Mozilla Links have a nice compilation of a recent meeting regarding the development of Firefox 3, slated for launch in the third quarter this year. Among the news we find a better add-on interface, support for remote bookmarks and options for closer integration with various web services. Also, a bunch of nice to haves is listed, although they might or might not make the final release.

Meanwhile ActiveWin have spoken to a Microsoft official at CES earlier, and it has been confirmed that work have already started on Internet Explorer 8. We can expect the new version hitting the web within 18-24 months, apparently. Nice, since the wait between IE6 and IE7 where way too long. (Found via Read/WriteWeb.)

Oh, and by the way – IE7 is being rolled out through Windows Update, and have been some times. More and more regions are getting their versions pushed out. Please accept and install, if you don’t want to run Firefox, and kill IE6 once and for all. Please.

Originally posted on January 12, 2007 @ 6:34 am

Amanda Congdon, the videoblogger for ABC News signed a release to be tasered at CES. Personally, I think you would have to be pretty well mentally out of it to let yourself be tasered considering who knows what could happen to you. It’s been known to cause deaths even amongst the fittest of people.

For more information about tasers and the dangers of police use check out Amnesty International.

Originally posted on January 12, 2007 @ 1:19 pm

Lorelle doesn’t want this in 2007 (yes, she elaborates in her post, of course):

Kill All Popup Windows
Out-of-control Advertising
Constatly Auto-Reloading Web Pages
Blog Bling
Music on Websites
Tiny Fonts
Link Spawning – Open Links in New Windows
Kill Off Anything that Moves
Flash is Not Content
Javascript Driven Links
Don’t Viloage Your Own Privacy
Do Not Splog or Plagiarize Others
Comment Spam
Do Not Get in the Way of Commenters
Time Wasting Comments
Forcing Email Comment Subscriptions
Stop Spyware/Malware
Mutliple Page Views/Print View
Design for Print
Stop Email Crap
Stop Obsessing Over Page Rang and Traffic
Validate With Various Browsers
Forced Width Web Page Layouts
Evil Bloggers

There are a few petty annoyances as well, but they’re not as fun. I tend to agree with her on most of these points, although not all. Either way, we should all do what we can to make 2007 a better year for the blogosphere, since it’s growing and all.

What ticks you off and should be removed forever?

Originally posted on January 12, 2007 @ 9:00 am

Google Watch has made a mock-up on how Google would look if it was designed in Yahoo! style. The screenshot is making the rounds online, being featured on both large and small blogs. In other words, it’s great link baiting, since the creator is being credited.

And yeah, I know Google would never design something like this. But at the least, it gives you an idea of how Google really is a “portal,” and how well all its apps fit together into a more work-oriented Yahoo start page.

Originally posted on January 12, 2007 @ 4:10 am

GM is headed in the right direction.

This year in Detroit we added “blog relations” to our traditional media relations activities during press days at the North American International Auto Show. GM invited, and paid for, travel to the Motor City by some selected blog writers from mostly non-automotive blogs. They write about such things as trends, safety, energy, environment, design, and parenting. We exposed these writers to a major auto show — some for the first time in their lives — to learn what kind of influence they’ll have with regard to GM and its products. Time, and the measurements we’ve undertaken, will give us some answers.

More companies need to engage bloggers. Invite them into their close walled compounds. Allow them to take part in the community. I think its a win win for consumers and companies who are honestly looking for good feedback. Here’s a great example of how to engage bloggers in a no strings attached fashion.

Host a Bloggers Party
Include In House Bloggers and Community Bloggers to have quality discussions about what you are doing.

There are lots of other great ideas floating around the blogosphere. The key thing is most companies don’t have it figured out. From monitoring to engaging in conversation. To many companies are relying on traditional PR companies. And those companies simply don’t get it.

Originally posted on January 13, 2007 @ 6:41 am