Elive team proudly announced last evening yet another development release of their GNU/Linux Live CD, Elive 1.9.18, which brings a new and improved kernel, better network configurator and many other updates. "This version includes a greatly improved new kernel and a lot of upgraded packages." - said the Elive developers in the official release announcement.
As mentioned, the kernel package has been updated (to version 2.6.26.8), and includes the following improvements:
• Wireless improvements: The kernel now contains all the available wireless drivers, including ath9k from Atheros;
• Apple MacBooks improvements: With the introduction of the ath9k wireless driver, the WEP encryption bug in MacBooks has been solved.
The Net-Connector tool introduced in the 1.9.10 release has finally been finished and it is now working at full capacity. The Net-Connector will help Elive users easily configure their networks (wireless and wired).
Last but not least, the Elive team added new and useful bookmarks for the Mozilla Firefox web browser. For example, you will now find a good list with links and tutorials for The Gimp, and some bookmarks with articles about Elive and the EFL development.
Elive is an operating system created using Debian GNU/Linux as its basis. It offers a lot of eye-candy while keeping the resources consumption very low with the help of the Enlightenment window manager.
Elive Linux sports a large number of applications, ranging from office and Internet related applications, to games and entertainment. With Elive, you can watch movies, listen to your favorite songs or chat with friends. E17, the development version of the Enlightenment window manager that comes with Elive Unstable, is brought to you from CVS, and is updated on a regular basis through Elive's testing repository.
If you want to use Elive, it is recommended you use a computer with minimum 128 of RAM and a 300 MHz CPU. Remember that this is an unstable release and it should not be installed on production machines. It is intended to be used for testing purposes only! You can report bugs to Elive's Bug Tracker.
Download Elive 1.9.18 right now from Here.
Source: http://linuxarticle.blogspot.com/
Available Now: Elive 1.9.18
Windows 7 Direct3D 11 Features
Windows 7 Direct3D 11 Features - A taste of DirectX 11 is already available for download. As of November 2008, Microsoft is delivering the first taste of DirectX 11 for Windows 7 for download. A release aimed at developers, The November 2008 DirectX Software Development Kit, brings to the table the successor of Direct3D 10.1, namely Direct3D 11. In the SDK package, the Redmond company is offering a technical preview of Direct3D 11, but also the adjacent components and tools. Backwards compatible, content developed for Direct3D 11 hardware will also be compatible with earlier products supporting Direct3D 10 and 10.1 (in Vista SP1). Via the Windows 7 Developer Guide, Microsoft provides an insight into the new features made available by Direct3D 11.
“Geometry and high-order surfaces can now be tessellated to support scalable, dynamic content in patch and subdivision surface representations. To make good use of the parallel processing power available from multiple CPU cores, multithreading increases the number of potential rendering calls per frame by distributing the application, runtime, and driver calls across multiple cores. In addition, resource creation and management has been optimized for multithreaded use, enabling more efficient dynamic texture management for streaming,” Microsoft revealed.
According to the Redmond company, version 11 is designed to deliver an evolution of the functionality of the Direct3D 10 pipeline for Windows 7. In this regard, Microsoft has positioned Windows 7 to take advantage of the next generation of GPUs and multi-core processors when it comes down to the way the operating system will handle games and 3D applications. The software giant has indicated that Direct3D 11 in Windows 7 will support: Tessellation; Compute Shaders; Multithreaded Rendering; Dynamic Shader Linkage; Windows Advanced Rasterizer (WARP); Direct3D 10 and Direct3D 11 on Direct3D 9 Hardware (D3D10 Level 9); Runtime Binaries; D3DX11; Completely Updated HLSL and Direct3D Compiler; D3D11 Reference Rasterizer and D3D11 SDK Layers.
“New general-purpose compute shaders have been created for Direct3D 11. Unlike existing shaders, these are extensions to the programmable pipeline that enable your application to do more work completely on the GPU, independent of the CPU. DrawAuto, which was introduced in Direct3D 10, has been extended to interact with a compute shader. Several improvements have been made to the high-level shading language (HLSL), such as a limited form of dynamic linkage in shaders to improve specialization complexity, and object-oriented programming constructs like classes and interfaces,” the company added.
The November 2008 DirectX Software Development Kit is available for download here.
The November 2008 DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer can be downloaded via this link.
DirectX End-User Runtimes (November 2008) is up for grabs here.
Source: http://akupunyasitus.blogspot.com/
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Crysis: Warhead - Play as Psycho in this expansion of the first game
Warhead, the sequel to the critically acclaimed first person shooter Crysis, delivers a parallel side story to the first game. Based on a very tweaked and optimized version of the CryEngine 2, it delivers the same stunning beauty from the first game without the absurdly high system requirements. It offers a pretty entertaining gaming experience and some interesting surprises which I won't spoil for you. The vehicles and enemies will keep you hooked on the game, but the stereotype missions will bore you.
Story
As I said, the game is based on a parallel side story to the first one. You play as the British Sergeant Psycho Sykes who, after parting with the first game's main character, Nomad, follows the North Korean General Lee and his mysterious cargo. Presumed to be a nuclear warhead, hence the title of the game, Psycho is tasked with tracking down and apprehending the cargo for the United States. On his pursuit of the general, he saves his old friend, Sean O'Neill, who in return acts like a guardian angel through most of the game helping Psycho out with his VTOL aerial craft. On his journey, he takes part in a lot of cliché missions and reaches a harbor where the cargo is shipped to a submarine. After climbing aboard, he is knocked out and awakens being tortured by the general, but in a different environment, as all of the things are frozen by the same aliens from the first game.
After chasing the general with the help of a hovercraft, one of the most exciting aspects of the game, he joins up with another team of marines. After defeating one of the large exo-suit aliens, he travels through the elaborate mine system of the mountain. Combined with the lack of a functioning map and the claustrophobic environment, it really is a recipe for the player to get lost, as I did.
After escaping the mining system, he is tasked with escorting a train the cargo is on through the jungle riddled with North Korean soldiers and later on, aliens. After another encounter with the general, he has to invade a Korean airstrip filled with hostile soldiers and vehicles. Against all odds, he defeats all of the humans but is faced with the arrival of an upgraded exo-suit type alien.
Quite an intro for Psycho
The Nano Suit is always good
Concept
The concept of the game is pretty simple, although Nomad, the lead character in the first game had the most important job, help rescue the American scientists and then defeat the aliens, Psycho's job is also very important. But you can't really help the fact that it is the lesser story of the happenings from the island. It isn't as grand as Nomad's adventure, or as exciting as his. The missions are all pretty cliché, with escorts or defensive missions making up for quite a decent part of the game. I have to admit that the fights with the big aliens are pretty entertaining, but they don't really make up for all the downsides of the game.
It is definitely good for all the Crysis fans who want another nano suit dressed adventure battling North Koreans and aliens, but for the average shooter player, it isn't much to look at. All of the boring missions really take the fun out of a pretty smart and entertaining shooter (in the end). As I discussed with my colleagues here at Softpedia, it's like Crytek wanted to make two games using the same universe. One filled with innovation and a compelling story, which is Crysis, and the other molded after classic shooter clichés, with the stereotype missions and characters, which is Warhead.
Gameplay
In terms of actual gameplay the title, aside from various small modifications, is pretty much the same as in the first game, which in actual playing terms isn't that bad. The same nano suit is present with its familiar controls and very useful options. In terms of the weapons available, very few innovations were made, like the pulse rifle. In terms of equipment, the anti vehicle mines or claymores are noticeable new items, with a special EMP grenade designed to disrupt the power of nano suits also making an appearance.
Concerning vehicles, you will be experimenting with quite a few new ones. From regular military jeeps to armored personnel carriers (equipped with big guns) or tanks, you will definitely have an alternative to just walking around the island. Noticeable vehicles in this version are the hovercraft, on which you will be engaging the general on the frozen sea, or a train, which you will be tasked with guarding.
Another nice feature is the fact that, at some point in the game, you will be helped by other people, be it O'Neill, with his VTOL or other nano suit teams from the Special Forces. Considering that the amount of enemies is quite large, this is really a good thing. A downside is the fact that the actual game lasts only about eight hours.
General Lee
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Visual and Audio
In terms of the graphics aspects, you can't ask for anything else. Once again, the CryEngine 2 proves its power, recreating a gorgeous tropical island, and its frozen counterpart extremely well with the minutest details in place. The surroundings are very beautiful and can sometimes really distract you from the mission. The special effects, like explosions, are marvelously well done, I myself trying to blow stuff up just to watch the effects which portray it so well. As a special feature, the part of the game where the island is frozen is very realistically rendered, with the likes of North Korean soldiers frozen in a wide variety of positions.
The audio part of the game is also well done. The sounds associated to the vehicles are very realistic, with the engines sounding very different as the vehicle is taking damage. The sounds of the jungle are also very well done. Although its peace is almost always disturbed by the gun fire and battles going on there.
Multiplayer
The multiplayer aspect of the game, entitled Crysis Wars, is a very interesting part. Although it came on a separate disk, it was incorporated in the Crysis: Warhead pack. Aside from the Instant Action and Power Struggle modes, the new mode entitled Team Action is very entertaining. The wide range of maps offers a very good experience, without the player being (too) bored.
Conclusion
All in all, it's a pretty decent game. All shooter fans will have a reasonable experience, although, at times, a bit annoying. Crysis fans are sure to enjoy this title, bringing their favorite universe back to life in this new adventure. Psycho is a more enjoyable character than the enigmatic Nomad from the first game. If you enjoy shooters and want to wear the nano suit again, then you definitely should buy it.
Source: http://akupunyasitus.blogspot.com/
Installing Ubuntu 8.10 - Step by step installation guide with screenshots
Ubuntu 8.10, also known as the Intrepid Ibex, arrived exactly one week ago (on October 30th, 2008), and is the ninth release of Ubuntu OS. The following tutorial will teach you how to install the Ubuntu 8.10 operating system on your PC, and is addressed to people that have just heard about Ubuntu, people that have never installed Ubuntu before and want to test it, but don't know how.
This guide will make things very simple for you, but if you get stuck somewhere in the middle of the installation and you need help, do not hesitate to use our commenting system at the end of the article.
What do I need to get started?
· You will need the Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop ISO image that corresponds to your hardware architecture (i386 or amd64), and which can be downloaded from here. When the download is over, burn the ISO image with your favorite CD/DVD burning application (Brasero on Ubuntu or Nero, CDBurnerXP, Roxio on Windows) on a blank CD at 8x speed. Insert or leave the CD in your CD/DVD-ROM device, and reboot the computer in order to boot from the CD. Hit the F8 or F12 key (depending on your BIOS) to select the CD/DVD-ROM as the boot device.
Select your language when asked...
Select the second option "Install Ubuntu," and hit the “Enter” key...
Wait for the CD to load into RAM...
When the installer appears, you are able to select your native language for the installation process. Click the “Forward” button to continue...
Where are you?
· The second screen will feature a map of the Earth with little red dots, so you can select your city/country. Upon the selection of your current location, the time for the final system will adjust accordingly. You can also select your current location from the drop down list situated at the bottom of the window.
Click the “Forward” button after you have selected your desired location...
Test your keyboard
· On the third screen, you will be asked to select the keyboard layout that suits you best (default is U.S. English). You can also test your keyboard on the small text input field situated at the bottom of the window.
Click the “Forward” button when you have finished with the keyboard configuration...
Hard disk partitioning
Hold on, don't leave just yet! The hard disk partitioning is an easy task, so I am quite sure you will handle it too. You have three options here:
1. If you want to keep your existing operating system (e.g. Dual boot with Windows XP), select the first option: "Guided - resize the partition and use the freed space." This option will appear if you have another operating system installed, such as Microsoft Windows. Remember that, after the installation, the Windows boot loader will be overwritten by the Ubuntu boot loader!
2. If you want to delete your existing operating system, or the hard drive is already empty and you want to let the installer automatically partition the hard drive for you, select the second option, "Guided - use entire disk."
3. Manual is the third choice and it is recommended for advanced users.
WARNING: Be aware that all the data on the selected hard drive or partition will be ERASED and IRRECOVERABLE.
Click the “Forward” button to continue with the installation...
Who are you?
· On this screen, you must do exactly what the title says. Fill in the fields with your real name, the name you want to use to log in on your Ubuntu OS (also known as the “username”), the password and the name of the computer (automatically generated, but can be overwritten). Also at this step, there's an option called “Log in automatically.” If you check the box on this option, you will be automatically logged in to the Ubuntu desktop.
Click the “Forward” button...
Are you really ready for Ubuntu?
· This is the final step of the installation. Here, you can select to install the boot loader on another partition or hard drive than the default one...
Click the “Install” button to install Ubuntu...
The Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) operating system will be installed...
After approximately 8 to 15 minutes (depending on your computer's specs), a pop-up window will appear, notifying you that the installation is complete, and you need to restart the computer in order to use the newly installed Ubuntu operating system.
Click the “Restart Now” button...
The CD will be ejected, remove it and press the “Enter” key to reboot...
The computer will be restarted and, in a few seconds, you will see the Ubuntu login screen. Input your username and password...
Have fun using Ubuntu!
Source: http://akupunyasitus.blogspot.com/
Sapphire Adds New GeForce 9400GT Cards
Although NVIDIA's new low-profile GeForce 9400 graphics card has been officially announced for quite some time now, one of its add-in-board partners decided to keep its customers waiting for a while. However, the company has officially launched its version of the new GeForce graphics card earlier today, offering four new models, based on the same GPU.
As we mentioned in our previous articles, NVIDIA's new GeForce 9400 card has been designed to accommodate the graphics requirements of entry-level users who don't spend their entire budget on just one video card. In addition, the GeForce 9400 GT features several NVIDIA technologies and supports Microsoft's DirectX 10 API. Furthermore, this is also one of the few NVIDIA cards that have been developed using a 55nm process technology, which AMD has been adopting for quite some time now.
Back to Sapphire's latest GeForce cards, the four new models have been designed to deliver a maximum of 1GB of DDR2 memory. However, two of them will be equipped with only 512MB DDR2 memory on a 128-bit memory interface. There is another way you can differentiate the four models from one another, as the two 1GB DDR2-enabled cards are equipped with a passive cooling solution. All four of them are based on PCI-Express 2.0 interface and have the same clock settings as the reference model, with 550MHz for the GPU and 800MHz for the memory.
In addition to the new GeForce 9400GT models, Sparkle can also offer four GDDR3-equipped cards, all of which have only 512MB of memory. In total, Sparkle has 12 graphics cards, based on the same 9400GT GPU. So we could say that if you are an entry-level user and you are searching for a new low-profile graphics card, you should find what you are searching for in Sapphire's product lineup.
Source: http://microsoftarticles.blogspot.com/
ClixSense - Lihat Iklan Bisa Dapet Dollar ($)
ClixSense adalah sebuah layanan yang akan membayar anda hanya dengan meng-klik dan melihat iklan yang disediakan. Semakin banyak anda meng-klik dan melihat iklan, maka earning anda akan semakin besar.
Berapa yang saya dapat untuk satu click/view ?
Clixsense membayar anda $0.01 (kurang lebih Rp 100,-) untuk setiap iklan yang anda lihat. Untuk setiap click/view, Clixsense mensyaratkan anda untuk tidak menutup window iklan dalam waktu 30 detik.
1. Proses
Setelah mendaftar, adalah rutin berkunjung ke dalam account kita dan kemudian mengklik link-link iklan yang ada. Program ini akan membayar kita sebesar $0.01 hingga $5 untuk tiap situs atau iklan yang kita kunjungi. Iklan-iklan ini setiap harinya sudah secara otomatis tersedia di dalam akun kita.
2. Keanggotaan
Ada dua jenis keanggotaan, biasa dan premium. Untuk membership biasa, kita hanya dapat jatah 3-5 iklan setiap harinya. Namun jika kita upgrade ke member premium sebesar $10, maka setiap harinya kita akan disuguhi 180 hingga 200 lebih link iklan!
3. Hitungan Komisi
Semisal kita sudah mendaftar sebagai anggota premium dan setiap harinya kita hanya diberi 180 link iklan berharga 1 sen, maka dalam sehari kita akan mendapat penghasilan sebesar 180 x $0.01 = $1.8. Dengan demikian, dalam sebulan kita akan memperoleh uang sebesar $1.8 x 30 = $54. Lumayan bukan?
4. Pembayaran
Untuk masalah pembayaran, ClixSense menggunakan cek. Enaknya, batas minimal pembayaran dapat kita tentukan sendiri. Yang terkecil adalah $10. Yang $ 10 saya tidak menyarankan karena kalo lewat chek dipotong administrasi tekor. Saya sarankan pilih yang $ 100
Tapi jangan dulu terbuai dengan hitung-hitungan di atas, perlu diingat bahwa masing-masing iklan WAJIB dibuka selama 30 detik sebelum iklan yang lain dapat dibuka. Apabila selama 1 jam penuh kita standby di depan ClixSense, maka jumlah total iklan yang terbuka adalah 120 ($1.2) minimum. lumayan sambil kerjakan yang lain. mending updrade ke premium (bayar $10) atau gak juga gak masalah. semaunya gratis. tergantung hasil yang ingin didapat.
Tips tambahan memaksimalkan iklan dan komisi, yang sebagian publiser lupa adalah: silahkan centang pilihan interest di member area anda. Agar tema iklan yang tampil banyak, karena setiap pengiklan bisa memasang tarif lebih. (tetap sesuai acount yang kita ambil premium atau free)
Nah jika Anda sudah siap untuk bergabung dengan ClixSense, Silahkan klik disini.
Hmm, bisa berikan estimasi yang bisa dihasilkan dalam 1 bulan ?
Anggaplah
anda browsing selama 3 jam sehari. Dan asumsi saja dari waktu 3 jam tersebut, tentu anda tidak terus menerus melihat ads dari pemasang iklan, tapi lebih pada sampingan sambil blogwalking atau mencari content situs.
Asumsi:
Dari 3 jam efektif browsing, ada 2 jam waktu browsing yang dilakukan sambil melihat Clixsense
2 jam x 60 x 2 = 240 views/click. Kita ambil saja batas menjadi 200 views
200 x 0.01 = 2 dollar/hari = 60 dollar/bulan.
Tentu, 60 dollar sebulan sangat lumayan..bahkan untuk membayar koneksi Internet anda sudah lebih dari cukup.
Saya pengen cepet aja, dicurangin pake Autoclick bisa ?
Hmm,..tidak usah berpikir demikian, maen jujur aja. Figur diatas (60 dollar sebulan) dapat anda capai dengan santai dan bermain fair. Lagipula, Clixsense memiliki proteksi seperti Turing Code yang secara berkala diminta, atau deteksi IP anda. Please play safely and fair !
Apa bedanya Premium member dengan Basic Member ?
Premium
member mendapatkan hak lebih banyak untuk melihat iklan, dibanding Basic Member. Untuk menjadi premium member, anda hanya perlu membayar $10 saja.
OK, saya ikut, gimana cara daftarnya?
Sangat mudah. Jika anda merasa review ini bermanfaat buat anda, silakan klik disini untuk daftar. Tenang saja, mendaftar melalui referral saya tidak akan memotong earning anda satu senpun. Anggap saja sebagai rasa terimakasih atas review ini.
Ok, saya sudah daftar melalui link ini, trus gimana cara mulai dapat earningnya ?
Login ke account ClixSense anda, dan kemudian klik menu Get Paid to Browse Ads. Anda akan diberikan list iklan-iklan yang bisa anda click dan view mudah bukan..?
Sumber: http://akupunyasitus.blogspot.com/
Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 Is here
The successor of Firefox 3.0 has entered the Beta development stage as of October 14, 2008. In this context, Mozilla has made available for download Firefox 3.1 Beta 1. The next iteration of the open source browser, codenamed Shiretoko, is making headway in terms of development, having already passed through a couple of Alpha phases. With the 3.1 Beta 1 release, Mozilla is touting various improvements across the browser, including enhancements delivered to performance, web compatibility, and speed.
“This milestone is focused on testing the core functionality provided by many new features and changes to the platform scheduled for Firefox 3.1,” revealed Samuel Sidler, Quality Assurance Engineer at Mozilla. Even though it is nothing more than a development milestone, Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 is available in no less than 36 languages for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
Mozilla has added a plethora of features to Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 in comparison to the Alpha 2 release. In this regard, the draft specification for Geolocation was implemented along with support for the @font-face CSS property. However, one of the most relevant enhancements is the TraceMonkey new JavaScript engine, which is yet to be turned on by default. Mozilla informed that users would have to navigate to about:config, and then set javascript.options.jit.content to True, after which a browser restart is required.
Sidler added that “new features and changes in this milestone that require feedback include: Web standards improvements in the Gecko layout engine; added support for CSS 2.1 and CSS 3 properties; a new tab-switching shortcut that shows previews of the tab you're switching to; improved control over the Smart Location Bar using special characters to restrict your search; support for new web technologies such as the < video > and < audio > elements, the W3C Geolocation API, JavaScript query selectors, web worker threads, SVG transforms and offline applications”.
Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 for Windows is available for download here.
Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 for Mac OS X is available for download here.
Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 for Linux is available for download here.
Source: http://akupunyasitus.blogspot.com/
Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 Mac Version Now Available for Download
The first Beta for Mozilla's Firefox 3.1 has been released to the public. Beta 1 adds one of the coolest features ever to hit the popular web-browser – a new tab-switching shortcut, bringing an enhanced Mac-feeling to the browsing experience.
First of all, everyone should note that Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 is a public preview release intended for developer testing and community feedback. Although the beta includes a host of new features, and performance improvements, it is highly recommended that you read the release notes, as well as the known issues before installing it.
And now for the good stuff. Among the new additions in Firefox 3.1 Beta is added support for CSS 2.1 and CSS 3 properties. The newly-added support for “CSS @font-face” allows users to specify a true type font file that includes a specific font they want to use to render a web page. This was one of the most widely-request features in Firefox, according to the development team. The Mac version, as well as the Windows one, includes @font-face support. Firefox for Linux, however, doesn't, but adding support is underway and “will be done by Firefox 3.1 final,” according to Mozilla.
Also worth noting is that Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 is the first beta from Mozilla to include support for the
Insight on Network Monitor 3.2 RTM
Version 3.2 of Network Monitor is being offered as an update to v3.1, but in this regard, the utility is also nothing like the 2.x releases. Tawanda Sibanda, the lead program manager for Network Monitor indicated that Network Monitor 3.2 was produced through a consistent effort of the Netmon team that worked to integrate into the product all the feedback it had received from customers. At the same time, Netmon 3.2 delivers the inherent bug fixes as well as a necessary boost in stability. Network Monitor 3.2 is designed to support Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.
“So What’s New in Network Monitor 3.2? Process Tracking: Now you can identify rogue applications sending network data! View all the processes on your machine generating network traffic (process name and PID). Use the conversation tree to view frames associated with each process. Capture engine re-architecture to improve capture rate in high-speed networks. Network Monitor 3.2 drops significantly fewer frames that Network Monitor 3.1,” revealed Sibanda.
At the explicit request of its users, Microsoft implemented the “Find conversations” capabilities. With version 3.2, frames can be easily isolated in the same network conversation, Sibanda explained. The new iteration of Netmon is capable of parsing over 300 protocols, with Microsoft ensuring a high degree of customization when it comes down to the parsers. In this context, Networtk Monitor 3.2 also offers improved parser management, as users are permitted to expand the default parsers to the full set.
In addition, “in the upcoming months, we plan to place all our Windows parsers on the Microsoft open-source CodePlex site and allow the community to modify and contribute parsers. This version of Network Monitor seamlessly integrates new parser packages. [Network Monitor 3.2 also delivers] Network Monitor API: Create your own applications that capture, parse and analyze network traffic! More extensive documentation of the API and NPL. Access the documentation from Help > NPL and API Documentation. IA64 builds. PCAP capture file support. ContainsBin Plug-in: Search frames for arbitrary byte sequences or strings,” Sibanda added.
Microsoft Network Monitor 3.2 RTM is available for download here.
By: Marius Oiaga
Download Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Beta 2 for Vista SP1 and XP SP3
The wait is over. At almost six months since the introduction of Internet Explorer Beta 1 in early March at MIX08, Microsoft unveiled the second Beta for the next iteration of its proprietary browser. In this context, the Redmond company lived up to its promise to deliver the second development milestone of IE8 by the end of this month, with the Beta 2 bits going live on August 27. According to Microsoft, Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is available for download for 32-bit Windows XP, and both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. The Redmond giant indicated that the browser would integrate with the latest versions of the Windows client and server platforms, including Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) and Windows Vista Service Pack 1(SP1).
"We’re excited to release IE8 Beta 2 for public download," stated Dean Hachamovitch, IE General Manager. "In addition to English, IE8 Beta 2 is available in Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), and German. Additional languages will be available soon. While Beta 1 was for developers, we think that anyone who browses or works on the web will enjoy IE8 Beta 2. We focused our work around three themes: everyday browsing (the things that real people do all the time), safety (the term most people use for what we’ve called ‘trustworthy’ in previous posts), and the platform (the focus of Beta 1, how developers around the world will build the next billion web pages and the next waves of great services)."
Since the beginning of this week Microsoft has been building up the anticipation for the delivery of IE8 Beta 2. Although the company never confirmed the August 27 deadline, the release date had been already leaked. At this point in time the Redmond giant is reportedly gearing up for a November launch of the gold bits of IE8. In this context, Beta 2 is the last development milestone before IE8's Release to Web (RTW).
IE8 Beta 2 sports a number of new features such as InPrivate Browsing, InPrivate Blocking, InPrivate Subscriptions, but also Compatibility View, Search Suggestions, SmartScreen Filter Web Slices and Accelerators.
"If you are currently using IE8 Beta 1 on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 with Automatic Updates turned on, you will receive IE8 Beta 2 through Windows Update. Download IE8 Beta 2, use it – the browser itself, the developer tools, writing an Accelerator, marking part of your page as a Web Slice – and let us know what you think," Hachamovitch added.
Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Beta 2 is available for download here.
By: Marius Oiaga
Final IE8 Confirmed for November, Possibly November 1
It's right about due time for end users to start holding their breath for the final release of Internet Explorer 8. Although Microsoft has failed to confirm an official delivery deadline, the Redmond company did manage to let IE8 RTW details slip through its fingers. Now with the IE8 Beta 2 bits available for download since August 27, the IE team is wrapping up the next iteration of Internet Explorer. The gold build of Internet Explorer 8 will drop in November 2008, possibly as early as November 1.
Information related to the Beta 2 and RTW builds was leaked as early as mid-August, courtesy of Mary Jo Foley, but now Microsoft has managed to provide official confirmation for the November Release to Web date of Internet Explorer 8 final. On the official IE8 website on Microsoft.com, the Support area offers a link to the browser's support site. The Redmond giant is offering free unlimited installation and usage assistance for Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 (All Languages), according to the support page for the second beta version of IE8.
"Free unlimited installation and usage support is available for Internet Explorer 8 pre-released versions, but only for North America English customers. This support for Internet Explorer 8 pre-released versions is valid until November 1, 2008. Advanced issues are not supported. Advanced issues include, but are not limited to, problems that are associated with software and hardware development, domain connectivity, server-based technologies, Web site development, and business-critical systems," reads an excerpt from the message published on the IE8 Beta 2 Help and Support webpage. (emphasis added)
The fact that support for IE8 Beta 2 is to be cut off at the start of November is ample proof that the month will be synonymous with the drop of the final version of Internet Explorer 8. This could very well happen as early as November 1, but the fact of the matter is that there is no guarantee for such a scenario. In this context, the support cut-off date for IE8 Beta 2 does not necessarily coincide with the availability of the RTW version of Internet Explorer 8.
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is available for download here.
By: Marius Oiaga
Plus Minus Bius Epidural
Ada sebuah pilihan cara bersalin yang lebih nyaman. Namun, sebaiknya kenali lebih jauh seluk beluk bius epidural ini.
Apa sih , bius epidural itu?
Bius epidural merupakan salah satu jenis pembiusan yang banyak digunakan untuk membantu proses persalinan.
Cara pembiusannya?
Pembiusan dilakukan oleh seorang ahli anestesi setelah Anda mulai merasakan terjadinya kontraksi. Sebelumnya, Anda akan disuntik melalui vena (intravena) dengan larutan khusus sebanyak 1-2 liter untuk membantu keseimbangan cairan dalam tubuh. Pemberian larutan ini akan terus berlangsung hingga proses persalinan selesai.
Selanjutnya, Anda disuruh berbaring miring sambil menekuk/melengkungkan tubuh sedemikian rupa, sehingga ruas-ruas tulang belakang Anda terbuka lebar. Caranya, pertemukan dagu dengan dada, serta dengkul Anda dengan perut.
Kemudian, obat bius akan dimasukkan menggunakan jarum suntik melalui suatu celah pada ruas tulang belakang untuk mencapai bagian yang disebut epidural. Bagian ini ada pada jalur sistem saraf pusat tulang belakang.
Sakitkah?
Ya, tentu saja Anda akan merasakan sakit yang agak menggigit saat jarum suntik menembus celah ruas tulang belakang. Bahkan ada orang yang mengalami sedikit pembengkakan pada bekas suntikan, sampai beberapa hari setelah proses persalinan selesai.
Bagi Anda yang operasi Caesar, seringkali timbul rasa seperti ada yang mengganjal di tulang belakang sampai beberapa minggu setelah persalinan. Rasa sakit ini akan hilang dengan sendirinya seiring berjalannya waktu.
Harus terus berbaringkah?
Ya! Anda harus tetap berbaring di tempat tidur sampai saat persalinan tiba. Tapi, selama menunggu, Anda diperbolehkan untuk berbaring menyamping dengan kepala lebih tinggi sekitar 30 derajat dari tubuh.
Apa yang terjadi setelah dibius?
Umumnya, 3-5 menit setelah obat disuntikkan, sistem saraf dari bagian rahim hingga jalan lahir akan mati rasa (kebas). Setelah lewat 10 menit, biasanya Anda sudah akan benar-benar mati rasa pada daerah tersebut, atau hingga seluruh bagian bawah tubuh Anda.
Apakah menghilangkan kemampuan mengejan?
Tidak! Anda tetap dapat mengejan dengan dibimbing dokter dan perawat yang membantu persalinan. Obat bius itu tidak menghambat proses persalinan. Hanya saja, Anda tidak akan merasakan nyeri luar biasa saat kontraksi semakin keras, di menit-menit terakhir sebelum si kecil lahir.
Namun, bagi Anda yang kehilangan kemampuan untuk mengejan, dokter akan membantu menggunakan forcep atau alat vakum. Sekalipun tindakan tersebut sebenarnya menambah besarnya risiko bagi bayi, tapi bila didukung oleh keterampilan dokter, maka Anda tak perlu khawatir berlebihan.
Apakah proses persalinan lebih lambat?
Ya dan tidak. Pada kasus-kasus tertentu, bius epidural menyebabkan persalinan berlangsung lebih lambat. Tapi, pada banyak kasus, justru sebaliknya. Persalinan menjadi lebih cepat karena si ibu menjadi jauh lebih rileks, karena nyaris tidak merasakan nyeri saat kontraksi berlangsung.
Obat bius masuk ke tubuh bayi?
Ya, pasti! Tapi, hanya dalam dosis sangat rendah. Sangat sedikit kasus yang dilaporkan mengenai dampak negatif dari obat bius epidural terhadap bayi yang baru dilahirkan. Hal ini biasanya terjadi pada persalinan yang berlangsung lama, misalnya karena terjadi komplikasi. Obat bius yang masuk ke dalam tubuh bayi, biasanya akan menyebabkan si bayi tampak teler atau mengantuk.
Amankah bius epidural?
Bius epidural merupakan jenis pembiusan yang relatif aman bagi ibu, dan juga bayinya. Walau demikian, kemungkinan adanya risiko atau dampak negatif tetap ada, mengingat begitu banyak faktor yang ikut terlibat. Sekali lagi, human error maupun risiko tak terduga tetap ada.
Apa saja risiko itu?
Risiko yang paling sering terjadi adalah penurunan tekanan darah ibu secara mendadak. Keadaan ini dapat membahayakan, baik bagi ibu maupun bayinya. Kemungkinan terjadinya risiko ini hanya 1-2%.
Selain itu, ada sejumlah risiko dari bius epidural yang dilaporkan oleh Vicki Elson, CCE, yang dimuat dalam Obstetric and Gynecology Journal edisi Oktober 1992. Antara lain:
Bagi ibu (untuk waktu pendek):
• Mual, muntah-muntah, menggigil.
• Merasa kehilangan emosi.
• Gangguan pada sistem pernapasan.
• Kejang-kejang.
• Pusing.
Bagi ibu (untuk waktu panjang):
• Komplikasi sistem saraf.
• Sakit pada bagian belakang tubuh (bisa menahun).
• Kehilangan kontrol untuk buang air kecil maupun air besar.
• Kehilangan sensasi pada bagian perinium (daerah antara vagina dan anus) dan fungsi seks.
• Terus-menerus merasa seperti tertusuk jarum.
Bagi bayi:
• Keracunan obat bius.
• Stres dan depresi.
• Teler saat dilahirkan.
• Kehilangan atau kurang refleks untuk mengisap puting.
• Demam karena mengalami penurunan suhu tubuh.
• Kekuatan dan kemampuan gerak otot tubuhnya kurang baik pada jam-jam pertama setelah dilahirkan.
• Hiperaktif sampai umur sekitar 7 tahun.
Benarkah menyebabkan kelumpuhan pada ibu?
Tidak juga. Angka kejadian itu amat sangat jarang, meski kemungkinannya tetap ada. Apabila Anda merasa ngeri, sebaiknya Anda memilih pembiusan umum biasa. Karena, bius epidural sebenarnya lebih ditujukan bagi mereka yang harus operasi Caesar.
Siapa saja yang tidak dianjurkan?
Mereka yang pernah mengalami luka, pernah operasi, atau memiliki gangguan pada bagian belakang tubuhnya, khususnya pada tulang belakangnya, sebaiknya membuang jauh-jauh keinginan untuk bersalin dengan cara ini. Juga, mereka yang menderita gangguan pada fungsi jantung serta kelainan darah, dan mereka yang alergi terhadap senyawa jenis kein , seperti kokain. Karena, sebagian besar jenis obat yang digunakan dalam pembiusan merupakan senyawa jenis kein.
Sumber: hypno-birthing.web.id
