Ever wonder why I strongly recommend Firefox and why it releases newer version so frequently? Is it unsafe or what?

Now let me give you some idea why a software releases a newer version. The following are some of the reasons:-

• Fix security flaw(s).
• Fix software bug(s).
• Come with extra feature(s).
• Come with enhanced feature(s).

One thing for sure, a newer version should preform better than the previous one (otherwise why release? ;) ). No software is perfectly coded, no software has no bug and no software has zero flaw. That’s why we always see a newer version is introduced from time to time.

In other words, Firefox releases newer version so frequently, is basically to avoid the newly discovered security flaw to be exploited. That’s why as soon as they discover any flaw or bug, they patch it almost immediately (Not like IE, they seem patching it only after a serious exploitation has been taken part. :( ). Ok, my purpose here is not to say bad things about IE, I will only tell you how good Firefox is. :)

Read this article, if you have questions regarding Firefox latest release like the following:-

• Explain what is included in Firefox 1.0.3 and Mozilla 1.7.7 and what prompted these releases?
• Have there been any known exploits of the bugs patched in Firefox 1.0.3?
• How often will you release updates?
• Should everyone download the update, and if so, how?
• With the growth in Firefox market share, are you becoming a bigger target for hackers?
• Traditional software companies take much longer to issue updates, how are you able to turn them around so quickly?

Tell you frankly, Firefox will only become better and better with the help of strong community of developers. :)

Hey guys,

Get the latest FireFox 1.0.3 now.
You can always check your current FireFox version:
From the function bar at the top of FireFox, Click Help > About Mozilla FireFox

There are some new security fixes and process fixes in this latest version.
Get the most secure and reliable version now !! :)

The Mozilla Foundation plans to release a new version of its flagship Firefox browser as early as this weekend to patch a known JavaScript Engine flaw.

Firefox 1.0.3 marks the third security-related fix from the foundation in the past six weeks. Almost all security loopholes are patched before the exploits are taken place.

So, every Firefox user, please take note about this patch.

[Source]

Broadband service outage won’t stop me from writing something good here. :D

Ever thought of using GMail as a virtual drive for your file storage since Google is now providing such a huge mailbox size?

The following is an option to do so,

GMail Drive is a Shell Namespace Extension that creates a virtual filesystem around your Google GMail account, allowing you to use GMail as a storage medium. GMail Drive creates a virtual filesystem on top of your Google GMail account and enables you to save and retrieve files stored on your GMail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive literally adds a new drive to your computer under the My Computer folder, where you can create new folders, copy and drag’n’drop files to.

Enjoy this virtual drive. :)

Another good news for all 64-bit enabled CPU users (especially AMD64 users :) ), Tiny Software, Inc. has released a 64-bit Firewall for Windows, though it is still in beta version.

Tiny Firewall 64 performs native 64-bit protection of the host operating system. All protection of Tiny Firewall 64 is performed at the driver level making all protection of Tiny Firewall 64 active at the boot time before the system processes start.

Tiny Firewall 64 is available in public beta with the final release expected by May 2005. Tiny Firewall 64 supports all 64-bit platforms including AMD64, Intel EMT64 and Itanium.

For more information, please read from their website.

You can download Tiny Firewall 64 here, as well.

To 64 bit system users,

Anyone of you thinking of upgrading to or “test-drive” Microsoft latest WinXP Professional 64bit system?

If, yes, then you might want to read this preview.

The conclusion is:

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Release Candidate 2 (RC2) is a rousing technological achievement, a near-perfect migration of Windows XP Professional to a 64-bit code base that doesn’t sacrifice performance for 64-bit capabilities. But while XP x64 is far more compatible with hardware and software than its Itanium-based predecessor, it is also not compatible enough to meet the needs of average users. Therefore, most XP users should stick with XP 32-bit through at least the end of 2005.

If you’re a technology enthusiast with the right hardware, however, XP x64 offers a chance to live on the edge in a way that hasn’t been possible for Windows users since the HCL-wielding days of NT 4. With XP x64, Microsoft has provided a superb technological base for the next several years, one that will likely become the mainstream computing platform during the Longhorn time frame. Like a faraway land full of treasure real or imagined in an age of explorers, XP x64 is there for the brave and foolhardy.

By Paul Thurrott