Daily Dispatch: IE 9 Beta released; Slacker offers on demand music service

In today's Digital Dispatch:

Internet Explorer 9 Beta Now Available (ReadWriteWeb)

...The new user interface is basically a stripped-down version of the IE8 design. Microsoft says that it wants users to be able to focus on the website and not on the browser.

Facebook Competitor Diaspora Revealed: Sparse, But Clean; Source Code Released (TechCrunch)

...At first glance, this preview version of Diaspora looks sparse, but clean. Oddly enough, with its big pictures and stream, it doesn't look unlike Apple's new Ping music social network mixed with yes, Facebook.

Slacker taking on Rhapsody with new Premium Radio service (ZDNet)

...The new Slacker Premium Radio service will allow you to more closely control your listening experience so you can hear entire albums from an artist of your choice, create custom playlists, search for and play specific songs and more.

Greenpeace Slams Zuckerberg For Making Facebook A "So Coal Network"(GreenTech)

Environmental organization Greenpeace has released a video harshly criticizing Facebook's use of coal-fuelled electricity in its Oregon-based data center, singling out founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The organization calls Facebook a "so coal network".

How to Get the Google Hive to Hire You: Don Dodge (Google Watch)

...You may already know the process is lengthy, detailed and strenuous, but did you know that Google receives more than 1 million job applications per year but hires only 1,000 to 4,000 people per year?

Parallels Mobile Brings Windows to Your iOS Device (lifehacker)

If running Windows on your Mac isn't cutting it for you and you need access through your iOS device, the makers of virtual machine software Parallels have released Parallels Mobile for the iPhone, iPod touch, and (most appropriately) iPad.

Disneyland Finds Balance with Feral Cats (Alley Cat Allies)

Mickey Mouse may have put Disneyland on the map 55 years ago, but today, a colony of feral cats helps keep the famous theme park rodent-free.

About Digital Dirk's Dispatches
Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily to bring you the Digital Dispatch—a compilation of the most important and interesting tech news for consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.