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As of now we know that Win8 is vulnerable to a huge chunk of malware designed for older versions of Windows. This "UEFI Secure Boot" does not prevent it at all. I suspected earlier that UEFI Secure Boot wasn't designed to make PCs more secure but rather to lock down PCs, so novice users trying to check out some Linux distribution will have tough time doing so. This fiasco makes me sure that this was the case and makes me wonder why antitrust authorities don't do anything about this. This is potentially more harmful than MSIE case after all.

If you(and others here) really want to educate yourself instead of spreading karmawhoring FUD, please read on.

Here are some references about boot malware which UEFI secure boot will prevent.

http://www.chmag.in/article/sep2011/rootkits-are-back-boot-infection

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/16/tdl_rootkit_does_64_bit_windows/

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9217953/Rootkit_infection_requires_Windows_reinstall_says_Microsoft

I recommend reading atleast the first link.

Here's one juicy bit:

TDL4 is the most recent high tech and widely spread member of the TDSS family rootkit, targeting x64 operating systems too such as Windows Vista and Windows 7. One of the most striking features of TDL4 is that it is able to load its kernel-mode driver on systems with an enforced kernel-mode code signing policy (64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista and 7) and perform kernel-mode hooks with kernel-mode patch protection policy enabled.

When the driver is loaded into kernel-mode address space it overwrites the MBR (Master Boot Record) of the disk by sending SRB (SCSI Request Block) packets directly to the miniport device object, then it initializes its hidden file system. The bootkit’s modules are written into the hidden file system from the dropper.

The TDL4 bootkit controls two areas of the hard drive one is the MBR and other is the hidden file system created at the time of malware deployment. When any application reads the MBR, the bootkit changes data and returns the contents of the clean MBR i.e. prior to the infection, and also it takes care of Infected MBR by protecting it from overwriting.

The hidden file system with the malicious components also gets protected by the bootkit. So if any application is making an attempt to read sectors of the hard disk where the hidden file system is stored, It will return zeroed buffer instead of the original data.

The bootkit contains code that performs additional checks to prevent the malware from the cleanup. At every start of the system TDL4 bootkit driver gets loaded and initialized properly by performing tasks as follows: Reads the contents of the boot sector, compares it with the infected image stored in hidden file system, if it finds any difference between these two images it rewrites the infected image to the boot sector. Sets the DriverObject field of the miniport device object to point to the bootkit’s driver object and also hooks the DriverStartIo field of the miniport’s driver object. If kernel debugging is enabled then this TDL4 does not install any of it’s components.

TDL4 Rootkit hooks the ATAPI driver i.e. standard windows miniport drivers like atapi.sys. It keeps Device Object at lowest in the device stack, which makes a lot harder to dump TDL4 files.

All these striking features have made TDL4 most notorious Windows rootkit and it is also very important to mention that the key to its success is the boot sector infection.

Another bit:

The original MBR and driver component are stored in encrypted form using the same encryption. Driver component hooks ATAPI's DriverStartIo

Translation: The CNET story was wrong.

Politicians do a lot of dumb things, but this would have been a total reversal for Leahy.

Fandroid [popsci.com] throwing stones in a glass house?

The parent's claim that Microsoft is strong arming people into a Walled Garden, and my post pointing out that Apple does the same thing, is something about Android? Thanks for keeping it relevant.

Cute, comparing Microsoft's desktop support to Apple's mobile support.

Oh, in that case lets break it down further. How's WinPhone 7 working out for the developers? Microsoft's Mobile support is even shorter and more fragmented than Apples, thanks for bringing that up.

They're still releasing security updates for Leopard, a six year old operating system.

You're honestly bringing up something which hasn't had an update in over a year? And comparing to a system which has been out for double that, and systems which receive regular updates? Why would Berkley have an article about end of support migrating off of it? Not to mention the successor (Snow Leopard) getting this nice article.

Here's one: http://blogs.computerworld.com/tablets/21317/microsoft-ceo-ballmer-says-surface-windows-rt-tablet-sales-are-modest-hopes-boost-intel-windows-8-version

The specific quote is "modest", and I agree with the characterization of " 'modest' is to Ballmer as 'poor' is to a neutral observer" (particularly when compared to Apple or Android alternatives.)

There is truth in what you say; see also The Unspoken Truth About Managing Geeks for a further discussion along those lines.

However, I have also seen cases where the person they're talking about really is an incompetent and/or immoral idiot, and what management are parsing as name-calling and a possible shifting of blame is, in actual fact, one of your staff warning you of a significant danger.

While management might not like to believe they've hired someone with those qualities for a role, if it has happened, they would be well served to listen to the bad news being reported and take some action to assess and mitigate that risk!

http://blogs.computerworld.com/smartphones/21291/appless-foxconnsharp-iphone-supply-problem-hints-bigger-problems?mm_ref=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnews%2Furl%3Fsr%3D1%26ct2%3Dus%252F1_0_s_4_1_a%26sa%3Dt%26usg%3DAFQjCNGqf2gr494dICZZt4VZC-RZas5i8A%26cid%3D52778023275786%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fblogs.computerworld.com%252Fsmartphones%252F21291%252Fappless-foxconnsharp-iphone-supply-problem-hints-bigger-problems%26ei%3DG8eaUPDUHZTUtwfxeQ%26sig2%3DOF6X4c_AQfrJ61Q874PANQ%26rt%3DHOMEPAGE%26vm%3DSTANDARD%26bvm%3Dsection%26twa%3Df%26did%3D6835041860395839870%26sid%3Daf1b2b414f7c7d35

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9233085/Past_is_prototype_The_evolution_of_the_computer_keyboard?taxonomyName=Computer+Peripherals&taxonomyId=235 for one/single print page.

http://aqfl.net/node/5825/ for a clicky keyboard poll and my comments. It seems like women hate them. :(

"Accompanying the system is a new and improved app permissions screen --the screen that shows up anytime you install an app from outside of the Play Store. The new Android 4.2-level screen is cleaned up and far easier to read than what we've seen in the pas And last but not least, Android 4.2 has an added behind-the-scenes feature that alerts you anytime an app attempts to send a text message that could cost you money. If an app tries to send an SMS to a known fee-collecting short code --a number that'd automatically bill your carrier when it receives a message --the system jumps in and alerts you to the action. You can then opt to allow or deny the process." http://m.blogs.computerworld.com/android/21259/android-42-security?mm_ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fhl%3Den%26tbo%3Dd%26site%3D%26source%3Dhp%26q%3Dandroid%2B4.2%2Bpermissions%26oq%3Dandroid%2B4.2%2Bpermissions%26gs_l%3Dmobile-gws-hp.12...20503.38452.0.40420.25.21.0.4.4.0.395.3872.0j16j3j2.21.0.les%253B..0.0...1ac.1.9qZIAZUfHXE

Still, for all of the shit that Linux users talk about Windows, WINDOWS has NEVER had anything as serious as a FILE system CORRUPTION bug.

Finally, someone talking sense ... oh wait.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9054178/Microsoft_s_Windows_Home_Server_corrupts_files

"Microsoft's Windows Home Server CORRUPTS FILES"
"'Don't edit' list includes photos, as well as Quicken and QuickBooks files, warns Microsoft; no word on patch"

Never mind ...

My ATM card was compromised, some 5000$ of fraudulent charges. Mercifully my bank reversed all the charges including the hated "foreign ATM" fees. Then, because my bank refunds all the ATM fees charged by other banks at the end of the month, I got some 4 or 5 such fees refunded once again.

This triggered a serious saint on left shoulder devil on the right shoulder situation for me. These banksters stole billions of my tax dollars, so I can keep this 15$ said the devil. The saint said, "nah, it aint your money, you gotta return it". Who won? You guess.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/microsoft_strikes_back_at_linux_netbook_push You can probably find more. --Coder

If this is V Microsoft Strikes Back then we've got Return of the Chromebooks here. Don't worry I'm appropriately ashamed.

The problem is that most people quit thinking like kids; they get afraid to try new things.

I'm 60 and not afraid to try new things, provided there's a reason. And I have yet to see anyone put forth a single reason to try W8.

Also, arguments can be made all day about the interface being designed to be easier, but it's not what we're used to; it's a shallower learning curve for new users, but all our new users are kids, and learning the new interface for existing users is a waste of what could otherwise be productive time blah blah blah MS Office Ribbon blah blah...

OK, we have the new Microsoft Car. The brake's on the right and the throttle's on the left and you have a joystick instead of a steering wheel. A brand new driver would have no more triouble learning to drive it than a normal car, but someone who's been driving for twenty years is going to wreck the damned thing as soon as he drives it off of the car lot.

Microsoft has given compelling reasons why it's in their interest to make the desktop act like a phone, but they've given exactly zero reasons of how it's beneficial to a user.

If a change makes the job easier, that's a good change. If it has a learning curve and makes the task harder even after you're over the curve, that is NOT innovation, that's just stupidity.

Jacob Neilson, one of the prominant useability experts, says W8 is crap for useability, and it's not just an opinion, he did the research.

Most disturbing to Microsoft should be the reaction of Jakob Nielsen, a user interface expert at the Nielsen Norman Group. Nielsen has been testing interfaces for years with users, so what he has to say carries a lot of weight. In his tests of people using Windows 8, he found that people had "a lot of struggles," especially when trying to switch between the traditional desktop and the new Windows 8 start screen. He said Windows 8 was fine for tablets, but not traditional PCs. He concluded:

"I just think when it comes to the traditional customer base, the office computer user, they're essentially being thrown under the bus."

As to the "thinking like kids", well,

Peter Svensson with the AP wrote, "Microsoft is making a radical break with the past to stay relevant in a world where smartphones and tablets have eroded the three-decade dominance of the personal computer. Windows 8 is supposed to tie together Microsoftâ(TM)s PC, tablet and phone software with one look. But judging by the reactions of some people who have tried the PC version, itâ(TM)s a move that risks confusing and alienating customers." Svensson quoted one Windows user who said, "It was very difficult to get used to. I have an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, and they never got used to it. They were like, 'We're just going to use Mom's computer.'"

Hulu, yes. Netflix -- not yet.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/laptops/21180/new-samsung-chromebook-netflix

I read rumors on the net that on the year when a lot of manufacturers announced ARM netbooks, Microsoft went and threatened them with cutting Windows licensing (or something) if they start selling those. So none of these devices actually went to market. People even saw things like Microsoft reps visiting manufacturer's booths in an expo, and ARM netbooks disappearing from the stands soon after.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/microsoft_strikes_back_at_linux_netbook_push
You can probably find more.

--Coder

Microsoft is developing Office for iPad and Android. Honestly, I don't understand why they're doing it for Android. Maybe it was part of their cross-license agreement with Samsung?

Many people think that Microsoft makes almost all their money on Windows. However this is not true. in the last three years to July, "the Business group has been Microsoft's top money-maker in 10 out of 13 quarters" . Everywhere else; in development tools, with partners, with games and in anything they can get publicity or perception from Microsoft can afford to sacrifice other things. With the Office Division, Microsoft's future and money is available.

Releasing for Android is a clear statement that Microsoft do not believe in the Windows 8 strategy themselves. Microsoft know that Android is the most likely dominant operating system of the future and the know that they must be visible there or they risk one of the better alternatives becoming more popular than Office. In the end, Windows will be sacrificed to save the company.

The high price of these tablets for a much worse specification than an iPad is also a statement. Windows will not die. Just as people are using VMS today, Windows will be with us in ten years time. However it will gradually become irrelevant for normal people and prices will be ramped up. They will squeeze every last little extra drop of blood out of customers with CIOs so incompetent that they have almost total lock in.

So sorry I have to do the leg work for you.

The FTC began investigating Google for antitrust violations in mid-2011. The agency reportedly focused on Google's relationship with Android handset makers and whether Google favors its own services in search results.

Competitors of Google, including Microsoft and other members of advocacy group FairSearch.org, have complained that Google is using its search dominance to drive its customers to other Google services.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232368/US_lawmaker_questions_FTC_Google_antitrust_probe

_

I meant to find a real example of another lazy network tech., sabotaging for the sake of self-aggrandization or for getting out of work, but I couldn't find an example easily, or think of the search-terms that would do it. ("Self-aggrandization" didn't lead to much..., though there are some good reads like http://www.metafilter.com/88359/Not-enough-women-have-what-it-takes-to-behave-like-arrogant-selfaggrandizing-jerks

http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2010/01/a-rant-about-women/

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9034438/Former_network_engineer_faces_jail_time_for_sabotaging_patient_data ) but that last one is more of a criminal sociapath.

. And there was the San Francisco City Network administrator who refused to hand over his password, even to his boss or the mayor until he was taken to court on a criminal charge.

If you know any other good tech example, I'd love to know about it.

First off i have a very hard time believing backdoors are built in the large networks they sell. In complex systems like that its next to impossible to hide things in the long run. Anything suspicious would have been found in the audits.

Umm, they WERE FOUND. The report mentions sending "beacons", "relaying data", and other "anomalies".

Huawei's only contention is that they're merely INCOMPETENT, and their firmware just has tons of bugs, and none of them are (intentional) backdoors.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9229785/Hackers_reveal_critical_vulnerabilities_in_Huawei_routers_at_Defcon

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/China-high-tech-firms-deny-spying-before-Congress-3861472.php

the reason that Huawei got started was because the Chinese did all sorts of experiments with Cisco gear and determined that they couldn't trust them because of all the backdoors they had to accommodate US agencies.

The Chinese needed network gear they could trust

If that was the motivation, it turned out to be one of the biggest failed experiments in history. Huawei's code is riddled with exploitable holes, in large part due to software development bad practices.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9229785/Hackers_reveal_critical_vulnerabilities_in_Huawei_routers_at_Defcon

The Chinese government would be BETTER OFF with something else that was written well, and ONLY has one backdoor that select few know about, rather than being subject to the whims of every kiddie who can find a buffer overflow in their horrible code.

Besides, I don't believe for a second that there was such a high-minded motive for Huawei. China has been dedicated to developing as much domestic capability as they can, for purely economic reasons. They've put lots of effort into doing so for things as trivial as DVD players, which obviously don't have national security implications. I fail to see why China would NEED a better motive than that one, which is the basis for everything they've done in the past couple decades, to support domestic telecom companies.

Anybody here evaluated Huawei equipment, or otherwise know more details about the reported issues of it sending "beacons" or "relaying data" back home, or the "anomolies" that appear to be backdoors? The real good stuff seems to be locked-up in that "classified" section we don't get to see...

  http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/China-high-tech-firms-deny-spying-before-Congress-3861472.php

I'm assuming there's something more than just the bugs exposed at defcon:

  http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9229785/Hackers_reveal_critical_vulnerabilities_in_Huawei_routers_at_Defcon

So it's not as high as 90%. But still, what's best? Respecting DNT for IE 10 users and thus doing what 70%(*) of users want or ignoring it and only satisfying the wishes of 28%(**) of the users?

I'd like to see a similar poll asking if people would prefer to pay for things, or get more things for free. Because I sort of see a similarity, what with the trading one thing of value in exchange for something else of value. I'm betting those 68% still participate in this exchange, DNT or no.

If you tell users, "click this checkbox to prevent people from tracking your behavior online!", yes, most users would click that checkbox. Unfortunately that promise would be a lie

Nobody said anything about wording it that way and that not how it's worded in IE's dialogs. So I'm not sure where you're getting at with you 'lying' insinuations.

Sorry, you're right. The actual text, according to your link, is:

Send a Do Not Track request to websites you visit in Internet Explorer

While this is strictly technically accurate, it does imply that this actually does something, that web sites will honor it, and makes no statements about the costs (in terms of ad relevancy). That was the point I was making: it's kind of misleading, and those that do get value out of advertising will get less value out of it without realizing it, while believing that their privacy has improved despite the fact that it probably hasn't.

Bullshit! I'm on a national Do-Not-Call phone registry. You cannot get on the list without explicitly asking for it. Does it mean I never get telemarketing calls? No. Does it mean telemarketers remove me from their list when I tell them not to call me again? No. Instead they hang up in my face and call again a few days later!

I completely agree. DNT, even assuming it were widely honored, doesn't prevent people or governments from doing the "tracking" that people clicking the checkbox don't want. But DNT is going to be less widely honored if advertisers don't feel that the choice is fair to them (fully informed, etc). So if you set DNT on by default, and advertisers decide they're not going to honor it that way, it gets honored for no one. I.e., net privacy loss.

Like....this?

though that's really what 90% of the users want anyway.

Citation needed?

I'll bite. So according to a study, 73% users said they were against tracking by the search engines, and 68% were against targeted advertising.

So it's not as high as 90%. But still, what's best? Respecting DNT for IE 10 users and thus doing what 70%(*) of users want or ignoring it and only satisfying the wishes of 28%(**) of the users?

If you tell users, "click this checkbox to prevent people from tracking your behavior online!", yes, most users would click that checkbox. Unfortunately that promise would be a lie

Nobody said anything about wording it that way and that not how it's worded in IE's dialogs. So I'm not sure where you're getting at with you 'lying' insinuations.

Make it an informed choice, and the number of users that enable it will be less than 90%, and advertisers would have an unambiguous signal about the user's intent and no reason to not honor it.

Bullshit! I'm on a national Do-Not-Call phone registry. You cannot get on the list without explicitly asking for it. Does it mean I never get telemarketing calls? No. Does it mean telemarketers remove me from their list when I tell them not to call me again? No. Instead they hang up in my face and call again a few days later!

IE 10 is just the advertisers' latest excuse to continue doing whatever they want.

(*) I'm starting with the 'targeted ads' numbers which are more favorable to your point of view. The survey shows 28% of the users want them and 68% oppose it. Furthermore a separate study shows that, when they have to manually hunt and set DNT, 5 to 6% of the overall population turns it on. Given that we know 68% favor DNT that means 7 to 9% of the users will go through the hassle. So if DNT is on by default on IE 10 we can expect 7 to 9% of the I-want-targeted-ads crowd to turn it back off which translates to 2 to 2.5%. So if DNT is honored for IE 10 these 2 to 2.5% users will get what they want as well as the 68% who are fine with the default setting, yielding a total of 70 to 70.5% users getting what they want.

(**) Or, conversely, going against the wishes of 68% of the users (the remaining 4% don't know what they want).

If you haven't come across this already, this is a good place to start: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9137708/Opinion_The_unspoken_truth_about_managing_geeks?taxonomyName=Management&taxonomyId=14

As an IT worker myself, one of the most difficult things I struggle with is the frequent lack of acknowledgement and respect. I don't mean simple 'thanks for helping me' responses - although those do count, and workplaces where all employees belittle IT will experience a lot of IT turnover - but for the big things. When we break out all the stops to achieve some huge project, or put in extra unpaid time - we're often salaried, after all - to help someone, the reward is sometimes to have expectations raised, rather than to understand that was an exceptional effort. That discourages us from trying so hard next time.

It's difficult for management to understand what we do, and what they don't understand, they sometimes don't respect. Bonuses are nice, as is comp time. But I really just want to keep things working, and it is distinctly aggravating when I can't prevent a recurring problem because it requires changing the behavior of someone superior to me that doesn't care to make a change, as I'll always be there to clean up their mess. In some cases, it feels like not bothering to install toilets in a restroom because that's what the janitor is for.

All of that said, when it comes to weeding out those that aren't contributing anything... some sort of tracking system is essential, for techs to keep tabs on what they've done. They'll rightfully treat it with skepticism if such a system comes from On High, as the plausible reasoning is to find out how much they can shrink the department. But when brought in with the cooperation of the staff and their immediate management, it can be trusted more. It's also a tool to demonstrate to upper management just how much work we ARE doing, and to justify extra manpower. Simply saying that you need an extra hand often goes nowhere, since IT is frequently seen as a money pit.

And, of course, listen to the techs, the experienced ones in particular. They're the ones that can feel that a piece of software isn't working properly, or that a piece of infrastructure is not up to the task. You don't need to do what they're talking about, but consider their opinion. They're here to understand, fix, and instruct people in how to use technology. Knowing that they're being heard, and seeing visible changes in response to that feedback, does a lot to make a tech feel valued.

And they're perfectly secure.

Ahahahah! Oh man, you must be great in parties!

http://news.softpedia.com/news/JPMorgan-Chase-Bank-Server-Hacked-Tiffany-Employee-Details-Exposed-294557.shtml
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9116933/Report_World_Bank_servers_breached_repeatedly
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/12/bank_server_breached/
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-13711528
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/062612-operation-high-roller-260478.html
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9033999/Bank_of_India_site_hacked_serves_up_22_exploits
http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=3181

And this was just with a 5m search.

And they're perfectly secure.

Ahahahah! Oh man, you must be great in parties!

http://news.softpedia.com/news/JPMorgan-Chase-Bank-Server-Hacked-Tiffany-Employee-Details-Exposed-294557.shtml
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9116933/Report_World_Bank_servers_breached_repeatedly
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/12/bank_server_breached/
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-13711528
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/062612-operation-high-roller-260478.html
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9033999/Bank_of_India_site_hacked_serves_up_22_exploits
http://www.net-security.org/news.php?id=3181

And this was just with a 5m search.

"People need to take personal responsibility for their systems and decisions." - by one_who_uses_unix (68992) on Wednesday September 26, @12:46PM (#41465519) Homepage

Per my subject-line above: Agreed, & here's the EASIEST WAY for Windows users to do so @ least

(Via CIS Tool -> http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9018362/CIS_tool_aims_to_help_federal_agencies_check_Windows_security_settings , a MULTI-PLATFORM security test that is FUN to use & do, almost like a performance benchmark, albeit, for system security instead...)

It is also FREE for Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 users, & timeout version trial is available for Windows 7/Server 2008 users ( The 30-day trial is MORE THAN ADEQUATE to run it, & export the .reg file changes it makes to re-use again).

---

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 & even VISTA/Windows7/Server 2008, & make it "fun-to-do":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=%22HOW+TO+SECURE+Windows+2000%2FXP%22&btnG=Google+Search&gbv=1

---

To "immunize" a Windows system, I effectively use the principles in "layered security" possibles!

http://www.bing.com/search?q=%22HOW+TO+SECURE+Windows+2000%2FXP%22&go=&form=QBRE

I.E./E.G.-> I have done so since 1997-1998 with the most viewed, highly rated guide online for Windows security there really is which came from the fact I also created the 1st guide for securing Windows, highly rated @ NEOWIN (as far back as 1998-2001) here:

http://www.neowin.net/news/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text

& from as far back as 1997 -> http://web.archive.org/web/20020205091023/www.ntcompatible.com/article1.shtml which Neowin above picked up on & rated very highly.

That has evolved more currently, into the MOST viewed & highly rated one there is for years now since 2008 online in the 1st URL link above...

Which has well over 500,000++ views online (actually MORE, but 1 site with 75,000 views of it went offline/out-of-business) & it's been made either:

---

1.) An Essential Guide
2.) 5-5 star rated
3.) A "sticky-pinned" thread
4.) Most viewed in the category it's in (usually security)
5.) Got me PAID by winning a contest @ PCPitStop (quite unexpectedly - I was only posting it for the good of all, & yes, "the Lord works in mysterious ways", it even got me PAID -> http://techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2007/09/04/pc-pitstop-winners/ (see January 2008))

---

Across 15-20 or so sites I posted it on back in 2008... & here is the IMPORTANT part, in some sample testimonials to the "layered security" methodology efficacy:

---

SOME QUOTED TESTIMONIALS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SAID LAYERED SECURITY GUIDE I AUTHORED:

http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=672ebdf47af75a0c5b0d9e7278be305f&t=28430&page=2

"I recently, months ago when you finally got this guide done, had authorization to try this on simple work station for kids. My client, who paid me an ungodly amount of money to do this, has been PROBLEM FREE FOR MONTHS! I haven't eve

Here are the list of 3 bills proposed by different politicians. Each of them have advantages and disadvantages in their own reasons.

Bill from Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231276/Republicans_ready_STEM_Jobs_Act_

- Replace DV lottery program with STEM visa
- Only those who obtained a doctorate or master degree from a U.S. university (or those who obtained a doctorate from a foreign university) are eligible, including courses/programs taking from online
- Allow those who graduated from for-profit schools to participate with some level of criteria set. - The candidate must be physically present in the U.S.
- The process to obtain the visa is similar to the process to obtain a green card
- The candidate must work with the employer at least 5 years
- Doctorate holders has higher priority when apply.
- Employers and occupation of the job must be listed on Department of Homeland Security website.

Bill from Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231295/Democrats_produce_rival_STEM_visa_bill

- Instead of replacing the DV lottery program, create a new green card program called EB-6.
- Let the new program run for 2 years, and then let lawmakers reassess whether to continue it.
- Not allow for-profit schools into the program.
- The pay must be considered from experience level, not from prevailing wage.

Bill from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231377/Schumer_to_introduce_own_STEM_visa_bill?taxonomyId=70

- Similar to Lofgren but allow for-profit schools.

Here are the list of 3 bills proposed by different politicians. Each of them have advantages and disadvantages in their own reasons.

Bill from Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231276/Republicans_ready_STEM_Jobs_Act_

- Replace DV lottery program with STEM visa
- Only those who obtained a doctorate or master degree from a U.S. university (or those who obtained a doctorate from a foreign university) are eligible, including courses/programs taking from online
- Allow those who graduated from for-profit schools to participate with some level of criteria set. - The candidate must be physically present in the U.S.
- The process to obtain the visa is similar to the process to obtain a green card
- The candidate must work with the employer at least 5 years
- Doctorate holders has higher priority when apply.
- Employers and occupation of the job must be listed on Department of Homeland Security website.

Bill from Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231295/Democrats_produce_rival_STEM_visa_bill

- Instead of replacing the DV lottery program, create a new green card program called EB-6.
- Let the new program run for 2 years, and then let lawmakers reassess whether to continue it.
- Not allow for-profit schools into the program.
- The pay must be considered from experience level, not from prevailing wage.

Bill from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231377/Schumer_to_introduce_own_STEM_visa_bill?taxonomyId=70

- Similar to Lofgren but allow for-profit schools.

Here are the list of 3 bills proposed by different politicians. Each of them have advantages and disadvantages in their own reasons.

Bill from Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231276/Republicans_ready_STEM_Jobs_Act_

- Replace DV lottery program with STEM visa
- Only those who obtained a doctorate or master degree from a U.S. university (or those who obtained a doctorate from a foreign university) are eligible, including courses/programs taking from online
- Allow those who graduated from for-profit schools to participate with some level of criteria set. - The candidate must be physically present in the U.S.
- The process to obtain the visa is similar to the process to obtain a green card
- The candidate must work with the employer at least 5 years
- Doctorate holders has higher priority when apply.
- Employers and occupation of the job must be listed on Department of Homeland Security website.

Bill from Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231295/Democrats_produce_rival_STEM_visa_bill

- Instead of replacing the DV lottery program, create a new green card program called EB-6.
- Let the new program run for 2 years, and then let lawmakers reassess whether to continue it.
- Not allow for-profit schools into the program.
- The pay must be considered from experience level, not from prevailing wage.

Bill from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) -- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231377/Schumer_to_introduce_own_STEM_visa_bill?taxonomyId=70

- Similar to Lofgren but allow for-profit schools.

Have it your way.

It's not about what's "my way" it's about what's relevant, what's that got to do with violating the privacy of people when they explicitly said they wouldn't? That's just a patent, different companies have millions of the things, some implemented some not. You're obviously a shill desperately grasping at straws. I suppose you don't use a telephone because of the ability to wiretap it?

I'm certainly not advocating for MS, this won't drive me away from using Google, but comparing Google's violation of privacy to MS' business practices or wiretapping patents is clearly flawed and shows either clear idiocy or clear bias.

Have it your way.

McAfee:

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=10/04/21/1735211

Symantec/Norton:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9019958

ODDLY ENOUGH?

SOPHOS (vs. Google Analytics)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=%22Sophos%22+and+%22Google+Analytics%22&btnG=Google+Search&gbv=1

APK

P.S.=> And I can & DID point out a LOT MORE, & it's happened to myself in wares I wrote, and those of VERY NOTABLE FOLKS in this industry (Nir Sofer of Nirsoft, as well as Dr. Mark Russinovich of Microsoft -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3132237&cid=41401485 which some dork downmodded & ran... )

... apk

Well yes, I was half-joking. But I feel as though they're more like two cycles behind on this -- 2011 was when NFC really hit the mainstream, there was a fair bit of speculation that the 4S would have it.

Oh wow Alex being a FOSSie and throwing insults, surprise surprise. Hey here is a video of RMS you'll find enlightening and as a public service allow me to post some facts (with links, which of course you can NEVER provide) to give those that aren't sucking GNUoolaid some information about the product you keep championing blindly like a Moonie following his master.

How about a nice kernel exploit? Or how about the guy that wrote EEEBuntu saying Ubuntu sucks? which considering they are the current savior of Linux kinda tells you something.

How sad was it that even when a bug was spreading through OSX there were writers pointing out that's no reason to torture yourself with Linux , after all even a virus ridden OSX actually runs which is more than most distros LOL! But hey, you can always tell them they can fix it otherwise they don't need that right? LOL! And I noticed you just couldn't fricking resist screaming "Nigger!" which in FOSSie is done by screaming PaidMicrosoftShill, hey you think you could throw in one more FOSSie cliche please? Then I'll have a FOSSie Flush ROFL!

But if you didn't have cliches and your pathetic attempts at insults why then you might have to have an independent thought and realize what everybody knows that even when MSFT put out a universally reviled OS you STILL got curb stomped, does that give you ANY clues? or all they all brainwashed by those black choppers that have been following you? Hell when the Chinese were given the choice of your "free OS" or pirating Windows they chose the latter even if it meant staying on XP and using IE fricking 6, LOL! Does that ring ANY bells? A smart person would say "what are we doing wrong the other guy is doing right?" but a FOSSie who is just like a Moonie in that they blindly follow, instead says "Its all a conspiracy! They are all shills keeping the masses from true salvation!" and then you wonder why we all laugh at you because you DON'T Listen, you DON'T learn, and Torvalds could take a big steaming dump and hand it to you and you'd thank him for his generous gift. So enjoy that fresh bitchslapping loony, enjoy the fact that the world really doesn't care...but I do, I enjoy slapping you, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

So when can I start using my iPad during "all phases of the flight"?

Pretty soon.

As long as MS have their deal with manufacturers to enforce a pre-installed windows nothing will change

Dell have done it on and off for years, they just didnt sell well. Asus has done it as well, as has HP and Acer. There's also Apple and a myriad of other manufacturers who sell systems with no Operating System or with Linux installed. The big players focus on Windows because that's what people buy, for the smaller market who don't want Windows there is certainly a lot of variety and there is also the Windows license refund.

And Google has killed apps on users phones

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9213641/Google_throws_kill_switch_on_Android_phones

If apple customers stopped funding apple, they wouldn't be apple customers

...interesting customization for Windows 8

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225016/Free_tool_restores_Start_button_to_Windows_8

It is made by the same people who made Window Blinds and it supposedly adds a "Start" button to Windows 8. So if you are one of those people that misses the "Start" button then your answer lies above.

From the end of the 15th page: > And in 1981, in the most famous of these ill-fated quotes, Bill Gates himself said in defense of the capacity of the first floppy disks, "640 kilobytes ought to be enough for anyone." http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9101699/The_640K_quote_won_t_go_away_but_did_Gates_really_say_it_ begs to disagree.

I believe he was referring to system memory because at the time, MS-DOS could only address 640k of memory.

Hence in quotes - but whatever you want to call it or liken it to...
http://blogs.computerworld.com/mobile-apps/20881/google-ios-voice-search-saga ...its update is still pending acceptance into the app store.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9151159/Facebook_sees_need_for_Terabit_Ethernet Companies have been asking for 400/1TB for years now, and they are just now forming a group to figure it out?

Its already happening unfortunately. This time with software-patents and Microsft is doing it directly now rather than using a proxy like SCO they are quietly going around to companies and telling them if you use Linux then you need to pay up or face litigation. They are not sending letters they are sending layers and everything is done under NDA so you cannot talk about it in the press. Its very shady but they are already doing this. The goal is to stain/destroy Linux in the marketplace

I recently saw a somewhat informative article about prepaid plans and a follow-up article by the same author which talks about his experience with having switched to T-Mobile's $30 a month plan.

I'm definitely considering making the switch myself, but i'm currently on T-Mobile's "Value" plan, paying $65 a month for 500 minutes of talk, unlimited text, and "unlimited" data. I'll have to take a closer look at exactly how many minutes of talk i use to see if it's worth switching to the 100 minutes a month plan to save $35 a month upfront.

I recently saw a somewhat informative article about prepaid plans and a follow-up article by the same author which talks about his experience with having switched to T-Mobile's $30 a month plan.

I'm definitely considering making the switch myself, but i'm currently on T-Mobile's "Value" plan, paying $65 a month for 500 minutes of talk, unlimited text, and "unlimited" data. I'll have to take a closer look at exactly how many minutes of talk i use to see if it's worth switching to the 100 minutes a month plan to save $35 a month upfront.

So leave some flash drives in the parking lot.

And all my friends who work at the Apple store own iPhones...

Yes, both anecdotes are completely meaningless. Luckily, there are real world studies....

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227210/Apple_head_and_shoulders_above_phone_rivals_in_satisfaction_survey

20 to 1

Thanks to ongoing lawsuit, we know that Apple's iPad outsold the Galaxy tablets by a margin of 20 to 1 when the Galaxy tablets launched. In the most recent quarter (which may not be complete), Samsung only sold 37k Galaxy tablets. For reference, during it's slowest quarter the iPad sold 63k units per day.

Much like the iPod market, Apple is absolutely crushing people in tablets. The Kindle Fire has been be the best competitor, and it seems to have lost it's sales. The Nexus 7 is a much more compelling device, so we'll see what happens there. Apple doesn't have the lead in phones (only 16% of the market), but they have 71% of smartphone profits. Android may be moving more units, but that's not a good trend.

Early next year Samsung will be selling an 11+" 'retina' type display tablet, and that will begin the end of apple's dominance. http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9230159/Samsung_details_next_gen_Exynos_processor_for_smartphones_and_tablets?mm_ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fnews%2Fi%2Fsection%3Fgl%3Dus%26pz%3D1%26cf%3Dall%26topic%3Dtc http://www.tehrantimes.com/science/100502-samsung-is-moments-away-from-a-true-ipad-alternative

Wow that's a thoughtful, complex post. Let's deal with these issues one at a time.

Para 1: Bill is gone. Bill Gates remains the chairman of the board at Microsoft, and hand-picked all the other board members - who pick the CEO and evaluate his performance, give him goals and guidance, set his pay, bonuses and options, and set policy. Bill is still very much responsible for what goes on there, and weighs in on every big decision.

Para 2: Steve Ballmer. You neglected to mention the sea of red ink that is Microsoft's Online Services Division. I happen to like the direction Steve Ballmer is taking Microsoft. Clearly this is a man with vision and purpose who is ready and able to take the company where I want it to go. It takes Marvel Comics level superpowers to get rid of this much cash flow, to destroy a 42 percent success in mobile market share from 2007 given their advantages and high hopes, to so capably destroy the morale and productivity of the world's best developers, to put a company with this much income in $55B of debt. So let's lay off of Steve-o, mmkay? I like him where he is, sweaty shirt and all.

Para 3: No more Big, Bad MS. With the OOXML debacle that nearly ruined ISO, their recent rape of Nokia, their current ongoing rape of OEMs, retail vendors of both their products and Windows PCs, their planned rape of software distributor partners, developers and competing independent software vendors and much much more they prove every day that they have not changed. Last week they confirmed they're going to murder the advertisers they bought relationships with in an acquisition by making "Do Not Track" the default in IE. Just yesterday it came out that the new replacement for Hotmail, Outlook.com is incompatible with Android. The "new kinder, gentler Microsoft" is a myth. They have now declared war on absolutely everybody on Earth, including the people who pay for their products and excepting only the Women's Temperance Union and media executives. Naturally this means I expect them to announce an embedded bittorent feature for IE that involves a drinking game next.

Para 4. Ballmer outbound. Steve Ballmer is not retiring for another seven years at least, when his last kid goes off to college.

Para 5. Immortal desktop victory. It's not enough to take ground. Once you take ground, you have to hold it. MS won mobile with 40% share too [link above], once upon a time. And now they'r