Linux News: Web Apps

Google Waves Hello to Early Testers
September 30, 2009

On Wednesday, Google announced that it will send out more than 100,000 invitations to preview Google Wave. Several enterprises and individuals have already used Wave to build applications or in their work. Wave enables this because it is, in essence, a real-time mashup tool. Google is sending out more than 100,000 invites to preview Google Wave.

Obama Death Poll on FB Puts Third-Party Apps in Spotlight
September 29, 2009

Facebook now has some new "friends:" the United States Secret Service, thanks to a startling weekend poll appearing on the world's largest social network that asked the question, "Should Obama be killed?" The poll provided four possible answers: "Yes," "No," "Maybe," and "Yes if he cuts my healthcare."

Who's Watching You Browse?
September 28, 2009

Being on the Internet is like living in a village: Everyone knows who you are and all the details of your private life -- except that on the Internet, it's not just people you may have known all your life who know a lot about you; it's complete and utter strangers. It's not just that those strangers may know stuff that could really make you uncomfortable.

Wii Goes to War
September 25, 2009

For years, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 have been gut-punching each other with price cuts while the Nintendo Wii just sits on the sidelines with a smug little grin on its face. While the two bigger consoles entered the market with huge MSRPs, the Wii planted itself at $250 and stayed there for nearly three years, easily beating the others month after month in units sold.

MS Tests the Web App Waters as Google, Zoho Swim Laps
September 18, 2009

Microsoft on Thursday launched an early technical preview program for Microsoft Office Web Apps -- lightweight versions of its Office suite of applications. Participation is by invitation only, and the preview is initially available in English and Japanese. It will be available in additional languages later this fall.

Adobe-Omniture May Be a Surprisingly Smart Match
September 16, 2009

Adobe's planned acquisition of Web analytics firm Omniture took nearly everyone off guard when it was announced Tuesday. Now that the idea has had a chance to sink in, though, it seems to be growing in popularity. "I think it really does make sense," said Steve Ashley, an analyst for investment research firm R.W. Baird.

Google Flips Coin With Broadsheet-Style News Viewer
September 15, 2009

It's not perfect, and it won't solve the advertising crisis in traditional publishing, but Google's Fast Flip news-viewing product may represent a small step toward helping pen-and-paper publishers make a profitable leap to the digital age. It allows users to slide through tiled screenshots of news stories from the service's three dozen partner publishers.

Getting Ready for the Google Generation
September 11, 2009

Like every new generation, today's youth are unlike their predecessors, and they are poised to make a significant impact on society and business as they enter the workforce. While this may not seem like a revelation, what is important to keep in mind is who is pulling some of the strings that are already redefining how today's kids think and tomorrow's workers will behave.

The Webification of App Security
September 03, 2009

Web applications are growing in popularity, and with this increasing ubiquity of Web apps, security is more than ever becoming the No. 1 challenge for enterprises. Traditional network component vendors are under pressure to solve security challenges. However, developing this capability on their own is complex, expensive and requires new skills.

Sony to Ship Chrome-Plated Vaio PCs
September 02, 2009

Sony is giving Google's fledging Chrome browser a boost by installing it as the primary browser on Vaio-brand computers sold in the United States and Europe. The Sony devices continue to provide Microsoft's Internet Explorer -- the world's most widely used Web -- allowing users to have a choice between the two.

Google Maps Adds Back-Road Traffic Flow Data
August 26, 2009

Google has pushed an update to its Maps application adding traffic data on surface streets. The data will be drawn from GPS-enabled cellphones that are actively running the mobile version of Google's map app. All users of Google's mobile maps service appear to have access to the traffic data, but only users with GPS-equipped phones with Google Maps installed can contribute speed information.

Is There a Dark Cloud Over SSL's Green Glow?
August 19, 2009

The security of any given computer system is no better than the skills researchers bring to finding the next potential program flaw. Network security workers concentrate on updating patches and making sure only validated users can access the corporate LAN. Meanwhile, security researchers hunt for existing but unidentified infrastructure flaws that could let in the bad guys.

Google Gives Chrome Users Bookmarks to Go
August 18, 2009

Google on Tuesday announced a new feature that will let users of its Chrome browser sync bookmarks on multiple computers. Announced only a few weeks after its developers began working on the project, sync is yet another round fired in a browser war that appears to be drawing in even more players. However, it has also drawn some early criticism.

Can Microsoft Keep Its Word?
August 14, 2009

A Toronto company aptly named "i4i" is getting its revenge on Microsoft by kicking it square in the monkeymaker. i4i has sued Redmond, claiming that Microsoft Word infringes on its patents. Judge Leonard Davis of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas -- where else? -- has given Microsoft two months to halt sales of the offending software.

IE6: Dead Browser Walking
August 12, 2009

Google's social network Orkut reportedly plans to phase out support for Internet Explorer 6, igniting a long-simmering debate over continued use of the 8-year-old version of the browser. The current version is IE8. Microsoft intends to maintain support for IE6 in conjunction with its support for Windows XP -- the OS that originally delivered it.

Mailplane Gives Gmail a Landing Pad on the Mac Desktop
August 11, 2009

For a long time, Web-based email programs were poor relatives of their desktop counterparts, but that's not the case anymore. Cloud-based applications like Google's offering, Gmail, boast a rich array of features that give premise-based competitors a run for their money. Nevertheless, two problems persist with Web mail apps.