Firefox 3 vs IE8

This weekend I downloaded Firefox 3.0 and Internet Explorer 8 Beta. As I was going through both the browsers I thought of doing a small speed test.
So here are the results of my initial testing:

Target Site : www.indiatimes.com
Website timer : Webwait

For the 1st call Firefox 3.0 took 10.02 sec whereas IE 8 took 17.97 sec.
While the page was cached, the average of next 4 calls were : Firefox 3.828 sec and IE 6.185 sec.

Test shows Firefox 3.0 is much faster than IE 8 and the kind of changes done in the new version of Firefox, it is sure going to rock the web world.

I am yet to try Opera 9.5.....probably next time.

Adobe presents Acrobat.com

Acrobat.com is a set of online services that enables a user to create and share documents from any computer, communicate in real-time across locations and simplify working with others online. With Acrobat.com, users can create Adobe® Buzzword® documents, convert documents to PDF, organize and access their documents from any internet-connected computer, share documents, and meet in real time with Adobe® ConnectNow.

Buzzword looks like a normal word processor, but it operates inside a web browser. Because Buzzword is web-based, the document you are editing is not stored on your local machine, but rather on Adobe's secure servers. This means that you can access your document from any web connection. Just like any other document editor you get all kinda tools to help you develop a document.
Adobe^® ConnectNow provides you with a secure, personal online meeting room where you can meet and collaborate with others via the web in real time. With ConnectNow you can share your screen, chat, share notes webcam or files with your friends.
With Acrobat.com you can also create pdf files online. The only drawback I found in Acrobat.com is its slow speed, although you cant expect much when it comes to online sharing and file creation. Check out Acrobat.com here.

Google Talk & Yahoo messenger to enable interoperability

Recently Google announced that it has reached an agreement that gives Yahoo! the ability to use Google's search and contextual advertising technology through its AdSense™ for Search and AdSense for Content advertising programs. Under the agreement, Yahoo! has the option to display Google ads alongside its own natural search results in the U.S. and Canada.
In addition, Yahoo! and Google agreed to enable interoperability between their respective instant messaging services bringing easier and broader communication to users.
Soon you might be chatting with your friends on Yahoo Messenger through your Google Talk.

:-)

Microsoft's Worlwide Telescope

Who says sky is the limit, atleast not for Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope. Microsoft released its Telescope to let amateur and professionals gaze the stars and explore the universe from their computer system. The WorldWide Telescope is a rich Web application that accesses high-resolution images taken by ground- and Earth-orbiting telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Center, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. This software is quiet similar to Google Sky.
The main screen of the Worldwide Telescope contains stars visible to the human eye that are mapped into constellations. You can navigate with your mouse in any direction and zoom in or out with its scroll wheel.
The image in this post was created by NASA in 2000 and its called Earth's City Lights.
Just check out the beauty of universe through this Telescope

Yahoo to launch 2 new email domains soon

If you couldn't get your desired email id when yahoo was launched then yahoo will soon come to your rescue. Yahoo Inc. is all set to introduce two new email domains - ymail and rocketmail. The current yahoo.com web-based e-mail service has more than 260 million users worldwide.
E-mail accounts on ymail.com or rocketmail.com will have the same features available with yahoo.com addresses including unlimited storage, being able to instant message from within their e-mail inbox and spam and virus protection

bill gates set to leave microsoft

Microsoft is sure to witness a major event on 27 June 2008 when Bill Gates, founder, will leave his dream baby. Probably he will continue with his social service activities. As Microsoft's biggest shareholder, Gates will remain chairman and work on special technology projects. His 8.7 percent stake in Microsoft is worth about $23 billion.
I just got some interesting facts about Microsoft; thought I will list here.
Important Dates
Date Event

1975

Microsoft founded

Jan. 1, 1979

Microsoft moves from Albuquerque,
New Mexico to Bellevue, Washington

June 25, 1981

Microsoft incorporates

Aug. 12, 1981

IBM introduces its personal computer
with Microsoft's 16-bit operating
system, MS-DOS 1.0

Feb. 26, 1986

Microsoft moves to corporate
campus in Redmond, Washington

March 13, 1986

Microsoft stock goes public

Aug. 1, 1989

Microsoft introduces earliest
version of Office suite of productivity
applications

May 22, 1990

Microsoft launches Windows 3.0

Aug. 24, 1995

Microsoft launches Windows 95

Dec. 7, 1995

Bill Gates outlines Microsoft's commitment
to supporting and enhancing the Internet

June 25, 1998

Microsoft launches Windows 98

Jan. 13, 2000

Steve Ballmer named president and chief
executive officer for Microsoft

Feb. 17, 2000

Microsoft launches Windows 2000

June 22, 2000

Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer outline
Microsoft's .NET strategy for Web
services

May 31, 2001

Microsoft launches Office XP

Oct. 25, 2001

Microsoft launches Windows XP

Jan. 15, 2002

Bill Gates outlines Microsoft's commitment
to Trustworthy Computing

Nov. 7, 2002

Microsoft and partners launch Tablet PC

Jan. 16, 2003

Microsoft declares annual dividend

April 24, 2003

Microsoft launches Windows Server 2003

Oct. 21, 2003

Microsoft launches Microsoft Office System

July 20, 2004

Microsoft announces plans to return up to
$75 billion to shareholders in dividends
and stock buybacks

June 15, 2006

Microsoft announces that Bill Gates will
transition out of a day-to-day role in the
company in July 2008, Ray Ozzie is named
chief software architect and Craig Mundie
chief research and strategy officer

July 20, 2006

Microsoft announces a new $20 billion tender
offer and authorizes an additional share-
repurchase program of up to $20 billion
over five years

Jan. 30, 2007

Microsoft launches Windows Vista and
the 2007 Microsoft Office System to
consumers worldwide