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Microsoft has made a point to stress that the next version of IE will primarily have just better security features. But aside from that, the biggest concern people seem to have is that IE needs to finally incorporate tabbed browsing. Ask Microsoft directly, and you’ll get a big fat “no comment” in return. Insiders in the know are hinting that IE 7.0 will indeed be a tabbed browser. Other bits of information we’re hearing: international domain name (IDN) support; transparent Portable Network Graphics (PNG) support, which will allow for the display of overlayed images; and new functionality that will simplify printing from inside IE 7.0. The new browser also will likely include a built-in news aggregator. Is it too late to woo back those who have switched over to Firefox?
Read More 
| Microsoft Watch
Gallery: Internet Explorer 7 Features Leaked
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While iSnoop has been working just fine for those needing a Gmail account, you can now grab one straight from the source. From the look of the page, Google has apparently invited a bunch of people to sign up for a Gmail account. If you go to the main Gmail page, there is no link provided that lets you sign up for the service. However, using the following link, you can sign up without having to get on any mailing list and requiring no invitation. No telling on how long this one will last, so get in quick.
(Thanks TimS432!)
Read More 
| Gmail Signup
Gallery: Google Opens Up Gmail
If you are looking for a way to get movies for 99 cents a pop, look no further than Peerflix. Peerflix is an online trading post where members can create a list of DVD “haves” and “wants”, and match up their lists to other users on the service. If they find a match, they contact the other party, and set up the swap. The transaction costs 99 cents, and both parties walk away from the deal with a DVD they wanted to see in return for a DVD they no longer wanted. No late fees or due dates here, plus there is no monthly membership fee. Of course, there is an honor system here, which the site monitors closely. For the deal to be successful, both members must mail the requested DVD to the other person - and with that being the case, there are bound to be some snafus along the way. Still, it is a good way to trade DVD’s on a 1:1 ratio, rather than going to your local DVD shop and having to trade in 3 or 4 movies in exchange for the latest blockbuster.
Read More | Peerflix
Gallery: Peerflix: Movie Trading The Legal Way
Blackberry to Ship With Built-In Instant Messaging
Posted by Hector Martinez Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet,
Instant messaging services aren’t necessarily new to the Blackberry. in fact, there are already a few third party solutions available. The news here is that it’s going to be bundled in now. Research In Motion just signed up a deal to offer instant messaging services from both Yahoo and AOL right out of the box on future Blackberry models. Current owners will also be able to download this feature for use on their existing handsets. Great news for those who want to stay in constant touch without the hassle of being near a PC at all times.
Read More | Tech Tree
Gallery: Blackberry to Ship With Built-In Instant Messaging
No More Privacy For AOL Instant Messenger Users
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Software,
At a time when privacy on the Internet is of the utmost importance to many people, AOL has added a new provision to their AIM Terms of Service contract. Of course, there is rarely a person that ever even reads these things, so here is the text:
...by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy.
That is straight from AOL themselves, my friends. You waive any right to privacy. That is as clear as day. I recommend anyone using AIM to switch to something a bit more sensible, and a lot more user friendly - like Skype - available in both Windows and Mac/Linux flavors.
Read More | Houston Chronicle
Gallery: No More Privacy For AOL Instant Messenger Users
If you have never been in need of a file you forgot while on the go, you are a liar. The fact of the matter is, we have all forgotten/deleted/thrown away something important at one time or another. Box.net is all about making these kinds of things less stressful. Their goal is simply to provide you with an online file storage bin that is always available. Their standard box size is 1 GB, which is more than enough to hold images, Word documents, and a few other things. Accounts can be shared, or kept all to your lonesome. We are going to be giving away three 1 GB accounts, which will be yours for one year, over the next few days. In order to win, be sure to check back daily. We will be putting a box.net hyperlink into one story per day, for three days, starting on Monday. If you see it, be the first to post your findings in the comments area of that news item and the 1 year 1 GB account is yours. In the meantime, read up on their service (which you can also opt to purchase yourself for $2.99 per month) in their “How It Works” section.
Gallery: Box.net 1 GB Online Storage Contest!
If you have ever wanted to create your own South Park character - or create yourself as a South Park character - now is your chance. The South Park Studio over at Planearium allows you to put together bits and pieces, Potato Head style, to create your own South Park characters. I must say, they did a good job with this one. It is definitely fun messing around with all the different pieces they have to offer. Feel free to link to some of your creations.
Read More | South Park Studio via Jason Calacanis
Gallery: South Park Studio Version 2
We’re all for getting tech-heads together to share ideas and have an all around good time. Meetup.com is a free online service that helps you set up meetings in your area. It includes member profiles, links to maps, event planners, picture galleries, and even a built-in message board. We’ve even planned a series of get-togethers ourselves in New York for fans of the upcoming PSP handheld. Private messaging requires a fee on the service, but hey, that’s why there’s email and IM.
Read More | Meetup.com
Gallery: Plan Your Own Group Meetings with Meetup.com
In an effort to reduce the amount of emails I receive per day asking for a Gmail invitation from about 300 to 295, I urge anyone that doesn’t seem to have a friend on the Internet (since it seems that everyone I know uses Gmail) that can simply send them an invitation to check out the iSnoop Gmail Spooler. Just head on over there and put in your email address. You can expect a nice, fresh Gmail invitation arrive in your Inbox shortly. If it doesn’t come, try it again. Just don’t email me asking why.
(Thanks, illwon!)
Read More | iSnoop.net
Gallery: Grab A Gmail Invitation From iSnoop
For those times when you get a Firefox crash in the midst of doing something important, SessionSaver has arrived to help. This extension remembers the tabs that were open before Firefox was manually closed and reloads the tabs the next time Firefox is started. SessionSaver even remembers past history and restores them next time Firefox is started. This extension is great on those times when reading stories on different web sites and your Internet connection is lost, no longer do you have to keep Firefox open until your Internet connection is re-established or manually save all the pages.
Read More | MozDev
Gallery: SessionSaver .2 Firefox Extension
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