Windows 7 Release Candidate
Windows 7 RC build 7100.0.090421-1700 Screenshots
25 April 2009 by AlexanderI did not take too long for Windows 7 Release Candidate to appear in public. Both builds for 32 and 64 bits are available in torrents and hyper file holders like Rapidshare. Here's the file name for x86 version:
7100.0.090421-1700_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
I think Microsoft will be glad to mitigate download impact on their servers coming on 5th of May when Windows 7 RC is available to anyone. If of course, build 7100 is the true Release Candidate.
What I like in this build is that the navigation issue I mentioned in my previous article seems to be soften in default setup [screenshot] In the taskbar properties select "Always combine, hide labels" for taskbar buttons. Having said that I see another issue here: How are you going to separate active windows labels and simply taskbar icons? It is not badly confusing, but still.
Tags: Antivirus, Analysis
Norton Internet Security 2009. Yellow pill lasts 90 days.
14 April 2009 by AlexanderTypically I review the user-experience part of software, that is how it feels and whether it is comfortable to use. Where I can, I go into details of other technical aspects, such as performance and effectiveness.
I have tried version 16.0.0.125 of Norton Internet Security 2009 which is available in 90-days trial version for downloading. Links are below:
90-days OEM version NIS2009 direct download link
90-days OEM version NIS2009 direct download link (mirror)
First of all, I was very pleased with NIS2009 performance in terms of CPU usage. The suite is running completely invisible and feels very light. Bravo Symantec! It has even a CPU monitor window now to prove that it is light on resources:
CPU usage monitor [click to see full screenshot]
Tags: Antivirus, Analysis
What is wrong with Anti-Virus Comparative reports?
10 April 2009 by AlexanderBased on Anti-Virus Comparative No. 21, February 2009 report
On-demand detection of Malicious Software
All 17 antivirus product included in the test are already “very good anti-virus software” with relatively high (>90%) on-demand detection rates. So, straight from the beginning: this report is about software prodcuts that all do the job of virus detection and removal efficiently. Some well-known names are listed as Norton, Mcafee, Kaspersky, etc. There are also some strange names like Chinese Kingsoft and Command by Authentium. We don’t see there Trend Micro or Panda Antivirus; those probably have good reason not to participate in the test.
Tags: Antivirus, Analysis
Windows 7 - Build 7077 32bit appeared on torrents
08 April 2009 by AlexanderMajor torrent websites have published a link to new build 7077 32bit which Microsoft (who else) leaked yesterday. It was compiled on 4th of April. The file name is 7077.0.090404-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
It is unlikely to be the final Release Candidate, but very close now (look for a build number >7100). As reported, it will expire in March next year (as if some crazy geeks would wait).
People, of course, started downloading like hell. Let's have a look what is new there.
I will show how to install Windows 7 inside virtual machine, without making any big changes to your system like new partitions or dual boot. Here's a screenshot so far. Windows 7 build 7077 inside Sun VirtualBox v.2.2.0.
Update on build 7106
There is a new chinese build 7106 appeared. 7106.0.090408-1623_x64fre_client_zh-cn_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULXFRER_CN_DVD.iso - 64-bit version file name. I am truly amazed by fans' enthusiasm: there is English patch released to properly convert it to something readable. And it is not the final RC yet!
Rumor is build 7107 or 7108 is going to be Windows 7 Release candidate. We'll see.
Tags: Windows 7
Windows 7 - Navigation Disaster
02 April 2009 by AlexanderWindows 7 — new operating system from Microsoft — is available to try “in a wild” of internet. You can find well running builds from Release Candidate branch (RC is due for public testing in May 2009) such as build 7057 , build 7068 (7068.0.090321-1322) or even mysterious 7072 and 7075 from RC (Release Candidate) branch.
The main improvement theme behind Windows 7 is usability. The gears (kernel and the environmental code) under the hood have not been changed too much since Windows Vista, just tweaked. Reportedly, Windows 7 as fast as Vista at least. All and all, it seems if you already have Windows Vista and it is doing its job well for you, there should not be any strong necessity to upgrade. Unless you prefer new shiny stuff anyway.
I was really disappointed actually with new taskbar approach, when icons in the former quick launch bar are becoming tabs when you are running an application the icon represents. That makes them shift to the right.
Windows 7 Taskbar dance #1
Windows 7 Taskbar dance #2
Tags: Windows 7
Decrypt Adobe ADEPT-encrypted PDF files, AKA Digital Editions
07 April 2008 by AlexanderI recently bought an Adobe Digital Edition of a decent book titled “Mastering CSS with Dreamweaver CS4” from Peachpit (if you decide to buy something there, do not forget to register—you will get a good instant discount as a member).
The book is fine, but I hate this DRM stuff as I need to access my books sometimes on a casual machine and that is impossible unless you install Adobe™ Digital Editions and activate it via Adobe's DRM Activator site (for some reason it is called “Eden”, there is no sign of Eden there at all!). So I decided to find a way to overcome and remove DRM protection from Adobe pdf file, not for sharing this book, but for my convenience.
Tags: Digital editions, Adobe