Don't get me wrong, I definitely agree that this should not be included in the update and certainly not checked by default, but the TFA implies this is somehow snuck onto the target PC like some thief in the night when that is not the case.
As to how much time this takes, how many friends and family members do you 'actively support'? I have a handful of friends that look to me for support. About 5 total call me for various issues/questions). Of those, 1 called about this, and I'm sure one just installed it (he's new and VERY PC illiterate). If your family and friends are like mine, they DO eventually learn, albeit slowly in some cases. Eventually they get savvy enough to not immediately just accept any OK or CONFIRM prompt that they see and they do read what their getting. Your mileage may vary;)
From TFA:
"To assist the party-hosting massive, they've also uploaded a series of spectacularly cringeworthy videos to YouTube, in which the four most desperate actors in the world stand around in a kitchen sharing tips on how best to indoctrinate guests in the wonder of Windows. If they were staring straight down the lens reading hints off a card it might be acceptable; instead they have been instructed to pretend to be friends. The result is the most nauseating display of artificial camaraderie since the horrific Doritos "Friendchips" TV campaign (which caused 50,000 people to kill themselves in 2003, or should have done)."
Apple is 'asking permission' to install this when you are prompted to install it via the Software Updater. You get a short list of available updates. If you click on each you'll get a lengthy description of what each does. This isn't some hidden update titled KB12345 with a description that reads 'critical security update'.
-----------------
Description of the update:
iPhone Configuration Utility lets you easily create, maintain, encrypt, and install configuration profiles, track and install provisioning profiles and authorized applications, and capture device information including console logs.
Configuration profiles are XML files that contain device security policies, VPN configuration information, Wi-Fi settings, APN settings, Exchange account settings, mail settings, and certificates that permit iPhone and iPod touch to work with your enterprise systems. For instructions on how to use iPhone Configuration Utility, see the iPhone and iPod touch Enterprise Deployment Guide, available for downloading at http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/
-----------------
It requires user intervention to install and it comes with a full text description of what the tool does. I know it's popular to hate Apple but insisting they are 'shoving this down users throats' is a misrepresentation. They offer the install and the user has to either leave it checked or uncheck it. If you've properly educated your family and friends (reading below it appears that at least some have), they simply uncheck it and ignore it if they don't know what it is. I've taught my family about software updaters. They simply called me about this one and I told them it wasn't needed and to uncheck it. Problem solved.
That said, Apple should do the right thing and disable these by default or better yet, not even offer them. Any admin worth their salt would be able to find this software if needed in about 3 Google seconds. There is no reason this should be offered in the updater except perhaps if the user already has a previous version installed. I can easily see where a user who does have an iPhone might be tempted to install this without understanding what it does, but a quick read of the update description should clue most people in that this isn't something they could use for day to day use or at least prompt them to ask someone more knowledgable.
As to the Apache software itself, does anyone know if it's enabled by default, or locked down? Apache is actually a pretty secure product if properly configured. I know the knee jerk urge to bash Apple, but does anyone know how it's configured, and if it's enabled by default? For example, every Mac comes with a built in FTP, Print Server, and Web Server, but they are all disabled by default. I know this is on the Windows platform, but surely there are ways to secure an Apache server even on that OS?
This kind of thing should be reported to the Better Business Bureau. Regardless as to whether or not you were able to catch them at it and resolve it yourself, if they did it to you (or tried to) they will do it to others. If Best Buy is presenting the Geek Squad as a qualified repair shop, then their personnel should be properly trained. What makes Best Buy immune to fraud?
I have to disagree. The courts do even out these knee jerk reactions. 9/11 was a knee jerk reaction but it wasn't tried in a court of law. It was tried in a court of public opinion. That same scenario wouldn't play out the same in a court of law. The court system is far from perfect, but it's had hundreds of years dealing with the human emotional element and how to weed that out of the legal process.
>My issue is that Apple is intentionally making it more difficult to use iTunes with a non-iPod music player. Perhaps you don't find it inconvenient to use two pieces of software to manage one music collection but you aren't the average demographic either. Every other week slashdotters are complaining that most people think Internet Explorer is the Internet. That's the demographic being taken advantage of.
But you do realize that they DO allow other vendors to integrate directly into iTunes? All they have to do is license a plugin and it will sync directly in iTunes interface just like an iPod. Apple is a business. Not a charity. Vendors have the option of buying direct integration, or simply writing their own solution. I doubt the price of this plugin is prohibitive. Obviously the vendors that have taken advantage of it don't think it is prohibitive either.
These barriers as you call them are insignificant since there are other avenues into iTunes. Apple didn't do anything wrong here. Palm broke the standard and their device didn't work. This should be no surprise. You might not like it. I would suggest your time is better spent yelling at Palm for being too cheap or too lazy (or both).
This is the reason no anti-competitive lawsuit has been brought against Apple for this issue. Because it would have no legal leg to stand on. An inconvenience of having two windows open is simply to minor to be a barrier to entry when Apple themselves provide sanctioned means to get the same end result that do not violate the USB standard.
With the IE fiasco, there was no alternative. MS said it's our way or the highway. Apple provides alternate methods willingly. It's up to the vendors to opt in, or write their own.
You seem to think that it is Apples responsibility to invest in, design, test, and supply software that works with other vendors hardware when that hardware competes directly with Apple? I'm sorry, but what is your impression of 'compete'?
I apologize if this comes off sounding like an ass, because that is not my intent. I'm just flabbergasted that anyone is defending Palm on this issue. They violated a very basic standard. Normally folks on/. are all over any violation of standard because we all understand the need and importance of them. I have to think that the individuals dislike of Apple is clouding an otherwise very clear cut case.
The we have the 'anti-competitive' argument, except in this case, there is none. The only possible inconvenience to the end user in the worst possible scenario is that they have two windows open. One to purchase their music, and another to sync their device. That is not a huge burden on the consumer. You will simply have to launch a second app to sync your phone. The issue here is that Palm refuses to write their own software, or if they desire full integration into iTunes, license a plugin. Instead they chose to violate USB standards and take a very cheap and easy way out.
The XML file and it's use to sync music with iTunes is very well documented and understood, even by the open source community. There is absolutely nothing preventing Palm from syncing their data just like everyone else. There is no anti-competitive stance here. Palm doesn't deserve special treatment. Apple doesn't either. They don't demand that their music devices sync with Windows Media Player. It would be unreasonable to expect that. They can write their own solution and many have already done so. Palm should be treated no differently.
Microsoft was slapped with an anti-competitive label because they currently have market dominance, and they threatened to remove the license to distribute that OS if hardware vendors didn't also bundle Internet Explorer. This is a classic case of using market dominance to unfair advantage. It would have forced consumers to use a different OS if the vendor didn't capitulate to Microsoft's demands.
In this case, Apple is not forcing users to use iTunes. Don't like it? Dump iTunes.app it in the trash. There are numerous online music sources to buy from. They are not forcing users to use iPhones/iPods. There are numerous applications and hardware vendors that have written their own solutions. Alternately, license plugins to allow them to sync natively in iTunes. Last but not least, they are not locking Palm out of iTunes. Users can still access the iTunes store using the interface designed for it by Apple, and they can still sync those purchases with a Palm device should Palm choose to write one.
There is no anti-competitive behavior here. There is no undue burden placed on the consumer except for the burden placed there by Palm themselves.
This seems like a violation of individual rights with little point behind it. TFA pretty much indicates they may search someone just for the way they look. What exactly are they hoping to find on these devices? The file labeled super_secret_spy_plan.txt? A file can be disguised as anything else. hell, you could take a picture of your 'plan' through a colored lens and save it as a jpeg and call it dinner.jpg and unless someone went through the hundreds of thousands of files on a PC, or a software did, what would they find?
Hell, you could drop a file and just erase it from the directory tables. File is still there, just not overwritten.
This seems to me to be nothing more than a lame attempt to either frighten, or catch really stupid people.
I would still suggest your simply memorizing the functions under their new labels. I don't have a problem with change, when it makes sense, but moving a formatting function out of 'Format' and into 'Home' makes no sense to me and I don't think I'm alone in this.
The least they could have done is to make the Tab's more intuitive or put more thought into what functions they put into a specific tab.
I can only hope that if the Mozilla folks take this route, they spend time on make the interface intuitive. I have no problem with a tabbed interface. I actually prefer it in other products like Lotus Notes, but only if it's done well.
Could it be because when formatting text for example, it makes sense to put it in the 'Format' menu? It's now under the 'Home' tab. These inconsistencies and illogical placements are throughout the ribbon.
You're implying the interface is fine because people eventually memorize it, but that isn't the point. The old system was more intuitive, where this one isn't at all.
I didn't call them criminal's. I said they broke the law. Contract law is under the Law of Obligations. Breach of Contract is recognized under the Law.
Actually, I believe that would be called competitive behavior, not anti-competitive. Are you seriously trying to imply that iTunes in the only avenue to get music online?
Results 1 - 10 of about 234,000,000 for buy music online
Not the same. MS threatened to remove the right to distribute it's OS from the PC manufacturer's if they attempted to ship the OS without IE installed. Apple isn't competing with anyone else with iTunes as it isn't an OS. It's an application.
Does it come bundled with OS X? Yes. Is OS X a monopoly on the OS market? No.
You can simply dump it in the trash if you don't like using it and buy your music elsewhere, buy it on CD, get it from Amazon, Napster, mp3.com, or any of the thousands of online music retailers.
This has nothing to do with backwards compatibility. This was a change for the sake of change. The menu's offer no more functionality they did before.
How is this any more intuitive? If I want to format a piece of text, I would typically highlight the text and go to the FORMAT menu and pick the type of formatting I want to apply (font, paragraph, bullets, etc. Now? I click on Home? Never would have guessed that. Once there, I get this? How is it more intuitive to show me every single option that I might possibly use, all bunched up on a inch of screen?
The whole idea of tabs is to categorize your work into manageable chunks, but they've taken the tabs, and just thrown everything into a tab, all displayed at once. Not very managed IMO.
I can't agree more. I had the pleasure(?) of helping a friend take his basic "Office 2007" computer class for college. Fortunately our company didn't go to Office 2007 so it was my first experience with it. It has to be one of the most unintuitive interfaces that MS has pushed out in years.
The tabs try to present too much information in a limited space. I felt like I was playing those old Monkey Island pixel hunt games. I found it totally unnecessary to have a picture for every function I was trying to perform when simple functions like FILE, EDIT, and VIEW would serve so much easier. We ended spending more time just trying to FIND the sub tab info than we did learning about new functionality. It's almost like they did it just to make Office look 'different' but failed to realize they weren't really innovating anything. They were just putting pictures in place of easy to read text, and adding more 'clutter' in places where it wasn't needed.
They just want a TV so that's what you will sell them, and you will point out its superior TV functionality. Unless they ask you don't mention implementation details.
Yes, but they DID ask, and he still hesitated to tell them. That tells me there are other reasons rather than just keeping the gruesome details from potential buyers.
No nock to Linux since I think it's a great OS, but I get the impression that this maketing exec thinks it has a 'home built' sort of stigma attached to it. It's actually a primary Linux strength, but I have to wonder if this guy is getting marketing feedback that Linux has a bad rep with common consumers or if it's just based on his personal opinion (informed or not).
Audit as in network connected hardware? Does it go even further and inventory system software and such? I've seen similar on the Windows side, but I don't do any admin type tasks.
I'm confused here. If the PS3 is getting a 0.5 % failure rate reported after 2 years, and the Nintendo a 1.0 % to 2.7 % failure rate, and The XBox a 20-30% failure rate...
From TFA:
"More than 150 Watchdog viewers have contacted us to say they've experienced it, and by Sony's own admission, around 12,500 of the 2.5 million PlayStations sold in the UK have shut down in this way since March 2007".
150 viewers? Out of the millions sold, this is all that contacted you?
Why does this whole story come off as some sort of astroturfing? Although what it's 'turfing for is confusing unless it's just to make MS look less bad?
About as significant as leaky faucets, toilets, and shower heads. Millions of gallons wasted every year, yet people will do nothing to repair them. Until local instant-on water heaters are common in new homes, people will forever be running cold water until it gets warm for their showers. I would think this would be a good opportunity for a 'coated' shower. You know, those anti-bacterial coatings available for some surfaces that kill bacteria? Either that or a renewed rush for metal shower heads which seems to be affected less;)
Woosh...
I believe he was making a joke about the similarities between your general statement when applied to a monopoly situation, not a slam at the BBC. It's a fine news source. I often browse the BBC just to get an 'outside' opinion on going's on within the US.
It's common knowledge that the Chinese, whether sponsored by the government or not, have concerted attacks against US computer systems. They have succeeded quite a few times in gaining access to technological data from high security sources. It's simply common sense. If you visit a bad neighborhood, you take precautions.
You would rather they ignore a known security risk all in the name of being 'PC'?
Slashdot Mirror
Don't get me wrong, I definitely agree that this should not be included in the update and certainly not checked by default, but the TFA implies this is somehow snuck onto the target PC like some thief in the night when that is not the case.
;)
As to how much time this takes, how many friends and family members do you 'actively support'? I have a handful of friends that look to me for support. About 5 total call me for various issues/questions). Of those, 1 called about this, and I'm sure one just installed it (he's new and VERY PC illiterate). If your family and friends are like mine, they DO eventually learn, albeit slowly in some cases. Eventually they get savvy enough to not immediately just accept any OK or CONFIRM prompt that they see and they do read what their getting. Your mileage may vary
I pissed a little I was laughing so hard.
From TFA:
"To assist the party-hosting massive, they've also uploaded a series of spectacularly cringeworthy videos to YouTube, in which the four most desperate actors in the world stand around in a kitchen sharing tips on how best to indoctrinate guests in the wonder of Windows. If they were staring straight down the lens reading hints off a card it might be acceptable; instead they have been instructed to pretend to be friends. The result is the most nauseating display of artificial camaraderie since the horrific Doritos "Friendchips" TV campaign (which caused 50,000 people to kill themselves in 2003, or should have done)."
I like this guy and "I'm A Mac"...
Apple is 'asking permission' to install this when you are prompted to install it via the Software Updater. You get a short list of available updates. If you click on each you'll get a lengthy description of what each does. This isn't some hidden update titled KB12345 with a description that reads 'critical security update'.
-----------------
Description of the update:
iPhone Configuration Utility lets you easily create, maintain, encrypt, and install configuration profiles, track and install provisioning profiles and authorized applications, and capture device information including console logs.
Configuration profiles are XML files that contain device security policies, VPN configuration information, Wi-Fi settings, APN settings, Exchange account settings, mail settings, and certificates that permit iPhone and iPod touch to work with your enterprise systems. For instructions on how to use iPhone Configuration Utility, see the iPhone and iPod touch Enterprise Deployment Guide, available for downloading at http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/
-----------------
It requires user intervention to install and it comes with a full text description of what the tool does. I know it's popular to hate Apple but insisting they are 'shoving this down users throats' is a misrepresentation. They offer the install and the user has to either leave it checked or uncheck it. If you've properly educated your family and friends (reading below it appears that at least some have), they simply uncheck it and ignore it if they don't know what it is. I've taught my family about software updaters. They simply called me about this one and I told them it wasn't needed and to uncheck it. Problem solved.
That said, Apple should do the right thing and disable these by default or better yet, not even offer them. Any admin worth their salt would be able to find this software if needed in about 3 Google seconds. There is no reason this should be offered in the updater except perhaps if the user already has a previous version installed. I can easily see where a user who does have an iPhone might be tempted to install this without understanding what it does, but a quick read of the update description should clue most people in that this isn't something they could use for day to day use or at least prompt them to ask someone more knowledgable.
As to the Apache software itself, does anyone know if it's enabled by default, or locked down? Apache is actually a pretty secure product if properly configured. I know the knee jerk urge to bash Apple, but does anyone know how it's configured, and if it's enabled by default? For example, every Mac comes with a built in FTP, Print Server, and Web Server, but they are all disabled by default. I know this is on the Windows platform, but surely there are ways to secure an Apache server even on that OS?
This kind of thing should be reported to the Better Business Bureau. Regardless as to whether or not you were able to catch them at it and resolve it yourself, if they did it to you (or tried to) they will do it to others. If Best Buy is presenting the Geek Squad as a qualified repair shop, then their personnel should be properly trained. What makes Best Buy immune to fraud?
I have to disagree. The courts do even out these knee jerk reactions. 9/11 was a knee jerk reaction but it wasn't tried in a court of law. It was tried in a court of public opinion. That same scenario wouldn't play out the same in a court of law. The court system is far from perfect, but it's had hundreds of years dealing with the human emotional element and how to weed that out of the legal process.
>My issue is that Apple is intentionally making it more difficult to use iTunes with a non-iPod music player. Perhaps you don't find it inconvenient to use two pieces of software to manage one music collection but you aren't the average demographic either. Every other week slashdotters are complaining that most people think Internet Explorer is the Internet. That's the demographic being taken advantage of.
But you do realize that they DO allow other vendors to integrate directly into iTunes? All they have to do is license a plugin and it will sync directly in iTunes interface just like an iPod. Apple is a business. Not a charity. Vendors have the option of buying direct integration, or simply writing their own solution. I doubt the price of this plugin is prohibitive. Obviously the vendors that have taken advantage of it don't think it is prohibitive either.
These barriers as you call them are insignificant since there are other avenues into iTunes. Apple didn't do anything wrong here. Palm broke the standard and their device didn't work. This should be no surprise. You might not like it. I would suggest your time is better spent yelling at Palm for being too cheap or too lazy (or both).
This is the reason no anti-competitive lawsuit has been brought against Apple for this issue. Because it would have no legal leg to stand on. An inconvenience of having two windows open is simply to minor to be a barrier to entry when Apple themselves provide sanctioned means to get the same end result that do not violate the USB standard.
With the IE fiasco, there was no alternative. MS said it's our way or the highway. Apple provides alternate methods willingly. It's up to the vendors to opt in, or write their own.
You seem to think that it is Apples responsibility to invest in, design, test, and supply software that works with other vendors hardware when that hardware competes directly with Apple? I'm sorry, but what is your impression of 'compete'?
/. are all over any violation of standard because we all understand the need and importance of them. I have to think that the individuals dislike of Apple is clouding an otherwise very clear cut case.
I apologize if this comes off sounding like an ass, because that is not my intent. I'm just flabbergasted that anyone is defending Palm on this issue. They violated a very basic standard. Normally folks on
The we have the 'anti-competitive' argument, except in this case, there is none. The only possible inconvenience to the end user in the worst possible scenario is that they have two windows open. One to purchase their music, and another to sync their device. That is not a huge burden on the consumer. You will simply have to launch a second app to sync your phone. The issue here is that Palm refuses to write their own software, or if they desire full integration into iTunes, license a plugin. Instead they chose to violate USB standards and take a very cheap and easy way out.
The XML file and it's use to sync music with iTunes is very well documented and understood, even by the open source community. There is absolutely nothing preventing Palm from syncing their data just like everyone else. There is no anti-competitive stance here. Palm doesn't deserve special treatment. Apple doesn't either. They don't demand that their music devices sync with Windows Media Player. It would be unreasonable to expect that. They can write their own solution and many have already done so. Palm should be treated no differently.
Microsoft was slapped with an anti-competitive label because they currently have market dominance, and they threatened to remove the license to distribute that OS if hardware vendors didn't also bundle Internet Explorer. This is a classic case of using market dominance to unfair advantage. It would have forced consumers to use a different OS if the vendor didn't capitulate to Microsoft's demands.
In this case, Apple is not forcing users to use iTunes. Don't like it? Dump iTunes.app it in the trash. There are numerous online music sources to buy from. They are not forcing users to use iPhones/iPods. There are numerous applications and hardware vendors that have written their own solutions. Alternately, license plugins to allow them to sync natively in iTunes. Last but not least, they are not locking Palm out of iTunes. Users can still access the iTunes store using the interface designed for it by Apple, and they can still sync those purchases with a Palm device should Palm choose to write one.
There is no anti-competitive behavior here. There is no undue burden placed on the consumer except for the burden placed there by Palm themselves.
This seems like a violation of individual rights with little point behind it. TFA pretty much indicates they may search someone just for the way they look. What exactly are they hoping to find on these devices? The file labeled super_secret_spy_plan.txt? A file can be disguised as anything else. hell, you could take a picture of your 'plan' through a colored lens and save it as a jpeg and call it dinner.jpg and unless someone went through the hundreds of thousands of files on a PC, or a software did, what would they find?
Hell, you could drop a file and just erase it from the directory tables. File is still there, just not overwritten.
This seems to me to be nothing more than a lame attempt to either frighten, or catch really stupid people.
I would still suggest your simply memorizing the functions under their new labels. I don't have a problem with change, when it makes sense, but moving a formatting function out of 'Format' and into 'Home' makes no sense to me and I don't think I'm alone in this.
The least they could have done is to make the Tab's more intuitive or put more thought into what functions they put into a specific tab.
I can only hope that if the Mozilla folks take this route, they spend time on make the interface intuitive. I have no problem with a tabbed interface. I actually prefer it in other products like Lotus Notes, but only if it's done well.
Could it be because when formatting text for example, it makes sense to put it in the 'Format' menu? It's now under the 'Home' tab. These inconsistencies and illogical placements are throughout the ribbon.
You're implying the interface is fine because people eventually memorize it, but that isn't the point. The old system was more intuitive, where this one isn't at all.
I didn't call them criminal's. I said they broke the law. Contract law is under the Law of Obligations. Breach of Contract is recognized under the Law.
Actually, I believe that would be called competitive behavior, not anti-competitive. Are you seriously trying to imply that iTunes in the only avenue to get music online?
Results 1 - 10 of about 234,000,000 for buy music online
Note that there are 234 Million results.
Nuff said...
Palm has a license agreement and a legally binding contract with USB-IF. They violated that, hence making it illegal for them to do what they did.
http://www.usb.org/developers/vendor/
Not the same. MS threatened to remove the right to distribute it's OS from the PC manufacturer's if they attempted to ship the OS without IE installed. Apple isn't competing with anyone else with iTunes as it isn't an OS. It's an application.
Does it come bundled with OS X? Yes. Is OS X a monopoly on the OS market? No.
You can simply dump it in the trash if you don't like using it and buy your music elsewhere, buy it on CD, get it from Amazon, Napster, mp3.com, or any of the thousands of online music retailers.
This has nothing to do with backwards compatibility. This was a change for the sake of change. The menu's offer no more functionality they did before.
How is this any more intuitive? If I want to format a piece of text, I would typically highlight the text and go to the FORMAT menu and pick the type of formatting I want to apply (font, paragraph, bullets, etc. Now? I click on Home? Never would have guessed that. Once there, I get this? How is it more intuitive to show me every single option that I might possibly use, all bunched up on a inch of screen?
The whole idea of tabs is to categorize your work into manageable chunks, but they've taken the tabs, and just thrown everything into a tab, all displayed at once. Not very managed IMO.
I can't agree more. I had the pleasure(?) of helping a friend take his basic "Office 2007" computer class for college. Fortunately our company didn't go to Office 2007 so it was my first experience with it. It has to be one of the most unintuitive interfaces that MS has pushed out in years.
The tabs try to present too much information in a limited space. I felt like I was playing those old Monkey Island pixel hunt games. I found it totally unnecessary to have a picture for every function I was trying to perform when simple functions like FILE, EDIT, and VIEW would serve so much easier. We ended spending more time just trying to FIND the sub tab info than we did learning about new functionality. It's almost like they did it just to make Office look 'different' but failed to realize they weren't really innovating anything. They were just putting pictures in place of easy to read text, and adding more 'clutter' in places where it wasn't needed.
They just want a TV so that's what you will sell them, and you will point out its superior TV functionality. Unless they ask you don't mention implementation details.
Yes, but they DID ask, and he still hesitated to tell them. That tells me there are other reasons rather than just keeping the gruesome details from potential buyers.
No nock to Linux since I think it's a great OS, but I get the impression that this maketing exec thinks it has a 'home built' sort of stigma attached to it. It's actually a primary Linux strength, but I have to wonder if this guy is getting marketing feedback that Linux has a bad rep with common consumers or if it's just based on his personal opinion (informed or not).
Audit as in network connected hardware? Does it go even further and inventory system software and such? I've seen similar on the Windows side, but I don't do any admin type tasks.
Remote software that comes with iChat which is typically pre-installed on a new mac: /System/Library/CoreServices/Screen Sharing.app
It will let you remote into any mac that allows it.
You do realize you can remote into a Mac using the built in utilities? It's hidden but should be there:
/System/Library/CoreServices/Screen Sharing.app
I think it's installed as part of iChat but it can be accessed without launching iChat.
I'm confused here. If the PS3 is getting a 0.5 % failure rate reported after 2 years, and the Nintendo a 1.0 % to 2.7 % failure rate, and The XBox a 20-30% failure rate...
From TFA:
"More than 150 Watchdog viewers have contacted us to say they've experienced it, and by Sony's own admission, around 12,500 of the 2.5 million PlayStations sold in the UK have shut down in this way since March 2007".
150 viewers? Out of the millions sold, this is all that contacted you?
Why does this whole story come off as some sort of astroturfing? Although what it's 'turfing for is confusing unless it's just to make MS look less bad?
About as significant as leaky faucets, toilets, and shower heads. Millions of gallons wasted every year, yet people will do nothing to repair them. Until local instant-on water heaters are common in new homes, people will forever be running cold water until it gets warm for their showers. I would think this would be a good opportunity for a 'coated' shower. You know, those anti-bacterial coatings available for some surfaces that kill bacteria? Either that or a renewed rush for metal shower heads which seems to be affected less ;)
Woosh... I believe he was making a joke about the similarities between your general statement when applied to a monopoly situation, not a slam at the BBC. It's a fine news source. I often browse the BBC just to get an 'outside' opinion on going's on within the US.
It's common knowledge that the Chinese, whether sponsored by the government or not, have concerted attacks against US computer systems. They have succeeded quite a few times in gaining access to technological data from high security sources. It's simply common sense. If you visit a bad neighborhood, you take precautions.
You would rather they ignore a known security risk all in the name of being 'PC'?
Here's a few more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/24/AR2005082402318.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123834671171466791.html
http://www.securitywatch.co.uk/2009/09/02/new-wave-of-sql-attacks-from-china/