Have Laptop Will Travel

Firefox 3.6 Beta 1 now available for download

Originally posted on November 1, 2009 @ 6:09 am

Firefox_3.6_Beta_1

If you haven’t heard yet, Firefox 3.6 Beta 1 is now available for download. To be honest, I’ve stayed away from Firefox for some time now because of the darned 3.5 version. It’s just too crash-happy on my Asus Eee PC.

I’m using it, and so far so good. Firefox 3.6 Beta 1 incorporates the following new features:

  • Users can now change their browser’s appearance with a single click, with built in support for Personas.
  • Firefox 3.6 will alert users about out of date plugins to keep them safe.
  • Open, native video can now be displayed full screen, and supports poster frames.
  • Support for the WOFF font format.
  • Improved JavaScript performance, overall browser responsiveness and startup time.
  • Support for new CSS, DOM and HTML5 web technologies.

Web developers and Add-on developers should read more detail about the many new features in Firefox 3.6 for developers on the Mozilla Developer Center. For the full list of changes since the alpha release, see this list (it’s big).

Please use the following links to download Firefox 3.6 Beta, or visit the beta download page:

Since this is a beta release, the usual caveats apply of course. For those using netbooks, how is Firefox 3.6 Beta 1 doing so far for you?

Opera Mobile 10 Beta Ready For Download

Originally posted on November 7, 2009 @ 6:09 am

0910v10b2

I know, I know, this isn’t laptop related news at all, but I would just like to let you guys running Symbian S60 on your phones know that Opera Mobile 10 Beta is out.

The new mobile browser borrows a lot from its java-based sibling, Opera Mini 5 Beta. However, from using the two browsers side-by-side for a while now, I can say that Opera Mobile 10 is the snappier of the two. It obviously benefits from being a native Symbian app. It features touch screen support, speed dial, and a password manager. However, it’s still a bit buggy. (Just now, Opera seems to have misplaced the upper half of mobile Plurk’s screen.)

Either way, when I’m on the go and I don’t have a laptop with me, I’ll just grab my E63 and open Opera Mobile. It’s awesome that way, really.

Download it here.

Viliv N5: 4.8 inch UMPC with keyboard

Originally posted on December 28, 2009 @ 2:11 am

vilivN5a

Now if you’re all about traveling and you find even a netbook too big for you, maybe it’s time to consider getting one of those MIDs. I’m actually not a fan of MIDs, but imagine getting a cellphone-sized mini computer out of your pocket and booting it up to Windows XP. That’s pretty sweet if you ask me. Also, the portability potential of these MIDs are astounding.

One MID manufacturer I’m impressed with is Viliv. They came out with a new MID, and although we don’t have much in the way of specs out yet, I’d like to get my hands on this baby. The known specs of the Viliv N5 are:

– 4.8 inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen
– Intel Atom
– Wifi, 3G and GPS
– Keyboard

[via]

Lenovo Ideapad U150 11.6 inch netbook unboxing video

Originally posted on October 26, 2009 @ 7:05 am

Lenovo’s made some pretty solid netbooks in the past, and here’s an unoxing video of their latest offering: the Ideapad U150.

The Lenovo Ideapad U150’s specs are: 1.2GHz Intel CULV SU2300 processor, 11.6 inch glossy 1366 x 768 pixel display, GMA 4500MHD graphics, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and a Multitouch touchpad with two distinct buttons for left and right clicks. The laptop has a 6 cell, 57WHr, 7 hour battery and runs Windows 7 Home Premium.