New Products: Deer Park and Gizmo
I just found out that I could get an alpha version of Firefox 1.1. Yes, 1.1, not 1.0.4, but 1.1.
The Alpha release of Firefox 1.1 is code-named “Deer Park”. Not just a code name, it’s the whole name of the program….
Anyhow, this program doesn’t look new at all. I guess there must be lots of security fixes. It integrates a few extensions. There’s a sanitize feature (CTRL+SHIFT+DEL) that cleans out stuff like history, saved passwords, cache, cookies, etc. Pretty cool.
What was weird was it took on the look of the old Firefox I had, so I guess it will be compatible.
So, what IS new? Mozilla says that there’s some cool stuff like the sanatize, viewing tab icons as snapshot of the page, fast back and fast foward, remove a broken site wizard, searchable download manager, and a bunch of new fixes for Mac OS X.
Even though it’s not intended for end users using Firefox now, here is the link to download Deer Park Alpha 1:
»http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/
Deer Park Alpha 1 Release Notes:
»http://www.mozilla.org/projects/deerpark/releases/alpha1.html
The second thing I would like to talk about is Gizmo. Gizmo is an internet telephony service similar to Skype. The full name is Gizmo Project, but that doesn’t matter. Anyhow, it gives you features Skype does not currently have, for example FREE voicemail, Call Mapping, Open Directory, Call Record, and possible voice recognition. The Interface is pretty slick, too. Although you still have to pay for OUT/IN credit, like calling to a real phone or calling from a real phone to Gizmo, like Skype, is a low rate. Gizmo: 1.8 cents US/minute, while Skype, is 1.7 euro cents, which is around 2 cents US. Avaliable for Windows 2000 and XP, and Mac OS X 10.3. Linux is coming in August, and probably Pocket PC will follow.
Plus, it is supposed to be more reliable.
»Click for a Gizmo Project Screenshot:
http://media.linspire.com/images/mm/gizmo-graphic-2.jpg
One thing I found that was weird. Skype and Gizmo Project both use the same audio carrier, Global IP Sound. So it’s the software, not the hardware or sound quality (unless Gizmo has some kind of weird networking) that makes the difference between Gizmo Project and Skype.
Download Gizmo Project:
»http://www.gizmoproject.com/
- Link Exchange