cro-man

Improved Performance * [improved in Beta 5!] Speed: improvements to our JavaScript engine as well as profile guided optimizations have resulted in continued improvements in performance. Compared to Firefox 2, web applications like Google Mail and Zoho Office run twice as fast in Firefox 3 Beta 5, and the popular SunSpider test from Apple shows improvements over previous releases. * Memory usage: Several new technologies work together to reduce the amount of memory used by Firefox 3 over a web browsing session. Memory cycles are broken and collected by an automated cycle collector, a new memory allocator reduces fragmentation, hundreds of leaks have been fixed, and caching strategies have been tuned. * Reliability: A user's bookmarks, history, cookies, and preferences are now stored in a transactionally secure database format which will prevent data loss even if their system crashes. :dribble:

Try with IP hiding software like Hide IP NG, or similar. Key Features of Hide IP NG: Don't waste time in testing slow and dangerous public proxy. Just select a USA/UK IP you wish to use from our list. Every IP you see is usable, fast and 100% secure! Assign different IP to your computers even they are behind the same router! A single click and ready to go. Hide your IP address without any configuration. Never ask our users to create any acount before using. You can never be logged and tracked. 1024 bits encryption prevent your ISP and your boss from spying on you! Prevent others from reading any data you transmit in Wi-Fi Hotspots. Support HTTPS:// sites and double your security! Send anonymous email through any web based mail system (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail). Post on bulletin boards without displaying your real IP address. Bypass the restrictions by some owners of Internet resources on users from certain countries or geographical regions. Bypass work/school web filter and visit any sites you want (e.g. MySpace).

Symantec Corp. has confirmed flaws in its most popular consumer security software that could give attackers the means to hijack the Windows PCs that the programs are supposed to protect. The vulnerabilities are in an ActiveX control that ships with several products, including Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, Norton SystemWorks and Norton 360. Ironically, Symantec analysts have both cited the popularity of ActiveX bugs and urged caution when using the controls in comments about other companies' product flaws. Full story:Computerworld

Many downloadable ZIP archives have DIZ (file_id.diz) and NFO files included within them. Sure, they're simple text files that can be viewed with Notepad, but GetDiz is a Windows Notepad is a great little utility for viewing and editing text files, but haven't you ever wanted just a bit more? Like launching URLs by clicking on them or using light colored text of any font on a dark background. Well then, what you need is GetDiz--a small, lightweight Notepad replacement that's every bit as fast, integrates seamlessly into Windows, and offers a nearly perfect set of improvements. In addition to the link launching and configurable background/foreground colors and fonts I already mentioned, GetDiz lets you automatically place highlighted text in the clipboard, auto-highlight keywords from a list you define, and reveal formatting characters. It will also run in a single-instance mode, where each new file replaces the old one in the same window to alleviate clutter. I found the last feature amazingly handy when perusing through multiple text files in a single directory. I also liked the large cut, copy, paste, and exit buttons on the bottom of the window.... License Type: Free Date Added: Mar 2008 Operating Systems: Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista Requirements: Windows File Size: 502KB Author: Outer Technologies Homepage & Download

Microsoft Corp. today said it will issue eight security updates next week, five tagged as "critical" to patch Windows, Office and Internet Explorer. One of the critical Windows updates scheduled for next Tuesday affects every version of the operating system Microsoft supports, including the just-released Service Pack 1 for Vista and the newest server operating system, Windows Server 2008. "That one has to be a pretty bad bug to be critical across the board like that," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Network Security Inc. "I would have expected a drop in criticality for Vista SP1, and most certainly in Server 2008. Something should have mitigated the vulnerability." Apparently not, according to Microsoft's prepatch notification, which was posted to the company's Web site midday today. As usual, Microsoft revealed no details in the monthly preview of next week's "Patch Tuesday," but it did label each version of Windows -- including Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Vista SP1 and Server 2008 -- as critical. Read more

A few weeks back, the first external build of Windows 7, the next version of Windows, fell into my hands. I installed it initially in just a virtual machine and took hundreds of shots, and that's what you're looking at here. Essentially, Windows 7 build 6519--dating back to December 2007--is just a slightly enhanced version of Windows Vista. My guess--and at this point, it's just a guess--is that things will change more significantly over time. But even in this early build, a number of interesting developments emerge. I'll have more to say about that in the days ahead. For now, enjoy this first screenshot gallery. It won't be the last. Source:Paul Thurrott's SuperSite View Screenshots

StyleFolder tool for quickly costumize looks of selected drive or folder. You can costumize background, icon, text color and Info ti. It designed for free, easy and handy to use.All costumizing preview and setting will displayed on one screen. Version: 1.0.2 Developer: Xaviorsoft Studios License: Freeware Price: Free Size: 1.29 MB OS: Windows 9X/ME/2000/NT/XP/Vista Last Update: February 16, 2008 Homepage & Download

Security company Secunia wrote that a potential successful exploitation of the flaws might allow the attackers to execute arbitrary code and get the affected system even more vulnerable. Here's the description of the two vulnerabilities as published by Secunia: 1) An error when prompting the user to add a newsfeed can be exploited to cause an invalid memory access via a specially crafted newsfeed source. 2) An error exists in the processing of HTML CANVAS elements. This can be exploited to cause a memory corruption via specially crafted scaled pattern images. The folks at Opera Software have already confirmed the flaws, which have been rated as moderately severe and highly severe, and released an updated version of the browser in order to correct the vulnerabilities. In case you're currently using Opera Browser and you'd want to patch it (you MUST want to patch it because leaving it vulnerable may threat the security of your computer), you have to download or update the browser to the latest release, namely the 9.27 edition. You can download the latest version of the browser, as well as many other applications, straight from Softpedia, using this link.

No Viruses.Try to scan with other Antivirus software.

Firefox 3 Beta 4 is 5x faster than IE7, 3x faster than FF2 Firefox 3 memory tests Memory usage of Firefox 3 (beta 4) is lower than FF2 and much lower than IE7.

Mozilla Corp. Thursday confirmed that it will release the final beta of Firefox 3.0 shortly, and that it expects to deliver the finished browser to users in June. Firefox 3.0 Beta 5 has been code-frozen, said Mike Schroepfer, Mozilla's vice president of engineering, and is working its way toward release. "That will be the last beta for Firefox 3.0," he said. Once Beta 5 is out of the way, developers will move to the Release Candidate (RC) stage. Release Candidate 1 (RC1) should be ready sometime in early May, said Schroepfer, assuming Mozilla meets its current schedule. "The release candidates will move a little slower than beta," he continued, noting that the company must make allowances for public feedback. Full story: ComputerWorld

Yesterday Microsofty delivers yet another updated XP SP3 RC 2 test build.

Microsoft Corp. will release Windows XP Service Pack 3 during the second half of April, according to a report from a Web site that has correctly predicted recent Windows ship dates. Here are the details... Windows XP Service Pack 3 will contain hotfixes and updates released since Windows XP SP2. It will also include an expanded set of product keys for Windows XP Professional that were originally introduced in Windows XP SP2c. Microsoft clarified that there will not be any integrated SP3 release for Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows XP Tablet Edition. That means you won't be able to buy or obtain a complete Windows XP Media Center Edition / Tablet Edition SP3 CD. In addition, users of Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows XP Tablet Edition will only be able to update to Service Pack 3 through Windows Update. All languages will now be released in two waves. Earlier, Microsoft said that languages support for Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be released in three waves. What was previously identified as wave 2 and 3 have now been combined into a single wave 2. Microsoft has also delayed RTM for Windows XP Service Pack 3 to provide sufficient time to incorporate feedback from the beta testers. (In other words, they can't make their original deadline!) Due to the changes in language releases and Windows XP SP3 RTM's release, here's the updated schedule. With the exception of Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be released in both standalone and integrated formats. It will be available in both CD and DVD formats, except for the Japanese language version which will only be in DVD format. Source: Tech ARP

Sorry,no widescreen available :sad01_anim:

Easy Thumbnails is a free utility for creating accurate thumbnail images and scaled-down/up copies from a wide range of popular picture formats. An elegant interface makes it a snap to find your images and select them for processing individually, in groups, or in whole folders, using a simple file selector and built-in image viewer. You can use slider controls to rotate images and adjust their contrast, brightness, sharpness and quality, and check out the results with the built-in viewer. Key Features Scale images up or down in batches Eleven resampling filters, including Lanczos3 Sharpen soft images from digital cameras Real-time preview of target image Supports the new JPEG 2000 image format Preserves EXIF data in JPEG images Supports lossless JPEG rotation Free software producing quality results Homepage & Download

SparkleXP is an application designed to tweak Windows XP and improve its performance, it helps freeing up computer resources resulting in a faster and responsive computer. This tool creates a second Hardware Profile and a correlative new User to get a lightweight desktop. You can choose to boot into your regular or SparkleXP configuration at startup. Homepage & Download

The smallest free tool for taking screenshots of different size. Just open Snapa, resize it's window to fit the area you want to save, and press "Save" button. * SnapaShot is the easiest and quickest way to capture the screen! * You don't need to install it, just download and use Snapa anywhere * SnapaShot is only 68Kb (only one file) and pure net 2.0 * You can cut variable sized snapshots from any webpages, photos and online videos * SnapaShot save snaps in 5 graphic formats * Snapa Light best screen capture is free System requirements You should have net 2.0 installed (most XP and Vista already have it) Choose Snapa screen capture software instead of windows "print screen" button. Ideal for image cropping without any Photoshop and etc.. Homepage & Download

Usually if you try change size of icons you need use sizes from 1 up to 72, because standart tools of Windows do not allow to set up size of icon to more than 72 px. IconSize will provide feature to set up icon size up to 256 px. Tested only under WindowsXP, not needed for WindowsVista Homepage & Download

Windows Sidebar Styler takes advantage of the new technologies introduced in Windows Vista

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Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RTM is still not available to end users, even at a month and a half since it went gold. But some select few have access to the "next best thing." Japanese users of Microsoft's latest Windows client are also among the customers still waiting for SP1 RTM, but at the same time they have the Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 special edition toilet paper to keep them occupied until the actual service pack is released. Unlike the bits for Vista SP1, cellulose fails to come across driver issues that would postpone availability well after the date it was released to manufacturing. Enlarge Image Enlarge Image Source: Softpedia

Basic features include changing file and folder attributes within en masse. A really useful feature is the compression/decompression of files stored on the Windows NT/2000 and XP NTFS file system. Furthermore, date and time on files and folders can be partially changed. In this case, you can advise Attribute Changer not to change the whole object data, but only parts such as day, month, year, seconds, minutes or hours. The progress can be monitored in realtime on the "Activity and Results" tab. Filters and exceptions should be used to fine tune the process. Filters include attributes, size, date and time while exceptions are used to filter out files and directory entries using wildcards (* and ?). Homepage & Download

The Fifth Element is one of several suites from Ssuite (The double S is correct.) It aggresively tried to outdo Office with more features, simpler interface, and, of course, by being free. When it comes to giants in the land of software, none is as big and powerful as the titans of Microsoft. Of programs foolhardy enough to challenge Microsoft, few have returned to tell the tale. (Heard lately from Netscape or OS2?) Most of those that have tried to compete with Office, the hulking battleship of Microsoft's fleet, have come from other big companies such as Sun with the cash to try to one-up Microsoft just for bragging rights. And then there's Ssuite (cq) Office's The Fifth Element. (Yes, "Ssuite" is spelled correctly, and, no, we're not talking about a Bruce Willis movie.)The Fifth Element, which has come from South Africa to take on the Colossus of Redmond, is a collection of office applications with a wider range than those in MS Office. Any decent suite can do word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and e-mail. The Fifth Element includes a browser, tools for managing LANs, holding chats and making calls using VoIP. It provides a drawing module, photo and album editors, sound recorders, and MP3 and video players. There's a search engine, a sort engine, envelope printer, encryption, and a chess game, for more than 30 programs overall. And if it's not exactly the right combination for you, Ssuite Office has several other office software packages of various complexities, all free. For all it's breadth, The Fifth Element is shallow--and that's meant in the nicest sense. Most operations require you to go no more than a couple of clicks into a menu. The most common tasks are neatly displayed at the top levels of the screens, making for quick learning and use. The are a welcome relief from the madly swirling, morphing menus in Microsoft Office 2007. One reason for the simplicity, over and beyond making the Fifth Element a snap to use, is that most of the programs appear to be frankenware, pieced together from publicly available code. That makes them a kludge, but they're very nice kludges. There is no need for you to upgrade your hardware and/or purchase a new operating system to run the Office software. The Office suites have been designed and build to run on All Windows

Atlantis is an innovative,no-nonsense word processor carefully designed with the end-user in mind. Compact, fast-loading, but still powerful and efficient, Atlantis will be the perfect companion for a wide range of your word processing tasks,

Mozilla today released a new beta version of Firefox 3. Beta 4 builds on the existing releases of Firefox and includes more than 900 enhancements from the Beta 3 and includes 'drastic improvements to performance and memory use.' It also provides other fixes based on feedback from the community. Mozilla recommend that the developer preview release of Firefox is only to be used for testing purposes, and shouldn't be put in production environments just yet. If you're game, you can get it here. The biggest problem you're likely to run into is incompatibility with the many and varied add-ons for Firefox. So if you run a lot of them, it might pay to check whether your favourites are updated for 3.0 compatibility yet.