Firefox Add-ons : Alexa Sparky

Description

Sparky is a free Firefox browser plugin built by Alexa, that accompanies you as you surf, providing useful information about the sites you visit without interrupting your Web browsing.

• Learn about Website Traffic Trend information -- Is this site getting more popular, or less popular?
• Get detailed traffic information including Reach and Rank -- How does this site's traffic compare to other sites on the Web?
• Surf more efficiently with Related Links for each page -- If I like this site, are there others that I might want to visit?

Plus, as you surf around the Web with Sparky you are helping to make the Web a better place for everybody by contributing to the traffic information that Alexa provides.
Works with:

* Firefox: 2.0 – 3.0.*

Download Add-ons Here

Homepage
http://www.alexa.com/

Read more »

iPhone app promo codes trickle out

The first promotional codes that will make iPhone apps free to some users began trickling out of the App Store.

Apple is finally bequeathing apps developers with a way to let some media testers review an app at no expense and reward or attract a few lucky users. (The first invite has already floated into my in-box.)

This is Apple, so there are limits. Fifty promotional codes per product, to be exact.

Also, as wonderful as it is to see the passcodes allowed and implemented, they are not free trials. Developers angling to hook new customers will still need to lure them with free, light versions of the software or the less popular approach of offering an app free for a limited time and then ratcheting up the cost when the window closes.

Still, we're happy to finally see some leeway for developers, who will also get a reprieve from issuing gift certificates that often lose them money as a workaround for letting select reviewers evaluate apps for free.

Read more »

Apple In-Ear headphones hands-on

If you've outgrown the fashion appeal of Apple's stock earbuds and you're ready to step up to a proper pair of headphones, Apple's $79 In-Ear headphones are a killer upgrade. They're not going to make everyone happy, however, as some of the features included with the headphones will not work with the iPhone or older iPod models.

Out of the box, the Apple In-Ear headphones include a plastic carrying case with a cable wrap, three pairs of silicone ear tips (small, medium, and large) and a set of replacement mesh caps that come in handy when earwax inevitably builds up. The earpieces are very light, comfortable, and stylish, and the cable runs around 3.5 feet long.

Unlike Apple's standard-issue earbuds, which rest just outside the ear, the Apple In-Ear headphones are intended to fit literally in your ears, similar to wearing a pair of earplugs. The three pairs of interchangeable silicone ear tips included with the headphones ensure that the earpieces completely seal your ear canal, isolating you from ambient noise and delivering better sound quality at a lower volume. While the earplug-like sound isolation provides a quiet backdrop for music listening, we don't advise wearing them for a morning jog, or any activity requiring some awareness of your surroundings.

Because the ear tips are made from a white silicone, they will discolor more quickly than the black and gray ear tips we're used to seeing from brands like Shure and Etymotic. In fact, if you've ever used a pair of Apple earbuds, you know that the all-white cable and earpiece design also tends to show dirt sooner than later.

Product summary

The good: The Apple In-Ear headphones offer great sound, stylish design, comfortable ear tips, a one-year warranty, a spare set of mesh caps, and an in-line microphone with an iPod remote control.

The bad: The all-white design will show wear over time, iPhone users can't take advantage of the headphone's in-line volume control, and owners of older iPods have no use for the remote and microphone.

The bottom line: If you own a new iPod, the Apple In-Ear headphones are a great value. Owners of iPhones and older iPods will have to decide whether the mic and remote compatibility issues are worth overlooking for the substantial boost in sound quality.

Specifications: Product type: Headset; Design: In-ear ear-bud; Weight: 0.4 oz

Read more »