Windows Weekly 99

Windows Weekly Episode 99

Topics

• Internet Explorer 8 is out
  • Best new features: Web slices, tabs improvements, visual search, Accelerators, InPrivate Browsing, tab isolation, deployment tools, find in page
  • Up in the air: Performance, compatibility (over 3100 sites require compat list fixes)
  • Note that Windows 7 Beta users will have to wait for RC for an IE 8 update
  • Related: Firefox 3.1 Beta 3, Google Chrome 2 beta, Opera Turbo beta all out this week too

• Windows 7 will allow for logon screen customization
  • Discovered by Rafael Rivera
  • Its been in there, hidden, since at least the Beta build.
  • Related: Microsoft details still more changes coming in the Win7 RC. Nothing dramatic.

• Microsoft in the legal low-light
  • Opera says IE "kill switch" isn't enough
  • Vista Capable lawsuit plaintiffs narrow scope, try to reinstate class action status

• Silverlight 3 beta
  • HD video support
  • Can run outside of browser as AIR-like application .. Same runtime though (AIR, Flash are different)

• iPhone 3.0 announcement
  • Nothing major: All expected features, things that should have been in there already
  • iPhone is still the dominant smart phone platform
  • This announcement appears timed to blunt Palm Pre release excitement
  • Hidden features: Tethering is coming, "find my iPhone"

Tip of the Week

• Get After the Software Wars for free
  • You can buy the paper version of the book at Amazon now
  • Or download the PDF free from Lulu
  • Message: Open source, not proprietary software, is the future.

• Still more wallpaper
  • Check out www.interfacelift.com for even more high-quality wallpaper
  • http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper_beta/downloads/date/any/
  • Some of the imagery is absolutely stunning
  • They also sell a wallpaper app for iPhone called Backdrops which works pretty well
  • Thanks to Mike Bam of Melbourne, Australia for the tip

Software Pick of the Week

• Songbird 1.1
  • New version of the open source music player
  • http://getsongbird.com/

• iTunes 8.1
  • Significant performance improvements
  • http://www.apple.com/itunes/

• Firefox 3.1 (3.5) Beta 3
  • New Private Browsing Mode
  • http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/all-beta.html

Significant Products

• Link URL and optional brief description

Sponsors

Audible

• Audible URL

Picks

Daemon by Daniel Suarez (UNABRIDGED) Narrated by Jeff Burner

Ad Time: 0:32-0:42 and 57:49-1:02:24

Other Sponsor

• Link URL

Production Information

• Recorded Date: January 20, 2009
• Release Date: January 21, 2009
• Duration: 1:18:15
• Log line:
• Edited by: Tony
• Notes:
• removed Paul's son interrupting. 0:49:52
• removed Paul answering the phone 1:11:53

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