Computer Blogging

The first beta version of an application is usually long on bugs, short on features and bears little resemblance to the eventual finished program. And so I expected most of my time with Internet Explorer 8 to be working around unexpected crashes and strange behaviour. But no: despite the warnings that the beta was just for developers, I found it ran smoothly and gave me no real problems.
For starters, the download is relatively small, at 14MB. It installed quickly and with no complications, then opened to display an interface that looked similar to Internet Explorer 7. The program ran well, occasionally a little on the slow side (entirely normal with betas), but with no crashes. Microsoft has been working on browser reliability.

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In an effort to protect itself from potential lawsuits over competition issues MIcrosoft has agreed to give essential data to dozens of security software firms on Monday so their products can work smoothly with the new Vista operating system.

The security companies require the codes as they will allow them to suppress Microsoft’s own security “pop-ups” if a PC user decides to buy alternative security software, thus keeping brands distinct from that of Microsoft.

Software firms had access to the kernel in the past but with the release of Vista, Microsoft has disallowed access directly to the kernel to make a more stable and secure operating system.

Asked when Microsoft would deliver the data, chief executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters in Rome: “Today, Seattle time, not Rome time”.

The data in question are Application Program Interfaces, or APIs, which are in essence levers or buttons that other companies call upon so their software will run on Windows.

The APIs are expected to be made available on a Web site to which security software providers have exclusive access, a Brussels-based spokesman for Microsoft said.

Internet Explorer 7 will be released later this month and as a automatic update a bit later. Read more about it at the IEBlog.

If you would like a chance to hear a bit about it, visit the last IE 7 Expert Zone Chat

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Online privacy continues to be an important issue for many Internet citizens, as awareness of spyware threats and the danger of identity theft increases. Personal privacy is also a growing concern.

Well now there are two new web browsers that claim to make your web surfing more secure.

Browzar - Those who wish to surf the web with a bit more privacy have another option to add to their tool bag, with the recently released (in beta form) web browser, whimsically named “Browzar.” Browzar is the brainchild of Ajaz Ahmed, who some years ago founded the Freeserve ISP in the UK.

Browzar’s primary selling point is that it is designed to leave no user footprints on the host computer. Any cookies that Browzar accepts are deleted at the end of the session. No cache files are kept, there is no browser history to scan, and the application has no form autocomplete feature. In short, Browzar is about as feature-free a browser as you are likely to come across. Also Browzar is based on Internet Explorer.

Torpark - A new web browser based on Firefox called Torpark aims to go even farther by integrating an anonymous proxy into the package.

Torpark has been released by a group called Hacktivismo, an organization whose aims are “to further the goals of human rights through technology.” The browser is a modified form of Portable Firefox, and as such can be run directly from a USB thumb drive, or any form of portable storage media (the browser comes in at a lightweight 7 MB), without having to go through an installation routine. When the user exits the browser, all personal data from that session is automatically deleted.

I cannot yet recommend either one, but have downloaded them both and will be testing them over the next week. Watch for further information soon.

A new computer game has been unveiled by the Australian Defence Force in a bid to entice young people into a navy career.

The interactive computer game, called Extreme Battleships, was inspired by the success of the US game America’s Army.

Forty per cent of US Army recruits admitted they’d played the game before signing up.

“The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) similarly expects Extreme Battleships will stimulate interest in navy careers,” defence said in a statement.