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The Firefox developers have released the first alpha version of the upcoming Firefox 3.6 web browser.The new version is clearly marked as a developer and test version which means it is not recommended to use this version as the main web browser on a computer system. The development milestone of Firefox 3.6 is build on the Gecko 1.9.2 platform and introduces some new features in the web browser which are all included in the 3299 entries long bug list over at Bugzilla.

A speed increase in the JavaScript Tracemonkey engine is probably the most noteworthy change in Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1. A quick test at the Sunspider JavaScript benchmark confirmed that the new alpha version renders the test in about 300ms faster than the latest official release Firefox 3.5.2 (800ms compared to 1100ms).

Other new features include the addition of several CSS3 attributes including background-size, CSS gradients, multiple background images and support for the rem unit from CSS3 values and units. Most add-ons were disabled upon first startup of Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1 with the possibility to force them into compatibility. The Nightly Tester Tools are unfortunately not compatible with this new release which means the easiest way to force add-on compatibility is to disable the compatibility checks.

To do that enter [about:config] in the Firefox address bar and filter for the term [extensions.checkCompatibility]. Double-clicking that value will set it to false which will disable the compatibility checks in Firefox. Interested users can download Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1

Download Firfox 3.6 Alpha 1 for Windows , Linux , Mac OS

image enlager

Windows: Enlarging images, especially from lower resolution source images, can be a dicey business. Want to enlarge an image and you don’t want it to look like an 8-bit video game sprite? SmillaEnlarger can keep things smooth and artifact free.

Photo by 512 Photography.

SmillaEnlarger is an open-source and portable application designed to help you intensively massage an image enlargement to keep it from looking jagged and filled with artifacts. You can select the level of zoom using the zoom slider and the location of the zoom via the selection box.

Once you have the selection you’re after, you can begin tinkering with the sharpness, flatness, dithering, noise levels, and more. The preview function is quite speedy so don’t hesitate to preview often to check how the various settings change the outcome with your image.

When your enlargement is satisfactory, hit the Calculate button to render it—a process only slightly longer than the preview. From our testing, the results achieved with SmillaEnlarger are on par with other—usually pricier—methods.

If you know of any other tools—freeware, web-based, or otherwise—for easy photo enlargements, let’s hear about it in the comments. SmillaEnlarger is portable freeware, Windows only.

SmillaEnlager [@FreewareGenius]

The Digital Inspiration blog suggests that while, yes, MS Paint can make hilarious stick figure illustrations, it can be used more skillfully than you might imagine, suggesting five lesser-known features of the ever-present Windows app.

The deviantArt image thumbnailed above, for example, was crafted entirely in MS Paint—perhaps with a tablet as well, but, still, it’s an impressive showing of the app’s creative capabilities. Digital Inspiration suggests a few tools that make it really handy for photo touch-ups or drawing your own images, like keeping a semi-hidden third colour selection handy for your drawing:

If you left click on a colour shade, it becomes the primary colour while right-clicking on another colour will make that a secondary colour. There’s however an option to store a third colour in the palette as well.

Just select the “Pick Color” tool and CTRL+ left-click on any one of the shades in the Palette or the canvas window and then CTRL+ left-click to use this new 3rd shade without losing the 2 earlier shades. You can then access this colour by holding the Ctrl key while drawing