In a bid to counter Google, Facebook is going open-source.

A year after its launched its much-heralded Facebook Platform – a way for third party developers to write programs that work inside the social network – the Palo Alto, Calif., company says it is making a “significant part” of its platform code open-source.

That means developers and companies working in the Facebook ecosystem will be able to see how the code works, manipulate it and give any improvements they make back to the company and other developers.

“The goal of this release is to help you as developers better understand Facebook Platform as a whole and more easily build applications,” the company said in a statement. “We’re also hoping you use Facebook Open Platform in ways we’ve never thought of.”

Though it is posing the announcement as something of an altruistic gift, there’s a bit of a chess strategy behind Facebook’s move. Google launched the competing Open Social initiative last November, a common set of software tools that developers can use to write programs for a variety of social networks, such as MySpace and LinkedIn.

Open Social gives Facebook some formidable competition for the hearts and minds of developers, whose work is seen as integral to making social networks a fun and enduring place for people to spend their time on the Web.

“Developers and users are fickle. They are going to go where barriers to entry are the lowest,” said Jeremiah Owyang, an analyst at Forrester Research. Facebook, he said, “needs to continue to build relationships with these developers or it is just going to be one of many platforms.”

From bits blog.

Google started rolling out Gmail Labs, an experimental area of new Gmail features that will be familiar and very welcome to users of the Better Gmail Firefox extension. Once your Gmail account is Labs-enabled, you’ll get a Labs tab in the Settings area of your account where you can enable 13 new experimental Gmail features, including signature tweaks, mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and even a game. After the jump, get an exclusive sneak preview at the new Gmail Labs experimental features, with screenshots.

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You’ve probably noticed that most Web 2.0 names are tweaked to be different. Long gone the days of ‘normal named’ sites

Flickr, imeem, meebo, revver – what in the heck do these names mean?  Whatever they want them to, although some Web 2.0 names are made up of a combination of relevant words.  At first glance they may appear to be stupid names but in the world of Web 2.0 – they’re pretty hot and these are some popular sites.

You might wonder how they come up with these names? Do they just throw random letters together and call it a name? Who knows…but there are some sites that will help you generate Web 2.0 names.

A lot of the .com names in these generators are taken but if you keep clicking through you’ll find some that aren’t; maybe even do a spin off of a .com name that’s taken that you like – and if nothing else they can help you get creative with your name. Both of the sites I’ve been playing with today will let you check the site availability.

—> Web 2.0 Name Generator – Generates Web 2.0 names and lets you check their availability. Some of the names I generated – Realopia, Dazzlewire, Trundo, Itz, Chattype, Skipfire, Yotri, YouTune, Agiloo.

Also has a Dot-O-Mater that will create name mashups based on the prefix & suffix you enter or and/or name lists you choose from. Pretty Cool.

—> Web Script Lab Domain Name Generator – Generates a .com and .net Web 2.0 name and simultaneously shows whether or not they’re available and if not, when the domain expires. Some of the names I generated – Chatmix, Likify, Ijo, Chatpedia, Dabify, Jefire, Gigafly, Abavu, Imm, Flipjam.

Also has a Favicon Generator for creating favorites icons for your site along with an Ajax ‘Loading’ Gif Generator.

From:imconnections

PARIS (Reuters) – The world’s top handset maker Nokia Oyj expects the role of the Linux operating system in its product portfolio to increase as the role of its Internet-focused devices grows, company officials said.

Linux has so far had little success on cellphones, but its role is increasing as more new Linux-based models reach the market, while Google Inc gave it a vote of confidence by using it to build its Android platform on.

Nokia itself has used Linux for years in its Internet tablets, large phone-like devices used to access Internet on the go, but lacking calling functionality. “We will expand that range, and we believe that the role of Linux will grow,” said Nokia spokesman Kari Tuutti.

Linux is the most popular type of open source operating system which is available to the public to be used, revised and shared — meaning it has a large developer community which could result in more attractive programs and lower costs for the likes of Nokia.

Nokia has used the tablets to target technology-savvy consumers or support emerging technologies like WiMAX.

“It’s going to be terribly important,” Nokia’s Chief Financial Officer Rick Simonson told an investor conference when asked about the role of Linux-based tablets.

He said the company has been developing the next generation of Linux-based products, which are starting to come to the market.

The market for software platforms on cellphones is led by Nokia’s S60, built on the Symbian operating system, well ahead of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile.

However, many mobile industry heavyweights, including Vodafone, Motorola, NTT DoCoMo, Samsung Electronics, Huawei and LG Electronics, have joined Linux alliances.

Linux suppliers earn money selling improvements and technical services and Linux competes directly with offerings from Microsoft, which charges for its Windows software and opposes freely sharing its code.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/146286/linux_may_power_new_nokia_phones.html

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1. NETTUTS

Now you can get the advantage and create your own website from scratch through Google Site. You can create different types of pages from scratch with the click of a button, and you can embed documents, calendars, photos, videos and gadgets directly into those pages. Similar to Google Docs, built-in editing tools allow for popular text and formatting changes to be made in a straightforward. Working with it is worth.

Google is working now in project with cost around to $500 million to offer an Internet free access.

With this project google is intend to promote its main source of profit i.e. Adwords.

Now it offers free Internet access to the area near to its compass and it is looking to increase it to other places in US.

Also, it is working now to promote its product “Google adWords” to the public through an online competition for academic sectors.

Is doing right?

Yes, Google always RIGHT.