The new Internet Explorer 8 is expected to contain less security holes than prior versions. It’s also expected to contain greater navigational ease and operational speed. All of those features are considered key to winning back lost market share.

Browsers are becoming a crowded field. Firefox, Safari, Opera, and even Google Chrome are all competing to become the champ. Web browsers are the main entry point most people still have to the internet, so this is one area considered of vital importance for maintaining a positive user experience.

You can download the new Internet Explorer 8 at noon today, according to Microsoft

“Today Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of Windows Internet Explorer 8, the new Web browser that offers the best solution for how people use the Web today. It can be downloaded in 25 languages at http://www.microsoft.com/ie8 starting at noon EDT on March 19. Internet Explorer 8 is easier to use, faster and offers leading-edge security features in direct response to people’s increasing concerns about online safety. A new study commissioned by Microsoft and the National Cyber Security Alliance and conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. shows that 91 percent of adults in the U.S. are concerned about online threats in the current economic climate, and 78 percent are more likely to choose a Web browser with built-in security than they were two years ago.”

The extra money you’ll pay is for the vastly improved screen. This one is and 8-inch 1,024×768-pixel XGA touch screen that can display 260,000 colors. Right there, the Kindle is left in the dust.

This device also has built in Wi-Fi and BlueTooth. The battery is built for 40 hours of continuous use before needing a re-charge.

The Fujitsu Frepia beings shipping April 20th in Japan. There is no plan for a European or American release at this point. It looks like the Amazon Kindle should remain safe for the current time.

The likely result is that Apple will further solidify its position as the platform of choice for software developers—and as a result, many consumers. In just eight months programmers have created 25,000 applications that are available on Apple’s online App Store. Of those programmers, 62% had never written anything for an Apple product. So far, consumers have downloaded more than 800 million of these apps, which include everything from games like Tetris to software that helps diabetes patients manage insulin levels. The wide range of apps is a major reason the iPhone quickly jumped to No. 3 in the cutthroat smartphone market.

Continued iPhone app development is what will keep Apple ahead of their competition. Right now they have an extremely active development community.

Source: Business Week

Instant Cell Phone Backup

“This is the device that instantly backs up the contacts stored on your cell phone. Saving you hours of manual re-entry in the event you need to switch or replace your cell phone, the device plugs into your phone using one of nine included adapters that support the most popular cell phone brands–over 200 different cell phones and PDAs. It backs up and re-loads contacts with the touch of a button. “

That couldn’t be easier. Not only easy, the unit is cheap at just $49.95. Now there’s no excuse to not backup your cell phone.

For more information, or to order: Hammacher

Professional Roomba

“This is the most advanced Roomba available, specially designed to clean large, open floor plans and high-traffic areas on a single charge. Made by iRobot, developers of tactical reconnaissance robots for the U.S. military, Roomba analyzes the dimensions of a room, determines the optimal cleaning path, and navigates autonomously to clean every inch of floor while circumventing furniture and stairs. An enhanced battery allows the device to clean for longer periods before automatically returning to its base to recharge, and the high-capacity bin enables the professional Roomba to collect 3 1/2X more debris than previous generations.”

It’s safe to say you aren’t playing games with this heavy duty Roomba unit. With the Professional Roomba you can clean floors and carpets with ease.

The professional Roomba is $549.95 and is available for immediate delivery.

The Mississippi Distiller will amaze friends

Your very own still…Uncle Jesse would be proud

“Destined to elicit questions from guests and encourage conversation, the perfume distiller uses the same scientific principles developed over 1,200 years ago to extract essential oils from plants for use in perfumes. Designed in Barcelona, Spain, the still’s copper frame is engraved with Missisipi Destil Co.–an honest, if poorly translated attempt to pay homage to the distilling heritage of the American south. Simply steep fragrant plant leaves (such as lavender, peppermint, or thyme) in a pot of water, pour the strained liquid into the cucurbit, and place the oil lamp under the cucurbit. As the water boils, steam extracts essential oils from the fragrant liquid and fills the vessel with oil vapor. The oil vapor passes from the cucurbit through the swan-neck tube and, once it reaches the water-filled condensing pot, it is cooled and converted into a concentrated liquid. The aromatic oil is deposited into a cooling cup for use in perfumes. The alcohol burner, cucurbit, condensing pot, and collection cup are made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass–the same glass used in laboratory beakers.”

The next time you decided to use distill some items, you won’t have to journey to Hazzard County. You can just whip out your Mississippi Distiller and get to work.

The Mississippi Distiller runs $199.95.

The new project is being called a bridge to nowhere.

Local planners allotted $11 million of $214 million awarded to the region to help pay for a highway overpass in Redmond, Washington, connecting one part of Microsoft’s wooded campus with another. The world’s largest software maker will contribute almost half of the $36.5 million cost. Other federal and local money will pay the rest.

Groundbreaking on the project is expected to start in June.

“I’m sure Steve Ballmer or Bill Gates could finance this out of pocket change,” said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “Subsidizing an overpass to one of the richest companies in the country certainly isn’t going to be the best use of our precious dollars. It’s a bridge to Microsoft.”

This is one more example of the types of earmark projects that leave the average citizen scratching his head, marveling at the inefficiency of government.

A new version of iTunes (8.1) is now available for download. According to update the new version of iTunes is now faster, stronger and grows hair on your chest.
Here’s the official fix and feature enhancement list:
• Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation).
• Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ.
• Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows.
• Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs.
• Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods.
• Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.
• Includes many accessibility improvements.
• Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.

Convinced? Get to downloading, then.

Maiman claims that his Xbox 360, that contains what he says is a “specialized hard drive” was taken from his luggage when he traveled from New Haven, Connecticut, to Cincinnati, Ohio. He also claimed that he was given “an unconscionable run-around” when he tried to address the problem at the moment he found out his console was missing. In his lawsuit, Maiman is demanding $1,700 in relief for the loss of his Xbox 360 console, and a $1 million as the maximum damages allowable. With the top of the line Xbo 360 retailing for only $399, one begins to wonder what kind of “specialized hard drive” Maiman has installed in his Xbox 360. Could it be some kind of super advanced storage medium from the future? Or could the hard drive contain information that will save the world? Only Maiman knows the answer.

His console was stolen from the airport. It’s hard to believe he can win an award of this magnitude, but stranger things have happened.

The new iPod shuffle features VoiceOver, which enables the iPod to speak your song titles, artists and playlist names. The shuffle can speak 14 languages including English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

Sounds pretty good. But then:

All of the controls for the Shuffle are located on the earphone chord, allow you to play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and hear the name of the song and artist. The iPod can also give you information like battery life.

One problem though, you can’t use third party earphones with the Shuffle. This could quickly become a problem in certain scenarious.

The iPod Shuffle is being sold everywhere right now for around $79.00.