Download: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2

Also be sure to read this post from Program Manager Jane Maliouta on upgrading to IE8 Beta 2. It includes some very important information such as how to uninstall IE8 Beta 1 and more.

Internet Explorer 8 comes packed with new features designed to make browsing the web much easier and finding what you want much quicker. Matter of fact, based on my own experiences with IE8 these past few weeks, finding your "stuff" quicker is a very strong theme in IE8. I've discovered with IE8 that browsing the web is much more efficient. There are some brand new features in IE8 I'd like to call out, based on my own experiences that I think users will find very useful in browsing the web. I've found these features in IE8 so useful in fact that I am using IE8 Beta 2 on all my PCs.

There is little doubt that 64-bit architectures are the future, as far as the parallel evolution of processors and operating systems goes. But when it comes down to Windows, the 32-bit version of the platform will survive not only with Windows Vista, but also with Windows 7. At this point in time, among the scarce details made available by Microsoft about the forthcoming iteration of Windows, to follow Vista, the only sure thing is that Windows 7 will come in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.

According to estimates from the Redmond company, by mid 2008, the install base of the Windows operating system would surpass the 1 billion milestone worldwide. But the vast majority of those Windows copies will still be 32-bit, largely just Windows XP and Windows Vista. (more…)

• Digidesign Pro Tools Vista Support: Say Wha?
  Digidesign has announced their Vista support information, which covers only some of their products, and on only some of the versions of Vista. Has to make you wonder what this company has in mind for the future.
  (tags: Compatibility )

Three Windows Vista non-security updates, that had originally been released as hotfixes, and then released as full fledged updates for download, will finally be pushed through Windows Update. As mentioned by the Windows Vista Blog, these updates will eventually become part of Vista’s SP1, but if you don’t want to wait for the benefits they offer, the update will be pushed to you this Tuesday, the 13th.

Here’s what will be coming through Windows Update:

• An update on system compatibility, reliability and stability: extends the battery life for mobile devices, improves stability of wireless network services, and shortens recovery time after Windows Vista experiences a period of inactivity, among other fixes.
• An update to USB core components: mainly affects systems returning from sleep or hibernation, fixing problems causing 1-2% of all crashes reported.
• An update to Windows Media Center: among other things, affects interaction issues occurring between Media Center PC and Microsoft Xbox 360 when Xbox 360 is used as a Media Center Extender.

…

Click to continue reading "Vista gets updates in November after all"

Written by Joe on November 12th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on reliability and Stability and Media Center and general and USB and Compatibility.