For years, the layout of the T9 keypad has been a simple and easy to understand style. While, the Nokia X3 Touch and Type will not be changing any standards, it is certainly a fine point in any argument that variation and deviation can often result in slightly more advantageous situation. In this case, it seems as if the new layout of the keys has made typing a whole lot easier on this handset.

Small Changes, Big Differences

The one thing that users will be able to point out at first glance is the fact that the bottom row of keys has been moved into a fourth column for the handset. The positions have also been altered slightly, instead of the zero/space button being placed in the center row; it is located on the bottom right –which actually turns out to be a lot more intuitive a position than in the center.

In practice, it is easy to say that the Nokia Touch and Type handset is a device that is easy to get used to. Just type with it for a short while and it will seem as if this is how the keypads on all mobile phones should be. Of course, it also helps that the display is a touch screen that complements the controls of the keypad.

Resistive Touch

It is pretty understandable that the initial public reaction to resistive touch screen technology is one of mild dismay. After all, the convenience of capacitive technology is quite outstanding. But when one realizes that the display on both the Nokia X3 and Nokia C3 Touch and Type has been designed as a complementary input method as opposed to being a primary, one can see how the combination truly works in favor of the handset –and how redundant having a capacitive touch screen would have been.

According to recent news, it seems that the Google Android operating system will now be able to run many existing Facebook Apps; thanks to the release of the Facebook SDK. With this latest development, many Facebook based applications will be directly available for viewing and access on Android handsets –as well as Facebook itself.

Okay, now that may seem pretty confusing, after all, one can already access Facebook from the Android’s browser. But what the release of the SDK means is that a standalone app for accessing Facebook and all of its features can now be made. Imagine not only being able to access your account to see the latest updates and upload one of your own, but also the ability to instantly manage your friend lists, tags, privacy settings, user profile, change your photo and even play some Facebook apps directly from a specialized app as opposed to manually accessing the features from the web browser.

The difference between the browser and an app lies in the fact that any smart phone browser is simply a lite version of the internet. Compared to a netbook or desktop counterpart, mobile phone’s browser delivers a slower, bite sized version of the website. An app on the other hand, has been designed from scratch to be used on an Android smart phone –making access to features, as well as the user interfaces, an easy thing to handle and use.

The released version of the SDK is currently an alpha version which means that developers should keep checking for new libraries or even full updates to be released. Still, the initial version already provides a lot of access to Facebook’s key features. This new update also could not have come at a better time; Facebook has recently upgraded its privacy setting pages, making the social networking site more encouraging to use.

It seems that the supply of virtual produce on the internet will no longer be put into jeopardy. About 75 million users on Facebook run and maintain virtual farms through the Zynga game app and this large network of farmers have produced more virtual poultry, livestock and farm goods than any other pseudo community online. However, news that Zynga could potentially leave Facebook meant that all of these farms would close, threatening the only source of virtual produce online.

Kidding aside, last week’s worrisome news that Zynga might be splitting off from Facebook has finally met a very joyous conclusion as it was recently announced that the two parties have finally come to a very private agreement.

Obviously, neither Zynga nor Facebook are willing to share with the public as to what the terms and conditions of the agreement are, but many believe that Facebook has finally backed down from its originally intended 30% cut from Zynga’s online profits through the social networking site.

The big fuss started over a week ago after Facebook announced changes in its developer policies. They have implemented a new Facebook credits system through which all transactions on the online site will be held. This places Facebook in control of user and developer transactions and also allows them better control of incoming profit. However, Facebook’s 30% cut on sales has proven to be quite the expensive price to pay and Zynga publicly announced that due to such changes, they are considering to set up their own Zynga Games network.

With Facebook’s millions of networked users and Zynga’s incredibly addictive games that keep people coming back for more, the two companies had a very strong partnership that would definitely prove to be detrimental should one factor not be present (of course, Facebook has less to lose).

According to Facebook, they will now be sharing the personal information of users in specific “pre-approved web sites”. The announcement has met the ire and criticism of many users, for good reason.

Facebook is ultimately a social networking website. Nobody signs on to Facebook in order to create a comprehensive web browsing experience. People simply log in so that they can connect with friends and family, share links, videos, images and the occasional poke. But nobody really wants Facebook to tell its partner site who they are, when they were born and who their friends are.

Simply put, such data is meant to be private, and if Facebook is not going to protect that privacy, then users might as well start turning every single piece of info they have into public. Despite Facebook’s assurance that the policy would only apply to specific websites, it does not make things any better. In fact, it is a complete betrayal of the trust that users have put into the site.

Even if the end user agreement page on Facebook does declare that the social networking site does have the right to use its data in the way that it is proposing that it would do, it is still unethical and something that Facebook would need to think over lest they feel like MySpace should make a comeback.

The saddest part about this is that the change might happen without many users understanding what is going on. Even worse, many users are still unfamiliar with the internet and are not yet aware of how “dangerous” having their account details logged into external sites can be. For now, many protesters are still trying hard to make other Facebook users of the major change.

Find out more about the change in the privacy policy of Facebook at Bernama.

What is the real objective of teachers and parents when it comes to teaching children about the internet? It’s a pretty odd thing, since schools have only recently added in the subject into their curriculum and there are still any disadvantaged children without access to the technology.

Regardless of the situation, it is undeniable that with the trend of the world we currently live in, being part of the online community will become a necessity in the coming years. Use of Facebook and Twitter alone has shown how reliant our society can be on digital tools when given an option to socialize online.

For children however, this means that learning about the internet has to start at an early age.

With homework, socialization and even entertainment tied up to online profiles and accounts, many children learn to sign up for their first e-mail account at a very early age. While parents would be able to teach children the necessary skills for this, there are still plenty of adults who are unable to properly use a web browser. Sadly, educating the children about the internet cannot be easily split between teacher and parent.

Though one might assume that it would be okay for parents to handle morality while educators focus on technical skills, it would be impossible for parents to fully take part in the process if they themselves are not tech-savvy.

Before being able to teach what is proper behavior and decorum would require that a parent actually know what it is like to take part in a forum, a bulletin board, a chat room or even a shout out box.

Prof. Byron’s report of safety for children in the digital world has missed out on one crucial factor: educating parents.

Read about child safety on the internet at the Telegraph UK.