Thunderbird 3.0 are now under development and will get a very good search function and a great calender function based on the lightning expansion. Mozilla messaging is a new junior company in Mozilla which will continue the development of the Thunderbird e-mail. Mozilla decided last year to not continue their development with Thunderbird and rather make their web browser Firefox better. Thunderbird 3.0 is a easier and more user friendly mail and it will be very fast and reliable. Thunderbird 3.0 will also be able to handle SMS messaging which is a very interesting feature. You can read more about Thunderbird 3.0 mozillamessaging.com. A open Alpha version of Thunderbird 3.0 will be launched before the summer 2008 so everyone who wants can test the program. The final version will however be lunched in he end of 2008. You can download the last version of Thunderbird 2.0.0.9 from mozilla-europe.org.

The third beta version of Firefox 3.0 is now ready for download for Windows, Mac and Linux. Mozilla has now addd many new features which you will be able to test in version 3.0, here are some examples:

• New downloading tool.
• Support for the parent control in Vista.
• Automatic virus control for downloaded files
• Better support for JavaScript 1.8.

On mozilla.com you will find a list with all the update details for Beta 3.0

FireFox 3.0 can also be downloaded from mozilla.com be however aware about that this is a test version and it can be unstable and should not be replaced with your current web browser

“Badware” is the term that was used by the site StopBadware.org to describe the latest versions of RealPlayer. The site specializes in software pollutants and / or malicious believes that RealPlayer actually played on a slippery field.

Thus, RealPlayer 11 is frowned upon since its installation at the software lets slip the “Rhapsody Player Engine” (engine normally used for the service of selling music) in the user’s system for so long without him notified. Worse, the “Engine” Rhapsody Player in question would remain present in the system, even after uninstalling RealPlayer 11.

RealPlayer 10.5 is not spared. According StopBadware, this version introduces a adware hidden behind a screen name “message center, to get software updates.” The site encourages Real quickly revised the different versions of its flagship software.

Vispa is a small and free program which you can use to deactivate programs and services in Vista, you can configure Vista to use less memory and run faster. The program does not require any installation. When you run the program file vispa.exe you will be able to change the following things:

• General - You will be able to deactivate the user panel.
• Services - Configure services in Vista.
• Internet Explorer - Decide how IE will work.
• Windows Media Player - Adjust your multimedia player.
• Usability - Change the availability for programs.
• Delete Windows Fax and Scan Shortcut

There are however many other ways to optimize Windows Vista, but Vispa makes the process a lot easier. Be aware about that certain anti-virus programs will react on Vispa. Vispa is being stamped as a dangerous program by your anti-virus, i can however tell you that it is not any dangerous to use it and it will optimize your Vista speed a lot.

You can download Vispa for free here

Visual Studio 2008 was ready in November and Microsoft makes Windows Server 2008 ready for sale in the end of February. SQL Server 2008 will not be released before late this year. The launch will happen togehter with Windows Server 2008, but Microsoft will only make a so called “feature complete” version which can be used as a test. It was no secret that SQL Server would be released later then the other products, but now we have to wait atleast a few months more then originally planned. Because of this i believe many SQL customers will wait until Windows Server 2008 is out.