WareTracker

Firefox 3.6 likely the last for PowerPC Macs

2010-09-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

The current version of Firefox will likely be the end of the road for people using PowerPC Macs.

A final decision will be based on usage data that's better than what Mozilla possesses right now, but technical difficulties raised by Firefox 4 improvements mean at a minimum that it's a strong possibility only Intel-based Macs will be able to run the new browser.

"I am gathering data on the number of PPC users we have, but the likely outcome is that we will not be supporting PPC [PowerPC] for Firefox 4," said Mike Beltzner, Mozilla's director of Firefox, in a mailing list posting on Tuesday.

Major changes are a fact of life in the computing industry, but it's never easy to decide when users of older technology should no longer be supported. Keeping new software compatible with old hardware--and conversely, making sure new hardware can run old software--can be an expensive proposition when there are few users of the older technology left.

But Mozilla's Firefox now is used by hundreds of millions of people, and even a small fraction of them can be a large number in absolute terms. It's a plight of widely used software; for comparison, Microsoft has extended the lifespan of Windows XP several times beyond its original plans.

Dropping support for older machines, of course, can make those with the machines angry. Mozilla faced disgruntlement when it decided to cut off Firefox support for Mac OS X 10.4 after version 3.6. Using an old browser also exposes people to security risks, though Mozilla maintains older Firefox incarnations for a time after new versions supplant them.

The writing has been on the wall for PowerPC Macs for more than five years. Apple announced in June 2005 it would move to Intel processors instead of the PowerPC models built by IBM and Motorola. The two processor families use different instruction sets, so programs written for one don't run on the other without significant work.

Why phase out support?
Beltzner pointed to two new features that make Firefox 4 on PowerPC difficult. First is out-of-process plug-ins, which moves software such as Adobe Systems' Flash Player to a separate memory region to protect the main browser from crashes. This feature arrived in Firefox 3.6 for Windows, but for Macs is coming with Firefox 4.

Second is the just-in-time compiler for Web-based JavaScript programs. Faster JavaScript is a key area in the browser market competition right now, since it speeds up many complex Web sites and helps Web developers build more complicated user interfaces. Firefox is pulling in technology used in Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari, rival browsers based on the WebKit browser project, to help speed JavaScript.

"I believe that Firefox 4 should be relatively faster and superior to previous versions--so to be better than Firefox 3.6. Two of the significant mechanisms for performance improvement will not be available for PPC based computers, and so we are not planning on extending Firefox 4 support to those architectures," Beltzner said in another mailing list message.

It's possible a version of Firefox for PowerPC could be built without those features, he added--but it probably wouldn't be called "Firefox." "I suspect that we won't brand any of those builds as 'Firefox' though, but that would be a discussion with whomever wishes to publish those builds, as usual," he said. "Our goal is to deliver a consistent Firefox experience across platforms."

Beta schedule slip
Plans are changing for building the next test versions of Firefox.

Mozilla released Firefox 4 beta 4 Tuesday and had hoped to "freeze" the code base for beta 5 this Friday, a step that locks most development out as a new version of the software is built. This fifth beta had been planned as a significant milestone: the first test version to have all the Firefox 4 features built in, if not fully tested.

However, Mozilla is having trouble meeting that goal.

In meeting notes published Tuesday, Belzner proposed making the sixth beta the last to get new features. The target date for the beta 6 code freeze is September 10.

Mozilla is assessing the priorities for that release. Priorities include performance, a better user interface that could help attract people to upgrade, and the new Jetpack extensions framework that could make it easier to upgrade Firefox without forcing add-on programmers to rebuild their software.

And one important Web technology development looks like it won't be ready in time for Firefox 4: IndexedDB, which builds database abilities into the browser so that Web applications can work offline, among other things. "IndexedDB unlikely to be included (spec is changing rapidly, security implications to be resolved," Mozilla said in notes for a weekly meeting.

Another development, the WebSocket interface, is "likely to be included, but only as...experimental," the planning notes said. The WebSocket interface opens up a communication channel between the browser and a server, making it easier to build a Web site or application that's continuously updated.

Browser security features compared

2009-11-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

Internet Explorer 8 , Firefox 3 , Google Chrome 4, Apple's Safari 4, and Opera 10
include features that block sites known to host malware and malicious downloads. All but Opera also let you browse without leaving any tracks. But just as important as these protections is ensuring that whichever browser you use is thoroughly patched.

Filtering out bad sites

Firefox's built-in antiphishing tool claims to update its bad-site database 48 times a day, according to Mozilla's Firefox security page. Firefox 3 uses Google's Safe Browsing service to automatically block sites that are known to host malware. The Google Code site describes how Safe Browsing works in Firefox.

To verify that attack-site blocking is enabled in Firefox, click Tools > Options > Security and make sure "Block reported attack sites" is checked.

Firefox will prevent known-bad sites from opening when "Block reported attack sites" is checked.

(Credit:
Mozilla Foundation)

The same feature is built into Google's own Chrome browser. You can ensure that malware-site filtering is on in Chrome by clicking the wrench icon in the top-right corner, choosing Options, and selecting Under the Hood. "Enable phishing and malware filtering" should be checked. The Google Chrome Help site describes the feature. (Hint: This page looks very similar to the description on the Google Code site.)

Google's Chrome browser blocks known-bad sites when "Enable phishing and malware protection" is checked.

(Credit:
Google)

The SmartScreen technology in version 8 of Internet Explorer blocks known-malicious downloads as well as bad URLs. Other new security features in
IE 8 include automatic blocking of click-jacking and cross-site scripting attacks, automatic crash recovery, and highlighting of the actual domain name in the address bar. The Microsoft Security site describes the SmartScreen Filter and includes links to a SmartScreen FAQ and information for site managers.

Apple's Safari browser added phishing and malware blocking in version 3.2, which was released in late 2008; read about this and other security features in Safari 4 on the Apple Safari site. Likewise, Opera's Fraud Protection predates the phishing and malware filters in IE and Firefox and is enhanced in the latest version 10. But attack-site blocking is only one of Opera's many security features, which you can read about on the Opera site.

Browsing in private

To activate private browsing in Firefox 3, click Tools > Start Private Browsing, or simply press Ctrl-Shift-P. You can set Firefox to start in private-browsing mode by clicking Tools > Options > Privacy and check "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session." The Mozilla support site provides more information about this feature. Likewise, put IE 8 in private-browsing mode by clicking Safety > InPrivate Browsing, or by pressing Ctrl-Shift-P. You can also open a new tab and click either Browse with InPrivate or Open an InPrivate Window.

IE 8 also lets you control the information about your browsing habits that's shared with Web tracking services. To activate this feature, click Tools > InPrivate Filtering Settings and choose "Let me choose which providers receive my information." This opens the InPrivate Filtering settings dialog, where you can turn filtering off, choose which services to block from tracking you, or automatically block all trackers.

Internet Explorer 8's InPrivate Filtering lets you block some or all Web tracking services.

(Credit:
Microsoft)

You can open an incognito window in Google Chrome by clicking the wrench icon in the top-right corner and choosing "New incognito window," or simply press Ctrl-Shift-N. The incognito icon (a shadow figure in a fedora and glasses) appears in the top-left corner of the browser window. The Chrome support site offers a more detailed description of this feature.

Opera lacks an equivalent private-browsing capability but does offer private searching and other identity-blocking features, as described on the Opera site. To activate private browsing in Safari, simply click Safari Settings Menu > Private Browsing.

Automatic and not-so-automatic browser updates

Patching is a way of life with nearly all software, but especially with browsers and the media players associated with them: Adobe Reader, the Flash Player, Apple's QuickTime, and Sun's Java, among others. All of a browser's security features can be rendered useless by a piece of malware that takes advantage of an unpatched hole in the program.

Firefox 3 alerts users to the presence of an update and now also notifies you when your Flash Player is out-of-date. Internet Explorer 8 updates via the Windows Update/Microsoft Update services. Google Chrome made a splash by being the first browser to update itself in the background without requiring any prompting from users. Safari updates automatically via Apple's update service, which also serves up patches automatically for QuickTime, iTunes, and other Apple software. Opera also notifies you automatically when a new version is available.

But updating is too important to leave to others. Back in April, I described Secunia's Online Software Inspector and downloadable Personal Software Inspector, which identify out-of-date programs on your PC. The programs mentioned in that post have all been updated since, but Secunia's services should point you to the most recent versions.

New Firefox 3.6 beta aims to cut crashes

2009-11-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

Mozilla released a third beta of
Firefox 3.6 on Wednesday, adding stability and performance features, and said it hopes to lock down the code soon for its first release candidate.

The new beta, for Windows, Mac, and Linux, includes a component directory lockdown that makes it harder for other software to meddle with the open-source browser's state by preventing that software from sidling into the same folder as the browser's own components. The result should be fewer crashes, said Mozilla's Johnathan Nightingale in a blog post, and Firefox still is open to third-party extensions via its official add-on mechanism.

The change should improve security, too, added another Mozilla programmer, Vladimir Vukecevic, who wrote in his own blog post that Mozilla is considering bringing the change to Firefox 3.5, too.

"Creating binary components to interface with the operating system or with other applications is fairly straightforward, though ultimately dangerous. Binary components have full access to the application and OS, and so can impact stability, security, and performance," Vukecevic said.

Also in the latest beta of 3.6 is a feature that lets the browser run some Web-based JavaScript programs asynchronously, which is to say without being so picky about the order the scripts run. This can improve the speed that Web pages load, Mozilla said.

The biggest Firefox 3.6 feature most folks will notice is Personas, the reskinning add-on that's now being built in. More than 10 million Personas have been downloaded so far, Suneel Gupta and Myk Melez of the Personas team said Wednesday.

Mozilla is working to release a final version of Firefox 3.6 before the end of the year, and one sign the project is wrapping up is that the developers are locking down the features and changes that can be added into the release candidate 1. Code freeze for RC1 is scheduled for Wednesday but might be at risk, a Mozilla planning site said this week.

Firefox is steadily gaining in use. Last week, Web traffic monitoring firm Net Applications announced Firefox cleared 25 percent share of those using browsers worldwide--not dethroning Internet Explorer by any means but still winning over new users. Mozilla estimates there are more than 300 million Firefox users total, and this week said there are more than 300,000 testers using the Firefox 3.6 beta

Google's Chrome, meanwhile, is appealing to some of the same browser enthusiasts who were Firefox's first users. One of its big selling points is speed, and Google is working on other ways to make the Web faster, too. Chrome gives it a vehicle to test such ideas out in the real world, a strategy that Apple, Opera, and Firefox have employed to advance the Web state of the art.

One Mozilla programmer, Alexander Limi, revealed a speedup technology called Resource Package for Mozilla, too, on Tuesday. His proposal calls for bundling many Web page elements up into a single compressed file that can be retrieved in a single Web-page request action. Browsers are limited in the number of such actions they can take in parallel, so consolidating the interactions can make pages load faster. The approach is backwards compatible with existing browsers that don't support the feature, he added.

"If the feedback is good we're likely to try and get this implemented for Firefox 3.7," said Mozilla evangelist Christopher Blizzard in a blog post Tuesday.

Paint.NET 3.5 earns Windows 7, stability fixes

2009-11-10T01:10:00.000-08:00

Far more robust than Microsoft Paint, but nowhere near as loaded with features as Photoshop, Paint.NET occupies a niche perfect for users who want a free image editor that has more than resizing and inverting. Version 3.5 includes an enormous number of stability tweaks and menu adjustments, as well as a couple of new minor features and some Windows 7 love, too.

One of the biggest changes makes the program's installation far less obvious. The new version automatically downloads and installs the program's prerequisites, including the latest Microsoft .Net version and Windows Installer. It will update in the background now, too, so that you can continue to use the program until it's ready to restart. Longtime users should notice that the program starts up about 20 percent faster, according to the publisher.

The program has been visually tweaked to look better on Aero for both Vista and Windows 7. Mostly, this means that the menu bar appears offset from the Aero pane border, and it looks good. The Selection tool will no longer use the "dancing ants" that most other image editors use. Instead, a context-sensitive gray overlay appears as you make your selection. This works fine when using the lasso tool, but was hard to discern when used with the magic wand. According to the publisher, this change was made to reduce CPU consumption. There are three new effects, as well, for Surface blurs, Dents, and Crystalize.

The new Utilities option on the menu bar now hosts the Language submenu, Manage Fonts, which loads the Windows font control panel, and the manual Check for Updates tool. The full list of program changes can be found here.

Firefox gains 30m users in eight weeks

2009-10-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Mozilla's open-source Firefox browser has gained 30 million users over the past eight weeks, as it continues to gain on Internet Explorer.

Chief executive John Lilly revealed the increase in user adoption in a Twitter post on Monday, and Tristan Nitot, president of Mozilla Europe, confirmed it to SoftsBay on Tuesday.

"We've seen a significant increase in the number of users for Firefox," said Nitot. "Firefox checks for new versions every 24 hours, when it's running, and when it checks, it pings the Mozilla server. We count the number of pings."

Nitot explained that counting the requests gives Mozilla the number of active daily users. To calculate the number of monthly users, the organisation multiplies the number of active daily users by three, to adjust for days when people are not browsing.

Over the past eight weeks, Mozilla has seen an average increase of 10 million daily users, from approximately 103 million to 113 million. That translates to a total of approximately 330 million monthly users .

"It's amazing to have 330 million users," said Nitot. "That's the size of the population of the USA."

In terms of global rankings, Firefox has steadily gained market share since its launch, while the dominant browser, Internet Explorer, has gradually lost user numbers.

According to US-based web-analytics company Net Applications, Internet Explorer held 65 percent of browser market share worldwide at the end of September this year, a drop from 70 percent in November 2008. By contrast, Firefox gained almost three percent, rising from 21.21 percent share to 23.75 percent.

Firefox usually sees a seasonal jump in user numbers in the autumn, according to Nitot, who added that people going back to work after northern hemisphere summer breaks could be contributing to the tally.

"Usually it's a mixture of back-to-school, and people getting new computers and installing the latest version," said Nitot. "This boosts our numbers every year."

In 17 countries in Europe, Firefox is now the dominant browser, he said, and the browser is particularly popular in Eastern Europe. Polish web-analytics company Gemius Ramking puts Firefox consistently at the top of its browser rankings chart for the region. For example, Firefox has over 48 percent of market share in Poland.

In addition, the mass adoption of information technology over the past four years in Eastern Europe has helped uptake of Firefox, Nitot said. "Internet adoption came while Firefox was becoming popular," said Nitot. "In Eastern Europe, they were not used to Internet Explorer 6. There was not the muscle memory of clicking on the blue E."

However, Nitot added that Firefox was also popular in Western Europe, particularly in Germany, as people there place an emphasis on privacy. In Europe in general, the ethos and enthusiasm of the local Firefox development communities tends to encourage new users, he said.

Fences 1.0 reins in desktop clutter--photos

2009-10-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

The secret to a perfect desktop? Fences

2009-10-20T18:52:00.003-07:00

When you look at your Windows desktop, what do you see? A neat and tidy display with a few judiciously picked icons, or a meaningless morass of files, folders, ancient pictures, and Web links that were dumped without logic and continue to steadily march across your computer screen? Stop me if this sounds familiar. Stop me again if the thought has crossed your mind to clean house on a dozen occasions in the last few years, but the prospect of sifting through the refuse has deterred you every time.

Happily, a pretty darn good solution is at hand. It's easy, it's elegant, it's free, and best of all, it works, if only you can bring yourself to use it. Fences 1.0 (for XP, Vista, and Windows 7) is a freeware gem that simply creates silos on your desktop, like the box tool in a drawing program, in which you group together icons. You pick the theme--like Downloads, Programs, and Documents--and the shortcuts that go in them. It's even faster if you choose from a number of suggested layouts when you install Fences for the first time, and let the app sort it out. Any placement you don't like, you can change later on.

Corralling together shortcuts instantly opens up the desktop by giving icons some breathing room and organization. It's the desktop equivalent of The Container Store. And no, it wasn't created by Martha Stewart or Oprah Winfrey, or the plucky Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team. Fences, which hopped out of beta on Tuesday and is available today exclusively from Softsbay.com, comes to us from Stardock, a publisher known for making fancy Windows desktop enhancements--some free, some premium.

Most everything you do in Fences can be controlled through the right-click context menu and the Fences' customizations interface. With the cursor over the fence, right-click to rename, edit, or delete. Right-click on some empty space and drag the cursor to start creating a new fence. Click and drag to move a fence around, or to reshape it. You can also drag and drop the contents from one fence into another, or from a fence to the desktop and back. If you overload a fence, forget about expanding it. Just take advantage of the scroll bar that shows up only when you mouse over the box.

Here's a favorite feature in Fences: temporarily hiding all the fences, and the icons within them, by double-clicking the desktop. Double-clicking again makes them reappear. There's another useful feature that keeps the desktop icons or fences you selected visible even as you hide the others. We've found both features to be handy in the office and at home--business professionals might want to clear all but one fence on a laptop screen before giving a presentation, for example.

Fences 1.0 reins in desktop clutter--photos

Being able to restore the screen to a previous configuration is another beneficial feature. Fences can take a snapshot of the screen's current layout, which you can revert back to. Activating a snapshot won't add or delete icons; it only alters the layout of the fences themselves.

As good as Fences is, there are still some minor changes we'd make. We'd streamline the fence-creation process down from three steps to two. We'd also like to set rules to automatically file downloads, documents, and other items into the appropriate fence. These features may be planned for a premium version that Stardock plans to release in a month or so. In the meantime, Fences 1.0 remains an unfussy piece of practical freeware that should improve almost anyone's desktop experience.

AVG Free 9 offers speed, lacks etiquette

2009-10-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

After giving its paying customers a few weeks to upgrade to version 9, AVG has announced its update for AVG Free 9.

For those unfamiliar with the popular freeware security tool, it provides only the bare necessities for protecting your PC, but that should be enough for savvy Windows users. AVG Free 9 introduces few new features, with improvements focused on performance, including claims of faster scan and boot times. AVG is claiming that scans are 50 percent faster compared with AVG 8.

AVG Free 9--photos

AVG comes with a combined antivirus and antimalware engine, the proprietary LinkScanner for Web browsing safety, and e-mail scanning. Developed independently and bought by AVG in 2007, the LinkScanner tech performs two functions. It protects you from third-party code exploits before they load in your browser and it ranks search results.

Annoyingly, the optional AVG LinkScanner toolbar commandeers your new tab page, decidedly inappropriate behavior that a security vendor should really know better than to do. LinkScanner can be downloaded separately from AVG, too. The scheduler is robust, automating both scans and updates with multiple options.

One new feature in the new version is the the Identity Theft Recovery Unit. Only for users in the United States, ITRU is a business partnership with Identity Guard which provides "consumer identity theft solutions." Accessible only from the browser toolbar, which only works in Firefox or Internet Explorer, the service provides "a dedicated identity theft recovery unit with fraud experts," to assist handling, getting and analysing a credit report, enrolling in credit file monitoring, and offering report-filing support.

The interface in AVG Free 9 remains nearly untouched from the last version, and generally it's easy to use. From the main window, though, you must double-click to get further information on any feature, whether virus scanning, LinkScanner settings, or updating. Streamlining this to one click would be helpful.

When starting a scan, a slider makes it easy to jump between Slow, Automatic, and Fast scans: the faster the scan, the less comprehensive it is, so it's a good idea to take the program's advice and optimize your scans when you install. This will make that first scan faster. A slow scan took nearly 2 hours, while the fast scan completed in under an hour. A progress meter for these regular scans would've been useful, though. Should a virus create serious problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode.

Besides the LinkScanner problem, there are some other concerns with AVG. It doesn't tax your system in an obvious way when scanning or when running in the background, although Softsbay Labs determined that it will significantly slow down your system's boot time and will slightly delay shutting down. AVG detected some image files as threats, when two other security programs decided they weren't--these were fairly obvious false positives. There is an advertisement to upgrade at the bottom of the program window, but it can be easily hidden using the Hide Notification button.

AVG might not be the fastest or the most effective free security option, but it still gets the job done and you're better off with it.

UNREGENERATE BLOOD

2009-09-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

BY UNREGENERATE BLOOD

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7 Golden Rules to Live By on Your Job

2009-08-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

The trend of monitoring their employees is increasing in all companies as the bosses want to make sure that their employees are not just wasting the time and doing the work they are suppose to do.

Here I am giving you 7 Golden Rules which you can use to live by while working at your job. These are some simple tips for what to do – and not do – especially when using your work computer:

1. Know your company’s computer-use policy and comply with it.

2. Assume you’re being monitored, and behave accordingly.

3. Never bad-mouth your company online.

4. Don’t use personal e-mail accounts or post to a blog.

5. Avoid transmitting any message that could embarrass you or others if made public.

6. Don’t think instant messaging is less permanent than e-mail.

7. When surfing the Web, never click on something flagged NSFW (Not Safe For Work).

Pidgin 2.6 Adds Google Talk Video and Voice Support

2009-08-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Windows/Mac/Linux: Pidgin has long been an easy way to use lots of different chat systems on your desktop. With its 2.6 release, Pidgin's finally catching up to the video, audio, and file transfer offerings of Google Talk, Yahoo, and others.

The big new feature in the 2.6 releases—already at a bug-fixing 2.6.1 as this is written—is video and voice chat support over XMPP, known primarily as the Jabber/Google Talk protocol. Unfortunately, that video and audio chat support isn't working on Windows at the moment (kind of a big target to miss, no?), but the Pidgin team says it's coming soon. In other areas, Pidgin improved its Yahoo file transfer powers, added rough support for theming, and made a whole bunch of other changes.

Pdigin's 2.6.1 release is available as a source download at the moment, but pre-compiled versions for Windows, Linux, and Mac (if you're not in the Adium camp) should be rolling out soon.

Click Here to Download Pidgin 2.6.1

Windows Live Movie Maker Leaves Beta, Ready for Download

2009-08-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Windows Live Movie Maker—the new, ribbon-sporting, updated version of Windows Movie Maker, has left beta and is now ready to handle your video editing needs.

Movie Maker has long been a relatively unloved video editing application that a lot of people have never even touched, but as more and more people go digital with their video, free video editors like Movie Maker will likely become more useful and used by the general public.

The new and improved Windows Live Movie Maker sports the now ubiquitous-in-Windows-apps ribbon menu (mentioned above), supports HD video, has built-in tools to upload your videos to YouTube, and can share to other popular video sharing sites with the right plug-ins.

Windows Live Movie Maker is freeware, Windows Vista and Windows 7 only. If you have time to give it the full run-through, let's hear how you like the new and improved Movie Maker in the comments.

Click Here to download Windows Live Movie Maker

uTorrent prepares for version 2.0

2009-08-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

The first beta of the next generation of the uTorrent client is available and contains some useful upgrades that address how torrenting has changed in the past few years.

A transfer cap feature has been added, which will allow users who have cap-limited bandwidth to throttle down their torrenting habits and stay away from overage charges or having their service shut off. The feature offers graphs and can show your upload and download usage by megabyte. Most importantly, you'll be able to set it to shut down µTorrent once your limit has been hit. It's also configurable, so you can set it to turn off uTorrent by either upload limit, download limit, or both.

µTorrent also supports UDP trackers, which are a new kind of protocol for tracker communication that uses noticeably less processing power. As more trackers use UDP, it will allow them to continue to function on lower-end machines, which should result in faster transfers as the client itself won't be slowing down the torrent.

Another back-end change for version 2 is support for uTP, an alternative communication method for torrent traffic that allows the client to automatically regulate bandwidth usage so that your local network isn't adversely affected. Unlike the bandwidth cap, which is a cutoff point, uTP will make sure that other locally-running programs can still use your Internet connection without taking forever to resolve sites.

The description from uTorrent Forum:

Feature Overview:

UDP trackers are a different protocol for tracker communication that uses significantly less processing power on the tracker end. It's important for us to support this because trackers have limited resources, so this should allow them to support many more users with their current hardware and not crash under the load.

uTP is an alternative communication method for BitTorrent traffic that allows the client to automatically regulate its bandwidth usage to avoid adversely impacting your internet connection. This will allow you or other users on the network to download their torrents without killing your connection without any additional setup required.

The transfer cap settings were added in response to various users who have ISP-mandated caps on how much data they can download/upload in a month. Now you can track your usage in MB (with a handy graph to visualize it) and even configure µTorrent to stop torrenting once the limits are exceeded. Currently, you can configure the time interval, the data cap and whether it should stop based on only download, upload, or both combined.
As a privacy notice, this traffic data is not sent back to us or anyone.

Download µTorrent 2.0 Beta 16126 Here

Yahoo! Messenger, one of the best Instant Messenger in the world!

2009-08-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

As one of the mainstays of the instant messaging world, Yahoo! has finally decided to drag itself onto the VOIP bandwagon with the launch of this Voice version of its popular client. As well as offering free PC-to-PC calls and cheap PC-to-phone (landline and mobile) calls, the program throws in all the usual over-the-top gadgetry and gimmicks we've come to associate with Yahoo! Messenger.

As we've seen before from programs that try to be all things to all people, there's always a danger that things can get a little out of hand for the user, and this is the territory that Yahoo is entering with this latest incarnation of its messenger. It's true that the voice facilities in the program are top-notch, delivering crystal-clear clarity for most calls to PCs and phones. It's also true that the application boasts a bevy of interesting and innovative features, such as the ability to play games and listen to online radio together, send animated, talking emoticons, and quickly share files and photos simply by dragging and dropping them into the chat window.

Although, in the main, these features are good for a laugh, we did have a couple of things that we'd like to raise if we ever met Mr Yahoo! Firstly, we like the games but they lack instructions, so sometimes it can take a while to figure out how to play them. Also many of the so-called 'Audibles,' which are essentially animated, talking emoticons, are a little vulgar to say the least, and not really suitable for anyone with a reputation to uphold.

There are plenty of ways to customize the client to suit your mood too. The main interface is fully skinable, and you can also change the way the chat window looks by selecting from dozens of themed 'IMvironments', which certainly helps to inject some variety into your chat experiences. You can also build your own avatar – a process which can take hours as you carefully select the right haircut, clothes, sunglasses and even breed of dog to have sitting at your side in your IM profile.

Individually, these features are both innovative and compelling, but ironically they combine to contribute to the downfall of Messenger for Voice. The fact is that all of these options serve to swamp the interface and if you have a lot of the features running at the same time it's often hard to find even the text window. While it's fun and novel at first, the messenger very quickly becomes an irritant more than anything. Our advice – stick with Skype.

You can Download Yahoo! Messenger Here!

Firefox: 1 billion downloads only part of the story

2009-08-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

At about 8 a.m. PDT Friday, Firefox crossed the billion-download threshold--a notably large number for Mozilla's open-source Web browser but one that doesn't tell the whole story.

Firefox fans love their statistical milestones, and Mozilla enjoys fanning the flames by providing plenty of opportunities for self-congratulation. In 2008 was the Firefox Download Day, with more than 8 million downloads in 24 hours. Next came the Firefox 3.5 debut and its download tracker.

And now we have the billion-download figure on the Spread Firefox site. That includes updates people have fetched deliberately, not automatic updates, Mozilla said. To maximize the marketing potential, Mozilla also is touting the 1,000,000,000 + you site.

That site probably could be named better. Firefox director Mike Belztner said in June that Mozilla estimates there are 300 million Firefox users, up from 175 million a year earlier, so don't go thinking there are a billion people using it. Indeed, I find the total user population a much more interesting statistic than downloads.

Firefox has truly achieved real success, eating steadily into Microsoft Internet Explorer's dominant market share to become the second-most used browser. The newest version is downloaded between 40 and 60 times a second worldwide at present.

IE 8 downloads surpass 200 million
But lest Firefox fans get too carried away with their success, there's another number that shows what Mozilla is up against. According to a source familiar with Microsoft's statistics, IE 8 has been downloaded more than 200 million times in the last four months since its release.

That's a fifth of the way to what Firefox achieved since Firefox 1.0 was released nearly five years ago. And Microsoft hasn't even begun pushing IE 8 through update in earnest yet. Microsoft's 200 million statistic doesn't include updates such as bug patches and security fixes.

So let's face it: being installed along with the world's most widely used operating system remains a huge advantage for IE's use, antitrust concerns notwithstanding. Microsoft declined to comment on its download statistics.

So what do all these numbers really show besides Browser makers' urges to thump their chests about their popularity? This: the world of browsers is in serious flux.

Next-gen Web en route
That's because after years of near-dormancy after IE crushed Netscape in the 1990s, the browser wars are back in full swing. The growing migration of personal and professional activity to Web applications, the growing adoption of broadband Internet connections, and the growing adoption of truly Web-capable mobile phones are combining to make Web browsers a strategic asset in the computing industry. Apple, Microsoft, Mozilla, Google, Opera Software, and others all want to be the gateway to the world's most vibrant medium, the Internet.

Even the fifth-ranked browser can claim notable success. Opera's desktop browser has been downloaded more than 270 million times from the company's own servers since 2003, and the daily download rate has jumped from 30,000 to 40,000 back then to about 200,000 today, the company said. Throwing Opera Mini for mobile phones into the mix increases the total to about 500 million.

The download rates show that there's a powerful movement afoot to "upgrade the Web," as Mozilla's marketing catchphrase would have it.

It's a gradual change, with plenty of laggards such as corporate users who can't upgrade from IE 6 or cybercafes with locked-down PCs. And there's plenty of turmoil about next-generation Web standards. But the herd is gradually moving to more sophisticated browsers that collectively enable a more sophisticated Web.

Download Mozilla FireFox 3.5.2

Top antispyware software

2009-07-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

If you are using a Windows machine or even a Mac running Windows in a virtual environment, you need to pay attention to security. At the very least, you should always have at least one program for each of the major security threats: antispyware, antivirus, and a software firewall (if you don't already have a router-based firewall). Some antivirus suites have begun to include antispyware in their software, so if you have antivirus software, check to make sure you're covered. But if you're reading this and you don't have software to cover these three areas, we strongly suggest you visit our Download Security Center and browse through each of the categories.

To get you started, we've rounded up the top free antispyware software options. Most of these programs offer a paid upgrade with added useful features, but we made sure to only pick software that followed through and removed spyware without the need to buy during the initial trial. It's important to note that each of these programs has its own set of algorithms and different times they update their definitions, so we recommend using two antispyware programs to make sure you catch everything.

Spybot Search & Destroy was one of the first antispyware options available and it still is a fairly strong contender for finding threats. Other useful tools, including Secure Shredder, complement the program's basic functionality for completely destroying files. The interface is pretty dated, but with all the added extras of this 100% free program, it's worth a look.

Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition has been in the antispyware game for a long time as well. They have always been close to the top of our list for antispyware detection, but you'll need to pay for added features like scheduling and shield-based protection. With several interface refinements, faster scanning times than previous versions, and numerous other enhancements, this might be the easiest-to-use Ad-Aware yet.

Spyware Terminator is a free option that offers an easy-to-understand interface and lets you schedule your scans for the time most convenient for you. The real-time protection for this program is stronger than most, but can get distracting as you'll need to personally approve many actions. Fortunately, you can designate a lower level of protection to keep you safe without all the hand-holding. This is one of our favorites at Softsbay.com for its relatively quick scan times, free real-time protection, and the ability to designate how deep of a scan you want to use.

CounterSpy makes it simple to schedule and customize spyware scans or run scans on demand, while also offering an adjustable level of real-time protection. Added features like a PC Explorer to browse running ActiveX controls and running processes are useful additions. This one offers a 15-day trial with which you'll be able to remove threats found by CounterSpy, but you'll need to pay to use this program regularly.

SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition, despite its rather uninventive name, is a solid antispyware program. This program offers a number of options for the types of files you want scanned. Like many of the programs listed here, you'll need to pay for the full version of SuperAntiSpyware to unlock the ability to schedule your scans and use real-time protection.

Malwarebytes is our Editors' Choice at Softsbay.com so we recommend it as one of your choices in your antispyware arsenal. Scans are quicker than other programs in this category, and Malwarebytes is often able to distinguish between real threats and common false positives. You'll also be able to scan individual files on demand and a handy File Assassin lets you delete locked malware files. You'll need to pay to set up regularly scheduled scans and real-time protection, but with this solid program, registering is worth your money.

VLC Media Player 1.0.1 is coming out!

2009-07-29T01:12:00.001-07:00

The latest version of VLC Media Player is published

VideoLAN is pleased to announce the release of the second version of the Goldeneye branch of VLC: 1.0.1!

3 weeks after the release of 1.0.0, and with almost 14 million downloads, this minor version fixes most of the notable bugs and regressions that were present in the 1.0.0 version.
Notable fixes and improvements include:

fix flv and mpeg2 seeking,
fixes for wmv, wav, rtsp and ssa support,
fixes for Qt and Mac OS X interface,
fix an integer underflow in Real pseudo-RTSP module,
updates of some translations,
port of the ZVBI module to Windows for full teletext support and
codecs updates for Windows and Mac OS X versions.

Some useful softwares for your PC

2009-07-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Winamp
Winamp was born as a very basic media player and has slowly but consistently improving for many years. Its main purpose was to be completely customizable and through the years, many people have contributed to a library that now consists of 20,000 skins and 461 plug-ins.

Imgburn
Image burning is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to save large amounts of data to DVD or CD.
A very lightweight an powerful image burner that requires little experience but will ensure all your images are burned in a flash.

BitSpirit
Although P2P networking still survives as a means of downloading video, audio and software, many people are now turning to torrents as a means of getting hold of their entertainment.

Google Maps for Mobile
Google Maps for mobile is a free download that lets you view maps and satellite imagery, find local businesses, and get driving directions on your mobile device. Since the application is designed for users on-the-go, it provides features like click-to-call and saved search history that are especially useful for mobile phone users. (US only)

Thunderbird 3's latest beta out now

2009-07-23T01:58:00.000-07:00

by Seth Rosenblatt

Thunderbird 3 beta 3 is now available to download for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. The beta introduces some significant improvements to the open-source desktop client, from performance to interface.

The new beta is built on Mozilla's Gecko 1.9.1.1 platform, keeping it up to date with the latest changes that affect Firefox. Mozilla also claims that there are more than 500 changes in this version, and hints at more alterations to come by stating in a press release that many of them are ''laying the groundwork for future changes''. On his blog, Chief Technical Officer of Mozilla Messaging Dan Mosedale said that many of the improvements will help support the new global database search engine. Based on these comments, more betas of Thunderbird 3 are expected.

The interface and behavioral changes in this beta are significant and should be easy to spot for longtime 'bird-watchers. The biggest is that Thunderbird now supports e-mail tabs. If you've checked out the highly unstable Shredder version of Thunderbird, or Postbox, a competitor that's based on Thunderbird's own open-source code, you've known that this feature has been due for a while.

Hitting Enter or double-clicking a message will now open it in a new tab and make it your focus. Middle-click an e-mail to open it in a new tab but retain your focus on the current tab--usually the folder pane. You can switch tabs via the hot key combo CTRL+Tab, and the new tab menu button on the right side of the tab bar will help you manage your tabs.

Another new feature is the message summary view, which you can see when you select multiple messages at once. They'll open in the message preview pane. Changes to folders include a Smart Folders mode, which gives users the ability to combine inboxes from multiple accounts, and the new ability to customize column headings on a per-folder basis.

Gmail integration has existed in Thunderbird for a while, but improvements to the feature in this beta include better recognition and integration of Gmail's special folders. These include Sent and Trash, and non-English versions of Gmail. All Mail defaults in Thunderbird to the Archives folder.

The account setup wizard has been overhauled. Reachable under File, then New, Mail, and Account (Quick Setup), Thunderbird now looks to mozillamessaging.com to look for additional information on how to configure the account. Mosedale stressed in his blog that only the domain name from your e-mail address gets sent to Mozilla's servers, and that the entire process falls under the Mozilla's privacy policy. Nevertheless, it's a move that's likely to cause some concern among privacy advocates.

The compact header mode has been deleted, which is sure to annoy those who like using Thunderbird on smaller-form computers like netbooks. Mosedale cited bandwidth issues as well an ongoing need to improve the design and configurability of the feature.

In my own experiences with Thunderbird 3 beta 3 for half a day, users with large inboxes should be careful to note that Thunderbird now adds all your messages to its search archives. This can hamper performance until it's completed. Also note that the calendar extension Lightning isn't compatible with beta 3 unless you're using the nightly build.

You can free Download Thunderbird 3 beta 3 by CLICK HERE

VideoLAN releases VLC 1.0.0: Your media will never be the same

2009-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

VideoLAN's VLC media player, arguably the world's best media player, hit version 0.9.9 in early April. Three months and more than 78 million downloads later, VideoLAN has announced VLC 1.0.0, or "Goldeneye."

Your media will never be the same.

In fact, with VideoLAN's VLC media player for Windows, Mac, and Linux, it doesn't have to be. One of the amazing things about VLC is that it can play anything that you've ever even thought about playing. That random media format that one site in Ecuador requires--VLC likely plays it, while Windows Media, Apple QuickTime, etc. likely will not.

This is, in part, a natural result of VLC's open-source heritage. Licensed under the GNU General Public License, VLC attracts a diverse array of developers with disparate media interests. Those interests translate into a media player that really can play every obscure media format I've ever thrown at it. (And in my hunger for Arsenal videos, I've found many different video formats that Windows Media, Apple QuickTime, etc. didn't know what to do with.)

Here are a few of the features now available in VLC 1.0.0:

Live recording
Instant pausing and frame-by-frame support
Finer speed controls
New HD codecs (AES3, Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, Blu-ray Linear PCM, Real Video 3.0 and 4.0, ...)
New formats (Raw Dirac, M2TS, ...) and major improvements in many formats
New Dirac encoder and MP3 fixed-point encoder
Video scaling in full screen
RTSP Trickplay support
Zipped file playback
Customizable toolbars
Easier encoding GUI in Qt interface
Better integration in Gtk environments
MTP devices on Linux
AirTunes streaming

I regularly use VLC to transcode media files, including files I originally streamed from the Web:

If you don't have VLC, I encourage you to download it and give it a try. It really is an amazing media player, one that has far more tricks up its sleeve than the proprietary media player that came with your computer.

(get this blog from Cnet.Download.com)

water bomb

2009-06-11T02:50:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge

dandelion's colorful world

2009-06-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

Kute Rabbit

2009-05-31T23:33:00.000-07:00

Before and After, Yesterday and Today

2009-05-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

A VERY INTERESTING PICTURE~~

Incredible Photos

2009-05-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

30 Animal Photos That Will Make You Smile

2009-05-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

AVG offers free LinkScanner for real-time Web page scanning

2009-04-22T01:06:00.000-07:00

AVG on Monday will begin offering a free version of its LinkScanner software, which offers real-time scanning of Web pages while surfing or doing Web searches.

LinkScanner, which is currently part of the AVG Free Edition suite, scans a Web page before a surfer visits the page and warns if the page appears to be unsafe.

AVG LinkScanner also offers safety rankings for all organic search results on Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Safe pages in searches will have green check marks next to them and unsafe ones will have red "X"es and pop up windows offer more explanation.

AVG LinkScanner scans bookmarks as well as links in e-mails and instant messages before they are opened. Individual pages are scanned separately, so that if one page on a site like Facebook are spreading malware that page will prompt a warning and other pages on the site won't.

There is other software that flags malicious sites in searches. McAfee SiteAdvisor works with Yahoo search results and Symantec offers ratings on Ask while Google serves up its own warnings in its search results.

The news will be announced at the RSA 2009 security conference which starts on Monday.

Cute Puppy~

2009-04-20T18:58:00.001-07:00

Amazing music player for YouTube.com

2009-04-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Most of us are likely very familiar with YouTube.com -- the online video hosting and sharing service which lets anyone upload videos for a global audience. The site hosts a wide range of video content--from major motion-picture trailers to that guys record his own life.

Among YouTube's large number of catalog lies a myriad of music videos, live musical performances, and other audio recordings that have been captured on video or converted to the Flash video. You can watch and listen to historical footage of great blues musicians or Ensiferum's Waken Show music videos, and now you can do it in a standalone music player specifically built to listen to audio or watch the videos from YouTube.com.

The Muziic Player looks slick, yet leaves a heavy system footprint.

Muziic is a music player and converter developed by the son-and-father team of David and Mark Nelson. Fifteen-year-old David is the technical lead, had developed the actual software.

Muziic lets you create playlists of streaming-audio files from YouTube, as well as convert your own audio files for submission to the site. According to the creators, Muziic adheres to the YouTube terms of use (That is why Muziic includes a tiny video player), but not everyone is so sure about that.

After you install and run Muziic, it might take a little moment till it connects with the YouTube server. Then you'll see a list of genres like Alternative, Classical, etc., in the left-hand column and a list of random tracks in the main window. A search box above the main window lets you search for any artist, song, or keyword, while the left-hand window lets you browse genres by YouTube user. Clicking on any user will list tracks in the main window.

To start listening to music, click the plus sign next to any of the available songs in the main window to add them to your playlist. A basic set of player controls--play, pause, stop, next track, and previous track--sits in the upper left-hand corner, and the tiny video player mentioned above rests directly to its right. A full-screen button lets you expand the video if you so choose.

The playlist controls are placed in the top-right corner of the interface. When you click on the plus sign next to any song, it will immediately be placed into this playlist. You can save and load playlists for later listening, and a "Clear Playlist" button" lets you start all over.

The Muziic Player looks slick and works fairly well, but it does use quite a bit of system memory, akin to Mozilla Firefox with many tabs open. I also found that while listening to an active playlist in Muziic, browsing the Internet via Firefox or any other browser slowed down considerably.

The standalone Muziic Encoder is a nice bonus. The simple tool lets you select an image (for the video) and an MP3 file, then it creates a formatted video version of your song that you can upload to YouTube directly from the Muziic interface.

TaggedFrog is an iTunes-styled tagged for your files

2009-04-03T01:50:00.000-07:00

This collection of free utilities for Windows will energize your corners, introduce tagging for files, and allow you to move and resize program windows in a Windows 7 style via your ALT key.

TaggedFrog is an iTunes-styled tagged for your files.

TaggedFrog tags your files, but keeps the tags to itself--there's little cross-over with Windows Explorer. You can drag-and-drop from Explorer, though, and that makes adding tags significantly easier. It does nothing automatically, which means there's little chance of a file getting mis-tagged and lost in the tag cloud. You can batch tag files from the Scan and Tag option under File, and batch edit tags after your initial tagging process. TaggedFrog can be accessed and tags initiated from the System Tray.

TaggedFrog's biggest drawback is the utter disconnectedness of the program from Windows Explorer--there's no way to tag files from Explorer without mouse labor. The iTunes-based interface belies the unnecessarily complicated workflow, another drawback. Where tagging and managing should be one-step motions, it can take three or even four to complete basic tasks.

The Filter box is especially hard to get used to, with both drop-down options and the ability to accept user-entered parameters. When entering your own search, you must hit Enter to initiate the filter. It also needs about 45 MB of RAM to run, which isn't outrageously large but seems like a bit much for a program with so few visible hooks into other system processes.

Skype VoIP app expanding to BlackBerry

2009-04-01T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of releasing Skype for iPhone, the VoIP communications company has come to the table with news of a free, 'lite' version of Skype for BlackBerry. Already downloadable for Android, Java, Symbian, and Windows Mobile, BlackBerry has remained Skype's missing link.

Just don't expect to share photos of your cat quite yet. While Skype's core capabilities will debut in Skype Lite for BlackBerry, not everything Skype can do will be available right out of the gate. You'll be able to call other Skype users for free, and can initiate calls to landlines and mobile phones using Skype Out credit. You'll also be able to receive inbound calls to your online Skype number. Instant messenger and SMS features will also stay intact, but features like voicemail and file transferring, which are also available on other platforms, will be delayed on BlackBerry for the time being. Also, unlike the iPhone version just released, you won't need Wi-Fi to connect to Skype. Skype Lite will work over your BlackBerry's data plan, so long as you have a calling plan.

Skype's announcement is just part of Skype's three-pronged mobile strategy said Skype's Chief Operating Officer, Scott Durchslag, in a press conference on Tuesday at CTIA. Skype's first goal is to create a native application for all major smartphone operating systems. After BlackBerry, Palm's unreleased Web OS platform would be the last major hurdle. After conquering native applications, Skype will work to get its VoIP client preloaded on mobile phones and other Internet devices. To this end, Skype has already cut a deal with Nokia to be featured on the Nokia N97 when it ships. Lastly, Skype will court carriers to integrate Skype-to-Skype calling for phones that don't have Wi-Fi.

Skype plans to release a beta version of Skype for BlackBerry in May, starting with BlackBerry Bold any Curve phones, and gradually adding support for more BlackBerry smartphones. Skype Lite for BlackBerry will be available in ten countries to start with, including the US and UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil, and parts of northern and eastern Europe.

XWindows Dock - Get a better dock clone for Windows

2009-03-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

Once we are highly recommended RocketDock for OS X dock setting among those plenty of options. But this time, we have another XWindows Dock right now in the market. Actually, this is the one I haven't heard of before. But after XWindows trial, I really fall in its fantastic performance.

XWindows Dock is currently the newest class application launcher and desktop organizer especially for Windows Vista and XP system. Years of development and research on it devoted, the developing team is making XWindows Dock a multifunctional playmate rather than just an icon tool. With observation of many other dock programs on the market, XWindows added all functions you experienced and even dreamed, while, your dock would offer!

For specific features, Amazing icons are added to dock with favorite applications, folders, stacks and galleries. Icon size, space, number, reflection, shadow, replacing activities, and much more can be precisely tweaked in any time you want to configure. Still, 2D or 3D views are supportive. In the meantime, boring Windows Taskbar would be thrown away as a result of this advanced minimization. Scale and Genie, two effects, will customize speed of minimization or maximization. Maximum speed will be reset for your optical choice. XWindows Dock meanwhile makes the customize stack anytime available. Fan, grid, list and unique gallery stacks are being well performed upon your customization. Much conveniently, a monitor folder would be added as a stack. Every time when files added, removed, modified or renamed at this folder you'll see that.

Indeed, we feel a little regretful; XWindows doesn't support drag and drop function. And its location could not be changed either. If time was given, we would soon see drag-and-drop function and more repositioning options. Presently, I would be very agreeable to enjoy such a fantastic dock clone with so many graphical subtleties such as reflections, transparencies, shadow and blur in a single package.

iPhone - A Future Money Spinning Machine

2009-03-23T02:27:00.000-07:00

On 18th, Mar, 2009, Apple released iPhone OS 3.0 new features to the public. iPhone fans are now so exciting about the new copy/paste experience. Combined with additional Bluetooth, searching experience and microphone, the release is close to be a feast for iPhone fans.

As future money spinning machine, iPhone OS 3.0 interiorized in people's daily life. Speaking for game fans, the new idea is being started like this. Users first buy previous ten toll-gates in a charge game and next ten toll-gates will be continually paid once you want. The best thing for game players is, no need to exit, no need to start from the first, pay and deduct money directly. What if you are playing Fieldrunner, tips reminding you pay 2 dollars first, afterwards preferential activity like 50 dollars for an electric tower instead of normal 70 dollars. How do you think about it? I will certainly press the "buy now" button without any hesitation.

But I know, most players are dedicated themselves to game, hence the "cancel" and "buy" button in two sides will be ignored and would be paid attention only if they need to do so. Instead of, the games only continue in case of buying now. This condition is really similar to a person in a market. You are here in the supermarket; choose some kinds of wonderful things you like. Once you go to pay for them, it is constrained to buy only to be a member there. You are forced to have a member card even you don't know whether you will use it usually or just one time. Finally a gloomy but not happy feeling came into your mind. Playing a game is of course this kind of situation. Want to be a member for continual game or give it up? It's really so hard to choose, a crucial time here for you to decide. Players'willpower and game company strength are exposed to the public via this kind of bundled services.

Moreover, iPhone OS 3.0 extended into publishing industry besides the game. Free digital magazines will be downloaded in V3.0. For instance, 5 dollars for six magazine copies, that information would be transferred on your iPhone via cordless network. Insufficient mailbox or lazy postmen, leave those tough things behind your mind. Search your interested magazine, order, pay for, final reception…there would not be any better experience existed than this, all are finished in any simple button-press without face-to-face negotiation.

There is one more thing unbelievable in the release. A medical staff shows connection between iPhone and individual blood sugar. Your blood sugar data is imported in iPhone a more visual image dedicates your current blood sugar condition. It certainly deserves most attention and attempt from many people who knew it; of course, I am in the attempt consideration. Similarly, iPhone and weight scale. Wi-Fi transfers your weight into iPhone, upload a weight changing situation to professional website for a further weight analysis.

One more powerful Design I need to mention in Iphone is the design excellence. Express your imagination on the broad touch screen as causal as you like. Everything is dummy and any attempt is available. Multipoint touch supports as a powerful backing force.

Gradually, iPhone is closer and closer to our daily life. Whatever the life, working, health, entertainment or any to-be developed industry, we see, iPhone is no more than a cell phone, but a living tool, she follows our interest, simples our working and definitely makes us happy.

Avira builds better free security in AntiVir 9

2009-03-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Avira AntiVir started making waves a few years ago, scoring high on well-respected third-party antivirus detection and removal tests. Released today exclusively on Download.com, AntiVir 9 doesn't appear to have changed much--but that's only because the interface sports the slightest of what's new.

Avira AntiVir 9 introduces one-click infection removal with multiple options for customization.(Credit: Avira)

A refreshed banner logo tops the list of UI changes, but it's the long-awaited features in the free version of AntiVir that should pique most users' interest. Anti-spyware detection and removal is now available for the free version of AntiVir as well as the paid upgrades. There's new scanning tech that can crack open "locked" files and verify that they're not malicious, along with improved internal security to prevent AntiVir's files from being maliciously altered. AntiVir 9 also offers a rebuilt heuristic detection engine, and according to Tony Anscombe, director of consumer products for Avira, Download.com reader comments have been the impetus for the new one-click threat removal option--no more baby-sitting the scans.

The one-click threat removal is a nifty quarantining feature that logs and sets aside all detected threats so you can deal with them individually or as a group at the end of the scan. It's simple, but means that you can run a scan at night and not worry about the scan pausing and waiting for user input before it continues.

Click on the Configuration button on the right-side of the central pane, and check off Expert Mode on the upper left-side of the box that opens. In the options tree below it, go to Scanner, then Scan, then Action for Concerning Files. From there, you can choose an Automatic or Interactive reaction. Under Automatic, you can choose a primary and secondary action, as well as copying the file to the quarantine before taking any other action. Interactive offers you a round-up at the end of a scan, and Combined or Individual notification mode for users who want to deal with infections all at once or one at a time.

Except for the banner, AntiVir 9 looks exactly like AntiVir 8.
(Credit: Avira)

The other new features, from the anti-spyware to the rebuilt heuristic engine, are not as easy to demonstrate since we don't maintain a virus or spyware zoo. However, it's worth mentioning that Avira has expanded the AntiVir free version to include their anti-spyware and anti-adware detections. In previous years, the premium version of AntiVir earned very high marks from both independent testers Andreas Marx (results) and Andreas Clemente.

As program upgrades go, AntiVir is worth some of the hoops that users must jump through to get on board. The upgrade is a time-intensive process, requiring some minor user input and rebooting your computer. Also, users will have to go to the Download.com product page and actively download the new installer. Version 9 won't be pushed to existing users for another month.

Savvy users will notice the removal of the on-demand e-mail scan, and AntiVir is still challenging--and by challenging, I mean a massive headache of pain--to fully uninstall. Despite these hang-ups and the nag screen that follows the multiple definition file updates that occur daily, AntiVir offers such effective protection and a well-rounded set of features that as long as the updates keep coming, it should remain on the top of any free antivirus users' list.

Additional improvements from Beta to RC

2009-03-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

We are all waiting and hearing from notable changes from RC. Since Beta, Microsoft Windows 7 has brought so many surprises and we are busying on enjoying those. To our satisfaction, Windows 7 changes all the way to RC. Let's see this time how different and advanced features RC take for us.

Basically, Windows 7 insists on users'feedback and put into practice and development all the time. Based on Beta, does RC own a series of feedback? The answer is definitely yes. Well then, see the desktop improvement first!

Desktop experience

The taskbar thumbnail overflow, with scaling mechanism, really turns into a list view completely. There is a small close button on the thumbnail previews, which inspires them to add a similar one when it's showing as a list. Compared with right-clicking, to run down the list with close button is really a fantastic thing. This toolbar has been well experienced on Windows XP and Vista. Sans thumbnails are viewed architecturally the same as the thumbnail view. No clicking needs to open in Beta, each close buttons and the menus are realized opening on hover in RC.

While the Control Panel Jump List improvement takes users' feedback into operation. We all hope there is something shown in the Jump list when pinned to the taskbar. Now, right-clicking on the control panel icon in Beta, the control panel jump list in RC supplies quick access to recent used items. Similarly, power shell jump and desktop jump lists made us smile and enjoying their alternation. Taskbar settings could be further customized. In Beta, the OS is not shutdown properly, settings do not persist. But in RC, these settings can be saved within 30seconds. Settings will presently be more reliable.

Windows Explorer and Libraries

Here a window Explorer and Libraries is another main advantage in RC. Recording to the parent folder, it will be listed in the address bar all the time with an always single click in a predictable location. Even without enough room to display, truncated name goes into the overflow. No matter tight space or truncated names, parent folder will all constantly remain as a click target in the address bar. Don't you feel no trouble on folder hierarchy and few multiple clicks? For RC, it is realized.

In addition, invert selection from Beta remains in RC and play a role continually. New folders, finding music, current view for search results and together with right-click in windows explorers are also improved features. Windows RC is trying to make these applications more all-sided and practical.

Device stage

Previous feedback on baseline device stage experience leads RC into integration. Device image appears on the taskbar and tasks are exposed in the jump list. Just one click away from the desktop icon or device image, shell window with all of the built-in tasks is automatically connected in the first time. At the same time, the device enhancement will be enabled when the PC makers choose to participate with their system.

On the whole, RC version does improve a lot since Beta. The above-mentioned desktop, windows libraries and device stage are just three major ones. Microsoft also improves the touch experience, devices, printers and networks. For more details, you can visit here. We are hereafter waiting and enjoying, what a fantastic tool they provide for us. And we can't wait to see RC!

iTunes 8.1 - a store, a friend, a player

2009-03-13T02:18:00.000-07:00

iTunes 8.1 is now available freely. To be your iPod best friend, it changes the way that you enjoy music and video. iTunes 8.1, with a few improvements, will make itself as your favorite iTunes. Apple once advices change the browsing way. Is it coming true in iTunes 8.1? Let's see Genius first!

Genius playlists

Genius connects the database with iTunes store directly. Click Genius on the right side of window, select one or a series of songs, a new Genius play list comes out. The more music in your PC, the excellent you will feel the Genius. In theory, Genius playlist will make list suitable to different users. For those sharing fans, it is possible to share it with any one he wants to. Most surprisingly, the Genius list will follow user experience, adding and updating final lists.

Genius Sidebar

With more already existing music, let Genius introduce you new ones that you'll love. Selecting in your library, Genius Sidebar shows songs from iTunes Store that go great with it. All the recommendations are new ones and you won't see any one already existed on your library. Additionally, you can preview and buy recommended ones directly from sidebar.

DRM-free music

iTunes Plus is the new standard which providing you a high-quality, 256-Kbps AAC encoding. The digital rights management is free. So iTunes Plus music will play on iPod, Apple TV, all Mac and Windows computers, and many other digital music players. It's also easy to upgrade your iTunes library to iTunes Plus. You don't have to buy the song or album again. Just pay the 30¢ per song upgrade price. (Music video upgrades are 60¢ and entire albums can be upgraded for 30 percent of the album price.)

Moreover, iTunes 8.1 changes the picture display mode. Music shows differing from album or performers. Each single item displays the album cover or brief introduction in a short manner. With mouse slipping, additional same production, other cover list or Event, provide you a full understanding to your music.

With above-listed features, is your mind perturbed? Well then, try it now freely. You will soon notice that iTunes 8.1 is not only a player, but importantly a store for music share and a best friend knowing you well.

Foxmarks

2009-03-09T02:14:00.001-07:00

Foxmarks, the browser bookmark utility, is getting new features and a new brand at Demo 09.

Now known as just Xmarks, the tool layers in site discovery features. The Xmarks plug-in shows you sites similar to the one you're on, based on what other users have bookmarked and where they've filed those bookmarks. The plug-in also gives you additional information in search results, letting you see site popularity and user ratings on your search hits.

Xmarks adds a "more info" button to Firefox. It shows you data about the site you're on as well as sites that other users think are related.

All roads also, optionally, point the user to the Xmarks site, which has more reviews of and data about sites, and wiki-like directory of sites.

Xmarks is used by about 1.5 million people, CEO James Joaquin told me, and it knows about 600 million bookmarks. That's a lot of data to mine, and I asked Joaquin if he thought about offering a StumbleUpon-like feature to help users find completely new sites. He said Xmarks' model is utility, not entertainment. His directed "more like this" discovery is closer to the original Foxmarks mission, he implied, than the random walk down the Web that makes up StumbleUpon.

What's not clear, yet, is how this handy new function makes any money for the company. Xmarks may be able to sell some ads on the Web site, but even Joaquin doesn't seem to think that will be an appreciable revenue stream. And the system's utility is primarily in the browser; I expect only a fraction of users will spend time on the site.

Xmarks still performs the function it was originally designed for: It capably synchronizes users' bookmarks across machines and browsers (Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari). The new features look like a nice bonus.

Foxmarks was started by Mitch Kapor, the founder of Lotus Development, to solve his personal frustration with bookmark sync. Kapor was also the founding chair of the Mozilla Foundation, which created Firefox.

Firefox version leap, Shiretoko turns into 3.5?

2009-03-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

Firefox yesterday made a discussion to change Shiretoko into Firefox 3.5 due to a total increasing volume of work. The proposal has been argued in Firefox internal meeting.

As the version 3.5 released from 3.1, new features are consequently being focused. Shiretoko presently supports video tag and TraceMonkey. Some significant improvements over users' data privacy are being added and also, the alternation in web layout and rendering platform is under operation.

Besides, under this proposal:

* Shiretoko would be released as Firefox 3.5,

* the upcoming third beta release would still carry the 3.1b3 version numbering,

* the following fourth beta will be numbered Firefox 3.5b4,

* "Minefield" builds from the trunk mozilla-central repository will be renumbered to 3.6a1pre until further notice - we will need to consider and decide on a version number for that release at a future date,

* The Gecko version numbering will not change; remain 1.9.1 on the mozilla-1.9.1 branch and 1.9.2 on the mozilla-central repository for the foreseeable future.

Moreover, in version 3.5, systems like addons.mozilla.org, bugzilla.mozilla.org, tinderbox.mozilla.org, crash-stats.mozilla.com, are made to operate under the smallest disruption.

Try Windows Vista and Window Server 2008 SP2 RC Now

2009-03-05T01:40:00.000-08:00

As we expected, Windows Vista and Window Server 2008 SP2 RC are now released from Microsoft for all the users. Before the final release, Microsoft made them available to anyone who is interested in testing SP2 on Windows Vista and Server 2008.

Notable changes this time in Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC and Windows Vista SP2 RC is the constant improved compatibility, reliability and performance. Besides all the previously released updates, SP2 presently laid more importance on supporting new types of hardware and adding support for several emerging standards. Microsoft provides a single but high-quality update, minimizing deployment and testing complexity for customers. You can also check out the SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 RC notable changes here.

But one more thing should be noticed, if you already have the SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Beta installed, it should be uninstalled before you want to have this RC. All the steps are trying to provide you a full-scale functional Windows experience and updating safeguard.

You can download Windows Vista and Window Server 2008 SP2 RC from BrotherSoft Now.

Turn your PC into a music discovery machine on Zune.net

2009-03-04T06:15:00.000-08:00

Zune.net was updated by Zune team with several interesting features. Podcast catalog management and music quiz, these two obvious entertainments deserve special attentions.

Podcast catalog management

Previously, we subscribe podcasts that we like. But sometimes, we get the information including unwilling things. Via Zune.net, the entire podcast catalog is updated and now available. The Zune software started when you pick the audio you like and add it to your favorite collection. Besides, Zune.net supports directly streaming more than 12,000 audio podcasts.

Moreover, Silverlight in Zune.net will guide you a fast viewing procedure when you do not like to add the podcast or download to your PC in case of any space occupation. Here, listen on Zune.net directly with Silverlight without subscription or download.

Music quiz

"Zune social" is a new feature. Sometimes, we already had the music and wish to share with others. In Zune, you can connect with friends, artists and fellow fans. Do you want to know the guy owns same music understanding with you? Collect your music, list out any questions about them and add answers in your user profile. Your friends can take it as a quiz and try to find answers out. It is really a "Zune Class". Discuss and talk with them, share related music knowledge!

The same like that, once you get a music library, you can organize the way you want to listen. For example, new music and videos are listing in the front and central place. Zune.net also creates a list with the hot or the new ones at Zune Marketplace for your song recommendation. This is an information share and popular song collection for music lovers. What is worth mentioning, Zune Marketplace is an online store built into Zune software. To search, browse, preview and even purchase a series of millions of songs, TV shows, and of course podcasts. Either you are popular song lover or nostalgic one, discover in Zune!

Apart from that, Zune.net is all the time playing an important part in entertainment development. With their always colorful layout and clean page, users can check out the things needed in a brief way and pleasant mood! The most important thing is, Zune.net include almost newest elements and will focus on it for a very long time!

Try Zune.net! Accept a unique music listening experience and podcast subscription! We are not only listening to the music, see the things happened in internet, but we are also devoting our life to important parts - music and communication! Let's constantly live inside Zune.net and create our profile! If you haven't already, you should check out the Zune 3.0.

Chatting Experience with iGoogle

2009-03-03T06:15:00.000-08:00

Do you ever imagine you would contact with friends even he gets no Gmail account? iGoogle does. The Google developing team released that since today iGoogle users will have their dream come true.

Gmail is popular among those business people for chatting, communicating and email service. But it does bother you more or less. You have to contact with that kind of people who also has Gmail account. But in iGoogle, it is out! Open an iGoogle page, and then send instant messages to your colleague, friend and family. Even they are not Gmail user, you two can talk freely. Furthermore, all the current chat settings in Gmail will be applicable in iGoogle. Try it easy! So much as you can choose chat options and the "sign out of chat" is shown. Never be disturbed when you want!

Moreover, the iGoogle team is now working on multilingual options for users all over the world. Don't worry! Try the English version and have a different chat experience! If you don't see it on your iGoogle page and you simply can't wait to check it out, feel free to opt in by going to www.google.com/ig/v2invite.

The Answer which I'm Looking For

2009-03-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

I don't know what to write today, just a little poetry.

I know that the winter follows the fall

And in China there's the Great Wall

I heard that in NewYork the buildings are tall

I know these things and more

But there's just one answer I'm still looking for

MediaMonkey Music Manager

2009-02-28T09:26:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wanted a program that would be able to play all your entire music library, manage it, automatically synchronize it with your music device, or burn a CD with your favorite tracks? We think that your search might be over. That is because of the new version of MediaMonkey.

Media players went through major evolution when Nullsoft presented Winamp 5. Some major players understood that free software can be as good as commercial and even better. After a while most of the freeware media players started to look like Winamp. Leader of the market had to give us something new, otherwise its main rival, jetAudio, would get potential customers. That’s why Winamp was equipped with media library module, which was a great tool for organizing massive amounts of music and video files. With release of Windows Media Player 11 many people realized that they can have an ultimate tool for playing their favorite music, which can do some other useful tasks.

From the first start the main window looks a bit like in Windows Media Player 9, the same list panel, the same layout. The only thing I was missing was CD cover display, but after couple of seconds I found display mode button that switched the view in my library. Of course something must have gone wrong, cause if you have an album without a cover image MediaMonkey applies the first image in the gallery to any unknown albums which is a shame, because it looks like you would have tons of music from the same artist. In some cases the program assigns also wrong covers to wrong albums. Apart from this issue we have plenty of actions to perform on each selection: you can go to (default) Amazon.com and buy music from selected artist, rate the song/album/artist, etc.

When we look at the interface, the first thing that comes to my mind is that the interface is definitely overloaded. Don't get me wrong, but it will look very good on 1440×1024px resolution, but on my laptop (15" TFT, 1280×800px) everything is crowded. And the constant feeling that they have put too much information on-screen at the same time, it's rather overwhelming. A nice touch though, is the player which resides on the bottom of the screen; glossy, user friendly, has everything you could possibly want from it - cross fader (turned on as a default setting), shuffle, repeat, equalizer, volume knob, etc. On top of that it displays current tracks album info (including mini-cover), mp3 file bit rate, rating, and playlist position.

MediaMonkey let's you do all the tasks like in WMP, like synchronize any supported by system devices (Mp3 Players, iPods, etc.), burn the Audio CD and listen to Internet Radio. But it has one huge advantage over WMP: it can download artist information from FreeDB which is far bigger than Live Music Database, it can automatically rearrange your audio files accordingly to your request, analyze and auto-level volume in all the tracks. When the track changes, program displays a light notification that contains track information and album cover, and after few seconds fades away.

One of the most powerful options in MediaMonkey is displaying plenty of information about our music files, not only artist, title, album and year of recording, but also tempo, mood or quality of the track. All you can say that finally we have a tool for audio maniacs, to catalogue even the smallest detail of our collection, or convert the file formats on-the-fly.

MediaMonkey can also display music stores in its window allowing the users to buy new music without launching additional windows. Of course program has already few big on-line music shops in its database. Apart from shopping for music, new version of Monkey supports podcasts and internet radio without any additional plug-ins.

Very interesting option I found in the menu of MediaMonkey is Party Mode, which basically secures your computer and disables all options of MediaMonkey apart from player, playlist editor and library (read-only mode), allowing people using your computer just to browse your files and play them (they cannot delete anything, as well as they cannot access Windows Taskbar and/or Desktop).

If it comes to configuration, the user has full control over program's behavior. Not only can we setup skinning, proxy settings, or library settings, but also default actions, Party Mode’s password and availability, devices' support. Even WMP can start learning how to present user with some good config panel.

The only thing that wonders me is memory usage: WMP11 needs about 16MB of RAM, while MediaMonkey consumes over 50MB, what for I have no idea. I know that nowadays we can forget about memory problems, but when you have multiple applications open like, e.g. Photoshop or Flash it might eventually become a problem.

Summing it all up, MediaMonkey learns a lot from all the media players (even looks a lot like Microsoft's WMP), but takes it all to the new level, offering advanced functionality and even reporting (if you remember HTML Playlist generation from Winamp, here you got some more options). It has some minor flaws (like the problem with displaying album covers), but overall it's a good position to look at, especially if you don't have Windows Vista and would like to have the functionality of WMP11 without all the fuss with installation involved.

2009-02-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

When we are now enjoying the happiness and convenience Windows 7 Beta brought, the engineering team of Windows 7 are busying on RC (Release Candidate). Since we got this news, most of us feel curious about the change. What will we get from RC since Beta? Yesterday, we finally got the changes from official engineering blog of Windows 7.

Totally, there must be some improvements, many under the hood but also many visible. For the visible changes, we discuss from three points of view: Core User Experience, Find & Organize and Devices & Media.

Core User Experience

1. Aero Peeks supports ALT+TAB

Customers have overwhelmingly given positive feedback about Aero Peek. Some users wondered the reason why Peek was never made in application for the ALT+TAB window. When we hold the mouse over the taskbar, the thumbnail shows the same way. Hence in RC, Windows took this request into it.

As a new piece of improvement in Windows 7, the selected windows show normally. With a partially transparent frame，some website windows are mostly transparent. This time in RC, customers can switch them with ALT+TAB. Aero Peek will appear when more window information is needed. There is also another application. Some users are dedicated to touch benefits. So, the Aero Peek let us drag our fingers in taskbar's thumbnails. the show desktop button is improving, we can conveniently see our desktop in a press-and-hold way.

2. Improved Color Hot-Track

Color Hot-Track is used to judge whether the program in taskbar is running. But we get no color changes when we move and clip our mouse in thumbnails. Color Hot- Track in RC can be identified in taskbar thumbnails easily.

3. Windows Logo + <#> keyboard shortcut

As in Windows, efficiency is the key for keyboard shortcuts. We do hope we can use more and more shortcuts to make our programs simplified. Pressing Windows Logo+ <#> in a program order, the item is simply launched. Just imagine ALT+TAB for the first 10 items on the taskbar. Easily flip back to the last window by CTRL+ Windows Logo +<#>. We get keyboard convenience!

Find & Organize

There is a specific control panel. As we all know Windows is engaged in the UAC control panel improvement. There will be more specific user settings. This will be also a spotlight in RC. With Windows 7, you will lock your computer without any screensaver. Do not trouble yourself on the screensaver! The RC will try to make a change in where we can not specify any screensaver to lock computer during a certain part of time.

There will be also some desktop icon improvements. In Beta, it is hardly to separate icons and tools with View Setting. We are looking forward to show desktop icons and tools optionally in RC.

Devices & Media.

Improved Windows Media Player leads us a more clearly video preview. In RC, the previewing videos will be clearer when Media Player is in process. Also, Windows Logo +E, which can open Windows Explorer before, have been altered back in RC. There will be no any use for some people who use the shortcut to open Media library in Beta. But let’s practice it!

More details about Windows 7 RC, you can visit Windows 7 engineers' blog.

Since the Windows 7 released until now, there is an "everyone Windows 7" Era. For the stability, function and usability, we know, windows is always on the path working towards RC and of course we feel anxious about the next phase of RTM. Absolutely, we are also on the path expecting it!

Brothersoft's Official Wallpaper is coming

2009-02-26T05:55:00.000-08:00

Today, Brothersoft's Official Wallpaper is coming, it has a dark background with some light words which introduce Brothersoft.com for us: PC Software Download, Mobile Software download, Widget Download. We can read blogs there, know some new cool softwares, some really famous producers' latest products. After all, we can found everything about softwares we want to get or we want to know there.

Brothersoft.com was built in July 2002, now it contains over 130,000 softwares so that they provide users a way to download shareware and freeware, which are developed by different authors (programmers) all over the world. They also promote products of authors' because of the willing in improve software industry throughout the world.

Brothersoft.com is not only a website for software download, but also a kind-hearted friend for developers. They give them honest opinions in order to help them provide more brilliant softwares to the world in the near future. Bravo! Brothersoft!

Safari 4 Beta - Faster than Firefox

2009-02-25T06:09:00.000-08:00

Apple released new Safari 4 Beta (Mac OS X Version Windows Version )browser on this Tuesday. This new version of Safari browser owns obvious seven new leading features, including Nitro Engine, Top Sites, Full History Search, Cover Flow, and Tabs on Top, Windows Native Look and Developer Tools. Below, I will introduce them respectively.

Nitro Engine

The major and important new advantage is Nitro Engine. Nitro Engine is the core of Safari 4 Beta. Don't you ever hope your browser will lead you a special and fast browsing experience? Just try Safari 4 Beta. It is also the Nitro Engine that makes new Safari 4 Beta run faster than other browsers: it will run JavaScript four times faster than Safari 3, three times faster than Firefox and thirty times higher than Internet Explorer 7. To speak of, with the most advanced and increasing technologies, the Safari 4 contains strong fast performances.

Top Sites

Do you also imagine your browser enables you to look through in a visual browsing way and provides a special top sites list for you? Exactly, Top Sites in Safari 4 Beta shows you to enjoy a convenience of preview favorite websites; you even do not need to lift a finger! Safari 4 Beta will remain the record you visiting and rank them at the same time. Users can also customize display layout according to adding some favorite websites in a specific location of your grid browsers. Don't you think it is so easy to look your browsing top ones where you are usually being? You do not need to enter the whole website location in you grid. Just use your Top Sites of Safari 4 Beta!

History Search &Cover Flow

Besides, Safari 4 Beta also gives you a full History Search experience. Together with new Cover Flow, they two offer users a highly visual way of reviewing site history and bookmarked pages. Presenting you those you even visited, you will see again where you have gone. Is there a pity you have looked half of a page but it is suddenly closed? Do you want to find out the information you are reading and copy them? History Search and Cover Flow will solve you problem.

Windows Native Look

Furthermore, Safari 4 Beta will consider your computer system. Even you run Windows Vista or Windows XP on your PC, Safari 4 Beta will absolutely make you feel integrated. Safari 4 Beta contains a classic Windows native page layout. No matter Windows title bar, toolbar, borders, Safari 4 Beta even make the Windows fonts in application! So, here you will turn your difficulties between Windows and PC away!

Developer Tools

Last but not the least, developer tools of Safari 4 Beta can provide the personal settings for users. Open a page, turn it on Safari preference and use them to examine the structure of that page.

Tabs on Top

Finally, with a little difference from some browsers, Safari takes tabs on a new height! It still supports opening many pages at the same time in a single browser window.

To summarize all of advantages of Safari 4 Beta, the best way is to download it and save your personal browsing experience. Just like Brian Croll from Apple said, Safari is always engaged in performance, innovation and internet standards. It can be said, Safari 4 Beta takes a biggest step on browser development innovation. We do believe, Apple, will further bring us a lot of well-performed website tools. Let's desire!

An Easy Video Maker

2009-02-24T06:05:00.000-08:00

Have you ever image that you can record your screen in a video? Every movement your mouseware, every page in your Browser, and what ever you want to record in the video.

Now, we have Tipcam, it is a wonderful video maker, you can do really easy work to record your screens in the video. Just Download Tipcam and run it in your computer. By using it, you can help your friends to use their computers or some softwares, or to train your employees, or help people to use your website, you don't have to do anything except a couple of mouseware clicks.

After your record, the video can be saved as a .flv file, so it can be updated to YouTube, or some other video share website easily. And we can't believe Tipcam is a Freeware! You can use it totally Free!

Thanks uTIPu, they really do a great job!

Google Softwares

2009-02-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

Google Earth 5.0.11337 Beta

Google Desktop 5.8.809.23506
Google Toolbar 5.0.2124.6042 (IE) Beta
Google Toolbar 5.0.2009.0122b FireFox
Google Web Accelerator 0.2.70

Google Earth 5 beta: dive into it!!

2009-02-23T02:00:00.000-08:00

Cyber tourists will be happy to know that Windows/Mac/Linux: Google's 3D mapping application Google Earth has just released version 5.0, which includes some amazing features that allow everyone travelling all around the globe with just some clicks and movements of their mouse.

The new version of the software that for years has impressed even the most demanding PC users comes with some really great new characteristics that will make the delights of all of us. Let's have a look at them…

Diving Beneath the Seas…Become a Submarine Marco Polo!

Google Earth 5 Beta offers a 3D bathymetry (the submarine equivalent for altimetry), with which the ocean bottom can be unlimitedly explored. Depending on your machine’s capacities you will also be able to enjoy the movement of the waves on the surface if you move the vision standpoint. This feature certainly goes beyond the in-relief 2D mapping of the largest oceans included in previous versions, given that now terrain under the water can also be seen. Read the rest of this entry.

Things about Skype

2009-02-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Skype developers have released a new beta version of Skype 4.0 for Windows on their website. Skype 4.0 will be the upcoming new build of Skype that is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2009.

Skype is a popular VOIP (Voice Over IP) client that added many additional features like video conferencing or chat to the client in the last years.

One of the most notable changes for Skype 3 users are the interface changes that have been implemented. The interface looks much cleaner and professional when compared to the old Skype interface. Classic users on the other hand will be delighted to hear that it is possible to switch to the classic interface in the options.

Skype users will probably be interested in the changes that the new client will bring. Will it be worth the update from a previous version of Skype? While it might be a bit early for a final verdict the beta version does provide enough means to examine the new features and functions that have been added by the Skype team.

Beta 3 of Skype 4 introduces several features that have been requested by the Skype community for a long time.

Best Internet Browsers

2009-02-20T02:01:00.000-08:00

Are you still using IE? Please~~ Change it, and try someone really Great!
FireFox 3.0.6
Opera 9.63
Safari 3.2.2
Maxthon 2.5.1.4751
Google Chrome 1.0.154.48
Avant Browser 11.7 build 21
Flock 2.0.3
Netscape 9.0.0.6
SeaMonkey 1.1.14
TheWorld Browser 2.4.0.2

Best Instant Messenger

2009-02-19T19:28:00.001-08:00

Windows Live Messenger 2009 (14.0.8064)
Google Talk 1.0.0.104 Beta
Yahoo Messenger 9.0.0.2133
Skype 4.0.0.206
AIM 6.8.14.6
ICQ 6.5.1005
Digsby Beta (build 47)
Miranda 0.7.14
mIRC 6.35
Pidgin 2.5.4

Best FreeWares

2009-02-18T22:42:00.000-08:00

Enjoy your download

Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 9.0.0.736 - Final Kaspersky Anti-Virus Update February 17, 2009

VLC media player 1.1.0 AIMP v2.61.570 Foobar2000 v0.9.5 beta 9
Divx Player 6.4.1 Beta Free iPod & iPhone Converter

Things about VLC Media Player

2009-02-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

This blog is from our content partner Brothersoft

VLC is an universal media player and open source software. It provides a complete software solution for video and audio streaming as well as transcoding audio/video on the fly. Transcoding is the process of changing media files from one format to other format or bitrate.

In this post we show you how to transcode media files using VLC player in Windows platform using wizard as well as command prompt.

Transcoding Media Files using Wizard

1. VLC includes a transcoding and streaming wizard . To transcode a file, select Wizard option in the file menu.

2. Select Transcode/Save to file option and click Next to proceed.

3. Choose the input file which you want to transcode.

Note: You can also use partial extract option and time length for the output file.