FLOCK STUFF

Hi everyone. Its been a long time since I updated this blog with soem meaningful news. Sorry for that.

First of all, I am wishing Flock QA engineer Lloyd luck in all his future endeavours. Unfortunatley for the flock team, Lloyd is moving back to Canada with his bride. I wish him luck in all his future endeavours. I am sure almost every flockstar will be very sad to see him go considering how helpful and considerate he is.  We will all miss him. Good luck Lloyd and have fun in Canada.

Secondly, I would have thought most flock users will have heard of it but apprently not. Mr. McTones (thats the only part of his name I know) has released his MiniMapper flock extension. This extension adds support for google maps in the maps topbar. So for all of you who have been complaining about how “sucky” Yahoo maps is(or you just dont like Yahoo Maps), please go download this extension. The extension also gives you a choice in choosing which map service you will like to use(google or yahoo) and also view places nearby in platial.com  McTones has written a whole changelog here so go see it for any additional features.

Also, finally, Flock is getting youtube support. Right now, its really crude but its a step in the right direction. For now in the hourly builds, you can browse youtube videos through the photo topbar. Just go to “All public photos on” and choose youtube. *PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE HOURLY BUILDS ARE NOT STABLE AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE IF YOUR COMPUTER SUDDENLY DECIDES TO GOBBLE UP YOUR DINNER* .

Ok, so its goodbye for now. More flock news and other news coming later on. Oh and if do have some spare ALLPEERS beta invites. Send me a note thorugh the contact page and i will shoot you one.

Blogged with Flock

Songbird Media player on Mac

Rob Lord of the Songbird Media player fame has published a screenshot showing Songbird running on a Mac. Its about time we saw some conclusive evidence that we would be getting Linux and Mac versions of Songbird before the summer is over. Personally,I think it would be a good idea if the Songbird folks set up something telling us the users how far they have gone and the progress they are making cos the long spells with no news about Songbird is lowering the interest in it. Here’s to hoping Mac and Linux ports of Songbird will be released by the end of this month. Oh, and Rob, can you guys also post screenies of Songbird runnig on Linux?

PS: Rob Lord is a Flockstar!!!!!

Blogged with Flock

Peekko:Chat the web

As most of my readers have noted, I am a sucker for an app related to “social web” . I was among the first people to blog about and try out Chatsum. So,I found out about Peekko from a friend and decided to try it out. First of all,Peekko is also a firefox/flock extension  that allows you to chat with other Peekko users about a common website/page. Peekko runs over an irc chat server. Here is a screenshot of Peekko runnig in firefox:

As you can see Peekko is craddled at the bottom of the browser window so as to conserve screen real estate. You can customize the chat window. Also,you are allowed to register your nickname but not a channel. The Peekko toolbar shows you the number of people chatting on a channel and you can toggle both the toolbar and chat window on and off. For those privacy nuts,you can browse without getting any info sent to the Peekko server by just checking the browse invisibly button. Also, you can embed a chat window in your website so that visitors can see what is being said in a channel. Almost all irc commands work here. Though,I have been using chatsum for some time,I very much prefer peekko becuase it has more users onlnie and i am assured to find someone in the main peekko window anytime of the day. Another feature that clinches the deal for Peekko is its translation bot,rbot. You just need to register yourself  for the language you speak and rbot will translate all the chat transcripts into that language. Right now, transaltion is supported for about 8 languages including frech,spanish,portuguese,italian and russian.

Technorati Tags: peekko.firefox, extensions, flock

Flock 0.5.12 – The UPDATE

Just a week after Flock 0.5.11 was released,the Flock Devs have released Flock 0.5.12. Flock 0.5.12 has been released to address a few bugs in Flock 0.5.11. Users of Flock 0.5.11 who also used McAfee VirusScan had spellbound.jar deleted from their chrome folder because McAfee VirusScan thought it was a generic malware. Some users including myself reported this to the Flock Devs and it was discovered that it was a false positive so Lloyd and the other devs have re-ordered spellbound.jar. This was the major bug that was fixed in this new release. Other bugs that were fixed included the breakage of the collections topbar from international characters in favorites.

The upgrade from Flock 0.5.11 to Flock 0.5.12 was really smooth this time. You didn’t have to go delete your old Flock profile or even go download the installer. The auto-update system worked really fine. I am sure this is very good news for Mac users of Flock since most of them lost their blog drafts when they upgraded from Flock 0.4.10 to Flock 0.5.11

Flock is getting nearer and nearer to the 1.0(beta) stage despite all the nay-sayers.

To the Flock Devs,awesome job and keep it up.You guys are the best.

Technorati Tags: flock, bugs, open source,

THE SONGBIRD HAS ARRIVED

Finally,the long awaited release of the Songbird media player has arrived.For you who don’t know what it is(duh),it is a media player built on firefox’s browser engine.It is open source and will run on all platforms but currently runs on only Windows.It is highly customizable with moudules created by users called extensions.I am testing it out and will blog more about it later in the day.It looks and acts like iTunes on steroids. Here is a screenshot of it : Technorati Tags: songbird, open source, media player, itunes, gecko, free,

NEW FEATURES IN CHATSUM

Chatsum,the awesome firefox extension that I wrote about here and here has implemented some new features that it previously lacked.The Chatsum community has been crying for these features and more in chatsum since chatsum was released. So the Chatsum developers have introduced :

1. Scrolling in chat window
2. User preferences(eg. For openong likns in same window or new tab)
3. Live “Users in this room” list
4. Dynamic transcript timestamps

The absence of scrolling in the chat window was a major pain in the rear ends of most chatsum users and its implementation is a huge relief.
As George,one of the devs say,let the stalking begin!!!

Technorati Tags: chat, firefox, firefox extensions, chatsum

MA.GNOLIA:Social bookmarking with a twist

I got an invite to the private beta test of Ma.gnolia somewhere last week. Ma.gnolia is a new social bookmarking service with a twist. Ma.gnolia describes itself as “Found in the new search”. When I first saw it,I thought,it was one of those ridiculous del.icio.us wannabees with extra dots and vowels.(As someone asked,”Where does that darned dot go again?”) . But that isn’t so, Ma.gnolia does have a twist indeed.It allows you to save your bookmarks publicly and privately.Then, Ma.gnolia also allows you to interact with other users in the community by joining groups,making contacts,creating member profiles and sharing boomarks in groups. It is extremely easy to make contacts with other users.You just go to their profile pages and click on an icon to make them your contacts.From then,you can see their recent bookmarks on your page.You can also create groups or join some groups.After you join a group or create one,you can also see the most recent bookmarks from the group on your frontpage.You can aslo see the most recent bookamarks from the Ma.gnolia community. Each bookmark on Ma.gnolia has it owns page you can rate it and also see a preview of the webpage.Also the page shows the name of users that have it on their bookmarks.Also,when bookmarking pages,you can add tags to these pages.Ma.gnolia has a tags page which allows you to see you tags,your contact’s tags,your group’s tags and everyone’s top tags.Most used tags are in bold and in bigger fonts. Also on the profile pages of each Ma.gnolia user,you can find his/her top tags,a bio that the user wrote about him/herself,the user’s recent bookmarks,his/her contacts and groups. Finally,Ma.gnolia allows you to import bookamarks from your browser.Currently,you cannot import bookamrks from Del.icio.us, Blinklist, Furl or Simpy though plans are in place to allow this soon.Ma.gnolia is also creating an API. My only gripes with Ma.gnolia is that,it takes some time before the bookmarks you upload appear on your bookmarks.There is a bookmarklet for your borwser that allows you to add bookmarks to Ma.gnolia from your borwser. There are rumors in the works saying that a toolbar/bookmarklet like the del.icio.us one is being created. Ma.gnolia is currently an invite only beta. You can sign up for an invite on its webpage. A more indepth review can be found here. A screenshot of Ma.gnolia: Technorati Tags: ma.gnolia, social bookmarking, web 2.0, bookmarking,

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Sorry folks,I know I haven’t been blogging up to expectations for the passt month.I have been extremely busy and have also been trying some new beta services out.Tommorow,I am going to blog Ma.gnolia which is another social bookmarking site with a twist. Also I will talk more about the new features in Chatsum and also talk about the new Gtalkr. There are lots of other sites that I will review.So please hold on to your pants till tommorow.Thanks a lot.

*END OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT*

Technorati Tags: ma.gnlia, chatsum, gtalkr, social bookmarking

FLICKRBOX

I have been using this Greasemonkey Script for a very longtime and so I was stunned when I found out that most firefox/flock flickr users didn’t know much about it.The name of this script is Flickrbox.The function of this userscript is to fully preview an image in your browser when you click on the link to the image.Flickrbox is an adaptation of the Lightbox.js script.I can’t really explain it.You gotta see it in action.Here is a screenshot I took of it in action:

You can also watch the demo to see it in action here.I think all flickr users will love it.More can be found about it here and here.
You can download it here.Of ocurse,you need Greasemonkey and Firefox or Flock to use it.

Technorati Tags: greasemonkey, firefox, flock, lightbox.js, flickr

JELLYBARN

Jellybarn is a photosharing social community. It allows you to create free and private communities for friends and family. The communites are created through Jellybarn’s website or through your site with the use of their API. Jellybarn is based on flash instead of Ajax but it is fast. The interface is really slick. The above screenshot is my profile before I had uploaded any pictures.You can upload pictures,save contacts and create groups,create projects,maintain events,email photos and have an onlnie journal.
There are lots of options for uploading images.There is a java uploader,a jellybarn uploader client for Windows and Mac.You can also upload images by email and through your cell phone.
You can create projects with your pictures such as DVD movies, postcards and photo books.
Jellybarn is an excellent service for an alpha service but it still has a lot of road to cover. Jellybarn is currently an invite only beta.I do have a few invites to share.
A more thorough review can be found here.

Technorati Tags: sharing, photosharing, imageesharing, social community, jellybarn

Chatsum

Finally,the long awaited(from last Sunday)release of Chatsum 0.3.If you do not know what Chatsum is,check my earlier post. So I just downloaded the Chatsum extension and started using it.Wow.It looks and feels awesome.Chatsum has a really nice color scheme that would complement every firefox theme.Chatsum is extremely fast.Typed entries appear almost immediately.This may be due to the fact that only a small number of testers are testing it right now.You can also check and see the most active sites(sites with the most chatsummers) and the most commented on sites.There is an option that allows to stick to the chat on one website but continue browsing.If not,chatsum tracks the url in the address bar(the site that you are biewing) and allows you to chat on the website that you are viewing.There is a site tab for chatting about the site and a page tab for page specific chatting.Also,chatsum has an easy way to report bugs. There is a button just under its logo that sends you to where to submit its bugs.Also,Chatsum has been made compatible with Flock.Therefor,flock users can also experience Chatsum in their sidebars. Since chatsum was released not long ago,it doesnt have a lot of features apart from basic chat and bug reporting. The developers of Chatsum, Lee and George, have posted a list of features that are going to be released really soon.The list includes:

• Scrolling in chat window
• Member log-in and “change details” page
• Member profile pages and links to them from the chat transcript
• Live “Users in the room” list
• User blocking
• Skins
• More complex spam reporting/moderating/blocking

The full list can be found here.And to all you privacy advocates,chatsum only sends the chat transcripts and the url that you are chatting on to the Chatsum server.
Lee,one of the developers says Chatsum will remain in closed beta testing for sometime before it is publicly available. Right,only 1000 beta invites have been sent out but Lee says ,later,some more invites will be sent. Go sign up for the next round of beta testing here.
Technorati Tags: chatsum, chat, free, beta, firefox, firefoxextensions

UPDATED ON JAN 24,06 at 5.43 am.

CHATSUM

I discovered this firefox extension just before christmas and because it was in its development/alpha stage,there were no screenshots or testimonials of it that I found so I decided not to blog about it.It is called Chatsum.It is a free extension for firefox that allows you to chat with other chatsum users that are looking at the same website as you. Emails were sent to those who had signed up to beta test it saying that Chatsum is going to be released on Wednesday. I am counting the number of hours till Wednesday. Though,I have not tested it,testimonials from people who accidentally got to try it out are glowing. Screenshots and the overall concept shows that this addon will be very welcome.

Here is what the authors said the fuction of Chatsum will be:

Chatsum lets you:

• Chat live with other people who are looking at the same website as you!
• Find out what other people think about the websites you’re looking at!
• Leave messages on any website you visit!
• Read messages left on websites by other Chatsum users!
• Browse the Chatsum community’s favourite websites!
• Hunt for treasure in our unique online treasure hunts!
• Find people that like the same sites as you and then CHAT TO THEM!

Here is a screenshot of Chatsum:

I will blog more about it when I try it out on Wednesday.Oh, and i just found out that,there will also be a Dashboard Widget which will work with MAC OS X Tiger.Also,there will be a version of Chatsum for Internet Explorer(lost half of my readers right now )
Technorati Tags: chatsum, firefox, firefoxextensions, widget, beta

FAVORITE WEBSITES

Last time,I wrote about my favorite firefox extensions but this time around,I am going to write about my favorite websites. They include some sites that I always visit when I come online and other websites. Here they are:

1. Goowy -
   

   My start page.It has a flash based interface and includes traditional webservices such as   email,contacts,widgets,calender,games,etc.It has a widget that allows you to access feeds from your favorite websites.Go check here for more on it.

2. Meebo -
   

   A web based instant messenger application.I use it for all the other networks except MSN.Check here for reviews.

3. TechCrunch -
   

   A weblog dedicated to profiling web 2.0 products and companies.It is usuallyy updated a coupla times a day.

4. Gmail -
   

   I cant live without my email.

5. Digg -
   

   A technology news site that allows users to suggest content.Some of you may prefer Slashdot.I visit both of them but I prefer Digg.

6. Writely -
   

   It is a web based word processor. I use it for all those word documents that I have to edit in school with patners. Check here for reviews.

7. WordPress -
   

   My blog is based here. So I always check it first thing in the morning and read/moderate all comments.

8. Livewire Forums -
   

   One of the best teen forums around.A personal quirk,I visit it every morning.

9. SolutionWatch -
   

   Another weblog devoted to profiling web 2.0 products. It isnt updated as much as TechCrunch.

Please leave comments and tell me more about any similar or better sites.And I hope can send me an invite to Newsvine.I desperately need one.Whoever does it gets a WLM invite,a Kahuna(New Hotmail) invite and a Wallop invite.Thanks.

Technorati Tags: favorite, goowy, startpages, ajax, IM, web2.0

Windows Live Messenger lottery :)

Please check this page for more details.

REALLY GET Windows Live Messenger 8 without an invite

A little bird in the sky dropped the following link into our laps. Download and test the latest beta release of Windows Live Messenger. Now we can all be official beta “testers�. Looks slick.This one definitely falls into the at-your-own-risk category: Without an invitation to the private beta test it has been impossible to use, until now. The trick is to use a recently-released “proxy patch� to fool the MSN network into thinking you’re running version 7.5, thus allowing you to log on without being part of the private beta. Pretty clever, but dont’ blame me if it messes up your system. Once again, try it at your own risk.

Also you can get a Windows Live Messenger invite here on this blog on this page.

See more screenshots of Windows Live here.

• Send all your familiar winks and emoticons, plus some cool new ones
• Have real-time text, video and voice conversations*
• Call your friends’ mobile or land-line telephones by signing up with a designated Microsoft partner to make affordable domestic and international calls
• Easily share documents of all kinds with Sharing Folders
• Make free PC-to-PC calls with other Messenger users

Download Windows Live Beta

NOTE: UNEASYsilence is not hosting this file, and is merely providing a link to the Microsoft download site.

Read these instructions carefully. And be sure you download the REAL version of the messenger from Microsoft

Try It [via]

I found this on uneasysilence.com and wanted to share it with my readers.I tried it out myself and I will blog about it tommorow.Right now,I am too sleepy to do anything else but yawn.

Goowy

Though,I saw this website a long time ago,I have given it much thought or gone to take a closer look at it since I thought it would be like all those other start pages.Being bored yesterday,I went there to take a look at it.I signed up for an account and it was created for me instantly.The page has a really nice interface.You can add your own feeds to it.You can also choose to display the already preconfigured feeds.The already preconfigured feeds include,web 2.0 blogs,major new sites,major sports sites among others. Overall,it is really easy to add a site’s feed.You just need to click on the add a feed button,then enter the url of the feed,and you are done.
Also,there is an online calender,game and a 2GB mailbox for every user.The mail system is really fast.
Overall,i would give it a 10 out of 10 just because it is really easy to use and configure and it has a really nice look.