Microsoft Talk

An overview of the features and benefits of Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 8.

Windows Internet Explorer 8 is the next version of the world’s most popular browser that optimizes developer and end-user experiences to provide a window to the Web of online services. Moreover, Internet Explorer 8 offers new features and functionality that enable customers to reach beyond the page in more secure, easier and faster ways than ever. Following are brief descriptions of the key new and enhanced features in Internet Explorer 8. Features that are new in beta 2 or have been significantly improved since beta 1 are noted with an asterisk (*).

Faster, Easier Web Browsing

Internet Explorer 8 makes great strides in both features and performance improvements that provide faster day-to-day browsing. Many ways in which Internet Explorer 8 makes browsing faster and easier include these:

• Smart Address Bar*. In addition to matching URLs in the user’s site history, the Smart Address Bar in Internet Explorer 8 matches what a user types in the Address Bar with titles in the history as well as content in their favorites and feeds, making it easier to locate sites the user wants to visit.

• Enhanced Find On Page. Find On Page functionality has been enhanced to improve how users search for text on Web pages.

• Find On Page. Find On Page now appears as a toolbar activated by pressing Ctrl-F or choosing Find On Page from the Edit menu or Instant Search Box. The toolbar appears below the user’s tab so it doesn’t obscure any of the text on the page.

• Result count. The enhanced Find On Page functionality shows the user how many places the search text appears on the page.

• Result highlighting. The enhanced Find On Page functionality highlights all places on the page where the search text appears so users can locate them at a glance.

• Redesigned New Tab Page. The New Tab Page in Internet Explorer 8 has been redesigned to allow the user to perform common tasks by clicking links on the New Tab Page.

• Tab Groups*. When one tab is opened from another, the new tab is placed next to the originating tab, and both are marked with a colored tab, so users can quickly discern which tabs have related content.

• Reopen last browsing session*. Internet Explorer 8 enables users to reopen their last browsing session from the most recently closed instance of Internet Explorer, which is useful if the user accidentally closes the browser.

Check out the Albuquerque, NMBlog here on the 451 Press Network, then click below for more on Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2.

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First-of-its-kind partnership creates new ways to register to vote and jump into 2008 election.

A leading gaming and entertainment platform just became a leading platform for change. Microsoft Corp. and Rock the Vote today announced a groundbreaking partnership that will allow Xbox 360 owners to register to vote, participate in presidential polls and voice their opinions to the presidential candidates. It will all happen through Xbox LIVE starting Monday, Aug. 25, the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

“Xbox is a natural partner to help us reach out to youth voters,” said Heather Smith, executive director, Rock the Vote. “To realize our goal of registering 2 million young Americans by this fall, we need to go where young Americans are, and there’s no doubt in our minds that many are on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE.”

This is the first time that Rock the Vote has joined forces with an entertainment partner such as Xbox to reach voters under 30. Xbox LIVE is the largest online social network connected to the television, with membership totaling 12 million — if Xbox LIVE were a state, it would rank as the country’s seventh largest, giving it approximately 20 electoral votes.

“The Xbox LIVE community is active, vocal and passionate,” said Marc Whitten, general manager of Xbox LIVE. “We’re thrilled to partner with Rock the Vote to make it easier than ever for youth voters — and our members — to register and be heard.”

Through the Rock the Vote partnership, Xbox LIVE members will be able to register to vote, voice their opinions to the candidates through an exclusive forum and participate in potentially election-predicting polls. They will also be able to download Rock the Vote public service announcements.

Xbox also will have a presence at both the Democratic and Republican conventions, promoting the Rock the Vote partnership and educating delegates about creating a safer entertainment environment on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE using the built-in parental controls known as Family Settings. These industry-leading settings allow parents to limit their children’s access to video games and movies and manage their activity and communications on Xbox LIVE. For more information on Family Settings and other safety-enhancing gaming tools and resources, delegates can stop by the Xbox on-site kiosk or visit http://www.xbox.com/isyourfamilyset.

Visit Copyright Talk and learn about youtube and copyright law.

Hello Hello!

My name is Brick ONeil, and i’ve been with the 451 Press Network since March 2007. I’m the new blogger for Microsoft Talk. We’ll be discussing ‘About Microsoft’ itself. What’s happening, who’s coming/going, what new technologies they’re coming out with, updates and upgrades. I’ll try to bring you news each day that impacts your daily life and use of Microsoft products, or just interesting information I think you’ll enjoy.

I, myself, use a HP/Compaq TC1100 Tablet PC loaded with Microsoft XP for tablet and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. I would be lost without these. I bought my tablet in 2007 preloaded with XP for tablet and was offered the chance to upgrade to Vista. I thought long and hard about it, but decided my tablet wasn’t powerful enough to load and run Vista appropriately. I really need to upgrade the RAM/memory to be more effective, and thats on ‘the list’ of things to do, if you know what I mean.

What computer and op system do you have?

Head on over and check out Reality on Bravo.

Feel free to drop me a line anytime in the comments or email!

Creatively named Webmaster Portal, it will be a single, friendly place to find all tools and information relating to Live Search SEO. Initially we?ll support these scenarios:

• Troubleshooting tools to ensure MSNBot is effectively crawling and indexing your site
• Sitemap creation, submission and ping tools
• Statistics about your website
• Consolidation of content submission resources
• New content and community resources

While we expect the tools to be available publicly in late Fall, we still have some polishing to do.  In the meantime we?ve created a private beta program to let adventuresome folks get their hands on the tools sooner ? and help polish things by providing feedback. If you?re interested in participating in the beta program over the next few months, please send a mail to lswmp@microsoft.com to apply!

Source

NEOWIN:

I had a call from Microsoft Legal this morning and they have told me that we are no longer allowed to endorse AutoPatcher on Neowin.
Microsoft will only allow updates to be downloaded from its own servers.
AutoPatcher started in 2003 and has been redistributed in some of the worlds best computer magazine cover CD/DVD’s. I have no explanation for why Microsoft allowed it to continue unchecked for 4 years before making this decision.
I asked the representative if Windows Genuine Advantage had anything to do with it and he categorically told me this was not the case, he added that Windows Update for pre-Vista versions of Windows can now be accessed using Firefox and that the concern at Microsoft had more to do with the possible malicious code that could be redistributed with certified Microsoft updates.
We have no grounds to challenge the decision by Microsoft.
I’d like to thank the whole AutoPatcher team for their continued work, unfortunately none of the team is online, but they have been contacted via the AutoPatcher.com website by Microsoft Legal.
The AutoPatcher forums on Neowin have been disabled for guests and members.
Link: Forum Announcement + Discussion
View: Announcement @ AutoPatcher.com

Yahoo!!! And I am at work…. geeezzzz… Ain’t I committed to work

It so happens that I working on a dream project. Developing Intranets in Schools using Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services v3 and we are (as is with any project) very short on timelines. We go live on June 01 2007 and to take a day off is seriously not an option for me.

I am just over 30+ and that’s one year less… At 30+, I am doing well in terms of family, financially and healthwise.

I am not looking forward to anything in terms of gifts for the day, since my wife and my son have given me what no one could - lots of love and support - from day one since we migrated here in Australia.

Milestone I have achieved in my life so far (with my family)

1. Migration to Australia - May 2003
2. First Job at Ironside State School - July 2003
3. Enrolled in Masters of Business Administration & Masters of Information Technology - QUT - July 2003
4. Moved to Current Employer - September 2004
5. Purchased first home (withing 3K of Brisbane CBD) - April 2005
6. Naturalised as Australian Citizen - January 2006
7. Purchased second home ( within 2K of Brisbane CBD) - January 2007
8. Celebrated Wife’s Graduation as a Teacher - March 2007
9. Secured job as Senior Project Officer to develop intranets in school on SharePoint! - April 2007
10. … (Secret )

That’s quite a lot Well, I am going to be spending some quite time with my family today evening at a swank India Restaurant here in Brisbane, unless my wife has some other plans

Thought, I’d share some of my life-line with you guys and gals.

Your opinion matters and will be rewarded. You have to help me decide, which license of Office Ultimate 2007 should I purchase?

All I ask of you is to leave your suggestions as a comment which license of Office Ultimate 2007 would you buy, if you had this opportunity.

Ok what is the deal for me? IT’s not cheating! An offer from Microsoft Australia for Australian University Students Only. 

I work full time and am studying as well.

Being a student in Queensland University of Technology, studying for Masters Of Business Administration and Master of Information Technology, I stand to benefit from a special Microsoft Australia offer of purchasing Office Ultimate 2007! What is the offer? Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 - unlimited license - AU 75.00 OR Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 - 12 month license - AU 25.00 (At the end of 12 months, I have an option to upgrade to unlimited license for AU 50.00) Your Opinion Matters - If you were me, what would you do? Remember for your comment, you will get an e-book you won’t regret. This poll remains open until end of April 2007.

Disclaimer: I may win if all 75 of you leave your supporting comments here. Winning does not matter, but if I do win, I will auction the win on e-bay and donate the amount to charity. Which charity? If I do win, it will be a poll like this one - let you decide which charity.

Remember, I want to buy Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 and your opinion matters! I am running the same poll at my other blog as well and it sure has generated some discussion…

Have you subscribed to MSTALKONLINE feed? It’s easy and you will receive updates everyday!

It was Vista all the way. I have covered 3 Vista Series.

1. Getting Started with Vista Series

2. Behind the Curtains with Vista Series

3. Vista Enhancements Series

Coming up next week. User tips and tricks.

Every Friday, weekly round up.

Every Thursday will be Microsoft News speedlinks.

Your suggestions, always welcome.

Over the weekend, enjoy reading this article on different flavours of Vista

Have a good one…

Alpesh Nakar

Howdy? Welcome to MSTalkOnline. If I may introduce myself; I am Alpesh Nakar. An Indian Aussie Blogger.

This blog is for you all Microsoft enthusiasts out there. Somehow we happen to use Microsoft directly or indirectly. Microsoft revolutised what we call IT today. We are connected with Microsoft in some or the other way. Depending on which side of the fence you are on, you take note, Microsoft is everywhere. If you use non-MS products, your ISP, your web-host, yours truly - somebody somewhere is using Microsoft or is a spin off as a result of something that Microsoft had to offer then. Invariable, we do end end up using Microsoft Technologies. What do you think?

I am a hardcore Microsoft Technologist. I love Microsoft and have aspirations to be a Microsoft employee someday. Trust me, if it had not been for Microsoft, IT would have never been what it is today. Just like if it had not been for internet, you wouldn’t be reading this.

With MSTALKONLINE, you will come to experience Microsoft Technologies, that you experience day to day. In the weeks to come, I will focus on latest and greatest happenings in the land of Microsoft and your comments and suggestions will be one of the driving factors.

- Alpesh Nakar