You can check out some screen shots of IE9 from Engadget here: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/internet-explorer-9-beta-expected-in-september-screenshots-leak/

Keep an eye on this link for the IE9 Beta download: http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/

Luckily you can root your beloved phone and install the newest version. Unfortunately this is not recommended for the weak. You will need to know some basic level of programing and be willing to void your warranty. The good news is that rooting your phone is no longer illegal!

So, if you really really want Froyo you can root it and install a custom ROM or you can simply upgrade to a better phone! (HTC EVO 4G)

Are you planning on sticking with your Hero/Moment or are you planning on upgrading to a bigger better phone?

Once in the tent we set our tweeting equipment again and started listening to the speakers that have been so gracious to come talk to us on the day of the launch. One of my favorite speakers was Astronaut Dave Wolf. He was a great at answering all of the questions from the tweetup crowd and also had no problem talking about ‘pooping’ in space; which of course everyone is secretly curious about that. Directly before the launch we also were privileged enough to hear Chris Meinert talk. He is a member of the closeout crew who had just returned from the launch pad after closing the hatch on Atlantis which was about to shoot into space in under an hour. It was touching to hear him talk about being the last person to see the astronauts on space shuttle Columbia. After he finished talking to us we all headed out to claim a spot to view the launch.

I luckily found an unobstructed view of the launch pad. I sat under some cameras that were setup on tripods. Graciously I assured their operators of the cameras that I would not get up in the middle of the launch and block their shot. So, with a clear view of the launch pad and my cameras ready to go, there was only one thing to do… wait. 10 minutes or so later the countdown started… 5…4…3…2…1! The shuttle started out shooting out what looked like a smoke cloud on both sides.  After about a second or so I could see Atlantis begin to take off.  Once in the air for a couple of seconds I started to hear a loud aluminium popping sound.  Each pop that I heard I also felt it hit me like a sonic wave. I have never felt or seen anything like it in my life. After it hit the atmosphere and arched, the shuttle went behind it’s own cloud and was out of site for the rest of time that I was there.

The experience as a whole was absolutely amazing. I learned so much about NASA and space missions (past and future) that I’m sure it will prove to be very valuable in the near future. Also, I would like to thank everyone that helped with or had anything to do with the tweetup, it was a life changing event. If you have the chance to attend any event from NASA or are around the Cape Canaveral area stop in and say ‘hi’ to these nice folks, they are amazing people! I would like everyone to help support NASA in anyway they can, it is a great program and can help push America into the forefront of technology in the future. Thanks again NASA!

I made it to the registration area a little early so the people setting up kindly allowed me to sit around and talk to them while they set up everything.  After about 30 minutes the building began to get packed.  I verified that I was indeed myself by showing them numerous forms of identification.  I received my ‘tweetup’ credentials and a ‘swag bag’ which gave me something to tweet about while I awaited the arrival of my fellow tweeting Raleigh team.

Once the others from Raleigh arrived and verified their information we car pooled to the tweetup tent.  On the way to the tent we first came up on one of the biggest buildings I have ever seen in my life; the NASA VAB.  After being completely mesmerized for about a minute we arrived at the press area, which is where our tent was set up.  Walking to the tent we passed all of the news buildings on our right and the famous countdown clock/flag on our left.

Once inside the tweetup tent we found a free table and started to setup our tweeting equipment while the rest of the tweeters arrived. We were allowed to walk around the press area and take as many pictures/videos as we desired; which we did!  Also, this was a great opportunity to meet some of the people in person that I have been talking to only before the event.  After everyone got settled down a couple of speakers came in and talked to our group.  I found this especially cool of NASA to allow these people to talk to us a day before the launch, I would imagine that they were very busy!  The speakers included NASA’s Technology Director and an Astronaut.

After a short break for lunch we set out on 4 buses to tour the NASA facilities. This is the standard tour you get from NASA when you get a standard Kennedy Space Center pass (I’m guessing here). The advantage we had was not having to wait for the buses when done with the tours which was really nice.  The one thing that stood out for me was the low quality video they had to preempt some of the tours.  I realize they are going through some drastic budget cuts but I feel like high definition video would be a thing of value for their visitors.  I am told however they do have some IMAX theatres on some of their tours. I didn’t have time to check those out, I’m sure they are awesome though!

When the tour of their facilities concluded we made a quick stop by the tent to pick up anything we may need for the next leg of the tour.  Once on the buses again we headed out to the launch pad.  I was surprised that one day before the launch they would allow us anywhere close to the pad.  Getting to our designated spot I felt completely privileged to be that close to this giant space shuttle. We actually were there to watch the retraction of the Rotating Service Structure which took about 30 – 45 minutes to happen, but was totally worth waiting and watching!

That pretty much concluded my first day at the NASA tweetup!  I concluded this with a late dinner with my Dad, Sister and Uncle on the water at the Crab Shack in Melbourne, FL and some much needed sleep after.

For the first day of the event we will be speaking with a plethora of NASA employees, engineers and astronauts. After that, we will be given a tour of Kennedy Space Center which will include a tour of Launch Pad 39A to view retraction of the Rotating Service Structure. The second day we will take a group picture beside the countdown clock (4 hours before the launch). Then we will listen to a couple of more speakers. Then finally at 2:20pm (if everything goes as planned) we will watch the space shuttle Atlantis shoot into space for the last time ever!

During our visit we will be interviewed by members of the press and are expected to ‘tweet’ our experience for the world to see. I am bringing my laptop, cellphone and a HD video camera to record and document my experience during these two days. Triangle Harbor will be my hub for posting more complete details of the next couple of days but if you would like uncut raw ‘happenings’ in real time follow my Twitter account (@MikeAdamsNC)!

Check back for my Day 1 recap in the near future!

* Picture from the STS-129 Tweetup in 2009