LibreOffice 3.4.0 released but businesses should wait for next dot version
The Document Foundation has announced the release of LibreOffice 3.4.0, the second major update of the cross-platform, open-source office application since it was launched as a spin-off from OpenOffice back in September 2010.
LibreOffice 3.4.0 includes major updates for its spreadsheet application, Calc, plus a revamped interface across the entire suite. Despite being a stable release, TDF has stressed that version 3.4.0 is aimed at power users and LibreOffice community members, urging other environments, including the corporate sector, to hold off installing version 3.4 until 3.4.1 is released later this year.
Firefox Plumber plugs memory leaks, with hidden cost
Firefox is a great browser, but it can use a lot of RAM, especially if you have plenty of tabs open and leave it running all the time. Freeware utility developers Rizone say they've come up with a solution, though. Just download, unzip and run their new Firefox Plumber and they claim "it will eliminate all memory leaks in Firefox," right away.
Does it work? A first test showed promising results. Firefox on our test PC required around 120MB RAM (private working set) immediately after launch, and this came close to doubling when we opened five tabs. Launch Firefox Plumber, though, and RAM use dropped to under 1MB, then (with occasional brief exceptions) stayed there, no matter how many tabs we opened.
Tip: Free Opener accesses 75+ file types
Preparing a laptop to handle all the files it might encounter can be a tedious business. You may need to install PDF and Office viewers, graphics programs, a media player, archiving tools -- the list goes on. But maybe there's a simpler way. Download and install Free Opener, instead, and this one program will display more than 75 file formats for you.
You'll be able to open Office documents, for instance (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, XLSM, PPTX, PPT, and PPS). PDF files. Archives (7z, ZIP, RAR, GZ, TAR, TGZ, JAR). Flash files (SWF), assorted source code formats, a selection of RAW image formats, and many other graphics, video and audio file types.
Microsoft should bundle Sysinternals tools into Windows -- or should they?
If you administer Windows systems you must know about Microsoft's Sysinternals tools. If you don't, get started. They're a collection of tools which make administration and troubleshooting considerably easier. They're available on all my Windows systems, and I carry a USB key with the latest version.
Improving Windows Insight
Do you like CCleaner for Windows? Get the Mac beta
Piriform Ltd has released a Mac version of its popular CCleaner system cleanup software. Previously only available for Windows, CCleaner for Mac is currently in beta, and therefore far from complete, but at this early stage it is already starting to show signs of promise; if the Windows version of the application is anything to go by, there should be a good deal to look forward to in the future.
The beta version of the app can clean up after OS X itself as well as a couple of popular web browsers. On the operating system front, you can free up disk space and maintain your privacy by emptying out the trash as well as clearing out the temporary folder and logs such as recent documents, applications and servers.
Can Malware Fighter Free live up to iObit's claims?
If you're looking for free antivirus protection then there's no shortage of products available, each claiming they're the one for you. There's a new addition to the list, as IObit has just released version 1.0 of their new Malware Fighter Free.
The company makes a lengthy list of impressive claims for the product: it's a "one-click solution," offers "complete PC security care," "finds the deepest infections," "works with all antivirus products," provides "enhanced real-time protection," and uses the "latest cloud computing technology" and heuristic analyses to detect even the latest threats.
Mozilla releases first Thunderbird 5.0 beta
As a part of Mozilla's new rapid release cycle that has screwed us up once already, the beta version of open source email client and RSS reader Thunderbird received a milestone update to version 5.0 on Thursday.
But what happened to 4.0? The most recent stable version of Thunderbird is version 3.1, and this new beta skips number four altogether.
Readability debuts "Send to Kindle" browser buttons
Readability, the service that eliminates ads and lets users reformat and store Web content in a less cluttered fashion, now supports Amazon's popular Kindle e-reader.
With today's update to Readability's browser add-on, all users are given the new "Send to Kindle" button. When clicked, the content onscreen is sent over to the user's Kindle via its @Kindle email address. Users on Readability's subscription tier also get the ability to Sync their Daily Digest with their Kindle as well.
Groupon plans $750 million IPO
Becoming the second major Internet company in as many months to go public, online coupon site Groupon announced Thursday its intentions to file for an initial public offering. The site says it preliminarily expects to raise $750 million.
Groupon has seen some successes as of late: after only pulling in a little over $713 million in all of 2010, in the first quarter of this year it had already pulled in some $645 milion. This is a likely indication of the swelling interest in discount sites among consumers, and very well could be seen as a validation of Groupon and other's business model.
Elcomsoft launches free tool for extracting Facebook passwords
Russian security software company Elcomsoft on Thursday released a free tool dedicated solely to recovering Facebook passwords cached in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Chrome called Facebook Password Extractor.
We've looked through a lot of software, and this is the first freeware we've seen dedicated solely to peeling Facebook login information out of a system. It's based on Elcomsoft's Internet Password Breaker, a $49 piece of password recovery software that can extract account information from other social networks, webmail, POP3/IMAP, and instant messenger clients.
Meet three people ripped off by iTunes fraud ring
Reports from victims of fraud on iTunes are beginning to paint a picture of what could be a significant security issue for Apple's online entertainment store. Worse yet, several of the victims that reported into Betanews on their experience are employed in IT -- obviously understanding the risks of improperly secured personal data.
Although not uniform, Betanews investigations into the issue seem to suggest that attackers have primarily targeted users that had credit balances with iTunes. Monitoring of Sega's Kingdom Conquest app page show new comments posted today of fraudulent charges, indicating the hack is ongoing. But that's not the worst of it: other apps may be victims of these hackers.
AmazonLocal brings daily deals to Boise, Idaho, but not to you (yet)
Amazon apparently is getting into the Groupon coupon-like business by aggregating deals from LivingSocial. But don't rush out to the AmazonLocal website, unless you live in Boise, Idaho. That appears to be the only city where there are local deals.
Tip of the hat goes to TheNextWeb for uncovering AmazonLocal and its apparently one-city offering. I've got a call in asking for more details and will update this story should Amazon respond.
Chromebook presale already sold out, but there's a wait-list
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 isn't the only new portable getting the early sales treatment -- and, hey, it runs another Google operating system. Gilt Groupe is offering the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook, for presale. I meant to write about the offer yesterday, but got sidetracked with other news. Gilt Group spam promotional email reminded me today.
Yesterday I received an unexpected email from "The Chrome Team" offering the presale, starting at Noon ET June 1, but leading to the Gilt Groupe site. Can you say phishing scam? So I suspected before confirming legitimacy.
China calls Google's phishing/hacking accusations 'groundless,' 'chimerical'
On Wednesday, Engineering Director of Google's Security Team Eric Grosse said his team had uncovered a password-stealing campaign originating from Jinan, China that targeted senior U.S., South Korean, and other Asian government officials, Chinese political activists, military personnel, and journalists.
Unlike a typical phishing scam looking to steal money from whomever falls for its social engineering tricks, Grosse suggested that this campaign was more for the purposes of espionage or information collection, and was targeting individuals.
Live in New York City? Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 could be yours next week
In a smart, and perhaps risky, marketing move, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available early -- that's June 8 -- at one store in the United States. Otherwise, the tablet goes on sale June 17 nationwide. Will the Android Army line up for the Tab? Samsung should hope so.
Samsung says that a "limited quantity" of Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi models will be sold at Best Buy Union Square, in the great NYC. You're a lucky sod, if an Android fan and living in the New York metro area or planning to travel there next week. I dunno what kind of customer-waiting line the Tab could draw on a Wednesday, but, hey, it's the kind of thing that could be a marketing coup for Samsung and the tablet.
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