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Carnage4Life writes: "This ZDNet article describes how Microsoft's next generation consumer OS, condenamed Whistler, will begin a tradition started by Windows 2000 where programs that have not been digitally signed by Microsoft certified signature are flagged. Currently Windows 2000 merely issues a warning when an uncertified/unsigned device driver is used, the Microsoft vision is to expand this to include all executable programs. On the surface, this may seem like a good idea until one realizes that this means that it is conceivable that all executables that expect to run on Windows will have to be Microsoft certified or risk being flagged or even worse refused to run on future Microsoft OSes. As the ZDNet article speculates, this will put even more power over Windows software developers in the hands of Microsoft. " This story has been turning up a bit over the last few days - while I'm not one to buy into conspiracy theories, this whole thing seems like a plan that originally had good intentions, but the potentials for foul play are pretty easy to think up.Well, I've finally got X running again and can update this story - I should have been more clear that this is /not/ set in stone, but a potential path.

A number of people have written in in the last day or so regarding Motorola's rollout of software-based DSL modems. Apparently, this wil reduce the cost of the modems by 30-40%, meaning that they can put DSL into the lower-end of machines. I stand corrected - they aren't modems, they are bridges/routers - and I must be blind, because Linux support was specified in the release. IMDUM.