1:26 PM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Pay for play

My step-mom has worked in the radio industry for as long as I've known her. Just recently the station group she works for was purchased by Clear Channel, one of the companies covered by this article. Small world I guess.

Regardless, this whole thing is one of the many reasons that industry cronies hate Napster so much... it disrupts their carefully constructed payola schemes.

[thanks to Nari for the link]

1:09 PM CST     0 comments

I've been told by others that the defninition of insanity is repeating an action over and over and expecting a different result. I sort of agree with that. On the other hand, that definition works just as well for computer science.

Such are the contradictions which define my life.

9:12 AM CST     0 comments

Ahem: Can your PC run Windows XP?

The short answer is, of course, no. That's why the Wintel engine works so well. Intel releases hardware that is faster than 99% of the population needs. Then Microsoft cranks up the bloat machine and makes the Intel gear necessary just to run at an acceptable speed.

Eventually Intel outraces the software and Microsoft has to go through another production cycle to eat up all those juicy new cycles. Ad infintum.

Here's the best line from the article:

"An interesting proof point is test systems Microsoft has dispatched to some analysts. The Windows XP Beta 2 test PCs typically come with the fastest processors available and 320MB of RAM."

That, friends and neighbors, is a *lot* of RAM for a workstation.

8:53 AM CST     0 comments

Good: Microsoft storm warning

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Hailstorm is a bad idea. Mr. Rosenberg follows my logic pretty close, but takes it one step further than even I did. Scary stuff.

10:38 AM CST     0 comments

Cool: Check the Grid

Finally a movie review site that's worth using. Check the Grid takes reviews from a buttload of newspapers and boils them down to a simple Go, Don't Go, or Caution. At a glance you can see how many reviewers felt like you should see a flick and how many thought your money would be best applied elsewhere.

It's only weakness seems to be that it only covers fairly recent releases, but that is more by design than anything. I suppose if you are preparing to go see a flick with a group of friends and are arguing over what to see this would be an invaluable resource. It's a pity that such arguments tend to occur in front of the theatre instead of near a computer with web access. Perhaps a kiosk in the theatre lobby would be appropriate?

10:05 AM CST     0 comments

Ugh: Beauties Nip And Tuck Way to Top of Pageant

Okay. Some people object to beauty pageant contestants having plastic surgery because this gives them an unfair advantage. By taking this viewpoint these people are, in effect, supporting the beauty pageant concept as a whole.

In my mind, as long as you are comfortable with the idea of women being valued solely on their outward appearance then why should a little plastic surgery matter?

9:51 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Bush to host high-tech powwow

One is left to ponder if they will be discussing "IT strategery".

9:47 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Who is spying on your downloads?

The bad news is that the RIAA is watching you. The good news is that they aren't doing a very good job of it. This is somehow supposed to make me feel better?

9:41 AM CST     0 comments

Wake up call: DRAM prices to rise

Stock up now folks for the end is nigh. I'd go with either Crucial or Kingston.

9:33 AM CST     0 comments

Good grief: WinXP Blade -- MS' plan to kill off Linux Web servers

How many versions of Win XP is Microsoft planning anyway? There's Server, Workstation, Small Business, Small Business Restricted, Back Office, Blade, Consumer, and Embedded. And those are just the ones I can name off the top of my head.

I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, but they certain seem to be storing all their ovoid consumables in a single woven transport device.

[update: silly me... I linked the full list of XP flavors yesterday. I think my mind is going... Daisy, Daisy...]

9:21 AM CST     0 comments

Shudder: Gates plans invisible, automatic updates for WinXP users

Like the man said, "I trust Microsoft just about as far as I can comfortable spit a toad."

3:48 PM CST     0 comments

I just had an interesting thing happen. I was correcting a typo in my previous post and Netscape GPF'd when Blogger started to transfer files. This, in and of itself, isn't uncommon and in fact happens several times a day. What was odd was that, rather than click the Close button on the GPF dialog immediately, I took a moment to notice that Netscape seemed to still be running normally in the background.

As an experiment, I moved the GPF dialog off to the side and continued my normal surfing activities for close to an hour with no apparent problems. I'm left with the assumption that there are times when Windows decides that Netscape has done something wrong when, in fact, there's nothing wrong at all. I've never had anything like this happen with any other software.

Ok... so maybe it wasn't actually interesting. It's still weird.

9:19 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: LocoGames.com

Check out "Curious George W" in the puzzle section. hehehe

8:56 AM CST     0 comments

Ick: Privacy organization hits recorder maker

TiVo also permits its users, currently numbering about 150,000, to opt out of all collection by calling 877-367-8486.

Opt Out strikes again. This sort of thing is going to continue until Opt Out is made completely and utterly illegal. Then only the bottom-feeders will bother with it.

8:53 AM CST     0 comments

Wow: Scientist Debunks 'Lone Gunman'

This is interesting stuff... I wish they had covered the process in more detail though.

8:50 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm: Microsoft's ultimate challenge in interactive TV

"With the recent unveiling of UltimateTV, Microsoft is hoping to spark demand for digital programming while quietly moving its earlier, more limited experiment in interactive television off the prime-time lineup."

Excuse me? Microsoft *bought* WebTV as a completed product. They didn't have to "experiment" with it at all. It was a done deal.

I can't believe how short a memory tech journalists seem to have these days.

8:47 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: A Bright Future for Displays

Just what everybody needs... DVD on a cellphone. I'm impressed with the technology, but it seems a bit far fetched to me that people want to watch Fight Club on a 14cm screen.

8:14 AM CST     0 comments

Deja Vu: MS hobbling WinXP Server, pushing users to Advanced version?

If this lead turns out to be factual it certainly wouldn't be the first time Microsoft has hobbled an OS to aid product positioning. Back in the early days of NT4 there was a huge deal made about the differences between NT Server and NT Workstation. I even wrote a little opinion piece on it myself (and ranted a fair bit about the evils of ActiveX as well).

What it comes down to is that, regardless of how silly this sort of thing seems to be, it makes money for Bill so it's a Good Thing as far as Microsoft is concerned.

1:31 PM CST     0 comments

Okay, this is weird. Either zannah and harb live in the same building, or someone was setting off fire alarms willy-nilly this weekend. All things considered, I suppose it's more likely that harb is simply one of the many teks who help maintain the zannah idoru.

12:51 PM CST     0 comments

Drool: William Gibson aleph - essential information collection

Any Gibson fan simply must see this. I'm in complete awe.

[link courtesy of kitten of the villa straylight]

9:05 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm: Sharp shooter

Not to be a spoil sport, but $3000 for a 36" TV is cheap? I'm in the wrong business I guess.

8:58 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Shakeout expected among PC makers

I rest my case.

8:56 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: PC price war coming warn analysts

This seems like good news to consumers and, in the short term at least, I think it is. What's less certain is whether such competition will benefit consumers in the long term. It seems likely to me that only the really big manufacturers will be able to survive on these new slim margins and that the smaller shops will either move into services or die altogether.

What we end up with is a market in which only the big boys are left and they can then set whatever prices the market will bear. Regardless what the popular press would have you believe the PC is not dead and won't be for a long time. Businesses would likely be the hardest hit by such a market shift, because they often cannot wait until prices improve before buying new gear.

In short, if you are Dell, Compaq, or HP things look pretty good long term. In fact, if I were a product manager at one of these manufacturers I would start reducing the number of system configurations very quickly. This would effectively reduce overhead and inventory and allow better customer service. After the smoke clears, such a vendor could easily find themselves a key player, perhaps one of three or four, in a drastically simplified marketplace.

8:42 AM CST     0 comments

Doom: Hacking Linux BIND servers becomes child's play

Ugh. This could be a nasty one if it goes wide-spread. DNS is flaky enough as it is without the script kiddies screwing with it.

8:33 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: 'Universal' key claimed to disable MS Office XP security

Microsoft has had universal activations since they started using codes way back when. They are used primarily to allow journalists and book writers to unlock whatever Microsoft products they are reviewing or documenting. In a perfect world these journalists would all adore Microsoft and protect their universal activation codes to the death.

As is often the case, however, Microsoft has managed to tick off just about everyone at some point and thus were the keys to the castle made public. It would surprise me greatly if there are no such codes for the XP codebase simply because that would limit the ability of third parties to review and document the new stuff. Microsoft understands the importance of third party press to its marketing strategy and isn't likely to disrupt the status quo just to quell casual copiers.

On the other hand, as long as the public at large *thinks* the new XP activation scheme is unbreakable that, in and of itself, will go a long way towards discouraging the lion's share of casual copying.

10:45 AM CST     0 comments

Unbelievable: eBay files patent on 'thumbnail' images

This is getting ridiculous. Thumbnails have been around since (and possibly before) the BBS days. I can't believe anyone in their right mind would even attempt to patent such a thing.

Here's a page detailing eBay's reasoning on the issue.

[link courtesy of c3dric]

10:28 AM CST     0 comments

Update: How to Remove a Root Certificate

In answer to my earlier question regarding the "Always Trust" problem, Microsoft offers this solution. I'm happy to see it is at least possible to protect yourself, but unless I'm mistaken, this solution will keep you from using several key Microsoft sites. Including their Administrator Download page.

I'm sure you see the Catch-22 here.

10:21 AM CST     0 comments

WTF: Porn maker runs for mayor of LA

Ass Clowns?!? I'm speechless.

[link courtesy of The Obscure Store]

10:03 AM CST     0 comments

Wow: 3Com puts a bullet in Audrey

Damn, that was quick. Most of these overly-simplistic internet toasters last at least a year.

9:51 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Are consoles squeezing out PC games?

Maybe I'm off base here, but I've always considered console games and PC games more or less mutually exclusive. There are games that work best on a PC and those that only shine on a console. Of course, there will always be a bit of cross-over, but for the most part I really don't see what all the fuss is about.

I, for one, doubt that anyone wants to run Quicken or Excel on an Xbox connected to a big screen tv.

9:35 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Microsoft warns of hijacked certificates

I always told everyone ActiveX web controls were evil. Now we learn why. When your browser encounters a Digital Signature on an ActiveX control it asks you whether you want to trust the manufacturer. Your options are Yes, No, or Always Trust.

I'm wondering how people who have *already* indicated that they wish to "Alway Trust" Microsoft signed controls are supposed to protect their systems?

9:16 AM CST     0 comments

Ah well: Music industry tracking individual MP3 file sharers

We all knew it would come down to this at some point. I'm somewhat impressed that their software can automatically generate Cease & Desist letters though. The question remains, however, whether a completely machine generated (i.e. not lawyer reviewed) Cease & Desist could truly be used in legal preceedings. The prospect seems unlikely to me, but then again they passed the DMCA, so what do I know?

9:08 AM CST     0 comments

OSX News: Apple's special OS X marketing ploy

There are quite a few meaty details in this article for the Mac faithful. My interest was particularly piqued by Jobs adamant denial that Appl eis developing an X86 version of OSX. Methinks he doth protesteth too much.

9:05 AM CST     0 comments

Amen: THE NEW MTV -- BE AFRAID

I agree with everything in this article. My only question is why it took so long for the media to notice. I mean, MTV has sucked for years.

[link courtesy of The Obscure Store]

8:51 AM CST     0 comments

Hell yeah: Spamming goes to Washington

He said "sumbitch". That's pretty cool.

8:47 AM CST     0 comments

Memories: The Day the Sky(lab) Fell

I was nearly ten years olds when Skylab took its nosedive into Australia. I distinctly remeber being excited about the possiblity of something from space falling in our neighborhood. I also remember the stern warnings from my Mom not to touch any space debris lest my hair fall out.

My mom was just a tad over-protective.

8:42 AM CST     0 comments

Ninten-don't: Nintendo asks retailers to stop Xbox promos

I'm confused. Nintendo's Peter Main first states that when gamers waited on the PS2 last year it caused the gaming market to be "softer" than it should have been. Then he goes on to say that games are an "impulse purchase".

In his world people apparently waited more than a year to make an impluse purchase. You can't have it both ways Mr. Main. I've always been a big Nintendo supporter, but this just makes them look bad. Making Microsoft look like the good guy is a mean feat these days.

8:34 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: The two Ballmers wrestle over 'Toy' Linux

This is a classic case of an executive who hasn't yet mastered believing his own spin. On the one hand he knows what he *should* say, but then again he knows the truth too. Give him a year or so and he'll learn to accept the corporate adapted version of "truth" as pure fact.

Either that or they'll replace him.

8:28 AM CST     0 comments

Eh: Old trick aids Intel in 1GHz notebook spin

Here's a novel idea... why not design a true 700MHz chip that can run full steam without overheating? It would be cheaper to manufacture and you could use a less expensive supporting chipset as well. That, of course, wouldn't make Intel appear to be the fastest mobile processor.

8:08 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm: Logitech has emasculated mice

This sounds like a really cool idea, but why don't cordless mice have recharging cradles like the Palm? Replacing batteries every three months is *so*passe.

12:30 PM CST     0 comments

I apologize for the lack of posts today. My 'net connection at work was down all morning. It's back now, but I'm far too busy to attempt to catch up.

I'll be back tomorrow. Assuming, of course, I have a connection then.

10:45 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Free Tacos -- But There's a Slight Catch

Let me get this straight... Taco Bell's target is 40ft x 40ft and the MIR is going to come down "somewhere between Australia and Chile"? I haven't done the math, but the odds would have to be absolutely astronomical.

10:39 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Microsoft sets off a 'HailStorm' of new tools

Anyone want to pay Microsoft per Word document? How about a per-use charge for each time you use the Excel recalc command? Hailstorm could make it possible.

A couple of quotes convinced me:

The company envisions HailStorm as helping to move the Web to an end-user subscription model, where users pay to use a service.

and then this:

Microsoft plans to broadly support HailStorm in its applications, including Office XP, Windows XP, games and other applications.

Just another reason to not upgrade to XP as far as I'm concerned.

10:15 AM CST     0 comments

Eh: The next Napster?

No. BitBop is not the next Napster for several important reasons. First it records only "stream quality" audio. The article doesn't mention whether it will record interruptions to the stream as well, but it's likely.

Secondly, it encrypts any saved tracks into a proprietary format which can only be played through BitBop. Playing these tunes on WinAmp or portable units, such as the Rio, is not allowed. It's only a matter of time before someone releases a BitBop to MP3 converter, but that's a hassle and still wouldn't give you very good quality.

The only thing that can truly replace, or perhaps even exceed, Napster would be an RIAA-supported and fan-supplemented online catalog. Without RIAA backing there will be lawsuits and without fan supplementation there won't be any remixes or live tracks. If a service can hit these two hot buttons and provide simple searching and purchasing, the sky is the limit.

<HHGTTG>This, of course, is impossible.</HHGTTG>

10:00 AM CST     0 comments

Oops: AOL spam filter cans EarthLink e-mails

AOL is going to have a tough time convincing anyone that this was an accident.

10:22 AM CST     0 comments

Dumb: Man Robs Store Then Pretends He's a Clerk

Nothing like a crook with a good work ethic.

[link courtesy of The Obscure Store]

10:14 AM CST     0 comments

Buzz: Digital TV snowed in by 'Napster factor'

That's a really lousy headline for what, by all accounts, is a really good article. I wish the media could get over pushing the buzz-word quotient as a valid measure of a headlines effectiveness.

9:53 AM CST     0 comments

Right: Oracle's "simple" product making life tough?

A quote from a DHL representative:

"They fixed the bugs and corrected the problems and issues. That gives me confidence that (Oracle) is responsive and that they put resources together to resolve the issues."

I'll just bet Oracle was responsive for DHL, but would they be as responsive to a small business? I somehow doubt they would be. When you boil it down this is just a case of 1.0-itis. Oracle will eventually get things worked out, but a wise IT manager never installs the 1.0 of any product.

9:49 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Intel P4 strategy dented by Rambus ruling

Anyone want to make any bets on how long Intel sticks around if Rambus goes down in flames? My guess is that Intel has DDR designs completed and ready for production at a moments notice should Rambus lose this case. In fact, it would probably end up being much easier for Intel in the long run if Rambus does lose.

At least they would have a chance of staying out of court then.

10:37 AM CST     0 comments

Resource: Backwash.com

This site is a little hard to explain. If you boil it down to the bare essentials it's as if someone took the "people like you" concept of About.com and mixed in a bit of irreverence. The articles aren't all gems, but they all tend to contain interesting links and opinions.

In short, if you're bored and hankering for some new places to surf then check it out.

9:38 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Suspect's concealed money poses problem

This story is, appropriately enough, from the Beaver County Times.

9:20 AM CST     0 comments

About time: Spammers face felony charges

While I doubt seriously that the repercussions of this trial will even make a dent in the steady stream of spam most of us get on a daily basis, I do think it's a step in the right direction. If this sort of case is tried more often and the penalties are made severe enough it may eventually deter some of the less hardened would-be spammers. Any reduction would certainly be a welcome one.

9:14 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Long live the PSone

I have serious doubt about how well a cd-based portable could penetrate the market. A battery pack capable of running a decent sized LCD screen and constantly spinning the cd for games like those in the Final Fantasy series would be large, heavy, and fairly expensive. Not only that, but the cd system used in the PSone tends to skip a lot on dirty cd's anyway, a problem which will only be exacerbated by portability.

9:08 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: Judge allows Rambus racketeering allegations

Let the backslide begin. I sincerely hope that other companies, those who were thinking about turning a profit through the courts instead of in the marketplace, will look at Rambus and reconsider.

3:28 PM CST     0 comments

Not Me: Windows Me Long-Term Wrap-up

Winmag.com was fairly hard on Windows Me shortly after its release, but nothing compares to their long-term testing results as detailed in this article. I'm loathe to admit it, but I have to agree with them on this point: when it comes to Me, that dog don't hunt. Stick with Win98SE whenever you need a consumer-level OS and think seriously about NT4 Workstation otherwise.

12:54 PM CST     0 comments

Info: What is Copyright Protection?

This page is a quick introduction to what a copyright is and what it is not. It's quite well written too.

[link courtesy of Ryan]

9:18 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm, no: Big Mac and a side of meatloaf

This is wrong in so many ways I don't know where to begin. Ew.

8:49 AM CST     0 comments

Heads up: Hardware-trashing virus spreads by email

This is a nasty one. Not only does it affect Outlook, but Netscape users as well. It also doesn't need an address book... it will grab addresses from your "sent items" folder.

Symantec released a new definitions file yesterday which you can download from their site. You can read this page for more details on the virus itself. I particularly like the statement at the end of this page: "It is hostile to debuggers". This guy really covered his bases.

8:34 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Rambus patent claims limited by judge

Perhaps there remains a small glimmer of hope for DDR. I'm not getting my hopes up though, after all Intel is on the swinging end of the Rambus hammer.

8:17 AM CST     0 comments

Ah well: Sony buys PlayStation emulator

I suppose there is still Bleem. For a little while anyway.

9:46 AM CST     0 comments

Go on: Bill Gate's House

See how the other .0000001% lives.

9:41 AM CST     0 comments

Come again: Women suspected of huffing in supermarket

What the hell is "huffing"? We always called them "whippets".

9:27 AM CST     0 comments

Cool: The White Shoe Irregular

While it could never take the place of olio, White Shoe Irregular is, nonetheless, worth some time. I particularly liked the "bit and bitter" section. Go figure.

[link courtesy of Jen appropriately enough]

9:17 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Jamming could be the answer to mobile phone traffic

Another article about cell-phone jamming technology.

8:44 AM CST     0 comments

Whoa: Tiny C code bests seven-line DVD decoder

I thought that perl code was pretty dense, but the new code is amazingly compact. You can see the code itself on this page.

8:38 AM CST     0 comments

Damn: Heads roll at Eazel

It's a shame they had to do this, but I suppose it beats going under.

8:34 AM CST     0 comments

This: Napster tells court filters are working

-or-

That: RIAA Sends Napster Music List

I can't believe anyone thinks that Napster will be able to filter its content. The only thing that will stop Napster is a complete shut down and even then file-trading will continue through other products. It's pure folly to think otherwise.

As always, the 'net perceives censorship as damage and routes around it.

8:22 AM CST     0 comments

Update: Linux company to release key software

More news about Eazel.

8:16 AM CST     0 comments

Bleh: ICANN's VeriSign registry deal done without consultation

ICANN is up to it's old tricks again.

9:06 AM CST     0 comments

Scary: Those great gadgets might be spying on you

I'm not generally a paranoid person, but this sort of thing raises my hackles a bit.

8:55 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Clive Barker Up a New Tree

It seems like EA is getting much bolder with their game selections lately. First there was Alice and now Undying. I've always admired Clive Barker's grasp of the human psyche and I'm curious to see how well it translates into game terms.

8:29 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: Get your new global domain names here

More news on the New.net thing and details on just the sorts of problems I was predicting last week.

10:50 AM CST     0 comments

Egad: Hello, World!

In my opinion, this is just about as good a reason as any to avoid Visual C++ at all costs. Not that I needed another reason, but you know.

9:07 AM CST     0 comments

w00t: Parachute Accident Mars Coleslaw Wrestling

Call me weak, but I couldn't pass up a headline like that.

8:57 AM CST     0 comments

Hell yeah: Companies race to get MP3 format in cars

It's certainly easier to install one of these than jury-rig a full computer under the seat of your car or truck. That said, there's a certain geek charm to DIY solutions.

8:51 AM CST     0 comments

Amazing: Libraries Need Not Screen Net, Judges Say

Score one for free speech. Any kid who would sit in full view in a library and download pr0n has much bigger issues to deal with anyway.

8:45 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Microsoft Is Us

Mr. Malone thinks that the NASDAQ slump was caused by the DOJ vs Microsoft case. I'm not sure I buy that, but he does make an interesting point regarding the parallels between the Microsoft case and the IBM anti-trust case of years past.

8:37 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: AMD, Intel fight wars using memory chips

I think it's really cool AMD is using a badge campaign to promote their DDR architecture. Nothing riles up a competitor more than using their own tactics against them. Of course Intel may be too busy with problems of their own to even notice.

8:31 AM CST     0 comments

Bleh: Apple patents desktop themes

One of the main requirements for a valid patent is that it not be an "obvious" solution. Skinning is just about as obvious as you can get in my book. Just because a patent is granted doesn't necessarily mean it is ironclad. That's up to the courts assuming it ever goes that far.

4:49 PM CST     0 comments

Booyah: qikdrive8

This is perhaps the coolest geek.toy I've seen in a long time. It's a pity RAM is so damned expensive or a card like this could really take off. Street price for the 8GB model is currently around $26,500.

3:18 PM CST     0 comments

Uhm: Scooby Doo cast photo

Be afraid. Be *very* afraid.

[link sniped from Ryan]

9:56 AM CST     0 comments

Cool: Tired of Those Cell Phones Ringing?

They need to release a portable model of this technology. I know I'd buy one.

9:28 AM CST     0 comments

Ahem: Am I GOTH or NOT?

I've mostly steered clear of the "Or Not" and "YUOR BASE" memes, but this one was far too tempting to pass up. Some photos are of a rather adult nature, so Caveat Clickor.

8:55 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Hotmail users unwittingly opting for spam?

"Within a couple months, the account will be unusable," Livermore said. "To try to wade through about 20 spam messages to get to your own messages, it's horrible."

20 spam messages? Is this guy for real? I probably get that many per hour. In fact, around Christmas I got somewhere between 200 and 300 spams per day if you consider all my accounts cumulatively. That number has thankfully dropped off, but 20 messages? I'd welcome that.

8:46 AM CST     0 comments

Schweet: AMD Desktop and Mobile Processor Pricing

Another round of price cuts from AMD. The 1GHz 266FSB looks particularly well priced. And 750MHz for $72? Craziness.

8:39 AM CST     0 comments

Interesting: Stomp the identity thieves

Kevin Mitnick details some of the ways identity thieves operate and how vulnerable we really are. Pretty scary stuff.

9:08 AM CST     0 comments

Bad Idea: New twist in top-level domain name game

This is a really, really bad idea. As much as I hate ICANN and everything it stands for, allowing private companies to set up their own TLD's and use plug-ins to redirect network traffic is a recipe for disaster.

Let's say Company A creates a .tech domain and allows companies to purchase domains under that TLD. Then a month or so later Company B decides to offer .tech to its customers. Depending on which plug-in you have installed "www.newsline.tech" might take you to the web site of either Company A's client or Company B's client. Multiply this by a couple thousand such TLD companies and you get the picture.

What's worse is companies wishing to secure their trademarks would have to pay every one of these new TLD providers what amounts to a ransom to protect their rights. Ugly stuff.

8:57 AM CST     0 comments

More P4: Geeks declare war on Intel

It's kinda cool to see Sharky's Extreme and Tom's Hardware getting some recognition for a change. The mainline press has been avoiding them for years. Not a bad article either.

8:48 AM CST     0 comments

Ugh: New tools hatch for sniffing out Web bugs

I've read three or four articles like this one this morning and not one of them mentions that Mozilla has built in protection against web bugs. I guess since Netscape 6 is so buggy nobody takes Mozilla seriously anymore.

8:34 AM CST     0 comments

w00t: DeCSS makes the funny pages

Berke Breathed would be proud. Snugglebunnies!

8:27 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Pentium 4 vs. Athlon DDR

There's an old saw in the computer industry that says there are three kinds of PR: lies, damn lies, and benchmarks. The Tech Report eases into some of the latter with a delightfully complete set of tests comparing a 1.5MHz P4 with RDRAM to a 1.2MHz Athlon with DDR.

I'll have to say I was surprised to see just how strong the memory performance on the P4 turned out to be.

8:58 AM CST     0 comments

Cool: Computer 'can talk like a baby'

Historically speaking such projects have started well, but hit roadblocks in their middle stages. The sheer number of concepts picked up by a chhild between 15-months and 5 years is quite exceptional and has proven difficult for scientists to duplicate. That said, it's cool to see us one step closer to a true computerized assistant.

8:41 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Soft spots remain in Apple's new OS

Sound like only the truly hardcore will even bother with Cheetah. Apple could have capitalized on Microsoft's current OS confusion if they introduced a robust, well-supported alternative earlier rather than later. As it is they'll be lucky if a fraction of the Mac faithful spring for the upgrade.

What's particularly sad is how solid OS9.1 is and how little credit Apple is giving it. Apple may have just thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

8:30 AM CST     0 comments

Duh: Net fans switch on PC, not TV

I need to figure out a way to get paid for surveys like this one. I mean, just call a few friends to collect some quotes and then make up some numbers. How tough is that?

8:17 AM CST     0 comments

Whoa: Australia goes stark raving mad over Net censorship

This is a little crazy, assuming it's factual.

9:27 AM CST     0 comments

Ack: Smoke-screen CPRM "Generic Functionality" Proposal

This document contains the full text of the proposal which drive manufacturers have submitted as a replacement for CPRM. It appears to me, and to others far more experienced in such matters, that they just removed anything specific and left a framework to develop whatever they see fit. There are also a few e-mails from people close to the fray which shed a bit of light on a few issues.

This situation stinks worse every day.

9:20 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm: Toilets As Art

I'm speechless.

9:09 AM CST     0 comments

Amen: Stallman on The GNU GPL and the American Way

It's a bit lengthly, but well worth reading for anyone confused about what the GPL is or why Microsoft sees it as a threat.

9:01 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Nutella Finds Gnutella Hard to Swallow

I wondered how long it would take for this to happen.

8:53 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: S'kiddies munch Burger King

I was thinking about this sort of thing last night, when it occurred to me that the scripts used for such attacks must first identify the type of software running on the server. This is made quite easy by the fact that every HTTPd-clone on the planet will cough up its pedigree for anyone who asks. Some servers even provide patch levels and uptime statistics to anonymous requesters.

What if web server software didn't identify itself? Or, better yet, *mis-identified* itself? It would be quite simple to provide a table with a couple hundred names from which the server could randomly reply to requests for identification. Wouldn't the script kiddies be surprised to learn you were hosting your site on Apache for the Atari 2600?

It seems like such a simple solution to a vexing problem.

8:42 AM CST     0 comments

Yeah, right: Appeals court poised for shock 'MS entirely innocent' ruling

This, of course, has nothing to do with having Bush in the White House.