Internet goes 3D

An Australian company has launched a "revolutionary" free tool that offers Web browsers a world-first opportunity to view the Internet in three dimensions, says The Economic Times.

Melbourne-based ExitReality said its application allows users to turn any regular Web site into a 3D virtual environment, where an avatar representing them can walk around and meet other browsers viewing the same Web site.

"ExitReality goes far and beyond any other 3D destination ever created," said founder Danny Stefanic. "With Second Life and World of Warcraft, users visit the one destination for a virtual experience. But our program allows you to view not just that one Web site, but the entire World Wide Web in 3D."

Sending text messages from a mobile phone, while driving, is more dangerous than climbing behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs, a study by Britain's Transport Research Laboratory has found, says Reuters.

The reaction times of people texting as they drove fell by 35%, while those who had consumed the legal limit of alcohol, or taken cannabis, fell by 21% and 12% respectively, according to the study.

The study, which was commissioned by motoring group RAC Foundation, also found the ability to stay in lanes or maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front was worse than drivers under the influence of cannabis.

Yahoo has started testing a new design for its home page on randomly selected users as part of a company-wide strategy to emphasise third-party content on its sites, reports San Francisco Chronicle.

The new design, the company's first in two years, "will bring the things that matter most to you - no matter where they 'live' on the Web", Yahoo senior VP Tapan Bhat wrote on the company's blog on Wednesday evening.

For example, visitors to Yahoo.com will be able to check e-mail from multiple accounts, including Gmail and AOL Mail.

T-Mobile will expand its 3G services to multiple markets, in time for the launch of the first Android handset, reports InformationWeek.

The wireless carrier currently has 3G services in 13 markets and said that number will increase to 21 by mid-October. Overall, the carrier plans to have 3G networks in 27 markets by the end of the year.

"With the faster data speeds delivered by our 3G network, T-Mobile looks forward to offering mobile products and services that place the full power of the Web in our customers' hands," said Cole Brodman, T-Mobile's chief development officer, in a statement.