A sneak peek at Explorer 7

Internet users were given a peek yesterday at a revamped version of Microsoft`s Internet Explorer (IE). This is a response to criticism that the most popular tool for Web surfing and hacking made users vulnerable to the Internet`s dangers and caused them to defect to alternative browsers, according to the Washington Post.

The new version of IE will provide colour-coded warnings when a user tries to access a Web site that is suspicious or known as fraudulent.

IE`s other new features include the abilities to automatically open several frequently used Web sites at once and print Web pages so the content doesn`t get cut off on the right side. The new browser also allows users to tailor search functions, aggregating searches from various sources. It can also magnify pages so fonts are larger and easier to read.

HP`s new Open Source Integrated Portfolio will help customers simplify the integration of open source and commercial software. It will also bring standardised, heterogeneous open source offerings to a broader market, using an approach based on a service-oriented architecture, reports e Channel Line.

Designed to accelerate the adoption of open source software in data centres, the new HP solution provides customers with a way to deploy a wide range of open source, commercial and hybrid applications across Linux, Windows and HP-UX 11i environments.

Nokia has added three new advanced multimedia mobile phones to its N-Series range, all of which are expected to be available during the latter part of the year, reports TMC Net.

The three devices are Nokia N93, N73 and N72.

Nokia said the N93 is a mobile device for spontaneous video recording. The N73 is a multimedia computer with photography features and integrated stereo speakers with 3D sound, while the N72 is wrapped in a pearl pink or gloss black package and offers photography, entertainment and personal productivity features.

Microsoft plans to carry over a system similar to its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) authentication system in Windows XP to its Office software, reports Daily Tech.

Microsoft Office already uses the Office Validation Assistant to verify if a computer is running a pirated version of the software, but the Office Genuine Advantage programme will be much more comprehensive.

The company is adding a new notification facility to WGA, so that Windows XP users who are running a "non-genuine" copy of Windows XP will have notifications sent directly to their desktop warning them they are running pirated software.