This morning, Mozilla released the mass market ready version of its Firefox 3.0.

Firefox 3.0 has been in beta for a very long time it seems. I’ve downloaded many different iterations of the program, following its progression. Like many millions of online surfers, I marked the end of beta today in favor of the final release of the best web browser I’ve ever used.

Since this is a forum where I encourage non-techies to take a gander, I’ll explain why this is such a big deal.

First off, a Web browser is a program in which you use to view web pages, like the one you’re using now to read this. Secondly, there are many, many different browser available for download and some have better features than others.

But the most important thing you should know is that some browsers are safer for your computer than others.

Mozilla Firefox has always been touted as a very safe Web browser. Using a browser like Internet Explorer — default browser on any Windows PC — can be very dangerous for your computer since it has many vulnerabilities. Personally, if you’re using Internet Explorer as your primary Web browser, the best advice I can give you is to stop.

Another great feature Firefox has always employed is simply ease of use. With tabbed browsing, highly customizable interfaces, and more features you can shake a stick at, Firefox can easily become a comfy program you can rely on.

In celebration of release day, Mozilla is also trying to break online records for most downloaded file on first available day.

As always, Firefox 3.0 is available for Windows PCs, Macs, and Linux machines.

I’m guessing every new wireless technology has to deal with the irrational fears of people.

WiFi signals are everywhere now. Many restaurants, coffee shops, libraries and even city government buildings offer WiFi “hotspots” for public use. Using a WiFi compatable device, users can access E-mail and the internet.

Santa Fe city council is addressing such fears from citizens claiming allergies to WiFi signals. Some are claiming lingering chest pains and headaches from coming in contact with a WiFi signal. They asked the city to remove WiFi hotspots from public areas citing discrimination for those with “WiFi disabilities.”

Wired’s Gadget Lab points out that television and radio signals are much more powerful and obtrusive than WiFi, which has a very limited range.

The video included on the main article’s page is hilarious. The main focus is on a gentleman who drives a “shielded car” and carries a WiFi detector on his person. One look makes me wonder if he’s more worried about his health or if WiFi signals are causing problems with his alien detection devices.

Via Wired.com and  KO.com, New Mexico.

I came across this story via Gamepolitics.com in which a New Zealand man of the name Tim Reid and a friend, both recently bailed mind you, decided to celebrate new found freedom with a road trip to New Plymouth. An officer saw them speeding and gave chase until Reid crashed his car.

Reid escaped on foot, but his buddy remained and was being questioned by the officer. Reid came back from behind the officer, pushed him down on the ground and assaulted him. Reid then took the patrol car, only after his buddy knocked the officer unconscious.

The two were chased through a road block, destroying the tires and were finally captured.

Here’s where this gets interesting. Reid’s lawyer, at Mr. Reid’s trial in May this year, announced to the court that Mr. Reid had begun smoking pot at the age of 5, been abused both sexual and physically as a child, had been arrested under many violent accounts, and even now was a drug and alchohol abuser.

The guy leads a very sad life.

But the kicker is Reid also plays Grand Theft Auto. Holy Wanted Level Batman! According to the article, Reid’s lawyer placed the man’s actions heavily on the game saying the game encouraged Reid’s delinquency and is to blame for his actions that night.

There’s no denying the guy needs to be sentenced to jail. The guy needs reform as well. But to let a video game rule so heavily on a court proceeding when other more pressing issues are at hand degrades the seriousness of this man’s crime(s).

First, I want to know if he is mentally stable. I don’t deny he had a rough childhood, but I’m assuming that childhood has had much more of an impact on his life than the digitized forms causing havock in a digitized world.

Secondly, seeing as he had just been released from jail, how is it that he absorbed himself in a GTA game so thouroughly that he was able to play as much as he claimed? I know many jails include recreation time in which some employ video games as an option, but time like that is often structured.

Reading this story with all of it’s givings, I’m left with the conclusion that Reid’s lawyer should have stuck a finger at the court room and proclaimed, “Real life made him do it!” That is if anything needs to be blamed at all. I’m of the opinion, no matter your actions, you should deal with the consequences.

Ok. I’ll admit it. I’m a smoker. And like many smokers, I enjoy the act of smoking, but I dislike the effects it can have on my health.

So when I was browsing Wired.com’s gadget blog and saw the electronic cigarette made by NJOY, I wanted to know more.

Apparently electronic cigarettes have been in development for quite sometime. I won’t go into the technology of it, but the idea is — instead of using fire to burn tobacco (and nicotine!) for you to inhale, the device atomizes a liquid solution containing nicotine and tobacco flavorings and the vapor is then inhaled. The entire process very closely resembles a real “smoke.”

NJOY ships cigarette and cigar style devices. The cartridges come in a variety of flavors and strengths including Menthol and strawberry.

Seeing the product in action is pretty amazing since it resembles all the psychological actions of smoking, but none of the lung-destroying tar and chemicals of a cigarette.

On NJOY’s Web site, the company points out that the devices are not meant to be used as a stop-smoking solution, as in “kicking the habit.” However, the FAQs they present are a pretty interesting read.

Today, highly outspoken, mal-practicing — and in this writer’s opinion, mentally unstable — Florida lawyer Jack Thompson faced a hearing before the Florida Bar. Thompson has been under much legal scrutney for his very controversial techniques in court cases mostly about the banning of violent video games. His antics include harrassing  game journalists with calls to the FBI and other law enforcement authorities, defending a teen who shot and killed police officers saying Grand Theft Auto made him do it, and even encouraging the portrayal of the murders of real US citizens in the gaming industry.

The Florida Bar’s hearing was held to provide recommendations to the Florida Supreme Court on how to discipline Thompson. The judge’s final recommendations were given only after Thompson objected (from a 14 page pre-written document) that the court did not have the authority to rule over him, the judge was incompetent and would be removed from office, and he himself has been the sole instrument in bringing injustices to light. He then walked out of the courtroom, reported by Kotaku.com. The hearings continued without Thompson’s presence, however. The judge’s final recommendation was that Thompson should be disembarred for 10 years — unable to practice law in that time.

I guess when you’re so full of yourself and offend everyone — media, legal system, citizens — you can make a mockery out of court hearing and still walk out of the front door? Oh well, he still thinks adult gamers are neo-nazi delinquents who are rarely seen outside of jail.

Via Wired.com and Kotaku.com.

With the amazing push against video games being present in the open market, it’s hard to focus on how other forms of media are doing when mature content spreads across all spectrums.

I found this story via Wired.com’s Game | Life blog in which the author focused on how much mature content was being kept from younger hands over the past years. When I began reading the story, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the percentiles of other forms of media.

The FTC, Federal Trade Commission, which takes the control of explicit material through commercial media and broadcast media very seriously, performed a 2008 study in which 13 to 16 year olds were asked to try to purchase R-rated movie tickets, R-rated and Unrated DVDs, Parental Advisory Label (PAL) music CDs, and M-rated video games. The FTC has performed 4 other similar studies in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2006.

In 2008, the percentage of young teens that were able to purchase M-rated video games was 20%. In my opinion, that’s still too high (check out the original article to see which retail chains are to blame).

However, the next lowest percentile of susseccful purchases by minors is nearly double that of video game’s failure. Movie theater chains allowed 35% of the study’s minors to purchase R-rated movie tickets. However, according to the graph, the theaters have been the most successful over the years keeping mature content from minors, but they don’t seem to be making much headway for improvment.

Retail chains show apauling statistics, with 47% minors able to purchase R-rated DVDs, 51% able to purchase Unrated DVDs, and a staggering 54% able to purchase music CDs with Parental Advisory Labels on the front cover.

Thankfully, these percentages are coming down from the years of previous studies. And maybe because I am a gamer I have a cetain talent for hearing or reading the onslaught of video game bashing brought forth from the likes of Jack Thompson, FOX News, public organizations, city councils and even federal and state governements.

It has been years since I’ve heard a whisper about other violent/sexual forms of media and how to keep them out of the hands of minors. How can those with a voice continually lynch the most successful ratings system that is being enforced better than all the others?

My speculations? Some are simply trying to jumpstart a political campaign (Hilary Clinton, Jack Thompson, etc.) on a topic they know next to nothing about, OR they truly are egomanics crazy enough to label a whole demographic as “neo-nazis” deserving to spend life on deathrow.

I would like to point out that you can still read every techTalk article that has appeared in the Crestview News Bulletin and on our website.

Simply keep checking here and there will be a list on the side of this blog that will keep up-to-date techTalk articles for easy access.

So far, techTalk articles have included:

techTalk: Grand Theft Auto IV here to stay
You may call me biased. You may say I’m morally devoid of the concepts required to make a rational, kind-hearted human being. Whatever you may say, I’ll still believe Grand Theft Auto IV is a superb piece of interactive entertainment…

techTalk: Tech for your grad
As graduation draws nearer for the class of 2008, parents and relatives are gathering ideas of gifts to give to commemorate this passage into the adult world…

techTalk: Take it, share it
So you received a digital camera as a gift recently. Or you had the technological itch to buy one. In some way, you now have a digital device you use to keep your memories and loved ones close…

techTalk: What are your kids playing?
Your little ones may like to play video games. If so they probably like to play them a lot…

techTalk: What DTV Transition Day means to you
Since television entered American homes in glorious black and white transmissions, programs have been broadcast over the air in analog format. Simply put, whatever channel you are tuned to, that’s the only broadcast you are receiving at that one time.

techTalk: The Blu-ray/HD-DVD war is over
The high-definition format war is finally finished. The battlefield has been cleared and there is only one survivor. Luckily for us, this is a great thing.