Mozilla publishes name and shame list of slow Firefox add-ons, cracks down on tardy devs

Firefox slow-addons list
Mozilla, continuing its year-long crusade to speed up Firefox startup and shutdown times, has published a name and shame list of the Firefox's slowest add-ons.

The list is just one part of Mozilla's new efforts to highlight slow add-ons, and to help developers make their add-ons more efficient. Over the next two weeks, 'slow performance warnings' will be introduced in the add-on gallery so that users can see, before installation, which add-ons will slow down their browser. If that isn't enough to spur developers into cleaning up their add-ons, Mozilla has also begun reaching out to developers of slow add-ons with tips on how to improve add-on performance. Finally, add-on developers will soon have the ability to perform 'on-demand performance testing,' so that they can test their add-on before it's deployed publicly.

Mozilla reports that the average Firefox add-on slows down Firefox's start-up time by 10% -- which means, if you install 10 add-ons, you will double your start-up time. On fast desktop PCs that kind of slowdown might be negligible, but on older computers, laptops and smartphones, it could be the difference between a 5 and 10 second startup. Mozilla has obviously realized that while massive performance gains might've been made with Firefox 4, the addition of third-party add-ons can destroy any user-perceived improvements.

In other news, Mozilla says that a future build of Firefox will block the installation of add-ons (such as toolbars) by third-party software. Add-ons and toolbars that are bundled in this way will require explicit approval when you next open up Firefox. Hooray!

Mozilla publishes name and shame list of slow Firefox add-ons, cracks down on tardy devs originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/mozilla-publishes-name-and-shame-list-of-slow-firefox-add-ons/

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The iPhone 5 Is Here: First Impressions (Updating Live) [Video]

We've got our delicate fingers on the iPhone 5, and we'll be sharing our thoughts, joys, and concerns about Apple's newest wonderphone all day. Let's get started. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NC4i0JWIino/the-iphone-5-is-here-first-impressions-updating-live

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London Underground Is Happy to Lend iOS 6 Users a Map [Humor]

If you've upgraded to iOS 6, you're probably—quite literally—lost. But the staff at Hackney Wick underground station in London have found a solution: iOS 6 users might be best off reverting to a good ol' fashioned paper map. [Ben Mathis via Pocket-lint] More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QWg-MVsdtnQ/london-underground-is-happy-to-lend-ios-6-users-a-map

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Corel VideoStudio X4 giveaway

corelvideostudiox4giveaway
This morning, Corel released VideoStudio X4. We've already published a quick overview and hands-on of the application, and now is the moment you've all been waiting for: We're giving away ten full licenses of this new version, each worth $99.99!

To enter our random draw, you just have to leave a comment. Full terms and conditions are after the break.

Continue reading Corel VideoStudio X4 giveaway

Corel VideoStudio X4 giveaway originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/22/corel-videostudio-x4-giveaway/

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New iPad Battery Life

The new iPad has the same battery life as the iPad 2. This may strike some as peculiar because the iPad 3 has a new more highly-powered battery. However, although the battery does carry more juice, this is offset by the new features of the iPad 3 which require more power, for example the high-definition Retina display and the 4G connectivity. That said, the new iPad battery life is still perfectly reasonable and is suitable both for casual at-home use and for intensive use on the move.

New improved battery = a thicker iPad?

While the actual battery life on the iPad 2 and new iPad is around the same, the ipad 3′s battery is a much better one. The iPad 2 battery was approximately 6930mAh, whereas the new iPad’s battery is 10,000mAh – an increase of around 44%.

As the battery produces more power, it is also larger than its predecessor. This meant some slightly cosmetic changes to the new iPad. At 9.4mm thickness, it’s 0.6mm thicker than the iPad 2 – nothing to write home about, in other words! The iconic sleek design and tapered shape of the iPad is still there.

Battery Life

In benchmark tests the new iPad 3 battery life lasts for around 10 hours. However, if you’re using 4G connection, you can expect to see that go down to around 8 hours. This is average for most iPads and realistically mean that you can get a full day’s work out of the new iPad 3 without having to recharge it.

Drain on Battery

Although the battery is larger and more higher powered than the iPad 2 battery, the new iPad 3 lasts the same amount of time as the iPad 2. The new features available in the iPad 3 can really drain the battery quickly – and when you think about the innovations in the camera, sounds quality and Retina display, it’s easy to see why. If Apple hadn’t included this new battery then we’d have been seeing battery life reduced probably to around 4-5 hours.

Tips to Increase Battery Life on the New iPad

There are a number of ways to improve the battery life of the new iPad 3. The first port of call is to turn off the notifications and location services for most (if not all) of the apps that you use. This will immediately save the iPad having to dedicate battery power to these unnecessary functions.

You can also reduce the screen brightness to 50-70% – this will decrease the amount of power that goes into the screen display. As long as you’re working indoors this setting should be fine, although you will need to increase brightness in strong sunlight.

Set the iPad to auto-lock after a short time period, say 30 seconds. This will automatically turn off the display when you’re not using your device.

Bottom Line – Is It Worth It?

The battery life in the new iPad 3 may be the same as the iPad 2, but the battery itself is much stronger and more powerful, and is absolutely necessary to handle the more power-draining new features that make the new iPad 3 such a desirable piece of kit.

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/new-ipad-battery-life/

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Evernote Smart Notebook hands-on (video)

Evernote Smart Notebook handson video

The Evernote Smart Notebook is here! Well, almost here -- it arrives on October 1 -- but we got our Moleskin-lovin' hands on the app/notebook combo a bit ahead of schedule this evening. The combination works by combining the drawings, notes, and whatever other Moleskin-bound scribblings you pen with Evernote's iOS App (said to be headed to Android as well). Snap a pic of your best Mega Man sketch and see the Blue Bomber appear magically in your Evernote account and on your phone! If you're way into archiving, a handy set of stickers allows for quick tagging. The tags can even be customized if you're not into Evernote's suggested categories.

The whole concept is very neat, and it works ... sort of. An Evernote rep tried repeatedly to snag images from the page with varying results. One time a shadow interfered, and another time the lighting just didn't work out, before it finally worked. We're lending Evernote the benefit of the doubt for now as we were shown the whole shebang in the middle of a busy, dramatically lit show floor. That said, at $29.95, if it doesn't work out great, the worst that happens is you're stuck with a slightly more expensive Moleskin than a normal model (around $15 on Amazon); the iOS companion app is free. Head past the break for a hands-on video.

Continue reading Evernote Smart Notebook hands-on (video)

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Evernote Smart Notebook hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/fCHUQoQI7mA/

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Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin

This is one of those posts that could probably be condensed into a tweet: Apple has released the second Preview of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. If you're running Preview 1, it looks like you'll first receive a small update via Software Update, and then you can download Preview 2 from the Mac App Store.

There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.

So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.

Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/mac-os-x-lion-preview-2-released-introduces-mega-exciting-leath/

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IE9 and Firefox 4 post top marks in Web browser power use comparison

Over on the Internet Explorer Blog, Microsoft has posted results from an extensive comparison of the top five Web browsers. The goal: to determine whether Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 4, Chrome 10, Safari 5, or Opera 11 is able to squeeze the most life out of your laptop's battery.

A baseline was determined with test systems sitting idle, and then browsers were pointed at about:blank, a news site, the HTML5 Galactic demo, and the IE9 fish tank demo. Perhaps unsurprisingly, IE9 came out on top -- though Firefox 4 was a very close second on nearly every test. As you can see, the other browsers didn't necessarily fare quite as well, with Google Chrome, Safari, and Opera all posting significantly worse scores. In Opera 11's case, a laptop battery would last over one hour more with Internet Explorer 9 installed.


But what we'd really like to know is where did Microsoft find the dilithium crystals required to run a Galactic Total Power Consumption test...

IE9 and Firefox 4 post top marks in Web browser power use comparison originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/ie9-and-firefox-4-post-top-marks-in-pc-power-use-comparison/

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Mophie's New Battery Pack Is So Tiny, It Could Make Carrying It Around Less of a Hassle [Power]

A backup battery for your smartphone is useless without the necessary cables. So Mophie has built both a USB and a microUSB cable into its Juice Pack Reserve Micro allowing you to charge a myriad of portable devices—as long as they're not from Apple. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/2iSvBXUHrV0/mophies-new-battery-pack-is-so-tiny-it-could-make-carrying-it-around-less-of-a-hassle

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You can now rent Adobe Photoshop for $35 per month, CS 5.5 available soon

Rejoice! No longer will you have to fork over $700 for a Photoshop CS5 license! Adobe has unveiled a new subscription scheme where you can rent the entire Creative Suite, or individual packages, by the month, or for an entire year.

Adobe Photoshop can be yours for $35 per month if you agree to rent it for 12 months, or $49 per month if you require its services for a shorter period. Dreamweaver can be had for even cheaper, at just $19 per month. The entire Master Collection is still rather expensive, though, at $125 per month.

Today, Adobe also ushered in the release of Creative Suite 5.5, and simultaneously upped its release cycle from 18 months to 24 months. This means, if you rent Photoshop for two years, it's actually the same cost as buying it outright. There's no rent-to-own option, though -- so you wouldn't have access to the cheaper upgrade price once Creative Suite 6 rolls around next year. Still, if you need access to Photoshop, After Effects or Premiere for a one-time project, the new rental scheme could be exactly what you're looking for.

In other news, Adobe has announced that it will be launching three rather exciting iPad apps that work in conjunction with Photoshop: Eazel, Nav, and Color Lava. Eazel lets you five-finger paint on your iPad, and export the result into Photoshop; Nav acts as some kind of workspace, brush and menu extension, and the hopefully named Color Lava is a paint mixing palette. The apps are expected to appear in the App Store in the next 30 days.

You can now rent Adobe Photoshop for $35 per month, CS 5.5 available soon originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/11/you-can-now-rent-adobe-photoshop-for-29-per-month/

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