new facebook filters let you control news feed

Facebook's newest improvement is one that for once probably won't generate drama and complaints. This is because it makes it easier to sort through the news feed. Drop down menus allow users to view only what they choose to. Users can also choose from lists of friends. However if you move from the page you are on the choices you previously made don't stay. The stand-out filter is the Status Updates, which is a streamlined way to read what your friends are up to without the clutter of photos, links, etc. Ultimately this is a cleaner and easier way to utilize the news feed which could improve the user's experience.

Retro iPhone Dock

Although there are many iPhone docks out there, a newly designed one actually converts your iPhone into retro land line phone. The iPhone X has been designed by a Japanese home electronics company to function as a land line phone while simultaneously charging your phone. Once docked into the iPhone X your iPhone will work as a keypad for the land line phone and the receiver can easily be used as it is used in regular land line phones. It will also be able to be synced to iTunes if needed. I'm not sure how much more useful this is than just using the phone regularly but I guess it could be useful or fun in the novelty sense of it.

Virtually every search engine, companies with a big web presence, etc. gather user's browser history and other personal information in order to improve their services and better target the user. The FTC is proposing a "Do Not Track" feature for Internet browsers that would allow users to opt out completely and protect their privacy. Users do not always have control over the amount or type of data stored by companies and that data can therefore be used against the user's wishes. If you have a Google account you are able to keep this data in check, however this isn't true for all search engines. All major search engines gather history for a period of time (3-18 months) unless explicitly blocked by the user.

The FTC states that industry efforts to address privacy through self-regulation "have been too slow, and up to now have failed to provide adequate and meaningful protection". In addition to making policy recommendations, the FTC has said it will take action against companies that cross the line with consumer data and violate consumers' privacy. Consumers should be presented with choices about the collection and sharing of their data at the time and in the context in which they are making decisions.

Green Computing

The latest way to be more environmentally conscious is to save your computer files differently. The conservation organization WWF has recently launched its own file type. Basically it is identical to a PDF with one exception-it can't be printed. This is an attempt to try and reduce the amount of paper wasted in offices around the world. Offices and educational settings use ridiculous amounts of paper for mostly unnecessary reasons only to simply discard the print outs soon after.

For files that don't need to be printed, users can choose this format (.WWF) and then distribute the documents electronically. Users would then be able to view the document but not select "file-print". To use this file type a small bit of software needs to be downloaded from saveaswwwf. Additionally, a little note about saving paper is added to the bottom of all documents.

While I'm unsure this file format will actually be embraced, it seems like a step in the right direction to reduce paper wasting, and if anything will at least spread some awareness. The WWF format is essentially a plugin that is Mac-only for now, but coming to Windows soon.

ZTE Peel Case

Although extremely popular the iPod Touch has always been seen as an “almost-iPhone”. The one thing it lacks is a mobile wireless antenna and without 3G it will never replace a smartphone. Sprint is trying to change all that with its new ZTE Peel, which is basically a 3G hotspot that takes in a 3G signal from Sprint that provides a wi-fi network that any wi-fi device can access. Although there are already similar technologies out there this one is specifically designed for the iPod Touch.

In fact an iPod Touch with a ZTE Peel even has some advantages over an iPhone. It is a cheaper device that is contract free. The ZTE Peel can support up to two other Wi-Fi devices, a feature for which AT&T charges $20 per month on the iPhone. Additionally this product is for Sprint, which many claim is a more reliable service than AT&T.

Still, this isn’t exactly an iPhone. Most obviously, an iPod Touch is more than twice the thickness of the iPhone 4. Secondly, the case only supports the second and third generation iPod Touch even though the newest generation is more like an iPhone 4 with a camera , ultra sharp screen and speedy processor. Also there’s the fact that there is no possibility of a voice plan. Lastly, an encased iPod Touch suffers from a reduced battery life.

Despite the few drawbacks, being able to give your iPod Touch instant phone like capabilities seems pretty cool. For many people a voice plan is pretty unnecessary anyway and eliminates expensive contracts. The ZTE Peel is $80 in Sprint stores and all you have to pay is $30 for 1GB of bandwidth.

Idle Chatter

If you are a heavy conversationalist on Facebook, there is a new desktop based alternative to the standard Facebook chat application called Chit Chat. This app is designed specifically for chatting with your Facebook friends and offers a user friendly and intuitive interface. After downloading and installing the software all you have to do is log in using your Facebook username and password. You can then import whatever contacts you want from Facebook. Although you log in using your Facebook credentials, Chit Chat runs independently of Facebook, so you are not actually logged into the site. This allows you to chat with your contacts without viewing everyone's status updates, etc.

Chit Chat resembles older versions of MSN Live Messenger so anyone with previous experience with that or any other instant messenger should be able to use this with no problem. The interface is pretty simple and can't be customized design-wise, but offers a good selections of features for chat.

Contacts are shown as either offline or online and the user can categorize them as they choose. The chat window is presented as floating tabs which represent the conversations that are open at the present time. You can type text which you can format simply (bold, italics) and insert emoticons. You can also save and log conversations.

Basically all Chit Chat is is a slightly more sophisticated version of Facebook Chat. If you're used to an IM with all the trimmings this probably isn't for you. However if all you want is a more convienient way to Facebook chat this does the job.

Adobe Edge

A tool being developed by Adobe, called Edge, is an HTML5 tool that makes it easy for web developers and designers to create animations and transitions without having to go through lines of HTML5 code. As with the announcement of HTML5, Adobe Edge is predicted to further quicken the demise of Flash. Edge will focus on choreographing various elements within an animation. Creating an animation with HTML5 is not in itself difficult, although getting the movement and transformation of various elements to move where you want them to, when you want them to, can be. Adobe is working to bring these elements into an actual tool.

Edge's interface will be similar to Flash. It will have a stage window displaying the layout of the HTML5 page, a timeline window that will show the modifications of elements over time, and a layers panel to indentify DOM elements. By selecting a layer you would be able to see that layer's properties in the property explorer, which supports the new CSS transformations in 2D and 3D. Furthermore Edge will also use "actions" and "symbols" like Flash and offer a source code editing system like Dreamweaver, so users should have at least some knowledge of coding in order to identify and avoid problems within the code. Adobe Edge is still a prototype but has been demoed; various concepts are being looked into to make this an actuality sometime in the near future.