Thursday, January 28, 2010

Enable Firefox's Secret Mousewheel Scrolling Acceleration [Firefox Tips]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/_YtqnV-xqaI/enable-firefoxs-secret-mousewheel-scrolling-acceleration

Windows only: If you are accustomed to scrolling quickly through long documents, there's a secret Firefox 3.6 config setting that allows you to enable acceleration, which will scroll more quickly based on how many times you've scrolled.

To tweak the acceleration for yourself, head into Firefox's about:config page, and then filter by mousewheel.acceleration to find the two settings that apply—the mousewheel.acceleration.start setting actually enables acceleration by setting the number of times you need to scroll your mouse before the acceleration kicks in, while the mousewheel.acceleration.factor setting specifies how much acceleration to apply.

The new mouse wheel acceleration feature is disabled by default in Firefox 3.6 because it can conflict with your mouse drivers, especially if you've enabled faster scrolling in the Mouse panel in Control Panel, but you can tweak the setting either way. It's not a setting that everybody will want to apply, but if you're unhappy with the current Firefox scrolling, you can play around with the settings to figure out your preferred level of acceleration. It only works in Firefox 3.6 on Windows, and make sure to hit the link for a full explanation on how it works.



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8 Things That Suck About the iPad [Dissenting Opinion]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Rd_y7uwogPE/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad

A lot of people at Gizmodo are psyched about the iPad. Not me! My god, am I underwhelmed by it. It has some absolutely backbreaking failures that will make buying one the last thing I would want to do. Updated

Big, Ugly Bezel
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It's huge! I know you don't want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.

No Multitasking
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can't listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can't have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can't have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.

No Cameras
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can't imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?

Touch Keyboard
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we've seen on other tablets, and unless you're lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it'll be awkward to use.

No HDMI Out
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you'd just buy an AppleTV already.

The Name iPad
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of 'em!

No Flash
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that's supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don't care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.

Adapters, Adapters, Adapters
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god's sake.

Update: Why stop at 8? Here are more things we are discovering that suck about the iPad.

It's Not Widescreen
Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It's like owning a 4:3 TV all over again!

Doesn't Support T-Mobile 3G
Sure, it's "unlocked." But it won't work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.

A Closed App Ecosystem
The iPad only runs apps from the App Store. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice. Sure, netbooks might not have touchscreens, but you can install whatever software you'd like on them. Want to run a different browser on your iPad? Too bad!

[This post does not necessarily reflect the opinions of others at Gizmodo]



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Apple lifts VoIP over cellular restrictions in new iPhone SDK

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-lifts-voip-over-cellular-restrictions-in-new-iphone-sdk/

Great news for the VoIP world: iCall, the maker of the iCall VoIP iPhone app that can catch a GSM call and flip it over to WiFi, has issued a press release saying that the new iPhone SDK allows for VoIP over 3G cellular connections. Previously such calls had to be made over WiFi, since AT&T's network (or someone well acquainted with AT&T's network) didn't think it was man enough to take the VoIP traffic. Interestingly, iCall says its 3G-friendly VoIP app is available now, and is the first and only such app in the App Store -- which seems like some pretty quick turnaround on everyone's part, but apparently the 3G restriction wasn't anything to do with the software itself, but instead a server-side block. We just tested this out and it totally works, and while we'll be looking for more verification that the ban has indeed been lifted, it sounds like it's time for some cheaply connected international parties in the streets.

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Apple lifts VoIP over cellular restrictions in new iPhone SDK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-ipad-keyboard-dock-case-and-other-accessories-get-hands/

Apple didn't give us a great amount of time with its newly unveiled iPad today, and as you've likely seen, we spent the bulk of our allotment touching the unit itself. Lost in the proverbial shuffle were a number of the unit's launch accessories, including the admittedly intriguing keyboard dock ($69), case ($39), iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter ($29) and camera connection kit ($29). Each of these doodads seem to look and feel exactly as you'd expect 'em to, though we're still baffled by Apple's decision to make you pay extra for access to the world's most widely accepted connector. We're also somewhat appalled (but not surprised) by the $39 price tag purportedly attached to the stripped-down case, and while the $69 MSRP on the keyboard dock is apt to cause some grumbling, at least there are a few iPad-specific keys on there to make it (marginally) worth your while. Dig in below for more on each.

Read - iPad keyboard dock hands-on
Read - iPad case hands-on
Read - iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter hands-on
Read - iPad camera connection kit hands-on

Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad won't handle GSM voice calls -- or will it?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/ipad-wont-handle-gsm-voice-calls-or-will-it/

Like the camera references, this could just be another case of vestigial SDK weirdness -- but for whatever reason, devs have noticed (and we've been able to reproduce) a "Touch to return to call" bar in the iPad emulator just like you'd expect to find on an iPhone during a traditional GSM call. It certainly seems like Steve would've bothered to mention during today's festivities if you could do something crazy like pair up a Bluetooth headset and go to town (and you'd need a voice plan on top of that $29.99 data anyway), so who knows: either Apple's just made every UI element as adaptable as possible regardless of whether it's applicable to a particular device, they're planning a higher-res iPhone down the road, or they're integrating the bar into some VoIP action. Or... you know, none of the above.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPad won't handle GSM voice calls -- or will it? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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