WordPress 3.2 to remove support for old tech and introduce distraction-free writing

According to a developer post from WordPress, the popular content management platforms has its sights set on becoming both lighter and faster than ever before. The company is focused on moving ahead, and that means it's time to leave behind some old technologies. A minimum of PHP 5.2.4 will be required, as will MySQL 5. IE6 support is also being shoved to the back burner -- security updates which only affect the aging browser will be lowered in priority and WordPress may even consider adding an upgrade nag.

WordPress 3.2 will also see the introduction of a distraction-free writing mode, like those found in Byword or Ommwriter, and lead developer Mark Jaquith wants to ensure that the overall experience is "more lightweight and calming." He's also working with the WordPress crew to squeeze additional performance gains wherever possible.

The timeline for WordPress 3.2 is due to be released this week.

WordPress 3.2 to remove support for old tech and introduce distraction-free writing originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/23/wordpress-3-2-to-drop-support-for-outdated-tech-introduce-distr/

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Tesla Death Ray is an addictive tower defense game

Last week I wrote about Xeno Defense and this week I found Tesla Death Ray, which is almost as addictive, but is clad in a somewhat different costume.

It's a tower defense game in which you have to zap your enemies to oblivion. Much like in Xeno Defense, at the end of each level you get to the store and can use your hard-earned points to purchase upgrades and repair your tower.

Unlike Xeno Defense, you only get to the store if you pass the level. This makes the game much harder, because it means if you've made some wrong choices in terms of upgrades, now you're stuck with a level you simply cannot pass, and need to start the game all over again.

I should at least be able to sell off some of my equipment between retries of the same level, I think. But despite this one flaw, the game manages to be addictive, fun, and fast. I like it, and probably would have finished it if it hadn't been for the upgrade problem.

Tesla Death Ray is an addictive tower defense game originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/13/tesla-death-ray-is-an-addictive-tower-defense-game/

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Firefox 3.6.16 and 3.5.18 security updates released as Firefox 4 launches

Just because the shiny, new Firefox 4 is now ready for downloading by the general public doesn't mean Mozilla is turning its back on users who can't (or don't want to) upgrade. Security is a big priority, and 3.X users will continue to see patches for quite some time.

In fact, both Firefox 3.6 and 3.5 received security updates in tandem with the Firefox 4 release. The new versions blacklist a handful of invalid HTTPS certificates which were issued by Comodo.

Firefox's internal update mechanism should take care of the process for you, but you can always give it a push by clicking Help > Check for Updates. Mozilla does urge users to upgrade to Firefox 4, and there's really no reason not to. If you're ready to make the move, just visit getfirefox.com and you'll be offered the correct version for your operating system.

Firefox 3.6.16 and 3.5.18 security updates released as Firefox 4 launches originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/23/firefox-3-6-16-and-3-5-18-security-updates-released-as-firefox-4/

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HTC invites us to 'see what's next' on April 12th

Would you look at what dropped in our inbox this morning? Good old HTC is cooking up a little somethin' somethin' for an April 12th launch in London town, for an event kicking off at 1.30PM GMT or 8.30AM ET. While consulting our solar calendars, we noticed that's when Microsoft's MIX 2011 developer gathering is also getting started, but we're sure it's just a coincidence and HTC isn't about to spring a battery of new Windows Phone 7 devices on us. In fact, if you stare at the invite's image long enough, you might just convince yourself you're looking at a bulging smartphone screen, which could indicate we're talking about the EVO 3D's European launch. You never know with these things. Whatever happens, we'd advise circling the date and making sure your popcorn supplies aren't running low.

HTC invites us to 'see what's next' on April 12th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/7FPXqP16B8E/

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CrunchGear Week In Review: Direction Edition

Here are some of last week’s stories on CrunchGear: Review: The Nintendo 3DS, The Next Step In Portable Gaming Evolution Twimal: Super-Cute Twitter Toy Pet Reads Tweets For You iPhly Radio Control For iPhone Meridian For iPhone: In-store, turn-by-turn maps to merchandise Solarball Cleans 3 Liters Of Water A Day

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/03/28/week-in-review-direction/

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Daily Crunch: Discovery Edition

Iran Sends First ?Life Capsule? Into Near Orbit Transfer Super 8 To Digital? The Hard Way Zoomin Watch Zooms In First Impressions Of The Nintendo 3DS: 3D Done Right iPhone-Controlled Kitchen Island Slides Up With A Slickness

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/03/18/daily-crunch-discovery/

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Field Notebook Records EXIF Metadata for Film Photographs

If you ignore power-plugs and adapters, then my posts here on Gadget Lab skew rather heavily to notebooks (the paper kind) and photography. So I am almost contractually obliged to write about this field notes notebook from Etsy maker fabriKate.
The book (which is not from the actual Field Notes company) is a way to record [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/03/field-notebook-records-exif-metadata-for-film-photographs/

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Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video)

It may seem like there's an abundance of robot news lately, but we're just trying to please our mechanical overlords deliver the latest in gadget and technology news. What we've got here is an Arduino-based robo-gripper that serves only to move around and use its 3D printed claws to grab tiny objects that we'd otherwise be too lazy to pick up ourselves. The robot, infused with a Texas Instruments CC1110 dev kit, is controlled using an accelerometer-based Chronos watch and can move in all directions by simply tilting the timepiece. If you want to take a gander at this little guy in action, check out the video past the break -- it's always warming to see humans having the upper hand against the machine.

Continue reading Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video)

Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/eOzbBmmqnEU/

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Kinect hacked to work with PlayStation 3, plays Killzone 3 badly

Microsoft's Kinect, the fastest-selling gadget ever, has now been hacked to work with the PlayStation 3.

The Kinect isn't directly plugged into a PS3, though (that would be too awesome). Instead, it's plugged into a conventional PC laptop, where PrimeSense's first-party drivers are used to interface with Kinect. The data from Kinect is then converted into a format that the PS3 can understand, and output directly to the console using using diyps3controller, which lets the laptop USB controller interface with the PS3.

There's a video of the developer logging in and playing Killzone 3 on his PS3 using the Kinect after the break. Well, attempting to play Killzon 3, we should say. It seems like the hack has a little way to go before it's actually usable...

Continue reading Kinect hacked to work with PlayStation 3, plays Killzone 3 badly

Kinect hacked to work with PlayStation 3, plays Killzone 3 badly originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/21/kinect-hacked-to-work-with-playstation-3-plays-killzone-3-badly/

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MeeGo and Symbian: How Long Will the Bodies Stay Warm?

When Nokia and Microsoft announced a partnership last month, many systems and app developers interpreted the deal to mean Nokia was beginning to turn away QT Symbian and MeeGo platforms. In essence, Nokia would be dialing into Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 technology in the near future -- and, it was presumed, dialing out of its own mobile OSes.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/72158.html

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Gallery: Tablets and Slates Before the iPad

Contrary to what you may have read in the technical press, the iPad isn't the first tablet to have changed the world. People have wanted to write things down ever since some officious human decided that people would be more likely to obey the written word than the spoken one. Thus, it's really no surprise that the most famous set of tablets were the Ten Commandments, which are the ancient equivalent of today's "Keep Off the Grass" sign.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/03/gallery-ancient-slates/

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Mockingbird is a fantastic in-browser tool for creating website wireframes

Sometimes you've got an idea in your head for a website or page layout, or even for an application. But then you need to somehow get it out of your head and actually look at it, or show it to someone. While drawing on the back of a napkin is a time-honored strategy, that is not always ideal because you can't edit your drawing later, and it may be difficult to share.

Mockingbird is like a digital version of the back of a napkin, but on steroids. It runs in-browser, and is powered by the magic of HTML5 (so it might work on an iPad). Mockingbird provides you with a rich toolbox of UI widgets like buttons, rectangles (both rounded and "regular") and image placeholders, as well as more Web-specific elements like a "search box" or vertical/horizontal navigation bars.

All you have to do is drag-and-drop the elements around the screen and resize them until it looks just right. I've tried it with one website mockup, and the result was pleasingly clear - it communicated exactly what I had in mind.

Mockingbird is a paid service (starting at $9/month) but you can use the tool itself even without an account - you just won't be able to save your work. That's not as bad as it sounds, because more often than not you may just want to relay a quick idea.

Mockingbird is a fantastic in-browser tool for creating website wireframes originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/13/mockingbird-is-a-fantastic-in-browser-tool-for-creating-website/

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Adobe Flash 10.2 for Android available today, improves performance, adds hardware acceleration for Honeycomb

Adobe Flash Player 10.2 will land in the Android Market today, bringing with it modest performance improvements for Android 2.2 and 2.3, and hardware acceleration for 3.0. Flash 10.2 is also the first version of Flash to work on the Motorola Xoom tablet.

Engadget says that they "saw a slight but noticeable boost in framerate when playing a YouTube trailer at 480p" on their Droid 2, and that the same videos were "perfectly smooth" on their Motorola Xoom tablet. Engadget were playing with a beta version of Flash 10.2, however, so performance might be further improved by the time it hits the Market later today.

Other than some further performance and usability improvements for Android 3.0, there doesn't seem to be much else of note in Flash 10.2.

Adobe Flash 10.2 for Android available today, improves performance, adds hardware acceleration for Honeycomb originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/18/adobe-flash-10-2-for-android-available-today-improves-performan/

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Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video)

One thing's for sure: Cowon's D3 Plenue is vastly different (and superior) to the firm's AMOLED-equipped S9 from 2008, and it's also catering to a vastly different sect of consumers compared to its ultra-capacious X7. This beaut is one of the few pocketable Android-based PMPs available today, offering up a gorgeous 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchpanel (800 x 480), dedicated media controls along the edges, Android 2.1, WiFi, 1080p video output, a built-in microphone and a battery good for up to 21 hours of use. As with every other Cowon player, this one also supports every file format ever conceived, including FLAC, APE and OGG -- three that the audiophiles in attendance will definitely recognize. The real question here is simple: does having Android on a non-connected (cellular, anyway) device really do you much good, and moreover, is it really worth the $357.99 asking price? We'll discuss these points and more in our full review just after the break. Join us, won't you?

Gallery: Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP hands-on

Continue reading Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video)

Cowon D3 Plenue Android PMP review (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/cowon-d3-plenue-android-pmp-review-video/

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Ask DLS: What's your favorite mobile app at the moment?

The mobile app marketplace is exploding; there are now hundreds of thousands of apps on the iOS, Android and BlackBerry app markets. Heck, even Windows Phone 7 just crossed the 10,000 mark!

But alas, not all apps are created equal; some are way, way better than others. Which leads me to today's Ask DLS question: What is your favorite mobile app at the moment?

We don't necessarily mean the latest craze; we'd like to hear about apps that have stood the test of time on your device, apps that are among the first you install on a new smartphones, apps that have earned their place on your home screen and in your heart.

So, what are some of these apps? Bonus points for links to screenshots in the comments!

Ask DLS: What's your favorite mobile app at the moment? originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/17/ask-dls-whats-your-favorite-mobile-app-at-the-moment/

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Amazon Appstore for Android Test Drive hands on: surprisingly cool, but still US-only

When Amazon Appstore for Android launched last week, one of its primary features -- Test Drive -- was disabled just a few minutes after it opened. With no try-before-you-buy, no refund process, and 1-Click purchasing ready to strike at any moment, this caused some problems. Anyway, don't despair: Test Drive is now enabled.

Before you get your hopes up, Test Drive doesn't work with every app. The IMDb app works fine -- you can even watch movie trailers on it! -- but the Angry Birds games are sadly not enabled. Some games work surprisingly well, though, like Bubble Buster. There's very little latency, and the framerate is really rather good. The Test Drive experience is so true to life that you even get ads; how cool is that?

Gallery: Amazon Appstore for Android Test Drive

Continue reading Amazon Appstore for Android Test Drive hands on: surprisingly cool, but still US-only

Amazon Appstore for Android Test Drive hands on: surprisingly cool, but still US-only originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/28/amazon-appstore-for-android-test-drive-hands-on-surprisingly-co/

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Facebook acquires Snaptu to bolster 'dumb phone' mobile apps

Facebook has plunked down between $60 and 70 million on mobile app developer Snaptu, which creates Java-based applications for feature phones. Snaptu had been hand-picked by Facebook to develop its non-smartphone app, and the acquisition means Snaptu will now be part of the internal team. Snaptu's reach goes beyond Facebook, of course: the company's mobile app also integrates with Twitter, Picasa, LinkedIn, and other services like RSS.

Snaptu's Facebook app works with more than 2,500 handsets. Delivering a powerful, easy-to-use app to the millions of mobile users worldwide who don't own a smartphone is critical if Facebook wishes to make itself as ubiquitous and accessible as possible.

Facebook acquires Snaptu to bolster 'dumb phone' mobile apps originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/21/facebook-acquires-snaptu-to-bolster-mobile-apps/

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Survival Lab is a fun pixelated game where dying doesn't matter

In most games, dying is a bad thing. You have to start all over again, or at least revert to the last save point and lose some progress. Not so in Survival Lab: in this pixelated gem you play as a lone individual pitted against ruthless weapons in a sealed chamber. You have to run, jump and duck, collecting little yellow things (I have no idea what they're called).

For each donut-like yellow thing you pick up, you gain a bit of experience. If you manage to collect several in a row without getting hit, this counts as a combo. You can see my mad combo skills in the screenshot, of course. Collecting combos is a good thing, because a ten-point combo gives you for more experience than just collecting ten dounts one by one (getting hit in-between).

Having experience is useful, because once you die, you get to a screen where you can upgrade your skills. You can learn to run faster, double-jump (and then double-jump higher), and duck. You can also gain more armour so that getting hit won't kill you so quickly.

What makes this simple game so addictive is that when you die, your experience doesn't reset. You just go back to the same level, or another level of your choosing, and keep accumulating more and more experience. Lots of fun, especially if you're into the whole retro-gaming thing.

Survival Lab is a fun pixelated game where dying doesn't matter originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/28/survival-lab-is-a-fun-pixelated-game-where-dying-doesnt-matter/

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Inside the Big Business of Spam Botnets [Republished]

Spam emails are usually so crude that it might seem impossible that spammers make money from them, but the sheer volume of messages sent every day makes spamming a profitable industry - most emails sent worldwide are spam. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1v4EoyMvSb4/inside-the-big-business-of-spam-botnets

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SWITL scoops oozy goop with amazing robotic precision (video)

Look, sometimes, not often, but sometimes we'll miss a truly spectacular and mind bending story that requires a double-back. The SWITL robotic hand is just such a case. The patent-pending technology looks to have been revealed on video back in late October showing the Furukawa Kikou robot deftly lifting a ketchup and mayonnaise mess from a table and then replacing it unchanged from its original shape. The tech was developed for bakeries with the intention of automating the handling of soft substances that were either too malleable or too icky for human hands. Unfortunately, Furukawa Kikou isn't providing any details about the science behind SWITL so we'll just assume that it's Satan's work until otherwise informed. See what we mean in the video after the break.

Continue reading SWITL scoops oozy goop with amazing robotic precision (video)

SWITL scoops oozy goop with amazing robotic precision (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pink Tentacle  |  ABCNIIGATA (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/pvtEBB5nknE/

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