Today is Download Day for Firefox 3. The official release is out today, and the Mozilla Foundation is trying to break a record for downloads in a 24 hour period. First of all, you should get Firefox 3 because it’s faster, more stable, and more feature rich than Firefox 2. I’ve been running a couple of the release candidates for a few weeks and I have noticed a huge difference over Firefox 2. While you’re helping yourself, you can help Firefox get publicity by downloading today and contributing toward reaching the record.
You can head over to www.spreadfirefox.com for more information and a download link. As of writing this (9:20am EST) the download link still goes to Firefox 2. I believe that Firefox 3 officially launches at 1pm EST.
I’ve been using Google Browser Sync for a while now. It syncs your bookmarks, cookies, saved passwords, and open window sessions across multiple computers (and multiple operating systems). Unfortunately, the plugin doesn’t work in Firefox 3, and many users have been anxiously waiting for an update. A Lifehacker.com reader shared the reply e-mail he received from Google when he contacted them about Firefox 3 support for the Google Browser Sync plugin.
Thanks for trying out Google Browser Sync and for all of your feedback. It was a tough call, but we decided to phase out support for Browser Sync. Since the team has moved on to other projects that are keeping them busy, we don’t have time to update the extension to work with Firefox 3 or to continue to maintain it.
The e-mail goes on to suggestion Mozilla Weave, Google Toolbar (for syncing just bookmarks online), and the Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer plugin as replacements. I gave Mozilla Weave a shot last week, but it is in very early development and was far from stable enough for use. I’ve heard great things about Foxmarks, but like Google Toolbar, it doesn’t syncronize cookies, saved passwords, or window sessions. Weave is the only viable solution for my needs, so I’m hoping it will mature quickly and reach a stable release soon.
Google Browser Sync was a really great product, and it’s a shame to see it go. Google says that it will support current users until the end of 2008. Of course, I’m guessing that most Firefox users will be upgrading to Firefox 3 long before that (like June 17th).
@bencarey posted that Timbuk2 now has a few bags with Threadless prints on them! They have 4 right now, and I hope the number increases. They look great, and it’s exciting to see the Threadless art community spread onto other products like prints, wall graphics, and now bags.
DARPA (the same folks behind the DARPA Challenge, where autonomous cars race to destinations) sponsored this project to add “damage tolerance” to aircraft. If the plane loses control surfaces from damage, the system takes control and calibrates itself to keep the aircraft airborne, and then uses on-board navigation systems to automatically land. You have to see the video of a scale test to really appreciate what’s going on.
I have the feeling that the cost of the system is probably far higher than the cost of losing a UAV in battle right now, but the implications are exciting. I expect that we could see systems like this in all sorts of forms of transportation. Just imagine if your tire blows out at interstate speed, and your car automatically merges you out of traffic and bring you to a safe stop.
I have to admit though, I don’t think anything would instill fear in an enemy much more than a one-winged fighter jet passing overhead after taking a direct hit from an anti-aircraft missile.
BMW recently unveiled their new GINA concept car. They’ve taken the body panels of the car, typically sheet metal, plastic, or fiberglass, and replaced them with a stretchable cloth. Beneath the cloth there are a series of structural supports that can be moved around, changing the form of the car. These days, the rigidness, safety, and ride quality of a car is mostly affected by the structure of the vehicle, while the skin is mostly aesthetic. In this video, Chris Bangle (Director of Design at BMW) talks through some of the philosophies behind the study, and explains the implications it may have for BMW as a company moving forward. We won’t see it on the road any time soon, but GINA may represent a shift in focus at BMW toward non-traditional solutions to very traditional problems.
Today is Download Day for Firefox 3. The official release is out today, and the Mozilla Foundation is trying to break a record for downloads in a 24 hour period. First of all, you should get Firefox 3 because it’s faster, more stable, and more feature rich than Firefox 2. I’ve been running a couple of the release candidates for a few weeks and I have noticed a huge difference over Firefox 2. While you’re helping yourself, you can help Firefox get publicity by downloading today and contributing toward reaching the record.
