But this time, it’s a public release! Head on over to the Microsoft IE7 page if you’re interested in downloading the beta 2 preview. You might also be interested in checking out the feature table even if you don’t want to download.
But there’s one catch: IE7 Beta 2 Preview will only run on Windows XP Service Pack 2.
I am convinced that my WordPress installation is half WordPress 1.5 and half WordPress 2.0. As detailed previously, I had a bit of trouble upgrading to WordPress 2.0. Besides the fact that my theme has a functions.php file now, the main thing I have noticed is that my Quicktags toolbar has changed. That’s the post composition toolbar that has links to common HTML tags.
First of all, the “b” button used to be called “strong,” and the “i” button used to be called “em.” In addition, I don’t remember the “del,” the “ins,” the “more,” or the “lookup” buttons being there. But I’m glad those new buttons are there. Cool stuff.
I have to give credit to WordPress. Even though it’s a half-upgraded installation, it still works. 
Straight from Intel: a PDF document showcasing their fleet of new logos.
But why did they have to make the logo shapes asymmetrical? Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.
FeedBurner recently released FeedFlare Phase 2. FeedFlares are links that allow blog readers to, in short, do stuff with blog posts, such as email the post to others or find Technorati links for that post. Phase 1 allowed FeedFlare links on XML feeds, and now Phase 2 allows FeedFlare links on blog posts themselves.
At first I put the FeedFlares at the bottom of my post and got all excited. “Wow, that’s awesome.” Then I wanted to tinker with it. I didn’t like those bullet points between the links and wanted to replace them with pipes, ala WordPress style.
However, the FeedFlare code that I’m supposed to put in my blog template is JavaScript, so I can’t customize the HTML directly. Hmm… that means “some CSS modification required.” Well, that’s okey-dokey with me, but this looks like CSS3 modification required, which I am quite certain will not work with Internet Explorer. Though Mozilla Firefox is superior in my opinion, Internet Explorer is what most people use. In addition, the FeedFlares are wrapped around a <p> tag, which will not be ideal for some cases in which I want to use the FeedFlares.
I finally got fed up with FeedFlare and made my own links. 
Things like “email this post” or “add to del.icio.us” are easy to do. Check my links out at the bottom of this post (assuming you’re reading this post directly at the site). And I recommend you also avoid FeedFlare unless you’re happy with how it looks, you’re willing to use some CSS3, or if HTML to you stands for “Hard To Me, it Looks.”
A government secret has been leaked on Google AdWords: Iowa is experiencing major climate change!
Okay Uncle Sam, then why did we have this huge snowstorm last week? 
Hmm… snow hurricanes?
According to this Microsoft Watch article, the next major client version of Windows, which will come after Windows Vista, has had its codename changed from “Blackcomb” to “Vienna.” The reason?
These code names are derived from cities/locations in the world known for great ‘vistas’.
Hmm… I’m can’t decide whether I think this move is smart or silly.
But shame on Microsoft. That period should be inside the quotation mark. [?]
WOW! I am simply blown away by the powerful new features planned for Visual Basic 9.0!
One awesome new feature is query comprehension, SQL style. Take the following sample code from the Microsoft website:
Dim SmallCountries = Select Country From Country In Countries Where Country.Population < 1000000
This creates a collection of Country objects called SmallCountries, but it only contains Country objects whose Population property is less than one million. Very powerful. Very exciting.
Considering Visual Basic 2005 (a.k.a. Visual Basic 8.0) included support for Office 2003-style menus and toolbars, I wouldn’t be surprised if Visual Basic 9.0 also included support for Ribbons from Office 12, as well as other Windows Vista integration features.
Earlier this month, Google released a free collection of software known as the Google Pack. It is intended to help with setting up a new computer, or enhancing an existing one, by providing a one-installer package of “essential software.” On the Google Pack website, you can customize what software is included in your pack. There are many options:
Any software that you choose to download will be kept up-to-date by an application called the Google Updater.
However, according to a SuperSite for Windows review, the security software is sorely out of date, not all of the programs included are at their latest versions, the Start Menu and notification area are expectably cluttered, and RealPlayer will prompt users to upgrade to a paid version.
Though I don’t think the SuperSite for Windows review makes clear enough the fact that you can customize which applications you download in the pack, so, thankfully, you can just download the “good programs.”
Hooray! My webhost’s Fantastico deployment finally has WordPress 2.0.
Begin the backups!
[Update: Well, that didn’t go so well. Fantastico said the upgrade was successful. The theme was upgraded because it included the new functions.php, etc. But the admin interface was still the same and the version number in the admin area still read “1.5.2″. Bother. I guess I won’t be upgrading to version 2 for some time now.]
The answer: yes, it does!
I really don’t know why this isn’t publicized more, but each Xanga blog has its very own RSS feed. You don’t even need to be a Xanga member to access the feeds.
Just enter the following URL into your feed aggregator, replacing the word username with the username of the Xanga blogger to whose blog you want to subscribe:
http://www.xanga.com/rss.aspx?user=username
Xanga bloggers, be sure to announce on your blog the fact that you have an RSS feed! (The sidebar is a great place to show off your new-found site syndication options.) This also applies to users of other blogging services. Having an RSS feed, a link to which is plainly visible, can increase the number of readers and will allow subscribers to read your blog without having to remember to visit your website.
Subscribe