Jing 2.1 adds Web cam, capturing heft

The freemium screen capture and screen recording application Jing received an update on Tuesday that adds new video functionality to paying users, and a few other enhancements for all Mac andWindows users.

Two hotkeys now help Jing's capture crosshairs snap to common aspect ratios. Press Ctrl to maintain a 4:3 aspect ratio and Shift for 16:9 widescreen proportions. While locked into a ratio, dragging out the crosshair shows you boundaries for common screen measurements within that ratio that you can easily snap to, like 320?240 or 640?480. This is a nice addition in keeping with Jing's visual, low text-density design.

Jing 2.1 adds buttons to export the capture to Camtasia or Snagit.

(Credit: CNET)

After capturing a video or still, Snagit and Camtasia Studiousers can export the clip to either of Jing's sister programs. Techsmith, the creator of all three, offers a 30-day trial for Snagit and Camtasia prospectives to give either a try. After taking the capture, click the program icon to continue editing the video or still using those premium tools. In addition to sharing captures with yourself, you can add toolbar shortcuts to push captures to any Screencast.com folder you've set up. In Jing 2.1, you can further let Screencast.com visitors comment on your captures.

As usual, premium users get the most impressive addition. Subscribers to the $15-a-year Jing Pro can now record from their Web cam, and toggle between recording from the Web cam and from the screen. For more details and video clips, read the Jing blog here.

Apple to Charge for Redownloading iPhone Apps in iPhone OS 3.0?

iPhone Docked tweeted that he was asked to 'purchase' an app while trying to redownload it. Other developers have also reported similar behavior on iPhone OS 3.0 beta, while trying to redownload apps.

Redownloading iPhone apps is a very common practice among iPhone users, I have deleted and redownloaded iPhone apps many times. The current App Store FAQ states that the user does not have to pay twice for redownloading but the new message could mean that Apple is looking to introduce this change with iPhone OS 3.0.This move by Apple is sure to draw varied opinions and reaction.

The latest message appeared for some developers trying to redownloadiPhone Apps oniPhone OS 3.0Beta.

The screen shot taken clearly shows the new message that reads:

"You've already purchased this. You can redownload it for free on your computer, or tap Buy to buy it again." (notice the app being redownloaded displays the message 'Waiting' at the bottom in contrast to the current 'downloading' message).

This means that the user will need to go back to his or her computer and sync the iPhone in order to redownload the app to avoid paying twice for an iPhone App leaving users with only one option to reinstall an app that they have already purchased (for free).

This change could come as an annoyance to users who so far have been so used to the concept of free redownload. The argument: I shouldn't have to repay for an app that I have already paid for and used. For example, I have a habit of keeping my iPhone pages/screens to a maximum of 4 (just for convinience). So whenever I go beyond 4 pages, I try and delete iPhone Apps that I am not currently using.

Reports indicate that not everyone is getting the message so it's difficult to figure out the reasoning behind the change. There are couple of reasons that are being speculated for the message:

Reason 1: With the iPhone OS 3.0, users will be able to login to multiple iTunes Account on the same iPhone. This feature could be abused by users by sharing iPhone Apps across multiple iPhone users. Hence, Apple might be trying to thwart any attempts by such 'app abusers'.

If Apple's intention is to prevent app-abuse then this really does not solve the issue as users will still be able to share apps using their computers. So users like me who only use one account to purchase iPhone apps wouldn't be happy with this change. Perhaps, users who only use one account on their iPhones should not be charged for redownloading iPhone Apps, if this indeed is the reason for the message.

Reason 2: There are also speculations that Apple might be introducing this feature due to pressure from carriers who have concerns of bandwidth consumption. This move will discourage users from redownloading apps and thus reduce over-the-air redownloading of apps and thus bandwidth consumption.

If that's the reason then it would be quite lame and will definitely not go down well with users.

Whatever the reason, I am going to surely miss this feature of being able to redownload apps on the iPhone for free.

What do you think about this? Please do share your opinions in the comment section below.

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Put down that phone, cries elbow

While the link between cell phone use and brain damage is still debatable (personally, I don't want to believe it), another body part may be paying the price for constant connectedness: the elbow.

According to health reports, doctors have identified a condition called "cell phone elbow," also known as cubital tunnel syndrome.

Oh no! Is she on her way to "cell phone elbow?"

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

It's basically pain in your elbow that results from compression of the ulnar nerve. This nerve problem can come from spending too much time folding the elbow in an unnatural stance, such as when you use the computer in a nonergonomic position or, most commonly, when you hold the phone to your ear. I often do both at the same time.

Doctors say this is an increasingly common issue among those who are reliant on technology, especially cell phones. The syndrome leads to chronic or periodic pain in the elbow, tingling along the fingers, and even loss of strength and control in your hands.

When talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device, the elbow is usually held in an unnatural, flexed position, at an angle greater than 90 degrees. Generally, doctors caution that the elbow is not naturally designed to be hyperflexed for longer than 10 minutes at a time, but many of us regularly talk for hours on end.

Other, similar alarms have been sounded about gadget-related ailments, of course. Another, though supposedly less common, syndrome is the so-called "BlackBerry Thumb," which refers to a repetitive stress injury from typing on those smartphones' tiny keyboards.

Personally, I found the "cellbow" reports a wake-up call, as more than once I have found my elbow extremely strained, as though it were strangely disconnected from me once I hung up the phone. Sometimes I've even had problems trying to operate a screwdriver after that.

Severe cases of cubital tunnel syndrome may require surgery, doctors say. Fortunately, most of the time, it can be cured through behavioral changes.

The easiest solution is using a hands-free device for prolonged calls. Most cell phones come with a headset, so use it. When a headset is not available, I suggest switching hands every few minutes.

Most of all, try to refrain from having long-distance relationships. And next time your elbow or fingers feel strange, maybe it's a better idea not to pick up the phone to call your doctor.

YouTube making jump to TV screens

A YouTube manager demonstrates the new YouTube XL viewing page.

(Credit: Greg Sandoval/CNET Networks)

Like everyone else, YouTube hopes to make its way from the PC to a more prime entertainment location--the TV set.

Google's video service is rolling out a new browser feature, called YouTube XL, designed to present YouTube videos on big screens, company managers said Tuesday.

During a demonstration before a handful of media, YouTube showed how XL is designed for people who have hooked up their TVs to their laptops or video game consoles, such as Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3.

How does it differ from YouTube's typical Web page?

It's a much more stripped down player. There are no scroll bars or viewer comments. There's little more than a search field and video thumbnails to help direct users. YouTube XL will work with any Web-connected device and on any browser.

The new feature is another sign that the battle in online video now is being waged in the living room.

One of the drawbacks is that you can't yet watch YouTube's modest library of movies or premium TV shows, as the company is working through licensing issues, managers said. I can see this being used by people who might want to throw in some user-generated fare into their TV-viewing mix.

YouTube XL brings along the same basic UI that came to game consoles, but it can be accessed on normal PCs.

(Credit: CNET)

No recession at Apple's Fifth Ave. NYC store

Apple's clearly onto something with its 24-hour store plopped down in a tourist hot spot.

The New York Post reports that as of sometime last year, Apple was pulling down $440 million a year in sales at its Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York City. The numbers surfaced in the paper's investigation of empty retail space along Fifth Avenue.

The Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York City.

(Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET)

Even if it is a high-end retail outpost for Macs, iPhones, and iPods, that's an impressive amount of money coming in when seemingly every retailer was clobbered by the arrival of the current recession. By comparison, the SoHo Apple Store rakes in about $100 million per year, according to the Post. And one of Apple's newest locations, in the prime shopping district of the ritzy California coastal town of Santa Barbara, is expected to pull in $20 million annually.

It's interesting insight into the company's flagship location, since Apple does not break out individual stores' take. The company did report in its second-quarter earnings filing that its 252 stores worldwide brought in $1.47 billion collectively for the quarter.

All of this explains why the company has not stopped investing in its retail presence. Apple's senior vice president of retail, Ron Johnson, said last week that 100 of its stores will be remodeled this year to allow for bigger displays and room for customer training courses.

The shopping frenzy at the tourist-clogged Fifth Avenue location isn't like to abate anytime soon, particularly if Apple releases new iPhone hardware next month, as is widely expected.

CNET News Daily Podcast: Eyes and ears on E3

The E3 game blowout in Los Angeles is producing all sorts of news on the hardware and software fronts. CNET News editor Michelle Meyers talks about some of them with Webware editor Josh Lowensohn, an avid follower of all happenings in the game world.

Listen now:Download today's podcast

12 Firefox extensions that help you manage tabs

Firefox tabs make surfing the Web much easier. But managing them isn't so simple. That's why I've found 12Firefox extensions to help you do just that.

12 tab managers

Duplicate tab lets create multiple tabs with the same history.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Duplicate Tab The Duplicate Tab extension lets you copy a tab's history and open that same tab in your browser. You can also merge windows, which combines tabs from multiple instances of Firefox into a single window.

Firefox Showcase Firefox Showcase enables you to view your tabs as thumbnails in a new window, in the sidebar, or in a new tab. If you view them in a separate window or tab, the extension lets you view what's on the site without displaying it in full size. If you have a bunch of tabs open, the tool even lets you filter them to find the desired tab sooner. It works quite well.

FoxTab FoxTab is the coolest Firefox extension in this roundup. Similar to Apple's CoverFlow, FoxTab displays tabs in 3D. You can flip through them, view them in a grid, or sift through them one by one. When you click on a tab, it's brought to the front.

LastTab Firefox allows you to scroll through tabs from left to right with the control and tab keys. But with the help of LastTab, that key combination will switch its operation to move to the most recently accessed tab. LastTab provides a simple change, but it's extremely handy when you want to reference content on just a few of your many open tabs.

New Tab King New Tab King changes the function of the Control + T key combination. Instead of opening a blank tab, the combination displays a link to all the sites you view most often. You can click on the site to open it. It should help you quickly open your favorite pages.

SwiftTabs SwiftTabs makes it easy for you to switch or close tabs. The tool provides an administrative menu where you can assign your own shortcuts to those actions. So if you want to close tabs with your F4 key, you can do it. If you want to switch tabs with your Tab key, you can do that too. SwiftTabs overrides the default function of the shortcut, so be sure to choose your shortcuts wisely.

Tab Mix Plus extends the functionality of all your tabs.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Tab Mix Plus Tab Mix Plus extends the functionality of Firefox tabs. You can duplicate tabs with a click of a button. You can also lock tabs, pick tabs to close without clicking on them, and much more. My favorite feature is the option to close similar tabs. The tool finds all the tabs that have a similar URL to the one in the tab you're closing, and it closes them for you, so you don't have to waste time.

Tab Preview For those times when you want to know what's on a page, but you don't want to click on a tab to find out, use Tab Preview. The extension displays a thumbnail image of the page when you mouse over the tab. It's simple but useful.

Tab Scope Tab Scope lets you view the contents of another tab while still displaying your current page. When you click on a respective tab you're not on, you have the option of viewing it as a pop-up over your current page. You can click on links in the tab or scroll through the site. It's a really helpful tool.

Tab Sidebar Tab Sidebar moves your tabs to your sidebar. By default, it removes your main tab bar to increase screen real estate. When your tabs are in your sidebar, the extension shows a thumbnail of the page, along with navigation buttons that let you refresh the page or close the tab.

Tabs Open Relative Whenever you open a link on a site, Firefox usually opens it to the right of all your open tabs. With the help of the Tabs Open Relative, that link will open in the tab directly to the right of the tab in which you opened the link. It makes for switching between tabs much easier, especially when you have a bunch open.

Tree Style Tab Tree Style Tab is similar to the folder tree in Windows Explorer. Any tabs you open from a site are displayed as subtabs under the site fro which you opened the links. You can collapse and expand trees to manage their layout. It's a great way to organize your tabs.

The Top 3

You're probably wondering which of these extensions you should try out first. Wonder no more:

1. FoxTab

2. LastTab

3. New Tab King