Dr. Bill | The Computer Curmudgeon

Imagine Microsoft and Adobe both trying to be first to Open Source new software? Are we in the Twilight Zone? Where’s Rod Serling? Wow.

Adobe vs Microsoft battle turns to open source

“Adobe open sources flex (as well as a growing list of other technologies). Microsoft responds by indicating it will open source some of its upcoming Silverlight product (which competes with Adobe’s Flash technology). There is a war emerging for Rich Internet Applications and the desktops that tie into them. And open source is quickly becoming the weapon of choice.”

Who would have thought THIS would happen? Well, at least, I believe, this is good for software customers.

“There is a war emerging for Rich Internet Applications and the desktops that tie into them. And open source is quickly becoming the weapon of choice.”

You have all that open highway… and we need alternative power sources. What if we turned those highways into wind farms? Cool!

Proposals would turn highways into wind farms

“Clogged highways and frustratingly waiting while your gas needle plummets to empty usually doesn’t conjure up thoughts of green, but it seems like these very roads could become the source of a lot more energy. Several recent student designs have proposed that major roadways be retrofitted with various forms of wind energy collection devices, ranging from overhead turbines that collect energy from quickly-moving cars below to barrier panels that harness the wind from closely passing vehicles moving in opposite directions. Ideally, the wind energy could then be sent back out to the grid to power nearby communities, light-rail transportation systems, or even intelligent billboards. Of course, most of these ideas are still in the research phase, and even if proven feasible, we can’t imagine the up-front costs (or inconveniences of installing these things) to be minor, but we’re sure that government subsidies should be able to to lend a helping hand.”

The next release of Windows Server is code named “Longhorn” and it will replace the current production version of Windows Server 2003 when it is finally released.

Microsoft Releases First Public Beta for ‘Longhorn’

“Microsoft will release the feature-complete, third beta for Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ on April 25, which is also the first public beta of the software. The product remains on track for release to manufacturing in the second half of 2007, and the beta code can be downloaded here. Some 10,000 people in Microsoft’s technical beta program have already tested the product, while thousands more downloaded or received the second beta and the Community Technology Preview that followed through their TechNet and MSDN subscriptions, Helene Love Snell, the senior product manager for Windows Server, told eWEEK. ‘We will be distributing beta 3 as broadly as possible to ensure the maximum number of IT professionals, developers and partners test and evaluate the new features. Our distribution programs will offer this chance to literally hundreds of thousands of people,’ she said.”

It has been a slow blogging week because of so much happening at work and by the time I get home I am “bushed!” I will try and “catch up” with the news!

Yes, the long beta is over and V2.0 is now gold! I use Thunderbird for my personal e-mail client, and I do love it!

Thunderbird 2.0 email client goes gold

“Mozilla today released the final version of Thunderbird 2, the next generation of the organization’s open-source email client. Key new features include message tagging, message history, and a new function to search for content within messages, among numerous other enhancements.

The major new features, according to a Mozilla spokesperson, are:

* Message tagging — users can organize emails by assigning tags like “From Mom” or “Weekend Projects” to easily track and search for information; users can choose from default tags — such as Important, Personal, To-Do, Later, and Work — or create their own custom tags; users can also add as many tags as they want to a message

* Message history – Thunderbird 2 offers message history navigation similar to Web browsing history navigation; users can move backward and forward through their messages and easily browse through their message history

* Search — the find-as-you-type pane speeds up searches within displayed messages, and a quick search feature starts showing search results as soon as users begin typing search terms; additionally, Thunderbird 2 saves users time by allowing the storing of searches as folders and facilitating the rerun of saved searches by clicking on the saved search folder in the folder pane

* Easy access to Web mail services — Thunderbird 2 lets users integrate and access popular Web mail services simply by entering their user names and passwords

* Customization — users can customize Thunderbird 2 with hundreds of free add-ons that change the look, feel, and functionality of the email client to suit their tastes; users can also create their own message templates to save time.”