Isaiah's Tech

Google Latitude will be coming to the iPhone and Google just wanted to remind all the iPhone users. This would be useful for Americans since everyone has the iPhone by now. Google Latitude makes it much, much easier to stalk all of your friends. Gizmodo points out that it will probably be released after the iPhone 3.0 update. On a side note, "it won't be released as a separate app, but integrated into the current Maps app." Google did say it was going to be released "soon" but we'll see when it will actually be released.

[Gizmodo]

Opera, the web browser that you will find on your notebook / desktop PC, has a new special build available. This new build supports Geolocation aka the ability to share your location with anyone you please (beware kids!). Opera has made this possible by working side-by-side with Skyhook Wireless; it will work by using their WPS (Wi-Fi Positioning System) to figure out exactly where you are. To me it seems like a built-in Google Latitude.

On the other hand, Opera has also announced that Opera Mobile 9.7 will make its premiere next week at CTIA Wireless. The mobile browser is said to have a couple of enhancements like utilizing the Presto 2.2 rendering engine - which is also found in Opera Turbo. "Opera Turbo compresses and accelerates full Web pages for improved browsing over limited-bandwidth connections." Opera also concluded by mentioning that Mobile 9.7 will compress as much as 80% of the data so that you will see vast speed improvements.

[Mashable, Beta News]

I've been using Facebook for about a year and a half now and it is hard to believe that it's already its 5th birthday today. Facebook will allow you to give a free virtual 'Thank You' gift to your friends. Facebook is now half a decade old with over 150 million members worldwide. In the above picture you will see how Facebook has evolved from its launch date's interface, to the current interface.

Google Latitude has just been released. It is an addition that you can have on your iGoogle page or also on your mobile phone. Although, some old mobile phones may not be supported, the vast majority of the mobile phone world are on this list: Windows Mobile, iPhone, Android, S60, Blackberry, etc. Google Latitude will let you share where you are and what you are doing with your friends. It looks pretty neat. I added it on my iGoogle, but i don't really know who i can share my information with, so it's not of much use to me. If you like to stalk your friends then this could be of use to you. This is a product that i believe has lots of potential. On a side note, Google has updated Chrome to version 1.0.154.48, which probably fixes very minor issues, since i haven't heard anything about it yet. I just came across it on Filehippo, since i'm going to download Firefox 3.0.6.

There have been some new leaked Acer smartphone pictures. The phone seems to have a portrait slide out QWERTY keyboard (see left picture). It looks like this phone has some weird swivel technology for this to be possible. Engadget points out that this design does have potential if you are also able to use the slide out QWERTY keyboard in portrait and landscape mode. It will be interesting to see what else this Acer touchscreen smartphone can do, since only the pictures were leaked to the Internet. Look forward to seeing more of this phone at MWC.

Garmin and Asus have formed the Garmin-Asus alliance to form all different kinds of smartphones. This includes the one you see in the picture on the left, dubbed the Asus Nuviphone G60. The G60's OS has not been finalized yet, but it looks like it will be a toss-up between Android, WinMo and Linux[?]. The Garmin-Asus alliance will be putting out several phones during the course of the 2009 year. We should also be expecting more than one model of a Garmin-Asus phone at MWC.

Facebook Turns 5 (and picture): http://mashable.com/2009/02/03/facebook-turns-5/
Google Latitude (and picture): http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-02-04-n78.html
Google Chrome 1.0.154.48 Download Link: http://filehippo.com/download_google_chrome/
Firefox 3.0.6 Download Link: http://filehippo.com/download_firefox/
Acer Smartphone (and picture): http://i.gizmodo.com/5146003/acers-first-smartphone-has-awkward-style-solid-potential
Asus Nuviphone G60 (and picture): http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/garmin-asus-form-partnership-for-phones-nuvifone-g60-first-mo/