Opera has released a beta of the next release of its popular web browser, v10.6. The beta features support for the royalty-free WebM video format being pushed by Google. It also features new HTML 5 offline applications. The company claims that the Javascript engine in the newer version is 75 percent faster than the previous version.
The v10.6 release is the next major version for Linux and BSD users also after Opera decided to skip 10.5 releases on either of those platforms. Opera pushed out v10.5 of the browser in time for Microsoft’s distribution of the web browser selection screen that allows users to download and install a browser of their choice as part of a settlement agreement with the European Union.
The new WebM video format is being pushed by Google as a royalty-free alternative to H.264, which is only royalty free to use until the end of 2015, according to MPEG LA. A WebM video file consists of VP8 video (Google acquired the VP8 technology in its $106.5 million deal with On2 Technologies last year) and OGG Vorbis audio packed in a Matroska (MKV) container.
Microsoft is supported WebM by putting support into the upcoming Internet Explorer 9 browser and Mozilla recently confirmed Firefox 4 includes WebM support after resolving a licensing issue.
Result for: javascript engine
On day two of the Google I/O conference, the search giant has launched Android 2.2 Froyo, the seventh update to the operating system since its launch in September 2008.
While not listed in the official 2.2 post, there are many new features that most users have been expecting and wanting. The main two are the addition of Flash (built-in) and the addition of Wi-Fi tethering. Additionally, desktop to handset music streaming and a “one-handed camera UI” are part of the update.
Google says there are six highlights of the new firmware update, (although I believe they left out the most important in their post which I posted above):
Performance and Speed: The company says the new “Dalvik JIT compiler” will give 2.2 users a 200-500 percent performance boost in “CPU-bound code vs. Android 2.1.”
Enterprising capabilities: Google says they have added Microsoft Exchange capabilities such as account auto-discovery and calender sync. There is also easier device management apps that can control security like remote wipe, lockscreen timeout and minimum password.
Improved Browser: The browser has been improved, using the V8 JavaScript engine. The company says JS performance is 300 percent better than on 2.1.
“Rich set of new APIs and services”: Rooted devices have had the ability to do so for many months, but 2.2 adds the ability to backup and restore data via data backup APIs. If you ever have to buy a new device or wipe your current one, you can restore all data and settings with one easy click.
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Result for: javascript engine
AppleInsider is reporting that Apple is in the midst of updating Safari, QuickTime and Pro apps, each with significant updates.
Reads the full post:
Safari 4.0.5
People familiar with the seedings say one of the primary focuses of Safari 4.0.5 is to fix a regression in the browser’s JavaScript engine that manifested with the release of Safari 4.0.4. The maintenance release will also reportedly see certain code blocks, like Move Code, transitioned from the Safari codebase to that of Webkit in order to improve cross platform support.
A short list of other enhancements planned for the Safari 4.0.5 include improved HTML5 Video Playback, quicker loading of the Top Sites panels, faster JavaScript performance, better performance loading YouTube, and an overall reduced memory footprint.
Additionally, the release should also sport a much improved Plug-in manager aimed at reducing the number of crashes caused by plug-ins, including Adobe Flash plug-in, people familiar with the current betas say. These advances will reportedly also improve load times for plug-ins.
Safari 4.0.5 is currently undergoing tests in four distinct distributions: a build for Windows, one for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, one for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, and another for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Each are members of the 405Axx build train and weigh between 26 and 38 megabytes.
QuickTime 7.66
Meanwhile, Apple is also evaluating a maintenance, security and performance release for QuickTime 7 labeled QuickTime 7.66. It’s expected to be one of the final updates to QuickTime 7 and is currently undergoing evaluation for Mac OS X Leopard and Windows. The current build is said to be build 23.
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