Tech Week in Review 11-20-09

Adobe AIR 2 Overhaul

Adobe recently announced updates to both Flash and AIR, but AIR certainly takes the spotlight with a bunch of new features. Each is illustrated by a specific new application.

• Mass Storage Detection – now, when you plug in your USB drive or other storage device, AIR can detect it. The FileTile app shows us how this works. (demo video)
• Native Process API – this allows applications to tap into operating system specific features without compromising the cross-platform capabilities of AIR (meaning, it will still run on Windows, Mac, and Linux). Check out the demo video or download the SearchCentral app (which uses the Mac OS X Spotlight feature) to see how this works.
• Microphone Data Access – record from your computers microphone directly to an AIR app. Play with the Microphone app to see how it works and play back audio at variable speeds.
• Drag-n-Drop for Remote Files – one of the coolest features of AIR 2 is the ability to drag files from inside the app. Without getting too technical, this feature will make it easy to get data out of and put data into AIR apps. The sample app S3E shows us how this works. So does this demo video.
• Peer-to-Peer Networking – including the addition of UDP, secure sockets, Adobe has also incorporated peer-to-peer networking technology into AIR 2. This means that we can now create apps that connect one individual to another. The KeePIPE example app lets users on the same network run their own little file-sharing network.
• Multi-Touch – many are excited about AIR 2′s multi-touch API. Adobe is so hyped that they’ve released 4 different apps to illustrate how it works: GeoTest, PhotoPhysics, SpriteFract, and TouchTest.

via RWW

Running for the Border? There’s an App for That

A group called Electronic Civil Disobedience has created an app called the Transborder Immigrant Tool. This app helps illegal immigrants safely navigate their way into the United States. Controversial, and very interesting. I’m also wondering if this is illegal somehow. The app will run on the cheapest cell phones available, so you definitely won’t be finding it in the App Store. (via RWW)

Twitter Goes From “What are you doing?” to “What’s Happening?”

Everyone who twitters is probably familiar with the “What are you doing?” prompt near their input box. It has been argued and discussed for quite some time that Twitter has become something more than simply “What are you doing?”. People are doing a lot more with Twitter than every expected. Recognizing this, Twitter has changed their prompt to “What’s Happening?,” which doesn’t actually change anything but might “make it easier to explain to your dad.” I’m just wondering how long it’s going to take for them to go real-time and change it to “What’s Happening Now?” (via Mashable)

“Unfriend” Becomes the Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year

I can remember learning about the word “ain’t” being added to the dictionary. At the time, I thought it was a dumb idea but I didn’t really care. Over the years, it seems like other words have been added to the official dictionary that should have remained only on urbandictionary.com. How far are the dictionary guys willing to go to grab a little press? We have to draw the line somewhere.  (via Mashable)

About the Author
Rahsheen has been a certified geek since before it was the thing to do. He started programming and tinkering in the 4th grade. Now, Rahsheen mostly writes on various sites about technology trends in social media and mobile. . He is also a musician, singer, rapper, writer, and producer. @rahsheen - +Rahsheen Porter - coachrah.com
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