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Microsoft's H.264 addon for Firefox has a bad memory leak.
See http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/971988-memory-leak-in-html5-extension-for-windows-media-player-firefox-add-on/

So this might be bad for Chrome.

What's the percentage of Windows users who install malware on their system rather than being hit by a remote exploit?

I don't know and I certainly doubt you do either. But considering how much anecdotal evidence there is to show that people are in large numbers willingly clicking on malware in emails and installing malware from pops to websites, it's not nearly as small as you try to make it out.

which lacks the sandboxing that's common on Linux (Apparmor, SELinux, etc),

Sure if you ignore things like DEP, ASLR, etc. Oh and before you try to claim that Linux is so superior in security lets listen to the words of the big winner of Pwn2Own 2009 Charlie Miller:

Q: In Pwn2Own 2010 there is still no trace of Linux as possible target. Is it too harder to find exploits for Linux or a non commercial operating system has no interest for exploit hunters?

A: No, Linux is no harder, in fact probably easier, although some of this is dependent on the particular flavor of Linux you’re talking about. The organizers don’t choose to use Linux because not that many people use it on the desktop. The other thing is, the vulnerabilities are in the browsers, and mostly, the same browsers that run on Linux, run on Windows.

Oh and let's not forget this good story based on other statements made by him: Charlie Miller: Windows 7 + IE 8 or Chrome provides safest computing experience.

I'm sure he's just a Microsoft shill, though, right?

Not quite. I don't really care about the payment services (because they're generally scum for different reasons), but Amazon did it for fair reasons.

WikiLeaks signed up to host their stuff on Amazon. I could do that right now and be running in a few minutes (or so). There is not some in-depth process to go through. When you are found to violate their posted Terms of Service, then you are subject to be removed.

Amazon found WikiLeaks to violate their ToS: Amazon comments.

you represent and warrant that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the content... that use of the content you supply does not violate this policy and will not cause injury to any person or entity.

Followed by their true statement than multiple Human rights groups have complained about some lacking of redaction and you have a credible and legitimate reason to drop WikiLeaks. No business should be forced to hold itself liable to that. Hopefully, given this evidence, people will understand why Amazon knocked them off the service, but I am not going to expect it to change most people's minds.

WikiLeaks went against their Terms of Use. Whether you agree or disagree with WikiLeaks: Amazon was completely right to drop them. They clearly stated their reasons after-the-fact and they were completely legitimate reasons. We may disagree with it, but it was there before WikiLeaks jumped on board.

From their TOS (emphasis mine):

you represent and warrant that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the content... that use of the content you supply does not violate this policy and will not cause injury to any person or entity.

The first section is definitely questionable, and the second is also of concern, especially given that a lot of Human rights organizations have written to WikiLeaks, suggesting otherwise.

Neowin Article

FTFA:
http://www.acm.org/uist/uist2010/Student_Contest.html
The current requirements for running the keyboard are below:
1. A computer running Windows Vista or Windows 7. 32-bit only.

So you're required to be nerdy enough to want to enter this this contest and create a demo of your idea, but noob enough to still be running 32-bit? Half of Windows 7 PCs run the 64-bit version

"To reserve a place in the contest and to receive an Adaptive keyboard for development, contestants must submit an entry email to the contest chair no later than August 17th, 2010."

Not much notice /.!

And on the same day is this story about IE share going up, and firefox down:

http://www.neowin.net/news/ie-usage-grows-in-july-firefox-share-declines

Goes to show you really can't take any of these findings seriously.

A quick Google search confirms that I have not. Most every link I could find confirmed, more or less, that your average hard drive lasts roughly 5 years. As I said, I've had some that last longer, but they show their age with the noises they make and poor performance they demonstrate. A hard drive older than 5 years old that still performs like a new one is a rarity.

Here's one such link:

http://www.neowin.net/news/study-hard-drive-mtbf-ratings-highly-exaggerated

You can find the others on your own. I saw an interesting graph in a Google Study which broke down failure rates by the age of the hard drive. It looked like there was roughly an 8% chance per year (on the average, it varied) for a given hard drive to fail. That seems to sync up pretty well with the "5 years is typical" that I saw most other places.

The battle isn't in the crack teams' favor these days:

The PS3 has been shown to be 100% secure after the years it has been out.

I believe GeoHot might disagree with you in that regard

HD satellite is still unbroken.

Really? Which satellite network? BEV is cracked, as is N3 (So Dish) - Google "N3XT"

FairPlay for movies still has not been cracked, and no, using the analog hole or a program like SoundTaxi to "record" the played movie is not a crack. That is a transcoding.

I'm sure the QTFairUse guys would have done it, had not Apple C&D'd them into oblivion.

HDCP has been out for a while, still unbroken.

Really? Are you sure about that?

Recent iPhones are still not jailbroken.

Really? Ask PlanetBeing about that.

Windows 7 activation has yet to have a reliable bypass that doesn't turn the desktop black.

Really? 'cause I'm using This release (For educational purposes only, of course), and have no black desktop on either x86 and x64. As long as you don't install KB971033 (Which can be blacklisted in Windows Update), you're just fine.

but you know how steve jobs is. his reply: you're not holding it right! that's right folks! iphone is a magical and revolutionary gadget and if it is not working, the user is to blame.

Yes, just like they had to pay Major League Baseball, the American Presidential Inaugural Committee, and the 2008 DNC to use Silverlight*.

Makes me wonder why Microsoft don't just throw that money at legislators to pass a law which requires Americans to use Microsoft Software. Makes a lot more sense given America's political climate.

* Fortunately, MLB realized the folley of their ways and dropped Silverlight shortly afterward. The other two examples were only one-time events...but to be fair, there were plenty of ways to view the latter two in Flash as well.

"That entire run-on paragraph was pretty much a straight reiteration of what APK feels are his best arguments - by SanityInAnarchy (655584) on Wednesday June 02, @08:42PM (#32439518)

Per my subject-line above? That man said it better than I did actually, & though he critiqued my usage of sscanf which I used earlier? It still makes my point for me... so, in the end??

Well, if you can't handle the heat in the kitchen SanityInAnarchy? Get out of it, while you still can with SOME dignity @ least, as the man said. He even noted you have to toss names as an invalid form of argument (logical fallacy) & as far as this science is concerned (which you have meandered gigantically off topic in now)?

I am a CORRECT authority, degrees + professional time & all (heck even doing well enough that others in respected publications such as Windows NT Magazine (now Windows IT Pro, & even those at Micrsoft Tech Ed) noted it as decent enough!

Plus my points here apparently made points with others also, per those you are now attacking (as is your usual).

APK

P.S.=> Yes - The person you responded to reiterated my points, because they're correct on my part... Again:

"Open Sores", despite my ribbing on it using that term, which obviously "rattled you in your game" to the point where you had to toss names my way? I do like & even try help those "into it"... been there myself in the realm of freewares in fact, before "open source" got popular!

(Which again, I try even help guys who do projects in them, such as UltraDefrag 64 & many other freewares over time as well)

"Open Sores" works BOTH WAYS as I noted - it can work FOR YOU (IF you know how to code that is, I don't think you do, because you failed to realize this & only "see the side of the (usually) LINUX crew here" who are mostly just TECHIES or at best, network admins tops usually), OR AGAINST YOU, and in the case of those with malicious intent? It can REALLY work against you!

E.G.-> Why do you think SO many attacks against Windows come from China? In case you don't know it, MS made a deal with them and supplied them the source to Windows NT based OS (iirc, it was Win2k), & this has payed off badly (at first, but imo @ least? I think this is only going to HELP MS, because the Chinese hacker/cracker types will run out of holes one day, and they're actually doing MS a favor, by exposing what MS themselves cannot find! Best "security research" there is, and they're in essence, helping Microsoft in doing so!)

(That's because hacker/crackers can determine what I did and know what to look for, such as the sscanf I noted as an example thereof)

Heck - on 'crackers/malware makers' etc./et al? Well... a lot of them, nowadays?? They are NOT just "script kiddies" anymore - I know, I go to where they are to figure out "how they think"!

That's WHY I did the articles on securing Windows NT-based OS, & I have since 1998 (Article #1 @ NTCompatible.com in fact, & even NeoWin (a place nearly as full of trolls as this place is no less) rated it very well -> http://www.neowin.net/news/main/01/11/29/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text (& that's the OLD model, that only got folks to a 70/100 score on CIS Tool analysis... my latest model? Will get you very close to 100 (I have a 99/100 here in fact))... apk

You're right! In fact, we should now replace all anti-Bill Gates memorabilia with these pictures: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/272750-pic-funny-bill-gates-pics-from-1983/#entry585309992

Ooo...sssmmmooking!

Silly question I know, but reading your post just makes its title look all the more ironic.

Hardware and legacy-OS "fragmentation" exists today in the iPhone ecosystem - nearly half of iPod Touches are running older systems, and there are already iPhone owners who will never be able to upgrade to OS 4 (even the beta). It's obviously greater in Android due to the larger choice of hardware and more rapid OS releases. Some may prefer a slower-moving target, but the monolithic, our-way-or-the-highway approach that's required to achieve this has too many well-documented disadvantages to be suitable for everyone.

[Backwards compatibility] sounds like an unlikely situation in the android world

That's just plain uninformed. No APIs have been revoked or broken; the only 1.0 apps that don't work today are the ones that did naughty, undocumented things - like any other platform. In fact, Android's VM model, excellent API version management and Marketplace manifest model make it easy to allow apps to run on any version of Android they can manage, or to target the app at whatever specific set of hardware features are required, making forward compatibility far less of an issue that for e.g. Linux or Windows (can't speak for iPhone OS personally). And Rubin points this out.

http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/272750-pic-funny-bill-gates-pics-from-1983/#entry585309992 /Ducks

no one is going to pick your stupid theora code

http://www.neowin.net/news/google-investing-in-theora-for-mobile-devices
http://mozillalinks.org/wp/2008/07/native-ogg-vorbis-and-theora-support-added-for-firefox-31/
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/wiki/wikitech/167167

Please provide sources to backup your statements. Thanks.

His post is right if by later he meant just 3 days ago, and by the rest of the world he meant just the UK.

"It undoubtedly helps that I am not using Windows (just why that helps is a separate debate). That to me is basic common sense combined with a few minutes of Googling." - by causality (777677) on Friday April 23, @11:45AM (#31956250)

Windows can be secured, & here's how, for "bulletproof & bugfree operation", especially over "the long haul" & I've tried to promote that which you speak of, by creating guides for end-user security (which network techs can use on LANS/WANS endpoints such as PC workstation nodes & yes, even servers to an extent), per this guide below:

----

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003, & even VISTA/Windows 7 (+ make it "fun-to-do" via CIS Tool Guidance & beyond):

http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=568d95985ad83ef4add94de09f6026d3&showtopic=2662

----

Fact is, what you're saying?

It is the "WHY" of why I wrote the VERY FIRST/OLDEST security guide for Windows NT-based OS, which NEOWIN picked up on in 2001 & rated it extremely well too, no less, here -> http://www.neowin.net/news/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text and it had its "dim early beginnings" back in 1997-1998 @ NTCompatible.com as their "Article #1" here http://web.archive.org/web/20020205091023/www.ntcompatible.com/article1.shtml (it started out on how to speed up a Windows NT based PC, & grew into a "SPEED & SECURITY GUIDE" there over the next few years 1998-2002 or so).

(Which however, is now as of late 2007 to present, has become far, Far, FAR MORE EFFECTIVE in its latest iteration shown below, w/ evidences thereof to that effect (solid, uninfested uptime for YEARS & how/why too))

It works, & is based on the concept of what many computer security folks the past few years have been calling "LAYERED SECURITY"...

PROOFS/EXAMPLES OF ITS EFFICACY? Ok, below:

----

http://forums.theplanet.com/index.php?s=80bbbffc22d358de6b01b8450d596746&showtopic=89123&st=60&start=60

"the use of the hosts file has worked for me in many ways. for one it stops ad banners, it helps speed up your computer as well. if you need more proof i am writing to you on a 400 hertz computer and i run with ease. i do not get 200++ viruses and spy ware a month as i use to. now i am lucky if i get 1 or 2 viruses a month. if you want my opinion if you stick to what APK says in his article about securing your computer then you will be safe and should not get any viruses or spy ware, but if you do get hit with viruses and spy ware then it will your own fault. keep up the good fight APK." - Kings Joker, user of my guide @ THE PLANET

AND

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 even had a follow up call which is unusual." - THRONKA, user of my guide @ XTremePcCentral

AND

"APK, thanks for such a great guide. This would, and should, be an inspiration to such security measures. Also, the pc that has "tweaks": IS STILL GOING! NO PROBLEMS!" - THRONKA, user of my guide @ XTremePcCentral

AND

Anybody notice that Abbot was formerly the general manager for .NET online services @ Microsoft before webOS?
http://www.neowin.net/news/palm039s-head-of-software-resigns?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+neowin-forum+(Neowin.net+Forums)

Seems to be a biochemist by education too:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelabbott

So not sure if his leaving is a huge loss for Palm. May be just cutting the fat.

"His OS is used 90% of US computers, including military ones. And it security holes you could sail an aircraft carrier through. " - by peter303 (12292) on Wednesday April 07, @11:56AM (#31762284)

It CAN BE SECURITY-HARDENED though, with about 1-2 hours of effort (mostly automated too), see below: but, as you note? MS also ship a security hardened model to the US gov't. &/or military + have done so a couple times over the years (iirc, last year & in 2002 too). They ought to to everyone else too! However, you CAN do it yourself, fairly easily too...

----

"MicroSoft has been more diligent about security lately. But the damage has already been done." - by peter303 (12292) on Wednesday April 07, @11:56AM (#31762284)

Again - They have been, but, they also ship a security hardened model to the US gov't. &/or military + have done so a couple times over the years (iirc, last year & in 2002 too).

In fact? Your point's the "WHY" of why I wrote the VERY FIRST/OLDEST security guide for Windows NT-based OS, which NEOWIN picked up on in 2001 & rated it extremely well too, no less, here -> http://www.neowin.net/news/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text and it had its "dim early beginnings" back in 1997-1998 @ NTCompatible.com as their "Article #1" here http://web.archive.org/web/20020205091023/www.ntcompatible.com/article1.shtml (it started out on how to speed up a Windows NT based PC, & grew into a "SPEED & SECURITY GUIDE" there over the next few years 1998-2002 or so).

(Which however, is now as of late 2007 to present, has become far, Far, FAR MORE EFFECTIVE in its latest iteration shown below, w/ evidences thereof to that effect (solid, uninfested uptime for YEARS & how/why too))

I've tried to promote that which you speak of, by creating guides for end-user security (which network techs can use on LANS/WANS endpoints such as PC workstation nodes & yes, even servers to an extent), per this guide below:

----

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003, & even VISTA/Windows 7 (+ make it "fun-to-do" via CIS Tool Guidance & beyond):

http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=568d95985ad83ef4add94de09f6026d3&showtopic=2662

----

It works, & is based on the concept of what many computer security folks the past few years have been calling "LAYERED SECURITY"...

PROOFS/EXAMPLES OF ITS EFFICACY? Ok, below:

----

http://forums.theplanet.com/index.php?s=80bbbffc22d358de6b01b8450d596746&showtopic=89123&st=60&start=60

"the use of the hosts file has worked for me in many ways. for one it stops ad banners, it helps speed up your computer as well. if you need more proof i am writing to you on a 400 hertz computer and i run with ease. i do not get 200++ viruses and spy ware a month as i use to. now i am lucky if i get 1 or 2 viruses a month. if you want my opinion if you stick to what APK says in his article about securing your computer then you will be safe and should not get any viruses or spy ware, but if you do get hit with viruses and spy ware then it will your own fault. keep up the good fight APK." - Kings Joker, user of my guide @ THE PLANET

AND

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 th

"Virus and malware attacks provoke some immune response, but if we are to become strong something must weed out the weak." - by couchslug (175151) on Wednesday April 07, @12:08PM (#31762428)

110% agreed, I agree, wholeheartedly, which is the "WHY" of why I wrote the VERY FIRST/OLDEST security guide for Windows NT-based OS, which NEOWIN picked up on in 2001 & rated it extremely well too, no less, here -> http://www.neowin.net/news/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text and it had its "dim early beginnings" back in 1997-1998 @ NTCompatible.com as their "Article #1" here http://web.archive.org/web/20020205091023/www.ntcompatible.com/article1.shtml (it started out on how to speed up a Windows NT based PC, & grew into a "SPEED & SECURITY GUIDE" there over the next few years 1998-2002 or so).

(Which however, is now as of late 2007 to present, has become far, Far, FAR MORE EFFECTIVE in its latest iteration shown below, w/ evidences thereof to that effect (solid, uninfested uptime for YEARS & how/why too))

I've tried to promote that which you speak of, by creating guides for end-user security (which network techs can use on LANS/WANS endpoints such as PC workstation nodes & yes, even servers to an extent), per this guide below:

----

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003, & even VISTA/Windows 7 (+ make it "fun-to-do" via CIS Tool Guidance & beyond):

http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=568d95985ad83ef4add94de09f6026d3&showtopic=2662

----

It works, & is based on the concept of what many computer security folks the past few years have been calling "LAYERED SECURITY"...

PROOFS/EXAMPLES OF ITS EFFICACY? Ok, below:

----

http://forums.theplanet.com/index.php?s=80bbbffc22d358de6b01b8450d596746&showtopic=89123&st=60&start=60

"the use of the hosts file has worked for me in many ways. for one it stops ad banners, it helps speed up your computer as well. if you need more proof i am writing to you on a 400 hertz computer and i run with ease. i do not get 200++ viruses and spy ware a month as i use to. now i am lucky if i get 1 or 2 viruses a month. if you want my opinion if you stick to what APK says in his article about securing your computer then you will be safe and should not get any viruses or spy ware, but if you do get hit with viruses and spy ware then it will your own fault. keep up the good fight APK." - Kings Joker, user of my guide @ THE PLANET

AND

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 even had a follow up call which is unusual." - THRONKA, user of my guide @ XTremePcCentral

AND

"APK, thanks for such a great guide. This would, and should, be an inspiration to such security measures. Also, the pc that has "tweaks": IS STILL GOING! NO PROBLEMS!" - THRONKA, user of my guide @ XTremePcCentral

AND

http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=672ebdf47af75a0c5b0d9e7278be305f&t=28430&page=3

"Its 2009 - still tro

this and this are likely couple of those places. Maybe you also found this PS2 tax court battle interesting :p

"You, on the other hand, are a moron and I have no wish to continue arguing with someone as incoherent and stupid as you." - by clone53421 (1310749) on Tuesday April 06, @12:32AM (#31744834)

You care to meet me in person, so you can talk like that to me with all your name tossing, "Mr. NOBODY"? I call you that, because you haven't shown me that you are in fact, an expert, nor are you even KNOWN for anything good in this art & science of computing.

So - As far as me being "stupid" (or any of the numerous names a "brave hero" (not) like you has called me), well...

The day you can do all of this (or more) & get the same notoriety (including your code in commercially sold programs as I have)? Then, you can talk:

"My Name is Ozymandias: King of Kings - Look upon my works, ye mighty, & DESPAIR..."

----

Windows NT Magazine (now Windows IT Pro) April 1997 "BACK OFFICE PERFORMANCE" issue, page 61

(&, for work done for EEC Systems/SuperSpeed.com on PAID CONTRACT (writing portions of their SuperCache program increasing its performance by up to 40% via my work) albeit, for their SuperDisk & HOW TO APPLY IT, took them to a finalist position @ MS Tech Ed, two years in a row 2000-2002, in its HARDEST CATEGORY: SQLServer Performance Enhancement).

WINDOWS MAGAZINE, 1997, "Top Freeware & Shareware of the Year" issue page 210, #1/first entry in fact (my work is there)

PC-WELT FEB 1998 - page 84, again, my work is featured there

WINDOWS MAGAZINE, WINTER 1998 - page 92, insert section, MUST HAVE WARES, my work is again, there

PC-WELT FEB 1999 - page 83, again, my work is featured there

CHIP Magazine 7/99 - page 100, my work is there

GERMAN PC BOOK, Data Becker publisher "PC Aufrusten und Repairen" 2000, where my work is contained in it

HOT SHAREWARE Numero 46 issue, pg. 54 (PC ware mag from Spain), 2001 my work is there, first one featured, yet again!

Also, a British PC Mag in 2002 for many utilities I wrote, saw it @ BORDERS BOOKS but didn't buy it... by that point, I had moved onto other areas in this field besides coding only...

Lastly, being paid for an article that made me money over @ PCPitstop in 2008 for writing up a guide that has people showing NO VIRUSES/SPYWARES & other screwups, via following its point, such as THRONKA sees here -> http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=ee926d913b81bf6d63c3c7372fd2a24c&t=28430&page=3

(That last one's also featured here as one of your "ESSENTIAL GUIDES" -> http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=ded3dfdba4dba2091d4d73d674bbfdf6&showtopic=602537 )

----

What do I have to say about that much above? I can't say it any better, than this was stated already (from the greatest book of all time, the "tech manual for life" imo):

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." - Corinthians Chapter 10, Verse 10

(And, because I got LUCKY to have been exposed to some really GREAT classmates, professsors, & colleagues on the job over time as well)

APK

P.S.=> However, you, by way of comparison? You obviously have NEVER done anything like I have above (which is only a PARTIAL LIST, some of my favorites)... I can say that, because I asked you that before! I mean, for instance: Do you even have a CSC or CIS degree to your name?? Somehow, I doubt it.

Do you even work w/in the field of computing as a network administrator or programmer-analyst/software engineer & for more than a decade

You're forgetting about tablets

Apple's tablet uses digital signatures to block any browser other than Safari.

phones

Smartphones tend to use Safari (iPhone), Chrome (Android), or IE 7 (Windows Phone 7 Series). Maemo phones have essentially zero market share in the United States, home of Slashdot.

and who-knows-what kind of devices

"Devices" are more likely to use digital signatures to block third-party software than PCs are.

1. This update gets installed if you are in the EU and use XP or later.
2. If you have IE as default browser, this site opens at the next login, or when you click on the icon the update puts on your desktop (like this).

Hopefully this will help standards compliant browsers gain some marketshare. (Not that my country needs much help. :P)

Micorsoft down august 2003

And their WGA server failed also sometimes ago.

I am suprised they were not sued for this.

So what else is new? Did anyone expect different?

This is the default position of Microsofts old guard to any competitor product.

Android:
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/11/06/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-pokers-fun-at-google-android
Chrome:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/07/14/steve_ballmer_laughs_off_googles_chrome_os_threat.html
iPhone:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/microsoft-ceo-claims-new-zune-market-share-laughs-at-iphone/

Gates playing down iPhone:
http://www.iphoneworld.ca/news/2007/02/03/bill-gates-wont-buy-an-apple-iphone/

"Jesus Christ APK, you're useless." - by metrix007 (200091) on Thursday February 04, @01:31PM (#31025064)

See subject-line above, & prove me incorrect is all!

(OH: Please also see my 'P.S.' below, as to my being "useless"... & "argue with the numbers", ok?)

APK

P.S.=> If I am "so useless", then how did all of these happen then?

"My Name is Ozymandias: King of Kings - Look upon my works, ye mighty, & DESPAIR..."

----

Windows NT Magazine (now Windows IT Pro) April 1997 "BACK OFFICE PERFORMANCE" issue, page 61

(&, for work done for EEC Systems/SuperSpeed.com on PAID CONTRACT (writing portions of their SuperCache program increasing its performance by up to 40% via my work) albeit, for their SuperDisk & HOW TO APPLY IT, took them to a finalist position @ MS Tech Ed, two years in a row 2000-2002, in its HARDEST CATEGORY: SQLServer Performance Enhancement).

WINDOWS MAGAZINE, 1997, "Top Freeware & Shareware of the Year" issue page 210, #1/first entry in fact (my work is there)

PC-WELT FEB 1998 - page 84, again, my work is featured there

WINDOWS MAGAZINE, WINTER 1998 - page 92, insert section, MUST HAVE WARES, my work is again, there

PC-WELT FEB 1999 - page 83, again, my work is featured there

CHIP Magazine 7/99 - page 100, my work is there

GERMAN PC BOOK, Data Becker publisher "PC Aufrusten und Repairen" 2000, where my work is contained in it

HOT SHAREWARE Numero 46 issue, pg. 54 (PC ware mag from Spain), 2001 my work is there, first one featured, yet again!

Also, a British PC Mag in 2002 for many utilities I wrote, saw it @ BORDERS BOOKS but didn't buy it... by that point, I had moved onto other areas in this field besides coding only...

Lastly, being paid for an article that made me money over @ PCPitstop in 2008 for writing up a guide that has people showing NO VIRUSES/SPYWARES & other screwups, via following its point, such as THRONKA sees here -> http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=ee926d913b81bf6d63c3c7372fd2a24c&t=28430&page=3

(That last one's also featured here as one of your "ESSENTIAL GUIDES" -> http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=ded3dfdba4dba2091d4d73d674bbfdf6&showtopic=602537 )

----

What do I have to say about that much above? I can't say it any better, than this was stated already (from the greatest book of all time, the "tech manual for life" imo):

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." - Corinthians Chapter 10, Verse 10

(And, because I got LUCKY to have been exposed to some really GREAT classmates, professsors, & colleagues on the job over time as well)

apk

But 3d TV requires glasses

False. Some displays do not require glasses.

Just google for: 3d tv no glasses
1 2 3 4 5

But how often do you have to spend that $29? Because despite what MSFT wants you can be just fine in Windows only buying once every 5 years or so, and the way MSFT has been you are better off. Its like this... 98 good, WinME suck, XP SP2/3 good, Vista royal suck, Windows 7 good, so Windows 8 will be a hoover vac o' suck.

That figures up to spending that $100 every 5 years or so as last I checked you can get system builders Win7 HP for $104. At $29 a pop and the faster release schedule I wouldn't be surprised if it cost more in the long run for OSX, hell you Apple guys shell out all that cash on a machine just to shell out more cash just to get a decent warranty, so why not even more for the OS?

and slightly OT, but why won't Apple guys just admit it is a Ferrari and be done with it? I have seen Apple guys tie themselves in logic knots while jumping through flaming hoops trying to prove that Apple computer gear is a "good value" when we all know its bullshit. Apple is like Ferrari--It is sleek, it is sexy, it is exotic looking, it is expensive. Why is that so hard to accept? Hell according to this article more than a third of you are clearing over 100k a year, so just be happy you have money to burn on Ferraris, okay?

There are just certain laws of the universe you can't defeat: never get involved in a land war in Asia, Windows boxes are cheap, Linux guys like CLI, and Apple is expensive. Just be happy that you have enough disposable income to afford Ferrari computers and be happy, okay?

The day you can prove you're the first to come up with a widely used technique to improve performance that is widely used now as this exemplifies:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010405012842/www.ntcompatible.com/article1.shtml

Search this there SWAPFILE PLACEMENTS & IDEAS FOR IT from as far back as 2001 or earlier and is the oldest one of its kind I have found on that note no less?

and when you've done what he has per one of his posts here

"My Name is Ozymandias: King of Kings - Look upon my works, ye mighty, & DESPAIR..."

----

Windows NT Magazine (now Windows IT Pro) April 1997 "BACK OFFICE PERFORMANCE" issue, page 61

(&, for work done for EEC Systems/SuperSpeed.com on PAID CONTRACT (writing portions of their SuperCache program increasing its performance by up to 40% via my work) albeit, for their SuperDisk & HOW TO APPLY IT, took them to a finalist position @ MS Tech Ed, two years in a row 2000-2002, in its HARDEST CATEGORY: SQLServer Performance Enhancement).

WINDOWS MAGAZINE, 1997, "Top Freeware & Shareware of the Year" issue page 210, #1/first entry in fact (my work is there)

PC-WELT FEB 1998 - page 84, again, my work is featured there

WINDOWS MAGAZINE, WINTER 1998 - page 92, insert section, MUST HAVE WARES, my work is again, there

PC-WELT FEB 1999 - page 83, again, my work is featured there

CHIP Magazine 7/99 - page 100, my work is there

GERMAN PC BOOK, Data Becker publisher "PC Aufrusten und Repairen" 2000, where my work is contained in it

HOT SHAREWARE Numero 46 issue, pg. 54 (PC ware mag from Spain), 2001 my work is there, first one featured, yet again!

Also, a British PC Mag in 2002 for many utilities I wrote, saw it @ BORDERS BOOKS but didn't buy it... by that point, I had moved onto other areas in this field besides coding only...

Lastly, being paid for an article that made me money over @ PCPitstop in 2008 for writing up a guide that has people showing NO VIRUSES/SPYWARES & other screwups, via following its point, such as THRONKA sees here -> http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=ee926d913b81bf6d63c3c7372fd2a24c&t=28430&page=3

(That last one's also featured here as one of your "ESSENTIAL GUIDES" -> http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=ded3dfdba4dba2091d4d73d674bbfdf6&showtopic=602537 )

----

What do I have to say about that much above? I can't say it any better, than this was stated already (from the greatest book of all time, the "tech manual for life" imo):

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." - Corinthians Chapter 10, Verse 10

(And, because I got LUCKY to have been exposed to some really GREAT classmates, professsors, & colleagues on the job over time as well)

----

then you can talk, talker. You are nothing but a jealous troll it seems and especially now since he has gotten the attention of a very important person at microsoft on his points on hosts files and pagefile too.

"we're in deep shit if China decides to turn malicious." - by fluffy99 (870997) on Thursday January 14, @09:10PM (#30774326)

Not really. Not if companies & their LAN/WAN security setups, ESPECIALLY @ THE WORKSTATION & SERVER LEVEL, this way ->

----

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003, + VISTA (& beyond), and, make it "fun-to-do" via CIS Tool Guidance (& beyond):

http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=b35dfec0da75d7dab52dab8b321d373e&showtopic=2662

----

It works, if it is followed TO-THE-LETTER, & implemented properly!

A testimonial of its results also? Here is one:

----

http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28430

PERTINENT QUOTE/EXCERPT:

"...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 even had a follow up call which is unusual. Now I don't recommend this for the average joe, but it if can work for a kids PC it can work for anything!"

and

http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=10f9ba9ad5ff990aaae1e7ec91f593a2&t=28430&page=3

"Its 2009 - still trouble free! I was told last week by a co worker who does active directory administration, and he said I was doing overkill. I told him yes, but I just eliminated the half life in windows that you usually get. He said good point. So from 2008 till 2009. No speed decreases, its been to a lan party, moved around in a move, and it still NEVER has had the OS reinstalled besides the fact I imaged the drive over in 2008. Great stuff! My client STILL Hasn't called me back in regards to that one machine to get it locked down for the kid. I am glad it worked and I am sure her wallet is appreciated too now that it works. Speaking of which, I need to call her to see if I can get some leads. APK - I will say it again, the guide is FANTASTIC! Its made my PC experience much easier. Sandboxing was great. Getting my host file updated, setting services to system service, rather than system local. (except AVG updater, needed system local)"

Thronka - forums member @ xtremepccentral.com

----

Especially if users are EDUCATED vs. these kinds of threats + others (but, per what happened here? It's useful, specifically these kind, where 'social engineering' & PUNY TRICKS like a malscripted .pdf file is used).

I covered ADOBE PDF EXPLOITS THERE, & HOW TO STOP/STALL THEM, & YEARS AGO NO LESS (2006) + FAR MORE & how to work around or protect one's self vs. them... & guess what? IT ACTUALLY WORKS!

By the by:

I actually wrote the FIRST "Security & Speedup guide" for Windows (1997-2001 -> http://www.neowin.net/news/main/01/11/29/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text & it did very well for its day, back in 1997 for NTCompatible.com (& that's Neowin's "take" on it, an excellent rating no less in that URL I just posted)...

AND, that guide is now carried forward to today & does well there in the URL above from TECH CONNECT MAGAZINE, & elsewhere online as well... because it actually WORKS & well!

(Today, vs. my older guide's models? It is mostly on security now though, more than speed, because that IS the "bigger problem" out here nowadays))

So far, it's done to the tune of over 250,000++ views online, being made an "Essential Guide" or "Sticky/Pinned" thread, or "most viewed" or "5/5 s

"Why don't you use a tool that was actually designed to do what you are trying to do" - by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 13, @03:54PM (#30756016)

You must know much about how the HOSTS file works, or worse yet, HOW IT CAN BE USED, & TO GET YOU MORE SPEED, and YES SECURITY, online & from 1 single tool that eats no CPU cycles & is not vulnerable to security issues or bugs in it as programs can be or are (ala DNS servers for example on that last note)... read on, IF you are interested only, & thanks:

----

" ... like the IP firewall that is part of the OS?" - by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 13, @03:54PM (#30756016)

I use that, AND in combination with the HOSTS files, & far more too (ala the term "layered security") - like, in the case of HOSTS files which we are on about here as our topic @ this point.

HOSTS files can more than just potentially make you safer online, but also way, Way, WAY NOTICEABLY F A S T E R, too!

I.E.-> Can a software firewall alone get you more speed online (as well as more security via the simplest principal of all: 'IF YOU CAN'T GO INTO THE FIRE, YOU CANT GET BURNED', too)?

ANSWER - No, a software-firewall alone cannot get you more speed like HOSTS files can!

HOSTS files not only yield far better security, but also more speed, by blocking out adbanners (which also have been found to bear malicious code MANY times mind you as well), AND, via "hardcoding" your favorites IP-to-DOMAINNAME/HOSTNAME into your HOSTS files... This latter point makes you less trackable via DNS server requests logs.

DNS Servers, which have been found vulnerable in many ways, & badly the past 2-3 yrs. now, but if they go down? You will still reach your favs even if you do HOSTS "hardcoding" as I call it of your favorite websites etc. et al online.

See here -> http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=1d1d476789da41e0d7fccdbb022cfb0b&showtopic=2662 .

That's the current model of my security guide (mine was also THE VERY 1st was THE first online for that purpose too, as "Article #1" @ NTCompatible.com... & even NeoWin rated it extremely well back in its "version #1", circa 1997-2001 -> http://www.neowin.net/news/main/01/11/29/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text ) &, for Windows NT-based OS'.

My guide's the "topspot #1" on GOOGLE if you search "HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP" in fact, & my guide also owns the top 50 or thereabouts on GOOGLE also (or more)

My securty guide has crossed over 250,000 views (in 2 yrs. time online in its current model), & been made an:

A.) "ESSENTIAL GUIDE"
B.) "STICKY/PINNED THREAD"
C.) Is in each of 15/20 site's it is posted on's "top 10 most viewed" usually (even though its been there a lot less longer than the ones ahead of it no less)
D.) My guide is usually "5/5" star rated on 15/20 forums it is featured on.

It covers HOSTS, extensively in fact, and HOW/WHEN/WHERE/WHY/WHAT they are valuable for, in terms of BOTH more SPEED ONLINE, & more SECURITY ONLINE (via the principle of "layered security")...

RESULTS OTHERS HAVE HAD VIA THIS QUOTED TESTIMONIAL:

----

----
BACK ON TRACK ON HOSTS FILES SPECIFICALLY NOW THOUGH:

You can obtain reliable HOSTS files from reputable lists for more security online, but also for speed!

(More on that later & WHY/HOW (I use reliable lists for that, such as these HOSTS @ Wikipedia.com -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file or those from mvps.org (a good one this one))

I also further populate & keep current my custom HOSTS file with up to date information in regards to all of those th

There's talk of Microsoft slate tablet kicking about now too : http://www.neowin.net/news/live/10/01/06/microsoft-set-to-unveil-slate-tablet-pc-at-ces

"Yes, you might also be able to disable some services and squeeze out a couple extra cycles, but how much does it matter these days?" - by nine-times (778537) on Monday January 04, @05:03PM (#30647024) Homepage

Really? Ok: How about 31++% differences to the good then (or more in some cases) in scores on benchmarks, as a single example I will put out testimonials of here for then (& from guys that DO know about system tweaking, albeit MORE on the hardware o/c'ing side, until I showed them the "ins & outs" of how it's done OS & software side)?

E.G.-> Back in mid to late 2006, I used to belong to a heavy "overclockers & tweakers" site, to learn how to 'tweak' my systems' CPU & memory (I knew how to do INTEL stuff, but I had never done AMD before & @ that time I bought an AMD X2 4800+ & needed to know how it was done, so I went there (the person who codes GPU-z owns the site, by the by)):

Folks on BOTH the AquaMark & ScienceMark 2 benchmarks weren't able to move any higher, until I showed them about tuning services, thus (for both the test & less radical services trimming for permanent settings, once they figured out what they needed for daily usage in services, & what they did not):

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?s=9982b11a50f22908d624e447d1148ea5&t=16136&highlight=Sciencemark

THE RESULTS? Ok, take a read from just 1 of many there (Like 31++% boosts in scores):

"Just thinkin ,b>the first time i ran sciencemark2 i got 1200 points, just goes to show how much fiddling with ram timings and taskmanager helps, a whole 377ish points increase" - from TechPowerUp.com user Mandelore, after tuning out services & background processes for the "ScienceMark 2" benchmark contest -> http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=140138#post140138

"You're much more likely to break something than to effect significant performance improvements." - by nine-times (778537) on Monday January 04, @05:03PM (#30647024) Homepage

That's a statement from someone who hasn't "done their homework" & read what each service does... because, you can say what you wish & all you like, but... I can show otherwise & have, above.

By the by:

I actually wrote the FIRST "Security & Speedup guide" for Windows (1997-2001 -> http://www.neowin.net/news/main/01/11/29/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text for NTCompatible.com (& that's Neowin's "take" on it, an excellent rating no less)...

AND, which is now carried forward to today & does well here & elsewhere online (mostly on security now though, because that IS the "bigger problem" out here nowadays) to the tune of over 250,000++ views online, being made an "Essential Guide" or "Sticky/Pinned" thread, or "most viewed" or "5/5 star rated" etc. et al on 15/20 forums it is on (Search "HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP" online, & you'll see it "owns" the top spot & top 50-100 in fact) -> http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=b35dfec0da75d7dab52dab8b321d373e&showtopic=2662

AND?

It works... A testimonial of its results also? Here is one:

http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28430

PERTINENT QUOTE/EXCERPT:

"...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

Which release was that, anyway?

They do get a cut of the revenue. That's why the software updates which brings on new features can be free. The accounting of the updates is provided due to the periodic revenue of the phone.

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/main/07/10/28/apple-makes-831-in-revenue-per-iphone-sold

Per song or per album, it's up to me. I don't recall how much music I have, but it ended up being somewhere between $5 and $10 per album to get the non-DRM ones. Something like 30 cents per track if individual?

The upgrade is done through iTunes. From one random online source, it was "... $0.30 a song, 30% of the current album price and $0.60 a music video to upgrade ..." I guess it was probably around $5 for me per album or something like that, then. Of course, when you have albums that are rather expensive or long (like Mendelssohn's Elijah)...

Unable or unwilling admins is more like it.

A side effect of buying into the so-simple a monkey could run it sales pitch from Microsoft: You end up with monkeys that can only stroke the big boss telling him or her to sit tight till the next free t-shirt^H^H^H^H^H^H^H service pack. As these monkeys are able to bullshit their way into training positions, they will do what any other weak or insecure monkey will do: bogart their already limited knowledge. Thus with each iteration you get progressively more ignorant monkeys, that have to rely and specialize more and more in social engineering and keeping the managers away from real it staff to keep their jobs. That same level of skill and knowledge permeate that one vendor's products and services. When the products or services get enough bad press, they just rename them. Enough of that though.

There are some good interviews about the DNS flaw, like the one at Black Hat. For the details of the 2008 flaw, not the x.509 cert flaw, Steve Friedl has An Illustrated Guide to the Kaminsky DNS Vulnerability. If you played with DNS during 2006 or 2007 you probably at least spotted symptoms of the flaw as it seemed to be in growing use.

Frustratingly, the solution has been there in front of us for many years and most systems have been more than capable of deploying DNSSEC, either as part of IPv4 or IPv6, for many years. Except for one vendor that can't. Take a guess which one. Take a guess how much it has cost us to let them hold back the net.

The problem with associations may be limited to the 64-bit version, but it's a problem you can see with a Google search that I've seen on both Vista x64 and Windows 7 x64 with UAC enabled. It makes me worry that non-admins will not be able to easily specify file associations. I'm also positive I had to turn the shell integration on when I installed 7 x64 last, but that may just have been a random bug or me misremembering as Google doesn't show any similar hits.

I use preserve full pathnames when copying folders from one system to another. I don't need to worry about specifying a path at all (other than root) if I preserve full pathnames. Less possibility of me making a typing error or unzipping incorrectly. WinZIP has it. WinRAR has it. GNU tar has it. 7-Zip does not.

As far as deleting after archiving, I do use a script to do this, too. Of course, you have to remember with a script that you need to first move the files to a new directory, then archive, then delete. Otherwise you risk deleting a file that wasn't archived because it was locked when 7z ran but not when delete did. Again, WinZIP has it. WinRAR has it. GNU tar has it. 7-Zip does not.

And yes, in a corporate setting, I'd absolutely prefer to use WinRAR.

http://news.cnet.com/Study-File-sharing-boosts-music-sales/2100-1023_3-898813.html

http://nme.com/news/44688

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=25462&mode=threaded&pid=225929

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/01/20/dutch.study.file.sharing/

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090828/0444096038.shtml

Actually there was one study that showed the opposite -- it was done by the IFPI. It took all of one minute on Google to find those citations.

"It's time for a Security Enhanced Windows. The federal government has a batch of policies and registry settings people can adopt as templates for locking down workstations and servers. Now might be a good time to roll out a similar offering." - by symbolset (646467) on Tuesday November 03, @11:03PM (#29973298)

It's already been done 2x for the United States Armed forces symbolset (just shows how much YOU KNOW (not)), ask ForeDecker about that, or refer to these URL's:

US military gets its own secure version of Windows:

http://news.techworld.com/operating-systems/2666/us-military-gets-its-own-secure-version-of-windows/

AND, they also got such a secured Windows issued their way, BEFORE THAT TOO, in 2003, to the US Armed forces, before... think, or LOOK, before you speak, symbolset. Learn a few things first, then, open your mouth... "m'kay"?

(Ask foredecker, our resident MS dev. mgr. here)

AND, for those lacking that (only the US Armed forces gets that)?

Well, there is the list by the gov't. that works well as symbolset notes, but iirc, One I wrote one is from FAR before it, circa 1997-2001 that was featured @ NTCompatible.com as their "Article #1" & was noted as "GOOD STUFF" @ NEOWIN forums, here as proof thereof (from 2001, when they finally discovered it) ->

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/01/11/29/apk-a-to-z-internet-speedup--security-text

I only FURTHER IMPROVED THAT GUIDE, which across the 20 forums it is currently on, has been rated "5/5 stars", or made an "Essential Guide", or "Sticky/Pinned Thread" and even got me PAID for winning PCPitStop's January 2008 "Article of the Month" no less for producing it.

Searching "HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP" online @ GOOGLE can show ANYONE proof of THAT much, as it "owns" nearly the "TOP 30 SPOTS" consecutively there.

An example thereof? OK:

http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=954cd919a263e7fa80bd77a69a08b157&showtopic=2662

Where it is over 53,500++ views currently, in less than 1.5 yrs.' time online... & over 250,000++ views strong, with folks saying "Good stuff" or finding them NOT SHOWING ANY VULNERABILITIES or PENETRATIONS by malware in general even, IF they followed my security guide for Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 (even VISTA onwards, to an extent) to the letter!

----

People such as THRONKA @ XtremePCCentral.com here stated, verbatim by he:

http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=29ca0dfc286bf1e7ff52028336149ce0&t=28430&page=3

"Its 2009 - still trouble free! I was told last week by a co worker who does active directory administration, and he said I was doing overkill. I told him yes, but I just eliminated the half life in windows that you usually get. He said good point. So from 2008 till 2009. No speed decreases, its been to a lan party, moved around in a move, and it still NEVER has had the OS reinstalled besides the fact I imaged the drive over in 2008. Great stuff!"

----

Symbolset? You TALK OUT YOUR BEHIND, without knowing any facts...

(It tends to NOW make sense why you only make speculations that have already been done, and that you perform "adhominem attacks" on those that post valid points, and you avoid disputing or disproving those points, beacause you clearly do not know much about this art & science/field, period)

APK

P.S.=> Better luck next time, Symbolset (you pitiful ignorant adhominem attack utilizing TROLL) - lol! "too, Too, TOO EASY!"... and, the day YOU can show us you've done ALL

I know for a fact that WSUS (Windows Server Update Services... basically a centralized patch server) would do "weird, interesting" things when two machines tried to check into WSUS with the same SID. Not sure if they've resolved the problem in later versions of WSUS...see this thread for an example: http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t343182.html

I thought that the problem was defined as being based around locking a specific machine down with Group Policy... when two machines have the same SID, AD had a hard time distinguishing them for security reasons, much as if two users' SIDs collided...

But who am I to question the great creator of psexec and psinfo, Lord Russinovich :-)

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/10/23/linux-creator-linus-torvalds-gives-windows-7-a-thumbs-up

For people who don't read backwards R and backwards N containing languages..

"According to some reports, the failure was due to a SAN (Storage Area Network) gone wrong at Microsoft's end. It is claimed that Microsoft does not have a working backup of some of the data that has gone missing from customers devices. The SAN upgrade is rumoured to have been outsourced to Hitachi to complete"

"Microsoft, possibly trying to compensate for lost and / or laid-off Danger employees, outsources an upgrade of its Sidekick SAN to Hitachi, which -- for reasons unknown -- fails to make a backup before starting"

Processor architectures being certain bit sizes also helps throughput, and not just addressing.

You may also find this article more interesting, which kind of makes you post rather moot.

We use factors of two for its data, but we can always expand the address space, as necessary beyond the architecture of the processor; hence Intel's 20-bit address space on their old 16-bit processors.

The article does not mention it, but the article I originally read about it mentions that AMD has a 128-bit processor code-named "Bulldozer."

Every new house is required to be wired for smoke detectors.

Perhaps every new house, but mine certainly isn't. I have to change the 9-volts regularly.

Honestly, I can only think of one application where not needing a power cord for a 50cm distance is all that helpful:

Take a walk through your house some time, and look at every last little gadget in the house, and count how many batteries (replaceable or rechargeable, embedded or removable) you find. I bet you'll be surprised.

a "charging pad" to recharge your mobile devices by just setting it on the pad, without having to mess with wires and connectors. However, I don't think this is likely to happen for a long, long time

Huh? That's already here. And inductive charging has been used in electric toothbrushes for ages. The difference for this is that you actually have range.

"Name a current Windows exploit"

The vast majority of CURRENT Windows users are on XP. If you can't find an exploit all on your own, you most likely don't know how to turn your machine off and on. No, you DO NOT get to pick your favorite flavor of Windows, and hold that up for a "standard". You certainly don't pick the OS that almost no one is adopting - huge numbers of people waited for 7 to avoid Vista! (Especially since MS isn't all that concerned about "standards")

As for today's most up-to-date version of Windows - Win7 will most likely be broken real soon. Personally, I'm waiting for the timebomb crack. (What, you didn't think I was going to PAY for it, did you?)

What goes through my head when I write stuff like this? http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=3207 Sometimes I think about other things: http://windows7center.com/news/prepared-for-conficker/
Have they fixed this one yet? http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/04/24/unfixable-windows-7-exploit-created-by-security-experts

What goes through YOUR head when YOU make posts like that?

Oh, how 'bout that IIS? Is Win 7 / Vista secure from IIS?

Don't worry, we'll be seeing more exploits in coming months. ;^)

you can enable unsigned drivers in xp/vista/7 many different ways and is relevant for such things as graphics card drivers, etc.

Come on please. Learn a new OS? Win7 takes no time to "learn", it's flat out easy to use, and anything that takes a minute to adjust to will save you hours down the road. Vista was crap, just terrible. I'd like to see these "studies" you mention, because for example: http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/03/windows-7-beta-1-vs-windows-vista-vs-windows-xp seems to disagree with your posturing. But, you do end it by flying the colors of your flag, yes, you are a mac fan, you are blind to all the changes since OS9. Apple tinkers more than anyone, sorry but your strawman is burning.