Although not all of us are excempted, at least libraries, archives, research and scholarship to flourish without the current dark clouds of litigation. That is a small slap on this stupid law.
From the IA press release;
Thanks to the hard work of two great law school students of Peter Jaszi of American University, Jieun Kim and Doug Agopsowicz, the Internet Archive and other libraries may continue to preserve software and video game titles without fear of going to jail. This is a happy moment, but on the other hand this exception is so limited it leaves the overall draconian nature of the DMCA in effect. A total of more than $50,000 of pro-bono lawyer time has been spent to just affect this exemption and its continuation. We hope that Congress, and other governments, will pass more balanced copyright laws to allow at least libraries, archives, research and scholarship to flourish without the current dark clouds of litigation.
More formally, Internet Archive has successfully advocated for an exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”). The DMCA prohibits circumvention of technological measures employed by or on behalf of copyright owners to protect their works (“access controls”). Specifically, 17 U.S.C. §1201(a)(1)(A) provides, in part, that “No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.” In order to ensure that the public will have continued ability to engage in noninfringing uses of copyrighted works, such as fair use, subparagraph (B) limits this prohibition. It provides that the prohibition against circumvention “shall not apply to persons who are users of a copyrighted work which is in a particular class of works, if such persons are, or are likely to be in the succeeding three-year period, adversely affected by virtue of such prohibition in their ability to make noninfringing uses of that particular class of works under this title” as determined in a rulemaking proceeding.
On November 27, 2006, the Librarian of Congress, on the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, announced six classes of works which will not be subject to the prohibition against circumventing access controls (the DMCA) through October 27, 2009. One of these six classes includes:
“computer programs and video games distributed in formats that have become obsolete and that require the original media or hardware as a condition of access, when circumvention is accomplished for the purpose of preservation or archival reproduction of published digital works by a library or archive. A format shall be considered obsolete if the machine or system necessary to render perceptible a work stored in that format is no longer manufactured or is no longer reasonably available in the commercial marketplace.”
Links;
Internet Archive Announcement
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Internet Archive Secures Exemption To The DCMA
VOIP IP Telephony: Silver needle in the Skype
Skype analysis done by Blackhat Europe. Links and more info at VOIP IP Telephony
VOIP IP Telephony: Silver needle in the Skype
Vista in full view, Pro is out today
After many delays and as many tests, Vista comes out of hiding! Hiding in the middle of a football field.
Beginning Thursday, businesses that buy Windows licenses in bulk have first crack at the new operating system, called Vista. Consumers can get Vista on home PCs beginning Jan. 30.
The new Windows is the product of a cast of literally millions: more than 2 million consumers and businesses who tested it and offered their advice; tens of thousands of hardware and software partners who have helped mold the visually gripping operating system; and thousands of Microsoft employees who have sweated out the details.
But even with all the touted improvements, analysts expect Vista to only gradually emerge, especially in big organizations where upgrading can be a costly, complicated affair. Gartner Dataquest predicts that it will be 2010 before Vista outnumbers the previous operating system, Windows XP, on business computers.
Today's planned razzle-dazzle announcement in New York marks the availability of Vista, along with 2007 Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, for business customers. To underscore the event's magnitude, CEO Steve Ballmer will be master of ceremonies. May be some one will give him a comb as a present, this holidays, for what he is trying to do to Linux, self admitted rival in the market place.
Why can't we all get along? that is because Redmond is not LA and M$ wants all for itself I guess.
Links
News source
M$ guide to Vista
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
VOIP IP Telephony: Connect two FreePBX's together
Ravenii tlls how to connect two FreePBX's together
VOIP IP Telephony: Connect two FreePBX's together
Zune Ranks #2 but like 60 miles behind in a 100 mile race
After writing ti last article I did some more research. Yes Zune is ranked number two behind Apple's iPOD. The iPod remains No. 1 with 63 percent of unit sales and 72.5 percent of the dollar share. So what is the Zune share? it is nine percent of unit sales and 13 percent of the total dollar share during its first week on store shelves.
So it is like;
*************iPOD***********************************************Zune***********
for unit sales and
*******iPOD***********************************************Zune*****************
for Dollar value. The above graphs (if you are to call them graphs! are not accurate) shows them. I do not know what future holds, looks like apple is going full steam in this field and the question is will Zune hold the steam and do some catching up. Just because Apple had the in the market advantage, don't complain about it. Do the due diligences to bring a product to market. Me too some times works.
Anyway, I do not use MP3 players, because I stopped buying music long long time ago, in protest to RIAA. The only music I listen is on the radio when I am in the car. Those classic music I have at home do wonders, when I need them.
What I want to say is that If I wanted a MP3 player, I would get an iPOD, not a Zune. I have a Creative 1GB player just to record my meetings!
Good luck Zune.
Links;
SFGate article
Zune keeps on dropping in Munster report!
On Nov 16th Zune had the 7th spot on Amazon list of best selling MP3 players. But according to this PC Magazine article, It dropped to 13 on the list only five days after launch, on Nov. 20.
Do you believe in lucky numbers and Bad Omens?
"The buzz that Microsoft was able to generate for the Zune's launch clearly helped the player in its first week, but much of the publicity took the form of Zune/iPod comparisons," Munster wrote. He added that these comparisons show that Zune "failed to match up in the eyes of most reviewers" to the iPod, a fact that negatively affected sales of the device.
Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore wrote Monday that the iPod continues to be a strong seller going into the busy holiday shopping season, and the 30G-byte video iPods-- with which Zune competes-- "appear to be immune to the Zune." He said both the 30G-byte video iPods and the new 4G-byte iPods nanos currently are popular with consumers.
A note about Apple's performance from financial firm UBS IT hardware analyst Ben Reitzes also said that Zune does not appear to be any threat to iPod at this time.
You can read more at yahoo news article, listed below.
Links;
Microsoft's Zune Player Not Challenging iPod Sales
M$ creeps into MA Technology Advisory Group, one that is ANTI -ODF at that.
The Standards blog article made me sigh, After all the work went in to Massachusetts standardization in common document format, ODF, now the Governor elect has appointed an out of state, M$ Regional Director for Public Affairs, Brian Burke, to the technology Advisory group. What do you think he will advise on? Yes I am surprised but the author of the article, Andy Updegrove, has a better view of this whole affair. So instead of my rantings, I think you should read the article to get a better picture and who the other members are.
I will steal on line from him ;)
"Good fences not only make good neighbors, but good political sense as well. Deval Patrick should ask Burke to stay outside of one that should be built around ODF."
Also tied to this article is one from CIO Mag,
A Win for Microsoft in Massachusetts?
The battle to convert Massachusetts government to an open source format, and phase out MS Office, cost the state’s CIO his job and scared other government CIOs.
Links;
Standards Blog article, "MA Governor-Elect Names MS Anti-ODF Lobbyist to Technology Advisory Group"
CIO Mag Article.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
XandroOS 4.0 out Before Vista
XandrOS running MS Office APPlications.
Linux vendor Xandros Inc. today unveiled its latest Xandros Desktop Professional Version 4 of its enterprise Linux operating system, which debuts two days before Microsoft Corp. launches the enterprise version of Windows Vista.
Xandros Desktop Professional 4, which retails for $99.99 and is available in a boxed version or as a download, includes Bluetooth wireless support, desktop search, ISV support and advanced 3D desktop graphics effects. The new OS maintains what Xandros said is seamless compatibility with Windows, Linux and Unix networks, including Windows domain authentication -- plus support for logon scripts, group policy profiles and Microsoft Exchange.
Xandros CEO Andreas Typaldos said in a statement that Linux continues "to make inroads in the enterprise as Windows replacements," meaning companies must figure out how to manage disparate systems in mixed Windows and Linux networks. "Today, most companies utilize a silo-based approach by managing Windows and various Linux versions separately, each with their own administrators and tool sets."
Some features;
Create, open and edit MS Office files with Openoffice.org. Run important Windows applications including MS Office.
Xandros reinforces the already secure Linux platform with the Xandros Security Suite. The included firewall, anti-virus, file-system protector and Xandros Networks update alert ensures that your Xandros Desktop has the best and most current protection.
Authenticate to Windows PDC and Active Directory Domains. Connect to wired and wireless networks. Use PPTP VPN to connect remotely to the office. Broadband wireless connectivity with 3G, GSM and UMTS support.
So if you are worried about Vista's WGA, OGA, Vista EULA here is one way to have Happy Feet.
Links;
Geemodo: WGA, OGA, Vista EULA and Happy Feet
Source of the article
XandrOS Site
Monday, November 27, 2006
Microsoft Takes Advisory role, tries to teach Apple about Security
Ah Yes there is a tree in my eye, but let me takeout that dust spec out of your eyes before I attend to mine, because I know all about dust specs.
I got my Monday morning laugh after seeing the article, "Microsoft offers Apple security advice";
"As crazy as it sounds, a member of Microsoft's security team has blasted Apple for failing to coordinate its security efforts and to issue proper security advice."
Well the article is interesting as so far timeliness not the essence of M$. Also I don't think any out side security experts developed patches, security patches for Mac OS X. But I am certain that they did for Microsoft. So who is this Joker? According to his article, blog post, he has only been doing this years, I guess the guy need to add only few more years, from the state of Microsoft's timeliness and security patches.
Or may be he is just pushing Apple to do it, so that the methods of better security management could be emulated on windows platform!
Anyway, I guess his his next advise might be to Linus, explaining how to manage Linux security.
Hello Mr. Toulouse, go watch happy feet! You might learn something.
Links;
Security Focus "Microsoft Offers Apple Security advice"
A link to buggy buggy, sorry bloggy bloggy blog by Toulouse.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Oracle > Ms SQL, in flows by and independent study by one of Microsoft's best clients.
Today I was at computerworld site when I noticed the article, "Study: Oracle database software has more flaws than SQL Server" by Jaikumar Vijayan.
I went through the "STUDY" as I knew about the flaws in Oracle and the slow response by Oracle. I took it for granted that it is an independent study as I knew some of the issues with Oracle. As I earn some of my living with Oracle and MS Sql, I am interested in any Oracle or MS SQL problems or issues.
From the article;
"Between December 2000 and November 2006, external researchers discovered 233 vulnerabilities in Oracle's products compared to 59 in Microsoft's SQL Server technology, according to NGSS. The study looked at vulnerabilities that were reported and fixed in SQL Server 7, 2000 and 2005 and Oracle's database versions 8, 9, and 10g."
Looks like it is now a numbers game. 233 versus 59. Anyway I am yet to find the list so I do not know the details. So I wonder if those includes, on both sides, problems like SQL Slammer worm, which brought down Internet a while ago. I hope not.
Anyway just because of the interest in the article, I checked out who Next Generation Security Software (NGSS) is. Yes they turn out to be what they say they are, state–of–the–art security consultancy and a little bit more. Their one of the most prominent clients are Microsoft. That said, they do list Microsoft security issues on the site as well as other programs. Oh, I did read the study. Well the report seems to be in the right direction. How about graph of publicly known damages done due to those vulnerabilities? Guess who will come on the top!
Jaikumar, I would not rate this as a "STUDY" and certainly not a independent Study, when the report is written by a consultant to one of the parties in question. May be a report by Microsoft's security guardians, which they (NGSS) seem to be doing right.
Note; I am not a Microsoft Fan nor Oracle, they are applications I work with. But I prefer Oracle on Linux ;).
Update:
I really like what these guys do!
Argeniss
Links;
Jaikumar's article on Computer world
NGSS clients
WGA, OGA, Vista EULA and Happy Feet
Follow the Happy Feet, (Photo copy right of Happy Feet Movie)
M$ do something other than Balming FUD, they are coming.
With all the hoopla about WGA, that made a quite a stir, new stuff is on the way to stir up M$ scene. These includes OGA? (whats is this?) Vista EULA and WGA that is well hidden and protected should give much for Web loggers and tech writers to write about.
Sorry they already do. This morning I came across 3 such postings that made me think hard about an article that I am planing to write.
First, What is OGA? Office Genuine Advantage, just like WGA, office 2007 will carry the same disabling capabilities of Vista, rendering any documents created with office 2007. But M$ does not say that out right, just that it has that right to do so. Read about that right later.
ZDNets All about Microsoft states, "Buried in a Knowledge Base article that Microsoft published to the Web on November 14 are details of Microsoft’s plans to combat Office 2007 piracy via new Office Genuine Advantage lockdowns."
"But now Microsoft’s intentions are clear: Just as it is doing with Vista, Microsoft plans to incorporate what basically amounts to a “kill switch” into Office 2007. Office 2007 users who can’t or won’t pass activation muster within a set time period will be moved into “reduced-functionality mode,” according to Microsoft’s Knowledge Base article."
Read more at the link given below.
The other article I would like to bring to your attention is the one from Security Focus. I did not go there looking for vista, I was just checking security stuff when I noticed the article "Vista's EULA Product Activation Worries" by Mark Rasch. It was a really a good writing that I gulped all four pages in one go.The article is full of information and too long to summarize here. But I will add the last paragraph here;
"And what if Microsoft is wrong, and they disable your software erroneously? Well, you can keep buying and activating their software until you are successful. And that means more fees to Redmond. Or, following the movie “Happy Feet,” you can decide to find software with a little penguin on it."
Links;
ZDNets All about Microsoft article Yes, there is an Office 2007 'kill switch'
Security Focus Vista EULA
Why Ballmer's claim on Linux differs from SCO' claim
I am sure you may have gone through countless articles about M$ versus Linux, and M$ Novell deal, if you are interested in the subject. I have!. Google news has 2850 articles, if you search on "Novell Microsoft". And if you do a Google blog search on the same subject you get closer to 36000 results.
So how do you find the best articles, stay closer to the core. I visit Groklaw site daily to see the legal matters on it and the still continuing SCO saga. Then I browse sites like ZDNets Mary Jo's blog. What I learn today is that we cannot ask ballmer to lift up his holiday apron and show the code.The explanation come Mary Jo's post. Here is the most important part from one of her posts;
""Microsoft doesn't have to show infringing code. It has to demonstrate that some implementation "reads" on its patent. That implementation could be in grapefruit, tiddly-winks, or a final executable program.
"The 'show-me the code' thing worked with IBM SCO because SCO claims that IBM is infringing on its copyrights. "
So I think ballmer is on a well planned course on his game. Remember Lindows? I think they settled that case to keep copyright on a common word like "windows". May be ballmer and gates lived in huts without windows, prior to 1980's or 1990s, but many a people had windows, a long long long time ago.
That is why ballmer will not come forward with his patents, because some of them might get invalidated, or they are in violation some other patents. Or some patents might be containing such things as prior art. Prior art at Microsoft? Don't laugh, everything is original at M$.
There is another article that gives a yet another view on Eweek, "Is Microsoft Violating Some Patents Covering Open Source?"
Links;
Groklaw
Mary Jo's article (read her prior article on the same subject too)
Is Microsoft Violating Some Patents Covering Open Source?
PC games Versus Console games.
Although I have latest PC hardware, Dual Core CPU's, SLI Dual graphic cards, 4GB memory , Sata Hard drives, 22" wide LCD displays, I never play games on my PC. But I do have friends who spend countless hours on PC's playing Half life or counter strike.
When I want to play games, I reach for a console, PS2, Game cube, XBOX 360.(I don't have the latest consoles!, I am not the type who stand on th lines to get anything.) There is something different in playing games over the console and 42" latest Plasma TVs. I get immersed in the game, get tired and get back to work on my PC ;).
The only PC game I bought was the Microsoft Flight simulator, but I don't see my self playing it.
So when I saw the article by Playfuls, "Analysis: Did Consoles Kill the PC as a Gaming Platform?" my answer is yes! If all the people feel like I do, then it is certainly dead. But since it is not dead yet, I think there are more people still play games on PC's. But as these console wars, continue, more consoles in the market, I think there will be lesser and lesser PC games.
Go read the Playfuls article, it is a good analysis on the subject.
Links;
Analysis: Did Consoles Kill the PC as a Gaming Platform?
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Get your mobility and freedom back without wheels
Yes, it ’s a walking bike. It walks on four feet and seems to have a good balance. I am not sure if it can climb stairs! But on the road it is slower than a bicycle. But I guess you will have to spend a lot on shoes for this true Moped.
Link;
Four legged bicycle
Friday, November 24, 2006
XBOX 360 gets a rare birthday present
Playfuls news reports about XBOX 360's birthday. Yes M$ has lost millions on this game gear war, it is growing, the loses!, and these Brit gamers are helping a bit.
According to the article,
"a gang of die-hard fans (of Sony's most likely) from England, who hijacked a couple of transports estimated at £1,000,000 worth of Xbox 360 consoles. That's almost $2,000,000!"
Well at least M$ is winning in one direction, loses. And when these reach a certain number, say a few billions, M$ might drop and run.
Article ends with a note;
"The Staffordshire police made an appeal to the public, asking them to report if anyone offers them a shiny new console in suspicious circumstances, "such as in a pub, at a car boot sale or off the back of a lorry"."
Yeah, good luck
Links;
Playfuls Post
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanks Giving day!
I thank all of you on this thanks giving day!
Be good on black Friday! Get all the gizmo's, you want.
Kangaroos write laws, Dingos approve them making all Australians criminals.
Weseepeople, has an article about proposed Australian copyright laws that are rushed through the parliment.
One could get quite sick and angry about the consequences of these laws. I am.
Read more at following link;
weseepeople: Proposed Copyright laws turn all Australian to Criminals
Microsoft takes over Firefox.
While M$ and Novell agree to disagree, M$ has quietly acquired Firefox! From the MSfirefox site, the statement;
"Do more by doing less.
Open multiple copies of Microsoft websites in one window with tabbed browsing. See thumbnail images of all Microsoft sites in a single view. Organize multiple tabs of sites into a single tab group of everything Microsoft and save it as a favorite. Opening 30 of your favorite Microsoft sites has never been easier."
Is complimented by the press release;
" REDMOND, Wash. – October. 24, 2006 – Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced the completion of its acquisition of the Mozilla Firefox Web Browser. The transaction was finalized on Saturday, October 23, 2006. As a result of the acquisition, Microsoft share prices jumped 5.7%. Mozilla Corporation's share prices remained at zero.
So I will not say no more, please visit the MSFirefox site to find out more.
Links;
MSFirefox
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Novell and Microsoft agree to disagree?!
The recent agreement between software giants are bringing out disagreements. The webspace is awash with the information and I get my daily dose from Groklaw.net. Pamela at Groklaw has been an ardent supporter of the Open Source since SCO began it's fud (Fear Uncertinity and Doubt) and that long I have been a member of her Weblog, forum.
Through Groklaw, I landed on this news item, "Novell disputes claim by Microsoft on patents" on Seattlepi.
"
In a twist that underscored the unlikely nature of their alliance, Novell Chief Executive Ron Hovsepian publicly distanced his company Monday from Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer's statement last week that the open-source Linux operating system contains patented Microsoft technology.
"Importantly, our agreement with Microsoft is in no way an acknowledgment that Linux infringes upon any Microsoft intellectual property," Hovsepian wrote in a letter to the open-source community, posted on Novell's Web site. He added, "When we entered the patent-cooperation agreement with Microsoft, Novell did not agree or admit that Linux or any other Novell offering violates Microsoft patents.""
Links;
Friday, November 17, 2006
Is Fleck flaking? No Dashnote needs tweaking!
My previous post I wrote about Fleck;
Geemodo: Fleck is alive and you can leave flecks on any webpage
Which due to too many hits, began to run out of connections yesterday, I got such notices myself, thats is why I went to look at Dashnote.
But again I noticed a comment on Pete's blog by Ranjit telling us about Dashnote. I did go to the site and registered my self. It seems a decent enough product but my feeling is it needs improvement. Fleck furthers itself by providing slick interface compared to the Dashnote. Also Dashnote and Ranjit, You do need to make noise in cases like these! Now you are just another fleck. Just follow Microsoft, release what you got and fix whatever makes biggest noise.
I am in the process of (mainly procrastinating) cooking up some ideas in the same line and may be catch you guys later to embed dashnote into my idea, I don't have money to pay Fleck!
Here is the snippet by Ranjit on Pete's Article.
"As it happens, we’ve built something like this at DashNote. We’re a bit coy about making a lot of noise about this since rough edges remain (which will be cleared up in a few days), but it may be worth taking a look. Some key differentiators:
1. You can annotate specific content on the page (text, images, or image regions for things such as photo-tagging)
2. We preserve the notes and the original page (annotations and context)
3. Positional data is also maintained though there are some issues when comments are placed in IE and viewed in Firefox and vice-versa.
Example: http://dashnote.com/snapshot/Trpnlis1RBo"
Links;Dashnote
Fleck blog about running out of connections!
