General software updates

[Inactive]

Consider the poor sods that are still on " Dial - Up ".. 

[Rik]

I do, In. It must be near impossible for some of the updates...

[Gary]

Quicktime 7.4.5 released today, critical bug fixes

[Sebby]

Firefox 3 beta 5 released yesterday. Version 3 really is fantastic!

[Rik]

A little historical note. The next NOD update will be number 3,000.

[Baz]

Firefox 3 beta 5 released yesterday. Version 3 really is fantastic!

Ive never figured out why companies release Beta versions. why cant they test them themselves and do away with any bother they get from frustrated buyers/users

[madasahatter]

Ive never figured out why companies release Beta versions. why cant they test them themselves and do away with any bother they get from frustrated buyers/users

I think they do it because they can test as much as they like, but there ain't no substitute for testing in the real world where peeps PCs aren't perfect, have had who knows what installed on them etc. Tbh, as long as they make it clear it's a beta I think it's a great idea - some peeps will have a go and help the development, some won't touch betas with a bargepole, but it's completely your choice.

[Rik]

Because it's impossible to cover a broad enough range of users and hardware in house, Baz. Even with an extensive beta, problems still show when it moves to release and the less techie people start to use software.

[Sebby]

Ive never figured out why companies release Beta versions. why cant they test them themselves and do away with any bother they get from frustrated buyers/users

So they get a huge number of users testing them. It's not made available on their main site; you have to find it. So it's down to the user if they want the latest and greatest beta.

[Inactive]

New version of Opera available. Version 9.27.

[Rik]

Was that by Verdi or Puccini, In?

[Inactive]

Well I know Verdi is something green, and Puccini make cr*ppy mopeds Rik.

[Rik]

So we're looking towards Wagner then - stodgy and goes on for hours.

[Inactive]

A bit like us then Rik..... 

[Rik]

A perfect summary.   

[Inactive]

Why thank you kindly.. 

[madasahatter]

 SmartFTP 3.0.1012.6 update available

[Rik]

Thanks, Mad.

[Gary]

Adobe Flash Player version 9.0.124.0 released, multiple vulnerabilities fixed

[Rik]

Yipee, more patching to do. Thanks Gary.

There's a new version of iTunes around too...

[Gary]

Yipee, more patching to do. Thanks Gary.

There's a new version of iTunes around too...

It never ends 

[Niall]

Because it's impossible to cover a broad enough range of users and hardware in house, Baz. Even with an extensive beta, problems still show when it moves to release and the less techie people start to use software.

Also, people out there have hardware that covers more or less a 10 year period. You only have to look at surveys that the Steam application runs, to see that. In that 10 year period, you've got at least 15 different motherboard releases, probably about 3 mainboard driver releases a year for each too.

The same goes for graphics cards too. You've then got sound cards with their updated drivers, which is normally once or twice a year.

Combine that with the operating systems used (98se, ME, 2K, XP, Vista, Linux), and you've got yourself a test that in house, would cost you so much money it's untrue.

That's not even taking into account the software people use.

[Noreen]

I hope that you all remembered Windows Update Tuesday yesterday.

[Sebby]

Yep, got about 7 updates today through Microsoft Update.

[Rik]

Actually, I completely forgot it this month. Most unusual...