Windows in view

I'm starting to feel like today is all Vista all the time. So here is a list of articles on News.com. They have conveniently put them all in one place. The big thing I really want to know at this point is price and that still seems to be a big secret.

Samsung to launch PCs based on flash memory

We knew it was going to happen. Of course, the price is higher than that of a comparable laptop with a hard drive, but that was expected. I did not expect it to be as high as it is, but it's early days and before too long, there will be enough price competition to bring things down to a more realistic premium.

Jack

Schools block MySpace access; kids fight back

Schools are cracking down on access to social networking sites like MySpace in an attempt to make time spent in a computer lab profitable

That seems like a no-brainer. After all, schools have always had the ability to keep materials that the school or teacher thought were distracting away from students. In my case, I can remember a novel I was sneaking a peak at being taken away, as was a crossword puzzle. You can only imagine what a snorer the class was! I only wish that I had a computer when I was in school even with MySpace blocked from my inquiring mind.

What is a little more interesting is the Libertyville school where students in extracurricular programs can be disciplined for what they post on their own time that is considered illegal or inappropriate. "Illegal" should be pretty easy to define. "Inappropriate" is more of a judgment call. I hope that the guidelines are publicized and very clear or that the students get a warning and a chance to remove "inappropriate" before they are disciplined. I'm afraid, given recent history in schools, that is will be an extension of zero tolerance. The good news is that the schools won't be patrolling the Web.

Also, will any measures be taken to assure that the student named really posted the material that is in question? This seems like it would be a very easy way to "frame" someone you didn't like by posting Web content in their name. After all the Web is such a secure place (not). I'm not sure that school administrators will be perusing ISP logs to determine the truth or who posted what when and where. It will be up to students (and parents footing legal fees) to prove themselves innocent in some cases. It could be a lot of time lost and reputations ruined falsely for some students. Enough of that goes on in high school low tech -- like writing on the bathroom wall. I can imagine this rule resulting in some high-tech sabotage.

I can see both sides and there are no good answers, but with school rules just like the criminal justice system, I'd rather see the guilty go free than see one innocent person harmed.

MS Share Point Server 2007 and "Knowledge Network"

Microsoft's Share Point Server 2007 is winding it's way toward users. It's a really hard product for anyone to get excited about, but it is more and more widely used in enterprises. The most interesting thing about SPS'07 might be a freebie add-on called "Knowledge Network" which will be offered to licensed users.

It's a bit hard for me to think of Microsoft as innovative, no matter how much they trumpet their opinion that they are. But in Knowledge Network, they have hit upon an innovation that I think of as truly revolutionary; able to change the way companies and their staffs search out the knowledge held within the company itself.

It's a bit hard to explain, but I'll take a stab at it. It all seems very logical, to the point of "why didn't I think of that?" when you get into it.

Estimates vary wildly, but it is a truism that much of any enterprise's knowledge resides in the heads of their employees and is not recorded anywhere else. I've read figures from 30% to 80% with very good arguments for whatever numbers the writer chooses to espouse. I imagine it varies from situation to situation anyway. The only thing we have to know is that a lot of this knowledge can be unavailable to those who need it, unless you know the right person to ask. Knowledge Network is intended to point you toward the person who has the knowledge you require. Making it part of a collaboration suite is simply logical.

Using keywords and like that, combined with a bit of clever artificial intelligence software, Knowledge Network collects facts that can help others find the person with the knowledge they need, when they need it. The knowledge base is built up over time, from documents generated and records of projects an employee has taken part in.

The database thus constructed and manipulated could be a privacy nightmare and Microsoft recognizes this up front. They talk of "appropriate privacy policies" needing to be in place and most accounts I have seen also speak of allowing the workers to edit their own profiles to avoid privacy problems. With such measures in place, there is no reason for this to be a problem. (Although I have to wonder how many employers will take the problem seriously enough to go to the trouble.) It is expected MS will ship KN with rather restrictive defaults.

Frankly, just the promise of Knowledge Network is enough to make me a fan of Share Point Server '07! Used wisely, it could and probably will be a lifesaver at times and a useful tool the rest of the time.


The link above will take you to the blog of the team developing this at Microsoft. Here's a link to Microsoft Watch's "rah-rah" take on it. And if you're interested, here's a link to Bill Gates' latest missive on knowledge work and handling.

Jack

My intoduction to Linux

I finally decided once and for all to try Linux. Here goes:

So far I’ve tried 3 distributions. Ubuntu, Ark Linux, and White box Linux. In all cases I was dual booting with windows XP pro.

Ubuntu is probably the best all around but, it refused to let me run above 640X480 Screen resolution with an onboard Nvida Gforce
video chip. I even tried to install a driver. Didn’t work. I think because it’s Debian based? I do have it installed on a Mother board with an S3 video chip and it runs fine.

Ark Linux, red hat based did let me do 800 X 600 with the same Nvida chip however, One day it hosed my “C” drive and I had to restore from an image. Still not sure what exactly what went wrong all I Did was plug in a USB “thumb” drive. Next boot entire “C” drive was hosed.

White box Linux, also red hat based, so far so good. However, it is 4 CD’s to down load and takes about 12 attempts to get it to update correctly, if you are lucky.

So, to sum up, all things considered, not bad for free operating systems. I’d have to recommend Ubuntu if you decide to take the plunge. It didn’t hose my system. The only problem was the driver for the Nvida chip. Even then it did run OK at 640 X 480. Comments please, Jack or anybody.

Dell does retail

Apparently, Dell says they were inspired by the Apple stores. That's a little hard to take, as it seems as if the plan is for nothing more than kiosks to allow prospective buyers to see products.

There will be one in Dallas, which is near me, and I'll be over there as soon as it opens. I'll let you know what I find.

Jack

New Yahoo IM Worm Poses as 'Safety' Browser

First discovered by anti-malware researchers at FaceTime Communications, the worm, labeled as yhoo32.explr, is forwarding itself throughout Yahoo's IM system via the contact lists of people whose computers it has already been infected. Once loaded onto a PC, the malicious program automatically hijacks the computer's existing browser home page and encourages users to visit a fraudulent Web site that attempts to load spyware programs onto their devices.

More fun and games from the bad guys.

Introducing AMD's AM2 Platform

It is official, tomorrow is the day AMD will finally announce the AM2 platform for desktop processors. AMD originally had plans to launch the chipset on June 6, 2006, but shortly after the announcement that Intel's Core 2 Duo processor would launch at the same time, AMD bumped the launch date up to May 23, 2006.

I'm sure there will be more news and information tomorrow, but this will do for now.

Tales From Packaging Hell

From Psyclone electronics cables encased in impenetrable layers of thick plastic to DigiPower camera batteries coated with packaging several times the size of the item itself, the hardest part of buying electronics these days is opening the products when you get them home. In many cases, it makes solving Halo 2 seem like a kindergarten project.

This is an all too common problem. This article describes the difficulties encountered with theft resistant packaging and some steps taken to make packaging more user friendly. In the end this is one more case where honest people are inconvenienced and even injured in the attempt to thwart dishonest people.

Microsoft Doesn't Expect Suit To Block Vista Launch

Asked whether the case would have any impact on the Vista roll-out, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters: 'I wouldn't anticipate any, but that will go to the courts now.'

Ballmer, speaking in Beijing after a news conference, did not elaborate.

Symantec is also seeking an injunction that would block the further development, sale or distribution of Vista and other products until all Symantec intellectual property is removed.

Juts a little update for those of you who are concerned about this.

Thieves Steal Personal Data of 26.5M Vets - Yahoo! News

Do you trust Uncle Sam?

Wired News: Why We Published the AT&T Docs

As part of the EFF suit against AT&T wiretapping, Wired.com has released the statement from the whistleblower. Good for Them!! I say.

A file detailing aspects of AT&T's alleged participation in the National Security Agency's warrantless domestic wiretap operation is sitting in a San Francisco courthouse. But the public cannot see it because, at AT&T's insistence, it remains under seal in court records.
[snip]
AT&T claims information in the file is proprietary and that it would suffer severe harm if it were released.

Based on what we've seen, Wired News disagrees. In addition, we believe the public's right to know the full facts in this case outweighs AT&T's claims to secrecy.

They also use words like "anonymous source" and a motion to release the documents along with "other news and civil rights organizations that have already done so, including the EFF, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, the San Jose Mercury News, the Associated Press and Bloomberg.

Before publishing these documents we showed them to independent security experts, who agreed they pose no danger to AT&T. For example, they do not reveal sensitive information that hackers might use to attack the company's systems."
--MissM

Wired News: Why We Published the AT&T Docs

Regarding what I said about Apple closing Darwin for x86 code

I said on the show that Apple was closing the source of the Darwin kernel for x86. Apparently I have mistaken rampant speculation for fact. Here is a post on an Apple mailing list from someone high up at Apple which seems to indicate that no decision has been made.

Jack

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 05-21-06

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 05-21-06. If you prefer, you can download the same file here via ftp.
Listen to this show to find out how you can win a copy of Diskeeper Pro 10.0!

The fight against V1@gra (and other spam)

The author of this CNet News.com article seems to think the flood of spam is stabilizing at about 70% of all email traffic. That may or may not be correct. It certainly doesn't hold true here. This morning, I downloaded 802 pieces of mail, 18 of which were legitimate. (And, yes; I DID count.) Oh; and that is AFTER passing through my filters.

That ratio seems to hold pretty constantly, here. Spam to my 10 accounts seems to be growing at the rate of about 10% every 3 weeks. That doesn't sound like stabilization to me. And it sure doesn't seem like stabilization.

The article may or may not be worth reading, depending on how agitated you get when all this stuff is brought to your attention. I thought it was, but I kept two bottles of antacid tablets at hand throughout.

Jack

Apple Store - Fifth Avenue - Gallery

This is purty! :)

As I'm sure everyBODY knows.... The 5th Avenue Apple store opened Friday. Its a glass cube above ground and the store is underground. Its pretty neat. The person who was one of the first two people in line, has a site, all about Apple's retail stores. This store's pre-opening is documented here. I thought the unpeeling video was interesting.

--MissM
And there are some really cool things to look at.
Grand Opening Time lapse, by hour.
Apple Store - Fifth Avenue - Gallery

Alert Raised for MS Word Zero-Day Attack

The exploit arrives as an ordinary Microsoft Word document attachment to an e-mail. However, when the document is launched by the user the vulnerability is triggered to drop a backdoor with rootkit features to mask itself from anti-virus scanners.

Forewarned is five armed -- or something like that.

Dell to use AMD chips in servers

The day has come. After years of only offering AMD to select customers behind closed doors, the company has now said that it plans to use AMD processors in part of its server line to meet customer demand.

I guess the pigs have not only taken to the skies, but they are doing loop-de-loops and barrel rolls. I think sometimes back on one of our shows we even ventured forth with the idea that sooner or later this could happen, but then again we were never that sure.

Windows Vista's recommended settings according to Microsoft, then according to Ars

Microsoft today will unveil a new website aimed at informing consumers about Windows Vista's hardware requirements, among other things. As we reported earlier, there are two levels of recommendations for Windows Vista, those dubbed 'Vista-Capable' and those dubbed 'Premium-Ready.'

This has been all over the tech news today. It think this is one of the better articles on it.

Technology Review: Part 2 of a 3 part series on the Sony Rootkit

This is old news, but very interesting. The complete story of the Sony Rootkit according to Technology Review "an independent media company owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The oldest technology magazine in the world (est. 1899 [wow 1899!])". One thing that surprised me, in the story, was that F-Secure discovered it first, and tried to contact Sony, NOT revealing it , until the company had a chance to respond. To quote from the article " Kangas and his team readied a public report on the rootkit but were waiting for First 4 Internet's uninstaller before releasing it, as courtesy in the Internet security business demands [I thought this seemed a bit 'snooty']. That's when they were beaten to the punch by a Texan named Mark Russinovich." And Russinovich posted it on his blog, without notifiying Sony. I found part 2 fascinating, and with the new [to me] info about F-Secure finding it first, I felt it worthy of passing on.
Part 1
Part 3 (Thursday, May 18) Update: link is live
--MissM

Technology Review: Part 2 of a 3 part series on the Sony Rootkit

Blue Security calls it quits after attack by renegade spammer

After the attack, Blue Security embarked on restoring its community-based anti-spam service to its members. But after working closely with its service providers and partners to help resolve the problems over the last two weeks, it has come to the conclusion that the risk of further attacks remains too great. Despite moving hosting providers and implementing security defences, Blue reckons it's unable to safely reintroduce its controversial service without exposing other members of the net community to potential attack.

While I didn't like Blue Security's "fight fire with fire" methods, I don't like seeing the immolated by a spammer either. I have no doubt that it was the bad guys who won in this case.

Microsoft Tries Working With Open Source Developers

Saying "Microsoft" and "open source" in the same sentence sounds like an oxymoron. It's not. The fact is that while MS isn't exactly sure what to do with open source communities, it would like to attract developers from them, either to proprietary or open source software that runs on Windows. Plus, they have a lot of interoperability issues that need to be worked out. Easing many of those problems are in Microsoft's best interest and they know it, however much they might not want to have to deal with it.

The link above will take you to CodePlex, a Microsoft open source community site. It really is rather cool, if you're prepared to overlook a certain small awkwardness about the whole thing. They're new at it and deserve the break.

You can also view Port25 which is a site by Microsoft's open source labs. Both sites are worth your while.

For Microsoft, it is a matter of adjusting to a new reality of market forces. They are acting in their own interests, to be sure, but that is no reason to disparage their efforts. If they get it right, and there is no reason to think they won't, eventually, we will all benefit.

Jack

Creative Labs User Community Up In Arms

Before going any further, I'd best remind you that I have quit dealing with Creative Labs or their products a while back for unpaid rebates and the way they have treated me over that matter and others.

One Marcin Drzycki has started an online petition asking Creative to fix products that do not perform as advertised, cut the bloat out of their drivers and more. The problems center around Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi products, for the most part. The petition is a short document and, while worth reading, seems incomplete.

Creative evidently has more of a problem than my being angry with them and I suggest reading this before buying any more of their products.

Jack

Intel Pentium D 805 is Newegg's top selling-dual core chip

It's not bleeding edge and if you're a gamer, just pass this one by. But as we said on the show a couple weeks ago, the Pentium D 805 will give you a LOT of processing power at bargain-basement prices. And a few more bucks will give you a Pentium D 850 with a bit more punch.

While I'm not a fan of either processor, there is no doubt that they can and do give a huge bang for the buck. A wide variety of motherboards are available and they use rather mundane (meaning inexpensive) Intel chipsets, on most of them.

If I had the change in my pocket for a moderately priced dual core workstation, this is the chip I would buy. I won't have as much power as possible, but I'll get a really capable and stable system for about what I'd pay for a single core Athlon 64 box off the shelf. It's almost a no-brainer.

Jack

Free Download - EULAlyzer

Last week on the show we talked about EULAs. So while I was stumbling around the Web today, researching something far less important, I stumbled upon EULAlyzer. As the name implies it is a EULA analyzer. I haven't had anything to EULAlyze yet, but I've downloaded it and am intrigued by it.

It has been around for a while and comes to you from Javacool, the same fine folks who bring you Spywareblaster. You might want to check it out.

Sun to Release Java Source Code

The title says it all. This is huge news. Now we will watch and wait to see what impact this has.

Google Notebook launched

Google Notebook has finally arrived. What is it? Google calls it 'an online 'notebook' where you can organize all your research, add personal notes to it, and share it with others,' and this is an apt description. A more technical description might describe Google Notebook as a kind of 'web clipboard,' inasmuch as you can 'cut and paste' links, text, images, etc., into your online notebook.

I'm going to download and try this as soon as I can. This looks to be a great research tool. If you try it, leave your comments, good or bad, below.

Trojan Deletes Your Porn, Music & Warez

You might want to make sure your porn, music, and warez are backed-up ;-)

Software makes your PC be a Mac

The title says it all. I have not tested it. In fact; I didn't even know it existed until I saw this blurb in The Inquirer. I asked around a little and everyone I know knew about it, except me.

It's worth a look.

Jack

SkypeOut now FREE for US & Canada!

Yes. It is really very, very free. There;s no prepayment, no minimum use, no subscription, no monthly fee, no nothing. You just download and install Skype and then you start calling. Both the caller and the number called must be in either the US or Canada. There are no strings attached.

I know many use Skype and I wanted to pass this on. Thanks Curtis, via GiantOne. :)

--MissM



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OnComputers Radio show Podcast 05-14-06

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 05-14-06. If you prefer, you can download the same file here via ftp.

Quocirca's Straight Talking: How Linux is hurting Microsoft

Devoid of almost all hype and speculation, here is a realistic assessment of how open source, and Linux in particular, is infiltrating corporate data centers.
I thought it interesting and hope you will, as well.

Jack

Thank You Qwest dot Org

Thank You Qwest! for not giving our phone records to the NSA for illegal spying on Americans. AT&T, Bellsouth and Verizon all caved, and gave the NSA the phone records of Americans and their calls withIN the United States.
The website quotes articles from USA Today, who broke the story, and Bruce Schneier, a noted security expert who I've quoted before, wrote in Wired, what some of the issues are.
Highlight of the USA Today article from the site:

…Trying to put pressure on Qwest, NSA representatives pointedly told Qwest that it was the lone holdout among the big telecommunications companies.

It also tried appealing to Qwest’s patriotic side: In one meeting, an NSA representative suggested that Qwest’s refusal to contribute to the database could compromise national security, one person recalled.

In addition, the agency suggested that Qwest’s foot-dragging might affect its ability to get future classified work with the government.

Like other big telecommunications companies, Qwest already had classified contracts and hoped to get more.
[snip]
…”It’s the largest database ever assembled in the world,” said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA’s activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency’s goal is “to create a database of every call ever made” within the nation’s borders, this person added.

…The usefulness of the NSA’s domestic phone-call database as a counterterrorism tool is unclear. Also unclear is whether the database has been used for other purposes.

Go to the site and post a comment to thank Qwest for protecting their customers against illegal search and seizure.
--MissM
Thank You Qwest dot Org

Killer phrase will fill your PC with spam

Researchers Ben Edelman and Hannah Rosenbaum reckon that typing the phrase 'Free Screensavers' into any search engine is the equivalent of lighting a blue touch paper and standing well back.

For a list of other danger words, read the article. The article mentions SiteAdvisor, which comes in a free version. I recently started using it and so far I've seen no downside to it except like all tools it may give a somewhat false sense of security if you don't use your brain along with it.

MPAA training police dogs to sniff out DVDs

When I first saw this in the Inquirer, I thought it was a droll British joke left over from April 1. But a search on Google news turned up the stories.

I think that the pups, Lucky and Flo, are adorable even if they are being used for an odorous job (forgive the pun). Isn't it nice to know that your DVD of family vacation movies will be sniffed out and that you will have to prove it is legal?

Maybe they can be crossed trained to sniff out something important, like oh let's say, bombs!

Ballmer lashes Google over IE settings

I rarely find myself nodding in agreement with Ballmer, but in this case he is right. Alphabetical is fine. Those who want to default to Google will quickly make that setting change.

Blu-ray Is Doomed

Blu-ray is doomed. I came to this conclusion shortly after reading John Dvorak's thoughtful dissection of the HD DVD versus Blu-ray imbroglio. It was right on the money in all ways but one: Dvorak didn't annoint a winner; he thinks it'll take a couple of years to shake out. I think he's wrong.

I'm not so sure I agree. After all, Blue-ray is a catchier name -- sort of like Sting-ray, only Blue-ray. Oh yeah, Betamax is a catchier name than VHS. Okay, scratch that theory.

Rotten Effort

It's bad enough when Microsoft strong-arms other software vendors into submission as a means of thwarting competition. But when it engages in underhanded tactics to intimidate users in order to land a software deal, we have a very disturbing situation on our hands. And someone needs to have the guts to speak out about it.

And I wonder why MS and I have a love-hate relationship? Just when you think you love them you find out they do stuff like this. Sheesh!

AT&T thinks wireless for broadband

I admit that sometimes I post articles mainly because they directly impact me. Of course, this impacts a lot of other people, too. The picture for AT&T broadband vs. other telco offerings doesn't look too bright further reinforcing my view that AT&T is solely about making money for stockholders and acquisitions -- forget the product and service to customers.

With all of the AT&T foot dragging, I'm happy to say that I'm getting WildBlue shortly and not through AT&T. According to the article, there is no monthly price break for customers who will be getting WildBlue via AT&T, so why bother with them? However, this is good news for WildBlue and current WildBlue customers since this will boost the start-up's long term chance for success.

I called this one correctly when I finlly convinced my SO a few days ago that there was no point in waiting for AT&T to bring DSL to our area. It is not going to happen in the foreseeable future. This news is an admission of that by AT&T. Since it is getting way beyond difficult to get anything meaningful done without broadband, my WildBlue satellite dish is on order.

As to AT&T WiMax, I don't see that rollout occuring quickly and unless they announce it, waiting for someday in any given location is futile with the behemoth telco.

The good news is that finally we all have some information on which to base our broadband Internet service decisions if we live in an AT&T area not currently served by DSL or by a cable company.

The OQO model 01+ ultra personal computer (uPC)

The company, OQO, calls it the smallest tablet. To me, while it does run XP Tablet Edition, and not one of the versions targeted for the "Origami" Ultra Mobile PCs, it's in between the two concepts.

Until I found myself unable to sleep last night and bored enough to start clicking on ads almost at random, this one had slipped completely under my radar.

It sports a 1 GHz Transmeta Crusoe processor, has 512 MB RAM and a bunch of nice features. With XP Tablet Edition, it goes for just under $2100, which is far too high for my budget. Substituting XP Home or Pro lowers the cost some and MS Office Small Business Edition is available installed. The hard drive is 30 GB in shock mountings. The entire spec list is pretty impressive and goes a fair distance in countering sticker shock.

This one is worth a look, if only to keep up with how the market for fuller featured small devices is shaping up. Personally; if I had the bucks, I'd spring for one. I wonder how they feel about freebies for amateur journalists?

Jack

Linus Torvalds comments on kernel "overhaul"

The man himself has put in his two cents worth about the state of current kernel development and he seems to agree with Andrew Morton that there are too many bugs in the current Linux kernel. Of course, one bug is too many, but by any realistic standard, the current kernel has some glaring defects in versions for several architectures. I'm having enough issues here on one x86 and two PPC machines that I have rolled back to an earlier version on the PPC boxes and instituted a couple workarounds and given up on hot-plugging for now on the x86 machine.

The whole thing seems rather laudable to me. Admit the defects and set aside time and effort to fix them. It's interesting that when Oracle, BEA or Microsoft (all of whom face similar issues with upcoming releases) do the same thing (with or without delays) they get hammered in the press.

Jack

Warner Bros set to distribute on BitTorrent

I refuse to comment on any possible ironic content in this scheme.

Warner Bros. choice of Bit Torrent is logical, really, as it limits the amount of bandwidth the distributor will have to provide for pushing all those huge files, thus lowering costs and increasing profits.

You are going to hear a LOT more about this on over the months until it's debut late in the summer. Unconfirmed reports place the online ad budget at $40 million (USD) through the end of the year and a larger but unspecified amount for broadcast ads (TV and such) over the same period of time!

I have to wonder if this is a signal Hollywood is finally getting "IT", but somehow that seems too much to hope.

Jack

The second coming of Intel's Core Duo

This is not much more than a puff piece. However; It does make clear enough the future naming scheme for Intel's consumer processor offerings and reading it is worthwhile for that reason alone.

Jack

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 05-07-06

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 05-07-06. If you prefer, you can download the same file here via ftp.

Internet Infrastructure | Cyberspace Running Out Of Addresses

Because of the profusion of devices that need an IP address, IPv4 will run out of addresses in 2012, according to the article at the url.

The IPv4 Internet has room for 4.3 billion addresses. About one-third are already in use, and more than another third are spoken for. IPv6 provides 2^128 possible addresses. Compared with IPv4's 32bits, IPv6's address reads 128 bits long. Imagine the number looking something like this – 360,382,386,120,984,643,363,377,707,131,268,210,929.[snip]
Keep in mind, IPv6 offers features designed to make configuration easier. If one machine on the network is configured as a router, all other IPv6 hosts can configure themselves automatically. IPv6 also builds in IP Security, known as IPSEC, as part of the protocol. This means authentication and privacy live in the protocol, not on at the application layer. This eases IP spoofing and makes spying on someone else's data more difficult.

They also ponder the cost to businesses and the technical options, interesting article, and something I think our readers would like to know.

--MissM
Internet Infrastructure | Cyberspace Running Out Of Addresses

Linux kernel 'getting buggier,' leader says

Andrew Morton, the lead maintainer of the Linux kernel v2.6, has not confirmed this statistically, but he feels bugs are being added to the Linux kernel faster than they are being fixed. It's quite possible that is true, considering the explosive growth of kernel additions.

This echos concerns of power users that have been voiced in various forums for the last year or so. To a regular user, like me, it shows up in the fact that in the 4 months since I installed my Linux system, I have had to revise the kernel 4 times to fix problems. (This is not as bad as it sounds, as such revisions most often amount to simply downloading a new kernel image, installing it, and then rebooting to put it in service.)

While such speculation in public surely does not help Linux' image with those not familiar with open development processes, this sort of discussion and the resultant feedback is an important part of those processes that have given us Linux in the first place. Even if you are not a Linux fan or user, it might profit you to follow this discussion and see how it's worked out. The process is often not pretty, but it is effective.

Jack

Hacker hits Toronto transit message system, jabs prime minister

I guess if ever there was such a thing as a "cute" hack, this is it. It's hard to believe that in this day and age someone didn't think to protect the message system with a password.

Jack

Next Tuesday is Patch Tuesday and Microsoft preps critical Windows, Exchange patches for it

There is something for nearly everyone next Tuesday. At least one critical patch for Windows and patches for Exchange, along with updates to the Malicious Software Removal Tool and new Windows Update software (supposedly with the stricter validation regime to weed out pirated installations). Just about every machine will need a reboot afterwards.

Enjoy, if that's possible.

Jack

Intel Unveils New Low-Cost PC for Developing Nations

It's called "Eduwise", carrying on a long tradition of silly names for computing products.

Seeing as the Intel design cost 3 or more times what the "One Laptop per Child" device does, it is hard to see the two as competitors. They actually complement each other, as far as I can see, and there is a place in the world for both.

Jack

Can Open Source Defeat Microsoft?

This is an interesting article, all 5 pages of it.

However; I fail to see why FOSS has to beat Microsoft or anyone else. It seems to me that we as consumers (on every level from Joe Average to government and the largest enterprise) win if there is a varied software ecosystem out there competing for our hearts and minds.

It's not as if money does not enter into our considerations, but the bottome line is that software has to meet our needs. If it does, we're happy. If not, we are miserable and very likely out of business. And in the end, it's only the ideologues who care where it came from.

Yes, I'm very much a proponent of free software. However; I use and recommend what I think is needed, without compromise, regardless of whether or not it is free software.

Jack

Belkin N1 Hands-on - Gizmodo

Belkin set up a nice test bed to show us how the N1 performed in a “real environment.” They had 17 devices streaming at once including iTunes sharing, HD playback, and Internet radio. Most of them were running at 802.11g speeds, except for the high bandwidth stuff, and there was a nary a jitter.

This is very kewl, I thought Belkin just rebranded other people's hardware, I'm gonna be keeping an eye on this one. :)
--MissM
Belkin N1 Hands-on - Gizmodo

Yahoo faces class-action spyware suit

Ben Edelman, our favorite anti-spyware activist, is involved in this suit. It seeks to force Yahoo to deliver what they've promised without placing ads on questionable sites that also install spyware. It's a good read, short and informative.

Jack

OpenDocument Format Finds Favor With International Standards Group

The ISO has approved Open Document Format as a standard.

Meanwhile; as a related development, the Open Document Foundation has informed the State of Massachusetts that there is a comprehensive plug-in to allow MS Office to open, close, publish and otherwise deal in ODF format.

You can check out the Open Document Foundation here.

Jack

Is a Further Vista Delay Important?

This eWeek post is Mary Jo Foley's take on the reported Vista release delay. I post it for the sake of completeness and not because there is anything world-shaking in it.

Jack

No Rules Poker - How to Make Money Cheating at Online Poker!

This is legal to sell on the Internet. But is it ethical? You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant! :)

I would think twice if you play Poker online!

Retaliation for Antispam Success?

Blue Security's controversial method uses reverse spam, if you will, returning massive quantities of opt-out messages to companies it identifies as spammers.

Apparently the companies on the receiving end don't like it one bit.

I'm not a fan of Blue Secuirty's methods since I believe that two wrongs don't make a right. However, they obviously are having an impact in the spam wars. Maybe if the spammers are busy attacking Blue Security, they will leave the rest of us alone. (Okay, it was jut a thought, and not a real good one at that).

Thanks to Mike Iversen for the heads up on this one.

Spam King Alan Ralsky Not Jailed

We commented on this over the weekend. It turned out to be NOT TRUE. Hope springs eternal, and the hope that a whole network of spammers and other malcreants were going down was just too good to be true. But the thought was fun while it lasted.

Microsoft may delay Windows Vista again -- Gartner

Gartner targets a Windows Vista release in the April-June quarter of 2007, nine to 12 months after Microsoft conducts a second major test, or "beta," release for Vista during the current quarter.

"Microsoft still wants to get it out as soon as possible, but slipping from January to March is nowhere near as bad as slipping from shipping before the holidays to after the holidays," a group of Gartner analysts wrote in the report.

A couple of weeks ago I think we had a premonition on the show while discussing Paul Thurott's review, part 5. We mentioned that since it was not truly feature complete, it would be difficult to release to manufacturing on the previous timetable. Over on Slashdot, there is some shock and surprise, but this is not a shocker to me.

Sen Stevens tries to sneak the Broadcast Flag into law

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has snuck the Broadcast Flag into a bill on Net Neutrality. The stealth clause authorizes "the FCC to establish a broadcast flag to allow TV stations to protect digital content from Internet piracy."

What this means is that Senator Stevens is trying to pass a law that will allow broadcasters -- who enjoy free use of billions of dollars' worth of public airwaves -- to veto any features of digital televisions and downstream devices. Ultimately, that means that the FCC would, on behalf of broadcasters, get control over the design of video recorders, optical drives, network interfaces, hard disks, computers and operating systems. A brief far more sweeping than the FCC has ever had before, making them into America's "device czars," charged with ensuring that the business models of the broadcasters and Hollywood studios won't be disrupted by technology.

One element of the broadcast flag proposal is that is prohibits the use of free and open source software in digital TV applications (including PC operating systems, video drivers, etc). That's because the Broadcast Flag requires that devices be built to be "robust" -- that is, to resist the attempts of their owners to modify or improve on them. It's as if Senator Stevens is trying to pass a law requiring the hood of every car to be welded shut when it leaves the factory, to make sure that no driver ever gets to change his own oil. Link (Thanks, Tony!)

Update: Alan reminds us that Sen Stevens previously rejected Broadcast Flags for radio -- seems like someone got to him since January.

The thing that bugs me about this, is the two aspects of this bill are contradictory. I'm not willing to trade Net Neutrality for a broadcast flag.
Boing Boing: Sen Stevens tries to sneak the Broadcast Flag into law. Please contact Senator Stevens and let him know how wrong this is, being polite, of course.
--MissM
Update: More linkage goodness. IPac and Public Knowledge for the actual bill.

Hackers control bot client over P2P

Well, I'm likely safe from this one. I run NOD32 and when I use MSN Messenger, I do it through the GAIM client for Windows, as I fear the MS software has more holes than I know about. Plus, I do not run a P2P client in any form.

However; this attack is tough to defend against. Make sure your AV is updating.

Jack

DRC Opteron accelerator now quickens Crays

I must I missed the boat on this story. Several news stories have popped up about these devices and I did not point them out to you because I was of the impression they were confined to rather specialized tasks and machine configuration. That is not really true; or at least not as definitive as I thought it was. These devices have much broader application than I thought. And Cray obviously has a better handle on their usefulness than I did.

What's interesting to me is that they can be so easily mixed and matched into one's existing hardware. Done well, that yeilds startling increases in performance. They are server parts for now, but don't let that fool you. I'm rather certain they will appear in (at least) some high-end workstations. I wonder what will happen when, inevitably, some gamer gives them a whirl?

Jack

Macs no longer immune to viruses, experts say

Bear in mind this article is on MSN. However, it seems fairly well balanced to me and is very clear.

Jack

End the Whine - May 20th, 2006

Intel powered MacBook Pro laptops have a couple problems, according to this site. They whine like tractors pulling in low gear and tend to run hot. The link above is to a page trying to organize a protest in order to get Apple to recognize this as a problem and fix it. I've seen one and heard it and I must say, it is intolerably loud for a notebook, in my opinion.

The same page has a link to how to reapply thermal paste to the processor/heat sink in your MacBook Pro. Evidently Apple has not done that well enough and doing a better job of it will significantly cool down it's operation. Unfortunately, doing this voids the warranty. But sometimes you just have to and if this is one of those cases, here is the info you need to do the job.

Jack

The Dan Charny Factor in the Google/Microsoft Browser Spat

An interesting quickie from eWeek's blog section. It's about embedding search facilities in browsers and how IE handles it, which makes it quite complex (as such things go) to switch default search engines. It's not just Microsoft, either. Google does the same thing. And I can imagine various other browsers following suit (after payment or other inducements)

Microsoft has already been in trouble for this sort of integration and I suspect they will be again. Fairness would demand Google and others are called to task for it as well.

Jack

Google Calendar is proof Netscape was right

Fernando Cassia has written a short commentary/opinoin on how Netscape was years ahead of where Google is today in terms of innovation and then bemoans the fact that AOL, both before the merger and after, with Time Warner, quit innovating and investing in the future in order to show repeated quarterly gains.

It's true. Look at Netscape's calendar application. Google is just doing that now. Netscape was doing it in 1999! It's a sad tale of greed over planning for the future.

Jack

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 04-30-06

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 04-30-06. If you prefer, you can download the same file here via ftp.

Next step in pirating: Faking a company - Technology

At first it seemed to be nothing more than a routine, if damaging, case of counterfeiting in a country where faking it has become an industry.

Reports filtering back to the Tokyo headquarters of the Japanese electronics giant NEC in mid-2004 alerted managers that pirated keyboards and recordable CD and DVD discs bearing the company's brand were on sale in retail outlets in Beijing and Hong Kong.
[snip]
In the name of NEC, the pirates copied NEC products, and went as far as developing their own range of consumer electronic products - everything from home entertainment centers to MP3 players. They also coordinated manufacturing and distribution, collecting all the proceeds.

As I read this, I can't help but recall my DOA DVD-RW a couple years ago. I bought it an online store I know longer use, and my opinion of NEC's non-monitor products plummeted. The third party repair site that never, ever responded to my emails and calls, and the drive that I still have somewhere.... buried (I think). I'll keep an eye on this, and wait to see exactly what other components were counterfeited (? Is that the right term?). Perhaps my opinion of NEC will improve.
--MissM
Full article link: Next step in pirating: Faking a company - Technology - International Herald Tribune

Ambush TV

The idea is for regular citizens to use their video cameras to keep tabs on politician's and journalist's bad behavior and document it for others.

Yehudi Mercado is set to open up shop at Ambush TV next week. This might be really interesting, though it might also get out of hand pretty quickly. One way or another; it looks like it might be fun to see how it plays out.

Jack

Google Launches SketchUp 3D Modeling Software

It's kind of like computer modeling for dummies, except it's not dumbed down at all; just made easy. It's free, though there is a paid version with some more features.

From what I have read and what I can see, this is a whole lot easier to work with than QCAD, which I use and swear by. And you can apparently do all but the most esoteric things QCAD can do. You're not lacking much, if anything even a moderately advanced user might want. NOTHING!

Enjoy,

Jack

Security tool aims to stop drive-by installs

The folks who produce Pest Patrol (and a lot of their competitors) are producing a new tool to stop unwanted software installations. I've been studying how such software might work and, while I'm not sure I really get it, is a very interesting subject.

I imagine this is the first of a lot of such applications and I welcome them.

Jack

AMD tracking down and replacing defective Opterons

This is a minor problem, as you will see when you read the article. AMD probably ought to be commended for expending the effort they are to alleviate any problems.

Intel once had a similar problem with early Pentium processors and it caused them no end of bad publicity. Admittedly, their problem was bigger than AMD's current one it. The risk of bad press is probably why AMD is being so aggressive in tracking down the affected parts and replacing them. Or maybe they are just being honorable. It wouldn't be the first for either.

Jack

Dial-up provider loses Net access amid fee dispute - The Boston Globe

I know most people are on broadband, but this could be a major issue for those dialup users still out there.

Most ISPs don't have their own modem banks anymore. They rely on companies such as Global NAPs to provide dialup service to their customers.

Do I agree with this ruling, no. Why should Verizon care if the call is a data call or a phone call?

Airplane Safety Instructional Video (Chris Pirillo)

This is TOOOO funny!! Chris Pirillo, who you either know, or should ;), does THE new airplane safety video. Check it out. I woke the kids up, I was LOLing so early this morning.
Enjoy!
--MissM
Airplane Safety Instructional Video (Chris Pirillo)

How to handle a data breach correctly

This story in Computer World details a data breach at The University of Texas' Austin campus. It's a big one, possibly affecting 197k people.

The breach was discovered last Friday. They've already announced it. While the forensic stuff is ongoing, they've stated and are acting as if their number one priority is getting the information to those affected.

As much as I hate the idea of patting someone who has not adequately kept such sensitive information well enough, I've got to hand it to them. They are handling this the way it should be handled. There are a lot of institutions and companies who could read this one simple article and learn just how to conduct themselves should something similar happen to them.

Jack

Wi-Fi consumers cautioned to wait on new gear

The gist of this is that if one buys wireless equipment that is supposedly built to the 802.11n standard, it is really only built to a draft of that specification and is not necessarily interoperable with other equipment built now or later (to the final specification). As interoperability is the whole point of wireless gear, you can see how self-defeating jumping the standards gun can be.

Jack

Save the Internet : FAQ

I'm sure that this was mentioned on the show, yesterday. But just in case you need links or motivation to write your representatives. This is IT! Why the fuss? Check out a brief video of why its important.

From one of the coalition members:

Come On, This Isn't Really Happening: Fine, don't believe me. Ignore the fact that the CEO of AT&T is on record that this is going to happen. You can pretend that this won't affect you, if you want.

--MissM
Save the Internet : FAQ

HubbleSite - Happy Sweet Sixteen, Hubble Telescope!

Happy Birthday Hubble!



(OK, I admit it, this is just an excuse to post a gorgeous picture, but WAIT! There's MORE! Lots more pics, go check it out, they are all very impressive!)

To celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope's 16 years of success, the two space agencies involved in the project, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), are releasing this image of the magnificent starburst galaxy, Messier 82 (M82). This mosaic image is the sharpest wide-angle view ever obtained of M82. The galaxy is remarkable for its bright blue disk, webs of shredded clouds, and fiery-looking plumes of glowing hydrogen blasting out of its central regions. The observation was made in March 2006.

--MissM
HubbleSite - Happy Sweet Sixteen, Hubble Telescope! - 4/24/2006
Courtesy of Wired and BadAstronomerBlog

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 04-23-06

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 04-23-06. If you prefer, you can download the same file here via ftp.

RIAA Sues Family That Doesn't Have a Computer

This came as shocking news to the Walls family, who were notified of the lawsuit Friday afternoon by a newspaper reporter. James Walls, speaking on behalf of his wife and family, said they have not been served with legal papers and were unaware of the lawsuit.

After being shown a copy of the court filing, Walls said he found the whole thing bewildering.

“I don’t understand this,” Walls said. “How can they sue us when we don’t even have a computer?”

Congress readies new digital copyright bill

The draft legislation, created by the Bush administration and backed by Rep. Lamar Smith, already enjoys the support of large copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America. Smith is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees intellectual-property law.

Smith's press secretary, Terry Shawn, said Friday that the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006 is expected to 'be introduced in the near future.'

N.Y. county mandates wireless security

The law requires each business to install a firewall or change the default SSID, the name that identifies a wireless network, if the personal information stored has not already been encrypted. Penalties would range from a warning on first offense to a $500 fine on third offense.

Norman Jacknis, the county's chief information officer, said that when the law was being considered officials detected 248 wireless networks during a 20-minute drive through downtown White Plains. Nearly half had no visible security.

Boot Camp - Some Mac Resellers Preinstalling Windows XP

For Mac users who don't want to do it themselves, Windows will be preinstalled by the Mac reseller. Of course it comes without support from the reseller or from Apple. However, if you want to buy a machine with BootCamp already configured, this is very nice.

Here's my note.

This weekend, to celebrate Earth Day, we're going to a park this afternoon and doing a trash pickup, As a result, we won't be present for the show today, but I wanted to point out a couple announcements from computer companies as they celebrated Earth Day. Engadget collated the companies in one lovely post here. Apple, Dell, Sprint, Verizon, etc, etc. Go check it out, see how to dispose of your left over dead computers, responsibly. Google also has a scholastic overlay for google earth, in case anybody interested in that. I'd also like to ask everybody to use compact florescents and unplug the surge strips if nothing you are using is powered up by it (a calculator has been setup to figure out how much you can save by making very small adjustments). A virtual march has been setup (which seems like its right up our alleys, being virtual, and requiring a computer, and no exercise ;) ) at Stop Global Warming.org sign up, its easy and will keep you informed.

--MissM
Yes, I know Earth Day was yesterday, technically. But, better late than never ;)
Start today to save the only Earth we have!

Go hack yourself

Here's a short discussion of a few tools to use in checking the security of your own network. Any responsible admin will do this almost constantly for a while after each and every network change.

Even if you don't have responsibility for anything more than your home LAN, this is a good set of tools to learn how to use in checking just how secure you are.

Jack

Is Dell About to Kill Off the Axim?

The link is to an open letter to Dell from an Axim fan/support site.

It looks as though HP will kill off the iPaq, leaving that segment to devices which also contain a phone. Other PDAs, such as Sony's, are hard to get and premium priced, to boot. Palm shows some vague signs of resurgence. This market is going to go through some changes. The question is how and what will change.

I like a PDA and have no desire for email and phone capabilities, meaning I'm at the low end of functionality and most likely to be left in the lurch. And of course this happens just as my wife and I re-enter the market, intending on buying a new machine.

I'm not talking about the new Ultra Mobile PC's like the MS "Origami" initiative. Just a PDA with some storage and a few basic functions. They're going to get harder to find, by all indications.

Jack

HP fires real bullet at Storageworks array

I'm really leaning on The Inquirer, this morning. Sorry about that.

HP really did shoot a machine, video-taped it and put the video up on the net!
I have no adequate comment for that. Check it out for yourself.

Jack

Phenomenal PC power in an iddy-biddy living-space

It's a mini-review of the Shuttle XPC P 2500G SFF PC. The "SFF" stands for "small form factor" and it is that. Shuttle has evidently done their homework on cooling and the machine is not exactly quiet. Still, it would be less noisy than the machine I am working on now, which is in a much larger case, has significantly less power and is missing some features in a comparison.

I've been wondering why SFF machines haven't taken off since the current iMac and the Mac Mini pointed the way. This one carries a premium price, but there is nothing to prevent someone making SFF boxes in every price class, with the possible exception of the very cheapest. (SFF machines take more labor time to build because the workers have to move more slowly and carefully in the smaller case confines.) Perhaps now we'll start to see more of this sort of machine.

Jack

Apple book comes with Windows pre-loaded

And, of course; the second I posted this, my pal John rings me up and tells me he's gotten the same deal out of our local CompUSA, with the unauthorized aid of one of the sales staff, on condition he buy all the fixings from their store.

Somehow; I wasn't quite ready for this one and choked on my coffee.

Jack

Test Pilot Scott Crossfield Killed in Crash

Join me in honoring one of the greats. Happy landings Scott Crossfield.

Secunia Finds "Critical" Hole in Mac OS X

Secunia has found what it considers a critical hole in Mac OS X 10.4.6. (Though it may apply to other versions, as yet tests have not been performed to confirm this.)

Clicking on the link above will take you to Secunia's site, where you can find a general overview of Mac security and a further link to this advisory. The vulnerability in question is serious enough to allow a DoS attack or complete compromise of the machine.

Jack

Linux vendors to rally behind desktop standard

First was the Linux Standards Base, which made users of and developers for Linux servers and clusters able to depend on common interfaces and (to some extent) file locations.

Now, vendors are coming together to create similar standards for desktops and desktop applications. Oddly enough; the problems for desktop Linux were not a lack of standards, but too many and conflicts between them.

It is a step forward in gaining acceptance for Linux on the desktop. Just how much effect this move will have depends on too many variables to predict. Unless those concerned really blow this chance it will be to the good. The question is only how much.

Jack

Where Vista Fails

In fairness, this is part 5 of a review and I haven't read the first 4 parts yet. I will as soon as I find them, and I urge you to do the same.

As you read this mind-numbingly scathing piece, please remember that the author is a genuine Windows fan and supporter. I truly believe that he is writing this piece in the hopes that Microsoft will listen and fix some of the most aggregious things before release. So as harsh as it is, read it as constructive criticism from somone who dearly wants to see Windows Vista be a rousing success.

NeXT's OpenStep OS up and running on a MacBook Pro

In the back to the future theme, today....
I wonder if many of the readers of this blog ever had a NeXT - Wikipedia computer? Let us know in the comments, please.
Thanks to Parallels Workstation virtualization software, OpenStep 4.2 is up and running on a MacBook Pro at blazing speed and with a high resolution, true-color display. A definite "back to the roots" moment.

--MissM


read more | digg story

Opera 9 Beta Released

If you're feeling just a bit adventurous and your computer is well backed up, you might want to give the next version of Opera a test drive.

The link above is to the changlog at Opera.com. There's an awful lot to look at there.

The thing I like most is the content manager, which appears to be the most "family friendly" I have yet seen.

Remember; Opera is now free. No ads, no charges for a "higher" version. This is a wonderful alternative to FireFox and IE and well worth checking out.

Jack

From DOS to XP on one desktop

Link to pics of 9! yes 9 different Operating Systems from Microsoft via Virtual PC. Its pretty kewl. I thought many who read this blog would appreciate this :)


Courtesy of Fred Langa at Langalist.com, an excellent newsletter. There is a free newsletter and a $12 subscribe option (a portion of which is used to support children in 3rd world countries), which I do.

--MissM
From DOS to XP on one desktop

Dell unveils 'fastest' consumer laptop

Apple got to release the first machines containing Intel's "Core Duo" processors. This Dell is the second one out. It's a VERY impressive machine. If a quick perusal of the specifications for the XPS M1710 does not set your mouth to watering, go to the Emergency Room, now.

Jack

Critical Windows Security Patch Butts Heads With HP Software

I know there are many using HP products among us. If you've been having problems since Patch Tuesday, read this. This may be the reason.

Sony Laptop Supposed to Be Carbon Fiber - Is Plastic

It seems Sony's SZ160 series laptops are not what they're advertised to be, at least some of the time. And it looks as if they're working hard to turn this into another public relations disaster. Buyers expecting carbon fiber cases are getting plastic. And support is making a mess of it, eerily similar to Gail's experience with Electronic Arts.

The link will take you to a story at The Inquirer which will give you the gist of it all. Plus, there are links to more information.

(Try as I might; I couldn't figure out some way to work in the idea of setting Gail loose on the Sony support folks. I tried, though. Oh, how I tried.

Jack

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 04-16-06

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 04-16-06. If you prefer, you can download the same file here via ftp.

Why Windows is less secure than Linux

Richard Stiennon makes this point graphically in this blog entry.

His point is that Windows makes so many more system calls than Linux does while accomplishing exactly the same operation that it cannot be adequatly secured. The article is not definitive and does not try to be. It is food for thought, though.

Jack