Google Unwraps Chrome Experiments

Over the past few months Google has enlisted the help of a number of JavaScript gurus to demonstrate the power of Chromes V8 JavaScript engine. The result is Chrome Experiments a collection of fun and interesting projects that push the boundaries of the browser. Check out the video and the link above:

Source: Official Google Blog

iPhone OS 3.0 - With Cut and Paste

Much to the delight of all and surprise of few, Apple at it's OS 3.0 event has announced the inclusion of a cut and paste functionality that many had pondered the exclusion of since the first devices hit the street. According to the New York Times:

"Among the new tricks of the updated software are features that will allow developers to create multiplayer games that work over a phone-to-phone wireless connection, and ways for iPhone applications to push messages to users even when they are not running.

That last improvement could unleash a new wave of creativity on the iPhone. Companies like ESPN can send scores to sports fans, and instant messaging can now become far more practical on the device."

Students Returning To Computer Science

A couple of recent reports/surveys of American and Canadian Colleges and Universities have indicated that students are starting to get interested in computer science again after an 8 year slump in enrollment.

“We’re seeing amazing increases in enrollment,” Eric Roberts, a computer scientist at Stanford University is quoted in the New York Times as saying. “It’s not that people have forgotten about the offshoring of jobs, but our competition isn’t what it was. There are fewer places to go, and we don’t have Lehman Brothers, Bear Sterns and Citibank to compete with.”

While Peter Harsha, director of government affairs at the Computing Research Association says “The most compelling story for our community is that interest in computer science appears to have turned the corner,”

For some reason those banking jobs just don't seem all that appealing any more...

Talk About Second Generation Surface At South By South West

The BBC is reporting that developers are talking about a second generation Microsoft Surface which has been dubbed Second Light and builds upon the original by having a second projector inside the device that can project images onto a layer above the surface of the screen. This modification will allow Second Light to overlay secondary images above those on the screen. It is rumored that the second generation will interpret gestures and movements without having to touch the screen through the use of infrared sensors and that it will employ high definition cameras for better detail.

"Everything is moving to touch and multi-touch so you had better jump on that bandwagon," Erik Klimczak, creative director of Clarity Consulting who develops for the surface told the conference of web developers.