I have recently read something about how longhorn will include a new type of filesystem.
Today's news on Reuters includes a story about the settlement between AOL and Microsoft and that:
Microsoft also said it would open data from "beta" or trial versions of its Windows operating software to AOL and let the company help develop the next generation of Windows, known by the code name "Longhorn."
It continues on with the following observation:
"I think it's more like the enemy of your enemy is your friend," said Jamie Friedman, an analyst with Fulcrum Global Partners. "What AOL has that Microsoft needs is the broadband carriage and the digital assets. What Microsoft has that AOL needs is the ability to actually use those digital assets through software."
Why does AOL need Microsoft if it can peddle Linux boxen... which is getting increasingly easer every day????
Add to all this that a number of folks are working on using crypto tech for attaching video monitors and hard drives.
Reasonable colclusion: there is a good possibility that Microsoft (and/or AOL) may be developing a filesystem and hardware spec that could eliminate the ability to make copies of one's own files even on the same machine!
Now that Case is out of the AOL loop and since Time Warner and AOL are welded together, AOL has more interest in protecting copyrights that it did before. Could it be that Microsoft and AOL will team up to make little lock boxen that THEY control for every user's personal digital media?
The ultimate saving grace from this is that one can (and we will) easily pull a Seinfield move and copy media from its analog value... which is no worse than 8 years ago when we were all still using audio and video casettes. Those digitized analog copies will be tough to trace and will be free from encumberances... and they will be digital!
File sharing of second-analog-generation music and movies will become the norm and remain rampant for ever.
The minority that HAS to have access to the advanced features of DVDs and such will have to get the real thing.
Slashdot Mirror
Today's news on Reuters includes a story about the settlement between AOL and Microsoft and that:
It continues on with the following observation:
Why does AOL need Microsoft if it can peddle Linux boxen... which is getting increasingly easer every day????
Add to all this that a number of folks are working on using crypto tech for attaching video monitors and hard drives.
Reasonable colclusion: there is a good possibility that Microsoft (and/or AOL) may be developing a filesystem and hardware spec that could eliminate the ability to make copies of one's own files even on the same machine!
Now that Case is out of the AOL loop and since Time Warner and AOL are welded together, AOL has more interest in protecting copyrights that it did before. Could it be that Microsoft and AOL will team up to make little lock boxen that THEY control for every user's personal digital media?
The ultimate saving grace from this is that one can (and we will) easily pull a Seinfield move and copy media from its analog value... which is no worse than 8 years ago when we were all still using audio and video casettes. Those digitized analog copies will be tough to trace and will be free from encumberances... and they will be digital!
File sharing of second-analog-generation music and movies will become the norm and remain rampant for ever.
The minority that HAS to have access to the advanced features of DVDs and such will have to get the real thing.