XBMC’s new ‘Dharma’ milestone is out and ready for testing. The new release includes full support for add-ons as well as hardware accelerated video decoding and a whole lot more. Head on over to xbmc.org to give it a whirl.
I’ve been using Safari’s new beta for three days now, first on a Windows XP machine (Don’t ask, it was under duress) and then on my own iMac under Leopard. Having read conflicting reports about its speed, stability and compatibility, I was a little hesitant about installing it, but I must admit I am very pleasantly surprised. So here is how it stacks up so far:
Installation: I am ashamed to admit it, but it was easier on Windows, where it was a matter of a minute or so. On the Mac, installation required a reboot and the latest security updates in place. Sure, it has to do with Safari’s closer integration with OSX but still, point of pride here.
Speed: It’s blazing fast, compared to both Safari 3 and FireFox 3.1. The speed is very noticeable on most sites, but particularly those which rely heavily on JavaScript. The new Nitro engine must be working.
Reliability: Multiple tabs open, CPU-intensive processes running in the background, and a multitude of sites with quick hopping between pages and reloading. Not a crash yet. This was perhaps the biggest surprise for a beta release.
Interface: I’m still not sold on the concept of tabs-on-top, but it’s growing on me. I certainly don’t mind them enough to put them back the way they were. Top Sites is a cute feature, but only time will tell how much it gets used. CoverFlow in History, I can honestly take it or leave it.
Compatibiility: I don’t use third-party plugins with Safari, so no problems there. If you do, stay clear - they won’t work.
All in all, it seems as though I’m going to stick with this beta until I find a compelling reason not to. Its speed alone is a strong motivator, as going back to FireFox frankly feels like wading in treacle. I would recommend those of you with a taste for the bleeding edge to give Safari 4 a try, but bear in mind that its installation on Macs will effectively replace your existing copy of Safari.
If you’re so inclined, you can download the Safari 4 beta from here.
ID Software wants you to test their free QuakeLive, their free, browser-based version of the timeless FPS.
Currently Windows-only, and registration won’t guarantee you a spot - but it’s certainly worth a shot if you don’t mind your productivity taking a colossal dive.
A quick Google search will help you see who has a few invites to spare.
Reviewing technology with an occasional sprinkling of art and humour.
