Microsoft, always ready to introduce their own program naming, have introduced the concept of the “Platform Preview” for Internet Explorer 7, which you can download and try.

Basically, it’s IE but without the ability to change the URL or move backwards through pages – they want you to try it out, but without thinking this is anything like the end product. It can installed alongside your current IE version, however.

What it does do, though, is allow you to test “under the hood” changes – particularly around HTML 5, JavaScript enhancements and (snigger) standards improvements.

A Beta version of the full browser was available a while ago, though, but it was soon replaced with further Platform Previews.

They’re very pleased with their Acid3 score of 95% (compared to 100% for Webkit based browsers, although a lot better than IE’s current 20% rating) and their quick (but extremely dodgy) JavaScript benchmark. Time will tell how it pans out…

One thing that IE9 does add is the ability for sites to create their own jump lists in Windows 7. Here’s an excellent article on how to achieve this. Google Chrome already supports jump lists, and it looks like Firefox will have it after 3.7 is released.

This news hasn’t been publicly announced but will be later today at TWTRCON by HootSuite‘s CEO Ryan Holmes.

The HootSuite App Exchange will launch December 15 and they’re inviting developers with an idea and resources to request access to the API to begin coding their ideas. To apply, simply fill out the form at: http://ow.ly/3btrl and the program coordinator will follow-up.

If you have any questions or comments about the App Exchange program, then you can contact Hootsuite via their email at app.review@hootsuite.com and/or follow them on Twitter @HootSuite_Apps.

Here are the details from Hootsuite…

HootSuite currently has close to 1 million SME users, 1.9 million social networks, and has recently climbed into the Alexa 200. As such, the HootSuite App Exchange will provide a significant way to build visibility for the brands and developers we partner with – including the potential for revenue sharing.

This new API creates an opportunity for unique mash-ups and extensions which users can add-in to customize their HootSuite dashboard experience. We designed the API to be easy to work with – if you have a working knowledge of Javascript and HTML, you should be good to go. In fact, some compelling apps have been created in under 4 hours.

Last Saturday, HootSuite hosted a hackathon at which we opened up the API to a few developers to a great reaction and great coding session. Additionally, noteworthy partners have already built out applications with several more currently in development.

We look forward to seeing the ideas and apps you submit.

I mentioned last week that I was working on a plugin that will parse and display a WordPress plugin README file in a post or on a page. Well, after a lot of sweat and tears, it’s finished and released!

WP README Parser has taken a lot of work and I hope people – particularly WordPress plugin developers who wish to display README content on their site – find it useful.

I’ll be upgrading this site to immediately make use of it.