Internet Explorer 8 now available

Downloaded and installed IE8 yesterday and I must say that it looks good, loads fast and has some new features under the hood. (see color coded tabs, cool eh)

I have shifted to Firefox since Maxthon (IE engine) did not support one of my essential net apps in their toolbar and also because of Firefox’s wide range of add-ons that are available for developers and designers. It seems like Microsoft adapted these “add-ons” and called them “Accelerators” which offer useful third-party plug-ins that you can access by right-clicking anywhere on the site.

IE8 also offers InPrivate browsing. If you’ve used Incognito Mode on Google Chrome then this is similar.

“InPrivate Browsing in Internet Explorer 8 helps prevent your browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and usernames and passwords from being retained by the browser, leaving no evidence of your browsing or search history.”

 

IE8 also introduces Web Slices,  It’s acts sort of an RSS feed slash Widget for your browser. When you subscribed for example to an eBay item and a new information becomes available for that (1 hour left on bid time!), the Web Slice will become highlighted and clicking on the Web Slice in the Favorites Bar will show you the updated information.

Those are just some of the new features of Internet Explorer 8, I may try using IE once again only if they can add more developer tools and plug-ins rivaling the huge library of Firefox add-ons

Read 8 Reasons to Fall in love with IE8 

Click Here to Download Internet Explorer 8

Microsoft's Future Vision Series: 2019

Sharing this very cool concept video from Microsoft. The video has been around for weeks already but the technology featured in it isn’t due anytime soon (or maybe not).

If you like to see this video in high-definition, click the video to be transferred to Youtube and click on HD.

Zune Retail Display Concepts

Take a look at some 3D concepts of the zune retail display made by creative agency Planned Marketing Solutions International (PMSI). They posted this photo on their Flickr

It looks good! I like the first photo :)

via istartedsomething.com

Can I use the Zune Marketplace in the Philippines?

Image via Wikipedia

Question:
Does the Zune Marketplace work outside the US? For example, here in Asia, can I still purchase songs from the Marketplace since I'm not in the US?

Answer:
The short answer to your question is, no, the Zune Marketplace isn't available outside of the US and Canada. However, there are workarounds if you do a quick search on the Web. The Zune Marketplace is similar to Apple's iTunes. For example, while the iTunes Store isn't available in Singapore, I could still purchase a stored value card from Australia and use it to buy music from the online store.

This applies for Zune Marketplace, too, where you can buy point cards and redeem them online. If you try to link your Zune account with a non-US credit card, you'll get an error message that says the credit card information is invalid. In this case, you'll need to use a credit card with a US billing address for repeat billings.

by Damian Koh, Senior Writer Cnet Asia

Listen to podcasts on your browser via Zune.net

The Zune Team has updated Zune.net today with several new interesting features. Their entire podcast catalog is now available to be browsed via Zune.net and can be subscribed to.

When you pick a podcast to subscribe to, it fires up the Zune software and adds it to your Podcast collection. What’s even better though is all 12,000+ audio podcasts can now be streamed directly from Zune.net using Silverlight. So if there is an audio podcast you may want to listen to but not necessarily subscribe to (or download to your PC) - you can give it a listen on Zune.net.

Currently, audio podcast streaming is available to folks in the U.S.

via Windows Team Blog

Zune stolen from a District Attorney

A Brooklyn man who visited the DA's office to comfort the mother of a murder victim used the opportunity to swipe an MP3 player belonging to a homicide prosecutor, according to court papers.

Elliot Powell, 37, was with the grieving mother, Torya Dorsey, and the prosecutor on Feb. 4 when he asked to use a phone in the prosecutor's office.

Minutes later, the prosecutor, Jonathan Kaye, discovered that his Microsoft Zune was missing from a desk drawer.

Kaye quickly phoned Powell to inquire as to the whereabouts of the $200 digital music player.

Powell allegedly told the prosecutor that he couldn't get it back for him, but would pay him back instead. He now faces charges of petty larceny.

Via NYPost (by Alex Ginsberg)

New Zune service coming in May?

“From May 2009 you will experience exciting changes on MSN Music. The currently using MSN Music Store closes at the 30.03.2009 and available from may in a new form. Microsoft launches a new, exciting music service. More information about our new service what changed and what we are in the future offer, learn soon”

Read Full Article at LiveSide.Net