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 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.

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.

He added that deselected features won’t be available for use, meaning that “the files (binaries and data) are not loaded by the operating system (for security-conscious customers) and not available to users on the computer.” If at a later stage the user wants to bring back the features, he or she can do so simply and quickly without having to pop in the OS media.

This should come as good news since so many people are using alternative web browsers these days.

The software giant put out a reminder late on Monday that those who wanted to play around with the beta, AKA build 7000, of its upcoming operating system had nearly run out of time to, at least officially, grab the download via Microsoft’s website.

However, those who began downloading the beta but haven’t yet completed the process were granted a little extension – they have until 9am PST on 12 February to finish the download.

Rumors are circulating that a completely different version of Windows 7 is getting ready for release.

“I have some important information for those of you who have installed the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows XP or Windows Vista,” said the company in a blog post.

“The Service Pack Blocker Tool temporarily prevents the installation of a service pack through Windows Update, typically for one year after general availability of the service pack. We are announcing the upcoming expiration dates for the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3.”

Microsoft said you can still ignore the updates if you want to.

The software and firmware updates will build on the Zune’s current wireless functionality by letting users with Wi-Fi access buy songs they hear over the Zune’s built-in FM radio that are available through the Zune Marketplace online music store.

And when users are in a Wi-Fi hotspot they will also be able to wirelessly log on to the Zune Marketplace and get music recommendations or use an on-screen keypad to type in song names, the company said. Then, chosen tunes will be able to be downloaded to the Zune.

Zune will also be available in new, more powerful hardware configuration units.

At the MIX08 conference, Steve Ballmer said that Google is the obvious reason MSFT made an unsolicited $42 billion offer for Yahoo.

“In online, yeah, it’s Google, Google, Google, and we’re in the game. We’re just the little engine that could,” said Ballmer.

So far the offer to Yahoo has elicited little enthusiasm from Yahoo, who would prefer to continue on as an independent company.

“We still think the deal makes sense with the price and structure that we announced and we hope that over time that becomes a reality and we’re working towards that,” Steve Ballmer today.

“There’s been a range of dialogue and there’s a range of alternatives being considered. I think it’s best for me not to get into the detail,” Ballmer added

Yahoo thinks that Microsoft should up the deal.

Responding to consumer excitement for the Zune 80GB, Microsoft Corp. is making the popular wireless digital media player available in red with Zune Originals, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Inspired by the themes of love and sharing, an exclusive collection of 20 new laser-engraved designs will be available to consumers for a limited time at http://www.zuneoriginals.net;
in addition, Zune Marketplace will feature Valentine’s Day playlists that can be shared with friends or loved ones Zune to Zune or via the Zune Social online music community.

“Zune gives consumers a dynamic canvas that is brought to life by the music, pictures, videos and podcasts they fill it with,” said Scott Erickson, senior director of product management for Zune at Microsoft. “Zune Originals makes it easy to design a customized player, while wireless sharing and the Zune Social online music community give people new ways to
connect.”

For more information, see: Zune Originals