The guys at Mozilla have released the very first Firefox 3 mockup screen shots.

Looks

In these screenies Firefox has a complete UI overhaul and it looks fantastic! surprisingly it looks a lot like a vista application and more like IE than Firefox. Many are hoeing that this concept will stick around and become the default Firefox 3 theme for vista. Even still I am sure someone out there will create this theme for Firefox 2.

New Features

Private Browsing
Browse the web without cookies, temporary files or history being stored on your computer.

Places
A great new feature that stores bookmarks, history, and other information about Web pages. You will be able to add tags and index your content.

Bookmark Manager
Speaks for itself, basically sort and manage all your bookmarks.

Malware Detection
Firefox will now block sites that have been known to contain Malware, it will show a dialog asking if you want to proceed (see screens)

Mozilla is working alongside Google to develop this feature.

Content Handling
After downloading a file, you can now select the associated program to run that file from within the downloaded files box. 

Microformat Detection
You can now interact with microformat content.

Screenshots

The blacked out address bar lets you know your in private browsing mode:

The new places feature:

Bookmark Manager service:

 The Malware detection engine in action:

Content Handling in action:

The important thing to remember is this is very early stages and this stuff is not final and it also explains why the UI may look a little rough round the edges but if Mozilla go with this, the cool new features and that great UI Firefox 3 should be fantastic in my opinion!

Onecare 2.0 includes lots of cool new features but by far the greatest is the ability to manage the security status of multiple computers on your network.

Onecare can be installed on 3 computers meaning you can manage the status and preform tasks for all these machines on one master computer. No longer do you have to go all over your house sorting out your partner and kids computers when something goes wrong. This is a fantastic concept that will save time and keep you and your family secure.

Other new stuff incudes Windows Live ID login, so you can receive product updates, support and news. Also the backup service has been updated to allow all 3 computers to be backed at the same time via the Windows Live Oncecare online backup service.

Microsoft is really trying with this product and personal i think its great. It integrates with your system well and it runs nicely in the background and most importantly its not heavy on your system unlike some security suites.

So why not check out the beta you have nothing to lose as its totally free and it lasts 120 days.

Get it here and see what you think

Its a hard question to ask when both formats are it early stages of life. Ultimately its the corporations that, quite frankly decide whether each format will succeed or fail miserably, People wont buy HD-DVD or Blu-Ray if there is a lack of hardware or HD content. So with that said here is a list i have complied of the major technology consumer corporations that are backing each format. I will be adding to the list as i find out what other major companies but for now these are the confirmed providers for each format.

Blu-Ray

Hardware suppliers

Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philip’s, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK, Thomson

Agreed Film Makers

Disney, Fox, Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM

HD-DVD

Hardware suppliers

Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Thomson, Microsoft

Agreed Film Makers

Paramount, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema

Another main factor of the format is there capacity

HD-DVD

ROM Single layer: 15GB
ROM Dual layer: 30GB
RW single layer: Not yet available
RW dual layer: Not yet available
Highest test: 45GB
Theoretical limit: 60GB

Blu-Ray

ROM single layer: 23.3 / 25GB
ROM dual layer: 46.6 / 50GB
RW single layer: 23.3 / 25 / 27GB
RW dual layer: 46.6 / 50 / 54GB
Highest test: 100GB
Theoretical limit: 200GB

Both formats use the following codecs:

MPEG-2
Microsoft Video Codec 1 (aka VC1, WMV HD, etc.)
H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC

The final aspect is cost, HD-DVD player are considerably cheaper than Blu-Ray players but the Blu-Ray format has a advantage of the Sony PS3 that comes with a built in high end Blu-Ray player for about £430 whilst Xbox 360 users have to but a drive for an extra £150. The PS3 also comes with a larger hard drive, a built in card reader and HDMI support vital to get the best picture quality when HD is concerned.

So what do you think will win in the HD format battle? well hopefully this article has helped you make up your mind on what you will be backing. Thanks for Reading!