Monthly Archive for May, 2005

Netscape launch Netscape 8 - no Macs need apply!

Published
by
Tom Raftery
on 19/5/2005
in Browsers, Mac, Technology and Windows
. 2 Comments

Netscape have launched the latest version of their browser - Netscape 8.

According to Reuters:

Netscape 8.0 is based on the Firefox browser, a collaboratively developed program, but also will adapt and properly present sites customized to work with Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Internet Explorer browser.

“The browser is like a hybrid car that combines the usability of Internet Explorer with the security of Firefox,” said Andrew Weinstein, a spokesman for America Online/Netscape, a unit of Time Warner Inc. (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) .

The new browser checks sites for security, integrates Web search and offers advanced features like RSS feeds which typically link to major news providers.

The program is available for download here but be aware that the system requirements for Netscape state:

Operating Systems
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 SE, ME

Minimum Hardware
• 233 MHz processor (Recommended: 1 GHz processor or greater)
• 64 MB RAM (Recommended: 256 MB RAM or greater)
• 35 MB hard drive space

Notice the lack of support for any non-Microsoft based OSes? If you think there should be support for other OSes (Mac, Linux, Solaris) you can tell Netscape using their Feedback Form.

Microsoft Longhorn talk

Published
by
Tom Raftery
on 17/5/2005
in Mac, Technology and Windows
. 2 Comments

I was at an IT@Cork event today - it was a Microsoft talk on Longhorn.

The talk was presented very ably by Robert Burke. Rob concentrated on discussing Avalon and I must say as (primarily) a Mac user, may I welcome Microsoft to the world of the slick interface. :-). OS X has most of the interface elements Robert referred to (or an equivalent) already built in and has had for some time!

By the way, if you visit Robert’s blog from a Mac, don’t bother trying to comment - Mac users are unable to blog on the new MSDN blog engine. I tried from my Mac using FireFox 1.04 and also Safari 2.0 but kept getting errors.

MSDN, I would suggest your blog engine needs a bit more work! I had to log into a Win2k server I manage remotely to leave my comment - not all Mac users will have the ability to do the same - or maybe you don’t care what Mac users think?

Apple releases Tiger update 10.4.1

Published
by
Tom Raftery
on 17/5/2005
in Mac, Security and Technology
. 0 Comments

There has been a lot of hysteria about a theoretical exploit for Apple’s latest OS - Tiger (OS X 10.4). The exploit was only theoretical, because no exploit has emerged as yet.

Apple have released an update for Tiger updating it to 10.4.1 - this update addresses that potential vulnerability. It also includes improvements for:

  • file sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services
  • using DHCP in wireless networks
  • user login when accessing LDAP and Active Directory servers
  • core graphics including updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
  • synchronization with .Mac
  • Address Book, iCal, Font Book, Mail, and Preview applications
  • Dashboard widgets: Address Book, Flight Tracker, Phone Book, and World Clock
  • compatibility with third party applications and devices

more details on the update are available here.

The update can be downloaded from the Apple 10.4.1 download page or through Software Update.

Internet Explorer 7 has tabs

Published
by
Tom Raftery
on 16/5/2005
in Browsers, Technology, Web Standards and Windows
. 0 Comments

The internet Explorer 7 blog is reporting that Internet Explorer 7 will have tabs when released.

What’s funny about the blog is that they say:

In general, I think tabs are a great idea. I liked them a lot in Office dialogs and in Excel in the early 90’s.

No mention of the tabs in Firefox, Safari or Opera (the other main browsers)! it is almost as if they are trying to say - “we had tabs in the early 90’s, we invented tabs”

‘Fess up, Microsoft is dead late with tabbed browsing and the current Internet Explorer 6 is a lame duck.

As one commenter on the blog said:

Stop gloating about how you’ve caught up with five years ago and begin addressing the bigger issues, i.e.: CSS and XHTML

Web browser forensics

Published
by
Tom Raftery
on 16/5/2005
in Security and Technology
. 1 Comment

I spotted a very interesting article on web browser forensics linked to on David’s blog.

The article is in two parts and documents the investigation of the browser logs on a fictitious user’s PC. The article includes downloadable browser logs to allow the article reader to take part in the investigation. The article also includes links to freeware and commercial forensic software.

It is amazing how much data is retained on a PC. I was asked recently to do a scan of a client’s PC and I was able to rebuild Hotmail messages read a year and a half earlier on the PC!

Part one of the article is here and part two is here.

Violence in Cork

Published
by
Tom Raftery
on 14/5/2005
in Community Interest and Personal
. 3 Comments

I was walking down Washington street in Cork near the Kino cinema at 5pm this afternoon when out of the corner of my eye I spot a fracas on the opposite side of the street. I glance over and see what appears to be a couple of women fighting.

As I’m pointing it out to my wife I realise it is several women against one and it is getting quite violent. The next thing there is an explosion of glass as one of the women smashes a bottle down on the head of the victim of the attack. She drops and the three attackers take the 4 or 5 year old little girl who is with them and make off.

I call the police and my wife and I stay with the victim until the ambulance comes.

What hope has that 4 or 5 year old little girl got for a normal life when she sees attacks like that? The cycle of violence will be perpetuated.

Oh, and technophile that I am, it never even ocurred to me to take a picture of the perpetrators with my cameraphone! D’oh!

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