Bytes
- Microsoft have finally released Windows Live Messenger last week. Shortly after the release, a mysterious newer build came online but was quickly taken off again. Apparently, testing still needed to be done, however the new build contained some interesting new lines to do with the new Yahoo! Instant Messenger integration that is expected to happen soon - the first half of 2006 is almost over.
- Shortly after the release, Patchou of Messenger Plus! fame released Messenger Plus! Live over the weekend. The most anticipated extension for WLMessenger ripped the website to shreds, leaving those knowing what the direct URL to the download is to download at a nice healthy speed. This is definitely a must-have.
- Speaking of Microsoft, it has released a lot of developer centric web services. After last weeks announcement of WinFX being .net 3.0, they also launched NetFX3.com, a community oriented portal about all the features, benefits and code samples of all the new .net 3.0 technologies and Windows Vista APIs. Yesterday, Microsoft launched CodePlex.com, a SourceForge copy. You can put up open source or Shared-source projects online for people to work with. Possibly, all future Microsoft open source products will be on here as putting the WiX Toolkit on SourceForge must of made them feel dirty.
- Some excellent news last week as Comedy Central announced that it will be showing 13 new episodes of Futurama to debut in 2008. This is the third cancelled Fox program to be resurrected. There have been lots of talks this year about the possible comeback, including the possibility of movie deals and Billy West announcing it on a web forum (then later retracting it). DVD sales have apparently helped.
- Finally, Mike Dansenglio who heads the Security Solutions group at Microsoft called users stupid and that there is no patch for that. As Asa from Mozilla quite rightly puts:
Microsoft and Netscape built some very powerful technology . In just a few short years they brought hundreds of millions of people online. The security nightmare, though, didn’t begin until the leading browser makers left those users to fend for themselves.
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