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Posts with tag rc2

Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Mozilla, Beta

Firefox 3 to get at least one more release candidate

Firefox 3 RC1If you've been holding your breath waiting for Mozilla to release the final build of Firefox 3, you might want to take a break before you pass out. It looks like we're going to have at least one more release candidate before Firefox 3 final is released.

Firefox 3 RC2 will likely be released sometime in June. The update will address several dozen bugs found in Firefox 3 RC1, including one widely reported bug that can cause Firefox to essentially render some Linux systems temporarily unusable.

We won't know whether there will be a Firefox 3 RC3 until some time after RC2 is released and beta testers have had a chance to kick the tires a bit. For the most part, Firefox 3 RC1 perfectly usable. It renders many pages faster than Firefox 2, has vastly improved bookmark and add-on managers, and has a multi-purpose location bar. But if you're not the sort of person who likes to rely on beta software (or release candidate software as the case may be) for day to day usage, you may want to wait another month or two or more until Firefox 3 final is released.

[via Mozilla Links]

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

Microsoft releases Windows XP SP3 RC2

Windows XP SP3 RC2
Microsoft has released Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate 2 to the general public. For the last few weeks the latest pre-release version of SP3 was only available to about 15,000 beta testers. But now you can download the update from Microsoft's servers using Windows Update.

You'll need to run a script that will add a key to your Windows registry allowing you to download SP3 RC2. This is still pre-release software, so Microsoft isn't going to be pushing it on all Windows XP users just yet.

Microsoft has also posted the release notes for RC2, so you can read the long and mostly boring list of changes. There are a few new features under the hood, like "better black hole router detection," and "more descriptive text to explain the settings," but for the most part there's nothing to write home about. If you like to have the latest and greatest installed on your system at all times, you might want to check out XP SP3 RC2. If you'd rather have a stable system running software that's been well tested over the last few years, you might want to hold off for a while.

[via WinBeta]

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Microsoft

10 tips and tweaks for Windows Vista

Vista tips and tweaksAre you rocking Windows Vista RC2? Ready to start tweaking it (or tweak it a little more, as they case may be)? Take a look at these 10 expert tips and tweaks for Windows Vista from ZDNet's Ed Bott. Bott shows us how to add an extended shortcut menu, take quick screenshots with the Snipping Tool, get a quick system checkup, ditch Security Center nagging, and more. These are tips for power users, but if you weren't a power user you wouldn't be using Vista RC2 anyway, would you?

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Commercial

Windows Vista RC2 now available for public consumption

Windows VistaWindows Vista RC2 has been released and is available for download. Turns out we were wrong when we reported that RC2 would be available only to Microsoft beta testers. However, Microsoft is saying it will be available "for a limited time only" and "may not have the same level of support" as RC1 (whatever that means). The RC2 download is an ISO file that must be burned to a DVD, so if your computer doesn't have that capability, don't bother. Otherwise, go ahead and grab RC2 while it's hot, and have a look at some of those 1,400+ remaining bugs!

(Thanks, Bryan!)

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Commercial

Microsoft to release Vista RC2 on Friday

Windows VistaDespite its previous statements to the contrary, on Friday Microsoft will be putting out a second release candidate of Windows Vista, sort of. According to Paul Thurrott, what Microsoft is calling "RC2" is the last pre-release build that will be seen before Vista's official release to manufacturers, but isn't anything more than an ordinary interim build. Unlike RC1, RC2 won't be a public release and will only be made available to Microsoft beta testers, and MSND and TechNet subscribers. According to Thurrott, there are currently 1,400 open bugs in Vista, but they're being closed fast, and Microsoft hopes to "finalize the product" between October 25 and November 8. By my calendar that's three to five until Vista is--dare I say it--finished.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

View more Time Wasters

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