2009: the Year of Twitter and Facebook

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Twitter, fueled by smartphones and online bursts of 140 characters, soared to lofty heights over the past year while Facebook eclipsed MySpace to become the world's leading social network.

"Those are the big winners," said Jason Keath, a North Carolina-based social media consultant and founder of SocialFresh.com, an organizer of social media conferences. "Facebook more or less tripled their size this year."

"Twitter grew immensely," added Keath. "I think they were somewhere around maybe two to four million users at the beginning of the year. Now they're near 40 million."

With 350 million members, "if Facebook was a country it would be the fourth most populous nation," said Scott Stanzel, a former deputy press secretary to president George W. Bush who has also worked for software giant Microsoft.

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How to Use Amber to Help Your Teething Baby

Fever, rashes, diarrhea, sleepless nights and screaming fits are some signs that a baby is teething. Aside from teething rings and other baby products that are said to soothe your baby, homeopathic teething tablets that contain chamomile and teething gel massaged into the gums is an effective remedy but it has to be applied many times over.

There is an easier way to calm your baby and this product not only looks great but has a lasting calming effect on teething babies and toddlers. Letting babies and small children wear an amber necklace or any other accessory is a very old traditional custom in various parts of Europe and the Far East. Amber is known to reduce inflammation of the throat, stomach and ears. Traditionally used to fight inflammation, respiratory disease and infections, it is known to be healing, soothing and harmonizing.

Traditional amber necklaces imported from the Baltic region are a less intrusive remedy for pain and side effects of teething, such as lack of appetite, ear ache, upset tummies, fevers and colds. Amber is a natural analgesic that helps calm babies without resorting to drugs. When amber is work on the skin, the skin’s warmth releases healing oils from the amber which are absorbed via the skin into the bloodstream.

ASUS laptop with neat built-in projector

This new ASUS laptop hidden away quietly at a corner over at the Computex may not look to be equipped with very advanced technology on the outside, but when you look closely it’s actually projecting images onto the screen opposite to it. Projectors are getting smaller and smaller, which makes them very convenient to be handled wherever you need your presentation to take place, but never have they been incorporated into products such as laptops, this new laptop from ASUS is certainly a first. At this moment, there is limited information regarding its other internal hardware but I’m sure this will come in the near future.

Like many sites have already commented, the idea of this integration is great, it will definitely open up a new market for future laptops, maybe in the future, single piece projectors will become a thing from the past. Meanwhile though, much work still needs to be done as the quality of these projectors are not brilliant. As you can see, though it cleverly rotates and hides away as the lid of the laptop closes away, the projector itself does take up a massive chunk of space above the screen when you open up its lid, which cosmetically for some people is a no no!

Source:
http://www.gadgetlite.com/2008/06/08/latest-technology-asus-laptop-neat-built-in-projector/

For Laptop skins and notebook stickers please visit Lap-Rap.

One of Google Chrome OS's hardest tasks? Printing

Many challenges will have to be solved before Google is ready to release Chrome OS, it's browser-based operating system for Netbooks. One of the biggest ones could be something as far offline as it gets.

Driver support has derailed many an operating system release, perhaps most recently causing headaches for Microsoft and Windows Vista. As a result, Google is paying close attention to the thorny problem of making sure Chrome OS will work with the myriad devices consumers can be expected to connect to those Netbooks, said Linus Upson, engineering director for the Chrome browser and Chrome OS.

"The good news is that for most input devices today, there are basic standards that allow them to operate without needing a specific drive for each device," Upson said. For instance, manufacturers of USB storage drives and cameras have all pretty much settled on standards that make it easy to ensure those devices will work with your software.

But printers are another story. Printer drivers are generally unique to the device and pose problems for computer makers.

"We want to get out of the business of printer drivers. All the problems related to drivers we want to go away," Upson said.

That means Google is going to have to come up with a "wonderful printing solution" that it has yet to discuss in public, although talks are ongoing with printer manufacturers, Upson said. Expect to see something from Google along those lines prior to the expected launch of Chrome OS in late 2010.

As for the other driver problem--the so-called "long-tail" of USB devices--don't hold your breath waiting for Chrome OS support for your Wacom tablet. "If that's important, Chrome OS is not the OS for you in 2010," Upson said.

Google does want to figure out a solution to this problem, but it's not something that will be ready in time for launch. Google wants to "get to a model where (Chrome OS Netbooks) can communicate with the OS without a driver."

CNET's Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.

First Wireless Internet Baby Monitor for the iPhone and Facebook

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Imogen Studio (www.imogenstudio.com), a leading company that offers a full line of consumer imaging products and Seedonk (www.seedonk.com), an innovative consumer platform for viewing, managing and sharing cameras over the Internet today announced the launch of the Bambino wireless internet baby monitor. The Bambino allows parents to securely view their baby from the next room or anywhere online through their computers and on their iPhones. Furthermore, the Bambino can also be safely and easily shared with close friends and family through Facebook.

The Bambino connects wirelessly to a computer and uses the bundled Seedonk software to securely transmit the video over the Internet. With the camera added to Seedonk, the user can remotely log on to view, manage, and share the Bambino from anywhere on the Internet. Furthermore, the Seedonk iPhone App provides users with mobile access to the Bambino while they are on the move.

Some of the features of the Bambino include:

Privacy and Safety – With encrypted transmission channels, video and audio from the Bambino are always safe and secure. (Similar security as used in online banking)

Interference-Free Monitoring – Using state of the art digital wireless technology, Bambino delivers clear and interference-free video and audio all the time.

Night Vision – Built-in Infrared lights help parents see their babies in complete darkness.

Live Video Sharing – With the included Seedonk software, parents can securely share real-time video from the Bambino with family and friends.

“The Bambino is revolutionary in that it brings the way we connect everyday via our mobile devices and the Internet to a traditional baby monitor product,” said Chris Segot, Business Development Manager at Imogen Studio. “When life pulls you away, you can now check in and stay connected with your kids. We are excited to be on the forefront of creating innovative products that help better connect families and bring more smiles to new grandparents.”

“We are thrilled to use our innovative software in a way that connects families to one another,” said Herman Yau, CEO, Seedonk. “Providing real-time connection in a world where many families live miles apart is extremely gratifying for us. We are proud to be a part of bringing families together.”

For more details on the Bambino, please visit its product page at www.imogenstudio.com/node/29.

For kids shoes and other baby accessories please visit Comme les grands

Xbox 360 and PlayStation will allow Facebook, Twitter updates

According to Yahoo news users of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles can now brag about their achievements on Facebook.

Both systems are integrating the social network this week.

Microsoft Corp. switched on a slew of new features for its Xbox Live online service, allowing owners of the Xbox 360 consoles to update Facebook and Twitter directly from their consoles.

The console can also stream music from the Internet radio service Last.fm.

Sony Corp., meanwhile, is letting PlayStation 3 users connect their systems to Facebook through its latest software upgrade.

Both companies have been looking to turn their consoles into entertainment hubs beyond gaming.

What is Technology?

According to some dictionaries technology means is an application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives. It is also the scientific method and material used to achieve a commercial or industrial objective. In Merriam-Webster dictionary technology means “the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area" and "a capability given by the practical application of knowledge". According to Wikipedia technology can be most broadly defined as the entities, both material and immaterial, created by the application of mental and physical effort in order to achieve some value. In this usage, technology refers to tools and machines that may be used to solve real-world problems.

The word "technology" can also be used to refer to a collection of techniques. Technology is a term with origins in the Greek technología (τεχνολογία) — téchnē (τέχνη), 'craft' and -logía (-λογία), the study of something, or the branch of knowledge of a discipline. However, a strict definition is elusive; "technology" can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as machines, hardware or utensils, but can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. The term can either be applied generally or to specific areas: examples include "construction technology", "medical technology", or "state-of-the-art technology".

Therefore “Technology” includes the use of materials, tools, techniques, and sources of power to make life easier or more pleasant and work more productive.