Firefox 6.0a2 Aurora / 5.0b5 Beta / 4.0.1 / 3.6.17

The browser provides virus, popup and spyware protection in a simple, easy to use tabbed interface

The Firefox project (formerly Firebird, which was formerly Phoenix) is a redesign of Mozilla's browser component, written using the XUL user interface language and designed to be cross-platform.

Firefox is a small, fast and very easy to use browser that offers many advantages over other web browsers, such as the ability to block pop-up windows and the tabbed browsing.
Here are some key features of "Firefox":

· Comprehensive popup controls to keep unwanted advertising off your desktop;
· A tab browsing mode that lets you open several pages in a single window, allowing you to load links in the background without leaving the page you're on;
· Integrated search (powered by Google);
· Industry leading accessibility with Find As You Type - find links and page text by simply typing;
· Simplified privacy controls that let you cover your tracks more effectively;
· A streamlined browser window that lets you see more of the page than any other browser while at the same time being more configurable;
· A large variety of free downloadable extensions and themes that add specific functionality and visual changes to the browser.

Requirements:

· Pentium 233 MHz (Recommended: Pentium 500MHz or greater)
· 64 MB RAM (Recommended: 128 MB RAM or greater)
· 52 MB hard drive space

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

· Data Management Window is an experimental feature that provides control over the the access that specific websites have to your browsing data, including cookies, passwords and location information. To start testing this feature type “about:permissions” in the Awesome Bar (URL Bar).
· Add-ons Manager with Plugin Check quickly verifies the compatibility of installed plugins directly from the Add-Ons Manager.
· Panorama Groups on Demand improves browser startup time and overall experience by allowing power Panorama users to load saved tab groups only when using Panorama.
· The Scratchpad lets developers quickly build and test JavaScript snippets in the browser.
· Web Console adds the ability to move the console to other parts of the window or break out into a separate window.
· Web Developer Menu provides access to developer tools from the Firefox Aurora Menu Button
· Firefox Aurora has additional support for HTML5, DOM level 3, server-sent events, networking technologies and other tools that...

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Download NVIDIA 275.33 WHQL Graphics Driver

It appears that NVIDIA has finished its latest installment of the consumer graphics driver, complete with WHQL certification and performance enhancements in several games, among other things.

NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices release graphics drivers once a month, as well as when they happen to unleash a new video board.

In this case, it is the former company that has presented its newest package, one that has passed all WHQL certification tests.

The main thing it does is add support for the GeForce GTX 560 graphics card which was more or less recently unveiled.

Another accomplishment is the fix to the previous driver's problem (v275.27) that caused large performance drops when playing The Witcher 2.

What's more, all 400 series and 500 series adapters should now see better frame rates during some games, like Crysis 2, Portal 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum (with PhysX High), Civilization V (with SLI) and Bulletstorm (with Antialiasing enabled).

The frame rate boosts range from 4% to 15% and are supplemented by yet another gaming performance increase (of up to 12%) on certain dual-core CPUs (in CPU-limited areas).

Meanwhile, 3D Vision game profiles are added for certain titles, while water reflection problems and better 3D vision compatibility has been provided for Portal 2 and The Witcher 2, respectively.

All in all, while all components of the driver will be updated to the newest and best versions, the new package definitely should be bale to brag more about visible gaming performance advantages.

NVIDIA has added the 275.33 WHQL Graphics Driver to its website but end-users that own a 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500-series GeForce card (or the ION GPU) can downlaod the appropriate version from one of the links below.

Nvidia GeForce Display Driver 275.33 for XP

Nvidia GeForce Display Driver 275.33 for XP64

Nvidia GeForce Display Driver 275.33 for Vista, Win7

Nvidia GeForce Display Driver 275.33 for Vista64, Win7 x64

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Office 365 Can Be Ordered by Microsoft's Volume License / Enterprise Customers

Microsoft has yet to announce the official general availability deadline for Office 365, but the company is sure getting ready to sell subscriptions.
As of today, June 1st, 2011, some of the Redmond company’s customers can start ordering the software giant’s upcoming Cloud-based productivity suite.

Microsoft’s Sjonia Harper revealed that Office 365 has been added to Microsoft's price list for customers with Volume License or Enterprise license agreements.

“Today is June 1, 2011 which means volume licensing customers can start ordering Office 365 - the next release of our hosted solutions for SharePoint, Exchange, Lync, and Office. The official launch date hasn't been announced yet, but it's very soon,” Harper revealed.

“We have offerings for Small Business and Enterprise. The beta is still open for those of you who want to try before you buy. If your organinzation has 250 seats or more, please contact your Microsoft account manager or call 1-800-426-9400 for smaller companies, you can order directly from the Office 365 Portal when it becomes available.”

Of course, volume and enterprise customers with valid agreements can work with Microsoft in order to also include Office 365 among the technologies covered by their license.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer revealed last week that the Redmond company is right on track to release Office 365 by the end of June 2011.

The Beta of Office 365 continues to be available for download even at this point in time, so customers interested in seeing what the Cloud productivity suite will bring to the table can take it out for a spin, so to speak.

It’s important to note that Office 365 is not a variant of the office desktop solution for the Cloud. Instead, Office 365 is a collection of services which includes: Office, Lync Online, SharePoint Online and Exchange Online.

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Windows BUILD Developer Conference – Registration Now Open

Microsoft has given green light to the registration process for its Windows BUILD developer conference which is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2011.
Some devs might be familiar with another of the company’s events reserved for them, the Professional Developers Conference, or PDC for short.

Well, they need to think of BUILD as PDC vNext. The conference is scheduled to take place between September 13 - 16 in Anaheim, California, the software giant confirmed.

“BUILD is the event for developers who want a front row seat at the industry’s first deep dive on Windows 8,” revealed S. Somasegar, Senior Vice President, Developer Division.

“It is where the full spectrum of developers - from startups and entrepreneurs to those who work for the world’s biggest enterprises – will come together to get a deeper understanding of Microsoft’s roadmap. At BUILD, Microsoft will show off the new app model that enables the creation of web-connected and services-powered apps that have access to the full power of the PC.”

Those devs that hurry up and register early will be able to benefit from a consistent discount. A Full Conference Pass costa just $1,595 if purchased prior to August 1, or $2,095 after that.

A Microsoft representative confirmed for Softpedia that BUILD will act as the stage for the industry’s first deep dive on Windows 8.

But the conference will not be focused entirely on Windows 8, with other technologies also coming into the spotlight, including Windows Azure, HTML5 support, Windows Phone, etc.

“The conference name, BUILD, reflects a call to action for the more than one hundred million developers driving the pace of technology: build experiences with the next version of Windows that will transform the computing experience for billions of people across the globe,” Somasegar added.

“Today, everyone can be a developer; the most tech-savvy generation we’ve ever seen is fueling demand for new tools and technologies. Many of the developers building web sites and apps that make an impact have no formal education in computer science or engineering. BUILD will be a gateway to new opportunity for all developers.”

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Bing “Friends Don’t Let Friends Decide Alone” Twitter Giveaway Now Live

Microsoft is attempting to create some Twitter buzz about the new social networking features that have been introduced to Bing.
In this regard, the company announced the launch of the @Bing “Friends Don’t Let Friends Decide Alone” Twitter giveaway.

The sweepstakes are focused on Twitter, even though the social features that the company is referring to are actually from Facebook.

In mid-May 2011, the software giant catalyzed a social evolution for its search / decision engine, with the addition of Facebook Features to Bing.

“Recently, we launched a fresh batch of exciting new social features. Now you can receive personalized search results based on the opinions of your friends on Facebook. To celebrate the launch, we’re giving five lucky @bing followers $100 towards a night out with friends,” a member of the Bing team said.

Facebook enhancements for Bing are designed to allow users to tap insight from friends and family, as well as from additional Facebook users when searching.

The move is illustrative of the fact that Microsoft believes search to be more than just about algorithms, enabling Facebook data to influence the results returned to users, and allowing them to make better decisions based on the information they share with friends.

“Today (June 1st), we’re going to tweet a question from the @bing Twitter handle asking what decisions you make with your friends. All you have to do to be eligible to win is reply to the question and include the #decisions hashtag,” the Bing team representative added.

“Of the people who reply with an answer along with the #decisions hashtag, we’ll randomly select 5 lucky winners during the following time period: Noon – Midnight ET (9am – 9pm PT) on June 1st. Good luck and let the tweeting begin! Be sure to Retweet and tell all your friends so you can guilt them into spending that $100 with you if they win.”

Users should read the Official Rules and some are bound to be disappointed seeing as participation in the sweepstakes is limited to US citizens.

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