Rumor has it Microsoft may cave in to the massive grumbling from users about Windows 8 booting into the Modern (aka Metro) UI by default. Windows 8.1/Blue is due for release later this year. Microsoft had previous denied any option to boot-to-desktop, instead opting to cram more stuff on to the Start Screen. However, there is news that just may be users will be able to turn-off the Start Screen: MicrosoftPortal (via WinBeta translation) reportedly dug into important operating system files stemming from one of the recent Windows 8.1 leaks and discovered references for disabling the Start screen. One such file…
2013
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Not sure when Mozilla did this as today is the first time in awhile that I have done a fresh download/install of Firefox Beta. The stub installer (another feature copied from Chrome) downloads a smaller ‘stub’ of the Firefox (Beta) installer and then once you run the Stub Installer then it downloads and installs the rest of Firefox (Beta). The problem with this, is you can not specify where you want Firefox installed and it runs automatically upon completion of the install. Since I wanted to keep the release and beta version in their own folders and with their own…
One of the new changes in Firefox 20, that didn’t go over so well when Firefox 20 was released was the changes to the downloads manager behavior. In the past downloads manager would pop-up in a movable window, however with Firefox 20 it is in a fixed balloon type pop-up. It is possible to revert back to the old pre-Firefox 20 download manager via an about:config tweak: In a new tab type about:config and press enter If you get a warning about “Voiding you warranty”, click the I’ll be careful, I promise button In the filter field type: browser.download.useToolkitUI Double-click the entry…
Yet, another CEO is leaving Mozilla Corporation and the search is on for a their fourth CEO. Gary Kovacs announced on April 10, 2013, he will be stepping down as CEO later this year, but will remain on the Board of Directors. Kovacs put much of his attention to get Mozilla to transition into the mobile market. This included Firefox for Android and the upcoming Firefox OS Phones. Mitchell Baker explains on her blog: Gary joined us to make a dramatic pivot — to move Mozilla from the desktop browser world into the mobile ecosystem. In 2010 we knew that we would…
Not really what Microsoft was hoping for with Windows 8. Instead of home PC users upgrading their machines and buying touch displays to interact with Windows 8, they are turning to Smart Phones and Tablets instead. This has resulted in a sharp decline in the new PC market. “Unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only didn’t provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market,” IDC Vice President Bob O’Donnell said. The newest version of Windows is designed to work well with touch-sensitive screens, but the displays add to the…
Mozilla released an update for Android users with Firefox 20.0.1 on April 11th, 2013. This update fixed ANR hangs and DB-lock related crashes on older devices. User should be prompted to update their devices or can get the latest update via the Google Play Store. The next scheduled releases will be Firefox 21.0 for Android on May 14th, 2013.
Mozilla released an update for Window users with Firefox 20.0.1 on April 11th, 2013. This update addresses issues around handling UNC paths. See bug 846848 for more information. Depending on update settings (Tools > Options… > Advanced > Update Tab), users will be prompted to update within in the next 48-hours. Windows users can also go to Help > About Firefox and click the Check for Updates button. Users may also manually download and install Firefox via getfirefox.com. The next scheduled releases will be Firefox 21.0 and 17.0.6esr on May 14th, 2013.
If you are still one of the nearly 39% still using Windows XP you have been warned. Microsoft will end support April 8, 2014….may be…they been trying since 2010 to get users and businesses to move away from Windows XP. Now Microsoft is urging businesses “to modernize their IT infrastructure by upgrading to the more secure, more “modern” Windows 8.” I don’t think so. If Microsoft is going to really due away with XP support (as well as IE6) businesses are going to move to Windows 7 or even Linux. These options are cheaper than re-training everyone how to use…
I am seriously beginning to think the EU is leveling all these anti-trust violations and fines as method to bankroll their organization. It was bad enough when they went after Microsoft for “forcing people” to use Internet Explorer when they first load Windows on their machines. People are too stupid to take 2-minutes to download and install their favorite browser. Now, they are going after Goggle Android based on complaints from FairSearch: ” FairSearch argues that Google is using “deceptive conduct” to lockout the competition in the mobile search market. With 70 percent of the smartphone OS market, Google commands…
It has been a little under a week since I got my new Windows 8 PC. So far, I am impressed with Windows 8 as far as performance as concerned. Boot-up is quick and resuming from hibernation is fast, about 10-seconds from power-up to desktop. It mounts USB Flash drives almost instantly. The User Interface on the other hand, not so great. A couple weeks ago I had installed Windows 8 in a virtual environment on the system I just replaced. This gave me a chance to play with Windows 8 a bit before the time came (a lot sooner than I expected) that I…