MICROSOFT'S ZUNE HD TO TAKE ON IPOD

Do check out the pictures here:


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Here the details are given with each picture.

MICROSOFT UNVEILS NEW INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE

San Francisco: Microsoft has unveiled a new search engine named Bing, renewing its efforts to challenge the dominance of Google in the Internet search market.

The company said the new service will begin to roll out over the coming days and will be fully deployed worldwide June 3.

"Today, search engines do a decent job of helping people navigate the web and find information, but they don't do a very good job of enabling people to use the information they find," Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"Bing is an important first step forward in our long-term effort to deliver innovations in search that enable people to find information quickly and use the information they've found to accomplish tasks and make smart decisions," he added.

Microsoft said the Bing service, billed by the company as a Decision Engine, will initially focus on shopping, travel, local business and information, and health-related research - areas in which people want more assistance in making key decisions.

FACEBOOK GETS $200 MILLION BOOST FROM RUSSIA

New York: Social networking site Facebook has received a $200 million investment from Digital Sky Technologies, an internet investment group, in exchange for a 1.96 per cent stake in the company.

Digital Sky Technologies (DST), which has significant stake in Eastern European and Russian internet businesses, has picked up 1.96 per cent in Facebook, valuing the enterprise at $10 billion, the company said in a statement.

In addition, DST has indicated plans for an offer to buy at least $100 million of Facebook shares from existing shareholders to facilitate liquidity for current and former employees' vested shares in the company.

However, consistent with Facebook's practice with other recent investors, DST would not be represented on the Facebook board or hold special observer rights, the statement added.

"This investment demonstrates Facebook's ongoing success at creating a global network for people to share and connect," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

"A number of firms approached us, but DST stood out because of the global perspective they bring-– backed up by the impressive growth and financial achievements of their internet investments," Zuckerberg added.

Iran restores access

Meanwhile Iran has restored access to Facebook after blocking it reportedly to prevent supporters of a moderate in the presidential race from using it for his campaign, the Ilna news agency said.

Ilna is considered close to reformist candidates standing in the June 12 election.

The agency said the Internet social networking site had been blocked after a decision "by a committee of representatives from the ministry of interior, intelligence, judiciary, parliament and some other ministries".

On May 23, it said access was blocked because "supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi were using Facebook to better disseminate the candidate's positions".

Mousavi, a moderate, is emerging as the main rival to conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is seeking a second term in office in next month's poll.

When asked about the ban at a news conference yesterday, Ahmadinejad said he was "unaware and would investigate" the matter.

The authorities have not given any reason for initially banning access to the site and then restoring it. They closely monitor access to Internet, especially political and pornographic sites.

A DEADLY VIRUS CALLED CONFICKER

Virus on the prowl

It is testing times for computer security experts. They are at their wits' end over what to do with Conficker, a worm that has infected about 10 million computers across the globe.

Making its appearance around October-November last year, it has caused substantial damage to unsuspecting computer users. In impact, it has rivalled the 'I Love you' virus and the 'Slammer' worm that one saw a few years ago.

While no major disruption of the Internet has resulted from this aggression, many affected machines (bots) have been converted into what one observer calls 'junk mail-spewing robots'. A few weeks ago, one bot alone sent more than 40,000 spam messages in less than 12 hours!

Complete disruption

Conficker, also known as Downadup, has displayed an awesome power to take control of computers from remote locations and manipulating them at will.

It is widely believed that the worm made its first appearance by exploiting an MS Windows vulnerability. Two other methods of attack figure in experts' speculation. One possibility is that some weak passwords had been neutralised. Stronger ones had been violated through methodic labour based on guesswork.

Another line of thinking is that a few USB devices had been infected so that these in turn infected other machines. It is these theories that have prompted some experts to assert that, ultimately, it is a lax security regimen in some companies that has facilitated Conficker's onward march.

What about home computers? Generally speaking, these are relatively free from danger because of their isolation from huge systems that one sees in private industry and public offices.

Worst is yet to come

Whatever be the means used by Conficker, one thing is clear. The resolve of the authors remains unbroken. Their ingenuity and daring are unprecedented. There is a fear therefore that the worse is yet to come.

Actually, some dramatic action was expected on April 1 when the miscreant program writers were believed to be planning an escalation of their offensive. Nothing of the sort, however, happened, until a few days ago when they successfully installed the Spyware Protect 2009, a fake anti-virus program, in infected machines. We do not know how many fell prey to this ruse.

The tactic here is to go on issuing a warning that Conficker would destroy your system and that you need to install Spyware Protect 2009. Even if you say 'no' several times when the pop-up appears on your screen, out of sheer exasperation, you are bound to cough up $50 for spurious software that offered to rid you of the menace of Conficker.

Researchers say that the object of the malware writers has now become very clear, viz., one of making money. This is, therefore, no longer an innocent prank but an unadulterated cyber crime. The FBI has rightly stepped into tracking down the offenders. The CBI needs to follow suit, if only to establish its credentials as a cybercrime-savvy organisation on whom both government and the private sector could depend, if the occasion arose.

East Europe in focus

There is suspicion that those behind Conficker are from East Europe. This cannot be dismissed as mere guesswork because that region had in the past come to the adverse notice of police agencies in the UK several times for a wide spectrum of crimes.

Apart from this, a basis for this suspicion is, in a particular case the rogue program checked whether the computer that was being attacked had a Ukranian keyboard lay-out. The inference was that if the machine did have a Ukranian background, Conficker would not do any harm! Many experts admit that Conficker's authors are smart and skilled.

New variant

They have issued many updates without any challenge whatsoever. For instance, on April 10, they floated a new variant, C.e, which not only restored Conficker's ability to spread but in fact strengthened its defence against even the best of anti-virus software. One feature that has worked to its advantage is that Conficker comes with a strong encryption mechanism that hides its internal dynamics.

It is against this backdrop that we must consider two recent reports of security breach from the US. A Wall Street Journal report that says some hackers have embedded software in the country's electricity grid, and this could facilitate a frontal attack on the power system whereby a massive blackout in most parts of the country could be engineered at will.

Vital infrastructure

The newspaper adds that this was detected a few years ago. The US Homeland Security officials have, however, not confirmed this report. It, nevertheless, raises a big question mark on the country's ability to protect its vital infrastructure. Significantly, the 60-day review ordered by President Obama is ending in the next few days, and that would reveal the chinks in the country's cyber security preparedness.

There is another report which refers to the damage done by miscreants to the fibre optic cables in the Bay Area of California on April 10. Here, a miscreant went down a manhole to physically cut a communication cable which resulted in a major breakdown of cell and land phones and Internet services. It took several hours for the AT&T staff to identify the point of sabotage and restore services.

Strengthen surveillance

This incident highlights the fact that physical security is as vital as computer security if we are to ensure uninterrupted communication between systems.

The Bay Area happening bares our dependence on wired links, notwithstanding whatever we have achieved in the area of wireless systems.

Here is something to ponder for policy makers and law enforcement officials in India. The latter, in particular, will have to strengthen surveillance of areas through which vital cables pass, either over ground or under ground.

For viewing the other pictures click on this link:
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DOWNLOAD INTERNET EXPLORER 8

I have found another link other than MSN from where the INTERNET EXPLORER 8 can be downloaded.The link is from yahoo.Either get it from the previous link of MSN which I gave last month or get it from here also.
The link is here:

http://downloads.yahoo.com/in/internetexplorer/

GREEN APPLE BITTEN

Environment friendly

Apart from their performance, Apple products are known for their groundbreaking design and user interface. There are fans who swear by Mac products because of their cool design and ease of use. There is much more to Apple's products - they are also more environment friendly than other computers around you.

Mac Mini

Apple claims the new version of Mac mini to be the world's most energy efficient desktop computer. Mac mini consumes 13W when idle, less than half the power consumed by an incandescent light bulb (usually 40W).

Apple says that the Mac mini does not have many of the toxins that are normally found in computers - brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from circuit boards, internal cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives.

The new Mac mini uses highly recyclable aluminium and polycarbonate for the enclosure. It also consumes 45 per cent less power than its previous version.

Across products

Apple has taken the energy efficiency theme across several of its products. The MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air also have highly recyclable aluminium and glass enclosures, mecury-free displays and arsenic-free display glass. They also use energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) technology. The MacBook LED backlit display uses 30 per cent less power compared to conventional CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlit displays.

Apple claims the MacBook Air consumes the least amount of power (13W) of any Apple portable or desktop computer in production.

The iPhone 3G ships with PVC-free handset, headphones, and USB cables; BFR-free printed circuit boards; and a mercury- and arsenic-free LCD display.

Paints and inks used in Apple products are also free from mercury, cadmium and nickel, chromium and lead.

Batteries

Apple phased out nickel-cadmium batteries in 1994. It uses alkaline and lithium - based batteries that are free from lead, mercury and cadmium. The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro lasts up to five years - or 1,000 recharges. A typical notebook battery lasts for around two years.

Packaging

To be more eco-friendly Apple has also cut down on retail packaging. The Mac Mini packaging is 31 per cent smaller than the previous generation's, which means more boxes can be accommodated in shipping containers and other modes of transportation.

The packaging for the current Gen iPod Nano is also 32 per cent lighter and uses 54 per cent less volume than the packaging used for the first generation Nano.

iPod Classic packaging consumes 35 per cent less weight and 82 per cent less volume than packaging for the 1st generation iPod.

The packaging for MacBook uses 41per cent less volume, resulting in 25 per cent more units per shipping container.

Packaging for the current-generation 20-inch iMac uses 66 per cent less plastic and 42 per cent less paper than the 20-inch flat panel iMac G4 while taking up 41per cent less space.

For viewing the pictures do view this link:
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NOW, LAPTOPS MADE OF BAMBOO

Bamboo series
Okay. We'll confess. With this notebook, ASUS makes a complete paradoxical statement. ASUS cuts millions of bamboo trees to make the panels of their new Bamboo series notebooks, but the company says it saves about 36 million trees annually. How?

While most eco-conscious gadget makers have chosen to work around power saving models, for its latest laptop ASUS has chosen bamboo - the world's fastest growing woody plant. The new Bamboo Series notebooks feature the bamboo wood panels. So, how does that help and why was bamboo chosen over other wood types?

Deforestation?
Bamboo has a renewal rate that no other plant can match. Some bamboo species can grow at the speed of 4 feet per day. In fact, it has been measured surging skyward as fast as 121 cm (47.6 inches) in a 24-hour period. And the best part, bamboo can totally recover after harvest and there's absolutely no need to re-plant again.

So why bother about the deforestation part, especially when we know that bamboo helps reduce CO2 emissions in the environment? ASUS says some species of bamboo can even dissolve up to 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions to effectively make the air fresher. And, let us remember that this saves the planet from the effect of the entire noxious cycle of manufacturing and machining metal panels.

Really tough
Now, this definitely makes the decision to embrace bamboo nothing short of ingenious. The organic tactility, refreshing scent and minimalist aesthetics of bamboo lends the notebook an aura of warmth and old world charm that synthetic material and metals will struggle to imitate.

The ASUS Bamboo series notebook is a tough one too. Really tough we mean - it is the first notebook to have survived the intolerant conditions of the snow-capped Qomolangma peak.

Extended battery life
In phasing out hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, ASUS has restricted the use of 37 such substances as opposed to the 6 stipulated by the RoHS directive.

Further the notebook uses a Super Hybrid Engine that can extend battery life between 35 and 70 per cent as compared to notebooks with the same specifications, but without the technology.

Reducing CO2 emissions
ASUS says it achieves this by intelligently monitoring the power requirements of the notebook's components and automatically adjusting the power levels in real-time to match the current consumption needs.

The Hybrid Engine further reduces the yearly CO2 emission by 12.3 kg per notebook. Given that ASUS ships approximately 6 million notebooks per year, this works out to a massive 73.8 million kilograms of CO2 emission reduced per year, which equates to saving 36 million trees annually.

For viewing the other pictures view this link: http://sify.com/finance/imagegallery/galleryDetail.php?id=jfzmGRadhaj&title=The_natural_touch&?vsv=TopHP7

SAMSUNG UNVEILS MINI NOTEBOOK,NOTEBOOK RANGE FOR INDIA

Launches 4 lightweight models



Samsung India Vice President IT Young June Lee, left, Director IT Business Ranjit Yadav, right, and with Indian actress Pooja Gandhi hold new series of Samsung mini laptops during their launch in Bangalore on Thursday. Samsung launched three mini notebooks N110, NC20 and N120 that are priced between Rs25,252 and 30,089.

Samsung on Thursday unveiled its Mini Notebook and Notebook range in the Indian market by announcing the launch of four lightweight models of Mini Notebooks under its N series and three advanced R series of Notebooks here.

Samsung India had announced its foray into mobile PC segment in December 2008. "The very positive acceptance has encouraged us to further enhance our Mini Notebook offerings."We are looking at Mini Notebook segment as clear growth driver for our mobile computing business going forward", Ranjit Yadav, Director-IT Business, Samsung India Electronics Ltd told reporters.

The Mini Notebook range has four variants; N110, NC20, N120 and N310. "The new range of Mini Notebooks and Notebooks comes with features like LED backlit displays for brighter pictures and lower power consumption and powered USB, Samsung utility softwares, spill-proof keyboard, SRS surround sound solutions in select models", Mr. Yadav said.

N310 can be carried in a handbag!

Note:The laptop which the girl is carrying is N120 or can view its picture here:http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3016921&page=2

Actress Pooja Gandhi holds a Samsung N120 mini laptop during its launch in Bangalore.

"Seventyfive per cent of the components going into Notebooks are being manufactured in-house by Samsung", he said. 

N310 Mini Notebook is one of the lightest in its class, small enough to carry in a handbag. "We expect Mini Notebooks to constitute 40-45 percent of our total Notebook sales this year", Ranjit said 

Describing the Mini Notebook segment as "fastest growing segment", Ranjit, quoting a Gartner survey, said the Indian Notebook market was 200,000 units this year as against 22-25 million units globally. 

In the Notebook range, Samsung launched three new variants; R522 (which is available in two versions) and R470.

Focus on retail

Samsung India Director IT Business Ranjit Yadav speaks during the launch of new series of Samsung mini laptops in Bangalore. 

Samsung has two design centres for Notebooks, one in Korea and another in China, Yadav said, adding, the firm which invests 8-9 per cent of its sales in R&D is looking at "hitting a market share of 7-8 per cent in Mini Notebooks and Notebooks next year". 

"We want to be a full range player in the IT business and home users and SMB (Small and Medium Business) enterprises are our target audience. We would be largely focusing on retail," he said. 

To a query on Samsung's mobile PC sales globally, Ranjit said the firm reported a 92.9 per cent growth in the first quarter over the corresponding period last year. 

Samsung's Mini Notebooks and Notebooks are priced in the range of Rs 23,639 to Rs 1,15,000.

Samsung's launches phones too

Note:You all can view the picture of Gul Panag with Samsung mobile here at http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3016921&page=4

Bollywood actress Gul Panag displays a Samsung mobile phone during its launch in Hyderabad, last week. The new range of Samsung phones will be available in the range of Rs 11,100 - 32,200.

here too you can view the other pages at:http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3016921&page=5

Here Bollywood actress Gul Panag displays a Samsung mobile phone during its launch in Hyderabad.

and  http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3016921&page=6.

Here in this last link Bollywood actress Gul Panag looks at a Samsung mobile phone, as Samsung country head Sunil Dutt looks on during its launch in Hyderabad.

MICROSOFT:WINDOWS 7 ON TRACK FOR HOLIDAY SALES

Seattle: Microsoft Corp. says the next version of Windows will go on sale in time for the holiday shopping season.

The software maker published an almost-final version of Windows 7 last week, a sign it would be ready before the official January 2010 deadline.

Windows 7 will replace the much-maligned Vista, which launched too late for the 2006 holiday season.

Microsoft had guaranteed free Vista upgrades to people who bought new XP computers for the holidays. But Microsoft was criticized when it turned out some of those PCs weren't powerful enough to run a full version of Vista.

Having Windows 7 in time for the holidays may help boost PC sales, which have been stalled by the recession.

INVENTOR UNVEILS INTERNET'S BIG,NEW KNOWLEDGE ENGINE

 The inventor of one of the most widely used science programmes has given the most detailed demonstration yet of a new search engine that many experts predict could revolutionise the way information is used on the Internet.

Stephen Wolfram, whose Mathematical programme is widely used throughout the science world, gave the details of his new computational search engine, named Wolfram Alpha in an online presentation. The company says the technology will go public on May 18.

Unlike Google, which automatically indexes billions of web pages to answer users' search queries, Wolfram Alpha uses sophisticated algorithms to attempt to understand user questions, and then uses the resources stored in its expert-curated database to offer up answers and relevant information.

'The idea is to try and bring expert-level knowledge to everyone,' said Wolfram.

The result is very different from Google, which primarily points users in the direction of web pages. Wolfram Alpha, in contrast, displays information that it calculates by itself and shows in useful formats, offering numerous options for users to dig deeper into the subject.

It can answer questions like how high is Mt Everest, what is the fish production in Italy, and what was the weather in London on the day John F Kennedy was killed. But because it relies on verified data in its system rather than an ad hoc search of the internet, there are big gaps in its knowledge, especially in pop culture and information that frequently changes, such as film showings.

'We are just at the beginning,' said Wolfram, 49. 'I think we've got a reasonable start on 90 percent of the shelves in a typical reference library.'

Experts like Tom Simpson, on the blog Convergenceofeverything.com, said that rather than displacing Google, the new tool reflected the growing reach of emerging artificial intelligence and 'a step towards a self-organising internet' that intuitively understands what users need from it.

BROWSER WARS

Big fight on the Net space

There is no denying that the internet tops the spot in our lives today, with most of our waking hours spent surfing, tweeting and facebook-ing! But, how can we network, share, socialise, search and work better? 

Six of the leading browser developers have come up with their next gen versions, to make your experience speedier, easier and also, pleasant. Choosing the ideal browser that accelerates our performance without occupying too much of our disc space is even more essential today. 

So for those looking to climb up the performance ladder, it's time to make the change!

We downloaded six of the latest versions and tested them for compatibility, security, ease of use, speed, functionality and appeal. Here's how they stack up.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8

Packing a long list of interesting features, longer that Katrina's legs, IE 8 has all that you need from a browser, with a few bugs that show up once in a while.

With the whole world spending most of its time 'sharing' a link or file at work or at home, it's always a welcome thing if there's an easier way out. Bored of pasting chunky amount of codes from one site to another, just to post a link on your Facebook? IE 8's accelerator will help you do it in a jiffy. 

Simply highlight the text you want to share, and 'accelerate' it the way you want - share, search or map the data. You can add more accelerators too. Running an auction on eBay to sell your antique wristwatch? We're sure you'll love Microsoft's web slices then. The browser will keep you updated with what's the latest bid and thus help you monitor the auction better.

As for security vulnerabilities, the IE 8 had an issue in handling certain graphic files, such as animated cursors. The browser also crashed too often for one of our team mates, when he ran it on his PC, notebook and netbook. 

While most browsers often have compatibility problems with websites developed prior to the development of the browser itself, IE 8 has an interesting feature you can fall back on. If a particular website doesn't open, click on the compatibility view icon which you can find beside the address bar.

Apple Safari 4 Beta

While Microsoft has laid emphasis on a feature-rich platform, Apple has worked more on the 'feel-good' factor. You'll notice changes on all features ranging from applications for accessibility, navigation to graphic, fonts and interface. But, Safari built for PC isn't the best in the lot, simply because it lacks what we expect from a normal browser - speed.

 Apple claims that its Nitro Engine theoretically offers 3x speeds, but we were faced with slow page-download problems. If you don't mind its slow pace, this one has the panache to make your browsing experience pleasant.

Initially, Apple had a major problem with PayPal. The eBay owned online payment company had warned its users not to use the Safari browser. With Safari 4, Apple has attempted to sort out the issue. We had no problems signing into a PayPal account through the browser. 

Though pop-up blocking, cookie blocking, phishing and malware protection were available on most of these browsers, you might not find parental controls anywhere else but in Apple's Safari 4. It was previously reported to be vulnerable to cross-domain scripting, but the Beta version of the fourth generation browser passed the test with ease. So, you needn't worry about the risk of a malicious website accessing your data on other websites, anymore.

The browser file itself takes a long (yawn) while to download. If you are not used to downloading heavy files from Apple's website, you might find it slightly annoying. It took us nearly twice as much time as it took with Firefox. Chrome and Opera took the least time to download.

Google Chrome v2.0

The search giant's browser is a complete performer, when it comes to speed. When we checked the browsers for start-up speeds, Chrome emerged victorious, followed by Firefox, Opera and Safari. Flock took the maximum time to load, due to its graphic-heavy structure.

But there's one funny thing about Chrome we are yet to understand - why doesn't it allow you to install the Google toolbar? While the rest of the browsers sent warning messages when we 'unknowingly' closed the browser, instead of a tab, Chrome's v1.0 did not. Maybe Google heard us cry, it has managed to include an 'undo closed tab' feature with the v2.0 Beta, along with more control over thumbnails.

We love the simplicity, but Chrome lacks some advanced bookmarking features its fellow browsers now boast of. Another point to note, accessing secure (https) websites through proxy server is a slight bother.Google had initially left Linux and Mac users high and dry, but now a Crossover Chromium is available for download on Mac and Linux packages.

The official versions are to be released later this year. Google says that the security problem, which reportedly allowed cross-site scripting attacks, has been sorted out. However, we weren't able to whet the claim.

Firefox v3.0

Rejecting fancy layouts, this one's ordinary, but usable. It's definitely worth a look, if you are a no-frills kinda person. Few design updates, new bookmarking features, a list of new add-ons and stability upgrades, the new 'fox' on fire definitely won't disappoint you.

For developers there are new content handlers, engine keyword support and password manager. Compared to developer apps in IE 8 and Safari 4, we feel these are also easy to use. Compatible with almost any OS, except for the-nearly-extinct Windows 95 and Windows 98, and with versions 10.2 and earlier of Mac OS, the browser promises to pair up with any other, with consummate ease.

It's undeniably fast, compared to the new entrants in the market. With its new Gekko 1.9 engine, the browser renders pages faster and lives up to expectations. Quick start-ups, no re-booting of system after download, and no sudden crashes, the v3.0 raked up more points for speed and functionality.

Flock

Flock is unique in the way it helps people share content. Developed on Firefox, it helps you keep track of your friends' quicker. Imaginatively named Flock, the browser is all about 'coming together.'

You can now tweet, play peer-games on Facebook, update your blog - all of it at the same time. You needn't go through the hassle of scanning through the Facebook notifications.

The People bar and Media bar will alert you on your friends' latest update, the very next minute. You can even bookmark favourite feeds or any photo/video update.

Opera 9.6

One of the fastest among our test contenders, Opera has been a pioneer in introducing a few revolutionary features like mouse gestures and tabbed browsing, but the then 'out of the box' ideas have now become common place. But, there's something unique about Opera you can't find with the others.

None of the other browsers allow for distant access. With Opera Link, you can synchronise custom search engines and typed history too. So no matter where you go, any website address you typed on your PC will be available.

Same feature, packaged differently

All these browsers have a lot of things in common - the iconised tabs that lead to recently browsed pages, the smart address bar that recalls your history quickly and the incognito modes that allow you to browse guilt-free, not having to bother with who's tracking what you browse.

We experienced a sort of deja vu, when we tried the same application in the different browsers. For example, Opera's 'Speed Dial,' Apple's 'Quick Tabs' and Microsoft's 'Quick Bar' are all based on the same principal of iconised bookmarking.

There were minor tweaks though. Now this makes choosing tougher. And not to miss the flexibility Microsoft offers - letting you reopen closed tabs. This comes in handy especially when you spend long hours browsing, skipping to check previously visited websites.

Another clever feature is 'grouped tabs,' where sub-links from a parent website are grouped together with the same colour code. This ensures quicker browsing.

Why change your current browser?

While the six of the browsers we tested share a lot of things in common, the frills are what set each browser apart. If more of your activities online revolve around networking and sharing alone, you can stick to Flock.

If it's some basic browsing, researching and sharing, you can opt for IE 8. If you spend just a few hours online and want to make it pleasant, opt for Safari 4 for its appealing looks, provided you have an extremely speedy internet connection. If most of your online activities are done on your netbook, we suggest Google Chrome, one of the fastest browsers.

Are you one of those budding developers? Then, you might just love Firefox. Though IE 8 and even Safari have some developer applications, we feel they are comparatively tough to use. Opera might come in handy if you want to have the same browser wherever you go.

All of them are free to download.

To view the pictures of these browsers, go to http://sify.com/finance/imagegallery/galleryDetail.php?id=jfhuqVjjeff&title=Browser_wars_&?vsv=TopHP7

MICROSOFT LAUNCHES NEAR-FINAL VERSION OF WINDOWS 7

Release candidate

Seattle: Microsoft Corp has released a near-final version of the Windows 7 operating system that adds a few new features, including a way to run Windows XP applications.

The Windows 7 'release candidate' was made available to a large group of technology-savvy testers on Thursday and will be ready for anyone to download and try out starting Tuesday. 

The release candidate is typically the version used by Microsoft's corporate customers to test how the new system will work for them. Software developers, hardware makers and other partners also base their next-generation products on this version because they trust that it's stable and close to finished.

Holiday shopping season

Microsoft published the Vista release candidate about five months before the final version went on sale to consumers. If Windows 7 were to follow the same trajectory, it could be available by the start of October. Officially, Microsoft expects to start selling Windows 7 by the end of January 2010, but has said this week that if it is possible it could launch in time for the holiday shopping season.

The software maker is counting on Windows 7 to win over businesses that put off upgrading to Vista, which got off to a rough start because it didn't work well with many existing programs and devices. 

Smooth debut

And Microsoft drew criticism from consumers when many computers advertised beforehand as 'Vista capable' were actually too weak to run Vista's highly touted new interface and other features. People who wanted to upgrade Windows XP computers found their graphics cards and other components weren't up to the task.

The new system is already set up for a smoother debut because it shares much of Vista's underlying technology, which means hardware and software makers have had more than two years to catch up to a more demanding set of requirements. 

And Microsoft has pushed the notion that the high-end version of Windows 7 will run on many more computers than Vista, including tiny, low-powered laptops called netbooks. Today, Microsoft sells Windows XP, a much less profitable version of its operating system, to PC makers like Dell Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co to install on netbooks. 

Better memory management

Microsoft revealed that the basic requirements for running a high-end version of Windows 7 aren't much different from those needed to run the bulkier versions of Vista. However, critics said the Vista requirements for memory and other components should have been set higher, and Microsoft says Windows 7 is better at managing memory and not bogging down less-powerful machines.

Microsoft unveiled a few new features in the release candidate that didn't exist in the January beta, including something called 'Windows XP Mode.' The feature, available for the release candidate as a separate download, will let people run many XP-era programs from a Windows 7 computer.

The release candidate also adds a way for people to access music and other media files stored on their home PC over the Internet from other Windows 7 machines. 

For the other pics do check out this link: http://sify.com/finance/imagegallery/galleryDetail.php?id=jffsXnhdgbd&title=Microsoft_launches_Windows_7_Release_Candidate_