Square One Web Solutions Blog » Web Development

Do Firefox Users Want Push Notifications?

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:10:54 +0000

As we’ve reported, Mozilla has been steadily working on automatic update methodologies for Firefox, which would seamlessly deliver new versions of the browser to existing users, as occurs with many other browsers. Some users are not so happy about that scheme, as Mozilla’s rapid release cycle for its browser has brought with it occasional hiccups in brand new versions of Firefox. Now, the company is working on a push notification system for Firefox, which would let sites around the web push messaging to users even when the sites aren’t loaded in the browser. The effort has its merits, but will probably raise some questions as well.

Mozilla developer Jeff Balogh noted in a blog post:

“Push notifications are a way for websites to send small messages to users when the user is not on the site. iOS and Android devices already support their own push notification services, but we want to make notifications available to the whole web. We’re making prototypes and designing the API right now and want to share our progress.”

Meet Google’s Tool for Jettisoning Android Malware, Dubbed "Bouncer"

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:53:47 +0000

If you’re an Android user, you’ve no doubt seen the daunting recent reports about spikes in malware found in applications on Android Market. For example, late last year Juniper Networks reported a 472 percent increase in Android malware samples seen since July 2011. The company blamed the rise in malware on “no upfront review process” in Android Market (as opposed to the stringent review process at Apple) and other problems. Now, Google has confirmed that it is scanning applications in Android Market for malware, and is squarely focused on using technology solutions to police the problem.

Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of engineering for Android, said in a blog post:

“Today we’re revealing a service we’ve developed, codenamed Bouncer, which
provides automated scanning of Android Market for potentially malicious
software…The service performs a set of analyses on new applications, applications already in Android Market, and developer accounts. Here’s how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags. We actually run every application on Google’s cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. We also analyze new developer accounts to help prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back.”

PCLinuxOS 2012.2 Released

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:35:41 +0000

Today, February 2, is Bill “Texstar” Reynolds’ birthday, but it’s the community who received the present. PCLinuxOS 2012.2 KDE was released today in a full sized version as well as a mini.

This release ships with Kernel 2.6.38 and KDE 4.6.5. It comes packed with lots of your favorite apps like LibreOffice (installer), Firefox, TvTime, VLC, and the GIMP. The appearance hasn’t changed since the last release, but some additional goodies have been added. One of which is the PCLinuxOS Documentation Portal which will take users to the various features of the PCLOS Website or service.

Alfresco Embraces SaaS and the Cloud with Its New CMS Platform

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:09:19 +0000

In a big endorsement of the SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) model, enteprise content management system (CMS) maker Alfresco is embracing cloud- and mobile-based usage of its platform with its new Alfresco 4 release. The open source CMS platform is used by 2,500 enterprises in 55 countries according to the company, and users need to access the content from their mobile devices, share and sync on the go, and more. The new platform is accessible from tablets as well as smartphones, and also allows users to publish straight to social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook.

According to John Powell, CEO and co-founder of Alfresco, in a statement:

“Never before has the focus of enterprise software been so squarely on empowering users to not just get work done, but to do great work by collaborating anywhere, on any device, with the tools of their choice. Alfresco is the company best positioned to bring enterprise requirements and the power of the cloud together to create real value for both companies and their employees.”

Should Mandriva Have Focused On More Than Just the OS?

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:21:38 +0000

If you follow the Linux scene, it’s been hard to miss the brinksmanship with bankruptcy that Mandriva has been involved in. Susan has been covering the drama, and many OStatic readers have weighed in on it, some bewildered at how a respected platform went so awry, and some not surprised at all. Among those who follow commercial Linux vendors, though, there is a growing concensus that Mandriva S.A. failed to offer more than just an operating system.

IT World has a post out which considers whether Mandriva’s problems are a signal of more problems to come for companies concentrating on standalone Linux distributions:

“More and more, Linux vendors aren’t just selling Linux… They’re selling Linux as a vehicle for their big idea. For Red Hat, it’s virtualization and the cloud. For SUSE, it’s the appliance creation of SUSE Studio. For Canonical, it’s a push towards mobile, cloud, television… their big idea seem to be moving Ubuntu into every platform they can think of…But regardless of whether you think these ideas are good ones, it does not change the fact that the Linux vendors exhibiting some success are pairing the Linux operating system with some sort of larger product/concept that they market to their customers.”

Mozilla Delivers Firefox 10, Shifts Approach to Extensions

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:03:14 +0000

Only six weeks after delivering version 9 of the Firefox browser, Mozilla has now released Firefox 10, available for download here. Since February of last year, when Mozilla announced a new rapid release cycle for the Firefox browser, new version have arrived at an extremely fast pace, occasionally causing user backlash. Version 10 of Firefox includes many enhancements, including lots of new tools for developers, enhanced support for 3D graphics via the WebGL standard, and a new API designed to facilitate full-screen applications.

In upgrading to the new rapid releases of new versions of Firefox, some users have had problems with updating extensions. Version 10 takes a different approach. Rather than rejecting any extensions that developers haven’t delivered specifically for the new version, version 10 treats extensions as compatible unless they have been flagged as incompatible.

Firefox 10’s new full-screen API caters to web sites that make use of full-screen real estate, but it’s also expected to be welcomed by game developers who want maximum screen usage. Enhanced support for 3D graphics is also straight up game developers’ alley.

Note that Firefox for Android also updates to version 10. It boasts improvements to syncing, and multitouch gesture support.

openSUSE has a Dream

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:31:11 +0000

The openSUSE artwork team has dream and needs your help. A new initiative seeks to collect information on how users customize and use their desktops. Then this data will be used to help design future openSUSE releases.

Andres Silva explained, “It is not a matter of “I like KDE or Gnome better than others,” but rather it is a way for our team to understand how much we tweak and change our desktop environments to meet our needs.” There is a submission page for screenshots and details of customizations. Folks are even welcome to create mockups of their desired features. So, head on over to the “Dream openSUSE” initiative wiki page and help shape the future of openSUSE desktops.

On a related note, Silva also divulged the wallpaper for openSUSE 12.2. Very much in character of most openSUSE default backgrounds, it’s an attractive, tasteful, and professional choice. Marcus Moeller’s ““Lightray” earned the honor by receiving the most votes in a recent opinion poll.

Moving from Windows to Linux: Easy Steps and Resources

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:14:30 +0000

Linux is succeeding on many platforms other than computing desktops, but it’s still true that many Microsoft Windows users are either switching to Linux or choosing to run it as a secondary operating system. In many cases, Windows users are unaware of the benefits they can get from Linux, or don’t know where to start in experimenting. However, there are a number of free resources available for Windows users who want to take the Linux plunge. In this post, you’ll find our updated collection of several of them that can make moving to Linux very easy.

PC World is out with a good Getting Started Guide for Windows users who are interested in Linux. The guide discusses benefits of Linux, what you need to get started, and how to turn a Windows PC into a dual-boot computer, which can be one of the best ways for Linux newbies who are used to Windows to get started. Users can also brush up on the most popular Linux distributions here.

I always like to investigate a new topic with a good book as a guide. Test Driving Linux: From Windows to Linux in 60 Seconds is a free online book that can get you started with both Linux and several open source programs. Beginners will find it approachable, and it covers everything from basic Linux commands to user interface conventions that differ between Linux and Windows. The chapters of the book are online links, so you can just peruse the Table of Contents to go straight to the kind of material you’re interested in.

It’s always instructive to hear from other Windows users who have immersed themselves in Linux, and there are complete stories about this type of switch available online. In this post, we covered a die-hard Windows user’s immersion in Ubuntu, which includes lots of good information about going from Microsoft’s OS to Linux.

Toward the Pocket Doctor: South Koreans Perfecting Mobile Phone Medical Apps

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:59:42 +0000

As all of us spend more and more time with our mobile phones, it can be easy to be lulled into believing that all the great mobile applications have already been invented. However, many mobile analysts predict that one emerging application class for mobile phones has yet to come to full fruition: medical diagnostic applications. The concept of the phone as doctor (where the doctor is always with you) may still be questionable for some people, since there aren’t many applications to point to yet. But at the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea, the first steps toward the phone that could detect cancer, diabetes and more are being taken. As this story plays out, open source medical diagnostic applications could have a bright future, too.

As The Register reports:

“The work is being done in South Korea, where researchers at the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have been spitting and bleeding onto capacitive touch screens to see what details they can extract from the samples using standard touchscreen tech…It is early days, but the researchers explained that they can spot the presence of biomolecules and must now attempt to identify what they are using a touchscreen…”

Mandriva Bankruptcy Crisis Diverted, For Now

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:13:34 +0000

Mandriva users have been anxiously awaiting word from corporate whether the first user-friendly distribution would be forced to cease operations. The decision, which has been postponed twice in the last week, has finally come down. Too bad it’s really a “good news, bad news” situation.

Jean-Manuel Croset, Mandriva COO, today blogged that the bankruptcy has been averted for now thanks to the Paris Region Economic Development Agency. This agency appears to a consortium of business owners and consultants, tax and regulation experts, and investors who work to promote investment in France. Mandriva has become the recipient of their support which will buy the troubled company time to construct a Plan B.

Croset said the original issue with the “minor shareholder” could not be resolved. He continued with the good news, “Fortunately, the financial situation – far better than expected – allow us to search for a new way to solve the current issue until mid-February.”

So, while the company will carry on with its daily grind, users are still in a bit of limbo waiting until mid-February for the worst-case scenario. However, like a critically ill person on life support – everyday they continue breathing brings higher hopes they’ll someday recover.