Archive for October, 2009

Google Wave is still a new phenomenon in the social media world. There is no Google Wave App Store yet and the API is relatively new, which means that Google Wave Gadgets are hard to find.

The crux of Google Wave is the extensions/apps or what Google Wave is calling “Gadgets”. Embeds and robots will have their place, but most likely not for the common user. Google was kind enough to provide us with the basic gadgets: Google Search Box, Google Maps, Yes/No, and a few others (Google Wave API sample gallery).

Are there any productive gadgets out there you are using yet? Do you have any suggestions? I’m definitely a fan of the “Collaborative Sudoku” gadget (direct gadget url), but what’s your favorite Google Wave Gadget?

Tags: gadgets, Google, Google Wave, google wave gadgets

About a week ago, geohot released an update to his iPhone jailbreaking software dubbed Blackra1n RC2, and while that was all well and good for all you AT&T guys, it did leave those of us who need a baseband unlock on our iPieces wanting more. Enter blacksn0w. Demoed on YouTube, the blacksn0w exploit will provide a baseband unlock of the 3.1.x firmware allowing your iPhone to run on your preferred GSM carrier. Blacksn0w will be released to the jailbreaking baseband unlocking masses on November 4th and can be loaded onto your device directly from Blackra1n. Boo ya. We’re curious, how many of you iPhone fanatics rely on a baseband unlock to have a functional iPhone? We’ve got the video all queued up for you after the bounce.

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A couple days ago, HTC tweeted the Hero would be anointed with Android 2.0, just like the DROID, and now, HTC’s website is showing us that the Hero will be offered on Telus’ network in GSM/HSDPA goodness. No specification surprises in the GSM variant: Telus’ Hero will have the same Qualcomm MSM7200A 528MHz processor, WiFi b/g, BlueTooth 2.0, and 5 megapixel camera as its CDMA cousin. There has been no indication from HTC as to whether the GSM Hero will ship with Android 1.5 or 2.0 in tow, but we’re sure it will make its way onto the handset eventually. Think HTC has developed a bit of a complex from all the Motorola DROID hoopla?

Thanks, Juicy47!

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On October 7th, 2003, Nokia made a splash as it attempted to challenge Nintendo’s dominance of the handheld gaming market. Its entry was the N-Gage, a dual mobile phone and gaming system. However, the funny look it had when you used it as a phone (”taco phone” was a popular comparison), as well a weaker game library doomed it from the start.

Today, Nokia announced that it is ending the N-Gage line of phones and games, instead opting to push forward its gaming agenda via the Ovi app store.

The move was inevitable, especially as Apple has turned the iPhone into a gaming powerhouse, but we’re still going to miss making fun of Nokia’s Taco Phone. This is our farewell to the N-Gage, which had the right idea but the wrong execution.

Image credit: Mushroom and Rooster via Flickr

Tags: apple, gaming, N-Gage, Nokia, ovi

Last week, war erupted between tech giants Microsoft and Apple as the Windows maker celebrated the launched of its newest baby: Windows 7. But while Windows 7 seems to have been a hit, Apple fired back with its own ad campaign.

With Microsoft and Apple making the headlines, we thought it was appropriate to make them the subject of this week’s Web Faceoff, our weekly series where we pit two popular web or tech apps and letting you, the readers, choose the victor. This week’s battle-for-the-ages was between none other than the two hottest OSes on the market: Microsoft Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

The voting and the comments were heated. Over 7000 votes were cast with less than 400 votes separating to the two operating systems. But in the end, Microsoft was able to outlast the Apple assault. With 3632 votes (50%), Windows 7 defeated Snow Leopard’s 3278 votes (45%). 357 of you (5%) voted that the battle was dead even.

While Microsoft can declare victory in this battle, the war clearly isn’t over. There will be more skirmishes between Apple and Microsoft, and we’ll bring them to you in future web faceoffs. Don’t forget to tune in next Monday for the next epic web battle.

Web Faceoff: Overall Results

Week 2:
- Tumblr vs. Posterous
- WINNER: Tumblr, 1809 votes (Posterous: 1496 votes, Tie: 256 votes)

Week 3:
- Pandora vs. Last.fm
- WINNER: Last.fm, 1187 votes (Pandora: 1156 votes, Tie: 122 votes)

Week 4:
- Twitter vs. Facebook
- WINNER: Facebook, 2484 votes (Twitter: 2061 votes, Tie: 588 votes)

Week 5:
- WordPress vs. Typepad
- WINNER: WordPress, 2714 votes (Typepad: 267 votes, Tie: 357 votes)

Week 6:
- Windows 7 vs. Snow Leopard
- WINNER: Windows 7, 3632 votes (Snow Leopard: 3278 votes, Tie: 121 votes)

Tags: apple, microsoft, OS, poll, Snow Leopard, web faceoff, Windows 7