ajb{log}: learn something new each day

Ajax13 recently launched ajaxWindows and the concept is pretty straightforward: The software platform is operating system-agnostic and based on the XML User Interface Language (XUL) to act as a Web-based desktop.

Files can be moved around and opened, and applications launch with a mouse click. The interface also includes customizable wallpaper, start-up and shut down sounds, and browser bookmarks. But instead of interacting with the hardware, the user stores all desktop data, documents, and content, free of charge into a Gmail account.

Ajax13 products have been integrated into this webtop such as ajaxWrite, ajaxSketch, ajaxPresents, etc. Best of all, you can ultimately use this as your on-the-go desktop that can be accessible anywhere.

–aj

From 5ThirtyOne:

Important FYI update for any Gmail users. If you receive the following email in your Gmail account, do not follow the embedded link. With the recent announcement of Google paid Google storage upgrades, the following phishing emails will undoubtedly become more and more the norm.

More here.

–aj

ShrinkSafe is a JavaScript “compression” system. It can typically reduce the size of your scripts by a third or more, depending on your programming style.
http://alex.dojotoolkit.org/shrinksafe

Facebook Homepage PHP Script
http://facebooksecrets.blogspot.com

Pligg.com for Sale, coRank emerges
http://www.sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=pligg.com
http://www.corank.com

Easily control your Gastus (expenses)
http://www.gastus.com

Google Pack Adds StarOffice, NOT OpenOffice
http://pack.google.com

Google services offer free and paid storage, Microsoft counters with SkyDrive
https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageStorage?hl=en_US
http://skydrive.live.com/

Flickr has added a new uploader tool
http://www.flickr.com

Makura, the Otaku’s favourite cushion

So, are you buying it?

–aj

GMail now offers web slideshow functionality on all your email attachments (.ppt, .odp).

–aj

Google just released a web-based mashup creator and hosting environment at Google Developer Day.

Videos on the release and some pretty quick tutorials can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzdPGxTShc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtK9CcXaiWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww8qk8pJvEQ

There is now a preview of Maplets here. Check it out!

Microsoft Hotmail, the pioneer in web-based email recently updated their look and feel. It is now dubbed “Windows Live Hotmail”.

It now gets confusing since Microsoft has now 3 versions of their webmail. MSN Hotmail, Live Hotmail and this new one.

Ok, I just noticed. If you are using the old Hotmail interface below, then you are still not using the new interface. You have to click that itsy-bitsy small tiny link (which I missed on my first visit). I circled in red to view the new Hotmail. Hope you find it (good luck).

Also, just a warning (that’s from Microsoft, not me) - you need to have a fast Internet to use this (ok… but why?).

Upon initial entry, it will ask you what interface you want to use. The 3 interface looks almost exactly like MS Outlook and Outlook Express. Good, it presents an already-known interface to most users.

We (together with Terence and Ross) were actually developing this same interface (I think it’s better and with a lot more features at that time) . We tried using JSON way back 2001. We were also using open-source and it was dubbed Udeko Mail.

Hotmail Live uses Trend Micro to scan for viruses (why don’t they do this too for Windows for FREE?) ugh.

There’s a built-in spell-checker which I find cool, coz you can add your own words to your own dictionary. But, one thing that I don’t like is it doesn’t check words on the fly, you have to click the “Spell Check” button just to see if you had everything correctly spelled.

Drag and drop and right-click functionality is already there. Yahoo! Mail have these already on the Yahoo! Mail Beta - thanks to Oddpost (which was acquired by Yahoo! in July 2004). Google’s GMail still has to come up with a drag and drop and right-click functionality though.

Folders vs. labels: Hotmail Live still uses folders (isn’t that so web 1.0?). A quick click to the contacts and calendar still loads like web 1.0 too.

Finally, I find the “Attach” button weird. Why would they ask users if it is a file or a photo? Can’t they just automatically determine the file type? Uncool (or maybe, there’s an explanation).

More features are listed here. Of course, be prepared for a lengthy marketing pitch. Microsoft does that very very well.

Maybe you want to try it out for yourself. I’m sure you still have that old @hotmail.com account (Yeah yeah, I know you use GMail now. You still might want to check it out just so that you are not left out or not in the know).

–aj

Google Analytics is now sporting a new dashboard interface and has added some nice stats.

Google Analytics is for the serious webmaster who wants additional information on what is going on a particular website. If you are a freelancer, one cool thing about Analytics is you can share reports (with view only permissions) to your client (Google account needed).

It’s about time Google re-design Analytics. It had some usability issues and it wasn’t user friendly before the change.

Kudos to the Google Analytics team!

–aj

Look how my GMail interface looks like with GreaseMonkey, Better/Super Clean Gmail (Download Link) installed on my Firefox 2.0.

I found this on LifeHacker!

Sleek and very cool gmail tweak!

I recommend it for power email users like me!

2 years, too late. GMail already took the limelight out of Hotmail 2 years ago. Why now?

From: http://mailcall.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CC9301187A51FE33!6688.entry

November 06
It is Here: Hotmail to go 1GB (1,000 MB) of Storage
I have been working for Hotmail for 8 years and currently am a program manager in the Windows Live Mail Platform group. During my time here, I have seen Hotmail transform into a major global communication service. I take a particular pride in the fact that during that time we have probably delivered over a trillion emails connecting people.

For years while talking to my friends, family and acquaintances about Hotmail, I’ve been frequently asked: - “when will you guys give more storage” or “I forgot to login and my account got “killed” – can you help?” Yeah … those were the days of 2MB storage limits that in now days is the size of one wedding photo.

I’m happy to say now is quite an exciting time for Hotmail. The great news is that we have upgraded all Hotmail accounts regardless of the market and account age to 1GB of space. That means a new account created after the change will get 1GB instantly - no more small accounts at the initial sign on and probation for 30 days account feature.

This update is part of our initiative in transitioning our web e-mail service into a next-generation communication service - Windows Live Mail, which is in beta now. As we build out your e-mail service to get ready for this change, we are making big improvements to areas like storage.

We’re also making another change for our loyal Hotmail users who have been with us for 2 years or more. Right now, you need to log in once every 30 days to maintain your account — we’re now extending that log-in grace period to 60 days. So, if you’re planning a really long vacation (somewhere w/ no internet connection), you don’t have to worry about your Hotmail account being closed when you return. We’ll continue to make additional improvements and updates to ensure a smooth transition to the next-generation web e-mail for our current 260+ million Hotmail active accounts.

Something you can look forward to as we move forward is that Windows Live Mail has a bunch of cool features and a great new design. But the improvements I am most excited about are that once you migrate to the new service, we will double your allowances to 2GB and 120 days for free accounts and 4GB and no account expiration for premium accounts.

To find out more about all the benefits of Windows Live Mail and product updates, check out Ben’s post and to sign up for the beta and start using now, go to ideas.live.com.

Vlad

RSS is now included in Gmail! Check it out!