Technology Vault - NewsBytes
Monday 30 June, 2003
Netscape new version by bluetracker @ 9:12 pm
Thanks to forum member EGGZ for compiling this story.
NETSCAPE is risen from the grave
Netscape once again proves itself to be one of the undead with the release of Netscape 7.1 - and and there's a lot more that's new in here than the jump from 7.02 to 7.1 may imply.
Based on the as-yet unreleased Mozilla 1.4 branch, this release represents a massive step forward for Netscape users, who up until now have been using code based on the 1.0.x Mozilla branch, created over a year ago.
Browsing converts will be treated to time saving enhancements like tabbed browsing and smart pop up blocking, features likely to remain absent in the "leading" web browser until at least 2005. Looking for a particluar word or phrase on a page? Begin typing it, and Netscape 7.1 will jump to that word/phrase and highlight it for you. Windows versions also ship with an ActiveX plugin, allowing many formerly "IE Only" plugins to work.
The Netscape Mail component also gets its fair share of improvements. You can now quickly search through your inbox by typing a word into the quick search field above the message window. Message Views allow you to customise the way your inbox emails are displayed. Perhaps most important of all however are the new "Junk Mail" controls. Mark those pesky Viagra, scam and porn emails as junk, and Netscape 7.1 will realise that you don't like them, and move any future emails that look like this "spam" to a "Junk Mail" folder. Your inbox has never been cleaner!
For those that would like to get involved with web site building, Composer (Netscape's web page editor), has also been improved, with drag and drop table and image resizing, and a "breadcrumb" display of tags in the status bar.
On the more technical side, web developers will find plenty of new tools to make use of, including the option to install the invaluable "Document Object Model"(DOM inspector), which alows the designer to summon up the tree of HTML elements a web page of and make changes "on the fly". And Venkman, the Javascript debugger, will greatly ease your coding woes. And of course the already "best of class" web standards support has been improved further. If you want to live on the cutting edge, play with the new CSS3 target selector.
So, why the lame vampire references at the beginning? Netscape 7.1's codename was/is "Buffy".
Get it here!
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Codename: Dashboard Version 1.1 final by @ 4:32 pm
Danny Smurf has finally released version 1.1 of Codename: Dashboard. Danny says:
After months of beta testing, Codename: Dashboard 1.1 final is now available for download. This new version fixes over 50 bugs, ranging from crashes to interface glitches, from version 1.0, and adds many new user-requested features.
This version of Codename: Dashboard is available for both the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 and 1.1.
System Requirements for Version 1.1:
Microsoft Windows 98SE, 2000 or XP
The Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0SP2 or 1.1
64MB of RAM for Windows 98, 96MB for Windows 2000, 128 for Windows XP
Version 1.1 for Microsoft .Net framework 1.0 with SP2
Version 1.1 for Microsoft .Net framework 1.1
For further details you can visit the SNP website HERE
As of this release, support for version 1.0 of Codename: Dashboard has ceased, and the old 1.0 component repository is no longer available. Users of version 1.0 will need to download the full 1.1 install package to update to this version (the auto-updater handles patches only; not version upgrades).
The Technology Vault news component can be found in the component repository of Dashboard 1.1
Codename: Dashboard has been downloaded more than 200,000 times.
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AVG Update by @ 4:04 pm
Grisoft has updated their free antivirus software AVG. They tell us that this update adds detection of I-Worm/Colevo, Win32/Cornish and new variants of I-Worm/Merkur, Worm/Muma, BackDoor.Beastdoor.
Update 495 is approx 1425kb in size and a reset is not required.
If you use the Outlook Express plug-in, you should see the following message at the bottom of all your emails:
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.495 / Virus Database: 294 - Release Date: 30/06/2003
Update your AVG now to keep your pc safe and free from viruses.
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Saturday 28 June, 2003
Zone Alarm Free has been updated by @ 7:56 pm
Zone Labs have just updated the free version of ZoneAlarm Firewall. We don't have any details yet as what the update has changed, but the version number is now 3.7.193.
To update your version of Zone Alarm, open up the Zone Alarm control panel and pick the preferences tab. You will see a button marked 'check for updates'. Pressing this button will take you to the download page on the Zone Labs website.
The pop up says that this is an important security update, but I think it always says that when it finds an updated version.
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Friday 27 June, 2003
WORM_MUMU.A by @ 9:50 am
Trend Micro warns of a new worm doing the rounds. This worm attempts to spread by locating SMB shares. It penetrates these shares using a list of weak administrator passwords.
This worm contains multiple components, including the malware detected as BAT_SPYBOT.A and TROJ_HACLINE.A. It runs under Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, and XP.
WORM_MUMU.A is detected under pattern file 577.
For more information on WORM_MUMU.A please visit our Web site: HERE
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Wednesday 25 June, 2003
Flaw In Windows Media Player May Allow Media Library Access (819639) by @ 8:13 pm
Microsoft have released a fix found in Windows Media Player 9 that may allow someone to access your media library. Head on over to Windows Update to get the patch. Microsoft says that this patch will be included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 5, Windows XP Service Pack 2, and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.
The patch is for all Windows operating systems that uses WMP9.
To verify that the patch has been installed on your machine, confirm that the following registry key has been created:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows Media Services\wm819639
The file size is 1.9mb so it's quite a big patch.
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Tuesday 24 June, 2003
New ATI CATALYST Drivers 3.5 by @ 9:56 pm
First off, if you would rather get them downloaded than read the review first then head on over to the ATI Website.
Well, what's new in these drivers?
Fixed in this driver:
• The system is not responding when playing Quake II with the OpenGL option set to default, and the video mode set to 1024x768 is now resolved
• Setting the display resolution to 1027x768 and running the Unreal Tournament 2003 benchmark with Anti-Aliasing enabled, no longer results in the system rebooting
• The system rebooting when attempting to start a new game of Ballistic Forces is now resolved
Enabling Direct3D as the rendering device and setting the display resolution to 1600x1200 in the game Descent 3 no longer results in the game failing to play
• The shadow flickering beneath the car when choosing Quick Race in Nascar Racing 2003 is now resolved
• Setting the display resolution to 1024x768 32bpp and enabling OpenGL no longer results in the ground being discolored in the game IL2 Forgotten Battles
• Connecting a secondary display and enabling extended desktop, followed by running Soldier of Fortune 2 no longer results in a flickering display
• The game Unreal Tournament 2003 no longer hangs when loading the CTF-December level
• The game Unreal Tournament 2003 no longer displays corruption when Anti-Alasing is enabled
• Setting the display options to 1600x1200 32bpp in the Hot Wheels Velocity X game no longer results in the menu screen not being displayed
• Display corruption is no longer noticed when playing the game Earth 2150 and the game resolution is set to 1024x768
Playing the game Nascar Racing 2003 in OpenGL mode no longer results in the display going black
• Exiting the game Age of Empire II no longer results in display not being restored properly
• Playing the game Serious Sam 2 with the display resolution set to 1024x768 32bpp no longer results in the wrong OpenGL renderer being listed when setting the graphics to OpenGL
• The game A Tale in the Desert no longer pauses during game play and no longer causes the system to randomly stop responding
• Enabling Pixel Shaders in the game Asheron's Call 2 no longer results in display corruption appearing as the game is played
• Playing the game Project IGI2: Covert Strike with a RADEON™ 9700 series card installed in the system no longer results in the ground terrain disappearing and re-appearing as the character is moved.
• The system no longer stops responding when running 3ds max 2001
The 3DMark2003 shader optimizations found in previous CATALYST™ releases have been removed
• Increased CPU performance is now noticed when enabling the use accelerated post processing in the DivX player
• Running Maya or SoftImage no longer results in the overly front and backbuffers not being cleared at allocation time
• Dragging the WinDVD player to the extended desktop when playing a DVD no longer results in a system hang
• Running certain OpenGL application under Windows XP with a RADEON™ 7200 series card installed no longer results in display corruption
• Running the Windows Movie Maker program no longer results in the display corruption appearing on the preview screen
• Running the ATI Tranquility screen saver found at http://www.driverheaven.net, on an ATI RADEON™ 9000 series card, no longer results in the system not responding under Windows XP
• When installing the EAZYLOOK™ TV upgrade the installer now upgrades the Watch TV scheduled event property in the registry correctly
• Playing a DVD with TheaterMode enabled no longer results in the display not being maximized on the secondary LCD
• Enabling or disabling the extended desktop when the Media player is running no longer results in the system not responding
Previewing the 3D Pipes screen saver with latest video driver installed no longer results in a slow start and exit of the screen saver
• The monitor shutting down when booting to the Windows XP service pack 1 desktop when a RADEON™ 9000 Pro is installed in the system is now resolved
• The display resolution is now correct on the first startup after the display driver install
• Playing an AVI no longer results in a screen delay. This issue was known to occur under Windows 2000 with the RADEON™ 9600 series card installed
• Enabling or disabling the extended desktop when the Media player is running no longer results in the system not responding
• The OpenGL hardware overlay is now working correctly in panning mode
• The memory size on the RADEON™ 9800 SE not being reported accurately is now resolved
• Windows 2000 no longer detects the secondary CRT display adapter as the primary display adapter
• The HDTV icon is no longer displayed when Disable Component Output Support is selected
• The information tab found in the advanced display properties for the secondary monitor now provides information on the driver version installed
• The Bios information is no longer listed incorrectly on the Adapter Information
Once installed, the control panel should display the following information:
The first thing (as always) I ran the 3DMark 2003 benchmarking program. Knowing that ATI have removed any optimisations for the benchmark, I wanted to know how much this would effect the score. Well, I was very suprised, instead of my score going down as expected, it actually has gone up. My previous default benchmark was 4894 with ATI's optimisation for 3DMark '03, it is now 4930. An increase of 36 points.
Next up was the Code Creatures demo. I really didn't see alot of change in this benchmark. My scores were the same as with the Catalyst 3.4 drivers.
I then ran through 300 or so demoscene demos. Not alot of change here either, the missing shadow that I was told would be fixed in my Mircle demo was still missing. All demos ran correctly apart from one, a demo called Cloned where I seem to have lost a pipe texture on on of the tunnel scenes. Apart from that, all other demos ran the same as the previous version.
I then, just for a laugh, ran 3DMark '01. For my card and system, this benchmarking program now offers such silly numbers that it's hardly worth running it anymore apart for a trip down memory lane. Anyway, here's the result.
In saying that, it doesn't seem that long ago when I could hardly get the 8 light test to run at all. How things have moved on in such a short space of time.
I've also taken to running the pcpitstop test. Not that the graphics card performance makes much difference to the score but it's good for anyone wishing to know about the overall health of their pc. I will compare this score with the next set of drivers to be released next month. You can run an online test at this very useful site for free HERE
As with all benchmarks, you can compare how your system rates with other users with simular set-ups, but I always feel benchmarks are a personal thing. Used to test out options on your own pc. So many things can effect a benchmark score that it's not a very reliable way of testing against others and users will often find sneaky methods of getting their results higher without showing up in the details how they did it. I mean, I cheat with the pc pitstop result, to stop me getting a red flag for my internet connection, I select a slower dial-up rate than I really have, but as long as I do it everytime I do the test, I can see if any other changes I make to the system improve it's performance or not. Anyway, I'm wondering off subject now.....
Overall thoughts about the drivers
They will fix many of the problems in the list above, if you suffered from any of them you will be please for the fix, however, personally speaking I noticed very little difference. I did get the suprise with a higher 3DMark '03 score, but it was very small. Without the proper equipment, I am unable to prove or disprove the performance increases that are claimed for these drivers. All my tests were carried out with default settings (as installed by the driver) and at default setting in benchmark programs.
I'll stick with these 3.5 drivers, apart from the one demo which seems to have gained a texture fault in one scene, these drivers don't show any other detramental effects.
Another thumbs up for Terry Makedon and his team at ATI and not forgetting the team of beta testers who work tirelessly to bring you all the fastest and most stable drivers for any graphics card on the planet.
See you in one months time for the release of Catalyst 3.6 when I can compare figures again with these results. Terry and his team seem to be keeping to their promise of a new driver version every month.
Sunday 22 June, 2003
Data protection hoax by @ 10:27 pm
In a press release issued by East Sussex County Council (of all places) we are told of a scam that my well be nationwide and could catch many small businesses out if they arn't aware. I had one of these scam letters at work myself last week, so I thought I would pass on the warning.
Press Release: Small businesses in East Sussex are being warned to check any data protection information that they receive as hoax companies step up their campaign to make a quick profit.
East Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards Service has issued the warning following this scam that usually involves a fake ‘official’ letter telling firms to notify under the Data Protection ACT (DPA). Some of the fake letters have included a demand for up to £95 including VAT – three times the standard amount. Notification under the DPA is a legal requirement for certain businesses that process personal information on computer.
In most cases firms are exempt from notifying under the DPA. For example, if a firm processes data only for staff administration, including payroll, they need not pay the annual statutory fee of £35 – on which no VAT is payable.
Councillor Peter Jones, Leader of the County Council, said: “Our Trading Standards Service has received over 50 enquiries in the last month alone – from local firms that have been targeted by these unscrupulous firms. Our officers are compiling the complaints and will send them on to the Information Commissioner who is investigating ways to put a stop to this practice.”
Companies that have already parted with a notification fee over £35 should check whether their application was necessary. If so, they should then check whether notification has been initiated.
Firms under investigation include:
Data Protection Act Registration Service
Data Protection Registration Agency
Data Collection Enforcement Agency
Data Registration Agency
Data Protection Agency Services Ltd
DPA Registration Agency
Data Protection Act Registration Agency
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Friday 20 June, 2003
What a to-do by bluetracker @ 9:19 pm
The document you requested cannot be found or is undergoing routine maintenance.
Is all you see when attempting to view Senator Orrin G. Hatch's website.
Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch as 'those in the know' will remember was quoted recently as being in favour of 'blowing up' the computers of P2P and copyright pirates'.
THIS story on The Reg has the sordid details of what the venerable Senator had in mind in his quest to stamp out software/music piracy via the internet.
The story however has taken a twist,visitors to Senator Hatch's 'Utah' website find the site is down for maintainance...
Strange, especially since when I viewed it at 2.30pm 20/06/03 everything was OK even down to the clandestine installation of Comsoft's latest malware Dialler program!
E-mailing The Reg with my findings and asking them to either remove their link to the Senators site or at least issue a warning along the lines of " Veiwing this site may cause premature blindness" or something similar was, as of later this afternoon an un-neccessary requirement as the shutters came down on Orrin's pride and joy.
Yes that's right a Porno dialler...A US republican Senator who blasts P2P and piracy but it would seem gives the 'nod' to pornography being circulated via his site!
Of course the fact that the dialler(Hotaction_gb.exe) mysteriously hooks into a visitors computer without warning or consent, may not be anything whatsoever to do with His Senatorship. Surly he can't be responsible for knowingly allowing it's presence? Let's face it, websites all over the world are always being targeted by script kiddies and defacements of 'high profile sites' commonplace occurrances which can often be attributed to a malcontent office junior who has got the hump with his boss.
Also you would expect a site with "SENATE.GOV" address to be squeaky clean; after all how can one trust the Senators if their websites support software piracy and/or pornographic material?
Oops did I say "support software piracy"?
But I did say that didn't I? But Senator Hatch is a staunch campaigner against this sort of thing...isn't he?
Well it wasn't a mistake or a Freudian slip of the finger...y'see the Senators site is also supposedly using unlicenced software!
I kid you not!
Just check out the source of the site ...Oh you can't can you it's down for "maintainance"!
Anyway as THIS site shows, it appears as though the Senator does not practice what he preaches! Nothing new there where Governmental personages are concerned whatever Country they hail from.
In all fairness however it must be said that Senator Hatch's 'virtual office' on the main Senate website here has all the license details for the software used in the makeup of it a'la...
Milonic DHTML Website Navigation Menu
Written by Andy Woolley - Copyright 2003 (c) Milonic Solutions Limited. All Rights Reserved
Please visit http://www.milonic.co.uk/ for more information
Although this software may have been freely downloaded, you must obtain a license before using it in any production environment
The free use of this menu is only available to Non-Profit, Educational & Personal Web Sites who have obtained a license to use
Free, Commercial and Corporate Licenses are available from our website at http://www.milonic.co.uk/menu/supportcontracts.php
You also need to include a link back to http://www.milonic.co.uk/ if you use the free license
All Copyright notices MUST remain in place at ALL times
If you cannot comply with all of the above requirements, please contact us to arrange a license waiver
License Details:
Type: Professional
Number: 188909
Dated: 20th June 2003
Oddly enough it sports TODAY's date, yet the Senate website site has been up and running for longer than that hasn't it?
At this time UTAH would seem a very 'uncertain' seat for the Republicans!
As for Senator Hatch, the US Senate et-al...the words EGG and FACE spring immediately to mind!
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Wednesday 18 June, 2003
SereneScreen Marine Aquarium Saver V2 FREE Upgrade by @ 6:52 pm
SereneScreen's fantastic Marine Aquarium screen saver has been upgraded to version 2. If you purchased version 1.1, you can upgrade to version 2 for free but you had better be quick as the end of the free upgrade offer ends on 17th June 2003 but if your really quick, you can still ca |
