Items tagged with 'Beta'
Google Apps Exit Beta. Seriously!
Have you picked yourself off the floor yet? It's no lie, Google Apps, which includes Gmail, is finally out of beta. Gmail had been in beta for five years. In fact, Gmail had been in beta for so long we wondered if Google simply forgot it was in beta. Here's what the company said on the official Google blog:Ever since we... Read More
Mozilla Launches Firefox 3.1 Beta 3
If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on the latest browser from Mozilla, you won’t have to wait much longer. The next version of Firefox is nearly complete, as evidenced by yesterday’s release of Firefox 3.1 Beta 3, the fifth development milestone in the popular web browser. Beta 3 has been plagued by delays. Mozilla... Read More
Safari 4.0 is way faster; downloads for PC, Mac
Apple today announced the beta release of Safari 4.0, and it's promising blazing fast browsing, for Mac or PC users.It has a new "Nitro Engine," that Apple says executes JavaScript up to 30 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and more than 3 times faster than Firefox 3. (Side note: Firefox is THAT much faster than IE7?)... Read More
Don't Forget: Win7 Beta Downloads End This Week
As they said earlier, Windows 7 beta downloads will be ending this week. In fact, if you haven't already signed up for the beta, it's already too late to sign up. You can, however, continue an in-progress download until Thursday. In a reminder posted on the Windows Team Blog, Microsoft noted that new download availability... Read More
Google's Chrome to Exit Beta?
How long has Google's Gmail been in beta? Years. And yet a report indicates that Google wants to take its Chrome web browser out of beta, only three months after its first beta release. Seems difficult to imagine, what with the product's still buginess, but there's an apparent method to this madness. According to TechCrunch,... Read More
Google Chrome Beta Now Faster
Recent tests have shown that the third Chrome beta version offers faster performance than previous iterations. In these tests, Google Chrome's latest version, 0.3.154.9, shows a 37% improvement in JavaScript performance over the initial beta that was released two months ago.Using Google's JavaScript benchmark, the first... Read More
NVIDIA Releases Beta PhysX Drivers
You'll recall last week NVIDIA announced that its 177.39 drivers would provide PhysX support on the GeForce 9800 GTX, 9800 GTX+, and GTX 260/280 cards. You'll also probably recall the big dust-up over whether or not NVIDIA was cheating in terms of optimizations for various benchmarks. Whether or not you believe that (read... Read More
Skype Releases Beta Client With a Whole New Look
The folks over at Skype are hoping that you want to be a beta tester. Starting today, Skype 4.0 Beta 1 for Windows goes into public beta, and there are a number of significant changes in the new version. The most noticeable transformation from the existing client to the new beta is a much lager default video window for... Read More
VMware Fusion 2.0 Beta Supports DX9 Shader 2
Mac users represent a small percentage of computer users--about three percent worldwide. But if Mac sales are any indication--up 51 percent in the last year--the number of Mac users are growing rapidly. One of the reasons for this is that all new Macs can also run Windows, allowing users to have access to both operating... Read More
VIA Technologies Launches Beta Linux Portal
Linux is finally starting to make inroads into mainstream computing, as evidenced by the Eee PC and the HP Mini-Note ultraportable laptops. It should come as no surprise that vendors are starting to embrace Linux with open arms, due to its low-cost of entry. VIA Technologies is the latest Linux lover with its launch of... Read More
Microsoft Launches Beta of SW Subscription Svc.
It's been bandied around for some time: a subscription-based version of Microsoft Office, and on Friday, Microsoft launched just such a service, code-named Albany, in private beta form. Albany includes more than just Office, however.“Albany” is the codename for a new all-in-one subscription service of essential software... Read More
Firefox 3.0 Beta 5 Released
Not only did Mozilla release the Firefox 3.0 Beta 5 code today, it also announced when RC1 will code-freeze, as it closes in on completion of Firefox 3.0As it races to the goal post, Mozilla.org announced that beta 5 of Firefox 3 is available and that the code for release candidate 1 will be frozen on April 8.Beta 5 offers... Read More
IE8 Beta Soon?
Microsoft is readying a beta of their next generation Internet Explorer.Microsoft says its new browser will support web standards better, provide more security and additional interface options.In a Volish attempt to comply with standards, and not disrupt sites written with IE6 and IE7, it would seem that Microsoft is going... Read More
OpenOffice Online Beta Goes Live
Run, don't walk, to your nearest PC to sign up. Only the first 15,000 registrants will get in, according to Ulteo, developers of the online version.The beta which is open to the first 15,000 subscribers, offers access to the complete OpenOffice suite without any prior installation, and 1GB of free storage.The... Read More
Vista SP1 Public Beta Next Week
Look what's coming. Windows Vista SP1 RC1 (don't you just love all those 3 letter acronyms) will be available next week via the Download Center, and to MSDN and Technet subscribers tomorrow."We feel really good and we look forward to receiving feedback from our larger set of testers," said David Zipkin, a senior product... Read More
Windows XP SP3 Beta Expanded to MSDN, Technet
Although we know Windows XP SP3 isn't going to be feature-laden, it does offer, according to tests, a noticeable speed increase. And on Monday Microsoft increased the beta coverage of SP3 by making it available to MSDN and Technet subscribers.Microsoft late Monday expanded its beta test of Windows XP Service Pack 3 to subscribers... Read More
Firefox Beta 3 Behind Schedule & Buggy
In a recent Firefox 3.0 status meeting it was revealed that there are 700 bug classified as 'blockers' or bugs worthy of delaying release. Given the original timetable for the project, it seems that things are running slower than expected and it is a good guess that the delays are due in part to the number of show-stopping... Read More
Online Photoshop Beta Due This Year
Adobe has been preparing an online version of Photoshop for some time now, and it looks like we can stop holding our breath soon: a beta is likely to be out before the end of the year.The beta is likely to start at Adobe's site, but it is entirely possible that we'll see variants of the online Photoshop, dubbed Photoshop... Read More
Microsoft begins beta testing Vista service pack
Approximately a month after first announcing the Vista SP1 beta, Microsoft has released it to a private set of testers.Microsoft on Monday said it has released a beta version of the first service pack of Windows Vista to about 12,000 testers. Microsoft had said back in August that it expected to start private testing of... Read More
Team Fortress 2 Beta Live
The Team Fortress 2 beta went live overnight, meaning some of you may notice missing people at work, as well as elsewhere. Last night a gaggle of old-school Team Fortress Classic fans flocked to Steam for their first shot at playing Team Fortress 2, a "beta" only available to those who have pre-ordered The... Read More
Your Opinion Of Apple's Windows 7 FUD Ads?