New Beta Version of Firefox for Android - Improved Speed and Size

Mozilla released Firefox 4 browser for Android-based smartphones, promised to be a faster, smaller beta with an improved user interface, according to a Thursday’s blog post. This new beta version takes much less space than the previous 43MB, it is greatly fixed in a total of around 17 MB only. However, Mozilla still sees room for further improvement though. This is not exactly an update or upgrade, it’s rather a newer version of the app, as the users of the previous beta version will have to uninstall it and then install the new one in order to reclaim the storage space.

Android Launches Several New Apps To Its Stores Today, November 5th

Free new app, ZipList sounds like it's the ultimate grocery list. It enables users to update and share their grocery lists via the web and text messages, automatically categorize items on the lists, and then sort groceries by aisle or store easily. Users can even scan product barcodes using their phone's camera to add specific branded items, including store brand items, to their shopping lists as well. Use this app to search for recipes and then save them to a universal recipe box for your own reference.

You think that's silly? Try Luv Calculator. If you're looking for a meaningful and long-term relationship, the two of you should probably have a few things in common. The Luv Calculator app will calculate how compatible you are with your crush or significant other. The developers were careful enough to quote, however, that this app is for fun only.

If that's not lame enough already, the third app released was Fart Ringtones. You can now download this different Fart Ringtones to your Android phone by one click. This app was, however, too worthy to be sold for free. Fart Ringtones, sold for a price of USD $ 0.99, is an app that has 16 different tones to choose from. Select a ringtone and you can assign it to a particular contact quite interestingly.

Another Mysterious PDA Surfaces In North Korea

According to a student who writes a blog from North Korea, a new mysterious PDA (personal digital assistant) has hit stores there. He is reported to hate stated that this device, which doesn't even carry any branding, has a proper color touch screen display that occupies its entire front like any other PDA.

The software which come installed with the device include a Korean dictionary, plus translation dictionaries equating Korean language to and from Russian, English, Chinese and German, The blog report said: “There are several basic utility programs and an electronic map of the country although the PDA does not feature GPS (global positioning system).”

But more features, that are not included, include no wireless networking; hence the data transfer can only take place via a USB connection with a computer or via MicroSD card, which is the same as used in any other domestic cell phones.

Furthermore, the author of the blog, anonymously stated "Comparing it to modern things like, let's say, the iPad, it's nothing,” and also that “It's still good as a dictionary, except I don't see any other advantages."

Quite noticeably, this is not the first mysterious PDA from North Korea. Earlier in 2003 the country's media said "Hana 21," a PDA developed by the Samilpo Information Center, had been put on sale. Comparing both through their published images, the two devices are different.

North Korea has a 3G cellular network, but ironically still most cell phones used have only basic features. PDAs themselves have been out of fashion in many countries for a very long time, until after their features and functions were duplicated by smart phones.

Google Launches Google Instant For Android And Iphone/Ipods

Google promised to its mobile users in September, when it launched the service of ‘Google Instant’ for computer users that it will start offering Google Instant on some mobiles too. Quite early, on Thursday, 4th November, Google announced that it has launched Google Instant on some Android devices and iPhones. Google Instant is another exciting feature of Google Inc. It displays results to a user while he is typing, rather than waiting for the user to hit the search button.

But some people say that it is not necessary that this service saves time for mobile users just like it does for computer users. They believe it's not quite as useful on phones because of the small size of screens in mobiles. For example, while typing through Instant search on an iPhone, the keyboard already covers half the screen already and now the new three lines of predicted suggestions under the search bar take up additional screen real estate. That only leaves enough space to display three lines of text for search results. In some cases, even those three lines are also a part of some sponsored advertisement.

Google has declared this service as only the Beta version, as of now. Specifically Android 2.2 and iPhones and iPods running iOS 4 should see the option to turn Instant on when they visit Google.com, not all mobiles.

Steve Kanefsky, a software engineer with Google, wrote in a blog post in these words: "Google Instant for mobile works best on 3G and WiFi networks, but since the quality of any wireless connection can fluctuate, we've made it easy to enable or disable Google Instant without ever leaving the page."

When Google initially rolled out Instant for computer users it was subjected to mixed reviews. As hoped, some people find it makes searching easier and faster. But not all, others find it to be distracting as search results flash on the page. But the better part is that like computer users can shut off Instant anytime, so can the users using the mobile version.