…And our cavalcade of “buzzworthy” apps continues with the Amazon Kindle eBook reader for PC.

Website: http://www.amazon.com
Developer: Amazon
App Type: eReader, in a way
Why It Matters: For the past year or so, the Kindle eReader has been the proverbial toast of the town. It made readers squeal with delight, the Author’s Guild a tad “litigious,” and Amazon as rich as Scrooge McDuck. The PC version, apparently, is meant to be the “iTunes” to the Kindle’s iPod — a handy, easy to use application for the times what you’re “stuck” in front of your computer.
The Twist: I honestly do not get the appeal of these things. Sure, there are some cross sections of people that could really use a device like this (students, tour guides, avid role players who have to lug around rule books), but by in large, it just seems like a waste. My reasons are the following:

1. If I want to read a book, I will pick up a book. It has weight. It has physical depth. It has pages that I can actually touch. It is not a glorified PDF file on a monochrome screen. If I wanted to read something from a screen on the go, I would use my iPhone or my PSP. So what if the screen is smaller? Text is text.
2. When I want to read something (a book, a magazine, etc), I actually want to get away from a screen. I can’t do that with the Kindle. I am physically stuck staring at yet another screen.
3. When If I do something tremendously stupid while reading a book — drop it into the lavatory, spill Pepsi on it, and so on — all I have to do dry off the pages. Worst case scenario is that I ruined a $20 book. When If I do something similarly as boneheaded with the Kindle, I will be out a minimum of $200.
4. My Danny Wallace books don’t run out of batteries. My Danny Wallace eBook, however, would.

All of that said, I am more than willing to change my mind. It will just have to take a lot of convincing. For this test, I will be using three separate books: The Art of War, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, and Oliver Twist. Why did I pick these particular titles? They were free. With that said, here we go:

The Art of War – This is, by far, the nicest PDF that I have ever read. The text is clean and blur free, switching between pages are stupidly simple, and making bookmarks is a snap. That said, it still felt like a PDF. I just cannot get around that.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes – I actually found this one to be easier to read than The Art of War. I have no idea why. It still feels like a classy, high class PDF, however.

Oliver Twist – About the same as Sherlock Holmes. It was easy to read, but … I think you know what my gripes are about now.

Final Thoughts: I honestly can’t say at this point. I need more time playing with it. For now though, I am definitely not a fan. If my mind changes, or if I figure out a way to run traditional PDF files through the “Kindle,” I will definitely let you know.

…And we’re back! What better way to celebrate our grand return than with a little bit of what we like to call “news of the weird.” First up: we have the very meaning of the word “irony…”

- A few days ago, the big brass at Amazon accidentally discovered (read: informed by a lawyer in an official sounding letter) that their eBook store was selling unauthorized copies of a few “well known” novels. The lawyer simply asked for the books to be removed from the store. Amazon, fearing the legal threat, decided it would be best to not only delete the “bootleg” copies from their servers, but from their customers’ Kindle eBook readers as well. As you might have already guessed, this did not sit well with Kindle owners, who said that they should not be punished for the mistakes of another company. In a statement, Amazon spokesman Drew Herdener apologized for the move, assuring everyone that this kind of thing would not happen again. So what were the books in question, you ask? 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell.

- It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to notice that advertising is seemingly everywhere these days. Video games have them. Sitcoms have them. Even other commercials have them. (Anyone who has been told by a pleasant sounding spokesman to “type ‘Pontiac‘ into Google” knows what we’re talking about here.) Still, there is one place that remains completely ad-free: the Moon. That is about to change. A company mysterious new entity called “Moon Publicity” has announced that they will be the first firm to bring advertising into the final frontier.  The company intends to pull this daring feat off using something called “shadow shaping” — a process by which a small little robot draws forty foot pictures into the lunar surface. The giant ads would then be visible to the citizens of Earth during “certain phases” of the Moon. Needless to say, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of turning a heavenly body into a gigantic billboard. Some have even gone as far as saying that the entire plan borders on comic book style super-villainy. The folks at Moon Publicity see things a bit differently, however. To them, it’s not about the ads. It’s about the very survival of the human race. “Any number of global catastrophes could and eventually will end live on Earth,” writes the company in a press release. “Space travel is more than just footprints and flags; it is vital to our survival. Just as we back up hard drives in case they crash, we need to back up mankind on other worlds. Creating images on the Moon provides a commercial incentive for turbo charging space travel technology.”  Those interested in this “unique” form of advertising have until October 20th to get in on the action. At the time of this writing, bids start at a “mere” $46,000 per shadow shaping robot.

Coupons are coming to a Google AdWords spread near you. According to AdWords tech Christian Yee, the new templates allow the team to “bring the messages from our customers’ offline circulars, to the online world, at scale with Google’s content network.” Each ad template will attempt to replicate the overall look and fell of the traditional coupons, complete with the familiar “cut here” pattern and the oddly large bolded font. At the bottom of the ads lies a coupon code, which the user can redeem at the virtual establishment in question. Alternatively, the ads can also be printed out and used at a variety offline locations. The two new ad templates are available now for all AdWords users.

In other advertising news, Microsoft has made a few changes to the way AdCenter calculates conversion rates. Instead of the “one size fits all” approach the system used to cling to, you now have three wildly different options to choose from: one conversion per click, one conversion per unique URL, and the ominously named “count all.” As with most things of this nature, each option has its own unique set of challenges to the proverbial table. Option one, for example, is the easiest to implement, but is by far the most simplistic. Option two, on the other hand, will give you more of a realistic, complex readout, but setting it up is comparable to exploritory brain surgery. The new conversion methods are available now, but be warned: you have to edit more than a few lines of Javascript. If the prospect of this makes you nervous, it’s probably best that you just stick with what you have.

Elsewhere, the folks at Sony believe they know what it takes to compete Amazon’s surprisingly popular Kindle eReader, and it involves Google. In a statement, Sony announced that all future versions of their “Portable Reader System” line of eReaders will now feature support for all Google Books titles. The deal adds roughly 600,000 books from the public domain to the struggling eReader — over twice as many than currently available for the Kindle. While those within the industry are applauding Sony for fighting fire with fire, many question if the deal really is as important as it might seem on the surface. In the mind of many avid readers, the words “public domain” are synonymous with “old, outdated, and factually inaccurate.” That being said, any content is good content at this stage of the game, even if said content is old enough to be our grandparents.

Moving to the world of social networking for a moment, it seems as if Facebook users aren’t exactly thrilled with the new redesigned site. According to a new survey, roughly 94% say that they dislike the changes and wish that they could go back to the way things used to be. Many of the problems stem from the mass amount of features that were supposedly removed from the service during the update process. Those in charge of Facebook have yet to comment publicly on the matter.

And to finish out the week: Samsung has announced that they will be joining the world of digital movie downloads. The popular mobile phone and electronics manufacturer is teaming up with online retailer Acetrax for the new service, tentatively titled Samsung Movies. There are said to be over 500 movies available for either purchase or rental, including such heavy hitters as “No Country For Old Men,” “The Matrix,” and “The Dark Knight.” Although it is only available at the moment to cell phone users in the UK, Samsung hopes to have the service up and running on a variety of different platforms (and in a variety of different regions) soon.

The short battle between Amazon and the Authors Guild over the text-to-speech feature found in the Kindle 2 has finally come to an end. In a statement, the world-famous bookseller announced that control over the feature has been handed over to the publishing houses. By transferring power to an outside source, Amazon not only successfully avoids a lawsuit, but allows both the union and the publishers to have more control over the published work. As we have previously reported, the Authors Guild aren’t exactly fans of the new tool, claiming that it essentially allows users to “steal” the audio book. Many within the tech industry question the union’s position, calling it “petty” and “not thought out.” The National Federation for the Blind has also spoken out against the Guild, saying that their position is “shameful” and “harmful to blind people.”

Elsewhere, it seems as if someone from Microsoft has contracted a bad case of “loose lips.” On Twitter over the weekend, Microsoft search guru Barney Pell casually mentioned that he “played… with Live search upcoming (to be rebranded) launch pre-beta (sic).” Needless to say, this admission caused the industry to stand up and take notice and caused Microsoft to pull some emergency damage control. Aside from deleting the “rogue” Tweet, the folks at Redmond have completely ignored the incident. As of now, there is still no time table for when the change will happen.

In other news, Flock, a former Free Line favorite that attempts to combine social networking and web browsing, is switching allegiances. The company has officially announced that they are dumping the Mozilla code the browser is currently based upon for that of Google Chrome. While the actual reason for the change is unknown, many speculate that it is due to the unwillingness of the Mozilla community to embrace newer protocols and tools. While the switchover to Chrome is coming, don’t expect for it to happen overnight. Due to the nature of browser development, many feel that Flock will be dependent upon at least some of Mozilla’s code for the foreseeable future.

Next: Hulu fans have yet another place to go to get their video fix — Dailymotion. “Dailymotion is delighted to partner with Hulu,” Dailymotion General Manager Joy Marcus said in a statement. “We’re confident that our audience will benefit not only from the addition of such an impressive line-up of content, but also from the premium entertainment experience offered by Dailymotion’s advanced technology.” Those close to the deal are surprised that it even happened at all. The folks at Hulu aren’t exactly making any friends at the moment, and the France-based Dailymotion isn’t necessarily a known entity in the US. That being said, officials are hopeful that the deal will help to both improve a reputation and raise a profile, respectively. As always, the Hulu/Dailymotion partnership is a US-only venture.

And finally: Like most people, we here at the Free Line have a well-known “love/hate” relationship with ZIP files. When it comes to storing pictures or packing programs, the ZIP file type is a godsend. When it comes to loading a printer driver, on the other hand … well, let’s just say that that is when the good tidings end. After all, nothing says “fun” like spending twenty minutes loading a gigantic file when all you need is one or two components. Luckily for us, there’s WobZIP. WobZIP is a handy little web app that actually opens a ZIP file before it ever loads. Once the file is open, the user can pick and choose the pieces that he or she needs. The result is a clean download of files that you actually want. Easy to operate and indispensable in certain situations, WobZIP takes the “hate” out of the love/hate relationship mentioned above.

The Authors Guild is still having problems with the Kindle’s new text-to-voice feature. As you may remember, Guild Executive Director Paul Aiken has recently questioned the legality of the feature, saying that it effectively lets a user “steal” an audio book. In an op-ed piece in the New York Times, Guild President Roy Blount, Jr. says that he supports Aiken’s view on the matter, claiming the situation is bigger than most people realize. “[P]eople who want to keep on doing creative things for a living must be duly vigilant about any new means of transmitting their work,” writes Blount. “What the guild is asserting is that authors have a right to a fair share of the value that audio adds to Kindle 2’s version of books.” Blount is quick to point out, however, that the Kindle complaints have nothing to do with non-commercial “live readings” and text-to-speech services for the blind. “For the record: no, the Authors Guild does not expect royalties from anybody doing non-commercial performances of ‘Goodnight Moon.’ If parents want to send their children off to bed with the voice of Kindle 2, however, it’s another matter.”

In other news, Microsoft has announced that it will be rolling out yet another “experimental” search engine in the next few weeks. Seen by many as the successor to URank, the new Viveri system will once again use cutting edge ideas to get the best results possible. Unlike URank, which relied on a variety of social media tricks to attract users, Viveri is focused on how the information is delivered. The engine is built upon Silverlight, Microsoft’s new Flash competitor. Once a search is performed, two columns appear — one with the traditional results, and one with small “previews” of the sites in question. Microsoft hopes to have Viveri up and running by the summer.

Elsewhere, Intel seems to be taking an interest in Facebook. The processor giant has announced that they will be sponsoring a handful of projects in the Developer’s Garage, the “beta center” of the Facebook universe. The deal is just the latest chapter in the Facebook/Intel mutual admiration society. A few months back, the Facebook team announced that they plan on adding a fleet of brand-new Intel servers to their operations. Intel responded by creating a specialized Facebook app that allows employees to give gifts to one an other. The first meeting of the new, Intel-friendly Developer’s Garage will meet March 5th in Ireland.

Moving to the realm of microblogging for a moment, we have Ginx. Ginx is designed to be the “Sunday morning talk show” of the Twitter world, with facts, opinion, and spin flying around with reckless abandon. Each Ginx topic (or “room,” if you will) features a panel of experts that live and breathe the topic at hand. When the user decides to join the group, they immediately gain access to every post those experts have ever written, no matter if it’s on-topic or not. The logic behind this is that it allows the user to view the panel as real people, rather than as a group of one-dimensional know-it-alls. There are currently eleven topics available, ranging from topical (China) to specialized (the state politics of Arizona) to the just plain weird (fly-fishing). Interesting to use and fun to read, Ginx is perfect for all of those who feel that the news of the day can be boiled down to 140 characters. Ginx is available now for those lucky enough to have Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket an invitation code.

And finally: We here at the Free Line present you with the enigma that is Google Shared Stuff. It’s a Google service, but no one has actually heard of it. It’s been open to the public since September 2007, yet it barely registers in search results. When it came time to close the little service, no one mourned the loss … mainly because no one has heard of it. But thanks to our research staff, we have solved the mystery of the lost service. Shared Stuff was designed to be Google’s answer to Delicious — a place where you could share links, pictures, and even YouTube videos. Unfortunately, it was never “officially” launched thanks to a lack of focus, a few ill-timed security flaws, and the dreaded “experimental” tag. It had a few die-hard fans, but other than that, it never really “went” anywhere. Even the usually ignored Google Lively had more of an impact. At press time, Shared Stuff will be completely deactivated March 21st.

On yesterday’s action-packed episode of the Free Line, we reported that Twitter co-founder Biz Stone was contemplating charging corporate users to use his service. Well, it turns out that it was much ado about nothing. According to Stone, who claims he was merely “thinking out loud” when he made those comments, the plan was one of “many” that had been discussed over the past year. “We are still very early in the idea stage,” he writes. “We don’t have anything to share just yet despite a recent surge in speculation. When we do, we’ll be sure to let you know.” He also reiterated that Twitter will remain a free service. Says Stone: “What we’re thinking about is adding value in places where we are already seeing traction, not imposing fees on existing services.”

In other news, advertising during the Super Bowl has really payed off for Hulu. In the days after the game, overall site view have gone up an amazing 259%. To those within the industry, the popularity of the site is unsurprising. “Hulu is building quite a bit of buzz and brand awareness,” says Nielsen Online’s Brandon Eshman. “The Hulu ad influenced buzz and reinforced its core message: it’s about content AND convenience.” The ad, which features actor Alec Baldwin as an alien who spreads the word about Hulu’s superior “mind softening” qualities, is still receiving airplay on many Fox and NBC/Universal-owned stations.

Elsewhere, scammers and malware peddlers have found a new home for their underhanded dealings — Digg. Several unwanted comments have been appearing in various stories as of late, each proclaiming that they have an “exclusive” video of a celebrity acting stupidly. These links, of course, take the user to the usual array of horrible programs and viruses. Moreover, these links are not coming from what the site would consider to be a new user. Instead, the scammers are hijacking the accounts of respected users in order to create the illusion of trust. As always, if the link looks shady or the description appears to have been written by a hyperactive twelve year old, then it’s probably a good idea to ignore it.

Moving to the oft ignored (by us, anyway) hardware side of things for a moment, it seems as if the Author’s Guild isn’t exactly pleased with Amazon’s new Kindle 2 eReader. The problem stems from the Kindle’s new text-to-speech feature, which can turn the average novel into a ready made audio book. According to union executive director Paul Aiken, those who use the feature instead of buying the audio book are essentially participating in a rudimentary form of piracy. Many with in the industry question Aiken’s claim, saying the Kindle’s text-to-speech system is no different than just reading the work aloud. Amazon has yet to comment on the allegations.

And finally, we are sad to report that the Palm OS is no more. Once considered to be one of the fastest rising stars in mobile computing, the veritable OS had taken a dive in the past few years thanks to the popularity of the Windows Mobile platform, Blackberry devices, and the iPhone. The proverbial death knell came in January, when Palm announced that they will be using their Linux-based Palm webOS on their upcoming “comeback” phone, the Pre. Despite the loss, the little OS that could will always be remembered as the platform that introduced both geeks and business people to the joys of mobile computing. It may be gone now, but the Palm OS will never, ever be forgotten.

Scammers, malware pushers, and other online con artists have found a new target for their underhanded dealings: President Barack Obama. Several fake blogs have started appearing on the President’s social networking site, MyBarackObama.com, each containing links to a faux-YouTube page filled with pornography. When the user tries to play one these pornographic videos, a warning message appears, saying that the user needs to load a new codec. The codec is, of course, a virus. As with all virus warnings of this nature, make sure that you have a reliable spyware eliminator, an up-to-date antivirus program, and most of all, common sense.

Elsewhere, Best Buy is the latest company to jump upon the web 2.0 bandwagon. The popular electronics chain/box store has launched an initiative called the “Best Buy Remix Developer Network,” designed to add a bit of flash to your online experience. In addition to overhauling the online store, Remix will allow users to incorporate parts of the site into their respective blogs, social networking pages, and websites. Many within the industry believe the new API is designed to compete with online retailers such as Amazon.com. Best Buy Remix is available now for all developers.

In Yahoo news, new CEO Carol Bartz is denying the rumors that she is planning to jettison parts of her company. “Did I come to Yahoo to sell the company? No,” Ms. Bartz told shareholders during Yahoo’s earnings presentation.” As an insider and CEO it is my job and responsibility to do what is best for customers, shareholders, and employees.”As we previously mentioned, Yahoo has been linked with several corporate dance partners, most notably Microsoft. To that end, Ms. Bartz chalks up the so-called “Redmond rumors” to a report that “came from nowhere.” Despite the pledge of fierce autonomy, the overall direction of the company remains unknown.

Next: The European Union is currently considering a plan that would force Microsoft to bundle the four major Internet Explorer “alternatives” — Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Chrome – with Windows. The plan is the latest in a long line of EU-backed proposals designed to break up Microsoft’s alleged monopoly. Although some support the proposal, many within the industry say the plan would actually make things worse for the end user. “I load Firefox on every system I build… But that doesn’t mean I’d want a government body forcing me to install software that I might not otherwise,” writes Download Squad contributor Lee Edwards. “Windows also includes some other things that have competitors. Does that mean that a new PC will have to include… a slew of other apps whose functionality Microsoft has built in to Windows? Where does it end?” Microsoft has two months to respond to the EU.

Finally, we have 140it. As we all are well aware of, Twitter puts a 140 character limit on all messages. 140it lets you get the very most out of those 140 characters by resorting to so called “texting speak” — a jumbled mass of disembodied letters and abbreviations that make stereotypical teenagers smile and English professors cry softly. It all comes down to what you want your readers followers to see: complete thoughts or complete sentences. Fans of the former will find plenty to like in 140it, which really is a reliable and well-rounded service. If sntencs like ths bothr u, howevr, u’ll need 2 look elswhr 4 ur “140 chractr wrkaround.” 140it is available now for all users.

In an effort to raise taxes without officially “raising taxes,” the New York State Assembly is going ahead with a plan that would add a 4% tax to all digital downloads. The so-called “iPod tax” is just one of eighty-eight new taxes aimed towards discretionary income. Other potentially taxed services include beverages (both acoholic and otherwise), cable television service, and taxi rides. The new found funds would go to a variety of new social programs, the total cost of which would be upwards of $121 billion. Online retailers Amazon and Overstock.com have filed a lawsuit, saying that the new fees are unfair and unlawful. We will have more on this developing story soon.

Another day, another “best of 2008″ list. The entry this time around is from MySpace, home to fun, frivolity, and other things that teenagers seem to enjoy. According to the social networking mega-power, the most popular search term of 2008 was Twilight. The popular vampire romance story was also the most watched movie trailer as well. The song of the year award goes to “Whatever You Like” by rapper T.I., while the “top musician” honors go to pop star Taylor Swift. Other number ones include Dane Cook (top comedian), Kevin Smith (top filmmaker), and South Park (top video search term).

Former Free Line all-star Jumpcut has sadly reached the end of its life. The service, which let users edit, modify, and “remix” various video files, was shut down by Yahoo Wednesday in an apparent cost cutting move. “It was a difficult decision that we wish we didn’t have to make,” writes the team on the official website. “But it was necessary in order to focus resources on other Yahoo! sites.” While the service is not accepting any more video files, those clips that still inhabit the Jumpcut servers can still be edited. For those who still wish to give Yahoo your video files, the Jumpcut team suggests that you go to Flickr instead.

Elsewhere, Google has updated the AdWords Editor. Many users of the program were taken by surprise by the release, as it was not officially announced beforehand. The big news this time around is the addition of your “Keyword Quality Score,” which can be accessed directly from the program itself. Other changes include the ability to send feedback to Google, the addition of “first page billing estimates,” and the normal array of bug fixes. The new and improved Google AdWords Editor 7.0 is available now for all users.

And finally: Social supersite Delicious has added “bulk editing” to the already packed slate of features. For those unaware, bulk editing lets you modify a number of different files at once. While the obvious application for this feature is the creation (and ultimately, removal) of wishlists, bulk editing will also come in handy for a variety of “seemingly mundane” organizational tasks. The only real complaint, albeit a minor one, is the lack of a “bulk delete” feature. That aside, bulk editing is the perfect tool for anyone who needs to tidy things up in a hurry.

A possible deal between Microsoft and Yahoo might still be in the works, according to the London Times. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft would take control of Yahoo’s search service for a period of ten years. While Yahoo Search would be under Microsoft control, it would remain a distinct, separate entity from Live Search. The deal would also give Microsoft three seats on Yahoo’s board of directors, as well as a “two year window” to purchase the search engine outright for $20 billion. It must be distinctly understood, however, that the deal only involves the actual Yahoo search engine. All of the other services currently offered by the company, such as Yahoo Mail and Yahoo News, will remain under Yahoo control. Neither Microsoft nor Yahoo have chosen to comment at this time.

As enticing as the story is on the surface, many within the industry are having a hard time believing that it’s true. Kara Swisher of All Things Digital says that a source close to both companies claims the rumors are “total fiction.” Writes Swisher: “I have spoken to top sources at Yahoo and Microsoft too and all scoff at such a deal now taking place or that either side has been in any such discussions of late.” While she doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility of this deal happening some time in the future, the “present” looks very much in doubt.

In other, non-Yahoo news, Amazon has gone forward with plans to shut down Alexa. For those unaware, Alexa was a tool designed to track the web usage of users, similar to Google Analytics. The software was more famous — or infamous, if you prefer — for the spyware warning that followed its toolbar throughout its life. According to the folks at Amazon, Alexa was shut down due to a combination of low usage and stiff competition from the likes of Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft. Although Alexa stopped accepting new customers November 26th, Amazon plans to keep the service running until January 26th.

Elsewhere, it seems as if the advertising found on social networking sites might not be as popular (or profitable) as once thought. According to a new poll conducted by researcher IDC, only 57% of those surveyed said they have clicked on at least one social network-based ad in the past year, with only 11% actually buying anything. By comparison, the click rate/purchase dynamic on traditional websites stand at 79% and 27%, respectively. “The thinking has been that the popularity of social networking services will attract a big audience and generate a lot of traffic, which in turn will produce enormous amounts of user-generated content and therefore advertising inventory,” IDC’s Karsten Weide told WebProNews. “All of the above has proven true — except that almost invariably, [social services] have had a hard time selling this inventory.”

Finally, we have Ziipa. Ziipa is an interesting social media site that allows users to find, post, and talk about all of the best web 2.0 tools and apps the Internet has to offer. Despite being rather new — the root company was only created last May — the service is already getting favorable reviews from a few well-known sites. “Ziipa will interest virtually anyone who’s tired of the same old, same old,” writes Mashable’s Paul Glazowski. Equal parts Google, StumbleUpon, and the “award winning pies” table at the county fair, Ziipa is perfect for anyone who is in the mood for something a bit “different,” yet still mind numbingly advanced.

Google is getting into the publishing business. The search engine giant has worked out a deal with several major authors to bring their work online. Moreover, the new Google publishing house will not be available to e-Readers such as the Amazon Kindle. By eliminating e-Readers from the equation, users will not feel the need to buy yet another piece of equipment. “You don’t have to look at [a computer screen] at a funny angle, and today’s monitors have better resolution than ever,” says Google co-founder Sergey Brin in an interview with USA Today. At press time, a launch date for the new service has yet to be announced.

In other news, Facebook has taken a commanding lead over MySpace when it comes to worldwide popularity. Facebook received 161.4 million unique hits in September, a 4.7% increase from the previous month. MySpace, on the other hand, is down 1.6% to 117.9 million unique views. MySpace remains popular in the United States, where it holds a 59% share of the market. Rupert Murdoch’s favorite social network is said to enjoy similar popularity in Germany and Japan as well.

Elsewhere in the world of web 2.0, there’s Trutap. Trutap is a new service that promises to bring the wonders of the Internet to the average, everyday cell phone. Aside from the promised (and, let’s face it, totally expected) Facebook compatibility, users can check their favorite instant messaging service and browse Flickr and Photobucket with ease. The service is also compatible with such blogging platforms as Typepad and Blogger. While it isn’t exactly an original idea — most cell providers offer these services for an additional charge — the completeness of the package, as well as the unbeatable price (free), makes this suite well worth the download. Trutap is available now.

It seems as if AOL has contracted “upgrade fever.” Aside from the standard array of bug fixes, the new site lets users work with their MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, and Twitter account without ever leaving the front page. Users can also overhaul the page to their liking, adding new widgets, RSS feeds, and more with only a few clicks. “Consumers want choice and relevance in their Web experiences,” says AOL Vice President Bill Wilson in an interview with WebProNews. “We will continue to enhance the appeal… by adding more relevant programming, customization opportunities, greater integration of third party content, improved design and access to social networks directly from AOL.com.”

And to finish off the week: As long term fans of the Free Line know, we’ve covered more than a few Firefox extensions in our day. We even went over a hodgepodge of Opera widgets last August. Users of Internet Explorer and Safari, on the other hand, always seem to be left out in the cold. If this is you, well then today is your lucky day. We have ten extensions and plugins designed to make your personal web browsing experience a pleasurable one.

Internet Explorer:

• FoxyTunes - Control the media player of your choice, find lyrics and more, all without minimizing Internet Explorer.
• ieSpell – Adds a surprisingly accurate spell check to all IE text boxes. ieSpell supports American, Canadian, and the Queen’s English right out of the box.
• IEPro7 - Add a variety of interesting and useful tools (crash recovery, improved page searching, mouse gestures, etc.) to IE.
• Zemata -Add pictures, links, and added information to any blog post.
• Delicious – IE users get to join the link sharing party that is Delicious.

Safari

• Keywurl – Search the web from your address bar, just like in Firefox.
• Safari Prairiefire – Give your bookmark folder a good cleaning.
• Cooliris Previews - Check out the contents of a link without actually clicking on it.
• Inquisitor – Add a powerful “predicting” search bar to Safari. Inquisitor is based upon Yahoo BOSS technology.
• ForgetMeNot – Easily organize and save your tab layout.

Are you disappointed that your favorite extension, widget, and/or AppleScript wasn’t covered? Are you a loyal Chrome, Konqueror, Epiphany, SeaMonkey, or Camino user that wants to spread the word about the best add-ons for your chosen browser? Bring it up! The Free Line is all about free exchange of ideas and products.