Will Google Chrome replace Firefox?
Firefox 3 has all but replaced Firefox 2 and Internet Explorer 7 as my main web browser on 3 desktops, 2 laptops and a netbook. The main reason? The plugin support that allows me to customize the browsing experience to be as clean and sleek as possible. With the new Google Chrome, this new beta browser makes even more tempting to try it out. Initial impressions are good with it’s promise of multi-process tab browswing built from the ground up. Google Gears is integrated immediately, which was a nice surprise when using Google Reader for the first time. We’ll have to see how it’s plugin support compares to Firefox’s established base of developers.
Did a quick test to see how the memory footprint compared across all 3 browsers, Firefox 3.01, Chrome 0.2.149.27 and IE 7.00.6000.16386. Type “about:memory” in the address bar in Chrome. Surprisingly, IE showed the least memory amount used. Always felt that IE was a bit sugglish on page loads but who knows what other background processes it’s sharing with Vista 
The UI for Chrome is definitely very appealing, clean sleek look with just a tabbed interface and none of those useless icons and toolbars to clutter the browsing experience. This looks to be a real asset on the screen estate challenged netbook since it has a very small viewable area. Hopefully, it’ll stand up well during tests. Looks like a very promising start for a beta product from Google.
A nice little usability feature which I just noticed is that when pasting an item into the address bar (which also acts as a search input) is that it intelligently determines if it’s a URL and will show “paste and go” or a search item and shows “paste and search”. Nice little touch to make life a little easier for users.
iPhone gets a 25 minutes video tour
With 25 minutes, iPhone does something which most companies don’t even other to do, a video tour that showcases its more impressive features. I think its pretty considerate of them considering how a lot of people probably don’t know how to work their phones. Using a video is rather clever since they created a clear cut manner to deliver a tutorial rather effectively and at the same time create awareness of the features without making the user read the manual!
I recently had to configure a Samsung SGH-i600 for a customer and even though I consider myself quite tech-inclined, I had trouble making sense of the options and how to get to them. In a device with small screen real estate, user experience and simplicity is paramount. While I think Windows Mobile is a great platform (and I even develop on it), it isn’t the most efficient manner to address a broad audience. So kudos to Apple for remembering the customer and letting them know that not reading the manual to make sense of their purchase is ok.
Nike+ and Runner+ : Better Analytics for your run
Entering my second week of using the Nike+ system for tracking my progress on my “Walk to Run” schedule. Its been great so far since the system tracks the distance and pace quite accurately. Having music while jogging definitely also makes it a lot easier to enjoy the run
Once the data is uploaded to Nike+’s website, you’ll see your last run featured on the home page. There isn’t much you can see or analyze more from the animated flash chart even though it looks pretty fancy. Also, it lacks the community aspect that Nike+ seems to want to promote since discussions are mainly in forums instead of on individual runs. A nice touch however is the ability to include goals for yourself to achieve. I set myself a goal of running 10 times in 4 weeks. Other goals include to run faster, burn more calories or even run further.
http://www.nike.com/europerunning/#train|train_tool
Coupled with Nike Europe Running’s training schedule, the system makes for a pretty effective way to track and schedule runs. I chose the “Walk to Run” schedule since I don’t think I can go flat out to 5km immediately so better to go slow and build up my fitness. The best part? The system automatically syncs the data from Nike+ to the schedule so I can see runs as part of my schedule too. The only missing link would be for the training schedule to be played to my iPod since some of the instructions like “(Walk 5 min, Run 3 min) x2. Walk 5 min.” makes for a lot of pressing the centre button to track progress.
In my quest to figure out what could be done with the data, I stumbled upon a great site created by Chris Duke at Runner+. When I first got my kit, Runner+ was still in beta and registrations were by invite only. Not expecting an immediate reply, I tried my luck and was surprised to find an invite just moments later.
After about a week of running and keeping track of the runs, the most obvious difference that you’ll seeing in Runner+ is the amount of effort put into creating a social aspect to running. The site isn’t done in a fancy flash user interface but yet offers more to the user. From seeing who has viewed your runs to adding notes to runs, it makes it a more interesting experience to use the Nike+ system.
Managed to get in contact with Chris since I also manage SportsKaki’s web programming that primarily focuses on finding friends for sports. Its good to know he also has similar ideas for a Friend Finder function in Runner+.
The good news? Runner+ is now in Open Beta so all users can start joining and sharing their runs. Have fun on your next run
iPhone release date confirmed: yours on June 29th - Engadget
Highly anticipated mobile phone from Apple is going to be released in the States June 29th. Wish they would release it in Singapore soon!
Source: iPhone release date confirmed: yours on June 29th - Engadget
Have you gotten your Joost invite?
From my last post on Joost invites, I’ve managed to send out 50+ invites with the first 5 invites going out in 20 minutes (just goes to show how linked everyone is!). Just in case you’ve been reading this week’s Digital Life and wondering about Joost, just drop a comment (remember PLEASE don’t enter your email in the text body to prevent spam bots!) and I’ll send out invites asap.
Shoe surgery and my first run with Nike+Ipod
After getting back from a meeting today, I had some time to get back to my Nike Running schedule and so I performed some minor surgery to a shoe to get the Nike+ sensor into underneath the sole. (Ya, attaching it outside is also ok but I preferred to have it in). Had to do some hacking get it fitted nicely and here’s how it looks.
I then attached the receiver to the Nano and it instantly was ready to receive data from the sensor. Did a quick walk down the steps to get a feel of the audio feedback (which was surprisingly nice sounding, I chose female voice). And so I started my actual lap to walk 15 min. Did a slightly longer one in the end since listening to music got me distracted enough from usual panting away.
After getting back, syncing the Nano with ITunes required me to enter my Nike id and it quickly synced the data with Nike+ site which has a nice graph of the distance that was done.
Also, since I had a training schedule at Nike Running, it also synced the information to the schedule (although it would have been nicer to match it to my goal for the day).
Of course, since MichaelYuhui.com runs Wordpress, I had to look around for a plugin that could pull all this data onto our own site. Managed to find one from ear-fung.us but alas, I seem to have hit a wall as it keeps saying “Error: session authentication failed”. Am not really in the mood to debug code so shall leave it for another day.
All in all, I’m quite happy with my purchase and would encourage those who don’t mind using technology to help improve their fitness to try out Nike+. Of course, the geek in me had to find out where all the data is stored and how to do more with them Some links if you are also interested in doing more with Nike+
http://blog.mattmecham.com/2006/09/05/ipod-training-data-under-the-hood/
I would also definitely like to find a way to have a paced audio feedback from the nano like that mentioned in this thread. *grin* too bad VS 2005 doesn’t have way to write code for the nano.
Do you have a PopFly Invite?
Would be great if anyone who has a PopFly invite could send one my way. Learnt of it last week and saw some of the videos and would really like to give it a try. Thanks!
Tuning my run with Nike + iPod
In a curious twist after months of searching for a Nike+Ipod device, I finally managed to catch sight of it at Nike by B.I.R.D store (Novena’s Velocity) just before my evening meeting there. The technology behind the device isn’t too complicated and has already created security and privacy concerns as well as hacks to get around requiring a Nike+ shoe. However, I think the concept behind it is still great and shall attempt to get fit for my upcoming IPPT (its looming in the horizon!) with some fun and music :)
Nike + iPOD kit = $54.00 (inc/GST)
Nike Sport Armband for iPOD Nano = $54.00 (inc/GST)
999 invites from Joost as it goes into public beta
If you missed out on my earlier free invites for Joost, this is the time to add a comment and let me know you want one coz I’ve got 999 invites to give out! Apparently, Joost is no longer in private beta test (still beta though) and so its a good time to test out the offerings from 32 advertising partners, such as Coca-Cola, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Nike, whose partnerships with Joost were announced earlier this week.
p.s. please don’t write your email in the comment post since I can view your email if you include a valid one in the email textbox. this will help prevent spammers from getting to ya. thanks!
If you don’t know what Joost is, read my earlier post here.
More Joost?
As a little thank-you gift, we’ve given you 5 more invitations in your “My Joost” invitation widget for you to share with them.
My last round of sending invites went quite well and now have received another 5 more invites to send. Drop me a comment if you’re interested. Cheers!
*Edit* 30/04/2007 1640
All 5 invites went out within 30 minutes of the post… so i guess will have to wait till next round for those who are reading this now.