Firefox 3.6.4 Beta Build 6 .. and a Correction

A few days ago, a post appeared here that Firefox 3.6.4 had gone final (and it certainly appeared to many of us that it had).

So much for perception but I did promise an update.

It appears that anyone that had the Firefox 'Lorentz' beta loaded was upgraded to Firefox 3.6.4 beta ... despite that fact that the beta tag did not appear on the upgrade screen.

If all of that isn't confusing enough, if you haven't already read it here or elsewhere, an updated beta of Firefox 3.6.4 IS available for testers and developers here.  Note: This is now Build 6 and was released just 2 days ago and ... well .... It's pretty slick!

More information can be found on the Firefox Developer News Page here.

DoubleClick Ad Planner Adds New Features - Top 1000

Overshadowed by the news today that Google finally acquired AdMob, was the fact that Google's other 'major' advertising acquisition, DoubleClick, has updated their ad buyer targeting software ...  DoubleClick Ad Planner.

In an e-mail to users, The DoubleClick Ad Planner team introduced new features including the 'Ad Planner 1000 list', Exporting Google Content Network Placements to Adwords and a feature actually rolled out in April, Ad Planner 'Lists'.

You can sign up for an Ad Planner account or check out the FAQs here or visit the help forum here.

It's a must view for media buyers (large and small) that haven't used the product before.

Curious what the 1000 top sites are?  A static page is here.

Update May 27 7:20 PM ET : Barry Schwartz has an excellent piece at Search Engine Land referencing the just released AdWords blog announcement and more.

Facebook - Yes, Again

There comes a time when blogging about a specific subject gets a little old.

This time, it's different ... and still important.

Over the past few weeks, many of us have written numerous posts about Facebook and the backlash (at least in the 'tech world') over the social network's privacy changes and ambitions.

On Wednesday, Facebook introduced their upgraded privacy page.

I'm writing this post because I feel strongly the more of us that do, the better the chance that people will find out about these important changes, and motivate them to re-visit their privacy settings (or remind them to).

There are many opinions on this roll-out.  You can read more than a few on Techmeme here.

Here's a brief overview.

1) I visited my own page and noticed more than a few 'open' areas that I thought I had made 'Friends Only'.  Conclusion: The default hasn't changed. It's still opt out rather than opt in.

2) It IS positively easier to tweak your settings using the new privacy page.  IE:  Want private?  Just zip through the pages and set everything to 'Friends Only'.

3) It's still hard for some to find.  Facebook should put a prominent link 'Privacy Settings and Information' where all users will notice it (and keep it there).

Overall, a huge improvement.

Will people actually do it?

I still doubt it.

Charlie

Google Crisis Response - Oil Spill

As the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to reach astronomical proportions with no clear end in sight, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that isn't upset that, to date, nobody has been able to stop it.

It's not just a Louisiana problem.  It's not just a U.S. problem.  It's an international problem.

It's not a time for pointing fingers.

It's not a time for politics.

It's a time for action.

While some may consider it pointless, others will no doubt see it as a step from a company that touches us all.

Google has announced an Oil Spill Response Page.

In concert with PBS, a list of resources along with a link to PBS's YouTube Channel creating a forum for anyone to contribute ideas.

Will it help?

It certainly can't hurt.

You can find the page here.

A Significant Update to Google Chrome (for Everyone)

This familiar icon that's been popping up in other browsers could very well now be true.  Not only for PC users but for Mac and Linux users as well.

Google announced a short time ago that version 5.0.375.55 has been released as a stable release for all three operating systems.

We took a brief spin of both the PC (Win 7) and Linux (Mint) versions and ... ugh ... wow! (Yep, it works :)

Initial impressions seem to be that performance ranks right up there with Version 6 (released in the developer channel recently).

Extensions, Bookmarks, Browser Preferences, HTML 5 features including geolocation APIs, APP Cache, web sockets, file drag and drop and more are all now on-board.


Links to a variety of Chrome (and Chromium project) blogs with much more information can be found in the latest post to the Google Chrome Blog here.

UPDATE:  May 25, 2010 - 12:45 ET Well that didn't take long.  More has now been posted (including a video) to the Official (Main) Google Blog here ... along with this classically Google cool cartoon ...

Shhhh! Mozilla Quietly Rolls Out Firefox 3.6.4 Final

You won't find it on the Mozilla download page (yet) but users, at least here in the US, are reporting an update notification (and apparent full upgrade) to the latest stable version of Firefox ... Version 3.6.4

If you want to check if it's available to you, simply click on 'Help' at the top of the browser then 'Check for Updates'.  The rest of the process is automatic.

Most recently available as Firefox 3.6.4 build 4 , the latest version sports numerous improvements in stability and security ... and improved Mac compatibility.

Update 10 PM ET - May 25 2010 There was some 'controversy' with this post as to it's accuracy.  It is now confirmed (at least with those using Windows 7 in some areas) that an upgrade is rolling out to users of both Firefox 3.6.4 and 3.6.3.  More info as it becomes available.

Windows 7 XP Mode - Complete with IE6 .... Huh?

Back here, I touched on the fact that Windows 7 XP mode for Windows 7 is now available to registered users and no longer requires hardware (CPU visualization) support ... but does require 'reasonable' system resources.

There are some excellent features with this implementation, specifically the ability to launch and run programs in an XP based window and / or full screen directly from the Windows 7 start menu without any coding.

Literally an instant virtual desktop which absolutely comes in handy.

In essence, Microsoft is giving Windows 7 users a copy of Virtual PC 2007 and a copy of Windows XP Professional.

But .... and this can't be by design ???!! ....

The copy of XP provided is original and 'virgin' .. meaning .... if you go to Windows Update from within the XP window (screen), you're going to find over 50 updates (Yes, you read that right). Depending on your broadband speed and the amount of ram your system has allocated to the virtual machine (by default), you may be in for a few hours of updating.

Somehow this doesn't seem realistic, especially since many sites (Hulu, Google Reader ....) no longer support IE6 with more being added each day.

Despite the fact that tens of thousands of corporate embedded PCs are still running IE6 (Yes, you read that right), the old browser is, for most uses, is dead out of the box.  Microsoft would most likely agree.

I went through the curve.  One of the 'suggested' updates is IE8 and you can add Firefox or Chrome with no problem. I'm even launching a copy of Ubuntu 10.04 for Windows using it :)

The bottom line.  If you have the ram and a relatively recent CPU ... it's worth the install but go through the updates first ...

Zuckerberg Responds to Facebook Critics in WP Monday

Monday's Washington Post (released a little early online) has a column written by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressing the ongoing privacy concerns that have deluged the online social network in waves over the past few months.

High profile bloggers have literally closed their accounts and debates have raged across the technology blogs over Facebook's recent changes and 'control over your own information'.

Many, close to both new and old Facebook employees, have defended the company saying that some of the people working there wouldn't allow the company to keep heading in the direction that many have perceived it was.

The piece came just hours after Zuckerberg gave permission to blogger Robert Scoble to reproduce an e-mail saying essentially the same thing in different words.

Apparently, Facebook is now listening (if they haven't been all along).

What will change? How fast?

We'll see.

The Google Doodle is Functional ! (Updated)

It's probably a safe bet to say that most of us missed the fact that Google's latest front page 'doodle' is functional!

Many of us noticed the PacMan commemorative land on Google's front page yesterday.

This morning, I happened to have the speakers on .... and noticed the 'insert coin' button.

Ugh ... it works.

Well here goes another couple of HOURS.

..... and you guys thought Farmville was fun ....

Update: Due to the overwhelming response to Google's 30th Anniversary PAC-MAN Doodle, Google VP Marissa Mayer today announced on the Official Google Blog that the PAC-MAN page is being made available permanently at www.google.com/pacman !

Just great stuff.