18 Jun 08 Firefox 3
There was a short delay, due to the inevitable server overload, when more than a million people (I’m sure) tried to get a copy all at the same time.
A couple of hours later, and I downloaded a copy, installed on a Windows machine here in a couple of minutes. It certainly seems to run a bit faster – even on the web sites that I knew were slow to load.
I went on to update it on my Linux lappie and desktop too, and again, it seems to be rock solid and run a little faster.
What else did I expect really? It’s not a corporate hash-up.
Tags: couple of minutes, firefox 3 download, linux, server overload, windows machine
16 May 08 Microsoft Does It Again
Now, I make no secret that I’m not a Microsoft fan. Not any kind of anti-corporate stance particularly, just that by and large I think their software sucks.
I had to smile a few days ago though. I know it’s a beta version, but I installed a copy of IE8 on a winbox here. I NEVER use IE out of choice, but you have to have a copy of IE on a Windows machine, so I thought OK, I’ll see if it’s any better at W3C compliancy than the previous dismal attempts at such.
By and large, at first glance most pages were displaying ok, but the truth will come when I code a few without the IE hacks in CSS to see what happens.
While I was in there, I thought I’d run MS update, which complains if you try to use a decent browser, such as Firefox.
This was what made me laugh. I got a message telling me that I needed to be using a copy of Internet Explorer IE6 or newer.
Again, I reiterate, I know it’s a beta, but even so I found it somewhat amusing that Microsoft’s own browser wasn’t recognized correctly on it’s own operating system.
Of course, with the advent of more and more online apps, perhaps Microsoft is slowly losing its relevance in the marketplace anyway?
After all, a Linux install isn’t particularly geeky these days. Simply insert a CD, and follow the prompts. If you can install Windows, you can install Ubuntu for example.
I can do everything I need to do on a linux box – email, read/write documents, spreadsheets, manipulate images, listen to music, watch video. It’s all free, and more to the point, no stupid activation nonsense, and I can install Linux on most anything I have here. No OEM nonsense either, when a copy of Windows that came with a Dell, won’t install on another machine I’ve built after the old Dell died.
No, personally, I’m not getting excited about Windows 7; Vista was a fiasco; and I wouldn’t miss Microsoft if it disappeared tomorrow.
Tags: advent, beta version, compliancy, decent browser, dell, few days, fiasco, first glance, hacks, ie8, internet explorer, linux box, microsoft fan, music watch, nonsense, own operating system, relevance, spreadsheets, Ubuntu, winbox, windows machine
06 May 08 Strange Firefox Error
Recently Firefox started acting up when attempting to display some images.
It would work fine with thumbnails for example but clicking on them to get the full picture gave me a message saying that the image couldn’t be displayed as it contain errors. After checking numerous sites and getting the same image, I tried a windows machine with IE, and they appeared fine.
First thing to do is run Firefox in safe mode. If you’re using a windows machine, simply pull up a command line box (Start, Run), and type firefox -safe-mode in it.
That will run Firefox with everything disabled. I did that, and images worked fine. Next step is to go back to regular firefox, and disable all your add-ons. Then re-activate them, one by one, until you recreate the error.
In my case, it was my Skype Extension add-on that was causing the issue. That add-on highlights phone numbers within a web page allowing you to dial them by clicking on them, if you use Skype and SkypeOut (which I do).
I guess, I’ll have to wait for a further update, or work around, to get that facility back. I don’t use it a lot (I don’t use the phone a lot really, as I much prefer email), but it can be useful at times.
Tags: because it contains errors, cannot be displayed, firefox, images, message saying that, phone numbers, safe mode, skype, skypeout, thumbnails, web page, windows machine
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