Firefox heads for five per cent share

This is a good thing. Microsoft has been stationary and unimaginative since it beat Netscape into submission. A bit of competition from Firefox might make them innovate once again – and maybe even consider building a secure browser.

Firefox is a brilliant browser, and I do use it from time to time. But unfortunately some sites I use require Active X controls, and I’m far too lazy to use different browsers for different sites. So I would urge the sites that require Active X to updated themselves, and really open up the competition.

Oh, grief. There are many people and things you can name your children after, why on Earth choose an internet service? Even if it did bring you and the baby’s father together. Lots of things can bring people together, but you don’t see names like “Joe Hedonism Bloggs” or “Tom Red Lion Smith” do you? So why curse someone with a name like “Lucian Yahoo Dragoman”?

Update: A factual correction to this story has now been posted.

It was bound to happen… Someone has photoshopped those disturbing photos of Bill Gates. There’s another photoshopped version here, too.

Seven Longhorns to debut in May 2006? (Silicon)

This seems a rather unlikely story – unless, of course, Microsoft have changed their strategy again.

As I understood it, Windows XP was released in its two editions – Home and Professional – to end consumer confusion between the home and NT versions, particularly with reference to the confusion surrounding Windows ME and Windows 2000. If this is the case, then it seems a somewhat backward step to release seven versions of Longhorn. I’m not sure which version I’d have to run, and I’m reasonably computer literate.

At the same time, though, this would be a good move by Microsoft if it meant that the most basic version of Windows could be sold at a very low price, so that it could compete in that field for the home users that Linux and the like are trying to target, since these could become more of a threat over the next few years. And, of course, Microsoft has been shifting in this direction by adding two further editions of Windows XP to the market (Media Centre and Tablet), as well as the stripped-down bargain version sold in countries where piracy is a particular problem. So there are clear advantages to taking this proposed stance on the release of Longhorn, and clear signals that this path is being taken.

This is all speculation, of course. No-one will really know until the blooming thing is released. When will that be? The current prediction is May 2006, but exactly how many times has this project been pushed back? I don’t expect it to ship by May 2006, I expect it to be pushed back once more, but still arrive in time for summer 2006. That’s my prediction.

Update It now transpires that there will, indeed, be seven versions – see here for more (18/09/2005)

Google acts against comment spammers (Guardian)

This seems like an excellent idea, and could really help with fighting blog-spam, which was a contributing factor to the downfall of The LBSC.

Bill Gates as a teen pin-up doesn’t seem such an excellent idea.

EA considers TV show based on ‘Sims’ (Digital Spy)

This sounds absolutely terrible. Not that I’m being prejudiced and therefore hypocritical, you understand.

Huygens sends first Titan images (BBC News)

This is all absolutely fascinating. And there’s some amazing pictures too. Stunning.

Can this service put pub quiz at risk? (Times)

It will, before long, kill the pub quiz, as more devious users have realised. Publicans will be forced to go to draconian and expensive lengths, buying scanners and metal detectors.

I’d be worrying more about the public examination system, but maybe that’s just me.

Craig Barrett rocks out with Aerosmith… no really (Silicon)

Just…why? Why didn’t Craig Barrett‘s advisers think that this was a bad idea? Because, let me tell you, it was. The image is burned into my mind for ever. Craig Barrett and Steve Tyler. Is there any more unlikely duet?

Yahoo, Microsoft Gain On Google (Techweb)

I told you MSN Search was one to watch… I didn’t realise it would be hitting the headlines quite so quickly, though. I think that it could make serious inroads into Google’s dominance by the end of the year.

On another topic altogether, this is my 200th post. If you’ve been with me from the beginning, then thank you for keeping reading. And if not… well never mind, I’m sure there’ll be another 200 posts for you to read in the future. Or else, have a flick through the archives.

Happy 200th!