Web Applications

Apps for mobile devices are transforming the way we use the Internet, but some people will tell you that one big obstacle is still keeping them from reaching their full potential – the fact that specific apps can only be used on specific devices. Imagine how limiting it would be if only certain computers could use Google or eBay, and you begin to see their point. Not only does this situation limit the app selection available to consumers, but it also lessens the incentive for developers to create new apps. Webinos, however, is looking to change that. The European research consortium includes over 20 member organizations from the mobile web, consumer electronics, and automotive industries, all committed to developing an open source platform that will allow the creation of applications that can be used on multiple devices. Read More

Google has launched a new open-source project for its Chrome browser that will enhance 3D graphics rendering capabilities without the need for users to download additional drivers. Dubbed ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine), the project aims to allow Windows users to run WebGL content without having the traditionally necessary OpenGL drivers installed. Read More

Apple might have one of the coolest personal communications devices on the planet at the moment in the iPhone, but in the browser wars their Safari offering is struggling with statistics showing Firefox and Internet Explorer usage way out in front, and even Google’s recently released Chrome overtaking it. In a bid to rectify that Apple has released a public beta of Safari 4 for OS X and Windows with claims it runs JavaScript over four times faster than its predecessor, 30 times faster than Internet Explorer 7, six times faster than Internet Explorer 8 and up to four times faster than Firefox 3.1 thanks to its new Nitro engine. Read More

May 13, 2008 Vision impaired users can now access books, news articles and web pages using an email-based service that translates text into Braille and audio recordings. RoboBraille is a free service offering a simple way of converting text without the need for users to operate complicated software and has completed more than 250,000 translations since its launch in January. Read More

March 14, 2008 Asterpix has released new technology that automatically tags any internet video with interactive hotspots allowing users to see notes, links to more information and other videos on related topics. The new system build on the company's web-based service that enabled users to create interactive videos - with Asterbot, the work is done for you. Read More

December 18, 2007 An online application designed to reduce the cluttered piles of paper documents that refuse to disappear from our lives, mobile service Qipit turns a camera phone into a portable scanner and a mobile fax machine by enabling hard-copies to be digitally captured, cleaned-up and stored on the go. Using patented ink-extraction technology, the application automatically transforms photographs of a handwritten or printed document into a high contrast, easy-to-read digital copy that can then be stored or shared online. Qipit also sends a copy of the revitalized document to the user’s camera phone to reuse anywhere, eliminating the need to carry around a pile of paper documents. Read More

November 12, 2007 Photobucket has launched a new breed of photo tagging that gives users the ability to share linked photos across email and online social networks. Users can add up to 20 links within a single photo before sharing them, giving those viewing the images easy access to a range of related information. Read More

November 7, 2007 Graphics and imaging software producers Vertus have announced the release of Bling! It – a graphic image editing tool that is aimed primarily at the army of people selling goods through online auction sites such as eBay and Amazon, for whom programs such as Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw represent serious overkill in terms of both complexity and cost. Vertus says Bling! It will enable online sellers as well as small businesses to quickly and easily create attention grabbing product shots for the web in mere minutes. Read More

June 25, 2007 Here's a website that turns the cookbook upside down to suggest recipes that use the ingredients you've already got. Type in what's in your cupboard, and Recipe Matcher will tell you what you can make. It's a great idea, but it needs some work; for my ingredient list it told me to make "Avocado and Lobster Salad," and that all I was missing to complete the dish was... an avocado and some lobster. Hmm. Read More