Items tagged with Beta
There's a new beta browser in town, and its name is Firefox 4. Previously available in "Candidate" form, this latest release is a bit more polished and ready for anyone comfortable playing with beta software, which may or may not prove stable (been running fine for us so far). If Firefox 4 looks eerily familiar, then you must have logged some...
Read more...
There's just no question that Skype has revolutionized calling, and has basically delivered VoIP to the mainstream. Before Skype, VoIP was mostly used to make intracompany calls and teleconference calls, but few consumers bothered with it...
Read more...
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 launched the Google...
Read more...
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 originally intended...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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, VP Marissa Mayer...
Read more...
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 beta scored 1,851;...
Read more...
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 their response here),...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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 big improvements...
Read more...
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 to let developers...
Read more...
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 suite also adds collaboration...
Read more...
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 manager on the...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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 bugs.“Firefox...
Read more...
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 Express, on sites...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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 Orange Box through...
Read more...
