Mozilla, founder of the open-source Firefox, today announced that the browser has now been downloaded one billion times!
It really shows how software that is totally open-source can be really successful.
Sadly I can’t say I’m massively influenced by this milestone, since I have been using Google Chrome for months now and have never regretted the switchover. Firefox is great but Chrome is so simple and easy to use.
Well anyway, congratulations Mozilla – and good luck for the future!
Remember a while back when I was talking about Microsoft giving users the choice of which browser they use in Windows 7? Well, Microsoft is apparently now going extend this consideration to Windows XP and Vista too.
From what I’ve heard from various sites on the net, Microsoft will be releasing an update (via Windows Update) sometime in the next six months. The update will only appear in Europe and the update will be either a “high priority” or “important” update. Once the update is installed, the next time IE runs, a “ballot” screen will appear showing users all other internet browsers with more than 0.5% (per cent) of the internet browser share in Europe.
Users will then be able to choose a browser that appeals to them and install it.
Users can also choose to stick with Internet Explorer, or be asked again at a date in the future.
In my opinion, this is great news. We might actually be able to get accurate results as to which browser is most important, and users wont be biased into using Internet Explorer anymore.
Thanks Microsoft, this is great news!
Sorry I’ve been a little behind on the news lately, but I’ve just read that Microsoft completed the RTM (release to manufacturer) of Windows 7 yesterday. Yay!
It is exactly 3 months behind the official launch date of Windows 7, which gives manufacturers plenty of time to prepare for the big launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd.
Sadly, I didn’t manage to get my preorder copy of Windows 7. This means I probably won’t have my copy of Windows 7 this side of Christmas, but you never know.
Well, as promised, I’m going to be doing some in depth previews at new features in Office 2010. Today, we’re going to have a look at the new replacement of the “ribbon button”‘.
In Office 2007, there was a circular “ribbon” button that users would click to get the general functions of Office – such as getting a new document, saving, printing etc.
Now, the “ribbon” button has been replaced by a simple rectangular button, as shown below.
Click it, and you’ll get a brand new “dashboard”. Here is the one for Microsoft Word.
There are differences to the “dashboard” for every piece of software in Office 2010 – they all have their own colour and they each have different options specific to each piece of software.
In the “dashboard”, you’ll find all the features you’d expect in Office – new document, open, save, print etc. You’ll also find recent documents and ways to share the document with others.
It’s all fantastic, and I really love the new idea. However, it does have its problems:
Other than that, I really like this new “dashboard”. It works really well, and it’s really easy to access. Good one Microsoft!
Microsoft has altered the way Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 is set up when you first run it. It’s a few minor changes, but they are very helpful if you currently have a default browser and you’re just installing IE8 because you have to (due to Windows Update).
From mid-August (so Microsoft says), there will be an update to IE8 to make this new functionality work.
From then on, when you first start Microsoft Internet Explorer, clicking ‘Use Express Settings’ will no longer automatically set Internet Explorer as the default browser. From GEEK!’s understanding, if you do want IE as the default browser, you must click ‘Choose Custom Settings’ and a screen will appear asking whether you would like to set IE as the default browser or not.
I am very glad that Microsoft is making this alteration – I’m bored of having to reset my default browser settings every time Microsoft releases a new Internet Explorer version.
It is pretty easy to work out that Microsoft is probably doing this to avoid more fines for promoting Internet Explorer too much. They have received charges for promoting Internet Explorer too much in the past, and it looks like Microsoft is having to give other browsers another chance.