release

Not only does IE9 not suck, it even rocks out a bit

The bottom line: Internet Explorer 9 is surprisingly competitive across the board. Zippy browsing speeds, minimalist layout, and innovative features make this not only the best version of IE to date, but will catapult Internet Explorer back into the browser wars. The one big drawback? You must have Windows 7 or Vista to use it. XP users are stuck on IE8. Forever.

Review: The sound bite on Internet Explorer 9 will be a variation of "it doesn't suck," yet the changes to the browser go far deeper than that glib comment can reflect. Microsoft engineered a campaign, … Read more

iPad launch 2.0: What's different this time?

Mock them or envy them, you can expect more than a few gadget aficionados to be lining up at Apple stores today to buy the new iPad.

The overwhelming success of the original iPad ended up taking Apple by surprise last year, with the company announcing sales of more than 300,000 Wi-Fi iPads on its first day, going on to hit 1 million in just under a month. Over the following months, supply was scarce, with Apple resorting to a reservation system that would have users waiting weeks in some cases. This ended up affecting Apple's plans to … Read more

Shuttle Discovery's last hurrah

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Mozilla ready for Release Candidate 4 test

IE9 gets a release date

Cloud saving coming to PS3

Kinect breaks iPad sales records

New Apple iOS 4.3 now available

Shuttle Discovery's last flight

Mozilla prepares to push Firefox 4

Mozilla updated Firefox 4 today to release candidate status, meaning that the features are locked, and barring the discovery of any major bugs, this version is likely to become the browser's official release. Available to download for Windows, Mac, and Linux, Firefox 4 release candidate 1 contains no major bug fixes, and instead offers a series of stability, compatibility, and performance tweaks.

Longtime Firefox 4 beta watchers will notice a squaring off of the browser's tabs, and for those who missed it in the last beta, the browser will now automatically pin itself to your Windows 7 taskbar … Read more

iOS 4.3 arrives ahead of schedule

Apple today released its iOS 4.3 software ahead of schedule.

The software, which was originally set to be released on Friday to coincide with the launch of the iPad 2, went out to users as an update from within Apple's iTunes software this morning.

Among the new features are support for Wi-Fi hot spots on GSM iPhones, video streaming through Apple's AirPlay technology, iTunes Home Sharing, and improved JavaScript performance in Safari. iPad users also get a new option within the settings menu that lets them turn the iPad's side switch into either a mute switch … Read more

Apple seeding seventh beta of Mac OS X 10.6.7 to developers, public release imminent

Apple is seeding the seventh beta of Mac OS X 10.6.7 to developers for testing. This version, build 10J868, like the last few builds, contains no known issues, suggesting that Apple may be prepared for a public release of the update.

Similar to the previous build of 10.6.7 beta, the applications and functionality under scrutiny include the Mac App Store, Bonjour, SMB, and Safari. Graphics performance is also a focus for developers testing their software against the operating system.

Though Mac OS X 10.6.7 will provide some much-needed updates and enhancements for current features … Read more

How much will the iPad 2 weigh?

Update, February 26: to reflect the announcement of the iPad 2 on March 2.

Weight. It's something our society tends to dwell on when it comes to physical appearance, but it's also a big factor in today's mobile products.

Like a lot of people, the first time I saw the iPad my eye was drawn to its vibrant screen and those sleek lines that are the signature of Apple products. Yet the one overwhelming thought I had when picking it up for the first time was, "Damn, this is kind of heavy."

No, at around 1.5 pounds, it's not that heavy. And it's obviously lighter than every laptop on the market, including Apple's own MacBook Air, which comes in at 2.3 pounds for the 11.6-inch model (the new $299 HP Mini 1103 Netbook weighs 2.8 pounds). But the iPad ostensibly is a handheld device, and for a lot of folks, holding up a 1.5-pound weight for extended periods is a challenge.… Read more

IE9 release candidate tops 2 million downloads

Microsoft says the release candidate for Internet Explorer 9 has been downloaded more than 2 million times since its release late last week.

Microsoft first released the software to the public last Thursday, after a five-month beta run with a total download count that topped 25 million. Later this month the company will offer an upgrade through the Windows Update software to those beta users who have not yet updated to the release candidate.

Included in this new version of the browser software are some 2,000 changes made since the last beta. The build also includes two new security … Read more

IE9 RC debuts with 'do not track'

SAN FRANCISCO--The next generation of Internet Explorer is nearly ready for the public at large, as Microsoft announces the release candidate of Internet Explorer 9 at the Hang Art Gallery in San Francisco's Union Square this morning.

A massive list of improvements debuted in the new RC, available for 32-bit Windows 7; 64-bit Windows 7; 32-bit Windows Vista; and 64-bit Windows Vista. Among the most notable enhancements are the new ActiveX filter, expanded support for HTML5 and "future-tech" standards, and advertiser tracking protection, which also was introduced this week into a prerelease version of Firefox 4.

The … Read more

Rumored Valentine's Day release for Apple's iOS 4.3

A new rumor surfacing online pegs February 14 as the release date for Apple's iOS 4.3, the newest update for iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches.

MacStories has reported from a "reliable source" that iOS 4.3 will be available on February 14 at 10 a.m. PT.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber conjectured in his review of the Verizon iPhone that an iOS 4.3 release would make sense in the next two weeks. Verizon would have a launch and time to market its iPhone as the only one with the personal hot-spot feature (widely expected … Read more