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.

iHome for iPad

iHome, the leading supplier for iPhone/iPod speaker solutions, has announced the availability of the iA100 Bluetooth Stereo System for iPad, iPhone, and iPod. iA100 is an app-enhanced, Bluetooth enabled FM radio alarm clock. This is the first product from iHome to support the iPad and its unique capabilities. It is also one of the first docking speaker products designed to dock and charge the iPad while you sleep.

The iA100's top docking system has a universal, highly versatile dock design that supports charging, playback and app-enhanced communications. Once you connect a device (ipad/iPhone/iPod) via Bluetooth pairing, the iA100 becomes a wireless entertainment multi-tasker with a variety of features. These include: a stand-alone speakerphone with echo cancellation, turning all Bluetooth enabled phones into a speakerphone; streaming of audio from music and movies, and customized connections with iHome apps (iHome+Sleep and iHome+Radio). Lastly it uses 4 speakers in a compact stereo configuration to deliver superior quality sound. The iA100 is available for purchase in stores nation wide or on www.ihomeaudio.com.

3D Slideshow: LightSpace

It's possible that soon no one will ever have to sit through a boring Power Point presentation ever again. Microsoft's LightSpace Technology is about to make presentations fun. The LightSpace prototype projects the contents of a Power Point slide onto any solid surface. You can then touch and pick up virtual items from the display. You can move items and even carry them across the room.

The technology works by using projectors, motion tracking sensors and depth sensing cameras. A projected light beam will serve as the central control. To perform commands you would move your hand along the light beam to select a specific function, then hold your hand over that menu for a few seconds to activate the command. LightSpace creates a full 3D image of the room and then identifies the projected media that a user is interacting with.

Microsoft stresses that this is still a prototype and has a long way to being completed and out on the market. Researchers are still exploring how to make it the most effective and how it will interact with multiple users. One downside that must be kept in mind is the possibility that a presentation with multiple active surfaces could be distracting or hard to follow. However if used wisely it could help to engage audiences and make presentations more interactive. LightSpace is due to be demonstrated this week at the User Interface and Software Technology Conference in New York City.

Awareness! The Headphone App

Sometimes we just want to shut out the world around us and put on our headphones. Unfortunately this can be a dangerous move for pedestrians or cyclists. There have recently been a series of incidents where teenagers and cyclists have been hit by cars because they were listening to music with headphones in. Due to this a company called Essecny has released "Awareness! The Headphone App". This app will allow users to listen to music but will not completely block out other sounds, resulting in the person remaining safe and aware.

The application uses the built in microphone on the iPhone and iPod Touch to record and recognize outside sounds. Then once it determines the street level noise it will bleed in all louder noises through the headphones. No matter the volume level of the music the user will still be able to hear sirens, shouts, direct conversation or any other important sounds.

To avoid filtering in nearby conversations or other unnecessary sounds the user can manually adjust the microphone level. The user can also control what types of sounds they want to be interrupted by, such as car horns or train platform announcements-all without having to remove their headphones. While this app aims to create more street safety I wonder how effective it can actually be. I think this is a good starting point to work towards a higher level of street safety but I wouldn't depend on it entirely. In busier cities like New York it's pretty impossible to escape a cacophony of sounds so how would the device be able to distinguish from warning sounds and everything else going on around you? Or without compromising listening quality? Also if users can customize and pick and choose between what sounds they deem important then it almost defeats the purpose of the whole thing. Overall I think people just need to be more conscious of themselves at all times and if they want to use this app as additional security then that could prove helpful in some ways. Lastly, this app is only compatible with the iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3 and iPod Touch 4 which could prove somewhat limiting.