beta

Mozilla is continuing their beta testing of their new Thunderbird 3 email program, which is expected to go final towards the end of November, 2009. I have been trying the latest beta, T-bird 3 beta 4 this past week and I like what I am seeing thus far. First of all the new email version [...]

Firefox 3.5 is only 3 months old, but it appears that the folks at Mozilla may be ready to replace it. The reasoning is that the newest version is based on a new Gecko engine that may improve performance. If you would like to try the beta [test] version you will be able to download [...]

Want to make a call to another Twitter user using your landline or cell phone? Well Twitter is currently beta testing JAJAH@Call, which will allow two-minute VoIP calls. The beta version is only by invitation, so you need to check your account to see if you received an invitation or not.
This Tweet blurb further states:

Putting [...]

I’ve been playing with the new Google Chrome browser since it was first released. But to be honest I just keep going back to my trusty Firefox because I like the add ons that Firefox offers. But this morning when I downloaded the new Beta version of Chrome, I must admit that this puppy is [...]

Though Google is making light of their use of the word ‘beta’, they do admit to over extending the ‘beta’ length on their products. For most of us the word ‘beta’ means test version to iron out bugs. Normally ‘beta’ software becomes RTM software once the testing completes. But for Google they have some products [...]

Intel is testing a Firefox extension called ‘Dispute Finder’, which claims to determine if claims are BS or not. According to the Intel labs site, they claim that the claims made by others can be disputed by readers and both views on the subject are presented. Though this would seem to be a valuable tool, [...]

Three years ago Microsoft entered into the anti-virus software market with their Live OneCare. Live OneCare bit the dust because, well, no one cared. The thinking back than was that Microsoft would steal away business from the likes of Symantec and McAfee. But this didn’t happen. Now Microsoft is getting ready to unveil Morro, which [...]

Microsoft is opening their My Phone software, which is available in beta, to all users. The purpose of My Phone is that it allows the user to backup all of their information from your mobile phone onto the web. The service was previously only offered to a select group, but now is being made available [...]

This is what the folks over at Mozilla say about their new browser:
Please note: Firefox 3.5 Beta 4 is a public preview release intended for developer testing and community feedback. It includes many new features as well as improvements to performance, web compatibility, and speed. We recommend that you read the release notes and known [...]

The folks over at the blog team for Windows are noting that many people are using Windows 7 as their primary operating system. Apparently these users have installed all of their software goodies and now they are facing a new RC version coming down the pipe. Which poses one minor issue. How to upgrade the [...]

While we await the official Release Candidate of Windows 7, additional beta builds continue to leak out of the Redmond tower. The latest build which just happened to fall into my paws is nothing to write home about. Yes, there are some minor tweaks, but most of the work most likely is behind the scenes [...]

Oh Microsoft. How you need to pull off a winner. With the anchor known as Vista hanging around your neck, you need to pull something out of your bag of tricks. But are you people really fooling us by dropping little tidbits of rumors and false announcements around the Internet? I think not.
Since the first of [...]

Amazon is testing out a beta version of a new game download site that they have launched. The company hopes to attract many of it’s 88 million visitors to try the new site. I took a look at the site and noted that you get to try some of the games before you buy. Pricing [...]

When I first booted up Windows 7 and saw the default background, I immediately recognized the fish on the screen as a Siamese [aka Japanese, Oriental] fighting fish. These little guys are also known as betta fish. Get it. Beta.

Didn’t that make your day!
Comments welcome.
PS I know some others are making much more [...]

I have been reading about the experience of some users who claim they are using Windows 7 beta. Interesting since those of us who had first notification of the beta being available still are having issues downloading the latest release. I am sure that there are some in Internet land who have a faster connection [...]

Over at Ars Technica they have an article which alludes to the fact that Windows 7 Beta 1 has been leaked. The article also states it was is going to cover Microsoft’s reaction, but doesn’t mention anything about any reaction from anyone. I have a reaction to the alleged leak.
First of all with every new [...]

Over at the Mozilla Blog they have announced that a beta version of Firefox is now available for download. There are new features which should improve the performance of Firefox and also should improve upon speed.
According to the artcile it states:
Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 is now available for download. This milestone is focused on testing [...]

There is a new kid on the block that claims that it will be the place that sports fanatics will want to meet and to challenge their knowledge among other sports enthusiastic. The basics of SportsFanLive is to become the Facebook of sports and not just another site spewing out scores and stats. Users can [...]

First let me say that I have not personally used any Symantec products since late 2003. But I have seen previous versions of Symantec products such as Norton anti-virus or Norton Internet Security products and have been less than impressed. In fact I have advised clients to uninstall trial ware of Norton on new systems, [...]

Microsoft is making available for download, a Windows Live Calendar that can be synchronized with Outlook. Called Outlook Connector, the beta software is described by Microsoft as:
Microsoft has just released a new version of the Outlook Connector, giving users access to the Windows Live services through Outlook. In what will be a popular move (judging [...]