Lee Mathews
The Pas, MB, Canada - http://
Filed under: Windows, Google, Freeware
AdSense on your desktop: Google starts embedding ads in Google Earth
by Lee Mathews Nov 23rd 2009
Everyone cringed when Microsoft announced that Office 2010 Starter would be partially ad-supported, and it looks as though advertising in desktop apps may be something we'll just have to get used to. As Amit Agarwal at Digital Inspiration found out, Google Earth is now showcasing sponsored links as you search for destinations.
While the ads aren't all that intrusive, they're still there. Unlike ads on Google's web services, you're not going to be blocking them with AdBlock Plus. In that respect the change makes perfect sense - why wouldn't Google want to deliver content-aware ads in their own applications where they can't be avoided (not as easily as installing an add-on anyway)?
Agarwal also finds the change noteworthy because Google currently doesn't allow 3rd party developers to integrate AdSense into their desktop applications. If this development signals a paradigm shift at Google, get ready for an avalanche of apps to follow suit.
Google wouldn't try anything like this with the recently-announced Chrome OS, would they? Share your thoughts in the comments!
While the ads aren't all that intrusive, they're still there. Unlike ads on Google's web services, you're not going to be blocking them with AdBlock Plus. In that respect the change makes perfect sense - why wouldn't Google want to deliver content-aware ads in their own applications where they can't be avoided (not as easily as installing an add-on anyway)?
Agarwal also finds the change noteworthy because Google currently doesn't allow 3rd party developers to integrate AdSense into their desktop applications. If this development signals a paradigm shift at Google, get ready for an avalanche of apps to follow suit.
Google wouldn't try anything like this with the recently-announced Chrome OS, would they? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Troubleshooting, Windows x64
Auslogics Disk Defrag buffs up, adds disk optimization in v3
by Lee Mathews Nov 20th 2009
Defragmentation (like backing up) is one of those chores I don't think about doing all that often. And I really should, since my desktop at work is a cluttered mess of downloads, screenshots, temp files, and other digital flotsam.
When Auslogics mentioned they've got a new version of their Disk Defrag tool available for download, I figured why not take it for a spin? My drive could use the TLC, after all. The app is available with an installer or as a portable app and is free for home use.
One small feature worth a mention is that Disk Defrag supports Windows 7's superbar progress indicator. You can choose to defragment your entire drive or target specific files or folders. It's also got a number of other smart features, like free space consolidation and intelligent system file placement. Disk Defrag can also be set to run automatically when your system is idle.
The installable version can also clean up your temp files prior to defragging, minimize to the system tray, run scheduled jobs, and integrate into your right-click context menu.
Tidying up my drive's 130Gb+ of disorganization took about 25 minutes. Disk Defrag also includes a new optimization feature which Auslogics recommends running once a week. It takes quite a bit longer, but if it helps keep your drive healthy and running at peak performance it's time well spent.
When Auslogics mentioned they've got a new version of their Disk Defrag tool available for download, I figured why not take it for a spin? My drive could use the TLC, after all. The app is available with an installer or as a portable app and is free for home use.
One small feature worth a mention is that Disk Defrag supports Windows 7's superbar progress indicator. You can choose to defragment your entire drive or target specific files or folders. It's also got a number of other smart features, like free space consolidation and intelligent system file placement. Disk Defrag can also be set to run automatically when your system is idle.The installable version can also clean up your temp files prior to defragging, minimize to the system tray, run scheduled jobs, and integrate into your right-click context menu.
Tidying up my drive's 130Gb+ of disorganization took about 25 minutes. Disk Defrag also includes a new optimization feature which Auslogics recommends running once a week. It takes quite a bit longer, but if it helps keep your drive healthy and running at peak performance it's time well spent.
Filed under: News, Mozilla, Browsers
Firefox Army clashes with IE in Central Europe, wins browser share crown
The Firefox army is hundreds of millions of soldiers strong. After successfully taking the southernmost continent on the globe, the Mozilla Militia continues to run full speed ahead across Europe. Today's battlefront: the central region.
As you can see in the header image, Firefox and IE recently crossed paths. The chart shows data gathered from nine countries - Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine - from January 1, 2007 to the present. Internet Explorer continues its downward slide, Firefox has now claimed almost 50% of the browser share in Central Europe.
As you can see in the header image, Firefox and IE recently crossed paths. The chart shows data gathered from nine countries - Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine - from January 1, 2007 to the present. Internet Explorer continues its downward slide, Firefox has now claimed almost 50% of the browser share in Central Europe.
So go ahead, EU, complain all you want about Microsoft unfairly using their influence to ensure everyone's PC is running IE. It's obviously not hurting Firefox (or Opera, for that matter).
Maybe users really are smart enough to find and install their own browser? Who'da thunk it.
[via Mozilla]
Filed under: Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Social Software
Fishbowl is a kick-ass Facebook client for Windows 7
by Lee Mathews Nov 20th 2009
When Microsoft introduced us to Silverlight 4 the other day, they also demoed a slick Facebook application. It's called Fishbowl, and it's now available for download. Not only does Fishbowl provide a nice, clean display of your stream (read: free of sidebar annoyances), but it's packed with excellent features, responsive, and extremely intuitive to use.
It's also ready to add some sizzle to your Windows 7 taskbar with jumplist and Aero Peek goodness. Read on after the break!
It's also ready to add some sizzle to your Windows 7 taskbar with jumplist and Aero Peek goodness. Read on after the break!
Filed under: OS Updates, Google, Ask DLS
Ask DLS: Now that you've seen Chrome OS do you still care?
As you'd expect from a "browser OS," Google pretty much admits that Chrome OS isn't really intended for offline use. They see devices running Chrome as a compliment to the existing systems in your home or office. Local storage? That's not really part of the big picture either. Everything you save heads straight for the cloud.
And Google's staunch "no third party apps" stance means that no, you won't be running Firefox on Chrome OS. Google doesn't want other apps playing in their sandbox, it would seem.
Personally, it looks like I'll enjoy playing with Chrome OS but I can't see myself relying on it for day-to-day computing. I'd prefer to at least run a lightweight but fuller-featured linux distribution like xPud or Crunchbang where I have more flexibility.
Canonical plans to let the GIMP off his leash in Ubuntu 10.04
"Bring out the GIMP."
"GIMP's sleeping."
"On second thought, let him sleep. We're not gonna be using him anymore anyway."
You heard Zed and Maynard right. It looks as though Canonical's plans for Lucid Lynx don't include the OSS Photoshop alternative.
Prevailing sentiment seems to be that the GIMP is is considered to be a 'professional' application and not necessary for the average ...Gladinet updates to 1.4, now with added cloud backup kung-fu
by Lee Mathews Nov 19th 2009 {2 comments}
Gladinet is an excellent way to plug your Windows desktop in to a number of cloud storage providers - like Amazon, SkyDrive, Google Docs - as well as your own FTP and WebDAV servers. They also recently added a nifty cloud-to-cloud backup feature. In the update to version 1.4, Gladinet has built in the ability to selectively back up specific file types to your remote storage. Want to make sure ...Hot on the heels of Flash 10.1, Microsoft unveils Silverlight 4 beta
Weird Wednesday: Billy Mays app awesomes up your CAPS LOCK KEY!
by Lee Mathews Nov 18th 2009 {10 comments}
John Haller is pretty well-known in software circles - he's the guy behind PoartableApps.com. What you may not have known is that he's a big Billy Mays fan. And like a lot of Billy Mays fans, John was a little misty when Billy shuffled off this mortal coil earlier this year. What better way for a coder to commemorate a fallen icon than with an awesome app? Enter BILLY MAYS CAPS LOCK! While it ...Windows 7 taskbar previews to be disabled by default in Firefox 3.6
Those of you running Firefox on Windows 7 who were excited when taskbar previews landed, get ready for a little disappointment. It looks as though getting Aero features ready in time for the release of Firefox 3.6 is no longer part of the game plan.
It was already known that jump list support won't be arriving until later on. After a lengthy discussion on Bugzilla, the decision was made to ...
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
