Interesting Software and System News

[Marc57]

Patch Tuesday heads-up: Critical Windows, IE fixes coming

Interesting indeed!  Apparently this Extremely critical 0-day exploit of Microsoft DirectX is not going to be patched next Tuesday.  If you have a vulnerable system, follow the directions I've linked here for applying a workaround immediately.  Windows Vista is not affected.

I'd be willing to bet there will be an out of cycle update if they get this patch together before next month.

[Alan Baxter]

I hope so, Marc.  Most people don't know about the exploit or that MS has provided an effective, temporary workaround.

[polonus]

Hi forum friends,

Everybody knows the IrfanView viewer, some of you may know about XnView. For a good viewer one does not have to pay any longer, Vista has a decent program aboard as a standard viewer, Google offers you Picasa. But please now do have a look at this Finnish viewer: Wildbit Viewer, go here: http://www.wildbit-soft.fi/software.html
It has a viewer, a program to make slide shows, a nice editor (my favorite here is still PhotoFiltre, a beautiful French editor to work my submarine pics, see below) and a special Search program for photographs.
It is a pity that not a lot of users know about this, but that is no longer an excuse for you here, go try it out!

polonus

[Hard_ROCKER]

On Bob's suggestion a couple of yrs ago i started using FastStone Image Viewer and i have to say i've been using it ever since. Very happy with the program. I used ACDSee, IrfanView, XnView and a couple of others that i don't remember right now. Feel the most comfortable with FastStone. For editting i am still with Photoshop.

[DavidR]

I have been using IrfanView for absolutely years now, but I'm certainly considering a change, I used to have that as the default for all image types, but the recent change of the Icon makes this look absolutely horrendous in the explorer folders. Twice in as many weeks have I now mentioned aesthetics, wow, a monumental sea change, must be polonus's submarines.

[Marc57]

Microsoft to EU: Antitrust this! Will remove IE from Win 7 in Europe

Microsoft plans to strip Internet Explorer from sales of Windows 7 in Europe. Redmond plans to basically draw an artificial line in the sand and say, “Ooops, no IE in this Windows! But, uh, if OEMs just happen want to install a browser with the operating system, we do have one available.”

http://government.zdnet.com/?p=4926&tag=nl.e620

Nice move Microsoft, That's one way around this Antitrust crap. From what I've read, It will be called Windows 7 E.

Here's a better link, the other one seems to be moving slow.

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/06/11/newsflash-europe-to-get-windows-7-e-versions-sans-ie.aspx

[DavidR]

The problem is IE will still be present and integrated into the OS, you just won't have the browser element, that is effectively all they will be doing as it would simply be too complex to completely rip out IE from integration into the OS.

So I fear it will still be possible to exploit IE vulnerabilities as they are found, as essentially it will still be integrated into the OS.

[bob3160]

The problem is IE will still be present and integrated into the OS,

In Windows 7 if I type a url into the address bar of my computer , it parses that link onto
your default browser NOT IE. That's already a great change from previous versions.
I personally wouldn't want an OS without a browser.
Doesn't the Apple OS also come with a browser

[.: Mac :.]

EC to pursue antitrust case despite Microsoft's IE decision

So they are still going to go after MS.

Doesn't the Apple OS also come with a browser

Yes, Safari comes installed just like Firefox does in Ubuntu. And in Both Mac OS X and Ubuntu removing them is very easy if you don't want them, unlike windows where its woven tightly into the OS and near impossible to remove.

[cinchez]

EC to pursue antitrust case despite Microsoft's IE decision
, unlike windows where its woven tightly into the OS and near impossible to remove.

100% correct!
IE was woven tightly in my OS and i cant seem to remove it^^
So i just keep on ignoring IE^^

-AnimeLover^^

[YoKenny]

EC to pursue antitrust case despite Microsoft's IE decision

So they are still going to go after MS.

The EU must be feeling the pinch in these hard financial times:
EU hits Intel with $1.45 billion antitrust fine

[GoldAndPurple]

IE8 problems, and why I went back to IE7 ...
* was a major resource hog
* deleted most cookie files every session without any notice or option to control (all ones I store I deliberately want to keep - since they have preferences or login data I want stored)
* deleted all temp internet files automatically every session, with no ability to control (couldn't therefore get .mpg or .flv files of interest from there, or other files from there which are often useful)

In addition, it is clear to me that IE8 is mostly a marketing tool that adds no important new functionality. At installation, it tries to eliminate Google and other installed services and replace them with Microsoft services. It has some useless glitz factors like colored tabs ... like who the fk needs them? ... but, again, nothing particularly useful.

Maybe some of the problems have been fixed with patches? I don't know ... but I don't want to waste more time in attempting to find out.

[bob3160]

IE8 problems, and why I went back to IE7 ...

It's your settings:
   

Click Image to enlarge.

[YoKenny]

IE8 problems, and why I went back to IE7 ...

Its your settings

In addition, it is clear to me that IE8 is mostl[quotey a marketing tool that adds no important new functionality. At installation, it tries to eliminate Google and other installed services and replace them with Microsoft services. It has some useless glitz factors like colored tabs ... like who the fk needs them? ... but, again, nothing particularly useful.

Maybe some of the problems have been fixed with patches? I don't know ... but I don't want to waste more time in attempting to find out.

Too bad you are averse to new things as one learns to try to see what advantages the new things have:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/safer.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/easier.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/faster.aspx

[YoKenny]

-= Bing Search Engine goes public.. 

http://www.bing.com/

Its ruffeling some feathers:
Does Microsoft's Bing have Google running scared?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10264417-75.html
FEAR GRIPS GOOGLE
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06142009/business/fear_grips_google_174235.htm
Biggest Post Gates Microsoft Product is BING
http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/2009/06/biggest-post-gates-microsoft-product-is.html

In IE8 check the InPrivate Filtering Settings when vising Google.
http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/ie8-in-private-filtering-settings.aspx