updates, their photos on Flickr as well as their profiles on MySpace and Friendster.

AirTalkr is a very light application but requires the installation of Abobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) which enables developers to use Flash, Flex, Ajax and HTML to create rich interface applications.

 

The AirTalkr version is still beta and some bugs have been reported but I personaly like this very smooth application and really looking to see what will come next (Skype, more social networking plateforms supported, etc..)

It definitively worth a try. Did I mention that AirTalkr is free and totally Ads-Free (Thanks Hu!). 

Download AirTalkr here and Abobe AIR here.

Tags: 2007, account, adobe, aim, air, airtalkr, Ajax, blog, card, flash, Flex, Flickr, free, GTalk, HP, Hu Shunjie, ia, icq, im, install, instant messenger, King, lan, LED, light, msn, network, nomadcom.net, pda, photo, skype, social, social networking, space, twit, Twitter, update, web, windows, wp, www, XP, yahoo, youtube

Whisher, a Spanish start-up, backed by Switzerland’s leading phone company, Swisscom, and the venture firm Benchmark Capital Europe is apparently very active for few month now. The principle of Whisher is that Wireless Access to the Internet should be free and accessible from everywhere which is basically the same concept than FON Movimiento, except that you don't need to purchase any specific hardware.

Whisher' users are requested to download an application through which they can share their wireless access (works also with WEP or WPA connections) with other Whisher members 

The newly released version 2.0 beta of the software offers more than just storing and encrypting connections' passwords such:

• Wireless connection manager
• WiFi sharing
• Chat with other users connected on the same wireless access point.
• Multi Instant Messenger support (Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, GoogleTalk, Twitter, Jabber)
• File Transfer (with users sharing the same wireless AP)
• LAN Support
• GeoLocation
• Other Networks connections (access via commercial access; hotspot, etc..). FON is supported too.
• Around You. Gives you informations about coming events, restaurants around the wireless connection you are currently using.

New services that should be available soon :

• Voice Support
• Global File Sharing 

Plateform supported : Windows XP, Linux, Mac O/S. Vista not available yet.

The software is still beta and some stability and registation problems have been reported. More information on their Blog

Tags: 2007, access, aim, api, art, blog, capital, ces, connection, connections, europe, event, fon, fon movimiento, free, global, google, HP, ia, icq, im, instant messenger, internet, lan, location, messenger, Mobile Communications, msn, network, nomadcom.net, password, phone, problems, release, sco, services, share, sharing, swiss, swisscom, switzerland, Telecommunications, twit, Twitter, user, vista, whisher, wifi, windows, wireless, wp, www, XP, yahoo

Mashable has established a +90 list of most Instant Messaging (IM) tools available with respectively

• 30 single IM system clients
• 15 Multi-Networks applications
• 20 Web-based solutions (ideal to bypass corporate firewall ?)
• 15 IM solutions for mobile terminal running on Symbian, Windows Mobile and even iPhone.

Despite of a large quantity of different software to be used on most common IM network, it is interesting to notice that most multi-network solutions provide access to most popular IM networks (Yahoo, MSN, GoogleTalk, ICQ) but only very few have added Skype in their supported network list.

In resume difficult to sort out 2 or 3 solutions which would make a real difference with others. For my own use, I would narrow my final selection on some of the following ones:

• Multi-Network: Pidgin, Trilian
• Web-Based : eBuddy (w/mobile support), Meebo
• Mobile : Fring, Agile

Tags: 2007, access, agile, blog, ces, ebuddy, fring, google, ia, icq, im, instant messenger, iphone, lan, list, meebo, mobile, Mobile Communications, msn, network, nomadcom.net, phone, pidgin, resume, skype, space, symbian, Telecommunications, term, trilian, web, windows, WM5, WM6, wp, www, yahoo

Another multi protocol Instant Messaging (IM) application for mobile device (Symbian and Windows Mobile) is Fring (still a Beta). This free mobile VoIP software gives the possibility to communicate with Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Twitter.

Fring also supports SkypeOut as well as SIP-based services such as GizmoProject, VoIPStunt, among many others. Real-Time contact presence is also taken into consideration. 

Once connected using packet switching network (Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE, etc..) you can then select which communication option you want to use to establish a voice communication: Fring, SkypeOut, SIP or simply the GSM network.

Unlike Agile Messenger, Fring doesn't propose file or photo transfer and Yahoo protocol has not been taken on board.

To install the software on a supported device, once the installation page filled up, a SMS is sent with the link to your terminal. Your phone number will be used as User-ID. 

While doing some text and voice test using my HTC S620 (Dopod C720) I have very few points that require, on my point of view, some improvements:

• Different services cannot be managed individually
• Switch OFF external speaker while on voice call
• Add File, photo, video transfer

  test continues..

Source: SmartphoneMag

Tags: 2007, agile, air, art, blog, C720, Cavalier, ces, communication, dopod, free, fring, google, google talk, gsm, HP, htc, ia, im, install, instant messenger, lan, LED, list, live, messenger, mobile, Mobile Communications, msn, network, nomadcom.net, phone, photo, presence, project, S620, services, skype, smartphone, sms, space, symbian, term, twit, Twitter, user, video, windows, WM5, WM6, wp, www, yahoo

Agilemobile.com, a Bangkok based company, has released the final version of Agile Messenger 3 which is a "all-in-one" Instant Messaging client for mobile terminal.

Agile supports MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ Jabber & GoogleTalk can carry all type of messages (IM, Voice, Video, Photo) and is available for Nokia, Sony Ericsson (Symbian) as well as for Windows Mobile devices (Pocket PC and Smartphone running on WM2002, WM2003 or WM5).

Price is 50 USD per licence.

For corporate users 2 options are available.

1. a version of Agile Messenger that can be customized to reflect corporate identity
2. a LCS client version for that connect directly to Microsoft Live Communication Server without additional gateway.

Installation is straight forward with an *.exe package, or *cab files can be downloaded directly to the mobile terminal. 

I have made few test, and found the interface very pleasant & easy to use. File and photo transfer works fine, specially if you're connected through a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Cons:

• Could not update Twitter using GTalk IM protocol. Twitter user is seen online, but sent messages are not published on Twitter page.
• Skype support would certainly turn this application to a "must have" specially if the possibility of using SkypeOut gateway is given to contact people by phone.

While reaching the end of 7 days trial period given by Agile, I just found another multi-protocol IM tool for PDA and Smartphone which is free: Fring

A quick review of Fring will follow shortly is now published.

Tags: 2003, 2007, agile, aim, art, Bangkok, blog, ces, communication, ericsson, free, fring, google, GTalk, ia, icq, im, install, instant messenger, lan, live, messenger, microsoft, mobile, Mobile Communications, msn, nokia, nomadcom.net, online, pda, phone, photo, release, review, skype, smartphone, sony, space, symbian, term, twit, Twitter, update, user, video, web, windows, WM5, WM6, wp, www, XP, yahoo

There were in May 2007 284 millions Internet users in Asia, according comScore study, who are online an average of 20.2 hours and view 2171 pages per month while the worldwide average is 25.2 hours and 2519 pages.

Asia region represents the third of the Worldwide Internet population. China leads with 91.5 millions users (they only represent 9% of the country's population), followed by Japan (53 million) and South Korea (26.3 million). Internet users of these 3 countries represent, all together, 60% of all Asia-Pacific Internet users.

In term of usage rate, South Korea in on the top with 65%, closely followed by Australia (62%), New Zeland (60%) and Hong Kong (59%), India is at the rear with only 3%.

If Google is the most popular web site worldwide, ComScore's study shows that in Asia Yahoo remains the prefered site in Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. Meanwhile, Microsoft domains are the most visited in Australia, China, and New Zealand, with the Seoul-based NHN Corporation taking top honors in South Korea.

Source: The Register

Tags: 2007, asia, asia pacific, blog, gap, google, ia, im, internet, japan, King, lan, microsoft, nomadcom.net, online, population, sco, space, study, taiwan, term, the register, uk, USA, usage, user, web, world, worldwide, wp, www, yahoo

I found an interesting review made by ExtremeTech about some of currently available multi-services Instant Messenger (IM) clients supporting at least all 3 majors IM services (MSN, Yahoo, ICQ). While the option for Mac users is limited to Adium, it exists few Web 2.0 based solutions such meebo and eBuddy and a bunch of classic software for Windows-based computer. Etremetech's prefered choice is the long existing Trillian Pro version (25 USD) but they also speak about PC-World prefered SightSpeed (also for MacOS) and the Swiss Army knife-like Raketu (I plan to test both of them in the coming days).

The list will grow up again with soon release of Orgoo, which aims to integrate email, IM, chat, SMS, and video messaging into one interface.

To sum up the six services in this review roundup, here's a table comparing their features:

	Adium	eBuddy	Meebo	Meetro	Pidgin	Trillian
Services supported:
AIM	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
MSN/Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Yahoo	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ICQ	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IRC	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Jabber/Google	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes**
Bonjour/Rendezvous	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes**
Multiple simultaneous service login	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ad free	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tabbed message window	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Contacts in groups	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Message history	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Text formatting	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Themes/skins	Yes	No	Just colors	No	No	Yes
Group chat support	Only join existing	Yes	Yes	No	Only join existing	Yes
Buddy icons	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Audio chat	No	No	No	No	No	Yes**
Video chat	No	No	No	No	No	Yes**
Mac/Windows	Yes/No	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes	Yes*/No	No/Yes
Web-based	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Plugins	No	No	No	Yes, but only 2 available	Yes	Yes

Source : ExtremeTech 

 

Tags: 2007, 24, adium, aim, art, ATT, blog, ces, computer, ebuddy, fon, free, gaim, google, History, ia, icq, im, instant messenger, Internet World, lan, list, login, meebo, meetro, messenger, MIT, mobile, Mobile Communications, msn, nomadcom.net, orgoo, pet, pidgin, plugin, raketu, release, review, services, sightspeed, sms, story, swiss, theme, trillian, user, video, web, web 2.0, windows, world, wp, www, yahoo