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Currently, Splashtop users can get quick access to a dashboard of predetermined local and Web-based apps, but the appeal of instant-on is to get you online quickly. So there are apps like Skype, a Mozilla browser (not
Firefox), links to online photo services, and streaming music sites. When the search bar is added in September, it takes one more step out of the process of launching the browser from Splashtop.

Computers loaded with Splashtop will soon be able to do very quick searches as soon as the pre-boot phase of the machine starts.

(Credit:
DeviceVM)

The search bar can be customized–if you prefer Google or Bing, you can set that up too–but deals with Yahoo, Baidu, and Yandex include a revenue-sharing agreements with the Splashtop maker, though DeviceVM would not provide details of the arrangement.

Starting in September, notebooks and Netbooks with Splashtop will have instant access to a search bar on the instant-on desktop, Splashtop maker DeviceVM is planning to announce Thursday. In the U.S. and Japan, the default search engine will be Yahoo; in China, Baidu; and in Russia, Yandex.

“Instant on” is essentially a “pre-boot” environment that allows users to get a PC up and running in seconds instead of the minutes it takes to power up and launch a browser with a standard full-featured operating system. DeviceVM makes Splashtop available to hardware manufacturers that embed it in a computer’s BIOS. Current customers include Asus, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Sony, Acer, and LG.

The instant-on environment is especially handy for Netbooks, since they’re primarily meant to be used for Web-based work anyways. But DeviceVM director of product manager Dave Bottoms said that up to six local applications can also be added to Splashtop. And if enough corporate customer are interested, that one day might include Outlook, he said.

Splashtop in the U.S. and Japan will have a Yahoo search bar for quick Web queries.

Numbers also go into a “numberspace” that categories all entries. Unfortunately, the numberspace browser requires Java and seems to just barely work, and only on Internet Explorer; a more compatible numberspace viewer is being developed.

Say you’re an engineer and you’re working on a bridge, and in your calculations you need a value for the tensile strength of the steel you want to include in part of the structure. Your company probably has a spec for the material you want, so you grab it and put it into your design. (I’m not an engineer, so please forgive me if I have this process somewhat wrong.)

Some of the data behind my number.

Allen Razdow, who wrote Mathcad in 1985, has just released his latest tool for engineers and other numerically-inclined professionals: True Numbers, an online service and specification that lets users see and record the meanings and histories behind the numbers they are using.

“Just having a little bit of semantics around numbers has several advantages,” Razdow told me, as he explained how his initiative is focused on the social side of engineering: the process before and after an engineer sits down to work through a problem, where he or she needs to know how the work will fit with the work of others.

It sounds a lot like a wiki project, and there are similarities, especially the social angle. But Razdow does not see himself building the one universal database of all numbers, a Wikepedia of constants. Rather, he sees True Numbers as a platform for numerically-inclined businesses to use to get their people in sync on numeric values that matter–as a way to get people to understand what’s behind the numbers they use.

Razdow wants the True Numbers system to be open and free for all, but hopes to make money selling enterprise server products to support it.

There’s more to True Numbers than just the hyperlinked database of numbers. There’s a nearly natural-language system for creating and categorizing entries, which also creates formatting for numbers that can be embedded in online documents. For example, I used True Numbers to create a spec for house paint. I tried “minimum depth of paint layer = 50 microns,” and it gave me formatted HTML with a link: 50 μ. The number creator enforces unit integrity. Durations must have a time unit, for example. (Although if you’re an engineer and you’re relying on True Numbers to make sure your units match, you’ve got problems.)

With True Numbers at work, that constant would have a link to information about it, possibly including the source of the value, tolerances around it, maybe a history of the use of the value in your organization, and possibly an internal discussion of the value.

True Numbers is an interesting experiment in bringing a social space to numbers. If the concept gets traction at engineering or manufacturing companies, and if using True Numbers is not onerous, it could end up supplementing wikis as a collecting point for group intelligence.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET)

eSolar: Where software meets solar power

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Today’s stories:

Also in today’s podcast: Sony releases new e-book readers; Google picks up a video compression start-up; ESPN limits employee tweets; and more of today’s top headlines.

Google buys video compression outfit On2

Hanging with hackers can make you paranoid

The Black Hat and Defcon hacker conferences wrapped up over the weekend, and security reporter Elinor Mills was in Las Vegas for both. But over the years, she’s learned that it’s wise to pack a bit of paranoia when you go to such shows. She joins today’s podcast to talk about the kinds of hijinks that took place at this year’s event.

Some tweets now of out bounds at ESPN

Listen now:

With new Readers, Sony drops price of e-books

Yahoo has escape clause in Microsoft search deal

At Black Hat and Defcon, hackers talk shop

Microsoft and Nokia said Wednesday that they are working together to bring Office to Nokia cell phones. Reporter Ina Fried talks about what the two rivals hope to gain by partnering up.

HP, Dr. Dre plan new ‘digital music ecosystem’

RealNetworks loses critical ruling in RealDVD case

Microsoft-Nokia pact takes aim at RIM

Download today’s podcast

Today’s stories:

North Americans pay more for cell phone service

Microsoft unlikely to let Word injunction stand

Facebook launching Twitter-like ‘Lite’ site?

Microsoft, Nokia ink mobile Office deal

Listen now:

Facebook tweaks its terms to address privacy

GM floats auto concepts on virtual design studio

Also in this podcast: Federal judge bars Microsoft from selling Word; RealDVD software deemed copyright-infringing; and cell phone bills are highest in North America.

The new Carakan JavaScript engine, which is used to run Web-based applications such as Google Docs, isn’t done yet, and the Unite feature is slated for a version 10 update.

Opera Software will release version 10 of its browser Tuesday, a new version of software that has loyal fans but not as much adoption as several rivals.

The Norwegian company says Opera 10 has better performance, a Turbo mode for slow Internet connections, support for a variety of Web standards such as Web fonts, and improvements to the Opera Mail feature. The company issued two Opera 10 release candidates for the free software in the last week, and spokeswoman Falguni Bhuta announced Monday the final version will arrive September 1.

Firefox, Safari, and Chrome also all are working furiously on better JavaScript performance too, in an effort to make the Web a better foundation for applications.

Opera has been available for years as an alternative to the dominant Microsoft Internet Explorer, the second-ranked
Firefox, and Apple’s
Safari. It was pushed into fifth place with the arrival of Google Chrome. The Opera browser often charts new territory, though. For example, its Speed Dial feature, which presents an array of Web site thumbnails when a person opens a new browser tab, was first introduced in 2007. A similar feature can now be found in Chrome and Safari, and Firefox may add something comparable.

(Via The Boy Genius Report)

Ever since Apple launched the new iPhone 3GS, the older iPhone 3G has been going for $99 with a new two-year contract. Well, according to Boy Genius Report, there seem to be some indications that Apple may be about to bring out a new 8GB version of the iPhone 3GS that will take the place of the iPhone 3G and also cost $99.

Interestingly, BGR’s source isn’t AT&T but Rogers, a Canadian carrier, and a tipster sent the site some screenshots that seem to provide proof of the transition between models. None of this is confirmed, of course, but if AT&T (and other carriers like Rogers) offered an 8GB iPhone 3GS for $99, it would be another aggressive move by Apple in its quest to dominate the smartphone space. I’m not sure it spells doom for the $199 8GB Palm Pre, which is selling well, but it can’t help its cause.

(Credit:
The Boy Genius Report)

Comments? Is the 8GB iPhone 3GS at $99 a big deal?

One especially promising use for flexible LED sheets lies in the medical field. “Wrapping a stretchable sheet of tiny LEDs around the human body offers interesting opportunities in biomedicine and biotechnology,” said Rogers, “including applications in health monitoring, diagnostics, and imaging.”

Inorganic LEDs are bright and long-lasting, but they’re costly, thick, and difficult to manufacture. Organic LEDs are cheaper and easier to make, thinner, and can be applied to flexible surfaces. The new process combines the best of both worlds.

Stretchable micro-LED display, consisting of an interconnected mesh of printed micro LEDs bonded to a rubber substrate.

(Credit:
Photo by D. Stevenson and C. Conway, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois)

“Our goal is to marry some of the advantages of inorganic LED technology with the scalability, ease of processing and resolution of organic LEDs,” said Rogers. “By printing large arrays of ultrathin, ultrasmall inorganic LEDs and interconnecting them using thin-film processing, we can create general lighting and high-resolution display systems that otherwise could not be built with the conventional ways that inorganic LEDs are made, manipulated, and assembled.”

Developed by a team of international researchers, the new process creates tiny, ultrathin inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that shine brighter and last longer than conventional LEDs.

The technology could pave the way for TV screens that you roll up and brake light indicators that fit the contour of your
car.

John Rogers, professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois, teamed up with experts at Northwestern University, the Institute of High Performance Computing in Singapore, and Tsinghua University in Beijing to create the new process, as described in a news story published Thursday by the University of Illinois and in the journal Science.

A new LED display process could change the way you watch TV, monitor your health, and gaze out of windows.

Micro_LED display printed on a thin sheet of plastic, wrapped around a finger.

(Credit:
Photo by D. Stevenson and C. Conway, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois)

(Credit:
Erica Ogg/CNET)

The nine-hour battery life comes from a six-cell battery. For video playback, it will last six hours.

It will use an Intel processor, but Samsung won’t reveal details besides that it is dual core.

We’ll update the post as we go. Seongwoo Nam, senior vice president of computer systems at Samsung, takes the stage first and offers brief details on a new notebook.

BERLIN–Most companies find one press conference sufficient at gadget shows. Not Samsung. We’re here at the second Samsung announcement of the day, this time for its mobile computing division.

(Credit:
Erica Ogg/CNET)

Called the X3, it has a 9-hour battery. It’s an ultrathin, weighs just under 4 pounds, and has a 14-inch screen. The casing is matte and will come in pearl white, titanium silver, and pearl black. There will also be 15.6 inch and 11.6 inch versions.

Samsung’s X3 uses a six-cell battery to offer nine hours of battery life, or six hours when playing video.

The price range is 699 euros to 899 euros, or $1,000 to $1,300.

The X series notebooks will come integrated with HSPA wireless and also feature 3-in-1 memory card reader, 3 USB ports, VGA, and HDMI port. There’s a security feature that takes a photo each time it starts up. If the picture is not the rightful owner, the computer will be disabled. The software also allows stolen computers to be locked down or data erased remotely.

The X3 in black.

H1N1 Cases by State automatically downloads daily all the new instances of swine flu in each state in the U.S. When you click on a new outbreak, you’ll be brought to a page detailing it. You can also see how many deaths have occurred because of the outbreak. For 99 cents, it’s not a bad app to have with you when you need some updates.

Swine Flu Tracker helps you find all the outbreaks.

(Credit:
Swine Flu–Breaking news and Information)

2. CDC News Reader: What better way to learn about the swine flu than to hear about it from the CDC?

3. Outbreaks Near Me: If you want to know how close outbreaks are to you, Outbreaks Near Me is the place to start.

With the help of Google Maps, Outbreaks Near Me maps all the known swine flu outbreaks in your area. The app also lets you report outbreaks if you find someone who has swine flu and isn’t included in the map listing. This free app even supports push, so it can alert you whenever a new incidence of swine flu has affected your area. Check out our full review here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides all the latest information available on the swine flu. And since it also provides information on other outbreaks the organization is tracking, you’re likely to find some of the best health data of any app in this roundup. For 99 cents, it might be worth it.

H1N1 Cases by State will help you determine where the outbreaks are.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Swine Flu Upto-the-Minute Swine Flu Upto-the-Minute aims at becoming your daily source for everything related to the swine flu.

My top 3
1. Upto-the-Minute: With so many nice features, Upto-the-Minute seems like a fine choice.

Swine Flu Tracker Map Not to be confused with Swine Flu Tracker, Swine Flu Tracker Map provides you with information far beyond what its name might suggest. Aside from mapping where outbreaks have occurred, the app also provides some valuable information on H1N1 Influenza.

(Credit:
Swine Flu Tracker)

Swine Flu Tracker Map first alerts you to changes in the swine flu warning level. So if it has moved to a level five, the app will explain what that means, how to protect yourself, and more. Swine Flu Tracker Map also features an assortment of articles to educate you on the swine flu. How does it affect humans? What are its chances of survival? All those questions are answered by the app. Even better, it’s free.

To do so, it starts out by telling you where the worldwide alert level is. It then explains what each level means to you. The app also features the world’s “status” to let you know whether it’s safe to travel to certain countries. If you want to learn more about the swine flu or influenza in general, Swine Flu Upto-the-Minute has some documents for you to read. Even if you’re looking for the latest headlines, you’ll find it with this app. It’s full-featured and affordable at 99 cents.

Swine Flu apps
CDC News Reader If you want the latest and most up-to-date information on the swine flu, CDC News Reader is probably a good place to start.

Swine Flu Upto-the-Minute has some nice features.

But considering we’re all so busy, remembering to visit government Web sites can be difficult. Installing some basic apps onto your
iPhone isn’t. Check out some of these apps that will keep you abreast of all the latest news about the swine flu.

Swine Flu–Breaking News and Information If you’re only looking for the latest news on the swine flu and you don’t need with a map showing where the outbreaks are, Swine Flu–Breaking News and Information might be for you.

If you're looking for basic information on the Swine flu, this app is for you.

(Credit:
Swine Flu Tracker)

Swine Flu Tracker Swine Flu Tracker is a simple application designed to keep track of where outbreaks of the swine flu are occurring all over the world.

(Credit:
Outbreaks Near Me)

Outbreaks Near Me shows you where outbreaks are in your area.

H1N1 Cases by State If you want daily updates on how the swine flu is spreading, H1N1 Cases by State will fill you in.

Swine Flu–Breaking News and Information gives you access to the swine flu’s Wikipedia page. From there, it searches for breaking news each day to update the app. When there’s some news, you can simply reload the application and view it. It’s nothing special, but if you want a simple, free app to consult quickly, it might be worth trying out.

When you start using Swine Flu Tracker, you’ll find a series of maps that lets you see each instance of swine flu outbreaks. You can check around your area or elsewhere around the world. The app also features an information pane, providing detailed data on the swine flu, where it comes from, and how to prevent it from affecting you. It’s available for free.

(Credit:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Outbreaks Near Me Outbreaks Near Me is clearly one of the most useful applications in this roundup.

The H1N1 Influenza, better known as the swine flu, is a real concern for just about everyone this year, making keeping up to date on the latest news paramount.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is your primary source.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Swine Flu–Breaking News and Information is for information-seekers.

The Microsoft worker who helps Karen Vail is not a fictional character but rather Tomas Palmer, a real-life program manager in Microsoft’s security unit. Jacobson met Palmer through an executive at Microsoft. In part to thank him for his technical assistance, Jacobson decided to have Palmer play a part in the book.

“I think that way, so some of them think that way too,” said Jacobson, who worked for years as a chiropractor before finding a new way to tingle spines.

Microsoft has several tools for real-life law enforcement, including COFEE (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor), a USB key that can be used by cops to find information stored in the cache of a suspect’s computer.

“I asked if I could get a tour of the campus,” Jacobson said. The executive agreed and Jacobson flew back to Seattle last December and got an in-depth look at some of the latest products Microsoft is working on.

Jacobson said that he was introduced to a Microsoft executive during a Seattle stop on his last book tour.

While nearly all the tech in the book is from Redmond, the main detective does spend lots of time on her BlackBerry (it seems Windows Mobile has a tough time getting market share in the fictional world too).

Jacobson assured me that he’s just a fan of Microsoft, whose products he has used for the past 23 years, ever since switching from a
Mac Plus to a PC when he opened his chiropractic practice. From then on, he said, he has purchased every version of Word and Office, along with many other of the company’s products.

Jacobson said it makes sense that his characters turn to technology for help.

I pointed out that it is usually Apple, and not Microsoft, that earns that kind of praise. Jacobson said he is aware but puzzled by that fact. “I am surprised at the animosity that exists on the blogs (toward Microsoft). They write a lot of nasty things.”

(Credit:
Alan Jacobson)

“It was fascinating,” he said. “I kept thinking Microsoft has such great technology and nobody knows about it.”

Crush, which went on sale this week, is the follow-up to “The 7th Victim,” another book where technology plays an important role. Both feature as the heroine Karen Vail, an FBI profiler who seems to have a knack for attracting murders.

Gadgetry infuses the pages of Crush. While Office has the starring role, a number of products make cameos, including Windows Live, Surface, Outlook and even RoundTable, which Microsoft handed off last year to Polycom. In fact, there were so many Microsoft products, I thought perhaps it was some sort of paid placement.

“Technology is such a part of my life,” the book’s author, Alan Jacobson, said in an interview. “It’s part of the fabric of my life, so invariably it spills into my writing.”

“I really appreciate what Microsoft does,” Jacobson said. “They create incredibly complex software that is incredibly easy to use.”

Well, in “Crush,” a new crime novel, the mundane piece of software gets its chance. Office, or at least one key Office document, ends up playing a central role in the pursuit of a serial killer.

Like many who spend their days trapped inside a cubicle,
Microsoft Office probably dreams of living a more exciting life. Perhaps, when it was just a beta, it thought maybe it would grow up to be a policeman.

Without giving away too much of the plot, it’s fair to say that a certain PowerPoint file becomes a key piece of evidence, with a worker at Microsoft finding central clues within the document’s metadata.