What’s It All About?
The idea is to create a universal account giving access to a multitude of websites. This means having just one username and password for all websites. The idea of the web working on a “one account” basis for users is still very much an emerging technology and it is no suprise Google leads the way.

Google Friend Connect is powered by OpenSocial, which Google and MySpace and a number of other social networks developed. OpenSocial is essentially a set of common APIs for building and distributing social applications and their data across many websites

Great! Surely All Websites Will Embrace This?
Er, not exactly. For a start, all webmasters must sign-up and use Google Friend Connect. Existing major services with an already massive user base might not want or need to do this.

Will This Mean Google Takes Over Social Media in 2009?
Google Friend Connect does make it possible in theory for Google to monopolise social media. Already people like Twitter have signed up. But there are two huge problems.

1) A major competitor, Facebook, launched its own version, Facebook Connect, within hours of Google’s and implemented it across sites like the Discovery Channel, the San Francisco Chronicle and Digg. The guys at Facebook are not about to welcome their rival’s service with open arms (let’s face it, the two companies hardly share a history of friendship!). And Facebook Connect means it could just as easily be Facebook who take over social media. However, the Facebook system isn’t as easy for webmasters to use, or as well exposed, so it still has some way to go. Already, Facebook has banned Google’s Friend Connect from its API program, citing nerves over privacy rather than a ‘corporate beef’ issue. (Yeah, right.)

2) So far, few webmasters have embraced Google Friend Connect. We installed it here on the Digitpedia.com website, in the sidebar for two days. Not only was it quite bulky, but it didn’t look great, and visitors with a Google account paid it hardly any attention. It had to go.

The Theory Is Awesome - The Reality Isn’t Great
The idea behind having one account on the web is awesome. But getting all websites to embrace this is another matter entirely. Facebook for one isn’t about to do that anytime soon, or take the threat from Google Connect on the chin.

So, in reality, the chance of this happening is very slim, and the chance of it happening in 2009 even slimmer! Even so, the gloves are off – and the battle looks set to be fascinating.

Image credit: Google. Sources: etech

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“What?” We hear you say, “a high def TV which operates without wires?” You’ve got to be joking! Well, if you don’t believe us take a look at the image below:

Hitachi’s Ultra Thin LCD line-up to boast Tzero's UWB technology

The amazing thing is, Ultra-Wideband has not quite taken off yet and is still being investigated as a worthwhile competitor to WiFi and Bluetooth for the Internet and mobiles.

So what is it Ultra-Wideband?
It is a new wireless technology reputed to have high speed, and low interference attributes and it is sure to become more well known in 2009. It uses a frequency of (until now) unlicensed frequency band.

Another plus for the technology is that it uses very little energy, so eventually if/when mobile manufacturers take on the concept your mobile will stay on for days after a single charging, unlike today’s mobiles which only last a single day or so.

It is also to be rumoured to be as fast, if not faster than a wired internet connection, and as for bluetooth a possible future application could be to download a complete dvd to your mobile phone from a local store in say, 30 seconds!  It’s not here yet in all its forms, but the scientists are working on it so watch this space. The Hitachi TV is just the start.

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But could you imagine your life at home without the internet?

This week I didn’t have the internet Thursday evening, all day Friday and it is “working one minute, not working the next” as I speak right now on Saturday afternoon. It’s only been one full day, and two halve days - but that is enough time for me without the internet.

So I don’t feel right not having the internet for 48hrs, what about you? How long could you last? First it depends on your use of the internet, here are a few ideas I have came up with so you can survive if you lose your connection.

Here are some survival tips for each kind of web user!

• Info Junkies - go the library perhaps, buy every newspaper and magazine on topics you like? Be prepared, the info will be there, it just won’t feel the same.
• Video Mentalists - you know who you are! You go on youtube every day to watch the latest funny videos and enjoy “adult entertainment”, but TV just isn’t the same. The only way to survive is watch the videos saved on your harddrive.
• MSN Chitter Chatters - time to pick up the phone, or go round your mates, or text people. Easy that one!
• Social Media People - the way you use the internet and click from website to website in seconds just cannot be replaced. No more facebook, no more digging. There is no hope for you my friend.
• Shopaholics - for those of you who can’t stop visiting Amazon and going “oooh that CD is on offer, it’s only $5, definitely buy that” it is time to either stop spending so much online or just get your backside down to the store.
• Flickr Groupies - all you need is some food birds like, a digital camera and a warm coat. Outside you go, take photos till you fall asleep! Wait till you get the internet back and upload those amazing pics.
• The Rest Of You - you obviously only go on the internet for a bit of everything so I’m sure you’ll survive just fine.

So there you have it, if your internet is down for a few days just find out your profile above and take the appropriate action! By the way - if you do find yourself with no internet connection, brace yourself!

For more great posts like this you should subscribe for free to our updates!

Image: brewedfreshdaily

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With remote access to your iTunes library is it time to ditch your iPod and just use your cellphone?

If you have the ability to access and listen to songs on your cellphone from your computer’s iTunes software at home why would you need your carry your iPod around all the time?

To understand exactly what the Didiom service is all about watch this video:

What do you think, are you going to ditch your iPod and embrace Didiom?

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The focus of this release of the Fennec mobile browser is a new user interface which reflects Firefox’s unique design principles. The focus is also on touch screen support and other high-tech features that are appropriate for cellphones and other small handheld devices.

Further release will be made focusing on other aspects of the software including performance and compatability. If you want to get involved and keep track of Fennec check out the Mozilla Mobile website where you can subscribe to a newsletter and learn about meetings.

If you are the lucky owner of a Nokia N810 or N800 Internet tablet (these are not actually cellphones) then you can try out the Fennec browser, if not you’ll just have to wait like the rest of us!

To keep up with Fennec and other Mozilla products you can subscribe for free to the Digitpedia.com instant updates.

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So far over 100,000 people have downloaded the new toolbar. Considering the number of worldwide IE users this doesn’t seem like that many people have downloaded it to me. No doubt the more it is pushed by Microsoft the more the downloads will gather pace.

Lets see how popular it gets….watch this space.

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BlogSearch tracks the blogosphere and then lists stories in 11 different categories. The stories are grouped into clusters so you can see the best posts on a story or get a variety of perspectives from many different bloggers. This allows you to quickly and easily find out into whats going on in the tech world and what different bloggers are saying.

I really like BlogSearch and hope it doesn’t run into problems with spammers or those doing underhand tactics to manipulate the results we all see. I asked what was next for Google, and it seems we got a good response!

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Here are just some of it’s capabilities:

• Pedestrian recognition, a flashing symbol shows up on your dash when the car recognises a pedestrian in the dark
• The car has the ability to read speed limit signs
• The car can see out of junctions thru forward facing cameras
• If you crash the car automatically tells the emergency services the severity of the crash and how many people are on board
• When you open the doors they stop exactly where you want them to (rather than carry on swinging open)
• On-board internet allows you to surf in your car anywhere anytime, so when you are at the traffic lights you can check out the latest post on digitpedia.com!
• Ability to communicate with your home PC via your car (how the hell does it do that?)
• If you forget to lock it you can call a helpline and they will remotely lock it for you

The car also has air conditioned massaging seats and can have in car DVD players and TV screens and also the usual luxury stuff. It will be cool to see what gadgets and technology Jaguar and Mercedes come up with in the future, BMW have set one high level!

Just a final note; if you are thinking of buying one you will need to stump up at least £54,000, I’m not sure what the cost will be in the US, probably close to at least $80,000 - ouch!

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I don’t know about you but I hate changing browsers, systems, toolbars, computers, blah, blah so the thought of a new toolbar for me is a big no no - after a few glances it was definitely a no no - especially considering how complex the toolbar looks. I think I’ll stick with using my normal IE with no fancy toolbar for when I’m working and the sleek new Google Chrome for general funtime surfing!

I just can’t be bothered with all the messing about setting stuff up, and the new MSN toolbar looks like it has quite a few things which need ’setting up’. If you can be bothered then here is a video and link to download the toolbar.

I may be completely wrong and the toolbar might very well help me a lot. If you do download it and start using it let me know and I’ll get your thoughts on the website.

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The guys from Google have not given a fixed term for implementing the support for addons but they promised that the extensions will come with a future version. I wonder how Google will deal the addons problem. I mean, if Chrome will accept only special addons created especially for it or it will allow the installation of Firefox’s addons. As we know, Firefox is an Open Source, so the adoption of the same API for extentions should not be very difficult.

In other words, Google officials have announced the Google Chrome will be a part of Android, the operating system that Google prepares for mobile devices.

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The device is rubber coated, water resistant, and features turn-by-turn directions optimized for motorcycles, making it ideal for your cross country biker gang meet-ups, or just long weekends cruising the coastlines. The price for such this GPS until is somewhere around ?300 ($438) and it will be released in October.

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If you are interested in reading more details regarding Microsoft’s Sphere, you’ve come to the right place. An recently video reveals Sphere’s photo browser and video browser complete with multi-touch “pinch” resizing, object rotation and a “send-to-the-darkside” gesture that tossed an object to the sphere’s opposite side. In addition, a diagram reveals sphere’s innards, including a projector and all sorts of IR magic. All this in the video below.

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Well, this long-awaited day has come. Today, Opera launches its Opera Mobile 9.5 beta which is far more useful than the browser already installed on your PocketPC. The initial release includes support for double-tap zoom, landscape flip, off-line page save, tab-like browsing, auto-URL complete, and a Google-search bar to name just a few of the 9.5 features.

It looks like more functionality such as Google Gears and support for Flash Video on WinMo and Symbian devices, will be added later. Download and install for yourself and tell us what you think in the comments below.

Source : Opera.com

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How much would you be able to pay for a one and a half foot tall robot that can bend your will with a simple glance? Well, we’re talking about that Vstone’s Black Ox, which costs ?798,000 (about $7,400). Do you like it ? Well, hurry up because there are 30 planned for manufacturing and there are 15 spots for pre-order.

Source : Akihabara News
Photo Credit : Vstone Black Official Site

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Source : Reuters
Photo Credit : Gizmodo
Editor : Marian Dumitru

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As far as we know, Icon’s foldable airplane main goal is to make a connection between hang gliders and commercial jets. This 2-seater Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) was unveiled last week and it’s powered by a rear-facing, reciprocating engine that can be configured for water landing. It weights 1,320 pounds and can reach a max airspeed of 120 knots (138 mph). The airplan also features a dashboard which looks like those used on cars. All you need to order this thing online is a credit card and a $5,000 deposit. You can also see a video of the Icon’s unveiling after the break.

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This update is recommended for users of Mac OS X 10.5, 10.5.1, and 10.5.2 Leopard. According to Apple, the update is enhacing the sability, compatibility and security of the Mac. The update is also addressed to some issues with Mail, iChat, iCal, Airport and other features as well. I’m talking about a fix for stuttering video and audio playback in certain USB devices, fix for some attached drives, the stability issues with Word of the Day, iTunes Artwork and Slideshow and RAW support for a couple of digital cameras.

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High-speed Internet on mobile phones seems to be the next big bet of producers and GSM providers alike. As mobile internet is getting cheaper, there?s good news from Nokia Siemens as well, as the company is testing the I-HSDPA standard for data transfer which will bring greater speeds to our mobile phone.

Together with Mobikom Austria, Nokia Siemens have tested the I-HSDPA standard and reached a download speed of 10.1Mbps (and this a speed reached in a real-life test, not just a theoretic specification of the standard).

It would be interesting to find out the phone model on which the test was carried out (no doubt, a Nokia), but the Finnish have not disclosed any information apart form the data transfer speed obtained.

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The MID features an 800MHz Intel Atom processor with 512MB of Ram, 4GB SSD hard drive memory. Connectivity is paramount for a mobile device and BenQ’s MID seems to have it all. Apart form integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, it seems to pack-up HSPDA support, voice activation, optional GPS and a so-called “G-Senser” that enhances the user’s internet experience through “direct touch and free movement”.

Unfortunately, there’s no word about pricing or release details so we’ll just have to wait and see. BenQ can’t postpone the release forever though and will probably get it out before the next Intel Development Forum.

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The unit is included in the MoMA’s “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition catalog, and features the ability of stretching and flexing to almost any shape a user could think of. The nanotechnology-based device would deliver transparent electronics, self-cleaning surfaces and the malleability to transform into any number of configurations. Even if this technology is decades away, Nokia expects to see some of these innovations even earlier!

Photos.

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Oh, we’re very sorry that we didn’t had so much activity here at DigitPedia in the last few days, but we promise we’ll do our best to keep you informed. Thanks for understanding.

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It actually has a lot of modifications, for example the addition of two Seabob jet drives and two extra motors to power those jet drives. It can reach a 75mph on land, 4mph on water and 2mph below the surface.

You are maybe asking how much is the price of such a car, but unfortunately, the sQuba won’t be available to the general public, no matter how deep-pocketed they might be. zero-emission vehicle will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, but until then you can check the video below or this link for more details.

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After Apple teamed up with Garmin, we shouldn’t be too suprised to see that Archos is doing something similar. All we know is that Archos has made a deal with France’s SFR to integrate 3G+ HSDPA data modems into their upcoming players. We have to admit that we were expecting to see this deal, because it was rumored late last year.

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The line is launching with several fixtures like wired desk lamp and wireless wall sconce, several emergency lighting solutions and also a wireless motion detector. According to the company, the Light-on-Demand lighting system is a response to research that showed people were irritated by power outages. This system should be available later this month so you won’t have to wait to much for it.

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