Month: October 2011

So, now you can program for the web in a web language! Again, we move further to the “post-PC” era, where all you will need is a browser!

Dart, Structured Web Programming

“Dart is a new class-based programming language for creating structured web applications. Developed with the goals of simplicity, efficiency, and scalability, the Dart language combines powerful new language features with familiar language constructs into a clear, readable syntax.

Key features of the Dart language include:

Classes

Classes and interfaces provide a well understood mechanism for efficiently defining APIs. These constructs enable encapsulation and reuse of methods and data.

Optional types

Dart programmers can optionally add static types to their code. Depending on programmer preference and stage of application development, the code can migrate from a simple, untyped experimental prototype to a complex, modular application with typing. Because types state programmer intent, less documentation is required to explain what is happening in the code, and type-checking tools can be used for debugging.

Libraries

Developers can create and use libraries that are guaranteed not to change during runtime. Independently developed pieces of code can therefore rely on shared libraries.

Tooling

Dart will include a rich set of execution environments, libraries, and development tools built to support the language. These tools will enable productive and dynamic development, including edit-and-continue debugging and beyond—up to a style where you program an application outline, run it, and fill in the blanks as you run.”

So, simple, clean… looks easy to deal with for non-geeks.. we’ll see!

Meet the Windows 8 Task Manager

“Design simplicity is the key for Windows 8, and Microsoft recently discussed on its blog yet another popular Windows feature getting streamlined in Windows 8: the task manager. The new task manager echoes the design simplicity Microsoft was showing off earlier with the new copy file dialog.

Microsoft says three goals guided development of the new task manager, which is intended to appeal to non-techies and power users alike. The company says it wants to create a task manager that is optimized for common tasks (killing apps and processes), using a modern and functional interface, but without cutting out the favorite functions of power users.

For most users, the result is that Windows 8 won’t inundate you with a long list of unfriendly-looking processes like the task managers in Vista and Windows 7. Instead, the new OS shows a simplified list of programs that you can expand if you need to go beyond simply killing an app.”

So, LibreOffice will develop a version for Android, as well as the Web! Forward thinking of them!

Post-PC LibreOffice heads for Web, iOS, Android

“LibreOffice, the project forked from OpenOffice.org, is moving into the modern era with developers working on versions that run in Web browsers and on iOS and Android devices.

The Document Foundation announced the moves today at the LibreOffice Conference, but the work isn’t available yet for ordinary folks to try.
‘These are not products available to end users, but advanced development projects which will become products sometimes in late 2012 or early 2013,’ the foundation said today.

Still, the work shows signs that the project, which never seriously threatened the strength of Microsoft Office, is working to remain modern in a computing industry no longer dominated just by personal computers.

The LibreOffice Online prototype uses the GTK+ software framework, HTML’s new Canvas interface for 2D graphics, and the Web Socket interface for high-speed communications between a browser and a server. Michael Meeks of the Suse Linux project is leading the project, the foundation said.
Another Suse programmer, Tor Lillqvist, is working on versions for Android and iOS tablets with the hope that the software will arrive on smaller devices.

‘The user interface work has yet to start in earnest but the bulk of the code is compiling,’ the foundation said of the work.
The foundation also announced that several French government agencies are switching 500,000 computers, mostly Windows machines, from OpenOffice.org to LibreOffice. ‘This increases the Windows installed base of LibreOffice by 5 percent in a single move,’ the foundation said.’

Roku has announced a lower priced ($50.00) unit! This makes the entry point into IPTV even cheaper!

$50 Roku box offers 720p Netflix, Hulu, and new HBO GO

“Roku announced its lowest-cost streaming media player yet, also adding a new HBO GO service to its service line-up. The $50 Roku LT offers the same Linux-based operating system, Netflix support, 720p video playback quality, and support for 300 channels as the $60 Roku 2 HD, but jettisons the microSD port and Bluetooth connections, according to the company.

The Roku LT joins three revised Roku boxes released in July. The $60 Roku 2 HD supports 720p playback, while the Roku 2 XD ($80) moves up to 1080p, and the Roku 2 XS ($100) adds USB and Ethernet ports as well as a motion-control remote and Angry Birds.

The $50 Roku LT has only a basic remote, no USB or Ethernet, and abandons the microSD slot and Bluetooth connection found on the other three models. The loss of microSD could be important to some, as the Roku boxes offer no onboard storage.
The Roku LT does share the same 720p video playback quality as the Roku 2 HD, however, not to mention its support for some 300 channels. These are said to include Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, EPIX, Crackle, and Disney. When the new HBO GO arrives later this month, the players will have expanded to 320 channels, says Roku.

Like the Roku 2 devices, the Roku LT offers a Wi-Fi connection, HDMI output, and an A/V output for standard definition TVs, says Roku. The company did not offer detailed specs, but says the new device ‘looks very similar to the Roku 2 family.’ Those devices measure 3.3 x 3.3 x 0.9 inches, weigh three ounces, and typically consume less than two Watts during HD streaming, according to the company.

HBO GO will arrive on Roku boxes later this month, representing Roku’s second ‘authenticated channel’ after its EPIX channel, according to the company. This means, that, in the case of HBO GO, access requires a separate HBO TV subscription. HBO Go is said to offer more than 1,400 HBO programming titles, including ‘every episode of every season of the best HBO shows.'”

Well THAT didn’t last long!

Netflix kills Qwikster after customers bash spinoff of DVD service

“Three weeks ago, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said his company would split its DVD-by-mail service into a new site called Qwikster while keeping video streaming at Netflix.com. The change seemed needlessly drastic and complicated for many users, forcing customers to be billed twice and to search for DVD and streaming content on separate websites. But now, Netflix customers will never have to hear the word Qwikster again.

Customers complained about the confusing changes and Hastings apparently received the message. Hasting announced in a new blog post titled ‘DVDs will be staying at netflix.com’ that Qwikster will now simply go away. ‘It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs,’ Hastings wrote. ‘This means no change: one website, one account, one password… in other words, no Qwikster.’

Hastings had argued last month that DVDs by mail and streaming are such different businesses that they must ‘grow and operate independently.’ But curiously, the same post touting the benefits of separation also detailed the problems that would lead to extensive customer criticism.

‘A negative of the renaming and separation is that the Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated,’ Hastings said at the time. ‘So if you subscribe to both services, and if you need to change your credit card or email address, you would need to do it in two places. Similarly, if you rate or review a movie on Qwikster, it doesn’t show up on Netflix, and vice-versa.’

That, in a nutshell, is why customers didn’t like the idea of Qwikster. Coming on the heels of pricing changes, the attempt to separate DVDs and streaming had Netflix dealing with a PR nightmare. The new, higher pricing for the combined DVD and streaming service is still in effect, but if you type Qwikster.com into your URL bar today, you’ll be redirected to Netflix.”

This is the official statement from Apple:

“October 5, 2011

Statement by Apple’s Board of Directors

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that
enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

This is very sad news. I was not really an Apple customer, but I admired their hardware, and have always wanted a MacBook Pro. Steve was definitely a visionary that greatly impacted the computer world, and has a hugely prominent place in computer history. May he rest in peace.