• Live Science:  13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings

Using today’s web browsers, there is really just one big switch controlling JavaScript: it’s either on, or it’s disabled for your entire web experience. Pop-ups are usually blocked, but otherwise, that’s a pretty blunt control. I may not want some random site to potentially exploit some issue via JavaScript, but I can’t check my webmail without it. Disabling JavaScript completely isn’t a good option.

White-listing to the rescue! By explicitly saying which websites can run JavaScript in your browser, you can reduce your risk quite a bit. Unfortunately, in researching this post, I could only find one tool for this job: the NoScript add-on for Mozilla Firefox. I use it, but I expected to find similar offerings for the other web browsers.

So, here’s a new twist here at HTH. We’d like to know what our readers use for JavaScript control, if anything. Lots of folks also just block pop-ups (which is the default behavior in most recent browsers), or Flash, or plugins in general.

What do you use for JavaScript control, if anything?

Forget the iPad, this tablet by Freesource can run Linux, Chromium OS, or the Android OS.  It has a 7″ screen, can run HTML5 video, and retails for $199, roughly $300 cheaper than its Apple counterpart.  The look is pretty cool, and the open architectures of Linux/Chromium/Android make the possibilities for development far greater than for that of the Apple iPad.  It is still a prototype, but it looks pretty cool.  A video of the workings of prototype in action is below the break.

What does this mean?

Basically, it means that Microsoft is no longer providing security updates, bug fixes, or patches for your edition of Windows.  It also will not provide any technical support, other than the information that exists on its websites. Your operating will still function as it always did, but if you encounter a problem or someone finds a security hole, it will not be addressed outside of Microsoft’s web-based knowledge base.

How do I know if I have an affected version?

By right-clicking on My Computer in Windows 2000/XP or by right-clicking the Computer menu option on your start menu in Windows Vista, and then selecting Properties, you can see what version you have.

Selecting My Computer Properties in Windows XP

Selecting Computer Properties in Windows Vista

If you have ANY version of Windows 2000, you are out of luck and no longer have support.  When you get to the computer properties screen, Windows XP will indicate the Service Pack right under the “Version 2002″ text.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Information Screen

If this screen indicates that you are running XP Service Pack 1, XP Service Pack 2, or it does not reference a Service Pack, then your operating system is going out of service.  If it references Service Pack 3, then you are up-to-date (for now).

For Windows Vista, the computer information screen looks a little different.  If you have a Vista Service pack, it will be indicated right under the copyright notice.

Windows Vista Computer Information Screen

For Vista, if either Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 is indicated, then you are up to date from a support perspective.  If no version is indicated, then you are out of support as of July 13, 2010.

What should I do?

Windows 2000 Users: Get a new computer.  Seriously.  If you are still running Windows 2000 in 2010, you are in serious need of some new hardware and software.

Windows XP Users: You may want to think of upgrading to Windows 7 (we recommend you skip Vista) if your hardware can support it, or purchasing a new computer if not.  Windows XP is being slowly phased out, and it’s only a matter of time before XP3′s support will drop as well.  However, if a new computer or operating system is not feasible at the time being, you can upgrade to Service Pack 3.

Windows Vista Users: Although I consider Windows 7 to be a far superior operating system, Windows Vista still has plenty of years of shelf-life left.  If you’re still on the original version of Vista, simply upgrade to Service Pack 2.

Wrap-up

Dealing with an Operating System going out of support is important.  If a virus comes out that affects your O/S, or a security vulnerability is found, Microsoft will release a patch to fix it on supported operating systems, but ignore unsupported ones.  Microsoft has a pretty good policy compared to most companies on backwards version support, so people shouldn’t complain.  Windows XP was released in 2002, eight years ago, so the fact that there is still a service pack of it being supported is pretty good (although much of this has to do with the market failure of Vista; expect the phase-out of Vista to be much faster).  So, if you’re affected, at the very least, update to the latest service pack, or go out and treat yourself to a brand new Windows 7 based computer.

Having done some work in the voice field, I can attest to the fact that voice recognition is quite challenging.  It is hard to get all aspects of the unique qualities, accents, and cadences of individual voices into a software program that can then transcribe the speech into text.  Still, the research is interesting.

• Ars Technica:  Researches hope to make texting by voice a safe alternative

The most important note, in my opinion, is that parents must be aware of what their children are doing online. No software package can be a fool-proof child safety-net. This could be a useful tool, but it doesn’t allow a parent to be uninvolved.

• Ars Technica: Hands-on: Microsoft launches child-friendly IE8

• First, from the horse’s mouth: Apple’s official iPad page
• Some fairly mainstream press from CNN
• And a technical critique

In my own opinion, I think this is a disappointing release. I think it does everything that an iPhone or another smart phone does, but now it’s not big enough to put in your pocket. Also, the iPad might have been a great video chat device, but a camera was left out.

To carry it around, you’d need a bag for it, anyway So why not spend hundreds of dollars less, carry a couple of pounds more, and just use netbook or laptop? It’s definitely got the cool factor, but it just doesn’t seem usable enough to me to be of interest to anyone beyond the usual Apple enthusiasts.

For my money, I’d rather just use a smart phone. With today’s bright beautiful touchscreens, even reading for long periods is a pleasure on a smaller, more practical device.

Sensing the tone of this write-up, Mike’s wife found an interesting slideshow of prior Apple mis-steps.

It is important to note that if you are using FireFox, this doesn’t apply as Google is only dropping support for FireFox versions 3.0 or lower.  Since Firefox prompts the user to upgrade, most Firefox users are up-to-date.  Google is also planning to stop support forr Chrome 4.0 or lower and Safari 3.0 or lower.  For more information on the different web browsers and where to download newer versions, see our primer on web browsers.

The emergence of 3D is also set to impact homes.  With HD becoming far more mainstream, the latest trend among TV manufacturers is the 3D television experience.  At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month, home-3D was the largest new innovation, with all of the major TV manufacturers unveiling HD 3D offerings.  While pricey at the moment, technology prices typically fall as demand increases, so look for affordable 3D-HD TVs in a few years time.

Besides movies and TV shows, video games are the next logical step.  As the big three (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) fight over the next round of video game and console wars, will 3D enter the picture?  Some say yes, especially for the hard-core gamers.

3D also has its detractors.  There are many who say that the glasses are uncomfortable, and that the forced perspective that 3D creates can take away from appreciating a film and cinematography in general.  3D also can cause eye strain, nausea, and motion sickness.  So while 3D is an interesting new technology, and is all the rave this year, it remains to be seen if it is simply a fad or is here to stay.  The emergence of digital certainly improves the 3D experience, but as the failed experiments of the 1960s and 1980s show, just because the content creators want to make it, it doesn’t mean that people will want to buy it.  We shall see.