Posts by Mike Gravgaard

Windows 7 versus Snow Leopard — The poison taste test

What about ubuntu 9.10?

Seriously why didn't you include ubuntu 9.10?

Brit inventor wants prison for patent crims

Patents need reform...

I kind of agree with Trevor - he's possibly looking at this with "people in China are stealing my ideas" and I agree this should be stopped but we need a better patent system.

I believe we should have a system where they are banded and that only the original inventor gets the top band, someone buying a company with a second band and so on.. and the lower the band the less the patent is worth - this would stop patent trolls but cause other problems.

Personnally I think we need a better prior art patent law which has better enforcement and patent offices should enforce patents better and not allow stupid patents - the whole lot needs looking at but until someone without a motivies does, the system is flawed and big business will always lobby the way they want it.

Just my 2 pence worth

Mike

Virgin Media 'overwhelmed' by broadband customers fleeing BT

Throttling

This is not an ad and I don't work for Pipex or Demon.

I used to be with Demon and I would hit quite frequently their fair usage policy of 50GB/month - I managed once to get restricted for a month between 8am till 10pm to 15k/sec.

I finally moved to Pipex Business (I don't have a business) and haven't had a problem since - I do miss Demon; rarely had a problem with them but alas times to change and for the better; I say £4 a month for a better service :)

I would have stayed with Demon if it weren't for the fair usage policy...

Mike

Windows 7: Microsoft's three missed opportunities

Sticking with Linux...

Thanks Microsoft but really I'm happy with Debian and Ubuntu.

I'm starting to looking to get a MIPS based netbook running Debian - I want a good battery life and very little weight..

I think Microsoft don't really improve Windows any more, they just redesign the UI but don't really make many improvements. I won't be 'updating' to Windows 7 but I'll possibly end up supporting it in one way or another.

Mike

Besieged by attacks, AT&T dumps celebrity hacker

RE: Take Down

Your right but I was using Wikipedia as a source though:)

I found it funny to though but I wanted to see how else noticed, I noted some people didn't know what he had done so I thought it was interesting to see whom knew what...

I think he's wanting someone to host it so he can blame them and get the attention when they don't or so he can chastise them over security issues (would be a good move on his part, I think) plus being an American he could sue them into the ground when they have a security outbreak due to their negligence.

I host some things myself but they aren't exactly business critical systems and I don't care really if they get taken down - he might not want to invest in a backup solution and might not want the hassle (I doubt it would be at all differcult to take down a home hosted DSL web server).

Mike

Mitnick

Here's what Wikipedia says about Mitnick:

"After a well-publicized pursuit, the FBI arrested Kevin Mitnick on February 15, 1995 at his apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, on federal offenses related to a 2½-year computer hacking spree.[2]

In 1999, Mitnick confessed to four counts of wire fraud, two counts of computer fraud and one count of illegally intercepting a wire communication, as part of a plea agreement before the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison in addition to 22 months for violating the terms of his 1989 supervised release sentence for computer fraud. He admitted to violating the terms of supervised release by hacking into PacBell voicemail and other systems and to associating with known computer hackers, in this case co-defendant Louis De Payne.

Mitnick served five years in prison, four and a half years pre-trial and eight months in solitary confinement, because law enforcement officials convinced a judge that he had the ability to "start a nuclear war by whistling into a pay phone".[3] He was released on January 21, 2000. During his supervised release, which ended on January 21, 2003, he was initially restricted from using any communications technology other than a landline telephone. Mitnick fought this decision in court, eventually winning a ruling in his favor, allowing him to access the Internet.

As per the plea deal, Mitnick was also prohibited from profiting from films or books that are based on his criminal activity for a period of seven years.

Mitnick now runs Mitnick Security Consulting LLC, a computer security consultancy."

"Mitnick gained unauthorized access to his first computer network in 1979, at the age of sixteen, when a friend gave him the phone number for the Ark, the computer system Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) used for developing their RSTS/E operating system software. He broke into DEC's computer network and copied DEC's software, a crime he was charged and convicted for in 1988. He was sentenced to twelve months in prison followed by a three year period of supervised release. Near the end of his supervised release, Mitnick hacked into Pacific Bell voice mail computers. Mitnick fled after a warrant was issued for his arrest, becoming a fugitive for the next two and a half years.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice while a fugitive Mitnick gained unauthorized access to dozens of computer networks. He used cloned cellular phones to hide his location and, among other things, copied valuable proprietary software from some of the country’s largest cellular telephone and computer companies. Mitnick also intercepted and stole computer passwords, altered computer networks, and broke into and read private e-mail. Mitnick was apprehended in February 1995 in North Carolina. When arrested he was found with cloned cellular phones, over one hundred clone cellular phone codes, and multiple pieces of false identification."

"Confirmed Criminal Acts

* Using the Los Angeles bus transfer system to get free rides[5]

* Evading the FBI[6]

* Hacking into DEC system(s) to view VMS source code (DEC reportedly spent $160,000 in cleanup costs)[5][6]

* Gaining full admin privileges to an IBM minicomputer at the Computer Learning Center in LA in order to win a bet[5]

* Hacking Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Sun Microsystems and Fujitsu Siemens systems[6]

Alleged Criminal Acts

* Stole computer manuals from a Pacific Bell telephone switching center in Los Angeles[7]

* Read the e-mail of computer security officials at MCI Communications and Digital[7]

* Wiretapped the California DMV[7]

* Made free cell phone calls[8]

* Hacked SCO, PacBell, FBI, Pentagon, Novell, CA DMV, USC and Los Angeles Unified School District systems.

* Wiretapped FBI agents according to John Markoff,[7] although denied by Kevin Mitnick"

There is a great film about his jail time made by his friends but there is also a film which is completely rubbish and possibly liabilus (Track Down).

"A fan-based documentary named Freedom Downtime was created in response to Track Down."

If you look at what he did, he didn't really do much more than Steve Wozniak or Steve Jobs - they were also known to be phone pheakers though not sure if they hacked any systems (I bet they did though).

Mike

Linux: More contributors, more code

RE: Is it me?

It's you - it's call an monialithic kernel (i.e drivers are part of the kernel).

Though most us only tend to use certain drivers, we don't have a kernel with all of them enabled - we tend just to use the ones we need and bearing in mind that they are available for so many weird bits of hardware as well as the normal common ones.

I hope this clarifies.. I'm not sure if I'm feeding a troll so that why I choose a grenade.

Mike

Faster broadband for free?

ONLY AVAILABLE TO BT TOTAL BROADBAND CUSTOMERS

I tried to get one, here is the email from BT:

"Thank you for placing an order on bt.com. Please see the details

below.

Subject

---------------------------------------------------------------

Your BT.com order to agent : BT Broadband Accelerator

Discussion Thread

---------------------------------------------------------------

Response (Angela Townson) - 06/08/2009 01:43 PM

Dear Mr G-d,

Thank you for your recent request for a BT Broadband Accelerator.

According to our records you are not a BT Total Broadband customer. As this offer is limited to BT Total Broadband customers only this request will not be progressed.

You can buy a BT Broadband Accelerator - also known as an “I-Plate” - at the online BT Shop. Please see www.shop.bt.com/iplate for details.

Or if you would like to order BT Total Broadband please go to www.bt.com/btbroadband

Best wishes,

Angela Townson

BT.com Orders Team"

Ballmer's Yahoo! bullishness hides Bing brand play

RE: "people are using 'Bing' as a verb"

I've not conviced Microsoft actually have a clue as to what they are doing...

Instead of fighting Google on success of search and accuracy of search, they seem to think that marketing can make up for the short fall.

Personally I think Microsoft is really stupid to compete with Google on this basis - admit is Ballmer, Google are better than you are and they know what they are actually doing - your trying to match Google when you don't even understand what your enemy is doing.

I looked at Bing for a slip second (I would like competition to Google as well as the next person) but changing Live to Bing and doesn't seem to make the product any better.

Bing is like a Austin Allegro - rubbish and should be consigned to the scrap yard. Google is like a Lotus, noticely designed but could be improved upon.

Microsoft having an agreement with Yahoo! is interesting but I don't think this is going to help - the thing is people use Google as it's accurate, quick and reliable - I hate to say it but Microsoft, you're not know for being accurate, quick or reliable in any of your existing products and even though you might throw massive amounts of money at the problem, you'll never achieve it.

Mike

Microsoft under threat from Linux - it's official

RE: Linux a threat?

What are you on? Have you wondered why Windows isn't used on any device other want PCs and the odd PDA or mobile phone? Its not just the hardware/system requirements, its also development support and existing support - I mean imagine you wanted to make a router, you would only really need hardware drivers, all the tools are already available and lot of the developers are available.

The answer is, Linux has lot of support - it's free, it's documented, specialist hardware manufactures love it.. OK I admit that there aren't always alot of drivers for razors edge hardware but there are normally available if you do alot of research.

I admit it's geeky but if you look at it - there are alot of reasons for using it.

Did you know for example a lot of the worlds stock exchanges runs on Linux and Unix platforms? Do you ever wonder why? I mean when was the last time you heard of a computer failure with a stock exchange? If you look at a lot of stock exchange computers a lot of these runs what amounts to "screen" session.

If you look at Windows, it's a terrorable system on some many levels and it really makes you wonder why people use it. I mean I know it's popular but I don't get it - a lot none technical people don't get Windows and these tend to be people whom can use Linux - I've personally helped people switch due to my lack of wanting to support their Windows systems.

PS please feed the troll... this troll is hungry (I've yet to eat!).

I personally think Microsoft will implode within 5 to 10 years as all of the competition will step up a gear and I believe we will see Microsoft try and spend their way out of trouble (like they have been trying to do with Google). I think they are point these problems out to try to get shareholder support and so they can excuse their current growing issues.

Also you have third world countries which are slowly adopting Linux (I know a couple of people whom have just returned from working in South Africa and where setting up Linux PCs and servers in South Africa). This will help these countries but will alot tech people to use Linux, if Linux is learnt - why would someone choose Windows especially when you have to pay for it and learn it?

Mike

Scareware package mimics Windows Blue Screen of Death

RE: BSoD screensave

" One of the ironies of Microsoft's purchase of sysinternals a few years back is that you can now obtain the BSOD screensaver directly from the MS website:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897558.aspx

It's entirely benign and entirely unrelated to this story, but it did remind me."

That made my day...

Mike

Windows XP Mode digs deeper into Windows 7

.... and after Windows 7

So let me get this right, Microsoft make a virtual machine environment to run Windows XP apps - OK but what happens after Windows 7.

I mean we all know that Microsoft and some 3rd party apps don't work and require bodging to get working - I just get this feeling of applications having to run under a VM in years to come for all those unsupported VM envoirment and unsupportable apps.

Why don't Microsoft just make their apps run in a language similar to Java - i.e a good virtualised based/virtualisable run time envoirmental

If I remember correctly Apple has done this a few times in the past - switch from 68k to PowerPC and switch from PowerPC to Intel processors also I think they did it for OS 9 compability.

I guess I'm just highly cynical about Microsoft but I just get a feeling it will screw it all up in the end.

Actually whilst we are talking about Microsoft, I think I can think of their new moto:-

Microsoft

What were you doing yesterday? 'cause today you'll be doing it all again!!!

I do wonder if they ever learn though...

Mike

PayPal goes offline again

RE: Pretty rubbish

Depends whether the item is "Instant payment" or not...

Instant payment used Paypal and if Paypal is down, you have a problem.

Mike

Windows 7 Ultimate product activation hacked?

Windows

"Downloading Windows exposes users to increased risks - such as viruses, Trojans and other malware and malicious code"

Doesn't it normally? I mean do genuine copies no longer have these problems.

Mike

Greenpeace unleashes Captain Kirk on HP

Apple Green??

Well I know Apple's are normally green but I'm sorry I don't buy this for a second. Is this the same Apple which build non replaceable batteries into their products - clearly they are thinking of the environment.

if these companies where green, they wouldn't make their products from plastic (which is oil based).

If governments want to act for the environment, why not charge manufactures a tax on plastics used.

I'm holding out for a hemp based laptop :)

Mike

Microsoft GPL violation hits memory hole

RE- GPL Corrections

"Furthermore, the FSF has no right to sue in this case as the Linux kernel copyright isn't owned by the FSF. Only copyright owners whose rights have been infringed have the option of suing."

Actually they do, if they sued Microsoft they would be protected the GPL license.

Phorm: How it went down

Phorm's minimal life support

The problem isn't so much Phorm have left the UK, it's that they may go bust...

If they go bust someone like BT or the goverment might buy or get the remains.

Mike

'Secure' Wyse thin clients vulnerable to remote exploit bugs

Hagent.exe

Hi,

This is quite funny really - basically the hagent.exe file is used by the Rapport/WDM agent to talk (broadcast) itself to the Rapport/WDM server and start a rapport between the server and client for updates, etc.

I was trying to make my own version of Rapport/WDM with the standard Wyse Rapport/WDM agent which talked to a custom service (I dislike WDM due to Wyse policies, they drop support in newer versions of WDM for older terminals). I stopped doing this in the end but got quite far (my boss disliked the idea due to lack of Wyse offical support).

My management then decided to update and take a new 'contract' with Wyse at a large expense.

Personally if I had the option, I would look at the alternatives to Wyse.

Mike

Sir Alan Sugar hits eject button at Viglen

RE: Viglen = complete crap

I agree though please don't paint all of the public sector with the cheap rubbish arguement.

In the public sector I work in, we have HP PCs and Wyse terminals.

Mike

PS we in the public sector don't all get expenses...

Nokia to develop Intel-based pocket internet gadgets

"But the N810 is based on ARM chippery"

I don't understand why you would want i386 based technology on a mobile device.

There is a reason most mobiles use ARM based processors and for that matter look around your home and look for low power devices which use i386 technology.

I don't see the point - I don't think i386 is the right route for low power - yes, we have the Atom but why bother? I want low power.

I just got a Linksys Slug and I'm highly impressed it with. I believe it uses about 8 watts.

Mike

Wanna buy an old PC factory?

Interesting...

Some interesting stuff for sale there...

Did they gut the building though? The are UPSes, rackmount cabs, boilers, kitchen equipment, ceiliing mounted, CRT TVs, drinks cabinets and a snooker table.

I was hoping to see some chip robots and surface mount stations for sale - shame.

Mike

Regulators and law don't protect UK net neutrality

BT meets foot...

What BT said:

"We can’t give the content providers a completely free ride and continue to give customers the [service] they want at the price they expect,"

What BT meant to say:

"We are don't like they way we pay for our infer-structure and we want others to pay. Google and the BBC have lots of money, we will get money from their to prop up our terror-able service. Oooh s##t, we are looking at new connection speed swhere people will expect decent speeds. Oh so much for 21 century network, we will give then new terms and conditions stipulating that we can reduce their web speeds to sub dialup speeds depends upon site visited - that should fix it"

Seriously what are BT on?

Mike

Microsoft forbids changes to Windows 7 netbook wallpaper

RE Whats to stop someone

I bet Microsoft make the background image file protected with Windows File Protection and also don't include Regedit by default.

I don't understand why Microsoft do this though for a product aimed at netbooks when they have strong competition from Linux.

I believe the only reason Windows beats Linux in the netbook market is due to:

-Microsoft does nice licensing details Asus and friends to keep linux out of this market

-The Windows versions of these machines have better hardware specs at cheaper prices!

I wonder when Microsoft will learn from their mistakes but I really don't think that they do.

Mike

Reg grave stone aimed at Microsoft for a stupid knee/foot shooting incident. Now if only they could place the gun nearer their head next time!

Phorm incinerates $50m in 12 months

"The government told privacy campaigners it would not make public the content of the response."

"The government told privacy campaigners it would not make public the content of the response."

Great, thanks Gordon - so much for 'open goverment' or is that just selective??

We won't forget you in a years time though - the problem is will the Tories be any different than Labour with their massive majority.

Hydrogen-powered two-seater car unveiled

Electric conversion kit

I don't understand why manufacturers don't just make a conversion kits for their older cars?

I drive an old '65 Beetle with 1200cc engine and 4 speed gear box - it's top speed is around 70MPH (scary on motorways).

I would in a second - convert this to electric if get the following:

-Bracket to gearbox casing to 'bolt on electric motor'

-A standard modular based lithium battery pack(s) (ideally where individual cells can be replaced).

-Welded or bolted bracket(s) for holding said batteries.

Seriously how differiult is it to replace engine with motor (say 6 - 10KW motor), DC to DC control box, regen braking system and batteries and if there were a standard size battery packs used by all manufacturers then the prices would be driven down - I suspect though that electric car prices will be kept artifically high for a while though.

Mike

EC rejects Microsoft's browser promises

Microsoft's problem

Afternoon,

The problem here isn't Microsoft removing their browser (i.e deleteing the file but still being available to install). It's that you don't get a choice - you need to install a browser to get a browser and IE is always available in the background and never triely removed.

What Microsoft should do is play ball? i.e work with the EU and just have a main alternative browsers available on installation - they could work with the other browser makers and make a download system (like wget or apt) which allow downloading from a Microsoft site?? - they could also make the update service (the Windows Update service) fetch the browsers' install files from their website.

The truth is, Microsoft don't want to include other browsers and this is why the EU is angry about it - after all Microsoft has a monopoly and aren't really playing ball (hitting a ball sometimes isn't playing ball all the time).

... and all thoose people talking about cars without stereos or engines - if when you bought the car, the sales man would have to give you a list of options. The truth is Microsoft is a monopoly (Royal Mail have the same type of system with British post where they have to help sort other postal systems post).

Hope this makes sense.

Apollo 11 - The Owners' Workshop Manual

RESpitfire and Lancaster Hayes manuals anybody?

Haynes also do a spitfire DVD :)

Microsoft fortifies Windows 7 kernel with overrun buster

@Anonymous Coward at 11:33

Windows doesn't help how it creates user accounts as administrators (I'm talking about Windows XP here BTW - I've not really looked at Windows 7 in detail).

If Microsoft wanted to address this problem, they should just change it - force the change, break backwards compatibility and work with the developers. Microsoft are the ones which steer the Windows ship afterall (not the developers - the developers work with the OS not develop it).

I doubt that backwards compatibility really works anyway otherwise what's the point in using the virtual XP system (it's 'cause Windows 7 breaks backwards compatibility already).

Mike

Windows 7 promises better SSD-ing performance than Vista

RE: I have a better idea

Not sure if you are aware of this:

gigabye iram (www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Storage/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2180)

I know if it only PCI 2.2 and is limited to 4GB but....

Mike

UK fines for IP infringement to rocket

Lobbying

I find this goverment not just to be a nanny state but to be corrupt but actually worse that the Tories in the early nineties.

I cannot wait till the next election becuase Labour will feel everyone's wrath; the problem is however that we will have a strong Tory goverment with large majority (i.e. they can do what the hell they like with little objection from other parties).

I think we should reform government - we should make lobbying public (i.e we should be able to see what lobbying it done and see the interviews from special interest groups to goverment commitees and the current and shadow goverment). We should have a system where we have true democracy where we can vote out the goverment without waiting for them to call the next election.

THIS IS OUR COUNTRY AND WE WANT IT BACK! YOU ARE ELECTED BY US FOR US, NOT FOR SOME SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP(S). WE HAVE BECOME TIRED OF YOU, WE WANT CHANGE! CALL AN ELECTION GORDON!

Mike

OpenOfficers pitch Oracle on life after Sun

Open Office vs Office

I personally would love Open Office to replace Offce (or atleast eat into Microsoft's market share) - I seen some weird Office faults whiich normally require recreating the normal.dot file to amend (i.e a user has messed up the default Word template and the only way to fix it was to recreate the normal.dot template or some other unknown). I've found alot of people at work use Open Office in their spare time but seem to have quirks with Word documents to get Office to display/format them properly.

I cannot see the point in Office anymore; since about Office 2000 there haven't been any big chances or improvements that I can think of - they main changes seem to be tweaking the GUI.

I think the main problems with Open Office are addressing the quirks - for example I remember Open Office on Ubuntu 6.10 had a strange fault when saving but I'm not sure if this was caused by Open Office or a Ubuntu update. I've not seen many problems since. I find Open Office 3.0 to be very good and I'm pleased with it.

I think Oracle (if they purchase Sun) would be a good idea to maintain Open Office and address these quirks and help on developement - I've been pushing for Open Office at work but support always seems to be the issue (they use this same reasoning for alot of open source applications too even if the vendor support is terrorable or next to non-existent).

Anonymous as I don't like give any future or current work plans :)

Mike

Windows XP Mode: Certify like you mean it

Free virtualization

Does anyone not find this strange? Call me a cynic but isn't this just Micorosft just giving away free visualization to get it into Windows without raising the DoJ's eye brows?

I don't have a problem with Microsoft dropping backwards compatibiliity for improvements but this does look a little strange and uncompetitive.

I'm naturally cynical about Microsoft as I don't believe a leopard can change it's spots. They did the same thing with IE years ago.

Mike

Phorm boss blogs from a dark, dark place

Open letter to Kent:

Dear Kent Ertugrul,

Thanks for your very informative Stop Phoul Play campaign (www.stopphoulplay.com) whilst I don't agree with your opinions and I have no intention to use your technology, I think I should make my opinions on your campaign, your technology and your company.

My opinions are:

- I don't want my internet activity or my families internet activity profiled for advertising, etc - personally I believe ISPs should be forced to reveal if they use this technology or not (in the same way that cigarettes packets contain health warnings).

- I don't want to pay to use your technology - this should be optional with signed consent (not assumed consent) if wanted.

-You seem to have missed out a few people from your "This is who they are" section whom are also against form- i.e. Tim Berners Lee, some ISPs, some privacy advocates and the EU.

- Please stop trying to argue that your right and we are wrong - a lot of people whom read The Register work in the computing sector and we don't want your technology (is this really unclear?).

- The BT secret trails were illegal - if you think, this is wrong why not sue the EU for damages (I'm sure the UK government don't take this stand any more but maybe you should ask for their support/opinion??).

- I don't want DPI technology looking at my traffic - I have nothing to hide but I don't want an unknown stalker especially by a company which previously was involved with spyware - I pay for my connection and whilst I don't like the idea of the government doing this either I feel they have a better argument for it that yourselves (I don't want them doing it either).

Thanks

Mike Gravgaard

PS Please stop.

Tux cause like him, I want to be free!!

Linux chief calls for FAT-free Microsoft diet

FAT replacement

Well I would replace the FAT file system on flash devices with say Ext2 (and there is an addon to add support to Windows too.

Ext2 is supported by MacOS (I believe) and Linux natively.

Hopefully alot of manufacturers will learn from this and will realise that following Microsoft isn't always in their interest and will choose a standard filesystem (I'd go for Ext2).

Mike

MS punts stripped down Windows Server 2008 at tiny SMBs

Linux

I wonder if this is Microsoft attempting to reclaim the small office market from Linux??

I mean if you thought of what you needed before buying you would possibly only need a small server, a linux distro of choice (mine would be Debian) or NAS box, a reasonably powerful server, a switch, tape backup and some PCs running either Windows or Linux and a reasonable system admin type person.

I think Microsoft cannot really compete with Linux on this front but they still try regardless.

Mike

BT Wholesale cuts off Prodigy Internet

MAC process

Hi,

I recently moved from Demon to Pipex Business (I got a little to hacked off with Demon's fair usage policy). Demon were very quick at giving me the MAC code (not sure why - but I think they may have been glad to see the back of me - heavy downloader with 3 other users at peak times).

The thing that got me was that Pipex works out cheaper and I get no fair usage policy - I even got a refund from Demon for the service I didn't use :P

Mike

Worm breeds botnet from home routers, modems

Dect phone idea:

I was thinking along the same lines - why not just have a setup button or write protect button on the bottom/side of the router and possibly whilst your at it a reset to factory defaults button on all routers.

Mike

Stallman warns open-sourcers on Javascript-browser trap

I think Stallman is right:

Stallman is talking about sofware which sites use (just because something is currently free at the moment doesn't mean it will always be free or currently isn't 'free' - if you look at GPL licenses, you cannot realistically change a GPLed piece of software easily - licenses tend not to be changeable but future versions can be changed).

He's not talking about websites in general but the software used behind them - think of things like Iplayer as an example and Windows Media Player 10. Why as a Linux user can I not have access to the Iplayer download service? I don't want to watch thing on streaming flash.

I understand Stallman's point and agree with it - if we didn't have GPL licenses, we would be living in a different world now.

Mike

Carbonite tells Promise: You're toast

Tape backup

What no tape backup?

RAID on it's own isn't enough

Mike

Guns N' Roses blogger faces music prison

Business model

I don't understand why the music business hasn't realized the benefits of the internet.

My point is that people for years have ripped off music and TV for decades - this isn't a new problem, the issue for them now is that it is easier than ever and they realize this.

Lobbying groups like the RIAA, MPAA, etc all claim this is different but the truth is the the consumer has got wise and has changed what they are willing to pay for (consumers can now listen to music before they buy it and guess what some people don't/won't buy it).

An example, you can purchase a £200 Humax PVR or buy a Sky+ box and record/schedule recordings and watch these recordings back in years to come. You don't hear Sky or terrestrial TV companies suing Humax or Sky for assisting copyright infringement.

I would like a service where downloading is free with adverts (i.e I can download a film or single whilst watching some adverts). I don't want limited license or DRM based downloads or watch (on line) only type usage.

I remember watching three videos on You Tube called "Piratebay to Hollywood" and some of the PirateBay's ideas seem very thought through, it's just a pitty the record industry/movie industry doesn't seem to have a clue and take some of these ideas up.

Mike

Did TomTom test Microsoft's Linux patent lock-down?

Are Microsoft aiding their own demise?

I've been looking at this since this first appeared on The Register.

I've been thinking that Microsoft must be aiding their own demise - Microsoft must made a large sum from IP as well as selling software (Windows/Office/etc) and hardware (Xbox/mice/keyboards/etc).

If they (Microsoft) win this case surely they will be aiding companies (said companies will no longer need/want to use the FAT without a license or will convert their legacy devices to ext2 or some other free file system). If 'said companies' use FAT, then they are also having to pay a royalty and in these financial times they may not wish to continue to do this.

Also what is to stop TomTom from going to said "other companies" which license or currently use unlicensed FAT usage from switching to the same future file system (ext2 or other) and release it under a license which bans/stops Microsoft from using it.

This would put Microsoft in a position where they are in a 'catch 22' situation (especially if said file system was released under say a GPL 2 or 3 license).

TomTom could do this out of revenge for loosing in court and Microsoft would lose royalties from FAT as nobody would continue to use it).

TomTom is also in a position where they could force a firmware update on older device and build in support on new devices when maps are freely downloaded (they would technically then remove the FAT file system and use ext2 instead). They could do this as a "security update".

Mike

Pirate Bay prosecutor argues for one year prison terms

I hope they win!

I've been looking at the Pirate Bay's trial on www.local.se/piratebay on an almost daily basis (reading whilst eating lunch at work) - from what I can see this is a show trial and the prosecution have a poor case.

I personally think this trial should have been thrown out as the prosecutions evidence has been bad, they have dropped and added charges, etc.

I mean if I got arrested for shop lifting - would the police be able to change the charges in an english course on the fly like they have done in this case??

It would also be good if the Pirate Bay could get damages too but I maybe being a little too optimistic

Coat - cause I'm holding it for the Pirate Bay whilst they beat the prosecution to death with their torrent files...

Mike

Microsoft sues GPS maker TomTom

Where do you want to go today?

Answer: The courts to protect our IP of course!

I hope Microsoft fail and their patents are made invalid (due to prior works).

Mike

Dear Obama: Please consider open-source a waste of your time

Open source

Could someone answer me this question: Why don't people see open source as a good thing?

We aren't shouting use open source because it's better, its because it allows you to manage what you actually use the software for more efficiently.

If you really don't understand why you use a software package and update to a new version for no reason then you have a hole in your head.

I can see open source being a very helpful - I work in a local council in the IT department - my team's budget drops year on year, this means we get less money for techie software tools and training, now in my opinion, I can either:

1) Get less training (i.e. dumb down my job and future prospects).

2) Learn new skills and use open source software to aid by current job.

I know Microsoft training MCP qualified people who hate open source and I don't understand why but what annoys me; is that these people are higher in the sphere of inflencience than me yet they don't understand something which could be benefical to them.

Mike

'Lenny': Debian for the masses?

Debian hard to install?

Do you really find installing Debian difficult? I don't really understand how.

I personally don't see much difference between Debian "Etch" and "Lenny". I'm sure there are changes but your on the most just package updates. I do like Debian but choose Ubuntu on the whole not because it is easier but because the packages are more up-to-date and more frequent releases (I mean you should watch a smallish bounder erode through wind erosion before a Debian release comes to fushion).

I do like Debian though as it is rock solid.

MIke

Microsoft goes retail with own shops

Microsoft World

God said to Steve, you must open a store and in this store many people will come (god was talking to Steve Jobs at the time but the other Steve misheard and thought it was a great idea), This world will be called Microsoft's World.

I think it willl be served by spotty pale teenages (like the teenager out of The Simpsons) which don't go outside. They will have a mouse and controller sections, Xbox 360 section and a Bill Gates shrine.

The Bill Gates shrine is a tent with a hole in the floor. On entering you fall down the hole into a diamond mine with Steve Ballmer holding a bull whip shouting "Developers, developers, developers, developers" in a more dispret tone each time till the point in which he sounds quite tired and upset.

There will be a receipt given to people on purchases but on exiting the shop, it says in very small print, please return to place of purchase - you return the next day to return the product and the teenager behind the counter tells you that the shop has moved (infact everything has moved 3cms) and technically this is a change in conditions as this is no longer the place of purchase but a completely different store.

STOP because I think this is a great idea (it might make a share scare and I could watch them dropped off a cliff - out of curiousity, what do Microsoft put in the water??).

Mike

Russian rides Phantom to OS immortality

Hiberation support

"In Phantom, powering off the computer will not cause programs to lose state. They can pick up where they left off as soon as the machine is turned back on."

Isn't this basically hibernation support or am I confused?

Mike

Phorm: BT system 'most definitely' online by end of 2009

RE: Legal question

BT cannot permently hold you to contract...

If you request your MAC code after a years service (ie you have been with BT past 12 months and past that period - you can request your MAC code and ask when the service will terminated).

You then arrange with your new ISP and give them the MAC code (with 30 days of receiving it), they will then transfer you across to your new ISP account.

I recently moved from Demon to Pipex Business - I finally bit the bullet and moved after getting seriously hacked off with their Fair Usage policy, since moving I've really felt a lot calmer and happier :)

The fact that I was paying £27 a month for a capped/cripped service between 8am-11pm really makes me wonder why I didn't do it sooner. Demon are also sending me a cheque for the service I didn't use (I used to pay them yearly) and Pipex are £22 a month (I'm saving £5, getting a better service and happier - what more could I want??).

Mike :)

Windows 7 'upgrade' doesn't mark XP spot

Linux migration

Blimey 2nd comment in 30 or so minutes :)

I have no problem moving from Windows XP to Linux but these are the problems as I see them:

* Managers - managers don't seem to get Linux or open source and it is an up hill battle to convince them, you know you have no chance when they go and on about support (yet they don't use Microsoft support). I have given up on a "one step migration" and tried migrating single applications instead (i.e small things like moving from Winzip to open source file archivers).

* Users - I'm convinced that users don't really understand Windows - getting a reasonable under standing from some users** about a fault can be like pulling teeth.

* Migrating to a Windows/Microsoft business - a colleague and I tried Linux (Ubuntu 8.10) under VirtualBox and VMware Workstation but when you have everything setup to use NTLM authentication this can be an issue (if anyone has cracked this I would appreciate a "How to" document).

Mike

RE: 6 different flavours????

Microsoft don't learn mistakes...

I don't understand Microsoft's thinking either - you would have thought they would look at Vista and see the mistakes they have made.

6 versions = More profit & customer confusion

Bugs = features

Mistake = admission of fault

Fault = Liability

Liability = Possible court case

Court case = possible loss

Possible loss = possibly payout to other side

Other side = enemy

Enemy = Destroy

Mike