The Download Blog

When it comes to built-in support for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, WebGL is being built into Firefox and the browser project behind Safari, and now Chrome is following suit.

"Preliminary WebGL support is now being compiled into Chrome," said Kenneth Russell a Wednesday message to a Chrome mailing list. But, he warned, WebGL itself is still under development and that new versions of the WebKit browser technology on which Chrome is based might cause incompatibilities for now.

WebGL can be used in the latest Chrome developer preview version--but only if "--enable-webgl" and "--no-sandbox" command-line switches are added when Chrome launches. The latest versions are Chrome 4.0.221.6 for Windows and 4.0.221.8 for Mac OS X and Linux.

WebGL began at Mozilla and Khronos Group, the organization that oversees the OpenGL 3D graphics interface. WebGL lets programmers creating Web sites issue commands for drawing 3D graphics, but the standard is still under development. The general idea is important for advanced Web sites and for Web-based applications, which although steadily getting more sophisticated don't yet match their analogs that run natively on computers.

Google supports WebGL but also is working on a separate, higher-level 3D interface for browsers called O3D.

A nascent technology called WebGL for bringing hardware-accelerated 3D graphics to the Web is getting a lot closer to reality.

Last week, programmers began building WebGL into Firefox's nightly builds, the developer versions used to test the latest updates to the open-source browser. Also this month, programmers began building WebGL into WebKit, the project that's used in both Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome.

Wolfire Games picked up on the WebKit move and offered a video of WebGL in action.

Overall, the moves stand to accelerate the pace of WebGL development by making it easier to try out. But the technology still has a ways to go before people will be able to play Web-based versions of a 3D software such as first-person shooter video games or Google Earth.

"All of these implementations are going to have some interoperability issues for the next little while, as the spec is still in flux and we're tracking it at different rates, but will hopefully start to stabilize over the next few months," said Vladimir Vukicevic in a blog post.

WebGL is one of a several efforts under way to make Web browsers into a more powerful computing platform, increasingly capable of rivaling what software running natively on a computer can do. Even the company with the most to lose from that direction--Microsoft--is embracing it with a Web-based version of Office.

The WebGL plan emerged in March from Mozilla and the Khronos Group, which oversees the venerable OpenGL standard to let software tap into a computer's hardware-based graphics power . WebGL's roots lie with an earlier Mozilla project called Canvas 3D, a cousin of the present two-dimensional Canvas technology for drawing graphics in Web pages.

Although Google is a WebGL supporter, it's also developing a higher-level 3D graphics technology called O3D for browsers. Google is working on building O3D into Chrome, but the fruits of that labor aren't yet available.

WebGL has a ways to go, as well, but developers eager to give it a whirl should probably start thinking seriously about it.

"The WebGL working group is targeting the first half of 2010 for release of the standard, but implementations will show up before that," said WebGL programmer Mark Steele in August.

Those wanting to try it not only have to download the Firefox nightly build, but also have to specifically enable WebGL through the Firefox "about:config" mechanism. Vukicevic has instructions on his blog.

Departing significantly from what other browsers offer, Google has begun building its O3D plug-in for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics into its Chrome browser.

"The O3D team is working on getting O3D integrated into the Chromium build, and we're close to being able to complete our first step towards integration," said programmer Greg Spencer in a mailing list announcement Wednesday about Chromium, the open-source project that underlies Chrome itself. "I'll be making the Windows build of Chromium be dependent upon building O3D as part of the build process."

By helping to pave the way for high-powered Web-based games, the move furthers Google's ambition to speed the transformation of the Web from a static medium into a foundation for applications. Another piece of the work is Google Native Client, which is designed to let Web applications take advantage of a computer's native processing power.

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I just wrote about Baseball Slugger 3D earlier this week because it went on sale, but seriously, if you like baseball at all, this home-run derby game is worthy of the regular price of $2.99. I started playing last night using the online matchup system and didn't stop playing for over an hour. Not only is hitting home runs really satisfying, but when you play and lose against someone, you can always go for a rematch, which leads to another rematch...and so on. Then, if you really think a particular opponent is a good competitive match, you can make them your rival, putting their name on the Matchup homescreen so you know when they're online. I wouldn't usually give a game this much coverage, but I can't get over how fun it is! My screen name is Hoobam in the game--let's see who has the hitting skills!

This week's apps are both games. One has has you digging for treasure deep underground, while the other is a fun harbor management type of a game.

I Dig it (99 cents) is reminiscent of games like Motherload and Dig Dug, but offers a nice twist on the old arcade classics. In I Dig it, you are a farmer who has run out of money and has built a digging machine to dig for treasure in order to keep the farm. The game uses an onscreen gamepad for movement, letting you dig down or to either side, and has rockets for flying back to the top. As you dig, you'll find precious metals, gems, coins, and other treasure that you'll need to bring back to the top to sell for cash.

As you make more money, you can enter the barn to upgrade various parts of your machine like your hull strength, your drill, and the amount of cargo you can carry. The game is pretty fun, especially as you go deeper into the ground making it challenging to get back to the top. There's a button to mark your depth to make sure you can get back to work once you've repaired your digging machine. You also can track the different types of treasure on a separate Warehouse screen. This app is very popular at the app store right now, but that might be partly because it's on sale for 99 cents for a limited time. Check out the lite version here (iTunes Store link) to try before you buy.

Harbor Master (99 cents) is a lot like Flight Control, the popular air traffic control game I've written about before, but offers enough variation to make it worth your money. Much like Flight Control, you'll need to draw a path to direct boats into their appropriate berths for unloading. But unlike Flight Control, you'll also need to direct emptied boats out of the harbor, even as more boats come sailing in. Larger ships will need more time to unload, so you'll find yourself juggling incoming boats while you wait for berth space.

At first I thought this game would be too much like Flight Control, but Harbor Master is a great game in its own right with smooth-looking graphics, great sounds, and its own particular strategies. As you get better at managing your harbor, you'll be able to unlock more maps with their own unique challenges; one map has color-coded berths so you'll only be able to park boats that have the same color, while another has pirate ships you'll need to blow out of the water using a mounted cannon. Overall, Harbor Master is a great variation on Flight Control's gameplay and offers enough variation to rationalize getting both games. Those looking for new variation of Flight Control or just a fun game to kill time will definitely enjoy this game.

What's your favorite iPhone app? Do you dig I Dig It? Though they are different in a number of ways, do you like Flight Control or Harbor Master better? Let me know in the comments!

Even at the cutting edge of cloud computing, Web-based applications can be frustrating to write and to use.

Spreadsheets can't sort data well, there are lags between mouse clicks and the program's response, graphics look Mickey Mouse rather than lavish. But Google, among the most aggressive cloud computing advocates, is trying to address some of those shortcomings.

The company has released experimental but still very much real software that brings in some of the power of the PC, where people often use Web applications. Google Native Client--first released in 2008 but updated with a new version Thursday--is a browser plug-in for securely running computationally intense software downloaded from a Web site. And on Tuesday, Google released O3D, a plug-in that lets Web-based applications tap into a computer's graphics chip, too.

The projects are rough around the edges, to say the least. Native Client--NaCl for short--is more security research project than usable programming foundation right now, and O3D exists in part to try to accelerate the arrival of some future, not necessarily compatible, standard for building 3D abilities into Web applications.

But both fundamentally challenge the idea that Web apps necessarily are stripped-down, feeble counterparts to the software that runs natively on a personal computer, and they come from a company that has engineering skill, a yen for moving activity to the Internet, and search-ad profits that can fund projects that don't immediately or directly make money.

"There are things you can do in desktop apps that you can't do in Web apps. We're working very hard to close that gap, so anything you can do in a desktop application you can do safely and securely from a Web application," said Linus Upson, a Google engineering director.

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Last week I wrote a post about a great deal from Ambrosia Software, which has now sadly lapsed. But the the silver lining to that cloud is that with the end of the sale comes the release of an all-new Mac game: Multiwinia!!

Multiwinia is a ferociously fun real-time strategy game with cool stylistic graphics and challenging gameplay. Those of you who have played Darwinia, also from Ambrosia, will recognize the scenery at once, but that's where the similarity ends.

Multiwinia is a geometrically-shaped 3-D land populated by the two-dimensional stick men from Darwinia, except now they're not fighting against a rampant computer virus; they're fighting each other in battles to control Multiwinia.

Your role is that of the General--tell soldiers where to go once they spawn, organize them into better-fighting, but slower-moving battalions, and zoom around the battlefield to plot your next move. There are six game types with more than 40 maps, and you can choose single player against the computer or go online and jump into any of a number of games against real players.

I should point out that people who have Windows have a head start with this game (released 9/19/2008), so make sure to get some practice in and jump on a server to show those guys who's boss! The free trial has some game types and maps disabled, but you'll be able to get a good feel for the action. The full game costs $19.

Though computer monitor technology has long since passed the days when you truly needed to "save your screen," screensavers are still a lot of fun and a great way to personalize your desktop when you're away from the computer. This collection features screensavers that are most popular with our users.

Free Fire Screensaver sets your icons and windows ablaze. Watch as each item slowly catches fire and begins to smoke on your desktop. Crackling and popping sounds and a musical soundtrack complete the effect. Add your own MP3 to customize your desktop flare-up.

3D Fish School Screensaver lets you view up to 100 fish swimming peacefully on your desktop. Choose from a saltwater or freshwater virtual aquarium and tweak the settings to allow for more fish and bubbles. Use the settings to display a clock so you can check the time without waking your computer.

Sim Aquarium reminds us more of a sea floor teaming with aquatic life. Watch your fish swim around a coral reef complete with live clams and swaying sea life. Choose from 41 species of fish.

The Matrix Screen Saver is a longtime favorite for many users and continues to mesmerize with its now classic falling digital code. Wait a second, I think I just spotted myself typing this in the falling code. Maybe we are part of the Matrix! Somehow, I doubt Keanu can save us.

Deep Space 3D Screensaver lets you take a trip to a distant galaxy and explore planetary systems and nebulae. As you watch, you may even encounter mysterious items and artifacts floating in the void. Are they manmade? Maybe not. Pleasant music accompanies your journey through space.

3D World Map lets you gaze upon our planet in full 3D and view detailed information on more than 30,000 cities. Compute the distance between any two points on Earth. Tweak settings to adjust color and saturation to customize your view of the globe. This screensaver comes with a built-in MP3 player so you can view the Earth and listen to your own soundtrack.

With Valentines day just a couple of days away, why not get in to the spirit? We put together a collection of screensavers and Valentine's Day themed downloads to get you in the mood for the most romantic of holidays. Hopefully, it will also act as a reminder to those who might forget. Ahem.

Some of these downloads are paid and others are free, but any one you choose will certainly put you in the spirit of Valentine's Day.

Cool EasyCard lets you create Valentine's cards (or any type of greeting) with your own photos and the words you want to say. If you're tired of trying to find just the right words in the greeting card aisle, leave nothing up to chance by saying the right thing just the way you want to say it.

Hearts, Roses, Love is an elegant and simple screensaver to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day with class. The beautifully designed screensaver doesn't offer a lot of bells and whistles, but is just enough to make your desktop come alive with the Valentine's Day spirit.

Cuddly kitties and canines is exactly what the name would imply: photos of cute kittens and puppies surrounded by Valentine's themed decorations. If you're an animal lover, check out this cute and simple screensaver.

Free Valentine's Day Screensaver features high-quality images and smooth transitions to make this screensaver the perfect way to enjoy the holiday. If you want a little more than a themed screensaver, or prefer several changing Valentine's day images, this is the download for you.

Valentine 3D Screensaver lets you view a lovely setting with wine glasses, a Valentine's Day message, and a cuddly teddy bear. Smooth, nice-looking graphics make this screensaver a great choice for those who leave their computers on during this most romantic of dates. Later, you should consider turning off your computer entirely.

3D Dancing Cupid gets you in the mood for the holiday with a retro screensaver designed to bring out the silliness in everyone. If you're the type who likes a dancing screensaver, Cupid is a little guy who knows how to get down. On the dancefloor--get you're mind out of the gutter.

3D Love Clock lets you put a personalized, heart-shaped clock on your desktop. You'll never forget your loved ones during this most important of romantic holidays--or what time it is. Customize your clock further by adding a picture of your loved one.

Google Earth 5's big new features include the other final frontier, the 20th century, and the Red Planet.

For Windows and Mac, Google Earth 5 maps the ocean, explores the past with historical maps, and shows you there's more to Mars than red dust. Check it all out in this First Look video.