With competing internet browsers such as Firefox 2 increasing in popularity every day, Microsoft has taken the bold move of allowing users of pirated copies of Windows XP to download Internet Explorer 7 without checks.

It has become obvious that Microsoft has realised it is fast losing the battle of the browsers, by the fact that Microsoft is now removing its “Windows Genuine Advantage” anti-piracy requirement that we have all come to know and hate, when downloading and installing the new Internet Explorer 7 program or update from Microsoft.

Clearly it’s become obvious since the release of IE7 that its uptake hasn’t been as good as Microsoft would have hoped, regardless of what spin the company has put on things.

While IE6 is still the dominant browser on the Windows platform, each week IE overall continues to lose market share to Firefox.

In the last month, popular computer mag website APCMag.com for example, only registered 50.38% Internet Explorer usage. Firefox accounted for 39.9% of users, Safari 5% and Opera 4%. Of the Internet Explorer users, nearly half - 45.61% are still using IE6.

What makes this even more remarkable is the fact that Microsoft has been using it’s Automatic Update Service to force XP users to download and install the latest IE7 browser.

The fact that Microsoft is now removing its “Windows Genuine Advantage” anti-piracy requirement indicates that it is facing the reality that a large proportion of Windows users are running pirated copies of Windows, and if the software giant wants to achieve market domination with its new browser, it can’t neglect its “black market customers”.

You can read the blog post from Microsoft about it here.

If you’re anything like me you’ll find that all your local neighbors, friends and family come knocking at your door for assistance with the computers. However, you’ll also find yourself needing to provide support to people that aren’t local, and are in fact far away in the distant galaxies that the internet roams.

You know the feeling, you get them to try and explain something to you and you’re completely confused. There’s a red button there?? Sometimes you just wish you were there in front of them. Well, there’s plenty of applications out there including GoToMyPC and Microsoft’s own Remote Assistance but they’re either poor or they’re overly priced.

Well, I came across an amazing application the other day in which allows not only a simple easy to use interface to connect to a remote pc, but is completely free. Both to give and receive assistance.

Of course, if you know me well you know I don’t recommend applications until I have actually tried it. Well, I can happily report I did!

A user contacted me asking for support, and I was happy to help them but they were from the United Kingdom. The situation was easy, but I wanted to show them exactly how to do it. So, we attempted to use an online service called ‘LogMeIn’ and whilst we’ve heard raving reviews I found it hard to help the other user set it up.

So, I was left with the decision of looking for an application that was both easy to use and free to setup. I stumbled across CrossLoop and decided to give it a go. I gave the url to the client I was helping, and began downloading it myself. Before I could finish downloading the application the user was able to tell me the access code. At that point I didn’t even know what the access code was, however they were able to work out the system before I could even download the application.

So, if you’re providing or needing remote support, install the free CrossLoop application today at www.CrossLoop.com!

I will also be able to provide technical support using this application through our Live Help system! Have the program ready when you hop onto the chat!