My Winding Roads

Longhorn–now Windows Vista–may be arriving more slowly than expected and it might not have everything that was once planned, but Windows chief Jim Allchin maintains “It’s a big deal.”

Among the features in the OS are security improvements, some snazzy new graphics, and a new means of searching and organizing information. Rather than having to remember the single folder where something is stored, users will be able to put documents in any number of virtual folders. They can also establish folders that will automatically update, such as “files edited in the last week” or “documents from Jane.”

In addition, Microsoft is trying to simplify an array of other tasks, such as adding a PC to a home network or connecting a laptop to a projector.

Read more at Cnet.

Source : Cnet

Futuremark has launched 3DMark®06. I remember the first time I see this benchmarking software was on my friend’s PC. That time I was wondering what he was doing, looking at videos without sound over and over again.
This new version has improved Shader Model 2 tests, CPU tests and HDR Shader Model 3 Tests.

Get a full install Basic Edition, 3DMark®06 Basic Edition (Build 1.0.2)

ecto is a 3rd party blogging software. It supports Blogger, Blojsom, Drupal, MovableType, Nucleus, TypePad, WordPress and more.

Features :
Mac OSX

* support for multiple weblogs and servers (with easy-to-use Account Manager)

* full local control of recently posted entries and drafts (with search function)

* intuitive interface for creating and editing weblog entries

* a Rich Text and an HTML editor with spellcheck and search/replace

* syntax-coloring in the HTML editor

* quick access menu with HTML tag templates and keyboard shortcuts for the HTML editor (fully customizable)

* support of all available remote control options of MovableType API (posting entries with continuation, summary, keywords, multiple categories, trackback, text-formatting, comment options)

* advanced create-a-link dialog

* easily change the posting date of entries

* full-featured HTML-rendered preview of entries using Safari’s WebKit

* powerful file and media upload with iPhoto import via attachments

* convert, scale images and create thumbnails

* create poster movies or create thumbnails from movie frames

* save settings on a per-blog basis

* send notifications by email (with Address Book support)

* insert details of the currently playing iTunes song in your entry

* embedded debug console to troubleshoot server connections

* extensive help documentation accessible from within ecto

* hate the metal and icons? Set the window texture via the Preferences window and change icons with the supplied switcher!

* works with NetNewsWire, PulpFiction, and Shrook

* localized in Dutch, French, German, and Japanese

* support for del.icio.us, the social bookmarks manager

* Services menu items to blog selected text (with extra features for Safari)

* and much much more!

Windows

* Support for multiple weblogs and servers

* Support for Blogger’s Atom API

* Support for MovableType, TypePad, cocolog, WordPress, Nucleus, Drupal through metaWeblog API and MovableType API

* Support of all available remote control options of MovableType and TypePad (posting entries with continuation, summary, keywords, multiple categories, trackback, text-formatting, comment options)

* Intuitive interface for creating and editing weblog entries

* Quick access toolbar menu with HTML tag templates (fully modifiable)

* Easily change the posting date of entries

* HTML-rendered preview of entries

* File and image upload tool (supports thumbnailing images)

* Save settings on a per-blog basis

* Send notifications by email

* Spell checker to make sure no spelling mistake get published

* Post template for saving frequently used post text and formats

* Insert details of the currently playing songs in WinAmp/WMP9/iTunes (via free plugins) in your entry

* Japanese and French localizations

* ‘Blog This!’ support in FeedDemon 1.10

* And much more!

Hot on the heels of 1.5, the first alpha version of Mozilla Firefox 2 codenamed “Bon Ocho” will be released on February 10, 2006 while the final public release of Firefox 2.0 is expected in middle of this year.

Bon Ocho, the Firefox 2 code name is taken from a public park - Bon Echo Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada that translates to “good echo”. There are plans for enhanced security, blacklisting and anti-phishing measures to be fitted to the new version. However, no details of what they might be have been released yet.

Although the first alpha release of the next version of the popular alternative browser will not be feature complete, it should give users an idea of where the company plans to take Firefox in 2006. The year is expected to be a busy one; work on Firefox 3 is already underway with a release possible late this year or early in 2007.

According to BetaNews, Mozilla plans to release an early alpha version of Firefox 2.0 by February, with builds of Firefox, Camino and Thunderbird for Apple Macs running on Intel processors.

Source : Neowin.net

Windows 2000 and XP users should disable your wi-fi when not in use. The automatic detection of wi-fi connections of Windows can be exploited by hackers. For more information, go to cnet