Among the three new features introduced by Facebook last week, one of the last ones to make it to the hands of users was the personal data downloader. It's also one of the most interesting of the bunch, since it effectively gives users an escape hatch to grab everything they've ever uploaded to Facebook and take it elsewhere.

The feature finally went live over the weekend, and I've had a chance to put it through its paces. The good news is that it's one of the simplest options I've ever seen for such a large amount of data. The bad news is that because it's just your information, you may find it's missing a lot of things that include you, but that were uploaded by others.

So what does the service do? It grabs every photo, video, wall post, private message, event, and scrap of profile information from your Facebook account, and puts into a tidy little zip file. In essence, it's your entire Facebook identity in just a folder.

To get this wealth of information, you have to jump through a handful of security hoops. Even if you're signed into Facebook, you need to re-enter your password to request it. Also, if you're on a computer that Facebook is unfamiliar with, it will ask you to solve a captcha. Facebook will then beginning pulling together all those files, which it does in the background, before sending you an e-mail to let you know it's done.

For me, the turnaround time from filling out my information to getting the download link was less than 10 minutes. And the size of the download? 270MB.

Once you have that file in hand, your profile is broken into folders. This includes photos and videos, though unfortunately, this works out a little better for videos than it does for photos.

Every single video I had uploaded was preserved with the exact same file I had uploaded. The photos, on the other hand, had all been run through Facebook's processing, and ran the gamut from 604 pixels wide, to the newer 720 pixel wide format--in either case, that's tiny. The good news is, going forward this won't be as much of a problem, since Facebook recently increased its photo resolution (and thus the preserved file download) to a 2048 pixels wide--an eight-fold increase.

My bigger objection to the process was that some of the original metadata--like when the photo had been taken--gets stripped in the process. Why is this important, you ask? Say you want to stick those photos into a photo management tool, you can no longer sort them by date. The good news on that front is that your collections are preserved as subfolders within the main photos folder, so you have some frame of reference.

Traversing through all these images, and the rest of the data that comes with the download, has been made a very straightforward affair. Each photo collection is stuck into its own folder, and if you want to navigate them much like you would in Facebook, you can simply click on the "index.html" file that comes included in the zip folder. This opens up a bare bones profile view in your desktop's browser that surfs these files offline in much the same manner you would if you were online:

This system ends up working out well for photo galleries and wall posts, though not as well for the log of your events and private messages--two places where order can make it easier to get through what can be a staggering amount of information. How staggering? My wall was close to 300 pages long in my Web browser. It was the same story for my message in-box, where every conversation thread I had ever had was on one page.

One of the notable weak points of the saved data file--at least for the moment--is that there are a few missing pieces. For one, none of your friends get linked with their Facebook profile, so every time you see a name within one of the archived pages, you have to log-in to Facebook and do a search to find them. It would be much easier if they were linked up in the first place. I'm guessing this is a privacy feature, but given the public nature of Facebook's profile links and the inherent security that guards each profile, it seems out of character.

The other weak point is that any media items that were posted to your wall by another friend, or that include you (like a photo or video), do not come along for the ride. You do get thumbnails of things like photos and videos, but they do not get downloaded. Instead you can click on them to be taken to that live page on Facebook where they exist, which means you'll need an active Facebook account to see them if they're not public. Is this a huge deal? No, but it does make you realize how much of the content that's on the social network may not always be in your control.

These two hang-ups, and the long scrolling usability issue aside, the information downloader is a really useful feature and one that is decidedly simple to use. For photo and video enthusiasts alone, Facebook is now finally a place where you can grab your content and take it elsewhere in one big chunk, or simply get things back that may have been lost if and when something happens to the computer you have everything stored on.

The feature should be live for everyone now. To see a how-to on using it, you can watch the video embedded below:

Originally posted at Web Crawler

We've shown you the Windows Phone 7 hardware, but now it's time to look at some of the software behind Microsoft's launch of its new, bolder, braver operating system for mobile phones. (We list apps after the jump.)

Why are these apps significant? Two reasons. The first is that Microsoft has wiped the slate clean with Windows Phone 7, adding hardware and software specifications that require application developers to start from scratch. Without any backward compatibility for Windows Mobile 6.5 apps, the new WP7 Marketplace will need to fill up with apps in order to compete--and fast. A slim and saggy App Catalog is one factor that contributed to the rapid decline of Palm's WebOS phones.

The second reason we're keeping our eye on third-party apps is because Microsoft's Zune-like interface is brand new for mobile, and how each developer programs its apps within the design framework will have an effect on usability--and ultimately on how well users connect to their Windows Phone 7 smartphone.

Earlier today we gave you an exclusive peek at eBay, IMDb, and Fandango for Windows Phone 7. Last week, we checked out three music apps, as well as Twitter and other third-party projects.

We'll refresh the list of what we know is on its way, and we'll keep updating this article throughout the day as more news comes in. Feel free to e-mail me with additional tips, and add your thoughts to the comments below.

• Twitter: Social networking Netflix-Streaming TV and video, management tools
  
• eBay: Electronic shopping/bidding
• The Sims: Popular EA game
  
• Fandango: Movie showtimes and theater finder; purchase tickets
  
• IMDb: Movie database
  
• Slacker Radio: Streaming music
  
• I Heart Radio: Streaming music plus social networking
  
• Lyrics by Musix Match: Lyrics and streaming music
  
• Soundtrackr: Streaming music plus social networking
  
• Motolingo: Safe driving, monitors speeds
  
• iFood Assistant Plus: Recipes from Kraft
  
• Seymour: Virtual concierge, especially when finding food
  
• Wattpad E-reader: E-reader
• RetrevoQ: Consumer electronics shopping
• Pocket Devil: Hell yeah!: Game
• FlightDoodle: Game
  

Originally posted at Dialed In

SAN FRANCISCO--Generally, OEM software isn't of particular interest to consumer product reviewers, but I couldn't help but be drawn in by the sweet-looking user interface (UI) development being shown off by SPB Software at the CTIA Fall 2010 show. This multiplatform solution, called Mobile Shell, is currently up to version 5.0, which is compatible with Windows Mobile, Android, and Symbian operating systems.

The software is aimed at providing carriers with a way to offer a standardized UI across mobile devices, but the truly compelling part is the front-end user experience, which is pretty fantastic from what I've seen so far. SPB Software demoed Mobile Shell 5.0 on an Android device, and my initial reaction was "I want this. When can I get it?" (Sadly, the reps had no immediate answer.) The interface is just so...cool. And speedy.

What makes this software so nice to look at is the 3D design, which is much more of a joy to navigate than the flat, flip-through pages currently offered on Android devices. One of my favorite extra touches--made possible by the 3D--is the automatic animations that pop out whenever you pause on a particular panel. In addition, the UI will automatically personalize the look and feel of applications and widgets based on an individual user's behavior, which should be a fun feature to test out once the software actually makes its way to consumer devices.

Really, it's a bit tough to describe Mobile Shell in words, which is why I recommend checking out the promo clip by SPB Software or the video from the show floor below.

Originally posted at CTIA 2010

Almost a month ago to the day, I reported that hackers had found a way to jailbreak iOS 4.1--and asked if it was worth the hassle anymore. That question generated lots of great discussion, and now is the perfect time to revisit it.

That's because an iOS 4.1 jailbreak, Limera1n, is now in the wild. Unlike the JailbreakMe hack that made jailbreaking iOS 4.0 as simple as loading a URL in your iPhone's browser, Limera1n requires a PC and a download--one that's currently available for Windows only.

To use the hack, start by connecting your iPhone (3G, 3GS, or 4), iPod Touch 4G, or iPad. (Note that I used my iPhone 3GS, so I can't promise the results will be the same with other devices.) Let iTunes do its thing, just to make sure you have a full and working backup.

Warning: proceed at your own risk!

Run the Limera1n executable, then click "make it ra1n." In a moment the program will instruct you to hold down the Home and Power buttons. Do that for a few seconds, then look for it to say "release power button." Do that, but make sure to keep holding the Home button until you see the message, "in DFU mode...wait."

In less than a minute you should see a "Done" message, after which your iPhone/iPod/iPad will turn itself off. Hold down the Power button to fire it back up.

All this worked smoothly for me (though a handful of my Camera Roll thumbnails got blacked out for some reason), and afterward I found a Limera1n icon on my iPhone. Tapping it led me to a screen where I could download jailbreak-app store Cydia--though I had to reboot my 3GS before the Cydia icon would appear.

So, now, let's get back to the big question: is jailbreaking still worth the effort? Are there enough must-have apps, and, if so, what are they? (Check out 5 killer apps for jailbroken iPhones if you're looking for some.)

Personally, I'm still enamored with tethering solutions like MyWi 4.0 and PdaNet, though I must admit I don't use either one very much. Other than that, I can easily live without jailbreaking.

How about you?

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas

Those of you still running the beta version of Microsoft Office 2010 have only three more weeks to use the software.

Today's Microsoft Office blog broke the news that the Office 2010 beta will expire on Sunday, October 31, meaning that all installations of the software will stop working the night of Halloween.

Launched almost a year ago, the Office 2010 beta has proved very successful, according to Microsoft's figures, triggering 9 million downloads, more than six times the number seen by the Office 2007 beta.

People who want to install the released version of Office 2010 will have to uninstall the beta software first. Microsoft is asking consumers who plan to buy the paid edition to download it, instead of ordering it in the box, as a way to help the environment. Office 2010 is available from a variety of online vendors, including Microsoft itself.

The software comes in three versions for the consumer market: Home and Student 2010 ($149), Office Home and Business 2010 ($279), and Professional 2010 ($499). Office Home and Student includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Office Home and Business adds Outlook, while Professional also throws in Access and Publisher.

Anyone who still wants to try before you buy can download a 60-day fully functional trial version of any of the three Office editions.

Originally posted at News - Microsoft

Today Microsoft kicks off Windows Phone 7 at a press event in New York (live coverage). Hardware in the form of sleek, powerful cell phones is important, but not the sole factor in Microsoft's quest to reinvent--or at least reinvigorate--its mobile phone presence. The user experience is also key, particularly with how mobile applications will resonate with Microsoft's new customers. Check out our video above to get a sense of each app's unique look and feel.

Over the last few weeks, we had a chance to walk through several Windows Phone 7 apps, from music apps like Slacker Radio to Twitter. We also had a rare chance to see eBay, IMDb, and Fandango apps ahead of today's official launch.

All three of the apps, like most of the others we saw, use Microsoft's panoramic interface. That is, instead of organizing the app's information in individual screens, the content is laid out in several side-by-side screens that you can swipe across to access. From there, you can scroll through a vertical list of options, or click other options to dive into the next layer of functionality.

As for what they can do, the eBay app's three screens let you search for, bid on, and buy new products using PayPal. It showcases a handful of daily deals, and displays your recent eBay activity. Saved searches and sharing items is also part of the app, as are push notifications. At launch, the eBay app will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S.

Fandango for Windows Phone 7 also uses the panoramic theme, but where eBay has a background image that bleeds to the edges, Fandango keeps it plain and simple with a white background. However, you are able to use it the same way you would other apps, to look up show times, theaters, and plot information; view trailers; and buy movie tickets in advance. We had no trouble finding what we needed, though since an Internet connection is necessary to use the app, the stronger your data or Wi-Fi connection, the easier it is to use--especially when it comes to streaming previews.

IMDb was the splashiest app we saw, with bright artwork. Since it links up to a vast database of films, it's also the easiest to get lost in. We didn't have any problems hitting the "back" arrow to surface through the layers, but we might have also enjoyed a "home" button to start over from scratch. The IMDb app also helps you seek out current films in addition to storing details about nearly every movie known to man.

As we mentioned, the user interface is what sets these apps apart on the Windows Phone platform, especially since each of these three is from a larger developer that has also programmed its app for other mobile platforms. While Microsoft will need millions of users to connect to the unusual layout, it has won over some of us here at CNET.

Originally posted at Dialed In