Mozilla Firefox 3.0.4 has just been released. This update is a more stable and secure version than previous releases. Every Firefox user is encouraged to update.
Three of the most obvious changes include the ability to save sites into your favourites with one click, removal of pop-ups when using the password remember feature and the power to check a websites identity/legitimacy by clicking on its favicon.
Top features:
One-Click Bookmarking
Instant Web Site ID
Improved Performance
Full Zoom
Smart Location Bar
Password Manager
Platform-Native Look & Feel
The T-Mobile G1 was released on 22nd October in some countries and 30th October for the rest. This new smartphone manufactured by HTC is unique to its competitors because it is the first device running Android. Android is a software platform and operating system developed by Google and can be used on a number of mobile devices. Android is free to use and is open source so anyone can download the source code and begin modding the software however they like.
This open source approach will see thousands of custom mods developed for the device as developers begin reskinning and adding their own applications. There will be a lot more freedom to do things which are impossible with Apple products, such as the iPod or iPhone. Users will also be able to download applications from the Android Marketplace, similar to the Apple Store on the iPhone.
As part of the Android Open Source Project, you can now download the entire source code from here. However, you should take note that you will NOT be able to build Android source files if you are not running Linux or Mac OS.
If you’ve been to Google’s homepage lately you would have heard of the new browser that they have released; Google Chrome. The beta version was released today (3rd sept). it will be interesting to see how much market share Google can grasp in compeition with Internet Explorer and Firefox.
Features:
Blacklists for protection against phishing and malware.
Sandboxing for malware protection.
Plugins run in separate processes so if a website crashes it will only take down that tab and not the whole browser like in Firefox.
Fast website loading time.
A new tab page that makes regular browsing more efficient.
Transition from Firefox.
Firefox has developed a large market share among computer users after people were sick of the problems with Internet Explorer. As soon as you install Google Chrome you will notice all your bookmarks can be automatically imported from Firefox so you won’t have to re-add any. The two main differences I have noticed is you can’t open another tab when middle mouse clicking the home tab (which you can enable by Customise>Options>show home page button) and an inability to scroll down after clicking the scroll wheel on a mouse.
Ultramon is a great dual monitor program that I have been using lately with my dual monitors and although it’s features are simple, they are very handy. Some of the key features include a button up the top of the screen that lets you easily switch your current window from one screen to the other with one click instead of having to drag it. Another good feature is the option to have a different wallpaper on each screen, or stretch one image accross both screens. This is not possible with just Windows.
Ultramon also ads a taskbar onto the other screen if you are extending your windows desktop. This is a handy feature and lets you easily distinguish which programs are running on what screens.
Unfortunately Ultramon is only shareware. This means it is a free dual monitor program you can only use it for 30 days before you are asked to buy the program (or pirate it). This program is only for dual monitor users so don’t waste your time if you are running a single.
Here is a full list of features:
2 additional title bar buttons for managing windows among the monitors
A taskbar on each additional monitor that displays tasks on that monitor
Pre-defined application window placement
Display profiles for multiple pre-defined display settings
Spannable wallpaper option
Different wallpapers for different monitors
Advanced multiple-monitor screensaver management
Display mirroring (Forces to software rendering)
Overcome Windows’ limit of 10 displays
Ultramon is shareware so you can download a free trial here. A single license will cost $39.95 if you want to buy a copy.
Some of you may have heard of ‘Folding@Home’ from it’s recent publicity with Playstation 3 and the release of new ATI graphics cards. If you haven’t; Folding@Home is a project started by Stanford university to better understand the process of protein folding. To help research into what proteins do, a distributed computing project has been set up to simulate this cycle.
Due to the fact so much processing power is required, the project is distributed across normal home computers opposed to only running on super computers. This allows maximum processing power. Anyone at home that wants to participate can download the free software application from here. With so many participants using their home PCs to fold, the combined processing speed is greater than the world’s fastest super computer.
The PC version utilizes the CPU to perform simulations of folding. To do this, the program automatically downloads a small file and will begin folding, frame by frame. Once you have completed a set number of frames the information will be sent back to Stanford and a new download will begin. This is all done in the background while you can be doing other things on your computer. If you like, you can set it so it only runs when your screensaver is active.
There is also a GPU version of the program that performs much faster than the CPU version as it is running on the graphics card and not restricted to the central processing unit(CPU). There is also a Playstation 3 client that folds while the game is not in use.
The protein simulations will help us to better understand the development of many diseases, including; Alzheimer’s disease sickle-cell disease (drepanocytosis), Parkinson’s disease, BSE (mad cow disease), cancer, Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, and other aggregation-related diseases.
Here are screenshots of both the CPU and GPU versions of the program running.
Here is a list of the top 11 most popular and useful programs. They are all free to download, just click the programs’ name to be directed to a download page at File Hippo.
Ever get sick of using the same old windows theme? if so, here’s our solution. There are many different themes that can be downloaded and installed to make your day by day PC use more pleasing for you. If you are currently running windows XP, alien ware themes can be installed on your system. There is a variety to choose from and they dramatically change the look of your windows explorer and desktop. They are free to download and simple to install.
For the people who like the look of windows vista but afford to, or choose not to buy the new operating system, there is a solution. You can download vista themes that can be installed on your XP giving you the stylish themes of vista. If you’ve already updated to windows vista, and wish to run a different kind of skin, you are able to download and install vista extras and various other mods and themes.
Recent Comments