LaCie takes away storage trading in new Wuala build
LaCie’s online backup service Wuala has been updated to build 368, codenamed Hirslanden. The biggest change of note is the removal of storage trading, which previously allowed users to give up free space on their hard drive in return for free online storage.
This news, which has angered many Wuala users, appears to be caused by a switch from UDP to TCP networking, a move Wuala claims will make the service more stable, but which makes trading storage impossible for security reasons. Anticipating a backlash, LaCie has announced that any earned storage through trading will remain free for 12 months, at which point it promises a “generous rebate” for those who wish to keep this storage.
What can you expect from new Firefox versions?
Mozilla has started the Firefox development merry-go-round again, updating its Beta, Aurora and Nightly builds to versions 8, 9 and 10, respectively.
The most significant changes between all three versions can be found in Firefox 8 Beta, which includes a number of notable improvements and new features. But there’s also an alternative Nightly build, called Firefox 10.0a1 UX. What is it, and what sets it apart from other releases? Which version should you install? Read on for our updated guide to what’s happening with Firefox.
Thunderbird 7 ships -- with several annoying bugs
Mozilla has updated its popular email tool, Thunderbird, to version 7. Thunderbird 7.0 Final follows Firefox 7 out of the door, while Mozilla SeaMonkey 2.4, its all-in-one suite, comprising functionality from Firefox and Thunderbird, has also been released, incorporating the improvements in Firefox 7 into its own build.
Unlike its better-known sibling, Thunderbird 7 features few noticeable changes over previous releases, with highlights including the fact it’s based on the Mozilla Gecko 7 engine, various user interface tweaks, fixes to attachment handling and unspecified platform improvements to the Address Book. Version 7 also promises improved security, speed, performance and stability through various security and platform fixes.
Mozilla releases Firefox 7 -- get it now!
Mozilla has placed the final, stable build of Firefox 7 on its FTP servers. This latest build has one major game-changing improvement to speak of, which should ensure that Firefox performs more efficiently and doesn’t gobble up system resources when left running in the background.
Version 7.0 also sees improved graphics performance in Windows, but as with the recent releases of Firefox 5 and 6, other changes are relatively minor, with a slightly tweaked Address Bar and faster bookmark and password changes during Firefox Sync operations being the most notable, visible tweaks of interest to end users.
Get Chrome 15 Beta now!
One week after releasing the first stable build of Google Chrome 14, both Beta and Dev channels have been updated, to versions 15 and 16 respectively. In terms of new features, Google Chrome 15 Beta sees the most radical developments with a redesigned new tab page and the ability to synchronize the Address/Search bar history across multiple installations.
Google Chrome 16 Dev offers one interesting new development in the fact that multi-user support, where users log into a single instance of Chrome with different accounts, has now been enabled by default on Windows and Mac machines.
You don't have to wait for Windows 8
Why wait until Windows 8 is released before you sample the look and feel of the next version of Windows? WindowsX has released not one, but two tools that can revamp the Windows interface and give you a fresh new look that matches Windows 8’s look and feel quite closely, right down to Metro-like functionality.
Windows 7 users should take a look at the Windows 8 UX Pack, recently updated to version 3.0, which contains everything you need. Vista, XP and Windows Server users will need a bit more help in the form of the Windows 8 Transformation Pack.
Take control of Startup programs with Microsoft Autoruns 11
The art of streamlining your PC’s startup to reclaim system resources and speed up boot times is an ancient one. Windows even comes with its own built-in tool, msconfig, for tweaking the system startup, but it’s limited and awkward to use.
Novices who want a quick-and-easy speed boost without having to think too hard about it should consider free products like Soluto and Startup Delayer, but if you want full control over what starts with your PC, and aren’t afraid to delve deep into your system, then take a look at Microsoft’s free Autoruns tool instead, which has recently been updated by its authors, Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell, to version 11.0.
jAlbum 10 drops freeware license, adds features
Swedish web album creation tool jAlbum has reached a landmark release. jAlbum 10.0, which runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, sees a number of new features and expanded image format support alongside a change in licensing terms. Previous versions of the software were available as a freeware license; the new version switches to free for non-commercial use.
Commercial users, and those who wish to remove ads and jAlbum branding from their web albums, will now need to purchase the Pro version for $55. Anyone with a Premium or Power subscription to jAlbum’s online storage service will get a complementary Pro license while their sub lasts.
Peazip gets small changes in version 4
Italian author Giorgio Tani has updated his popular open-source archiving tool, Peazip, to version 4.0. Peazip 4.0, also available as a dedicated 64-bit build as well as separate 32-bit and 64-bit portable applications, allows users to both open and create archives in a variety of formats, including RAR and 7z, as well as the standard ZIP format.
Version 4.0 proves less radical an update than some of the most recent 3.x revisions, adding thumbnail support when browsing image files and tweaking the program’s PeaLauncher component.
Total Commander 8 Beta: 64-bit, but not production-ready
Ghisler Software has announced the release of Total Commander 8 Beta, a new version of its shareware file manager tool, designed to improve on the rather basic options offered by Windows Explorer. Version 8 is notable for introducing the first dedicated 64-bit build of Total Commander, designed to run exclusively on 64-bit operating systems.
Total Commander 8’s other changes are more minor in scope: a handful of new minor and tweaked features coupled with a raft of bug fixes. Version 8 is not designed to be run on production machines -- users are directed to the latest stable release, Total Commander 7.56 instead.
Paragon 11 offers four different recovery modes
Paragon Software has updated its home drive-imaging backup tool, Paragon Backup & Recovery Home to version 11. This new build offers four different recovery environments, adding WinPE 3.0 to existing Linux, Windows and DOS recovery options.
It also updates Paragon Adaptive Restore, which allows the user to restore a backup on to a computer with completely different hardware, to version 3.0, adds support for hard drives larger than 2.2TB, supports MBR>GPT conversion without data loss and allows users to encrypt their backups.
ESET Security 5 adds gamer mode, updates cloud protection
Slovakian security firm ESET has updated its anti-malware and all-in-one security packages to version 5. ESET Smart Security 5 32-bit/64-bit and ESET NOD32 Antivirus 5 32-bit/64-bit both include ESET Live Grid, a renamed and revamped cloud-based protection based on the previous release’s ThreatSense.Net technology.
Also new to version 5 of both products is Removable Media Control, which prompts the user to scan a removable drive when it’s plugged in, and Gamer Mode, which reduces ESET’s system footprint and suppresses all pop-up windows. Also new to ESET Smart Security 5 is a new parental control module and improved startup performance.
VMware releases new virtualization clients for Mac and Windows
Virtualization specialist VMware has announced the release of VMware Workstation 8 for PC and VMware Fusion 4 for Mac. Both tools allow users to run different operating systems in virtual windows through one computer.
Both releases include a number of new features, additional hardware support and are updated to take advantage of the latest operating systems (VMWare Fusion 4 has been optimized for Lion). VMware Workstation 8 also introduces a new system requirement: it will only run on PCs with 64-bit processors.
Gave up Microsoft Outlook but need your PST file? There's an app for that
Microsoft Outlook is undoubtedly a powerful app, with its feature set going beyond that of a mere email manager to encompass contacts, calendars and other organizational tools. Everything you do in Outlook is stored in your own personal PST file, but what happens if you find yourself locked out of your PST file, or Outlook no longer recognizes the file?
In extreme cases -- say, you ditched Outlook for another email program -- you may need to refer back to your old email messages, but without Outlook you’re unable to open the PST file. What then? The solution lies in using a free tool called Kernel Outlook PST Viewer.
O&O DiskImage Professional 6: Very capable but slightly limited backups
The importance of backing up your data, settings and even your entire hard drive is finally starting to hit home. With the comprehensive backup tools supplied in Windows 7 and high-end versions of Vista, you may think Microsoft has you covered, but it seems third-party vendors still have different ideas.
O&O’s entry into the backup marked is a drive-imaging tool designed to back up your entire hard drive. Version 6 also adds an option for backing up individual files, so the question is, does it contain everything you need to back up your computer?
© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.