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As Wiki Ages, Volunteers Drop Off

Ryan Whitwam — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:38:35 -0600

Wikipedia has become one of the largest crowdsourcing projects in the world since its debut about 8 years ago. It is also the fifth most popular website, garnering over 325 million visitors each month. Even with all this success, some are afraid for the future of the online encyclopedia. In recent years, volunteers have been leaving the site in huge numbers.

In the first three months of 2009, the English-language Wikipedia experienced a net loss of over 49,000 editors. Compare that to the same period a year earlier when only 4,900 editors were lost. The Wikimedia foundation is aware of the losses, but believes the wiki will be able to continue.

As for the cause, there are two basic schools of thought. The first is that users are becoming weary of the hostile environment Wikipedia can be. Some may not want to engage in heated debates about content. Add to that the increasingly restrictive rules Wikipedia has had to set forth to combat vandalism and you may have a recipe for desertion. Others feel that there just isn’t that much work left to do. Many articles have already been written and rewritten, leaving little for the average editor to add.

Whatever the cause, we can only hope that knowledge continues to be aggregated in Wikipedia. Where do you come down? Is Wikipedia withering on the vine? Or has it just reached a level of maturity that requires less tending to?

Google Explains Chrome OS in this 3 Minute Video

Norman Chan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:30:28 -0600

This morning, Google gave the first public demonstration of the Chrome OS they announced earlier this year. We'll have a full recap of the presentation later today, but Google has also released a 3 minute video explaining the basics of their netbook-targeted operating system. The basics: Chrome OS is Chrome web browser, built on top of a Linux kernel, which only runs web apps (ie. primarily used when you're connected to the internet). And it's being designed with specific hardware specs in mind.

Update: Here's everything you need to know about Chrome OS!

Stay tuned for our recap of the Chrome OS presentation.

Google Still Trying to Speed Up the Web, with SPDY

Paul Lilly — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:50 -0600

Google's lean, mean, browsing machine called Chrome is pretty darned zippy, but the search giant envisions a much faster Web. Enter SPDY, pronounced "SPeeDY," an early-state research project that is part of Google's effort to supercharge Web.

"SPDY is at its core an application-layer protocol for transporting content over Web," Google wrote in its Chromium blog. "It is designed specifically for minimizing latency through features such as multiplexed streams, request prioritization, and HTTP header compression."

Google is toying around with SPDY as a successor to HTTP. So far, it has only tested SPDY in lab conditions with some pretty impressive results. According to Google, it saw "significant improvement" when downloading the top 25 websites over simulated home network connections, with pages loading 55 percent faster.

"Thee is still a lot of work we need to do to evaluate the performance of SPDY in real-world conditions. However, we believe that we have reached th stage where our small team could benefit from the active participation, feedback, and assistance of the Web community," Google added.

Intrigued? Hit up the following links:

Early stage documentation
Curret code
Chromium Google Group

Murphy's Law: C-Y-A on the WWW

David Murphy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:15:44 -0500

What a wonderful world that open and closed platforms have created on the World Wide Web. I can have an untold number of features and applications inserted into my Web browser without having to lift much more than a finger to access them. I can take my favorite Web platforms and expand their usefulness by linking them to other Web-based services. I can even download a variant of my Web browser of choice that bridges the best of two worlds under one new roof: new innovations mixed with standard familiarity.

So, what happens when these architectures fight back?

It's a stupid thing to say on its face, because I don't believe that it's up to a particular program or application to breach your defenses and fight its way into your cyber-life. Most, if not all instances of malware, spoofing, and hijacking (to name a few) can be directly traced to user stupidity in some fashion. Either a person leaves the ol' back door unlocked, fails to frisk the guests as they enter the home, or actively invites a heap of trouble to come on over for a party.

Simplified examples, perhaps, but the underlying fact remains a constant: You are the gatekeeper for your PC. Unfortunately, as we begin to adopt an "everyone's allowed" mindset for Web integration, we're only making it easier for the bad guys to do what they do best. Unfriendly, if not downright hostile bits of malware can be pushed back with but a few simple changes in behavior--are you as security-focused as you should be in today's cross-platform world?

Who Is Your Daddy; What Does He Do?

There's an online network for everything nowadays. And with these online networks come a flurry of registration requests and data exchanges that you feel compelled to answer. I can't count the number of Twitter invites I receive on a daily basis--just for reference, I'm not @veronica or something, but I definitely get enough email to make for a bout of mindless follower-accepting during my lunch break. That's just one platform.

It almost seems silly to type this, as it should come as Web 101 for all but the most inexperienced of users, but I'll say it anyway: Do you always know what you're clicking on? There's a reason why most programs come with a little status bar or helpful pop-up whenever you mouse over a hyperlink. One of the easiest ways to detect a potential link spoof--like, say, one that's been placed in a seemingly innocuousTwitter invite--is to hover your mouse over the link.

If the hyperlink doesn't match up with the actual site in question (like http://208.348.142.555/takin/ur/password.html versus http://www.twitter.com), then you probably shouldn't click on that link. And if you can't detect that I'm being sarcastic, and you really shouldn't click on the link, then it's too late--you've probably already clicked on the link.

Of course, if you're lazy, you could try using a helpful utility to try and make this judgment for you. Firefox's LinkExtend extension aims to do just that--protect you from sites that are trying to steal data they shouldn't. You can also check out TrendProtect for a similar safeguard. Still, nothing is as foolproof as the ol' brain-box. Don't just click accept or ignore on everything that comes in your inbox. Look before you leap, as it were.

On Page Two: The API Skeleton Key to Your Front Door and Third-Party Malware on Your Favorite Web Sites!

Giving the Guard Dog a Bone

For all the successful, engaging Web communities and platforms out there, it seems that there are nearly ten times the third-party applications that tie into said original platforms via some authentication method or API. And that's awesome, right? With but the click of a mouse button, you can expand the functionality of a service you find useful with even more bells, whistles, and AJAX-themed applications. Provided you can still log into the service, that is, considering you've just given up your name and password to a complete stranger.

Huh? How do we make the jump from Facebook to #fail so quickly? It's all in the authentication--or lack thereof. Consider a site called TwitViewer. According to a number of Tweeted messages late this July, signing up for the third-party Twitviewer service would allow you to generate a photo-based graphic of the last 200 people to click on your Twitter feed. Sounds inocuous, if not downright fun, eh?

Wrong. The site's sole purpose was to yoink the name and password of your account, which you'd type into the site under the mistaken belief that you were signing up for a service. Twitviewer would then use your account to spam your followers with the "sign up for us!" message, and the entire process would start again with a new batch of suckers.

Every platform is different in the way it allows third-party applications to access its services. Once again, however, it's up to you and your juicy brain to separate the good from the bad. In the case of Twitviewer, there were a few warning flags to watch out for.

First up is the obvious issue that it's currently impossible for a third party to be able to provide you with a picture-themed list of the last 200 people that have checked out your Twitter page. That would require some kind of callback or script built into the core of the page itself, which isn't something that can be done via the Twitter API. Ask thyself--have you ever heard of any other third-party service that can perform this function?

But supposed you wanted to give Twitviewer the benefit of the doubt. That's fine. The larger, glaring red flag is the actual authentication method that's used to "give" Twitviewer access to your account. Twitter authenticates third-party API requests using OAuth, a protocol that keeps your actual login and password out of the equation by instead assigning specialized keys, or permissions, to these external services.

It's the best of both worlds: Your user name and password stays safe with Twitter, yet other sites can make use of all the different Twitter features surrounding your account. That in mind, a third-party site shouldn't give you a prompt to type in your name and password. It should feed you a link to the main Twitter domain itself, where you'll log in (or use your already logged-in account) to approve or deny the authentication request.

It's a sad world when one has to be reminded to not give out a user name and password to anyone who asks, but the Twitviewer issue fooled many a user and tech journalist--even those decently well-versed in common security practices.

But I Didn't Do Anything!

Here goes my paycheck. If you're running a modern Web browser, you should really be doing everything in your power to prohibit third-party plugins from pushing content to your system sans permission. For Firefox users, that means running some kind of Adblock or Noscript plugin, which gives you the ability to select certain types of Flash and JavaScript content to allow or deny.

Why is this a big deal? Just look at the recent Gawker issue, where users across Gawker's many Web sites were served up with malware via a hosted advertisement that flew under the parent company's ad-ops radar. Or, for that matter, check out the New York Times--same deal.

But even these extensions can only deliver so much peace of mind for Firefox users. If you're a fan of a particular site, say, Maximum PC, and you decide to add it to your white list, then you'll get hit with any malicious content hosted on the site--and it's no real fault of your own. Aside from keeping your system software fully patched and accepting any unwanted or strange-looking file download, there's not much else you can do on the protection side of things.

What's important from this entire exchange, however, is your changing mindset. And that's really what this entire article is about. Web platforms and associated sites push content at you from all different directions and sources. It's up to you to do what it takes to make sure that this transaction takes place because you want it to happen--you're giving permission for an action to occur. You're not just sitting back and accepting someone else's malicious invite.

This control can come in many forms: scanning Web links for legitimacy; ensuring that third-parties are only allowed to access your data using safe, prescribed methods; or locking the door to everyone before you let people in, as opposed to throwing a party for all and trying to boot out unwanted guests after-the-fact. These are all important techniques to keep in your pocket as you traverse the Web's many platforms. And as our data slowly becomes interconnected between these sites, it's even more critical to keep one weak link from opening up your entire Web world for disaster.

After all, malware can ruin anyone's day.

David Murphy (@ Acererak) is a technology journalist and former Maximum PC editor. He writes weekly columns about the wide world of open-source as well as weekly roundups of awesome, freebie software. Befriend him on Twitter, especially if you have an awesome app or game you're dying to recommend!

Freeware Files: Auto-Installers for Your Favorite Windows 7 Apps!

David Murphy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:45:00 -0500

I feel as if we just crossed this path the other day. But that's okay. On the grand scale of "pony-themed games" to "extremely useful freeware applications," automatic application installers--or package mangers--tend to fall toward the latter end of the spectrum.

I wouldn't be broaching this topic so close to a previous, similar roundup were it not critically important for you to check out some of the apps that I've recently found. Although a few package managers might slip into the mix, the freeware programs I'm about to profile today... aren't really programs at all. At least, they aren't installation packages in the way you're typically used to seeing them.

Unlike package managers, which require you to install a separate application that contains some fancy list of other applications to download, some of the apps I'm investigating today remove this extra step from the equation. When stumbling into the official Web site of said programs, you're given the opportunity to customize a list of programs you want to install before you have to download anything. Once you're ready, the site creates a single executable that--if all goes well--downloads and spits the applications onto your hard drive without so much as an extra mouse click of your time.

Of course, that's the best-case scenario. There are still a number of helpful "application packages" that are a wee less automated but still worth looking into. And if you need any further encouragement, one such tool cut my typical post-installation software installation time from around 30-45 minutes to a grand total of five--five hassle-free minutes, mind you.

Ninite

I won't bury the lede. Ninite--coincidentally released this past Friday--was the first program I turned to post-successful Windows 7 installation. Why's that? Because I, like you, don't enjoy wasting an hour or more hunting across the Internet for all the apps I frequently use. And after that, there's the installation process: Tedious, sequential steps of application installation routine after application installation routine. A few thousand mouse-clicks and ten computer reboots later... and I feel like I've wasted my entire day installing programs instead of actually using them.

Ninite delivers an easy solution to this mess. Go to the website and click on the apps that you ultimately want to install. When you're done, Ninite creates a customized executable that downloads and installs these apps for you. Each app is installed with its default settings to its default location--a boon for those who just want a "set it and forget it" dump of all their favorite applications, although picky purists who prefer to tweak an app's advanced installation options might find themselves slightly disappointed.

Download it here!

Google Pack

It goes without saying, but this tried-and-true set of applications from Google offers a wide latitude of variety for just a single installation executable. From the Chrome Web browser, to Google Earth, to third-party applications like Skype, you'll find a lot of functionality that's easily customizable to create your own personal Google Pack. Simply head on over to Google's Web site for the software and select which elements you want to appear in your customized download executable. Double-click on the file once you've downloaded it and Google, for the most part, will take care of the rest.

Download it here!

Allmyapps

Allmyapps has the slight ring of a package manager to it, in that the application you download is mainly a resource for processing specialized links from the accompanying Web site rather than a full-fledged installation package of its own. However, the functionality this site offers is comparable to Ninite... and there are a ton more freeware and open-source apps to choose from! Like an Amazon shopping extravaganza, simply add the apps you want to download to your shopping card, er, list. Register for the site and save your list, and you'll be able to grab all the programs at once using the site's downloadable installer application.

I'd much prefer to skip the registration process entirely and just get the apps a la Ninite, but it's hard to argue in the face of the site's comprehensive list of programs to pick from.

Download it here!

BaseShield App Store

Similar to a concept I've blogged about in the past--okay, it's exactly identical--BaseShield is the equivalent of an iTunes for freeware and open-source PC software. Install the App Store application and you'll be able to browse for additional programs as if you were searching for a new application for your iPod Touch or iPhone device.

To be fair, BaseShield isn't a carbon-copy of iTunes. In fact, it's really more of just a graphical package manager. I guess I was a little thrown off by the title. The pretty treatment and abundance of available (and updated) freeware and open-source software titles does set this package manager a bit apart from its peers. And since it's made by the same people who made the ever-awesome Ninite app you read about earlier, I have the utmost faith that this program will be as delightful a treat for your PC as its brother. Or sister. Take your pick.

Download it here!

Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0

Every now and them, I stumble across a piece of freeware for the hardcore developer crowd. I'll never use it myself, but Microsoft's Web Platform Installer 2.0 makes for a simplified way to download and install a whole bevy of components at once, including: Internet Information Services (IIS), SQL Server 2008 Express, the .NET framework, and Visual Web Developer Express, amongst others. Microsoft has even built a community of-sorts around the various Web apps that you can integrate into your site after-the-fact, including Wordpress, SugarCRM, and Gallery, to name a few.

Like I said, this is pure, geeky developer stuff. But, hey, automated installations are automated installations, eh? If your geek-fu isn't quite at this level, maybe you can start by playing around with XAMPP?

Download it here!

Construct Your Own 3D Buildings for Google Earth Using Google Building Maker

Pulkit Chandna — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:34:06 -0500

Google’s rendition of our planet is ready for a massive 2D to 3D transition with the launch of its browser-based Google Building Maker

tool for Google Earth. It is a new tool that lets almost anyone create 3D buildings for Google Earth. All you need is a Google account, the latest version of Google Earth and some rudimentary imaginative faculty to hit the ground running.

The internet giant defines the new tool as the progeny of “Google Maps and a gigantic bin of building blocks.” At the moment, it is possible to create 3D building in around 50 cities across the globe, though the 3D buildings can be viewed from anywhere in the world. The user is free to choose any building in the cities currently covered by the tool.

The model has to be created using the existing aerial shots of the selected location and 3D shapes. The finished product can then be submitted for review to the Google 3D Warehouse (an online repository of 3D models). If chosen, it is added to Google Earth’s 3D building layer.

“One of the best ways to get a big project done — and done well — is to open it up to the world. As such, today we're announcing the launch of Google Building Maker, a fun and simple (and crazy addictive, it turns out) tool for creating buildings for Google Earth,” Google’s Mark Limber (Product Manager) and Matt Simpson (User Experience Designer) wrote in a blog post announcing the launch of Building maker.

Image Credit: Google

Women, Teenagers, and Your Grandparents Contributed to the 34% Mobile Web Spike

Paul Lilly — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:09:17 -0500

This whole mobile thing is really catching on, as women, teens, and seniors 65 and older are finding out. According to Nielsen, web visitors using a mobile device shot up 34 percent year-over-year, catapulting from 42.5 million mobile surfers in July 2008 to just shy of 57 million in July 2009. And most of those visitors are from the three previously mentioned demographics.

In fact, year-over-year growth among teens aged 13-17 increased 45 percent, while seniors shot up by over 67 percent, Nielsen said. Those were the two most active demographics, and while male surfers still make up the majority of the mobile Web at 53 percent, visitors of the opposite sex outpaced their male counterparts in July.

"As with other forms of Internet technology, more men were early-adopters of the mobile Web and still make up a slightly larger presence today," commented Chris Quick, client services manager, mobile media. "Now that the technology is more mainstream, women are quickly embracing the benefits as 'connected customers,' tapping the convenience of Web access on mobile phones to network, browser the latest shopping deals, and get ideas for dinner, all while on the go."

An interesting side note: People.com (No. 1), MySpace.com (No. 5), and Facebook.com (No. 9) were among the top 10 mobile sites among women in July, while men were busy surfing Gizmodo.com (No. 1), Maxim.com (No. 2), and Wired.com (No. 10).

Image Credit: The Daily Texan Online

Aviary Launches Web-based Audio Editor, Myna

Pulkit Chandna — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:42:29 -0500

Aviary has made quite a name for itself creating browser-based tools. Hitherto, all its apps only catered to graphics artists, but that has changed now with the release of Myna, an online audio editor. It took around a year for Aviary to come up with this tool, which permits the mixing of up to 15 tracks not more than 5 minutes in length. Besides uploading or recording their own tracks, users can also choose from Aviary’s extensive library.

Aviary has pulled of a coup of sorts by partnering with APM Music. The move has made it possible for Aviary to offer the latter’s Quantum Tracks library, containing 3,000 professional loops, stems and beats, to Myna users. Adobe Flash is required in order to run the tool. You can use the tool for free as long as you are willing to make your creations available to other free members. If you are too possessive about your work to do that, you can buy an annual subscription for $25.

Aviary now plans to release a web-based video editor, according to its cofounder and head of product development Michael Galpert. "But to get the video right, we needed to get the audio, as well. As Flash, memory, and browsers improve, we try to be at the front of that technological curve,” Galpert told ReadWriteWeb.

Image Credit: Aviary