Firefox 2.0 beta 1.

Mozilla Firefox, the popular web browser, caused a stir with the original release, but apart from minor changes, visual improvements and security fixes, there haven’t been a wide range of new features since the original 1.x release.

This is all about to change, with the forthcoming release of Firefox 2.0, planned for August 2006.

This is beta 1 and the first public release of Firefox 2.0, along with a snapshot of the forthcoming new features. It must be noted that this is only a beta and should be used for testing-purposes only. Many of the existing themes and extensions are not operating within this beta release. Indeed, the planned new theme for Firefox 2.0 will not happen until beta 2 at the earliest.

Current new 2.0 features include anti-phishing support, useful for acknowledging the difference between a legitimate website and a fake site set up for the purposes of obtaining your personal information.

Other new features include enhanced tabbed browsing, the ability to open tabs closed accidentally, spell checking within web forms, a search plugin manager, combined and enhanced Add-Ons manager and much more, including support for new web standards.

Note that you can install Firefox 2.0 beta 1 alongside your existing 1.5.x set up, although keep 2.0 beta 1 for testing purposes only.

You can download other language editions of the Windows Firefox 2.0 beta 1, as well as Linux and Mac OS X versions from the Mozilla website

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004

One the day that VMWare have release their virtual server technology, free of charge, Microsoft have released Virtual PC 2004 with Service Pack 1, as a free download. Even better, Microsoft state that their next Virtual PC, to be released in 2007, should also be a free download.

Virtual technology enables you to run other operating systems on your computer. For instance, instead of trying and testing software on your computer, why not install a virtual PC for this purpose? This means that you can freely install as much software as you wish, without the installation affecting your everyday computer – you can decide what software you like to use, before you install on your computer, for real.
Virtual technology has other benefits, such as enabling a software developer to test their software, on different operating systems, before release. For instance, there’s no reason why you can’t host a copy of Windows Me, Windows 2000 and another copy of Windows XP, for testing purposes.

With virtual technology, you can simply switch back to a previous state. You can install your virtual operating system and save the current state (ie the current installation) and then switch back to that, at a later date, if your virtual operating system becomes unstable.

Download here

Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0792 (window xp)

Windows Live Messenger Beta is the next-generation MSN Messenger, and has everything you already love about Messenger - your contact list, emoticons and instant access to your friends via text, voice, and video.

It also has new ways to connect and share documents with almost magical ease. As always, it is free to download and use most of its features.

New or improved features include:

* Send all your familiar winks and emoticons, plus some cool new ones
* Have real-time text, video and voice conversations*
* Call your friends' mobile or land-line telephones by signing up with Verizon Web Calling to make affordable domestic and international calls
* Easily share documents of all kinds with Sharing Folders
* Make free PC-to-PC calls with other Messenger users

*Both parties must have compatible webcams, microphones, and speakers. Please note that some beta features may not be available immediately.

This new version enables you to keep in contact with both your Messenger and Yahoo contacts through one chat application. To access your Yahoo buddies through Windows Live Messenger, you need to register first at www.ideas.live.com.

Download here

When we install software onto our computers, most of us don't know what the software is actually doing to our system.

What is the application installing on your PC? Is it adding information to the Registry, and could it be adding spyware to the system which reports back to the software supplier?

WinPatrol enables you to sniff out problematic software that would normally be classed as spyware, adware, a worm or Trojan horse.

These are applications that install on your computer with the sole purpose of performing a hidden task, such as trying to find loopholes in your system, logging keystrokes when you surf the internet and much more.

This application is different from other security applications in that it won't scan your hard drive looking for previously installed threats.

It's a proactive not re-active application which will constantly examine your current system and warn you if any changes have occurred without your permission.

download here