Microsoft has today released Silverlight 2 RC0 to developers for testing purposes and to help them prepare their existing Silverlight 2 Beta 2 applications for the final bits which is expected to roll out at the end of this year. Follow this link to learn more about what’s new to this release and how to migrate your existing Silverlight applications based on Beta 2 to the latest bits in Release Candidate 0.

Download: Download Expression Blend 2 SP1 RC Preview
Download: Download Microsoft Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio 2008 SP1
Download: Download Silverlight 2 RC0 Developer Runtime
View: Source: Redmond Pie

Posted in Softwares   Tagged: IE, IE Add On, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Silverlight, Silverlight 2 RC0   

A popular free security tool for the Firefox browser has been upgraded to block one of the most dangerous and troubling security problems facing the Web today. NoScript is a small application that integrates into Firefox. It blocks scripts in programming languages such as javascript and Java from executing on untrusted Web pages. The scripts could be used to launch an attack on a PC.

The latest release of NoScript, version 1.8.2.1, will stop so-called “clickjacking,” where a person browsing the Web clicks on a malicious, invisible link without realizing it, said Giorgio Maone, an Italian security researcher who wrote and maintains the program. Clickjacking has been known for several years but is drawing attention again after two security researchers, Robert Hansen and Jeremiah Grossman, warned last month of new scenarios that could compromise a person’s privacy or even worse, steal money from a bank account.

Download: NoScript 1.8.2.1
View: The full story @ PCWorld

Posted in Softwares   Tagged: Clickjacking, Firefox, Mozilla Firefox, No Script, No Script 1.8.2.1   

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, has released technology that helps websites detect the physical location of computers.

The system will allow users, for instance, to find local restaurants when they travel to a new town.

The Geode project is an experimental add-on ahead of a full blown launch of geolocation technology in version 3.1 of Firefox.

Users will have control over how much location information they give.

It uses technology from a firm called Skyhook which works out a computer’s location from nearby wireless networks.

Its so-called Loki system can determine location within seconds with an accuracy of about 10 to 20 metres.

Posted in Reviews   Tagged: Firefox, Geode Project, Shyhook   

I had to make one last “Distro-Hop”. First, I felt pretty bad about basically not even trying w/ Mandriva’s RC a few blog posts back, and I’ve read stellar reviews about how great of a job Mandriva did with implementing KDE 4. I wanted back into the land of KDE so badly, there was no way I was going to pass up the release of Mandriva 2009 today.

I had been steadily trying to try Kubuntu Intrepid 8.10, but I’ve yet to get either one of the “official” (Alpha 5, Alpha 6, Beta) builds or one of the “daily” builds to successfully boot into X on my machine after install. I have the same problem with Fedora 10 (Beta/Rawhide), and I think it’s an ATI/Xorg problem - if I’m correct, and this is the case, there will be a lot of disappointed Kubuntu/ATI users come the end of the month if it is not corrected by then. Thing is, I probably won’t find out (at least first hand anyway).

Please don’t regard this post as a review of Mandriva 2009 - these are simply my first impressions upon booting up the system.

First, I have one word: Wow!

Now that I have that out of the way, I can get on with it. I felt really bad in my previous blog-post were I talked about testing out some KDE 4 distro’s when I simply said I wasn’t “comfortable” enough with Mandriva to troubleshoot a pre-release build, and I was mildly scolded by a commenter on that account. I decided to give Mandriva another spin, to see how the RTM bits would fair on my PC, and so far, so phenominal!

I chose to install from the “mini” Free Dual-Arch ISO and do a net-install of the complete distro. I chose this method because there is no “Mandriva One” build for x86_64, and I did this install once before, and I remembered that although this is the “Free” build of the distro, not only can I add my codecs later, I’m asked during install if I want my proprietary video drivers. I was not disappointed in that regard doing this install - it went just as I expected. My only disappointment so far, was with the limited number of mirrors for 2009 right now - I ended up doing my net-install from a  European mirror, which I’m sure took longer than a USA mirror would have taken, not to mention, with so few mirrors apparently online right now, the ones that are there are probably getting hit pretty hard. All in all, it took about 1 hour to complete the install, so I can live with that.

Now, let’s get back to the item at hand - the distro itself!

First, I’m simply amazed at the amount of polish that the Mandriva team has given to KDE 4. It looks better than I thought it could possibly look! I love the theming, and just poking around the desktop, this is the first KDE 4 install of any distro I have done where I didn’t feel like I was going to break my computer simply by clicking the mouse. I need to find some wood to knock on, but I have yet to have Plasma crash on me yet! Besides KDE 4 (or is it?) I’m blown away by the default Font config. My fonts look better on my screen than they ever have, regardless of distro or operating system. Also, I haven’t seen any of the visual inconsistencies I’ve seen with other KDE 4 installs, such as garbage around the system tray icons, etc.

I’ve only made just one settings changes so far. I got rid of the Trashcan widget from the desktop and added one to the “Panel” (Kubuntu habits die hard, I guess ) I also love the more “Traditional” menu by default - I never could get used to “Kickoff”. I also had to edit my Xorg.conf to add compositing (it was set to Disabled) so I could enable Kwin’s desktop effects.

This is honestly about as far as I have gotten, but I wanted to get these initial impressions “down” so to speak while they were fresh. I haven’t gotten deep into the system yet, and I’m sure I will have some things to re-learn.

I’m beginning to question if Ubuntu really is better than other distros, or have I always perceived it as better because of familiarity, and not having to re-learn something. I have never seen this amount of polish in a “just relesed” version of any (kx)Ubuntu to date. This is phenomenal.

Great job Mandriva team! I think you have a new user. I’m going to stick with 2009 through it’s cycle (personal commitment) without distro-hopping (if you know me hold me too this), and if it’s successful, I plan to purchase the 2009.1 Powerpack. Would I pay $59 for Ubuntu? Heck no! Would I pay $59 for this, with all codecs pre-installed, and a few commercial apps? Heck yeah!

Rock on Mandriva! I remember with “Mandrake” was always No. 1 on Distrowatch - perhaps with this release, the tables could be turned!