{mosimage}"Microsoft took the wraps off Internet Explorer 7 Tuesday, releasing the new "preview" version of its Web browser to the general public for testing.


The program, still a work in progress, is available for download from the Internet Explorer section of Microsoft's corporate Web site, the company said. The company, which began limited testing in July, had promised to deliver a public beta by the end of March."



In my testing, first it needs to once again validate your Windows, then it needs a reboot. Before the reboot though, it tried to change my Search Page and my Home Page - thankfully, I've got MS's Anti-Spyware client installed and I was able to block those changes. Gotta love the irony of that , using their own tools to block them ;)



Then on reboot, it tried to change my Home Page AGAIN, so I told it "block" again and then launched IE. At this point, it wanted to fix my security settings, so I said, yeh go for it. I've now used IE for about 10 minutes and I gotta say, it looks like Opera 10, especially the tabs. Personally, I think I'll stick to Firefox.


Oh and how's this for annoying ? Not only have they changed the look of the Font - Arial (it looks fuzzy), but there is NO UNINSTALL with IE7. So, once it's on, it's not leaving.



Update 2/2: My mate, BeMark, found out "how to uninstall IE 7. Go into Add or Remove Programs, click on Show Updates, and look for Windows XP Software Updates".


Thanks BeMark, I'm removing IE7 right now.

{mosimage}To all my fellow Australians, have a great day today.



I'll be having a very quiet day, finishing off Need for Speed: Most Wanted ... err Frustrated, followed up by some Paintball training at night :D



So, have a meat pie or lamb chop for me.

{mosimage}"iLife ’06 is the easiest way to make the most out of every bit of your digital life. Use your Mac to collect, organize and edit the various elements. Transform them into mouth-watering masterpieces with Apple-designed templates. Then share the magic moments in beautiful books, colorful calendars, dazzling DVDs, perfect podcasts, and attractive online journals. All starring you."



That's the marketing blurb, but iLife is really a good software package and the updates in the 2006 version are quite impressive, especially the inclusion of the new iWeb and updates for GarageBand and iPhoto.



I'm still waiting for my iLife. Two days ago, I went to Nextbyte and paid for iLife ($119 AU) and was advised they might have copies later today. I wasn't that fused, so I thought I'd wait til the next day. It was then when I was checking out the Appletalk forums that someone mentioned that the same store I ordered my copy from had loaded it on all their demo machines, so they must have had copies.



I then emailed Nextbyte to find out where my copy is. They then rang me later and advised that they only received 3 copies and I was the 4th in line. I highly doubt that, I know that's just salesman BS to get me off the phone, so alas, I'm waiting.


Hopefully ... today.


Update 23/1 5:00pm: Maybe not. Still waiting ...

{mosimage}Elgato has just released version 2.0 of their awesome EyeTV software. This new version contains the following features:

{mosimage} Microsoft says it is no longer developing a Mac version of its Windows Media Player for Mac, following the announcement of a separate five-year agreement with Apple to develop Office for the Mac and Messenger.

"We have no plans to provide future updates or product support for Windows Media Player for Mac," Adam Anderson, Microsoft public relations manager, told CNET News.com.

I guess I'll watch less WMP content now.