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Slashback: MyCrowzOft, Inundation, Taxation

Tonight's Slashback brings updates on Microsoft's softened stance on MikeRoweSoft.com, good news on the thankfully exaggerated demise of Niue's wireless network, and an update on Windows 98's revised appointment with fate. Read on below for the details.

You have until April 15 ... quickenman writes "I used TurboTax for many years but used TaxCut last year (2002) after they Put C-Dilla spyware into the program. TaxCut worked well (it lacked 1 form I needed) but TurboTax seemed to be a little more user friendly. I publish several free internet newsletters, "Dr M's Computer Tip List" and also "Dr M's Computer Tips"and have told my subscribers that the link to eliminate that C-Dilla spyware is still available even though Intuit no longer lists it on their web site. Go to: support.turbotax.com/kb/ViewDocument.asp?do cumentId=491&categoryId=80068"

All publicity is probably good publicity ... for Mike Rowe. bwhaley writes "Microsoft has eased is reins after the an unexpected battle from teenager Mike Rowe in defense of his "trademark infringing" domain, mikerowesoft.com. According to a Reuters article, 'Microsoft has indicated it may have overreacted to the Web site' run by Microsoft's namesake. Thanks to this Slashdot story and lots of others like it, Mike Rowe may be able to keep his domain after all."

I doubt that Mike Rowe is Microsoft's namesake ;)

Niue free wi-fi is not gone freitasm writes "In a previous Slashdot article the author said "The world's first free national wireless grid is no longer with us, after waves from Cyclone Heta swept over Niue's thirty metre cliffs, destroying everything." This turned now not to be what actually happened there. It is now known that the The Niue Internet Users Society stored everything in water proof containers before the cyclone hit the island" "Most of the equipment survived," said IUS-N technical manager, Richard St. Clair. "That's because we stored it all in a water-tight metal shipping container before the cyclone hit." "Some WiFi antennas were lost," said Emani Lui, who originally installed and tuned the antennas for the WiFi service. "But many have now been repaired or replaced and are functioning normally." Since then Telecom New Zealand has restored communications with the island."

CosmacVIP writes "The .nu domain manager says anyone who wants to help should make donations to the New Zealand Red Cross's Pacific Cyclone Relief Fund (www.redcross.org.nz), instead of registering .nu domain names, so the aid will go directly to those who need it most."

All depends on whom you ask. Greedo writes "This article at Wired contradicts earlier news that HP was working on getting WMA support built into their branded iPod. "We're not going to be supporting WMA for now," said Muffi Ghadiali, product marketing manager for HP's digital entertainment products group. However, one analyst said that between now and summer, HP may come up with a way to convert WMA to AAC, or an equivalent technical fix. I guess we wait and see."

After that, if it breaks, you get both pieces. Ieshan writes "Microsoft has just decided to resume support for Windows 98 and apparently other product lines, as mentioned in this CNN article. Well, I guess it didn't die for long. They say customers in developing countries weren't made aware of the changes. I say they probably realized that people in developing countries couldn't afford to upgrade entire networks, and might pursue alternatives."

43 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Domain names? by Quasar1999 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mike Rowe gets to live? Yeah!!! :)

    Seriously, it's getting to the point where I wouldn't put it past microsoft to actually require a name change for guys like Mike in the next ten years... How blatantly wrong could they be? I'm surprised they didn't go after any website that had "Bob" in the name... cuz after all, that's a lot like their MS Bob...

    On the flipside though, how long before people start changing their names just so they can get domain names? I'm eyeing Natalie H. Gritts myself... sure I'm a guy... but the domain name, and the right to keep it would be priceless, and worth the ackwardness... :)

    --

    ---
    Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
    1. Re:Domain names? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
      On the flipside though, how long before people start changing their names just so they can get domain names? I'm eyeing Natalie H. Gritts myself... sure I'm a guy... but the domain name, and the right to keep it would be priceless, and worth the ackwardness... :)

      Who is Natalie H. Gritts? You completely lost me there.
      Sincerely,
      Emma Soffass

      Visit my on-line trading and auction site at: http://Emma'sExchange.com !

    2. Re:Domain names? by scowling · · Score: 3, Funny

      If you knew sweet fuck all, you'd know that it's their trademark that they have to defend, and that copyright is not an issue in this story.

      --
      www.kitchengeek.com -- Nosh for
    3. Re:Domain names? by i.r.id10t · · Score: 4, Funny

      You think that's bad? Feel sorry for anyone with the initials S C O

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    4. Re:Domain names? by jhoffoss · · Score: 5, Interesting
      All you have to do is look at Gates' net worth to see that bland works in big business. And the publicity this kid has gotten is fantastic; he'll have a good chance at having name recognition at any interview he sits down in (were you that guy with the site ten years ago...)

      I'm surprised he hasn't had to sell the damn domain just to cover his hosting costs though.

      --
      Linux: The world's best text-adventure game.
    5. Re:Domain names? by Ironica · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you knew sweet fuck all, you'd know that it's their trademark that they have to defend, and that copyright is not an issue in this story.

      Let me introduce you to sweet fuck all, by pointing out that every single news story said that Mike Rowe received a notice of "copyright infringement," which may be because under Canadian Trademark law, you cannot trademark a living person's name (at least, not until it's a distinctive mark). It may also be because the idiots reporting it didn't know the difference, but if that's the case, count the poor 17-year-old as one of them, since he wrote on his own site that he had received notice of "copyright infringement."

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
    6. Re:Domain names? by XO · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, you know what Melissa Gates said to her mother, after her wedding night...

      "Mother, now I know why he calls it.. Micro... soft."

      --
      "Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
    7. Re:Domain names? by zakezuke · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So you like interesting names like Apple instead? How about Sun, Oracle, or Ford.

      Apple had issues because of the UK record company, or wait, still has issues due to the Itunes thing.

      Sun is again a boring name... i'm sure other Suns exist other than the sun we know and love.

      Ford is a proper name.

      Oracle is a common enough one to see in circles outside the software world.

      So to have a trademark you have to have an interesting name

      Sun Microsystems... Oracle Corp... Apple computers / Apple Records... Ford Motor Company

      Any old joe can start a small business called Sun something or another, but not Sun Microsystems. Apple only has license to object when some other Apple does something sound / music related. Ford being a proper name isn't in it self a trademark, only in relation to automobiles as in the Ford motor company. It's the price you pay for having a boring name.

      Lot's of Micro related stuff around, lots of ...soft companies. Microsoft doesn't own any rights to either Micro nor ....soft.

      I am guessing that you consider zakezuke to be a very interesting name.

      Actually, I do. It's unique, easy to spell, semi-proper name looking. It has a sence of balance as in yin/yang or your push you pull... and near as I can tell, i'm the only bugger who uses it, unlike Anonymous Coward.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  2. Intuit by Aurix · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't know about everyone else, but we gave up on Intuit a long time ago, after they introduced a heap of serials/product keys just to install/upgrade. Between our numerous versions, and multiuser licences, trying to install Quickbooks/other Intuit shit was a nightmare. We'll never be supporting them again.

  3. Windows ME support? by gooberguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well it's great they're still going to support 98, but ME? Come on! ME is quite possibly the worst OS Microsoft put out. Sure XP sends stuff to MS without telling you, and 98 is unstable, but at least they are useable operating systems. The worst thing about ME is that you can't restart in DOS mode, no matter what. Even though it runs on top of DOS, and you can use a boot disk to get to DOS, ME won't let you restart into DOS mode. Networking support is also a pain. By "a pain" I mean would rather get shot than try and get ME working with a network card. One time, when I didn't know the evils of ME, I tried getting a Realtek card to work. Bad idea! After almost a week of screwing with the computer, I formatted it and put (what I think is the best thing to come out of Microsoft) Windows 2000 on it. The card worked great in 2000. I thought 2k and ME are supposed to have the same TCP/IP implementations, the ones from BSD. I bet MS could save a TON of time and money by solving all ME problems with a free format and XP home installation.

    --


    Karma: Meh (Mostly from meh.)
    1. Re:Windows ME support? by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I have a friend who was working at MS at the time ME came out. He didn't work on any OS stuff but he entered one of their computer rooms to work on some server stuff one late night. There were two guys from the ME team working on a computer trying to get it to install ME. This was about a week before the ME launch. Out of curiosity he asked them: "Oh, you work on the ME development team, how does ME compare to the other OS?" Without a blink, they respond: "It's a piece of crap. Don't bother installing it." Then they started laughing and opened a cooler and started drinking.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    2. Re:Windows ME support? by M.C.+Hampster · · Score: 3, Funny

      Interesting? Um, ok. Let me try.

      Um, I have this friend who used to date Linus Torvalds. One time, this friend was watching Linus install Linux and um, he was really frustrated and said "Man, this whole thing sucks! Why did I ever write it!". Seriously, and then Linus pulled out a crack pipe and started smoking.

      --
      Forget the whales - save the babies.
    3. Re:Windows ME support? by bhtooefr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Are you sure they were really on the ME team?

      After all, the Win2K team was quoted as calling 98 (the team of which would have been reassigned to ME, most likely) a "toy OS".

      BTW, this could also be a troll, as ME is as hard to install as 98 (identical installer, except for ME graphics and text). ME IS a piece of crap. The ME team might have said that (after all, chances are no Intel engineer would say the P4 was a good design, and it was essentially made by marketdroids) about their own creation, as it WAS a "trick" to make people think they were getting 2000 Home, when they were really getting 98 with a 2000 explorer.exe.

    4. Re:Windows ME support? by kfg · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But it is a toy OS. All I use it for is to run some toys. :)

      KFG

  4. Re:Amazing.. by el-spectre · · Score: 3, Informative

    Assuming that this isn't a troll... Slashback, by definition, is a bunch of updates on earlier stories...

    --
    "Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
  5. Re:Amazing.. by iantri · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Yes I do; updates on previous stories.

    These stories both were already followed up on. Do we really need another story with the same followup repeated?

    Slashdot has enough dupes already! ;)

  6. Hello by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    why don't they sue this. It took me one whois to find it.

  7. All is not so rosy with Niue's WiFi future? by styrotech · · Score: 2, Informative

    Possible trouble with the government owned monopoly telco according to the NBR magazine.

  8. Re:Amazing.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You must be new here (along with your mods). Elsewise you'd know that mods can't be new.

  9. Free WiFi Network in Govt sights by slyall · · Score: 2, Interesting

    According to this article in the (New Zealand) National Business Review the Niue Government doesn't like the competition from the Niue Internet Users Society and is using strongarm tactics to protect it's phone monopoly.

    --
    "To stay awake all night adds a day to your life" - Stilgar | eMT.
  10. OldSchoolNapster by OldSchoolNapster · · Score: 3, Funny

    This seems as good a time as any to introduce my new screename. Im not worried about being sued because old-school Napster never cared about copyrights.

  11. Would they sue me? by kaizenfury7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I registered the site called MyGrowsSoft.com and used it to sell Viagra?

    1. Re:Would they sue me? by jpmkm · · Score: 5, Funny

      minegoessoft.com might be a bit more appropriate, but it doesn't sound much like microsoft.com anymore.

  12. My Crows Oft... by hndrcks · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...spake 'nevermore'.

    (apologies to Edgar)

    --
    Everyone will start to cheer when you put on your sailin' shoes.
  13. Re:he really ought to change it by Bistronaut · · Score: 4, Funny

    If he did that, Microsoft really would have a case against him. Nobody's going to confuse microsoft with mikerowesoft, but buttheadedsoftwarearchitect is getting a bit too close.

  14. Colonel Sanders and Mike Rowe ... by HrothgarReborn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...Have something in common.
    I saw on a PBS special a few years back that the original Colonel Sanders, after selling off Kentucky Fried Chicken, opened a restuarant called the Colonel's Lady and was sued by KFC for using his name and his face to which they held the trademarks. The Colonel won eventually.

    Just thought someone might think that was an interesting precedent.

  15. Re:Amazing.. by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 2, Informative

    Assuming your post isn't a troll: he mentioned that this contains two updates that have already been released. He wasn't refering to the original stories; he was making the point that the original stories have already had follow up stories that tell this exact same stuff. HP>Here was the follow up story posted to the original HP ipod story, and here was the follow up about windows 98 support. So what was your point again? I'm not quite sure, we'll just have to use my point: you are a fucking idiot.

    --

    --

    WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
  16. Obligatory Twilight Zone quote by OneIsNotPrime · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Dr M's Computer Tip List" and also "Dr M's Computer Tips"

    Wait a sec... DRM's Computer Tip List? DRM's Computer Tips?

    Don't fall for it! IT'S A COOKBOOK! IT'S A COOKBOOK!

    --

    ---

    WARNING:Slashdot karma not redeemable in the afterlife.

  17. Mike Rowe Soft is officially dead by goombah99 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Mike Rowe is taking down mike rowe soft because due to all the "helpful" traffic he could not pay the internet bandwidth bill. I submitted this story to slashback but the dumb editors rejected it and instead claim slashdots publicity helped the poor guy. sheesh want incredible self serving disinformation; is karl rove working for Slashdot now?

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:Mike Rowe Soft is officially dead by MrAngryForNoReason · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not sure where you heard that but according to MikeRoweSoft.com the site is staying up due to the kind offer of hosting from Deafening-Urge.net. So slashdot publicity helped the guy get new hosting after slashdot publicity caused him to lose his host. It all balances out in the end.

      Thats why they call it Karma

  18. TurboTax 2003 activation not required, correct? by angle_slam · · Score: 2, Informative

    I don't know why it's such a big deal with TurboTax. After I filed it, I deleted the program, and removed the spyware. You can't use TurboTax 2002 this year, so why keep it. And since TurboTax 2003 is not copy protected, might as well use TurboTax this tax year.

    1. Re:TurboTax 2003 activation not required, correct? by glinden · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I did the same, but I still found it annoying. When you installed TurboTax 2002, C-Dilla was also quietly installed. C-Dilla ran all the time, taking up memory. Originally, C-Dilla would remain installed even when you uninstalled TurboTax. Only after a public outcry did Intuit decide to release an uninstaller for C-Dilla. Sure, it's not the end of the world, but it's definitely annoying.

  19. Seriously, people by Wrexen · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    If Microsoft enforcing its trademark against MikeRoweSoft is an evil-empire action, what kind of precedent are we setting for other companies? I'm just going to start companies called Banc ov Amerika, Koka-Kola, Jonsen and Jonsen, Redd Hat Linucks, and Appul.

    This guy said himself that he intentionally made a homophone of Microsoft just to mess with them. It's a clear-cut case of trademark infringement. I don't see the problem here.

    1. Re:Seriously, people by Malcontent · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Chances are this is not infringement. There have been numerous cases where people who used their own names as their business names have been found not to infringe.

      Of course ICANN is not a fair organization and they would have probably taken the domain from the guy but in court Mike would have prevailed.

      BTW there are thousands of companies called delta, washington, montana or whatever. It's OK for two businesses to have the exact same name. The issue is whether a reasonable person would confuse the two businesses. Maybe you would confuse the MikeRoweSoft company and Microsoft but a reasonable person would not.

      --

      War is necrophilia.

    2. Re:Seriously, people by psykocrime · · Score: 5, Informative

      If Microsoft enforcing its trademark against MikeRoweSoft is an evil-empire action, what kind of precedent are we setting for other companies? I'm just going to start companies called Banc ov Amerika, Koka-Kola, Jonsen and Jonsen, Redd Hat Linucks, and Appul.

      This guy said himself that he intentionally made a homophone of Microsoft just to mess with them. It's a clear-cut case of trademark infringement. I don't see the problem here.


      <IANAL>

      If you started a company called Appul that sold microcomputers and related software, then Apple might have a case.. but if your Appul company sold fertilizer or hand-tools, they'd have nothing. Likewise for Jonsen and Jonsen... do that and sell barbed-wire or plastic soda bottles, and you're not infringing anything.

      In Mike Rowe's case, he's not selling personal computer operating systems and productivity software, and it's just weird that his name, said real fast, sounds like half of Microsoft.

      In the case of your fictional Banc of Amerika, or Redd Hat Linucks, I think you might get in trouble, because they're still the exact same words as the name of the "real" company, just spelled different... and the made up versions don't have any real meaning, unlike "Mike Rowe" which is somebody's name.
      </IANAL>

      --
      // TODO: Insert Cool Sig
  20. Analyst my ass by rmull · · Score: 3, Insightful

    However, one analyst said that between now and summer, HP may come up with a way to convert WMA to AAC, or an equivalent technical fix. I guess we wait and see.

    What??? That makes about as much sense as converting ogg to mp3. It can be done easily, but it'll be lossy as hell - they're different formats, damnit. Maybe I could an analyst and then they could pay me to be dumb. Or better yet - a pundit. Bah.

    --
    See you, space cowboy...
  21. I'm screwed though... by Pirogoeth · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...as my real name is Vishu Al-Bazik...

    --
    Happiness is like peeing yourself. Everybody can see it but only you can feel its warmth.
  22. Will MightGrowSoft.com be getting sued, too? by schmaltz · · Score: 3, Informative

    www.mightgrowsoft.com/

    This domain's been around since 1997, and their site layout is strangely familiar. Not to bring any heat on them- this must be protected parody, or IP law is seriously broken.

    Or I am crazy. Help me figure this one out.

    --
    Big Daddy, Johnny, Burp, Aunt Zelda, Scott, Slurp, Big Momma ... where's Siggy?
  23. Re:he really ought to change it by wolrahnaes · · Score: 3, Funny

    So that's how the BSA got their name!!!

    --
    I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
  24. TaxCut vs. TurboTax by Xthlc · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I had a pretty horrible experience with TaxCut last year. There was a bug (triggered by my combination of being self-employed and renting my home) that refused to complete my taxes unless I filled out some fields that were non-applicable with values that satisfied TaxCut's constraints. Basically, it wouldn't let me file my taxes unless I filled them out with false and confusing information.

    I call technical support, which of course is in India. All they could help me with were monkey steps involving turning on my computer, logging into Windows, etc. There was no process for escalating actual bugs to people that can help you work around or solve them. Classic horror story of outsourced tech support.

    I wound up throwing TaxCut in the trash and filling out my forms by hand. I'm going to give TurboTax a shot this year -- hopefully I can work around the spyware.

  25. And McDonalds Corp.... by r_j_prahad · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...sued the head of clan McDonald, Lord Godfery MacDonald. He said: "McDonald is one the most famous names in the world. McDonald's everywhere must be furious at the way their name is being used."

    There's nothing more dangerous than a bored lawyer.

  26. No Product Activation or Spyware in TurboTax 2003 by Xthlc · · Score: 3, Informative

    So says this PC World article

    Which is good, because (as I whinged in another comment) I had a horrible experience with TaxCut last year.

  27. There is another Microsoft... by Ashtead · · Score: 5, Informative

    Evidently it has been a while, but according to The Register there has been a dispute with an Australian maker of synthetic pillows and duvets. One of their products is also called "Microsoft".

    --
    SIGBUS @ NO-07.308