Archive | 2006

Audiocasts of the week

By Ted Roche on February 23, 2006 in Technology

I’m making weekly trips to the vet, and burning a CD of audiocasts to pass the time on the trip. While my passengers are good companions, they’re not sparkling conversationalists, so this week, I listened to:

Steve Gibson – Internet Privacy (3.3) Recently, the news has reported that the US Department of Justice has requested user information from some major internet search engines and service providers. In this conversation, Larry Magid talks with internet security expert Steve Gibson about the ramifications of these requests. They talk about what is possible and, more importantly, what is likely to be learned about an individual’s surfing habits.
Brewster Kahle – The Internet Archive (3.7) Dr. Moira Gunn speaks with Brewster Kahle, the founder and digital librarian of the Internet Archive. They’re not just archiving web pages – there’s now books, movies and 3,000 Grateful Dead concerts.

Both audiocasts came from ITC: All Programs

MacBook boots Linux, runs Knoppix!

By Ted Roche on February 22, 2006 in Apple Macintosh OS X, Linux, Technology

OSNews reports Knoppix on the Intel-Based Macintosh. “We reported a few days ago that we had Linux booting on the Intel-based Macintosh. We have been looking at Linux on this hardware some more, and we are glad to report that we now have a full-fledged Knoppix distribution working, complete with the X Window system. We are releasing the first pictures of Knoppix 4.0 running on a 17-inch iMac Core Duo. The X Window system is shown running at full resolution (rather, fuller resolution – 1472×900 – notice that the bottom right edge of the KDE dock is cut off). Most (but not all) aspects of the hardware seem to work, but we have yet to analyse exactly what doesn’t work and assess how much work it might take to get such things working.”

Awesome! Linux booting on the MacBook could lead to a dual-boot, dual-proc laptop.

Alternative headline: Cost of Windows servers exceed cost of UNIX servers

By Ted Roche on February 22, 2006 in LAMP, Microsoft, OpenSource, Technology

OSNews reports Windows Bumps Unix as Top Server OS. “Windows narrowly bumped Unix in 2005 to claim the top spot in server sales for the first time, according to a new report from IDC. Computer makers sold $17.7 billion worth of Windows servers worldwide in 2005 compared with $17.5 billion in Unix servers, IDC analyst Matthew Eastwood said of the firm’s latest Server Tracker market share report.”

I guess it’s all in the interpretation, isn’t it?

Note, too, that Linux is broken out as a third-place entry. Combining Linux and UNIX, their $22.8 billion puts Windows to shame. OTOH, you could break it out into Windows 2000, Windows 2003, AIX, HP/UX, Solaris and so forth. It depends on what you’re trying to prove.

Are there no safe attachments?

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in Apple Macintosh OS X, Security

Over at Ars Technica, Eric Bangeman points out a Safari vulnerability worth taking note of. “The widely reported Trojan horse for Mac OS X may be a dud. However, a security flaw in Apple’s Safari browser is something to be concerned about.” It looks like Apple made the poor decision of depending on the file extension to determine how “safe” a document is to open — even if the document also has metadata making it an executable script. Tsk, tsk. Wise advice in the article: turn off the Safari option to “Open “safe” files after downloading.” Even Apple puts “safe” in quotes — that should be a hint!

Oracle, MySQL, Interbase, Firebird, Ashton-Tate and XENIX, oh my!

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in MySQL, OpenSource, Technology

I’ll try to put together a more comprehensive post later, but wanted to log a series of links I want to revisit. This is a WeB Log after all:

Firebird News: MySQL to adopt Firebird Architecture

MySQL to adopt Firebird architecture

Database Journal: “Oracle’s purchase of InnoDB, their release of Oracle Express, and the effect on MySQL” 9 Nov 2005, By Ian Gilfillan
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mysql/article.php/3561731

“MySQL’s response to Oracle’s moves:” http://www.greenman.co.za/b2evolution/blogs/index.php?title=mysql_s_response_to_oracle_s_moves&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

“Pressure on MySQL increases as Oracle purchases Sleepycat, with more to come” 15 Fwbruary 2006, By Ian Gilfillan
http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mysql/article.php/3585266

Slashdot’s reaction: http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/02/20/1337227.shtml

Wikipedia’s notes on Jim Starkey, InterBase, and Firebird

Exciting times.

Dan Bricklin: When The Long Tail Wags The Dog

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in Technology

At Dan Bricklin’s Log: Essay about the Long Tail and general purpose tools. “For months and months I’ve been wanting to write an essay about some thoughts on the Long Tail. I’ve finally had the time. (The material was part of the talk I gave for TTI/Vanguard and I had time on the plane to turn the slides into an essay.)

The basic idea is that the value of the Long Tail isn’t just that you make money selling an awful lot of unpopular things. The value comes from…” read more

Microsoft facing more antitrust actions?

By Ted Roche on February 21, 2006 in Microsoft, Technology

Computerworld News notes Microsoft faces another antitrust suit. “A California computer services and hardware retailer last week filed a federal civil suit accusing Microsoft Corp. of continuing to violate antitrust laws.”

Malware released to counter MSFT patches in 72 hours

By Ted Roche on February 17, 2006 in Microsoft, Security

Computerworld News reports Hackers follow Microsoft patches with malware. “Hackers have posted attack code that takes advantage of two recently patched Windows Media Player bugs and could allow them to take over a Windows PC that doesn’t have the latest security updates.”

Did I mention that you need to get patching? What are you waiting for?

Office Twelve / 2007 introduces new SKUs, Servers, Licenses, Confusion

By Ted Roche on February 17, 2006 in Microsoft, Technology

InfoWorld: Top News is reporting It’s official: Office ’12’ to become Office 2007.

(InfoWorld) – “Microsoftæis set to unveil on Thursday its long-awaited branding, packaging, and pricing for the next version of Office, which is expected to be available later this year… There will be seven Office suites in the 2007 Microsoft Office System, including one new enterprise package, Office Enterprise 2007, as well as two packages that have been rebranded…”

“Long awaited?” Now there’s something I’m sure their customers demanded: seven different versions! “Two packages have been rebranded?” They’re not sold under the Microsoft label? No, they’ve been renamed, so the package you buy is not the same as the one of the same name. Other industries call this bait-and-switch.

“To help companies purchase some of the new licenses that will be required to use Office 2007’s collaboration capabilities, Microsoft will offer a new Enterprise Client Access License (CAL). ..”

Oh, Microsoft is helping customers!

“Microsoft also will add new server software to the Office family. The company will combine its portal and content management servers into one server called Office SharePoint Server 2007… n addition, the company will offer Office Forms Server 2007… Another new offering, Office Project Portfolio Server, complements the existing Office Project Server…”

Now, Office is a “family.” I’m not sure which I find more disturbing: Microsoft’s packaging, or the reporter’s straight-faced use of MicrosoftSpeak without any objection.

Seven different versions. Dozens of applications, with various features disabled. Nightmarish new licenses. New servers. What a mess! All this to print documents, calculate spreadsheets and do other routine office work? I think Microsoft is overreaching here. They may sell to their captive audience, but new computer users whose machines come with Corel Office or OpenOffice are going to be hard-pressed to find a reason to switch.

If you haven’t tried OpenOffice.org, there’s no better time than the present!

RIAA et al. says CD ripping, backups not fair use

By Ted Roche on February 17, 2006 in Technology

Ars Technica is reporting that the RIAA et al. says CD ripping, backups not fair use. What a disturbing idea. I avoid Digital Restriction Management because I don’t want a hard disk failure or the bankrupcy of my supplier to invalidate my ability to play what I’ve paid for. I rip my CDs to enjoy them on the media players of my choice, in the sample rates and formats of my choice and to have backups of CDs so easily scratched. (The RIAA argument that the only legitimate backup is one that I can purchase again doesn’t fly.) Didn’t these guys study Sony v. BetaMax? Time-shifting, place-shifting, media-shifting needs to be recognized as a right of the user.

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