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OK, then please provide a url which automatically downloads the cometcursor software without asking the user. I went to cometcursor.cometsystems.com and there was a big download button on the page. Nothing automatic there.

I had this happen just this morning. Closed down the main IE window to find 3 pop-unders, one from Comet Cursors advertising a triil of their custom cursors. No close button, no right-click menu, just 'continue' and 'finish' buttons. Hitting finish closed the window and, without telling me, installed their software on my system (duly uninstalled about 2 minutes later when I spotted it's system tray icon).

At least michael you could have posted the link for Comet Cursors since you've mentioned it in the header. For those who don't know what it is, its what they've dubbed a "smart cursor" which allows you to select something in an article, highlight it, and get information on what you'd selected and with or without a hyperlink get information on it, or purchase something (if its a product)

Now for the Wine part of it, I think it's a great idea, and I also think the company would probably want to work around some of the bugs we often (or at least I do) get when visiting pages with Shockwave Flash, and other embedded technologies on a page. As for the above post claiming a degradation of Linux, I'd highly doubt it would degrade the views of Linux for simple reasons. By having more companies developing for the *Nix based market, it goes to show that contrary to anyone's beliefs (or secret wishes) Linux/BSD's aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

However I also hope this isn't just another one of those here-today-gone-tomorrow based ideas coming out of a company trying to ride the coattails of the open source market, gaining fame, then moving on (Caldera).

Imagine a network solely to be used for say... College Students working on medical research who need to interact with each other but don't want to have to access the internet via the normal channels, email, forums, etc., they could have a client specifically created by Jabber to cater to their needs.

Imagine the Genome research companies all over the world sharing information via those same routes, they too could have a specially created client for them which could do things like fetch information via an XML add on for them. Example, CometSystems has a neat "smart cursor" based tool which allows any word in a page regardless if they have a hyperlink, and pull up information on whatever was selected. So imagine if Jabber did the same only it catered to no one but the Genome companies.

Thats where corporations would come in, to add revenue. There are many more instances of corporate uses I could think of for them to make money off the client. Make an SSL based secure transaction client to interact with Amazon and other vendors, so if someone sent their friend a URL for music, the user would be automatically be directed (should they clink a special link) to a vendor to purchase that record, or book, etc., there are plenty of ways to make cash with it.

All your base are belong to Dubya

NetRecall requires users to download a small browser plug-in that communicates with server software. Together, the plug-in and software make sure the use of the content complies with rules set by the content owner.

Comet has issued a statement about the privacy concern. They have also formalized their privacy statement.

You can also download a patch from Comet that will remove the unique download ID from your installation of the Comet Cursor. Without an ID associated with your instance of the software, all they can track is that the cursor is being used and where, so they can charge clients, like Foxtrot, for the advertising. They can't track who is visiting that page (your surfing habits). So go download the patch now.

Does this alleviate any/all concerns? In my mind it seems to be OK again. My cursor-using sites will link to the patch DL page, though.

CT

Comet has issued a statement about the privacy concern. They have also formalized their privacy statement.

You can also download a patch from Comet that will remove the unique download ID from your installation of the Comet Cursor. Without an ID associated with your instance of the software, all they can track is that the cursor is being used and where, so they can charge clients, like Foxtrot, for the advertising. They can't track who is visiting that page (your surfing habits). So go download the patch now.

Does this alleviate any/all concerns? In my mind it seems to be OK again. My cursor-using sites will link to the patch DL page, though.

CT

Comet has issued a statement about the privacy concern. They have also formalized their privacy statement.

You can also download a patch from Comet that will remove the unique download ID from your installation of the Comet Cursor. Without an ID associated with your instance of the software, all they can track is that the cursor is being used and where, so they can charge clients, like Foxtrot, for the advertising. They can't track who is visiting that page (your surfing habits). So go download the patch now.

Does this alleviate any/all concerns? In my mind it seems to be OK again. My cursor-using sites will link to the patch DL page, though.

CT

One other thing: you can also download an uninstaller (if you still trust them) at their web site. It's here.

The president, Jamie Rosen, said he was quite surprised with all the fuss since no user information was solicited.

From the page:
http://www.cometsystems.com/conta ct/privacy.shtml

What personally identifiable (non-anonymous) information is collected about users of the Comet Cursor?

None. Surfers who download our Comet Cursor software are not asked to provide their email address, name, credit card number, or any other personally identifiable information. Our goal is to make installing our software as quick and easy as possible; personal information is not useful or necessary for us. As a result, you can use the software without telling us who you are or ever revealing any information about yourself.

This says it all for me. All they have is a bunch of tracking numbers that are a glorified "hit counter". There is no "privacy problem" when you have no private information in the first place.

Plus, the Comet Cursor is only available for Win95/NT. No Linux, Unix, or Mac versions at all.

If Slashdot.org is a bastion of Linux users, we have nothing to worry about except protecting Windows users!

http://www.cometsystems.com/

And here's a link to help get rid of the Comet Cursor program. It's from the Comet Cursor people, but it probably does what it claims to. I think this is just a case of stupidity, not eeevil.

http://www.cometsystems.com/down load/cleaner.shtml

http://www.cometsystems.com/

And here's a link to help get rid of the Comet Cursor program. It's from the Comet Cursor people, but it probably does what it claims to. I think this is just a case of stupidity, not eeevil.

http://www.cometsystems.com/down load/cleaner.shtml

My problem with it was they they were using machine hardware as part of the ID.