IT Blogs

I read the blog post, Google Wave went to the larger scale "Preview". They started to send out 100,000 invitations. Let's go to Google Wave to request an invitations.

Reference links:
Offical Google Blog

In the most of case, Google Web Toolkit is using with AppEngine. But it can convert Java code to Javascript. It can used in s client-side only scripting environment. Yesterday, I wrote an example page with some Ajax requests to an external web services. That is very easy. I used Google Plugin for Eclipse.So that, after I finished coding, all I need to do is compiling the project. Then it will generate the html files and javascript under /war. Finally, I copy all files to my web root under Apache. Then done. I can view the webpage in a normal web browser.

As far as I know, there is no offical apps of Blogger.com on Android. I found some apps required to sign up some other parties accounts. They cannot give you a direct access to Blogger.com. But I found AndroBlogger, that is a free apps. Moreover, it can access the blogger via your Google account. I think it uses the blogger API.

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I have used a few download managers in Joomla, such as DocMan and jDownload. But my lastest favour is Phoca Download. First of all, that is a GPL component and Joomla 1.5 native. Moreover, so far, that is very stable application. I have not found any bugs at all. In addition, that is only a component. It has plug-ins and modules. According to their documentation, they has some plug-ins can add the links to a file, category and section to an article. I have tried their module menu. That is very good. It can draw a menu to all sections in my homepage, that is good for the user browsing the by sections.

I connected my notebook(Ubuntu Remix) to internet via my HTC Magic(Android as a modem). A few applications can do that and some of them are paid apps. I chose an opensource application, Proxoid.

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Picasa 3.5 is available to download. In this version, face recognition function is added. After the first run, it will scan the photo in your library and pick all faces. Then you add the tag to each face and even you can link it with your Google contact.

Reference Link:
Google Picasa Blog

There is a useful function of Android, we can customize our home screen without jailbreak!(Unlike). We can change our background image! But I do not have any good photo on my phone, an Apps calls, Backgrounds, can solve her porblem.

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Today, Google released Android SDK 1.6. I have download the SDK and played around a bit the emulator. This seems to be a minior upgarde.

• Expanded Search
  • The search widget can search on web as well as files in phone.
• CDMA Support added

• A new version of Andorid Market

  • A new skin, that looks much better.
  • The screen shoot for apps is provided
• The apps developer can specify the target screen resolution.
• Text to speech function added.
• Keneral 2.6.29 is built-in
• Gestures functions added,Now,app developers can define their own gestures action. Such as draw a "g" to open a new window.

The emulator has not Market and seems to be not many new functions can play in there. But I have tried the search function, a search for all is very very convenient. That is very important in a handheld environment.

I am looking forward the new android into a real phone. New devices comes with 1.6 will be around early October. But I guess the new ROM of HTC Magic may be later that.

OK, for time being, let watch the induction video from Google.

Credit :from Google use under Creative Commons 2.5

Reference Links:
Google Blog
Android 1.6 Highlights

LG announced their Android Phone,LG-GW620. It has a QWERTY keyboard. By my frist impression, it looks very similar Motorola Dext. Moreover, from the photo is released by LG, it does not sounds like to have a custom UI. I guess the expirenced with HTC Magic. But, I think we need to wait for the further specifications for the final conclusion.

Reference Link:
LG Press Releases

During weekend, I got the update of linux-image-2.6.28-15. Then my HP Mini 1001 Speakers got sound now! Previously, I can't get my speakers working on Ubuntu Remix 9.04. This is the power of Opensource Communities. They can fix bugs quickly.

One last point, please remember to mute the headphone and unmute front speakers from the mixer. I can't get it on the first boot from the update, because the front spearkers are muted by default.

Motorola has announced their first new Android Phone. Same as HTC Hero, it has their own custom-made homepage,such as MOTOBLUR, getting facebook, twitters togethter. It has very similar with others, 3.5mm headphone jack, 5M pixels camera,etc. However, It is different from the most current Android phones, Hero and Galaxy, it has QWERTY keyboad.

Reference Links:
Press Release - Dext
Dext UK Website

I found the applications bar in my Yahoo! Mail is changed. Some applications are added:
- Attach Large Files, previously it used ZumoDrive for sending large file. Now, they changed provider to drop.io. The old application from Zumo Drive changed its name to "My Drive".
- Add an Automatic Organizer, it can automatic categorize your emails into folders.
- A new application for Flickr is added.
- Two electronic invitation applications, Evite and Pnigg Invitations, are added.

Finally, we have the apps of Facebook in Android. I have used it for a day.

That seems very similar with iPhone version website even I found a bit smooth on webpage than the apps.

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HTC has announced their new Android Phone, Tattoo(According to the photo HTC released, three colors, Black, White and Purple will be available to choose). That is very similar specifications with HTC Magic, 528 Mhz CPU, 3.2 megapixel color camera , 512 MB ROM. The major difficult is the screen size is 2.8 inch, Magic has 3.2 inch. Moreover, the RAM is a bit less, 256MB. So Tattoo is targeted as lower end market. But there are some improvements than HTC Magic, it has Sense UI and 3.5mm headphone jack. Lastly, there is an interesting change. The trackball is replaced by 4-Way navigation control. I love the trackball of my HTC Magic. It make the navigation much much easier!

Tattoo will be released in Europe arond beginning of October.

Reference Link:
HTC Press Release

I read the review from Cnet Australia. It arrived in Australia with Optus. It has a wounderful screen, AMOLED! Moreover, 8GB internal storage, you can install a ton of apps. Lastly, it has a camera with FLASH! As a HTC Magic user, those are reasons I will be jealous!

Pushing a file to SD card the emulator is simple and easy.
1.Turn the emulator
2.Open a command prompt
3.Go to

I am looking an installer creator for long time. I found Nullsoft Installer, that is free and opensource. I have tried wix installer before, that is too complex to use. Although nullsoft has not a GUI as well, there are a number of scripts and a number of plug-ins provided. I have built some installers without any toubles. However, please run as Administrator in Windows Vista, unless you will get an "Can't open output file" error!

Download at:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Download

There is an offical announcement from Google about Android. In version 1.6, we had a makeover for Android Market. They has a new skin for Android Market in 1.6. Moreover, they allow developers to put screenshots, promotional icons and descriptions in the market. In addition, the new version supports four new sub-categories for applications: sports, health, themes, and comics. Lastly, Italy is added in the list of paid apps sellers.
Read More:
Android Developer Blog

I read a news from Australian IT. Skype is sold. That draw my attention, because I am using Skype instead of traditional phone networks. My family members are in Hong Kong and Canada. I am in Australia. So, I did a lot of international phone calls. I am keen to know what is the future directions of Skype? Whether they are keen to expanding VOIP services, maybe doing better in mobile phones. I am keeping my eyes on the news to see the future development!

I have noticed Gmail was down today before I read the news. I found in "Trending Topics" of Twitter, Gmail is in the list. Moreover, there is a people in my Twitter, she was complaining, she could not login Gmail. Then I click the "Gmail" in "Trending Topics", I saw a ton of people complaining about this too. I knew there was a problem. After that, I did a google search news for "Gmail". I found some report about that.

Twitter is a new way to check what is happening in the world!

I just login to Yahoo Mail, there is a brand new interface. The skin is changed as well! Very fresh!

The most noticable change is the new Application bar.

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I downloaded a new ROM from HTC for Magic.There are a newer version of Google,fixes with Sync and other security fixes. That is very smooth and not hard at all. There is only a few steps wizard. But please remember, updating your ROM, all data in your photo will be deleted!

The New ROM can download from HTC Australian. Note tha, HTC delivered different version of ROM to different carriers. Please select the version of ROM for your carrier in your country.