I can't help but think that one reason they are doing this is to curb the use of competitor services like Skype and Vonage. They probably don't want people to download movies from iTunes, Amazon and others because it directly competes with their own On-Demand service. I would bet money that if they see these people using their own services they look the other way.
Didn't many providers in the media and telecom industry try to set up ways to legally stifle competitor services a couple of years ago and got shot down by the courts? I can't remember but this seems like they are trying to do it in a more roundabout way now.
Gotta love deregulation and those exclusive cable franchises...
Another problem is that there are too many bundled apps in Windows with access to the OS subsystem.
IE (if I'm not mistaken) is also the default file viewer with means that at some level the web browser is tied in to the shell. Outlook and Outlook Express can also be used to launch IE and other apps. For Microsoft to really stay ahead of the security curve, their first step should be to make these apps standalone apps and not tie them into the OS environment the way that they do. Take their new Windows Antispyware. Instead of removing the design flaws that make it so easy to install spyware, they capitalize on their own design flaw to make a product that they will probably make more money on. That doesn't leave much of an incentive to really fix the problems if they can just get richer off of them. Give them another few years and they will be marketing Microsoft Antivirus to capitalize on that front also.
Another problem is that there is just too much expectation we place on users to download all of these updates and patches. If Joe User wants to make sure that his computer is protected then he should set his antivirus and Windows Update to automatically download and install updates. but if he is on a dial-up connection, then users often just disable autoupdates so get faster performance. Not to mention the updates for antispyware apps, other software updates, etc.
Separate all of the web-enabled apps from the OS and make them standalone apps so there won't be as many security problems to contend with.
I think that this is a cool sounding device but in my house a cell phone doesn't last longer than a year or so before it gets dropped, goes bad, or some other malady strikes it. If I dropped my 800 dollar cellphone/mp3 player/camera, I'd be irate to say the least. I'd also be interested to know what realistic battery life I could expect out of my phone when I've been playing music on it for half of the day.
I agree. Open Source software has been around for quite a while. I apologise for my point not being stated clearly. I meant that it's too bad he stopped at 1995 instead of continuing to the present day. In 1995 Linux was an interesting project, but didn't have anything like the financial/political impact it has had since then.
It's sad that the author didn't focus on OSS. How few times in the history of any industry did a group of people actually force huge companies to focus on increasing quality without a lawsuit. Many of the big companies didn't care what they forced on users until open source software came along and made them and us remember why competition is a good thing.
It figures. Our government has been trying for years to figure out ways to undermine our constitution and the protections afforded to citizens in it. You're reading the warning here... If you want freedom, a right to privacy, and laws protecting you from an increasing tyrannical government, move to Europe.
I've been boycotting the recording industry for 2 years now and I think that a LOT of others are quietly boycotting also. Here's how I tell them to go to hell.
1. Buy NO CDs. I listen to the radio.
2. I only see about 1 movie a month, and that's a matinee. I've gotten myself into the habit of waiting until it hits Blockbuster or pay-per-view. A night at the movies for me and my wife costs about $17.00, but a ppv movie on cable costs $5.00. Popcorn and soda at the movies costs $8.00 - $9.00, at home I get popcorn and a soda for $2.00. At home, there are no babies crying and nobody talking behind me.
3. Stay away from pay-for satellite radio service. Radio has been free for its entire history, now we have to pay for this $#!t too? Some of the stations even have commercials!!!
These companies have been successful at screwing its customers because the vast majority of lemmings in this country happily bend over and pull their pants down when some inc. wants to screw them. Don't let them. Look at how Linux has taken off. With little advertising and a lot of walls thrown up in front of it. A protest doesn't have to be millions of people screaming all at once, it can start with a few. Support the EFF, don't write congressmen unless you're sending a six-figure check. Protest with your dollars, it's the only thing our government and the incs. pay attention to.
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I did mention other types of services besides Skype...
I can't help but think that one reason they are doing this is to curb the use of competitor services like Skype and Vonage. They probably don't want people to download movies from iTunes, Amazon and others because it directly competes with their own On-Demand service. I would bet money that if they see these people using their own services they look the other way. Didn't many providers in the media and telecom industry try to set up ways to legally stifle competitor services a couple of years ago and got shot down by the courts? I can't remember but this seems like they are trying to do it in a more roundabout way now. Gotta love deregulation and those exclusive cable franchises...
Another problem is that there are too many bundled apps in Windows with access to the OS subsystem. IE (if I'm not mistaken) is also the default file viewer with means that at some level the web browser is tied in to the shell. Outlook and Outlook Express can also be used to launch IE and other apps. For Microsoft to really stay ahead of the security curve, their first step should be to make these apps standalone apps and not tie them into the OS environment the way that they do. Take their new Windows Antispyware. Instead of removing the design flaws that make it so easy to install spyware, they capitalize on their own design flaw to make a product that they will probably make more money on. That doesn't leave much of an incentive to really fix the problems if they can just get richer off of them. Give them another few years and they will be marketing Microsoft Antivirus to capitalize on that front also. Another problem is that there is just too much expectation we place on users to download all of these updates and patches. If Joe User wants to make sure that his computer is protected then he should set his antivirus and Windows Update to automatically download and install updates. but if he is on a dial-up connection, then users often just disable autoupdates so get faster performance. Not to mention the updates for antispyware apps, other software updates, etc. Separate all of the web-enabled apps from the OS and make them standalone apps so there won't be as many security problems to contend with.
Why is this news now? Wasn't Linux still on the 2.4 kernel then?
I think that this is a cool sounding device but in my house a cell phone doesn't last longer than a year or so before it gets dropped, goes bad, or some other malady strikes it. If I dropped my 800 dollar cellphone/mp3 player/camera, I'd be irate to say the least. I'd also be interested to know what realistic battery life I could expect out of my phone when I've been playing music on it for half of the day.
I agree. Open Source software has been around for quite a while. I apologise for my point not being stated clearly. I meant that it's too bad he stopped at 1995 instead of continuing to the present day. In 1995 Linux was an interesting project, but didn't have anything like the financial/political impact it has had since then.
It's sad that the author didn't focus on OSS. How few times in the history of any industry did a group of people actually force huge companies to focus on increasing quality without a lawsuit. Many of the big companies didn't care what they forced on users until open source software came along and made them and us remember why competition is a good thing.
It figures. Our government has been trying for years to figure out ways to undermine our constitution and the protections afforded to citizens in it. You're reading the warning here... If you want freedom, a right to privacy, and laws protecting you from an increasing tyrannical government, move to Europe.
I've been boycotting the recording industry for 2 years now and I think that a LOT of others are quietly boycotting also. Here's how I tell them to go to hell. 1. Buy NO CDs. I listen to the radio. 2. I only see about 1 movie a month, and that's a matinee. I've gotten myself into the habit of waiting until it hits Blockbuster or pay-per-view. A night at the movies for me and my wife costs about $17.00, but a ppv movie on cable costs $5.00. Popcorn and soda at the movies costs $8.00 - $9.00, at home I get popcorn and a soda for $2.00. At home, there are no babies crying and nobody talking behind me. 3. Stay away from pay-for satellite radio service. Radio has been free for its entire history, now we have to pay for this $#!t too? Some of the stations even have commercials!!! These companies have been successful at screwing its customers because the vast majority of lemmings in this country happily bend over and pull their pants down when some inc. wants to screw them. Don't let them. Look at how Linux has taken off. With little advertising and a lot of walls thrown up in front of it. A protest doesn't have to be millions of people screaming all at once, it can start with a few. Support the EFF, don't write congressmen unless you're sending a six-figure check. Protest with your dollars, it's the only thing our government and the incs. pay attention to.