The primary area where Apple outshines Android is in app count and, arguably, app quality (footnote 1: better Google integration with Android tips the scales the other way for me). The past six months have seen the number of Android apps skyrocket. Current unofficial counts have reached 100,000. With App Inventor rolling out to the general public, I expect Android to approach Apple’s App Store count, roughly 225,000, within the next year (footnote 2: a much higher percentage of Android apps are free than the percentage of Apple apps).While many of App Inventor apps will be novelty items and unappealing apps, it looks like App Inventor is capable of producing some really powerful apps.

You must register through Google to gain access to App Inventor.

Here’s a video that illustrates how easy it is to program a basic app with App Inventor:

You might also enjoy:

--Sony XPERIA X10 meets Google Visual Search [VIDEO] --Google Docs, New and Improved [VIDEO] --Best. Browser. Ever. Google Chrome. [Video] --Unbelievable 3D Google Earth with Street Views [VIDEO] --Apple iPhone dual-booting Google Android… Really. [Video]

As I wrote back in mid-December…

Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, founders of Kazaa and Skype, are privately beta testing their new streaming music venture, Rdio (with the eponymous ULR http://rd.io). Apparently, Rdio will offer unlimited, commercial-free streaming music on a subscription basis which is expected to be a few dollars per month. Many of the primary tech blogs are predicting the service to be dead-on-arrival but I’m not counting them out.  They’ve made something out of nothing… twice.

The Apple App Store has approved the Rdio app but it is non-functional unless you have been invited to the private beta. Head over to Wired to see the app in action and some additional commentary.

You might also enjoy:

--Rd.io (private beta) Streaming Music Service Coming --GrooveShark Cloud Music Service --Google Wave Invites: Second Round of Invites --EpixHD a Hulu-esque Movie Service --Music (Video) Mondays on Google Buzz

While it is not yet deployed, the Salmon Protocol will use PubSubHubBub (which stands for something but I don’t know what). PubSubHubBub is used for, among other things, pushing out TechBottle’s RSS feed to Google on a real-time basis. My blog signals to Google that it has new content to syndicate. Google does not need to crawl my blog at predetermined intervals to check for new content.

So why is this a problem worth solving or worth reading about? The Salmon Protocol will unify conversations. We will be able to choose any platform we like but participate in a broader discussion with a wider circle of people. The internet will be more connected and less disjointed when the Salmon Protocol is deployed. It will be quite interesting.

For More Information: http://www.salmon-protocol.org/

[via Buzz via John Hardy's comment on my Buzz Question]

No related posts.

P.S. I’d still like to see the ability to port your existing number to Google Voice and voice responses to caller presentation for safer hands-free operation. I suppose I’m not done whining.

You might also enjoy:

--Google Voice to Offer VOIP — Acquires Gizmo5 --Google Voice definitely going VOIP --Google to Launch Facebook Killer, “Google Me” [Rumor] --Google Voice Asks Users to Donate Voicemails --Google Voice Lite Users Can Now Pick a Number [Instructions]

• A new browser instead of Prism for the web apps. It’s called “Nickel” and it’s based on Chromium, the open source project behind Google’s Chrome browser. Nickel is HTML5 ready.
• New support for up 100+ 3G keys for connectivity.
• VPN support for enterprise. Jolicloud now supports the following VPNs: Cisco OpenConnect, Cisco Concentrator VPN, Microsoft VPN, and OpenVPN.
• Desktop switcher mode. This enables Jolicloud to change from the Ubuntu Netbook Remix-style UI to the traditional Ubuntu-style UI. This is a significant step in making Jolicloud more than just a netbook OS.

There’s a Jolicloud installer for MS Windows and for Linux. The pre-Final version was released two days ago. To download: http://www.jolicloud.com/download#jolicloud-express.  It’s free. Why not try it out?

P.S. Check out the related posts below for my preliminary assessments of Jolicloud.

You might also enjoy:

--Linux Netbook Showdown: Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Jolicloud Pre-Beta --Put Jolicloud Alpha Linux on your Netbook.. Now available for download --Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --No Nexus Two; Nexus One Major Success for Android, Says Google

You might also enjoy:

--RCA Airnergy — Charge Your Phone Wirelessly from Wifi Signals [Coming Summer 2010] --Android Gaming [Video] --Civilization Beta Tests on Facebook in June --Chrome OS Netbooks Arrive in June --HTC Portofolio of Phones for 2010 Q1&Q2 Leaked

1. Begin by downloading VirtualBox (~70mb) and an ISO of Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx (~680mb). I recommend choosing the 32-bit version of Lucid Lynx (lucid-desktop-i386.iso) because it plays nicer with Adobe software (flashplayer and AIR).
2. Install VirtualBox. This requires no instructions.
3. Optional: Enable hardware virtualization in your computer’s BIOS. While this isn’t absolutely essential, it will help with 3D graphics, among other things. HP computers come with hardware virtualization disabled from the factory. Other manufacturers may ship with hardware  virtualization enabled. In any event, VirtualBox will show you a pop-up box if you have hardware virtualization disabled and proceed to the next step.
4. Create a “virtual machine” in VirtualBox:  Run VirtualBox. New -> Next -> Name the Machine anything you want -> Select Linux and Ubuntu (or Ubuntu 64 bit if you decided to download the 64 bit ISO) -> go with a base memory of 384 mb (you can change this later and allocate more RAM to the machine) -> Boot Hard Disk -> Create New Hard Disk (don’t worry.. this is simply a large file in Windows, it doesn’t partition your drive) -> Dynamically Expanding Storage -> leave Location alone ->  choose 8gb for storage (it expands when needed) -> Voila, you’re done.
5. Start the machine -> Next -> CD/DVD -> Select ISO.  Boom.. your machine boots up as if it were a computer starting with an Ubuntu DVD in the drive.
6. Follow on-screen prompts for time, time zone, username, password, etc. Note: The window will “capture” your mouse pointer. To move about the “host” OS (the non-virtualized OS), hit the right Ctrl key. To return to the “guest” OS (the virtualized OS), simply click the VirtualBox machine window.
7. It’ll take about 10 minutes to install Ubuntu but you should have a virtual computer up and running. But, you’re not done yet!
8. Install the “Guest Additions” ISO in the VirtualMachine. This will fix the graphics so you can expand the window or make it full size, Right Ctrl+F).  To install Guest Additions, Right Ctrl+D. This will mount the Guest Additions ISO for VirtualBox. Next, open terminal by clicking Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal.  Then type “cd /etc/mediaVBOXADDITIONS_3.1.6_59338″. Next type “sudo sh VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run” for 32 bit Ubuntu or “sudo sh VBoxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run” for 64 bit Ubuntu. Enter your password. After a few minutes you will be prompted to reboot.  You can reboot Ubuntu 10.04 by clicking the power button in the upper right corner.
9. You should be ready to go explore. If you want to install Google Chrome, simply point Firefox (which comes preinstalled) to http://google.com/chrome and select the DEB package for either 32 bit or 64 bit Linux.

Have fun. If you don’t like Ubuntu 10.04, just delete the virtual machine from within VirtualBox or uninstall VirtualBox.

You might also enjoy:

--Previewing Android OS on a Computer --Ubuntu 10.04 instead of Windows 7? [Linux] --What does Ubuntu Linux look like? [Videos] --Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --Linux Netbook Showdown: Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Jolicloud Pre-Beta

I have to say, this Blackberry Beta Zone makes a ton of sense. Clearly, RIM was leaking OSs to sites like BlackberryOS.com and Crackberry.com, among others. Now, there’s a central repository for the leaks. No longer will Blackberry adventure seekers need to scour the chatboards or purchase apps like BBOSAlert to learn of leaks.

If I were RIM, I would go one step further and post the blurry pre-release device photos to the Blackberry Beta Zone.

Users can be selected to participate in a beta by completing a profile on the site. To get started, head over to https://www.blackberry.com/beta/

You might also enjoy:

--“Where’s My Blackberry” Limited Time Beta App --Microsoft Office Online… Now Live [Free] --Blackberry BOLT Browser 2.0 Beta [Review] --Twitter + Blackberry + Uberness = UberTwitter Beta-6 --FourSquare for iPhone & Android (Blackberry Beta App Very Soon)

We liked nearly every single thing on the HTC Desire – it just works as you want it to as a phone and an internet tablet at the same time.

In short, this is a phenomenal phone – one of the best we’ve ever had on TechRadar. Usually when we like a phone on the first use, we end up horribly disappointed after a little use – but the HTC Desire kept on performing and achieving when we thought it wouldn’t.

The screen is lovely, the design is slick and processor makes everything happen in a flash – all you’d want from a smartphone.

Verizon customers will be happy to know that the HTC Desire is very similar to Verizon’s upcoming HTC Incredible. The primary difference will be an underclocked processor, which will extend battery life and have a negligible effect on performance under normal use. The HTC Incredible is rumored to be coming to Verizon very soon.

The entire TechRadar review is worth a look if you are considering the HTC Desire or the HTC Incredible.

[via PocketNow]

You might also enjoy:

--Google Nexus One being reviewed in the blogosphere… --HTC Desire on Camera with Latest Sense UI [Video] --Hacker Porting HTC Desire ROM to Google Nexus One Phone… --Demo of HTC’s Latest Sense UI (HTC Legend, HTC Desire, HTC Incredible…) [VIDEO]

• Tabbed browsing. This was my suggestion in November. (See, I could do one of those Windows 7 advertisements.:)) Opera Mini offered tabbed browsing so I knew it was possible. BOLT tabs are easy to use and work flawlessly. There’s virtually no lag even on the ‘ole Blackberry Tour.
• Facebook support without leaving the page you are viewing. I could take it or leave it but this differentiates the BOLT browser from all others.
• Support for various chat services, including Facebook chat. This is cool, very cool.
• Widgets (which were introduced in v. 1.70). I’m not so sure these were necessary or that they’re helpful. When I think of widgets, I think of an operating system. BOLT is a browser, not an OS. Also, Blackberry OS 6.0 will have native support for widgets.

It’s well known that RIM has its own WebKit browser in the works. Given how RIM software is usually both buggy and delayed (they STILL haven’t released a Twitter client), you should install BOLT… today.

http://boltbrowser.com/beta/boltbb.jad from your Blackberry browser.

You might also enjoy:

--Review of BOLT Browser 1.5 for Blackberry (Free) with Download Code --Bitstream’s BOLT Free Blackberry Browser Upgraded to v. 1.6 --Mini Review: Blackberry Ubertwitter Beta v0.932 “Leaked” --Mini Review: Blackberry MiniPaint Beta (Free) --“Where’s My Blackberry” Limited Time Beta App

Leftos is broken down into six main categories: Single, Dating, Sex, Relationships, Marriage and Divorce. While the entire love spectrum is covered, the demographic appears to be primarily college students and recent graduates. This may seem like a turnoff if you’re outside of that demographic but users can follow one another (think Twitter) and create an experience to their liking.

The interface was recently redesigned and offers many improvements over the prior version. What I like most is the main global news feed which can show either the most recent comments or the highest rated comments. If you frequent the site, the most recent comments feed will keep you coming back; if you’re new to Leftos, the highest rated comments are a good place to start.

Overall, I think Leftos has the potential to serve a niche market but it needs to grow its number of active users. Perhaps a piece in a significant publication would really drive traffic. The infrastructure is terrific (better than anything remotely similar) and it has been designed, programmed and promoted exclusively by a team of three 20-somethings. If you are curious, you can check it out at http://www.leftos.com/ or follow @Leftos on Twitter for some of the most entertaining headlines.

No related posts.

Before I give you the “whys” and what factors to consider, I want to caution that Chrome OS Flow supports many netbook configurations but not nearly as many as UNR. Accordingly, if you are considering Chrome OS Flow, visit Hexxeh’s site to check for compatibility. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here are the “whys”:

I use my netbook primarily for the browser and to access web apps. Both UNR and Chrome OS Flow support essentially the exact same browser, Chrome, and browser extensions. UNR has an edge though because you can install additional Linux software. So, if you want to run TweetDeck, for example, you might prefer UNR. (By the way, TweetDeck is difficult to use on a netbook because of the low screen resolution.) Chrome OS Flow affords more real estate on your screen for the browser because there is no taskbar, just tabs along the top edge. Also, Chrome OS Flow boots on my Gateway netbook (same hardware as Acer Aspire One) in about 10 seconds and shuts down in a mere 4 seconds. It is lighter on system resources which could extend battery life. Finally, one of my major peeves with UNR is the automatic update feature. Every time I boot up UNR, I have a long menu of updates that need to be installed which take quite a bit of time and bandwidth to install. While updates can be postponed or disabled, long downloads are a necessary evil of UNR. On the other hand, Chrome OS Flow operates with far fewer files (you can install it into a mere 2 GB paritition) and dependencies. Updates take less time and they are on-demand only.

UNR has some upsides, however. You can play MP3s locally, though I switched to the cloud-based GrooveShark music player to facilitate the move to Chrome OS Flow. UNR also supports a variety of other local software, including OpenOffice.Org. So, if you need to work on your computer while outside of Wifi range (or 3G, if you have it), UNR would definitely be a better choice.

If you’re thinking of making the move to Chrome OS Flow, I recommend that you make your system multi-bootable in case you change your mind later. Chrome OS Flow’s Wiki has a good tutorial for multi-boot.

If I’m overlooking some of the pros can cons of UNR and Chrome OS Flow, then please comment below.

You might also enjoy:

--Linux Netbook Showdown: Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Jolicloud Pre-Beta --Chrome OS Netbooks — Hell Yes, Google will give away computers. --Chrome OS Netbooks Arrive in June --Jolicloud Netbook OS – Major Improvements --Put Jolicloud Alpha Linux on your Netbook.. Now available for download

FUNNY! Click to Enlarge

Google unveiled its latest lab today, Google Play (http://www.google.com/reader/play/), a magazine-style RSS reader. It shows thumbnails along the bottom edge and the viewing window enlarges images and makes them more prominent. A slideshow mode also makes Play dissimilar from Google Reader. Play includes the ability to “like” an item, share an item and star an item for later viewing.

The recipe for Play seems to be two parts Google Reader, one part Google Fast Flip and one part StumbleUpon.

A touchscreen device would be the ideal platform for Play; readers could simply flick ahead to the next snippet. Perhaps this product was developed primarily for the upcoming touchscreen tablets.

I found the funny image [points up and to the right] using Play. One of the people I follow on Google Buzz shared it.

You might also enjoy:

--Google testing allowing some users to login to multiple Google accounts; Thank You! --Google to Launch Facebook Killer, “Google Me” [Rumor] --Where Google is heading… Google Translation for Android --Google Considering TV Content by YouTube for a Fee

P.S. Can’t handle multiple accounts. P.P.S. WTF? RIM’s finally getting around to releasing a Twitter app when Twitter is about to be owned by Google Buzz? 9 million buzzes in 2 days.

You might also enjoy:

--Twitter + Blackberry + Uberness = UberTwitter Beta-6 --Mini Review: Seesmic Twitter App for Blackberry & Download Code --Future Showdown: SocialScope for Blackberry vs. RIM’s Twitter App --HTC Portofolio of Phones for 2010 Q1&Q2 Leaked --TweetDeck Beta 0.32.1 Released… adds LinkedIN and Twitter List

“You can coordinate your strategy to win great battles, share your technology to jump ahead of your rivals, lobby your family and friends to form your own government and win vital elections, manage and grow your cities to maximize production and happiness, spy on your enemies, and work with your friends to create the great Wonders of the World. The game will offer everything you enjoy in Civ in a fully persistent environment – you can play as much as you like, whenever you like, and it’ll be free to play.”

I’ll go out on a limb here and predict Civilization Network to be a smashing success. Goodbye Farmville and Mafia Wars, Hello Civilization Network.

[via Samuel Axon @ Mashable]

You might also enjoy:

--OnLive Broadband Gaming coming June 17, 2010 --Chrome OS Netbooks Arrive in June --TweetDeck terrific for Facebook, no need to espouse Twitter --Facebook “Crowdsourcing” the Internet with Like Buttons --“Who’s Stalking My Profile?” on Facebook Doesn’t Work

• Comprehensive Twitter list support.  Lists are probably the best thing that has happened to Twitter since the advent of the URL shortener. With UberTwitter, you can create new lists, delete existing lists, subscribe to lists by SMS, add members and remove members.
• Find people. You can search Twitter for users just like you can from the web interface.
• The Uber-bar has tabs for easy navigation between @ replies, DMs and timelines. Apparently, you can also customize the bar to include a list but I was unable to add a tab when I tested UberTwitter Beta-6. Update: Got it now.  You have to add them from the “Lists” option and then you can arrange them using the “Uber-bar Maintenance” feature.
• Better Geo-Tagging (using Twitter’s integrating Geo-Tagging or myloc.me).
• And, many more enhancements.

To download UberTwitter Beta-6 point your native Blackberry browser to http://www.ubertwitter.com/bb/download.php or fire up your Blackberry Messenger 5.0 and scan the bar code below:

You might also enjoy:

--Mini Review: Blackberry Ubertwitter Beta v0.932 “Leaked” --UberTwitter for Blackberry, Upcoming Features… --TweetDeck Beta 0.32.1 Released… adds LinkedIN and Twitter List --Twitter for Blackberry by RIM Leaked [Downloads] --“Where’s My Blackberry” Limited Time Beta App

The Sony XPERIA X10 will definitely put Sony on the map for high-end mobile phones.  Google Visual Search, which runs on all Android phones, will help Google to rule the digital world.

[via Will Park @ IntoMobile]

You might also enjoy:

--Google Visual Search… Snap Your Phone’s Camera at Anything --Why Google Visual Search for Android is Ingenious… --Google Scholar Legal Search…Nipping at the Heels of Westlaw and LexisNexis --Facebook vs. Google isn’t about Social vs. Search --Google Diversification, Search Fading?

[Considering I started a Facebook fan page today for Tech Bottle, I thought it appropriate to write something about Facebook. It's been awhile.]

Don’t let the name mislead you, TweetDeck is a terrific program for Facebook. It is written in Adobe Air so it installs on PC Windows, Macs and even Linux. Here’s how it works and a list of some of the helpful features:

Upon loading TweetDeck, you can enter your Facebook login and password.  It stores them just like the Facebook website. After that, you add columns.  The choices for each column are: Full News Feed (same as Live Feed on the website), Status Updates, Wall Posts, Photos, Videos and Other (Links, etc.). You can also set up different columns for different Friends Lists. Below is a screen capture of what my TweetDeck looks like (the colors can be customized — these are the defaults):

Example Layout of TweetDeck

So, what’s the point?  Here are some benefits of using TweetDeck for Facebook:

1. Notifications!  You can set up TweetDeck to flash new updates from any column in the corner of your screen when the program is minimized.  You can also set up audible notifications for each column but, quite frankly, you’ll probably find that annoying.
2. The little gray boxes at the bottom of each column are especially useful — what’s popular in the column, filter/search the entire column for particular words or updates by a particular user and a clear button to blank the column and only show new updates.
3. Update your status from within TweetDeck. You can type your status update, drop pictures or links into the program and even set the program to auto-shorten the URLs.
4. You can view pictures and videos from within TweetDeck. Just click on them to blow them up to full size.

TweetDeck is in beta testing but I have not found it to be buggy. You can download it from the TweetDeck website (free).

P.S. If you use LinkedIN, TweetDeck now has support for LinkedIN.

You might also enjoy:

--TweetDeck Beta 0.32.1 Released… adds LinkedIN and Twitter List --Why Google Buzz is targeted at Twitter… not Facebook yet. --Civilization Beta Tests on Facebook in June --Facebook “Crowdsourcing” the Internet with Like Buttons --“Who’s Stalking My Profile?” on Facebook Doesn’t Work

• Locate by ZIP or GPS
• Menus for “Recent Releases” and “Top Box Office”
• “Coming Soon” feature with trailers
• Searches a database over over 16,000 theaters, more than any other movie ticket app.

[via Ronen Halevy @ BerryReview]

You might also enjoy:

--Mini Review: Blackberry MiniPaint Beta (Free) --Blackberry Beta Zone Goes Live --“Where’s My Blackberry” Limited Time Beta App --Blackberry BOLT Browser 2.0 Beta [Review] --FourSquare for iPhone & Android (Blackberry Beta App Very Soon)

Auto-Complete of Usernames in Upcoming UberTwitter

New Customizable Tabs with Color Icons in Upcoming UberTwitter (See Top of Image)

With these enhancements, UberTwitter will solidify itself as the top Twitter app on the Blackberry platform. Notably, Seemic (available now in Blackberry App World) has made some improvements to its beta Blackberry app. However, now that UberTwitter has added support for Twitter Lists, I think it is clearly in the top spot.

[via BlackberryOS.com]

You might also enjoy:

--Twitter + Blackberry + Uberness = UberTwitter Beta-6 --Blackberry App World 2.0 Features --Mini Review: Blackberry Ubertwitter Beta v0.932 “Leaked” --Upcoming Blackberry Slider to look like Palm Pre [rumor] --Upcoming Blackberry Flip-and-Slide? [Patent Photos]

The Apple App Store has approved the Rdio app but it is non-functional unless you have been invited to the private beta. Head over to Wired to see the app in action and some additional commentary.

You might also enjoy:

--Rd.io Beta Invites Rolling Out… Streaming Music Service --GrooveShark Cloud Music Service --EpixHD a Hulu-esque Movie Service --OnLive Broadband Gaming coming June 17, 2010 --Want Your Google Wave Invitation? More Coming in “Weeks.” Suggestions.

FourSquare is already gaining steam amongst geeks and non-geeks alike. It’s a located-based service that allows users to check in at various locations using their cellphones, earn points and even become the “Mayor” of some locations. Back in July, Jennifer Van Grove at Mashable.com suggested that FourSquare could become the next Twitter and earlier this month Pete Cashmore said on CNN.com that located-based apps will rule 2010. FourSquare apps are already available for Android and iPhone. A Blackberry app is in the works. Rumor has it that SocialScope’s alpha now supports FourSquare. While it certainly looks promising for FourSquare…

…what will happen when some hacks the service to win a double porterhouse at the best steak place in town? That’s where I think this service could be heading… thus, ruining it for the folks who are simply looking for a way to integrate their online social networks with their real social networks and earn cool prizes at the same time.

FourSquare relies on a cellphone GPS capabilities to send location information. Spoofing your longitude and latitude from a cellphone probably isn’t that difficult. There were 290 FourSquare check-ins at the DEFCON Hacker Conference this year. Presumably, it’s on the hacker radar. No longer will it be about getting “root” access to a computer.  It will be about chowing on the best double porterhouse.

Location can be reported a number of different ways. While GPS is one method, unique QR Codes could be generated at various locations that encode data (up to 2,953 bytes). The problem here is that someone could merely snap a photo of the QR Code and post it up to TwitPic for everyone else to enjoy. Perhaps RFID tags will be used when RFID reader cellphones are released. Rumors are swirling that the next-gen iPhone will sport RFID readers.  Perhaps that would provide the highest level of security for located-based apps like FourSquare. Keep in mind that many corporations rely on RFID technology for swipe cards in the workplace.  RFID tags could also be combined with GPS or QR Codes to even better protect the double porterhouse.

Maybe FourSquare (and whatever follows… some say Google’s QR Code system is a precursor to a competing product) knows what they’re doing and the system will be protected. But, keep in mind that as the prizes for Mayors improve, the likelihood that someone will cheat the system rises. I think the vast majority of FourSquarers are looking to simply have fun, locate friends and brag about being Mayor of their favorite haunts. Nonetheless, a few bad apples could destroy the rewards system unless FourSquare stays a step ahead.

You might also enjoy:

--Harvard partners with FourSquare --SocialScope for Blackberry to Support FourSquare --FourSquare for iPhone & Android (Blackberry Beta App Very Soon) --Blackberry users can all check-in with FourSquare

OS Installation. I found Jolicloud easier to install than Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR). It activated the right drivers for the Broadcom wifi card in my netbook. UNR did too when I ran it as a Live CD (off a SD Card) but when I did the full installation, the Broadcom driver was wrong. I had to troubleshoot the problem and install a driver off the Live CD manually.

A note on installation: right now, Jolicloud is only available as a wubi-like install — one big file on your Windows bootable hard drive that contains everything, dual boot, etc. You cannot install it into a separate partition, or at least it wasn’t obvious that it could be done. With UNR, you can wubi-install or partition your drive and run the grub bootloader to dual boot.

Interface. Same.  Tie. (If you’re bored with the interface, check out Gnome Shell 3.)

App Installation. Jolicloud has its own software repository where users are expected to find everything they need. It’s easy to navigate but not comprehensive yet (for example, Seemic is there but TweetDeck isn’t). Also, many of the apps are simply launchers for web pages. The generic Twitter app is one such example. I found this somewhat confusing because the launchers look like proprietary apps. With UNR, you use Package Managers and, if you prefer, shell commands to install apps. You can also easily add software repositories to UNR. Frankly, I prefer UNR’s method of installing software. As long as you add the right repositories to your list of repositories, you have access to just about everything. In the Jolicloud world, users are discouraged from installing software that isn’t included in their own repository… though nothing really prevents them from clicking on a Debian package off a website.

“Social” Operating System. Jolicloud is a “social” operating system. This is intriguing. You can follow people who use it, share app suggestions, etc. I suppose that is a neat idea but I didn’t find it particularly appealing… particularly during the pre-beta testing stage when very few users exist. This concept reminds me of the App Store and Blackberry App World. Perhaps it will catch on for the netbook. For UNR, you basically have the vBulletin forums online for support-type questions but no integrated social features except for the 2 gigs of online storage (called “Ubuntu One”) that you can share with friends.

Conclusion. For Ubuntu newbies, the Jolicloud experience might be better because it installed properly the first time… no hassles. For more advanced users who want to tweak their systems more (and live outside of the Jolicloud repository), UNR might be the way to go. In any event, it’s pretty darn cool that two Linux distributions are specifically designed for netbooks… the more competition the better.

You might also enjoy:

--Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --Put Jolicloud Alpha Linux on your Netbook.. Now available for download --Jolicloud Netbook OS – Major Improvements --Ubuntu 10.04 instead of Windows 7? [Linux] --What does Ubuntu Linux look like? [Videos]

You might also enjoy:

--Linux Netbook Showdown: Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Jolicloud Pre-Beta --Jolicloud Netbook OS – Major Improvements --Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Google Chrome OS [Netbooks] --Google Chrome Browser for Linux and Mac [Betas] Now Available… --What does Ubuntu Linux look like? [Videos]

Keep in mind that RIM has its own Twitter app under development and the Ubertwitter beta looks strong too.  FourSquare also has its own Blackberry app in development that is expected any day now. So, where’s the place for SocialScope in the Blackberry app wars? Well, it aggregates streams from a variety of sources and could, if properly executed, be a terrific app.

I’m mildly skeptical because of past failures of other apps like this, e.g., Snaptu. On the other hand, Nimbuzz is going to be a huge success and it aggregates virtually all commonly used IM services and Skype.

You might also enjoy:

--FourSquare for iPhone & Android (Blackberry Beta App Very Soon) --Future Showdown: SocialScope for Blackberry vs. RIM’s Twitter App --Blackberry users can all check-in with FourSquare --Blackberry support waning; RIM should make some Android devices --Mini Review: Nimbuzz [Free] for Blackberry… IM/VOIP Client with Facebook Support