The BBC have, of course , written about IE7 being released. Now check out the following quote:
One controversial new feature is the addition of a box that lets people search the net directly from the browser rather than through a dedicated webpage.
Riiiiiiight
Controversial is it? I don't remember that being that case when Firefox and Opera did it about ohhh 10 million years ago. Now how about this:
This defaults to Microsoft's own search engine, but in a last minute change the software company is letting users choose which search site this feature should call upon.
What tripe! Obviously in BBC land "last minute" means before April 30th 2006 (about 6 months ago):
The Default. The typical default when users install IE7 on their Windows XP machines will most likely be their usual search engine. Despite claims from some people around the web, MSN is not the Default. The search box in IE7 uses IE6's AutoSearch setting because we think this setting is the best indication IE has of the user's preference. I do web searches every day to find feedback about IE7, and have read some positive feedback to date on this. IE6's AutoSearch setting today reflects the other software (e.g. Yahoo, Google, or Windows Live toolbar) that the user has installed. Of course, if you buy a new machine from an OEM after we release the final IE7, that OEM can (and will probably) choose a search engine for you.
I'm beginning to think that the BBC have a department especially for bashing Microsoft (hardly the first time they've been impartial about something though - note: completely unrelated topic).
Might aswell mention that at the bottom of the post they mention that an RC for Firefox 2.0 was released on the same day (which, I believe is also complete tripe). Of course, if you're a Firefox user and you haven't heard about this and are keen to try it you can go get it now. I've heard that it doesn't have many new features but it much faster than version 1.5.
At home I actually use Opera, IE7 and Firefox probably with equal amounts of time on each. Opera is my favourite really just because of its sessions and closed bucket (not it's proper name). Sessions will keep your tabs open after a restart and the closed bucket lists tabs that you've closed recently, which I do quite often when dealing with a lot of tabs.
On a completely unrelated note while out for drinks last night in Circluar Quay (Sydney, Australia - you know the really, really hot place) I was refused entry in some bar because I was wearing shorts. Yeahhhh. The thing that amazes me time and time again is that these bars are happy to throw away so much money (there was about 8-9 of us) for some kind of dress code. Yet I'm sure a guy wearing trousers and a pink shirt should have got in.
The food here has been amazing - I ate an entire meal with chopsticks yesterday. I'm no pro yet but I'm getting there. The choice of (good) asian food here is incredible!