Dodge Ram 2500 Death Wobble Cure. Updated

This has nothing to do with Linux, didn't want to create a new blog.

UPDATE: The death wobble is back. I was just about to let them close the ticket, and it's back. The problem is not as harsh, it feels different too (more steering wheel movement now) and the truck comes out of it easier, but unmistakeable, it's back and severe enough the truck is back to unsafe to drive over 50 mph. I guess the bar i installed kept it in bay until the problem found another component to wear out or otherwise express itself. The dealer I am working with is trying to get approval to replace the front axle (entirely), but I am done. I will never trust this truck again, and am pushing for high retail based on mileage and condition from Edmunds. I have a pretty strong case for it, and they know one drive with the local "troubleshooters" from a local TV station with the camera on, it could get the exposure needed to enforce the recall that is so desperately needed. Some engineer deep in Dodge knows the design flaw, knows exactly what is going on, they absolutely know what it takes to fix this, we will see if it ever reaches the light of day though.

If anyone has bought the bar, and it helped, be wary, it may not be a permanent fix. If you did buy the bar and it failed completely, I apologize for sending you astray, it did cure me for a short time.
:END UPDATE.

If you have experienced the Dodge Ram 2500 "Death Wobble" as described here and here I know exactly what you are going through. This entry outlines the trials and eventual solution I found to the Dodge "Death Wobble" and how, in my opinion, it is due to a fundamental design flaw in the suspension and steering of this truck.

Your local Dodge dealer will start with charging you to perform Technical Service Bulletin # 22-005-06. This failed to have any effect on my truck. They then started a systematic "let's just replace things until it's fixed" campaign and once I reached $1200 I refused to do any more and got Dodge involved. This took about a week, but the next step was to try to enforce lemon law on my 2005 Dodge 2500. To his credit, the dealer that was working on it confirmed with Dodge that they could not fix this truck.

At this point, Dodge asked for one more try and I gave them my truck and they gave it to another dealer. They replaced ball joints, tried extra tough shocks, replaced a CV joint and at this point, the ONLY original part under the front of my truck was the front axle. In parallel, I had heard of and read up on what is known as a Steering Box Stabilizer

I had ordered this part and gave it to the Dodge dealer working on my truck. The techs tried to tell me the frame on the Dodge is open at the front so that the frame can flex to "improve the ride". As someone who has experienced the death wobble hundreds of times, (and in my opinion, this will kill people at some point), you know the massive amount of energy in the wobble to shake a truck this size like a child with a rag doll that frame flex on a heavy duty truck just doesn't sound right. The reason I ordered the part, the frame is big enough to act as a resonant frequency energy storage and return mechanism. I insisted they install it, and guess what, no more Death Wobble. The owner of the dealership tried 6 times to get it to happen at the exact spot he knew it would and it no longer does. I have had the truck back for a week, and timidly at first, then with more and more speed/force, I tried, in all the spots it always happened before, to get it into the death wobble and it is just rock solid.

I am almost to the point where I am putting this nightmare behind me, and I have now gone on a few trips without even thinking about it. Here is a list of all the attempted "fixes" done to my truck.

TSB mentioned above.
PARTS REQUIRED:
qt. 1 52106909ae Steering Damper
qt. 1 05086146ac Outer Tie Rod Package
qt. 1 05086144ac Tie Rod and outer link
qt. 2 06505623aa Nut and Washer

Post TSB (in rough order of attempts)
Remove Dealer installed Lift - No Effect (made them put it back).
Smaller Tires - was better (likely due to simply smaller mass) but by no means fixed.
Harder Shocks, Extra hard shocks - no effect (will probably make matters worse, see below)
Trackbar - No Effect
New Steering Gear - No Effect (they put original back back).
Every tie rod end, pitman arm, stabilizer bar - Minor changes in the way it happened, but no fix.
Heavy duty Steering Damper
CV joint on Axle - maybe a little better.

The above is what I know about, the experiment may have included other items.

Here is what I propose is the root cause of the problem. I couldn't find a good picture on the web, however, if you look at the frame rails you will see that the steering gear is located IN FRONT of the last cross-member. When anything under your front end suspension starts to wear out, a quick shock, like a bump at speed will cause enough force to cause the steering gear to flex which flexes the frame. Almost instantly, the frame flexes back, and through the suspension (a single wobble) forcing the other frame rail to absorb to energy and then back again. This resonant transfer of energy has nothing to dampen it (especially if you have extra hard shocks, the act more like stiff steel rods, not dissapating any energy) until you slow almost to a stop. More specifically, you panic, slow down, hope you don't lose control and cause an accident with someone running into you from behind, pullover, wait for your heart to slow down, then try driving again.

I simply refuse to believe that in a heavy duty truck like this, the engineers intended or planned on letting the frame flex under a Cummings Diesel engine, but you know the story, sometimes they will say anything. In my case, and reading others trials, the steering box stabilizer fixed the problem. I believe it works because it boxes the frame in front of the steering gear and does not allow the frame rails in front of the last cross-member to act like a large tuning fork.

So, if you are reading this, if you can get the TSB installed at Dealer cost, let them, but before you let them continue on a replace part fest, I would try the steering box stabilizer. It is slightly over $200, which is a small priced experiment to try because, if you read all the forums, the parts list can run over $1K in no time, and it is simply because they don't know (the dealers, I think the engineers at Dodge totally know the root cause) how to fix the problem.

Shameless plug here, and full disclosure, I have NO AFFILIATION whatsoever with them, but the people at Geno's Garage (direct link to the part) were very helpful as well as having the best price (at the time of this post) but as always, a Google search on "Steering Box Stabilizer" will bring up many online vendors of this part.

Please let me know if you try this, if it works, if it doesn't help. I am not here to sell steering box stabilizers, but if it works for others, I will continue to update and get the word out. If enough people get fixed by this part, I will take it to the next level and force the recall that Dodge should have issued long ago.

My ticket is still open with Dodge, they want me to have it another 2 weeks problem free before they close the ticket, and at that time, I have been told I will be reimbursed for the part. I will be inisting on a major portion of the $1200 in wasted parts too though and will keep you update on that as well.

MSI Wind Linux version, something fishy?

I have read stories about the Linux version of the MSI wind being returned 4Xs as often as the Windows version. On it's face, that seems like not the greatest of news regarding the Linux version. The problem is, we are not privy to any stats. Is the return rate for the windows version 3%, 1%, 10%? If it is 10%, well, 1 in ten are disappointed with the Wind, and would return it whether it has Linux or Windows. If it's 1%, then the Linux version is seeing 96% satisfaction rate. Without seeing the stats, what can we conclude? I would suggest that MSI is not customizing their Linux version enough and/or not more prominently advertising that the Linux version doesn't have Windows, leading to a higher return.

That would be another key stat, do those that return the Linux version re-buy the Windows version. If yes, it is less an indictment of Linux and more a failure to accurately specify the OS.

All that aside, the fishy part is simply this. Can anyone point me to where I can purchase a Linux version of the MSI wind? I have searched Amazon (no ratings, listed as out of stock, did they ever sell any?). Checked Buy.com, checked Best Buy, Circuit City, I just can find it anywhere. I was looking to read reviews from sites to see what the problem might be. Is there something systemic that causes the Linux version to be returned (like flaky WiFi or touch pad problems, etc) or is it a failure to advertise.

I would like to know, since I have never seen a Linux version, can't find any for sale, can't find reviews of people who have purchased it, and can find the Windows version of the Wind all over the place, how did they get a statistically valid sample of Linux purchasers to be able to compare. Seriously, if they have sold 14 Linux versions and 200,000 Windows versions, how can you compare them?

Try "u100-linux" or "MSI Wind Linux" on Google to try to find it for sale. There is obviously a HUGE push by MSI to sell, everywhere, the Windows version, and it makes me wonder if the Linux version is less about wanting to sell it, and more about appearing to compete with Acer, Asus and others Linux versions, all highly customized, highly rated on ease of use, and don't seem to have this problem that MSI has with their Linux versions. Amazingly enough, you can also find the other Linux versions for sale.

Update: It does speak volumes that you visit MSi's site and see, at the bottom, almost hidden by the "Genuine ..." entries a "Linux" option that leads you to a defective page. That doesn't show a lot of interest in selling the Linux version. You can also note that none of the options higher in the list, "Love", "Pink", "White" or "Black" list ANY version of the MSI with Linux". Yes, I believe there is something entirely fishy about MSI and their Linux version.

TripleII

Can the dog start wagging the tail?

The continued heating up of the UMPC market has shown a couple of things. The first being, that despite all the "opinions" to the contrary, an OEMed Linux install is a breeze to use and comes with a lot of productive software. The second, and probably most important thing it has shown is that MS can and will give in to price pressure and is not nearly as powerful as everyone thought.

Instead of retaliating against Asus, reducing "advertising incentives" and other perks at being a "Tier One" OEM, the net result that MS caved (because it has to) and offered it's XP Home for cut rate prices on the UMPC line. I am sure other OEMs were watching intensely on how it would pan out, and to their surprise, nothing happened. It then started a landslide of computer manufacturers diving into this market, all knowing they can offer Linux and not be penalized and get a cut rate price on XP.

This kind of revolt would have been unheard of 3-4 years ago and it showed a weakness in Microsoft's position. Simply put, MS needs, absolutely needs OEMs as a primary revenue stream and any threats or punishments implied by not toeing the line are empty. Let's be realistic here, MS is smart, they won't cut off their nose to spite their face and any one of the top 4 OEMs would not have to be all that worried about MS retaliation.

Now, as has been seen countless times, any time a corporation or government entity says anything along the lines of "ODF will be our format" or "OpenOffice to be deployed" or "Linux migration pending" can be guaranteed of instant and deep cuts to the price of a Microsoft solution. With margins so razor thin on the Windows side of the PC market (Apple commands and gets great margins), what is to prevent OEMs from putting the same kind of pressure on MS.

What do you think would happen if any of these headlines showed up today?

"Dell to pre-install Open Office across product line"
"Lenovo to offer Suse Linux Enterprise across product line"
"Acer in talks with IBM for pre-installed Symphony"

Well, here's the likely scenarios.

Dell would be offered $30 Office if pre-installed over Open Office
Lenovo would see it's effective price of Vista dropped to make SLED more expensive
Acer would be offered $30 Office if pre-installed over Symphony

See, there is a trend that is not that great for Microsoft, but very good for consumers in general happening right now. Despite massive campaigns stating otherwise from the entrenched MS ecosystem, Linux is a completely viable OS, with quality applications, that satisfies the vast majority of consumers (that try it). Cross platform Open Source Applications (VLC, OpenOffice, FireFox, Gimp...) compete quite well with their proprietary counterparts. Also, the internet is making the operating system not nearly as important as it used to be.

With these kinds of developments in the computing world, it is very very hard to command the kinds of margins you used to.

So the simple question is, for how much longer can the tail wag the dog? It won't be all that long until the dog realizes that hey "I can wag it myself".

Update: Well what do you know, my $30 guess for Office was bang on. Hey HP, you looking for a competitive advantage? For all the folks paying retail, or subsidizing these markets, when might you ask why not me?

TripleII

Why is Net Applications the Gold Standard?

As Firefox, Apple and Linux continue to make gains in both market share, mind share and positive press, a constant method of trying to invalidate any good news is to point to market share stats from Net Applications.

You can find many stories that rely on Net Applications as being the gold standard such as
Linux still chasing that elusive 1% marketshare
Still a long way to go for Firefox 20% market share

I could go on and on, but you get the point. Now, one thing that no blogger, in any talkback that I have asked the question, ever answers is "What makes Net Applications accurate?". Everyone seems to gloss over this point.

What makes me ask this question. Well, the Net Applications measurements always seem to be lower than many other sources, consistently, for anything not related to MS.

FireFox has 29% marketshare at W3 Counter
FireFox has 41% marketshare at W3 Schools
web metrics company Xiti shows FireFox has 29% of Europe's Market Share and growing globally

Of the above, W3 Schools is a technically minded site that probably leads to a higher FireFox usage level, but can EVERY site measurement that isn't Net Applications be wrong? With all of the above, we KNOW the methodology, namely, that EVERYONE who visits is being counted.

Let's take a look at the "Gold Standard" now. From their Web Site they simply state...

This data provides valuable insight into significant trends for internet usage.
...
We use a unique methodology for collecting this data. We collect data from the browsers of site visitors to our exclusive on-demand network of live stats customers.

Now, can anyone point me to where they claim to accurately reflect the state of the world today? The ONLY claim they make is that they can show "Significant Trends".

Since not even Net Applications claims to be an accurate representation of the world, why do countless bloggers make that leap. There are questions that those who quote Net Applications and want it to be accurate never answer.

What is the unique methodology?
What does on-demand mean?
Does Net Applications invite sites?
Is the application/process to collect the stats available to all or are they IIS based?
What's a Live Stat's customer?
Can I start a web server and join?
Does it cost money to join?
Are Live Stat's customers slanted towards North American fortune 1000 companies?

I don't know the answer to the above questions? Do you? Given time I know that I and others could come up with 50 more. So, if you don't know the answers to the above, why would you then turn around and claim that it is an ACCURATE reflection of the world?

So, given the questions above, and the multiple and various worldwide sites that simply count users, their browsers, and their OSes, without a "unique methodology" or "opt in network", it is pretty easy to see that FireFox has at least crossed 25% worldwide use, and probably much closer to everyone's median point of 30%, Linux has long since crossed 1% and sits at 2%-6% based on various site measurements and Apple is flirting with 10%.

I know that none of this is good news for the millions with a vested interest in making sure that MS is dominant in all ways, but I ask you again, since I have NEVER seen or read where Net Applications calls themselves the Gold Standard accurate reflection of the real world, why do bloggers?

Note: This blog entry is in NO way a slam of Net Applications, I have no doubt they are showing accurate trends, and as stated, they don't claim to be an accurate representation of the world

TripleII

P.S. Please refer to the main Net Applications page. There is more information there, such as

# Additional estimates about the website population: 76% participate in pay per click programs to drive traffic to their sites.
# 43% are commerce sites
# 18% are corporate sites
# 10% are content sites
# 29% classify themselves as other (includes gov, org, search engine marketers etc..)


However, without the methodology, or what the opt in network (I assume this is the referenced website population?) actually is based on, the above numbers don't help much.

Linux, UMPCs and the iTunes Problem

With all the new product offerings for UMPC, from the EEE to the MSI Wind to Acer's new Mini-Note and on down the line, we are finally seeing mainstream Linux adoption. Despite XP Home being made available, I see the usually cheaper more capable Linux version being an attractive business option because there are no roadblocks to installing any software to connect to the enterprise. From shared disks to Active Directory Access to any kind of disk encryption your IT department wants to use, it's all freely available. (Unlike XP Home, where such functions are prohibited)

I do see one major roadblock to the widespread adoption of these notebooks. Simply put, it is the iTunes factor. Now, myself, I have never purchased DRM infected content, and own no iAnything, but hundreds of millions do. Linux has done a phenomenal job to making iPods work in Linux (Amork the media player I use does a great job), this despite Apple making arbitrary code changes to temporarily break compatibility. I believe it took about 12 hours for this change to be made irrelevant and get your iPods working again.

The problem I see, however, is the native iTunes client (with the mandatory security exploit entry vector Quicktime) does not exist for Linux. I don't see the tipping point where Apple is forced to concede that it needs a Linux client happening for a while. To be clear, there are many superior price vs capability MP3 players out there, but as of right now, iPod is King and is not about to be dethroned in any way soon.

If I were a UMPC maker, such as Acer, I would put on my product web page, as well as on the box, and make it VERY public, the following disclaimer.

If you have purchased protected content via iTunes, you SHOULD NOT PURCHASE this product as you will NOT be able to listen to that purchased Music since Apple (tm) does not provide a Linux client

Nothing will bring the pressure down on Jobs like millions of iPod/iPhone owners (or in general any consumer) being TOLD they CAN'T buy something.

The WINE or Crossover solution is not the way to go (with Apple constantly telling their engineers to break this solution with every release). Pressure needs to be brought to bear on Apple for a native client.

TripleII

Note: To a lesser extent, a general DRM infected content warning could also be provided

Meizu M6 8 GigByte Review

Introduction

This blog entry deals with my review of the Meizu MP6 from a "new information" point of view. What I outline below is information that adds to other's reviews of the Meizu MP6. I have put a list of references at the bottom to make learning more about the MP6 easier.

I received my new 8 Gbyte Meizu MP6 about three weeks ago. I have been thoroughly impressed with all the functions of the player. This player is packed with features, but the bottom line for me is sound quality. My entire collection of music is Q7 or higher Ogg Vorbis. {At Q6, you have lossless stereo coupling}. This is roughly comparable to 224 kb/sec MP3, however, it is ~25% smaller than a 224 kb/sec MP3.

The player itself feels nice and solid, with a definite eye toward quality. From the metal backing to the pre-installed protective coverings to the feel of the buttons, this player just speaks "solid" from the get go.

Why Meizu?

Of course, for me a player is useless if it doesn't also support Linux. The players that were in the running, the Cowon D2, Iriver Clix and Meizu MP3 (again OGG support with all three), all work as USB mass storage devices. For those who don't know, this is the true "Plays For Sure" version of an audio player. It shows up on your screen as a simple hard drive, and you can drag and drop music/videos/pictures to it, however, it is also easy to manage your music using MusicMatch or Winamp in Windows or Amarok in Linux. All of the above can be put into MTP mode if you purchase music online. Buying music infected with DRM is of no interest to me, however, they all support it.

What nailed it, after meeting my critical criteria is "Virtual 3D". If you have never heard a high quality song with expanded stereo/virtual 3D/etc you don't know what you are missing. This is not simply an equalizer setting but a way, through advanced digital signal processing, to cause a stereo track to literally come alive. The comparison of Virtual 3D to regular stereo is as stark as the difference between mono vs stereo. More on that later.

Overall Rating

4.5 Stars out of a possible 5. It lost a 1/4 of one point because it does not handle large play lists gracefully (i.e. 120 or more song play list). 1/4 of a point is lost because no player is ever perfect, even if it functions perfectly. I don't think this will be an iPod killer, simply because of the HUGE ecosystem of accessories, however, this player has never failed to make anyone who has a flash based iPod envious (the older non video capable Nano, Apple released the new Nano today that supports video). For the same money as the new Nano, you get superior sound quality, a bigger screen, 4 GBytes more storage and a player as refined as the iPod series. If you need or want the iTunes integration and are willing to spend more money, then iPod is for you. If you are looking for sound quality and capabilities, $ for $, this player beats any flash based iPod hands down.

There is no point in comparing this to an iPhone or an HD based iPod (or any MP3 phone, etc) because they are literally two different animals.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is phenomenal. I connect it to my home stereo through this FM Transmitter. It has replaced the DVD playing an MP3 DVD (and the pain to mass convert from Ogg to MP3), because of Virtual 3D.

I have never heard better from any portable player. The player comes with so many ways to customize your music that is actually a lot of fun just playing with settings. There are an abundance of pre-programmed equalizers, there is a bass boost setting (those of you old enough to remember will recognize this as the loudness button), treble boost and of course, Virtual 3D. There really is no way to describe it to do it justice. I have the setting on 3 and everyone who hears it on/off on my stereo just doesn't believe the sound difference. A final note, the low end bass on this thing is amazing. There is no other player I have ever encountered that can surpass this player in terms of quality and many (virtually any Ipod) it simply leaves in the dust.

Aside: There is no better FM transmitter, and using this modification you will get a range of about 150 feet circular. More than enough to cover a very large lot, allowing you to transmit to all your stereos, including the ratty pair of headphone radios I use when cutting the grass.

Another perk is the Headphone, Speaker, Earphones setting under "Spatializer" it is a one click option to change the acoustics to adapt to however you are listening the the player.

Video Quality

Video quality is amazingly clear. Converting into the desired AVI the player wants is desperatley easy with Linux (more below). The default of 366 kb/sec (to the max the player is 500), you get a picture that literally looks perfect. I may play with the maximum rate supported if I see any reason to. Since I travel a lot, and all of you know just how inconvenient it actually is watching a movie with your laptop on a plane, this player will come in very handy.

I think a couple of pictures are in order. These pictures do not do justice to the clarity and quality of the screen, but will demonstrate how great the screen is. What you see below are screenshots of almost actual size. When you click on them to expand them, keep in mind that these are pictures of a 2.4" screen blown up to 5 times it's original size. Seeing how clear the image is blown up to this size should give an idea of how good the screen is.

Scenery Picture


Movie Photo (tried my best to get a good picture)



Capacity

I have upwards of 1400+ songs and 5 (about 250 MBytes/90 minutes) movies, about 40 Mbytes of pictures, and am approaching 7.5 GBytes. I could compress the pictures down, and reduce the default rate from 366 kbytes/sec, however, if the above is not enough to satisfy you in the interim you are away from your computer, you probably need a non flash HD based player anyway.

Issues I don't have with the player.

In doing research into this player, I came across posts and reviews of things that have obviously been fixed in the current version of the player. This list includes.

1) OGG tags (artist, album, etc), no problems at all.
2) Some seem to be under the impression that images must be 1024X1024 or less. I tested, and then left all pictures I put on the player at 2288x1712 from my 4 Mpixel camera, no trouble viewing the pictures.
3) Automatically rebuilds the library on computer disconnect. No need to update it manually

Playlists and the reason for 1/4 star lost

There seems to be a flaw in the logic on how the player reads playlists. For smaller playlists, (20 or less), there is no problem. I also have some large playlists (200+ songs) in broad categories like "Party Music", "Mellow", etc. (I used vi and Amarok to create these playlists, but that's another post, no I did not create using dynamic playlists on the player itself, lol )

When you enter a playlist, all the songs are listed, however, as soon as you center tap or select enter, the player appears to freeze. It has not frozen, however, it takes a full 3 minutes before the songs start playing. The playlist (next, random, etc) all work normally from this point on, and turning on/off is fine. As long as you don't leave this playlist, the problem never happens again. If, however, you leave and immediately come back to it, the same 3 minute wait happens. I suspect it is doing a complete "rebuild DB" behind the scenes any time you enter a playlist. Is this a heartache, not really. From the All Music, start a song, then go into the playlist, listen to the current song while the playlist "loads"

Managing the player. Amarok auto-detected it, and poof, installation complete. I did configure the player to add all music relative to /Music which is the default location. Amarok does a flawless job of adding by Artists, Album, etc relative to that. For Windows users, if using in USB mode, WinAmp (and I believe MusicMatch) operate the same way, it just works, allowing you to avoid Windows Media Player.

Hint: If Windows gives the option to manage using WMP and the player is in USB mass storage mode, DO NOT allow it. You will see the device, but drag and drop will fail with "an error occured" because you are not using MTP. Why it detects it when it won't work, who knows, but avoid WMP.

Video Conversion and Linux

This was a trivial task. I already knew how to use Cinelera to create the required format, and DVD:RIP for Linux and K3B make it easy to create AVI's from your DVDs into your computer. All it took to install the supplied Windows application was to click on the exe, (my computer has wine, it is the default application to open executables), select the Next->Next->Next with all the defaults and there it was, an icon on the desktop. [Ignore the error about registering a DLL for autoplay or some such during the install]



Here is a screenshot of the application in action (notice the wine glass in the upper left) running on Linux.



NOTE: For the technical, the movie is being transcoded both from/to the same external USB drive, making it convert at a lowly 40 frames/second (~2 times normal speed), hence the performance hit.

General Customization.

There is simply too much to list.
You can edit any menu item to add/remove any options.
You can change the font colors, you can change the background to anything you want, even uploaded pictures. One for Music playback, one for calendar, etc.

Other References:
Rather than just re-list everything that others have already covered.

YouTube Meizu Demo
Narrated YouTube Review
[NOTE:] You can find lots of video if you search on "Meizu M6" on YouTube, the above two are top rated.

More General Review of Meizu M6
CNET Review NOTE: This is an older review, the M6 does support Protected. I linked this because you basically watch the video to get an idea, then read the reviews, the opinions that matter to most.

Good review from the Meizu Forum with comparison chart with Nano, Ipod, Creative and more product shots

TripleII

OOXML: How to completely undermine ISO

This is an open letter to the ISO standard committee. I believe you are at a crossroads in your organization. No other standard ever proposed has caused such an uproar as OOXML. The number of irregularities in the entire process is growing at a rapid rate, and it threatens to simply undermine your credibility. As you are well aware, there is a massive campaign underway by Microsoft to get the OOXML standard approved as an ISO standard. It has now been released that Microsoft went as far as paying others come come and vote for their standard.

It does not bode well when a standard can only be approved when you pay for a mass of new members (almost all Microsoft certified partners) to join the ISO process at the last minute, have no technical knowledge of the standard and then vote wholeheartedly FOR OOXML. Quoting PC World , Jason Matusow stated

"It is critical to note that the addition of voting members at that time was completely within the rules of the national standards body," he wrote. "While there are many arguments to be had over the relative merits of this rule ... it is a rule nonetheless."

In an openly defiant way, Microsoft is now publicly stating that they are indeed "ballot stuffing" and they don't care if people don't like it.

What does this say about the integrity of the process? I am sure that this has never been a concern before, and Microsoft is exploiting this loophole very successfully. I think the extent to which the process has been corrupted is the invalidation of the recent Swedish vote due to an admission of bribery and other irregularities with the vote.

The ironic thing is, Microsoft themselves do not dispute the hundreds of technical problems, the potential IP problems or even the need for massive re-writes. It is very difficult to find anyone who has actually reviewed the OOXML standard (this excludes the certified partners joining the ISO process at the last minute) who publicly state that OOXML is worthy, at this point, of being a standard.

In all, if it passes, two things will happen.
1) The standards process may lose it's relevance and meaning. Pay enough money and anything can be accepted and
2) Microsoft will get to work right way, addressing all the problems with the same intensity as they have written the API documentation as mandated by the EU. 3 years later and it is expected any day now. We have proof how pro-actively Microsoft has worked to provide interoperability, expect more of the same.

TripleII

Buying online music with Linux: Solved

I started researching iTunes to see about the DRM free content, however, Linux is still excluded. You can't even browse without downloading and installing iTunes and of course, that is only OS-X or Windows. When I Googled for "Linux DRM free downloads" I saw a news entry on Walmart. I checked it out and all I can say is, this is the service I have been looking for.

Create your own Mixed CD at Walmart

I just created a CD with 20 of my favorite songs, tax, shipping included for $23.33. (Shipping was a $1.97, and could have been saved if I had done site to store).

So, for $1.16 per tune, I get all of the following.
1) An actual CD with the custom cover I selected delivered to my home.
2) Complete fair use. Q7 OGG for all put on my new Meizu MP6, 228 MP3 on my SD card that plugs into my HDTV (yeah, no ogg support).
3) I did not support the DRM marketplace and got all the music I wanted on a song per song basis.

I kinda have to thank Apple for excluding me from their marketplace, had it been available, I might well have been trying to find songs I want from the reduced DRM free offerings instead of buying from them instead of Walmart's complete music library.

TripleII

P.S. I am in no way affiliated with Walmart, and if anyone else has more links to create your own mix CDs online from other music stores, let me know.

The sad state of Plays For Sure is good for all

I am in the market for a new MP3 player. Unlike a year and a half ago, Plays For Sure only (meaning MTP or Microsoft's proprietary transfer protocol) was about all you could find. Because PFS (Also known and Pray's For Sure, MaybePlays, etc) was going to eat iTunes for lunch, everyone jumped on the bandwagon and touted this as the best thing to come along since the invention of the mouse.

My own experience with MTP is limited to frustrated friends calling for help when the Maybe part of Maybe Plays didn't work. When I did purchase my iRiver, it was due to the support of MSC (iRiver's term for USB mass storage) ability.

Now, iRiver America's web site stated and still states This from asking "Alice" here.

Note: U10 and T Series players sold outside of North America and Europe are UMS by default, and no update is required. However, T Series players purchased within North America or Europe are not UMS and cannot be upgrade to UMS. Instead North American/European players must use Windows Media Player to transfer files from the PC to the player.

This is no dought a holdover from the PFS heyday as everyone played by Microsoft's rules. No worries, however, Alice is lying, and while you still have to have Windows to update to UMS (MSC) it is quite possible. I haven't tested this download, but at least it is a valid link.

Firmware Updater with ability to switch away from MTP

Aside: iRiver seems to move this tool randomly from time to time, I am not sure why, but I hope the link is still valid when you click on it.

As many millions of people have learned (many the hard way), the only really Plays For Sure device out there, is one that shows up as a mass storage device. Except for actual hardware failures, I could not find a single Google instance where a mass storage device did not simply just work no matter what computer it was connected to (i.e. wouldn't mount, couldn't drag to it, etc). I have no doubt there are exceptions, but they must be far and few between. This is in stark contrast to the tens of millions of PFS problems.

In any case, as I started looking today, I found a complete about face in the MP3 device market. As noted above, iRiver does not make it easy to convert from UMS to MTP, however, you can do it. As I researched for my next player, I found that few players on the market today CAN'T be tuned into a true Plays For Sure device, eliminating the MTP headaches. From Cowon to Meizu (actually listing Linux as supported) to the E series Sandisk to MPIO products, finding new MP3 players with the ability to Play For Sure is much easier. Creative is an exception, repeated emails to support asking if any players support mass storage exist, as well as absolutely nothing to be found on their website tells me to avoid these players.

I get a kick out of CNET reviews when they fault a device for not supporting Protected Digital Music (The protected meaning protecting the content from you, not anyone who wants it illegally). This is the #1 criteria that allows me to recommend a device. On the weekend, told my sister to pick up an MPIO MG100 (Her shuffle died) because of price and USB mass storage support. She was listening to her music collection and having fun with the player through WinAmp in 2 minutes as I sat on the phone. It will be Plays For Sure forever.

So what about protected content? Well, if you are one to purchase content in this way (to me the sound quality is sub par and not worth it), buy it. Create an Audio CD with your purchased content, via iTunes or WMP, then you can rip it into a universally supported MP3 and own the music you buy

NOTE: Verify you are ALLOWED to create an Audio CD based on where you purchased your tune. You may not, in fact, own the music you buy or be allowed to create that audio CD.

What about managing the player? Microsoft's Media Player and iTunes won't manage UMS devices (they don't want to, you can't make them, use MTP and our OS/Software only or we won't play), however, in my opinion, a MUCH better manager/player, Winamp does. (Note: if you want to rip to MP3, you need to buy the upgrade, but as a manager for existing collection and since you already have a way to rip MP3, it is free and fantastic). Of course, for anyone using Linux, managing music is a delight with Amarok.

I have not tried the new MusicMatch, but I do know older versions synced USB devices and were better/easier than Windows Media Player. (Feedback on this?)

As time passes, I can see the MP3 player ecosystem continuing to reject/marginalize MTP and enforcing actual Plays For Sure (USB mass storage) only growing from this point. Now, for you as a consumer, should you not buy an MTP player, no, if you want a Plays For Sure device, then buy it, however, REFUSE to purchase a device that can't operate as a USB Mass Storage device for the time when the "Maybe" fails you, or you want the freedom to use your player on your new iBook or New Linux machine, or you just get tired of WMP and just want a player that works without mandatory upgrades, license problems, etc.

Note: Subscription services are not covered, for these you must use DRM, but even with these players, why not hedge your bets with the ability to use as USB device when you no longer want the subscription?

Note: My 8 Gbyte Meizu M6 is on the way, a full Linux User's review will be done after it arrives and I get the time to really explore it. Between it and the Cowan D2, it was a tough choice.

Note to Creative: I am the "tech guy" for all my friends, family, friends friends, acquaintances, probably responsible for maybe 25 MP3 player purchases, none of them Creative.

TripleII

Note to Congress, your IT folks are the security threat

I have been reading all about how Congress has declared that P2P networks are a threat to national security. I can appreciate that many members of Congress are not technically savvy, however, whatever, look, I have to call a spade a spade, whatever BONEHEADED organization or individuals is telling you this crock should be ashamed. (Does anyone smell the RIAA/MPAA?).

The problem is not P2P networks, the problem lies ENTIRELY on your IT security processes.

1) Why is access to P2P networks allowed? Lock down your firewalls, the problem NO LONGER exists.
2) Why are your employees allowed/able to install P2P clients on your machines?

Do your IT policies allow bittorrent, Instant Messaging, not have a blocking list of unacceptable websites, deploy security policies on your employees computers? What do your IT/security folks do?

Note: I have no doubt that probably most of the IT/Security folks who work for various government organizations are talented, and already do the above, and are just as baffled scratching their heads as to what the heck Congress is talking about. The only problem to national security is finding and weeding out the folks who don't know how to secure your networks.

TripleII

P.S. Should anyone in Congress read this, don't take my word for it, do a Google blog search for "Congress P2P".

Microsoft's New Dliemna, when Money Doesn't Rule

There seems to be a new trend that must have Microsoft worried. It seems that the vast resources at it's disposal is not as effective as it would have hoped. A number of new developments over the past half year are showing that maybe Microsoft isn't the 800 lb gorilla it once was.

If you take a look at the recent setback in Microsoft's mission to get OOXML ratified, you see that even with a raft of new members made of business partners of the proposing entity the recommendation failed to happen.

One of the biggest problems Microsoft has with OOXML is simply put, even Microsoft themselves do not have a compliant OOXML implementation. For those interested, here is a nice summary of highlights why OOXML is a very hard sell in it's current form.

It is critical to Microsoft that OOXML be ratified due to the startling and unrelenting march towards OpenOffice (a major implementation using already approved open standards).

Market share figures indicate that Open Office use is much more widespread than Microsoft would like it to be. With international use at home approximately 20%, 7% worldwide usage in business and close to 20% of the international SMB market (as of 2005), one of the primary revenue streams at Microsoft is under extreme pressure.

Another development is Microsoft's apparent losing of the control strings at a tier one OEM, namely Dell. Not only is Dell still offering offering XP on the consumer desktop (try finding these at HP or Levano), they now offer Linux preinstalled. Both of these developments are unprecedented.

Another key development is the current GPL2/GPL3 clarifications that Microsoft is making. It is my belief that they tried to enter as many "cross licensing deals" as possible as a way to head of adoption of GPL V3. They tried and failed to sign Redhat, but signed with Novel, Linspire, Xandros, and I firmly believe that they believed they would have success, at the very least of stalling the GPL V3 adoption. Despite giving Novel $400M they had, literally, no affect on GPL3 except maybe to galvanize even more support for it.

Microsoft is now working hard to "clarify" these deals, as if it was taken by surprise at GPL V3's adoption and is now scrambling to distance itself.

None of the above developments seem to bode well for Microsoft. With each story of either successful migration away from Microsoft's products, or stories of deep discounts, or failures to dictate the path of any technology Microsoft wants to be at the forefront of (control), they lose just a little more of the perceived clout they used to have. When you add in the aspect that money, in certain cases, is not enough of an incentive/stick to dictate technology trends, Microsoft needs to figure out a new way of doing business.

TripleII

Music and Movie Piracy, an Obvious Solution?

As I was knee deep on page 11 of a google search on CODESET_INCOMPATIBLE CORBA error running a Java application in Eclipse, I finally found the solution, and all of a sudden, it occurred to me that inherent with the finding my answer in a haystack was a potential solution to the Piracy problem the MPAA/RIAA claims steals billions from their sales.

If you look at why people (apparently) download content illegally, the #1 reason they do is that it is easy. Fire up some torrent site, or Limewire, pick the content and there it is on the computer, so very easy. Thinking on the google search above, why does the MPAA/RIAA make it so easy. If I owned the rights to the latest and greatest hot CD today, here is something I might try.

1) I take every song and rip it into all flavors of MP3. 96, 128, 160, ...
2) I then use an Audio editor to modify the songs in any myriad ways. 10 seconds drop the level 6db, the next ten seconds, over-amplify and saturate 8 db. Towards the end of one version, replace a 20 second segment with a 12 Khz tone at MAX level. For several, I literally flip the song content backward for minute 1 to minute 2.
3) After I had say 40 copies of 96, another 40 of 128kb/sec corrupted songs, I go for a saturation push. Literally, I FLOOD the "marketplace" with all the crap content.

What would this do. Well, I assume that the RIAA could muster several thousand computers to completely corrupt the Limewire list of songs (i.e. bad to good content is 50 to 1). Imagine trying to find the actual good copy of an MP3 in a sea of crap. After 10-12 downloads and a couple of listens that may or may not have caused speaker damage, the user is going to give up. You take away the ease of downloading.

Why not supply these same thousand computers offering torrents for the various torrent sites. Yes, over time, people will recognize by size and reports the particular content is no good, a few minutes later, you push out a new set of crap.

Can you imagine if you spend 3 days downloading a movie only to find out that 30 minutes of the movie are in reverse color mode?

We all know that DRM is useless, a waste of time, and no DRMed content is not out there for all to have, but content providers can't wrap their heads around the complete waste of time and money and delude themselves into thinking they have to do something. Well, the above is a something that has the potential to provide them a benefit, and maybe, just maybe, providing them with a tool that works leads to less reliance on useless DRM.

TripleII

P.S. Please refine the idea.

Spammers and DDoS attacks, it's time to fix the problem instead of symptoms

A recent story here prompted me to write this blog entry. It, simply put, is time for the Government to mandate to ISPs in this country that it is their job and responsibility to protect their users. There are many millions of compromised computers out there today. Of these millions, most user's are unaware that their machines have been compromised. Yes, some of these computers are owned by professional spammers, but gleefully, they could all be put out of business the same way.

Let's take a typical ISP, OK, I'll pick on Time Warner Cable, just to put a name to an ISP. They have the typical terms of use clause where user's are told not to spam, DDOS, or otherwise act maliciously on the net. This is as far as the "threat" typically goes. They steadfastly ignore the problem until someone EXTERNAL complains about a computer that is breaking the terms of service. At that time, they get around to causing the offending computer to clean up it's act.

Imagine a world where an ISP did this pro-actively. Think of any typical customer sitting down for a session of bill pay and all of a sudden they get redirected to an information page that states, in effect

"Your computer has been compromised and is not secure. Anything you do on this computer can be tracked, monitored and all your personal information stolen. We apologize for the inconvenience, but have set up a resources page where you can disinfect your computer, talk to computer experts and restore your service fully, secure in the knowledge that your computer is no longer compromised".

What would the fallout from this be. If I had to guess, the VAST, and I mean the VAST majority of users would be GRATEFUL to know they have been compromised. Instead of becoming a victim of identity theft, or having their personal information stolen, they get the KNOWLEDGE that there is a problem. Yes, many would rant and rave and call it unfair, etc. I suspect the majority of these folks would be the professional spammers making their living out of sending Viagra emails throughout the world.

Monitoring for these 0wned computers is trivial. Blocking these computers is also trivial. Now, let's look at all the spammers worldwide. In the same way that it is trivial for the ISP to monitor for spammer in their own networks, they can just as easily monitor for spammers and DDoS machines coming into their network. Block those machines, simply drop their ability for that address to send data into your network.

Simply put, this puts spammers and DDos botnets out of business. Stories like the one linked above are only possible if all these 0wned machines can be controlled by those with malicious intent. Remove the tools they use, you eliminate the problem. What you typically see if tens of millions of $s trying to find the "masterminds" behind the attacks. Why does it make sense to throw good money after bad trying to find a handful of people when you can introduce the above and turn them into "don't cares"?

In the interests of offsetting costs, I would allow the ISPs to introduce a $1 fee per month that is directed to their NEW costs associated with cleaning up their networks and helping legitimate customers become secure again. In the short term, the cost would be only offset a little bit given the sheer volume of 0wned computers, but over time, as the infection rates drop, the extra exceeds the costs. It can also be phased in, area by area as each ISP gets a handle on the blocked area.

In my opinion, there are 4 reasons why a proposal like the above would meet resistance.
1) The ISPs are happy collecting money, and having to do anything extra to combat the problem means they have to actually do something.
2) The public hears about computer problems, but it is not currently registering how widespread the problem is. When it is brought home to an individual level, for tens of millions of people, the computer industry (AV, Anti-spam, OS vendors) will have a LARGE amount of egg on their face. They'd rather have people with a false sense of security than really know how pervasive the problem is.
3) The professional spammers putting out disinformation such as big brother concerns, etc.
4) Security vendors will attack an idea such as this with a vengeance. It is EXTREMELY profitable to keep supplying tools that address the affects of war with no hope of winning the war than it is to provide the tools, once and for all, to win the war.

What are the upsides though?
1) Unknowingly compromised computer users are informed they actually have a problem. This is priceless, on a ONE BY ONE basis for anyone who would NOT become a victim to identity theft as a result of doing this.
2) Imagine a 95% plus drop in spam! (guestimate). Not only do you get rid of useless email, you prevent as many more from falling for the scams.
3) The Gov't gets to spend a LOT MORE of it's cybercrimes $s on problems it can actually do something about.

Unfortunately, it will take a grassroots uprising to cause any of this to happen. The Government is currently taking it's advice from one or more of the 4 entities causing the resistance to this idea above. It could be, but the possibility is exceedingly remote, led by a single, forward thinking visionary ISP. Again, if Time Warner put these protections into place and positioned itself as an actual Champion of it's users, you would see the normal few percent defections, but they would be more than offset by the users who choose to come to them for service, knowing they are that much more secure. Again, I see this as an extremely remote possibility.

So what can a blog such as this hope to accomplish, very little, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be written. If anyone who reads this can take the idea, run with it (completely free to do so, no restrictions whatsoever), cause a change, or even force the real issue, 0wned machines to be addressed, that makes it well worth the 20 minutes to write it.

TripleII

Get Ready for a FudFest

Dell has publicly announced that it will offer more laptops and desktops with Linux pre-installed. I can imagine the internal response at Redmond. You can be sure that MS is looking at all options to halt this in it's tracks. The large OEM vendors are the last true stronghold keeping Linux from being a viable computing option for the average user.

I expect intense pressure from MS coming behind the scenes directed at Dell. For your part Dell, I hope you can weather the storm. I personally don't see MS ripping the rug out from under you, cutting advertising funds, removing preferred OEM status, etc. They need you to sell their wares.

On the blog front, we can expect an all out fudfest trying to dissuade and get as much dis-information out there to try, at all costs, to prevent the Linux choice. We all know what it will entail, dragging truths from 5 years ago into the spotlight as still true. Some examples.

1) Linux is all command line.
2) There are no applications
3) Multi-Media is impossible with Linux
4) Hardware Support is abysmal

The list is endless and humorous. I would propose that we all keep level heads, and not sink the the level we will see. Sure, respond, but keep the name calling and personal attacks out of it. Nothing bothers a fudster worse than a dispassionate response with links proving the absurdity of their assertion. When they realize they can't goad you, drive the discussion off topic and thereby imply they have a point, they move on, with a vacant thread meaning nothing.

I think this will be Def-Con 1 at Redmond because, if Dell is profitable selling Linux, HP and the rest will be on the bandwagon faster than Redmond can grow 40 more fingers to shove into the OEM exclusivity dam. In any case, interesting times lay ahead.

TripleII

Linux on Dell: Closed Source Thinking

As you know, Dell has intrigued many with it's ideastorm website. I was reading a few blogs and news items today that basically concluded that Dell can't do Linux on the desktop for two main (and fundamentally flawed reasons) reasons.

1) It's too much work for Dell to certify, install, preconfigure, etc...even a single distribution on their products and
2) It will cost a trillion $s to offer support for Linux pre-installed.

I would attribute these two reasons to a "Closed Source Mentality". By this I mean that people are applying the closed source rules (and therefore predictions) to an operating system that is not closed source.

In the Windows world (closed source), Dell is REQUIRED to do it all themselves. They must certify their hardware, and do all the work themselves. What people don't seem to get is Open Source is a community. There are always people who are ready, willing and even EAGER to work WITH you in virtually ANY product. Have a new program you want beta tested, post it to slashdot. Having a problem getting your webcam to work, post to any of thousands of Linux forums.

If Dell, (or HP or pick your OEM vendor here) were to ENGAGE the open source community, (i.e. remove the closed source mentality of "we must do it all"), they would quickly realize what "community" means.

If Dell posted this question to Ideastorm
"We would like to offer pre-installed Linux on our Dell D620 notebook, please post links to your COMPLETE review of how well Linux works for you and which distribution you used"
they would be flooded, absolutely flooded with thousands of responses outlining just how well Linux XYZ works with the D620. How much money is Dell out so far learning what is ceritifed on their hardware?

Now, Dell sees that, amazingly, everything works with Mandriva, Ubuntu, OpenSuse, etc.... What is the next step. Dell call's Mr Ubuntu and says
"We would like to offer Ubuntu pre-configured on our D620, are you interested in supplying us with a PRECONFIGURED and notebook specific version of your software?"

What does anyone thing would happen? Would Ubuntu say "No"!? OK, Dell is now out the cost of a long distance phone call.

What about support. That is, in general, a red herring. Dell's first foray (or any vendor's first Linux offerings) will be a NON OS computer that COMES WITH the preconfigured, installable OS. By definition, that requires no support, since you are selling hardware. (Of course, you can pre-install and farm support out to the distro vendor, but that darn MS tax applies, so, keep it simple)

If Dell would engage (again, pick your OEM vendor here) the Open Source community, they would realize the closed source rules don't apply. You would not have to do it all yourself. Tens of thousands, if not millions of Linux users would be at the ready to work with you, whatever you need. If you don't believe, me, look at the OVERWHELMING response to one bloggers request for suggestions on which Linux to take for a test drive. Greater than 5K votes on which distro and over 425 comments.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=298

Aside: On the issue of "teasers" providing revenue, people think this doesn't apply to Open Source?

1) Cadega gaming system free trial
2) Pre-configured Crossover Free Trial
3) Tuxracer free trial
4) Moneydance free trial
5) Websphere for Linux free trial
6) Google Earth Pre-installed. Google Office free trial
7) Mandriva courtesy Membership for 3 months
8) LinDVD free trial
...

NOTE: I avoided using the term "craplets" because, IMHO, the above are great.

I am looking forward to the day that some OEM vendor offers a real choice (sure, no OS and SLED "certified" is great, but SLED must be purchased separatly, is not preconfigured for this specific machine, etc...) for the Linux enthusiast base. One fact is undeniable, whoever is first will garner massive goodwill for many years to come. Lookat ATI vs Nvidia. To this day, Nvidia is #1 in the hearts and minds and wallets of Linux enthusiasts. Being first has it's perks.

TripleII

Can your company ever upgrade to Vista?

Let's assume for a minute that you have completed your Vista testing. Everything within your company, all applications confirmed as work, everything points to you and your company being capable of running Vista.

Now, this blog is more aimed at the larger business entities, especially those with multiple campuses, and typically many hard firewalled labs. Let's take a telecom company, for example. Assume you have say, 50K plus employees worldwide, 20 campuses in 20 countries and let's say 40 computer labs. Assume you have 75+ captive offices in the US alone (A captive office, where the telecom equipment that services us is located). These captive offices are BEYOND tightly controlled security wise. There is typically NO WAY POSSIBLE to reach the Internet from these locations, and intranet access (to the corporate network) is through secured and hardened proxies with strictly enforced access control.

To me, and my thinking, and in talks with my company's IT folks, the inability to run Vista isolated may well be a complete deal breaker. My company has extremely strict firewall controls. To even access the web, all traffic is redirected to a proxy server, where you must log in before accessing the web. HTTP and HTTPS OUTBOUND are pretty much the only ports there are (through the proxy). So, the ability for your computer running Vista to "phone home" is blocked.

MS has the answer, you can run your own key server in house. OK, let's put aside the extra cost and equipment, the IT training and the maintenance such a system would have (and to this point, it is a complete loss in time, effort and money). What does a company like the above do? Run 20 servers by 20 different IT departments? Open the firewalls between campuses (or buy the dedicated facilities to allow them to share the same secure corporate network) so that campus A can talk to the key server on Campus B?

In the captive office, if it comes to a choice between using Vista PCs to monitor your SS7 traffic in your captive office and PROVIDING A ROUTE TO BREACH TO YOUR TELECOM EQUIPMENT, which would you choose? In an industry that mandates 99.999% uptime, and one captive office, say, runs Verizon New York City, does MS honestly believe Verizon can allow the phone home feature?

OK, let's talk about lab equipment. I don't know about other telecom companies, but each lab is absolutely isolated. There is ZERO traffic in or out. As anyone knows, having equipment in the lab on the corporate network is suicide, plain and simple. What about the machines running in there? Now, Window's role in telecom is pretty much relegated to the user interface and/or monitoring, etc, but there are a lot of them. What is the solution to running Vista in these labs. As stated, no company, anywhere, will open their labs to provide access to the key servers. On a rolling lab basis, one every 170 days or so, do you have the IT folks wheel these machines out, reboot them on the corporate network all for the joy of validating themselves?

On the security side, simplicity is the mother of security. If all these machines require your company to open up ports, there is always the chance of mistakes, leading to security breaches in your network.

The only answer, as with XP pre WGA (which, through our corporate IT policies, it is not installed and any attempt to install it by the user when at home is explicitly blocked through installed security policies), is for Vista to be able to run without phoning home, without any validation POST ACTIVATION, at any time. Let's put it bluntly, with all of our current XP computers, they CANNOT be updated or patched by Microsoft and WGA is not installed.

That is the ONLY way for IT to keep control of computers, and when a patch is required, they pretest it, then deploy it based on OUR rules. Does Vista allow for this level of control by IT? With Vista, are you allowed to not install patches the OS deems as critical, because that's what your IT folks want?

Now, keep in mind, that nothing in the above in any way benefits your company (well, yes, you get to run Vista). You have expended large amounts of time, effort and probably equipment at a complete dead loss to you. Have you introduced security vulnerabilities in your firewall(s) or did you replicate the key server 20 times? Wait, what about the corporate worker who does a stint for 6 weeks in your South American office, and somehow the PC decides it is not genuine. Do you mail the PC back "home" to validate it as required then fed-ex it back?

Make no mistake, the enterprise market for Microsoft is critical to their bottom line. I suspect that Microsoft WILL provide a way to run Vista without WGA (or SPP or whatever the acronym is), simply because of the issues above. Now, like most corporate customers, Vista trials are not even planned until SP1, and probably deployment 1 to 2 years after that, but if MS does not have the answer corporate customers need to hear, the effort to deploy may well be spent on alternative operating systems.

Could this be part of the reason for the Microsoft sponsorship of the Novel? A kind of worst case backup plan for corporate customers? The above are simply tip of the iceberg examples, and there are much more complicated scenarios out there. I could probably write a 60 page essay on scenarios where Vista, in it's current phone home state, simply can't be used. (Or truly shouldn't)

In any case, where am I wrong about the Vista phone home feature w.r.t. the corporate environment? Why do corporations have to worry about this, carry the burden to implement it and all the costs? What is Microsoft's plan when they are told to stuff the key server, provide us without WGA or go home?

MS must have a WGA free version of Vista Business waiting in the wings.

EDIT:
Turns out they do. This isn't explicitly to address the problem above, but here it is, Vista without WGA.
Makes you wonder whether DRM free Vista is also in the wings, for use in Hospitals and such.
:EDIT

TripleII

The OEM barrier is falling: Open Letter to Dell

Dear Dell,

I have been actively reading your Dell Ideastorm forums and was excited to see your announcements about moving forward offering Linux pre-installed. This action on your part will position your company to reap the benefits from the open source enthusiast community. With that said, like most who post in your forums I have advice, feedback, etc, that I have outlined below.

Laptop's without an OS

I understand and applaud you for offering some models without an OS (and more to come) and understand that this is the best you can do. If you pre-install any OS, Linux, BSD, etc, you are bound and forced to pay Microsoft anyway. Being forced to pay MS AND installing Linux on the laptop diminishes your margins even more in a fiercely competitive market. Unfortunately, for the consumer, even those well versed in Linux must go through the process of installing the distro, tweaking it to work, and configuring it completely before they can move on to the computing experience. There are also the unknowns such as "Does Wireless Work with Ubuntu?", "Can I run 3D accelerated with OpenSuse?", etc.

There is an interim solution that enables you to preserve your profit margin and virtually eliminate the problems above. As you mentioned, you are working with Novel to certify Suse on some of your desktops. Why not embrace the give and take with the open source community even more.

If you were to send me a Dell D620 (what I am writing this on right now in Mandriva 2007), I could pre-install it, tweak it with the required 915Resolution patch, set the BIOS to allow for seamless docking station operation and ship it back. Poof, you have a disk image for the D620 line. You can then create a new installable DVD from the HD (it would only 1/2 fill a single DVD). You offer this DVD to your customers when they purchase the Dell with FreeDos.

Upsides
1) No MS tax
2) Customers know that everything will "just work" when they install the image
3) Customers have the DVD image, they can restore their PC to "factory" settings in 30 minutes.
4) You, literally, have to do nothing to get your laptop certified, get an image, and heck, I'll even throw in the imaged DVD for you.

Downsides
1) I can't think of any.

Now, on a serious note, I don't expect you to ship me a laptop to pre-configure it, however, why not place the call to Mandriva, Ubuntu, FreeSpire, Xandros, etc. You probably would not even have to lend them laptops. You ask them to pre-configure their distro, exactly the way they want, pre-configured, and send you the D620 DVD, or D480 DVD and so on down the line.

On your web site, you openly have an option on all your laptops (for which you have images created) to ship without an OS pre-installed. You then have the customer select the Linux Image DVD they would like. I can see it now.

$799 for XYZ, choose an OS DVD.

1) Linspire with Crossover prepaid $45
2) Mandriva with Club Membership for a year $45
3) Xandros with Crossover and 6 months support $60
4) Ubuntu $0
5) SLED $60

Well, you get the idea.

Desktops

There is no reason you can't offer the same program with Desktops, however, pre-installing any Linux version is great. There are pricing problems as pointed out throughout your forums. In many cases the pre-installed Linux PC costs more than the equivalent Windows installed PC. There are also cases where OS free PCs cost more than the equivalent Windows installed PC.

Again, I do understand the problems you have the MS tax. If any OS is installed, per your OEM agreement, you must pay MS, even when Windows is not installed. To make the purchasing process equivalent, and to realize more sales for you and price savings for the Linux enthusiast, selling your desktops with the same type of imaged DVD would likely be a positive first step.

You see, the number one hindrance to purchasing a PC from a large OEM vendor wihtout a brick and mortar store locally is two fold.
1) We don't want to be forced to pay MS for their operating system that we will not use and
2) We have to spend a lot of time making sure the PC we buy, everything "just works".

For me, I stuck the Mandrake Live CD in a co-worker's machine, and there it was, everything working or not working for me to see. Many Linux users will literally, bring a live CD to the store to dry-run the desktop/laptop they are looking at purchasing. With your machines, that is not an option, and the uncertainty factor certainly hinders your direct sales to the Linux community.

I think you will quickly find that, if you offer to sell it any preconfigured distro CD/DVD with any of your blank laptop/desktop computers, but ask the CD/DVD to be supplied, the response will be overwhelmingly positive and swift from the community and Linux distribution suppliers. It is truly Win-Win-Win (Dell-Supplier-Customer). I buy desktop X, ask for Suse 10.2 and you include the DVD Novel supplied you, leave it in the drive, and on first power on, it installs, and everything "just works"

TripleII

P.S. Mandriva 2007 on D620, 1440X900 works great. 1024X768 on boot up, set your resolution to 1440x900 then click on "configure X-Server". It will ask you to install the 915Resolution fix. That gets you out of 1024X768 expanded mode on your screen. 3D acceleration, 3D effects and ~1500 with glxgears. If using dock, set BIOS to "Internal video card when docked".

Part 3 of 4: Create and use the PCLinuxOS Live CD

If you are reading this, then you have been using and working with PCLinuxOS in VMware.

Part 1 of 4: linux For the Supernewbie
and
Part 2 of 4: Playing with Linux

I finally had the time to work on part 3, creating the live CD and running PCLinuxOS natively. After reviewing the documentation available at the PCLinuxOS site, it became even easier because the quality of that documentation is fantastic. I have outlined the steps required below to create your own LiveCD of PCLinuxOS.

With the LiveCD, you will be able to boot natively into Linux WITHOUT affecting your your computer in any way. It does not install (unless you want to install it) and when you reboot (remove the CD), you are back into your normal environment.

I am going to assume that you are using Windows currently, and the links below are for those running Windows. The main LiveCD web page is located here but again, I have selected links to make the process even easier.

Step 1: Get the PCLinux operating system file. I have posted 2 links, both to the same file (in case one is slow). When you click on the link below, your browser should open a 'Save to Disk' option. You want this complete file on your desktop. If Windows also provides the option to open with WinRar, you DO NOT want this option. I propose that you simply save it on your desktop.

A US Server
or
European Server

Notes:
As with the original VM, this is a large almost 700 Mbyte file, so you may want to download overnight.

Step 2: Creating the Live CD using Windows. The following Link provides screenshots on exactly what you need to do to create the LiveCD using Nero.

Nero Instructions

The step by step screenshots start with the heading "Using Nero Express/StartSmart"

Note: The process should be exactly similar with any burning program. The key step is to select, regardless of the burning program, "Disk Image", "Burn ISO file", "ISO Image", etc. You DO NOT want "Data CD".

After burning, you are done creating the LiveCD.

Step 3: Get ready to use the LiveCD. Unlike the VMware version, you will need to log in. The users preconfigured on the LiveCD are "guest" password "guest", and "root" password "root". It is always good practive to NOT use "root" for general desktop computing.

Hints:
1) It is easiest if you can connect your PC or Laptop to the internet with an ethernet cable. PCLinuxOS will automatically connect to the internet this way. If you use wireless with encryption, you will of course have to configure wireless once you boot up. This leads to the second point.
2) You are running from a CD and you can't write back to the CD. You should consider this an explore session, and keep custom configuration to a minimum since the next time you reboot, all will be lost. (If you have a USB thumbdrive or equivalent, you can store items there).
3) After you play for a while, you can use the PCLinuxOS tools to test and verify that you can connect wirelessly if that is your normal state.
4) Keep in mind that the LiveCD is the single best way to verify that your computer is fully supported and everything works. Turn your printer on, turn on any USB devices, plug your MP3 player in, and let PCLinuxOS autodetect everything it can.
5) Since everything is running off the CD, bear in mind that, probably as you noticed with VMware, it may not be the fastest, but everything should work.

Step 4: Boot with your LiveCD. This is the easy part. Leave the LiveCD in your computer, reboot your computer, and let PCLinuxOS do it's thing. When you get the initial menu, you can simply press enter, or wait and do nothing.

NOTE: In most cases, everything "just works", however, if the LiveCD fails to load, or the screen looks terrible, or the mouse doesn't work, or ANY problem whatsover, simply remove the CD and reboot, you will be completely back to normal.

Step 5: Play around. It looks virtually the same was what you learned with the VMware version. It is probably more responsive, and if you have all your peripherals turned on, you can now see the printer, scanner, etc. Remember, the New User Guide has all you need to know.

TripleII

The Piracy Problem

Despite many assertions that I must be a pirate and am anti-DRM because I want it all free, I am not. I have never downloaded an illegal copyrighted movie, or illegal copyrighted music. Despite the RIAA/MPAA, stealing is stealing, and if you do download copyrighted content for your own use without paying for it, you are stealing. Now the grey area, or fair use, if you purchased, say a movie from Amazon Unbox and run it through FairUseForWM so you can watch it in your living room, more power to you, I consider that fair use, and just an arbitrary restriction the MPAA imposed to generate more revenue when you have to buy it again to watch in your vehicle's DVD player.

With that said, I decided to do some searching. I am somewhat computer savvy and it didn't take me long to find Limewire. In multiple searches, I was able to quickly and easily find any song I could think of, new, old, in-between at 128 MP3 quality or better. Finding movies to download was more difficult because you don't just find a Movie, but after a few minutes I learned that you usually look for the torrent. I was surprised to find multiple sites that simply host where to find illegal torrents. Once I learned how, I was then able to find most movies I searched for. Some had reported dead torrents, but a determined person would find what they were looking for. No, I didn't download, that is stealing.

I can see why the RIAA/MPAA is deeply concerned about piracy, however, piracy exists and will always exist. There will always be a segment of society who doesn't see anything wrong with stealing content. I do think though, that as widespread as any desired content is, the vast majority of users do not get their content this way (although current price levels have increased piracy, see below). I think the RIAA/MPAA is trying (and completely failing) to use DRM to force the segment of society that wants to steal and will steal into being forced to purchase their content. The vast majority of consumers are like me, and don't purchase it, or purchase it with DRM and frequently become affected by faulty DRM schemes. I'll never understand alienating the 95% of the people who will buy the content in a futile attempt to force the 5% who steal to pay.

I think it is time for content providers to accept the fact that no matter what they do, some will steal. There is no technological solution that can exist that will stop it. They need to take a retailer point of view and accept that a certain number of people shoplift (download illegal content) and just move on to a different model. This will be a hard transition because, unfortunately, they think their offerings are worth more than they really are. I have never purchased a DVD. It isn't on principle, it comes down to simple economics. $20 for a movie is simply too much. In my opinion 2.5 times the rental price is what I would pay. You might watch a movie 2 times, maybe 3 times before you put it away (forever?). When you charge 5-6 times the rental price, you are making it economically worthwhile for piracy to flourish. The same is true for CDs. In many cases, $17 for a CD with 1-2 good songs and 8-9 filler tunes makes it even more attractive for piracy.

So what would a reasonable price point for DVDs do? I do not think I am alone in thinking that DVD movies do not offer a value proposition at current prices. If the average price per DVD was $10, I would suddenly become a consumer. Those that already buy DVDs would purchase probably more than twice what they currently do because they no longer have to agonize whether they really love the movie enough to justify the sale. It also has a bonus. Instead of trying to find the torrent, spend 3-4 days downloading, dealing with expired torrents or getting 95% downloaded only to have to restart because the torrent content is incomplete, then burn it and jump through hoops to create a DVD they can play in their living room, a $10 price tag makes it just not worth the bother. For movies over 5 years old, a $7 price tag makes piracy almost vanish (and keeps these sales alive). Imagine if you can keep revenue the same, or grow it, without having to waste all that effort on DRM and you have happy customers.

The above would require the large content companies to relinquish their belief that they are in control of the consumer, and return to serving the consumer, but I don't see them being nearly as big or as powerful as they currently are in 3-5 years. If they don't get back to believing that they actually need the customer, and that the customer doesn't need them, they will find themselves relegated to a side issue in the new economy. My advice to the content providers, as hard as all this may be to swallow, you have to face up to it if you intend to survive is the following list.

1) Get back to the mindset that you need your customers. We really don't need you, sorry, but it is true.
2) Put enough anti-copy protection to make it hard for Joe Average to copy (like Itunes or DeCSS) and give up the idea you are competent enough to create DRM that works. It won't, it doesn't, it is profit you are pushing into MS's, Intels, Sony's, etc pocket.
3) Make movies and music a value proposition for your customers. We WANT the CD with the jacket. We WANT the DVD exactly as you make it. We want to download and pay for music, but we want to be allowed to play it on any/all our legally purchased equipment.
4) Put all the money you currently waste on useless DRM into your products, your artists and streamlining delivery into the new economy and watch as sales grow as you create content we really want. (Please, Let Deuce Bigalow and remakes of the Dukes rest in peace).
5) Give up the idea that you and hardware vendors control consumers. This is a dangerous illusion. I think DivX, PlaysForSure, Sony's Rootkit, High Def Music formats, etc.... Whatever the merits of any of them, they died at the hands of consumers.

The choice is yours, and you will no doubt ignore the reality of your position, and throw hundreds of millions more into useless, customer affecting DRM, but a few years from now, when emusic becomes a very close second to iTunes, you are wondering why $40 Blu-Ray movies aren't selling that well ($40, you are kidding right?), wait, here it is on sale for the rock bottom price of $26.05
(yeah, I'll take two at that price), you are fast becoming irrelevant in the marketplace, you will be able to look in the mirror and see the entire reason for it all.

In the meantime, I'll continue not purchasing DVDs, the very odd usually greatest hits CD, and watch as you and 30 other companies continue to throw good money after bad.

TripleII

Another Blu Ray Update, Some Good News

It seems that some people completely dismiss my previous Blu-Ray DVD posts as simply conspiracy theory never going to happen ramblings. Could they be right, it is getting more doubtful, but I will leave that to the reader to decide. The key to all of this is to remember that for all the DRM they are attempting, only the most gullible in the RIAA/MPAA and the big content companies actually believe DRM will stem piracy. I honestly think this DRM machine has become a self eating watermelon because they don't know how to get off the train. DRM providers are happy selling and re-selling and re-updating the DRM, hardware manufacturers are dreaming of penetration levels where turning on the broadcast flag isn't a death knell for the technology and drives sales, etc.

Companies Salivating over Vista DRM

Oh well, for now, enjoy some light reading. A quick question though; Do you enjoy being treated like you must be a criminal, a thief, and you purchasing their wares is a privilege they offer an unworthy consumer like yourself?

You don't 0wn your own player
On top of that, consumers should expect punishment for tinkering with their Blu-ray players, as many have done with current DVD players, for instance to remove regional coding. The new, Internet-connected and secure players will report any "hack" and the device can be disabled remotely
...
"A hacked player is any player that is doing something it's not supposed to do," which open to a pretty fair amount of interpretation most of which egregious.

Who needs fair use. No one would ever come up with an innovative and legal use for Blu-Ray disks/players anyway.

There seems to be a large number of people who think that all DVI supports HDCP. That is not the case. Many early adopters purchased DVI televisions that are not HDCP compliant and are currently unaware of it.

Not all DVI supports HDCP
If you have a DVI display without HDCP, it may generate a stunning picture today, but you are on a dead-end path with no potential workarounds three years down the road.

Now this problem is not specific to Blu-Ray, however, it supports the broadcast flag and if/when told to turn the broadcast flag on, the player will down convert the signal.

Let's also consider all the early adopters who are using their component outputs, or have DVI/HDMI that implemented HDCP incorrectly and they don't know about the problem.

Early Adopters Left in the Cold?
According to information compiled by the HRRC and CEA, six million HDTV or EDTV displays have been sold that rely exclusively on component analog video inputs for high-definition programming.[5] In many cases, these display devices were among the most expensive video display devices on the market when purchased. The "early-adopter" consumers who purchased them have been instrumental to jump-starting the DTV transition that the Commission has advocated. If down-resolution is permitted, these "early adopters" will find themselves potentially cut off from non-broadcast high-definition programming on cable and satellite, forced to make due with picture quality little better than that afforded by traditional televisions.

On the good news front, however, AACS is being reported as already hacked. This impenetrable, super secure, developed by many minds at some of the biggest software companies was (potentially, not proven) hacked by a single disgruntled consumer.

AACS Cracked
Ironically, one of the protections offered by AACS is what angered the cracker enough to devote time to cracking the DRM...without a PC equipped with HDCP compliant video card the DVD wouldn't play.

"...I started to get mad... This is not what we can call "fair use"! So I decide to decrypt that movie. I start reading the AACS specification I have found on the net. I estimate it will take me about 4 weeks of full time job to decrypt that. I was wrong, it was in fact, easy..."

As I have said all along, DRM is basically a farce. Even if the above hacker (not a cracker, he is trying to use his legally purchased item in a fair use way) was not successful, another will be, and all the WASTED hundreds of millions spent by the MPAA, Sony, Toshiba, MS, etc on a flawed assumption that DRM can work is simply money they could have used in productive ways. Now, the content companies have a choice, but they can't take this option because the market is still so fresh and could die a quick death if it decided to use the update options available. As the last link stated succinctly enough...

It's worth noting that contrary to old fashioned CSS keys, the new AACS keys are supposedly revocable. If it is determined that a licensed software DVD player's key was compromised, that key can be revoked in new media releases. So what happens when Joe Consumer purchases a HD-DVD, and suddenly cannot play it on his Media Center PC without an update? I don't think that consumers would tolerate that. Will studios risk it?

NOTE: The above applies to all players, not just those in PCs. Can you say that internet connection that is "not needed for basic playback" now becomes a must have?

So why is hacking the AACS algorithm good news? Even the most staunchly mislead top level executive will have to, at some point, realize that they can't continue throwing good money after bad, continually alienating their customers, losing a battle they could never win.

So what are the content companies supposed to do? I completely agree that piracy is rampant (subject of my next blog) and virtually everything ever produced is available on the web. What is an effective strategy to combat piracy?

Part 2 of 4: Let's play with Linux in VMPlayer

Congratulations again. If you are reading this, then you had success installing Linux on your Windows PC. So now that you have it installed, what do you do? Before we get to actually playing though, here are some hints.

1) Across the top of your VMPlayer, you see CD Drives, Ethernet with arrows, etc. Using these you can control what parts of your computer Linux is allowed to see. You may never need to change these, but if, for example, you are listening to Winamp in Windows, you don't want the Linux sounds coming through, you can disable "Audio".
2) I recommend that you go fullscreen. In the top left hand corner is a box right beside the X. After reading this, click that box to go into full screen mode. Simply press CTRL-ALT to get out of full screen mode.
3) You should be online in Linux. PCLinuxOS defaults to internet connected, so if your Windows machine is online, Linux will be online. That is the first thing we are going to play with, so write down this URL (come back once you are in Linux).

Let's play! Here is a screenshot of what I want you to go. Select Firefox and then enter the URL you wrote down. Press the "box" to go fullscreen, I'll see you on the other side. (Note, you can click on the image to see a larger version)



Welcome back, or should I say forward. You are browsing in Linux.

OK, let's open a new tab. Tabbed Browsing, the only way to surf. To flip between tabs, you simply click on the top of them. Select File-->New Tab and then enter www.ebay.com, once it comes up, flip back to this tab.

So www.ebay.com opened up.

Congratulations again, you have reached a milestone!

If you NEVER learn anything more, you now have a way to surf online securely. Spyware, Adware and Viruses don't exist in Linux and what you are running is secure. Even if your Windows machine is infected, it can't talk to Linux and even if it could, it doesn't speak the same language. You can now perform your online transaction securely in Linux.

OK. Now that you know how the menu works, I want you to do the following. At the bottom of the screen you will see two boxes, one with a 1 in it, the other with a two. Remember this sequence. Click on 2, then Start (colorfull fan in botton left corner)-->Configuration-->KDE Control Center. Once it opens up, select the 1 box again.

See that, select 2 then 1 again, 2 then 1. :-D You are flipping between virtual desktops. This is one very handy thing. Unlike Windows where all programs run in the same desktop, you can open programs in other desktops and flip around between them. Right now there are 2, but you can have 1,2,3..10 if you want! (one for firefox, one for email, one for chat, one for word processing) and flip with ease. Think of it as having multiple Montors where you can watch any one at a given time.

Under KDE control center (flip back to 2) select Appearance and Themes--> Theme Manager. Pick the one that you like. Linux is about personalization, you can make it look any way you want. Hot Pink on Green, Yellow on Yellow, you decide. When you come back, a couple more tips.

OK, so now you have a very quick idea of what you can do with the control center. Play with the control center to your hearts content. Explore, explore explore. You CAN"T hurt your Windows PC when in the VMPlayer window playing with Linux, so have a ball, explore all the installed applications.

How about that MP3 on your flash drive. Remember the VMPlayer menu at the top of the screen, select the down arrow to the right of "Ethernet" and allow Linux to see your flash drive. If you then select "My Computer", you should be able to see it. Find the MP3 and click on it. A media player will open. (I am not sure whether an encrypted flash drive is readable in Linux, I have never tried, I've never had Windows)

Well, I could spend a week or two hitting the highlights of Linux, but it has been done for you already. Click on the New User's Guide, everything you want to know is right there at your fingertips.

So, here are some final thoughts for this part in the series.

1) Do Overs. You mess something up, or just want to start over, exit VMPlayer, right click on pclinuxos directory and delete it, re-unzip the pc linux image file and start over. No penalties, no worries, this is what playing is all about.
2) I picked PCLinuxOS, however, there are MANY MANY more Linux versions. Each one has is personalized by the creator in a different way. I can't tell you which one is best because ONLY the one you like is the BEST FOR YOU. If you visit VMPlayer Applianes and "Filter by Solutions Area" with option OS, you will see many more Linux appliances you can play with. Try a few more, try them all, you are limited by nothing.
3) I have created a thread at justLinux as a shortcut for support and other questions. It will get more responses there and be seen by many expert eyes. No question should not be asked. This is for the brand new to Linux, so if you need anything, just ask. I know the group at JustLinux will read this thread here and know what you are trying to accomplish. You will have to join to post, sorry, I don't control that, but you do get notifications from the thread so it is worth it.
Click HERE to go to the thread.

NOTE: Feel free to post here, I will help any way I can.

4) Program names, what does what and what's a good Windows Replacement Program in Linux?

NOTE: Thanks to many for pointing this out. When synaptic or other asks you for "root's" password, it is toor, and the default user's password is vmware.

That is more than enough for now. Look for

Part 3: Let's run Linux natively on a Live CD
Part 4: So you want to install Linux BESIDE Windows on your hard drive

TripleII

Part 1 of 4. Linux for the supernewbie

So you have heard of Linux, you read somewhere that it is more secure, and runs a lot of the web services using something called LAMP (or something like that). You are curious, but you have a working system now (you know it's quirks, and how to workaround what doesn't work or to get it working) and are nowhere near ready to take the plunge.

If the above describes you, then you are in the right place. This is the first of a four part series that will, if you decide you WANT TO, and only if you want to, introduce you to Linux, and by they end, you might just find yourself with Linux installed on your computer beside windows. That's getting ahead of the game.

Before we even begin, you need to know the following.

1) I assume you know how to download a file using a torrent and have high speed internet.
2) Linux is not Windows. It works similar (Menu and Mouse Driven) but is not windows. If you are looking for a better windows experience, petition Microsoft.
3) Because of 2) Windows programs you have don't run on it (yes, you can, but it is not trivial, so for your sake, I am saying they won't work). Now, Linux has a replacement for most every windows program, and virtually all are free. From finance to web surfing to media to movies, we have it all, BUT, you have to use different programs (it's OK, they usually are pre-installed).
4) You can't buy DRMed content (Plays for Sure, ITunes, etc) with Linux (again, yes you can, but it is not trivial, so again, for your sake, I am saying you can't).
4) Not all hardware works in Linux. For example, most All-in-One printers are actually just shells run by Windows, and since Linux isn't Windows, they don't work well. The printer part, probably, the scanner part, maybe, the rest, well you get the idea. The good part of all of this, you will be out $0 for trying it, and worst case, you RULE OUT Linux for you, which is better than being frustrated.

So, if you are still curious about Linux, if you do the following you will have Linux running on your Windows box. You don't have to twiddle settings, this is purely a mouse ONLY procedure.

A couple of things to remember. You are going to be running Linux virtually, and as a security feature, Windows can't talk to Linux, Linux can't talk to windows, so what is on your hard drive won't be accessible. This is a feature. I do recommend though that you grab a few MP3s, a few .doc files, a .xls file and drag them to a flash drive if you have one. These you can access, and it helps with the dry run. Oh yeah, if you have less than 3 gigabytes of free space on your computer, you may run into problems, however, your disk is getting pretty full anyway, this procedure or not, time to clean up some unused files?

Step 1: Get VMPlayer for Windows.
This is the same experience you have done a hundred times. Download an executable to the desktop and then double click on it. Use all the defaults as you install it. This link is a direct link to the windows version, clicking HERE with your mouse will open the "Run/Save to disk option"

Step 2: Install VMPlayer.
Double click on the file, leave the defaults, let er rip. Go grab a coffee, you are 1/2 way there, seriously.

Step 3: Download a Virtual Appliance. Don't worry, that is just a fancy name for a large file that VMPlayer can play. Winamp plays MP3, VMPlayer plays virtual machines. There are lots of Linux Virtual Appliances, but I am going to point you to PCLinuxOS because a) I like it and b) I want to walk you through everything, including filenames when you get there. Here is the torrent. Download THIS TORRENT and use it to get PCLinuxOS.

NOTE: This is a big file (800+ MBytes) so it may take overnight to download.

Step 4) OK, you now have a file called pclinuxos-0.93-bigdaddy-vm-1.0.0.zip on your desktop. Right click your mouse on it and select "Extract Here".

Step 5) This is it, you are 90% there. OK, if you followed the defaults you have a VLPlayer button on your desktop. Double click on it.

NOTE: All images are clickable to see a larger version.



It will a file selection box. Navigate to your Desktop, then navigate to the pclinuxos folder. You will see a file called pclinxos.vmx. Select it.



You are done. Let VMPlayer do it's thing, it will boot up Linux inside. You don't have to do a thing except wait. Is your coffee getting low, grab a refill. This is what you will see on your desktop.



CONGRATULATIONS, You are running linux.

OK, so you have Linux running in a blue box on your desktop, now what?

Part 2 of 4: Lets play with Linux in VMPlayer

TripleII

Did you pay to get rid of your WGA failure?

Over the past several months, Ed Bott has been tracking WGA and all it's implications. Despite proving that it is intrusive, error prone and in general punishes Windows users who are incorrectly flagged as "Pirates", some continue to rally support for WGA in the talkbacks. In response to my question

What percentage of legitimate users eventually give up and give in and just buy a license to make WGA go away?

With a "straight face", an MS volunteer stated

What percentage of legitimate users eventually give up

As far as I know, ZERO. The success rate of overcoming a WGA "non-genuine" issue with a known "genuine" version of Windows is extraordinary high, if not 100%.

No amount of proof appears to be relevant to this person as they absolutely insist that WGA is perfect and the ONLY flaws are 3rd party software interfering with this flawless operation. In any event, I invite anyone who has purchased WGA for one of the following reasons to post here.

1) You did not know you did not HAVE to purchase a license (i.e. The purchase option was all you saw, and did not know there were tools to "troubleshoot" WGA failures)
2) Time is money, and you simply paid the license fee because you have work to do.
3) You were lost in how to troubleshoot your WGA problem, but know you were genuine with a large OEM (Dell, HP, etc) system, have the original disks, but just need your computer to work.
4) You got fed up with "canned responses" from the WGA forum, they could not resolve the problem, etc.

I think it is time to force MS to accept or acknowledge, or at least outside of MS circles make it known that WGA is as much a new revenue tool as it is a validation tool. Designed to cause sales on the less technical users out there.

TripleII

Don't blindly believe Dish if HDMI stops working

This is a followup to my original story. There is no software that can fix my 411 HD receiver problem. There is a fundamental design flaw. Now, that is not to say that there are people who are not experiencing BOTH software and hardware problems.

Having cancelled my HD service, and waiting on the box to return the receiver to Dish, it was time to take a look. The HDMI SURFACE MOUNTED CONNECTOR (now there is a good idea! NOT!) is secured to the back of the box with a screw. This screw is putting upward pressure on the HDMI connector and using a magnifying glass, I can see how the surface mount solder is cracked all around the connector. It is no wonder it failed.

If you have a working HDMI connection, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you put any weight or downward pressure on the HDMI connector. If anything, apply upward pressure on the cable to offset some of the pressure on the connector via the securing screw. Some people have gone so far as to insert a washer between the chassis and HDMI holder (see diagrams below) to relieve this pressure, but I don't recommend this since it will likely void any warranty.

This first image is a clean shot of the HDMI connector I was able to grab with my digital camera. You can see the screw that is holding the HDMI surface mounted connector to the chassis.



This next picture is a little fuzzy, but is used to illustrate the design flaw. You can see how it has forced (lifted the front through torque applied by the screw) the HDMI surface mounted connector free of the PCB at the front.



Using a magnifying glass, I was able to see much of the front of the connector solder was cracked and pulled away from the PCB.

So, the bottom line is, if your HDMI was working and then quit, it is likely that your HDMI connector has pulled away from the PCB. This explains why many people who have insisted on replacement get a working HDMI interface again. I can see why Dish is touting a software fix is coming, simply put, they probably don't have enough receivers to keep replacing this. If they can get you to settle for component, they don't have to replace receivers.

You can see how ANY weight on the HDMI cable is going to help induce this failure. Given that this box runs hot, (when I removed it after turning it off, the chassis itself was probably over 100F), flexing of the chassis over time is the most likely culprit (metal expands more than plastic, and this is surface mount, it only takes a few microns). Whomever designed this connection, in my opinion, should be forced to retake their engineering classes, focusing on thermodynamics, mechanics and the principles of torque/moments.

If I have any advice for people with working HDMI on their receivers, provide LOTS AND LOTS of ventilation. If you must move the receiver or cabling, unplug it from the wall and let it cool completely. Use extreme care when removing the HDMI cable, DO NOT wiggle back and forth, NEVER, EVER wiggle up and down. Put your thumb on the HDMI holding screw to directly counterbalance any distortion you may create on the metal box's back wall.

TripleII

Dish HDMI Problem: Refusing to put customers first: DRM

UPDATE: Now that I removed the receiver and got a look at it, whether there is a software problem or not, my failure is hardware. You can read for yourself here.
411 HDMI connector design flaw

I selected DISH HD after purchasing a 37" LCD TV. I was extremely pleased with the quality of the picture over HDMI. That lasted for 6 weeks. All of a sudden, HDMI stopped working. For a week or so, they tried to obfuscate the problem with me, telling me it was the TV, my HDMI cable was bad, etc. On the TV, every other input works, and when I was finally able to borrow a laptop with DVI out (and an adapter cable Best Buy was nice enough to lend me), you guessed it, HDMI worked too. Borrowed another straight HDMI cable, no joy.

After calling and complaining again, they admitted that there was a software change that broke HDMI for many customers. This was early August. When will you have a fix? In a couple of weeks. I was reduced to using the component input to watch HD. The picture is not as good, and to my delight, I get to watch all TV with the audio out of sync. When I called technical support about this problem, I was told that many receivers have this problem, and they COULD NOT EVEN GUESS when this problem might be resolved. Called after a couple of weeks, I was told the HDMI software "bug" fix should be ready in September. Last update, mid November. I got yet another "we value your business email, the next software upgrade is expected to take care of the problem" response to a tech support email. I called and asked what the ETA was, they don't know.

They flat out refuse to replace the receiver or provide me with usable HD service. Looking around the web, I see that many many people are being affected by this for two reasons. The first one is simply poorly built receivers. I have read accounts where people have put rubber bands on the cables to put enough side pressure on the HDMI connector to fix the problem. Many who get it re-working don't dare breath on the cables. The other reason is the one that Dish won't acknowledge (officially), confirm (officially) and their tech support is NOT supposed to reveal: HDCP.

Yes, it would appear that a software upgrade broke (or activated I can't get an answer to that) HDCP and now many customer's HDMI inputs sets no longer work because of flaws in the receiver performing HDCP. So, instead of rolling back to a software load that works until they resolve the issue, putting customers first, they are keeping the flawed software deliberately screwing over their customers, likely at the behest of content providers. I can hear their boardroom discussions now, if we don't enforce our semi working HDCP, they'll pull their content. I call that crap. If Dish went public and stated that "we are putting the customer first, and HDCP will be turned OFF until it is fixed", do they really believe ABC-HD, TNT-HD, etc are going to THROW AWAY the biggest HD audience there is!?

So here we have yet another example of DRM C.R.A.P. that provides NO USEFUL benefit to the customer, innocent people are being affected, and the consumer has no recourse. What about early adopters who have HDMI but faulty HDCP implementations in their TVs? What about basic HDCP flaws? As you can guess, HDCP is as totally reliable as other completely successful DRM schemes have always been, which means that unconditionally, through no fault of their own, many subscribers will be S.O.L. (just buy a newer TV set) A good read on some of this

You see, the longer people put up with component input, the less likely it is the issue will EVER be fixed. The ONLY incentive that puts any pressure on Dish to fix their problem is canceling service (I have cancelled the HD portion already). Not only that, but if you never get HDMI working again, and the Broadcast Flag is turned on, and make no mistake, it will be once the "play nice" period is over, you will not have HD at all.

I have called and emailed both customer support and tech support many time, and this past Friday was the deadline. I asked them to provide me with a single reason to continue their service, and they have nothing to say. I am moving soon, and Dish Mover will NOT be needed. With the repeated emails I have asked many times 'what good is a thorough HD lineup when it is useless to me?' and about 1 in 4 emails that I get a response, I get a reply telling me I am important to Dish and they will get back to me. Up until this issue, I have been a loyal Dish customer, coming up on six years now, and if they refuse to help me, good luck to the rest of you with HDMI problems. DirectTV or HD cable at my new home, we'll see who has the best price.

Further Reading
Who is having problems with HDMI with 211/411/622
HDMI software issue on 622
Read the reviews

TripleII

P.S. It is a GOOD THING HDCP will completely eliminate piracy. There is no way crackers will bypass HDCP, since they have always had no success breaking other rock solid DRM schemes before. I for one am VERY glad to be denied service as part of the worldwide successful crackdown on video piracy.

Have you read your music stores EULA for DRMed content?

I came across an article about buymusic.com. I decided to check out what they were talking about in the terms of service. I found it humorous that the terms of service that you have to agree to is in a window 3 lines high with a scrollbar. After reading it this way for a few minutes, I avoided a headache and cut/paste into an editor. There, all 4,343 words plain to see. To make matters worse, it linked to a privacy policy that, thankfully opened in a new browser window but itself was 15 pages long (depending on your monitor/browser window size). In addition, it linked to a 5 page marketplace buyers agreement.

Has any customer of buymusic.com actually signed up after wading through ALL OF THAT? Now to be fair, many other online music services were not much better, but none that I saw had the reader wade through 4343 words in a window 3 lines high with a scrollbar.

I am not going to bore you with all the detailed analysis of EULA's, but I am going to point out exactly where I got to when I decided (if I used Windows/Apple and actually wanted to purchase the inferior quality music they were offering) this is a service that I will NEVER use and could never recommend to anyone. Again, these are not all the things just fundamentally wrong with the EULA, this is the FIRST thing I found wrong.

BuyMusic.com
"Buy.com reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change, add or remove portions of this Terms of Use, at any time. It is your responsibility to check this Terms of Use each time before using the Site. "

Is this legal? Can I agree to something, then be forced to unwittingly agree to new terms without ANY kind of notification. Not even a banner on the login page saying "See new terms of use changes"?

Napster.com
"To access the Service, you will need to install or activate Napster's proprietary software application; from time to time, you may also be required to install other software made available through the Service (collectively this software is called the "Client"). You may also need to install certain third-party software. You are responsible for any hardware, systems and/or software program(s) you use and any associated fees and expenses (a) to connect to or use the Internet, and/or (b) other than the Client, to use any Materials."

So to use your service, you can force me to upgrade to Vista, or purchase XYZ, or force the install of any third party application. If the RIAA decides to force a mandatory $50 tax on your DRM infected proprietary application...not even worth finishing. See ya.

MSN Music.com
Kind of an aside, I couldn't be bothered to user the user agent switcher to tell MSN that I was not using Firefox on Linux, and the system requirements page came up telling me to use XP, etc, so that was a non starter.

AOL Music Now
"Because the companies that provide the Entertainment Content to us may have different rules concerning how their content may be used, your ability to transfer or make copies ("burns") of Purchased Downloads may vary, depending on the rights that the respective companies' controlling rights in the Purchased Downloads have granted to us. Presently, Purchased Downloads may be transferred only to compatible portable digital devices supporting the Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) platform."

OK, so ONLY Windows flawless DRM allowed, no Audio CDs can be created (does anyone listen to CDs in their vehicle?). Thanks for coming out.

Several services that I sampled appear to require the creation of an account before you can see if you agree to the terms of service, yahoo music as an example.

People, do you KNOW WHAT YOU AGREED TO? More to the point, how did it come to be that the unprecedented loss of freedom, recourse, notification, and draconian restrictions became the norm? Somehow, it has become the seller who DECIDES what you can have instead of the CONSUMER purchasing what they want.

Let me be clear on this. The RIAA/MPAA needs us, we DO NOT NEED THEM. If they ceased to exist, movies and music (perhaps better once the hype engine is disabled) would continue to me made, and a consumer would get a quality product at a reasonable price.

If every customer simply said, no, I refuse to purchase ANY DRMed content (CDs or online), when the RIAA/MPAA woke up and realized "wait a minute, they DON'T need us", you would find DRM free content flying into online stores. Will it ever happen, eventually. Over time, those affected by DRM's inherent flaws are coming to grips with lost content, unread EULA's, zero recourse, etc. The market is large, but in general, you can only fool people once.

In any case, if you subscribe to online content, have YOU read what you agreed to?

TripleII

AllOfMP3.com Legal? Could it be made Legal?

I have done a lot of reading regarding AllOfMP3.com. In case you don't know, it is an online music store in Russia that is legally (in Russia) selling online music by the Mbyte which works out to roughly 10c per song. They claim to be operating legally in their own country, but of course, the RIAA is rather upset about them operating. They pay royalties for each CD and part of each sale to the Russian overseeing body and apparently (they have been operational since 2003), offering a legal distribution service. Now, if someone is interested, there are a LOT of discussions online, all you need to do is search for 'allofmp3 legal' in google and you can read most of what I read.

My conclusion is that it is quasi legal in the US. They are operating on a copyright loophole, and the RIAA is unable (or unwilling to try to plug it for fear of losing) to plug it. The stakes are huge. If they were to try to sue Joe American Average for purchasing a song from there, and they lost, I think you could pretty much say goodbye to Itunes, and most other online music stores. At 1/10 the price and DRM infection free, the consumer is going to overrun AllOfMP3.com as they purchase all their music in a foreign online store. I doubt the RIAA will take this route and will try to plug the loophole through diplomatic routes.

I have not purchased from AllOfMp3 though, but I have seriously contemplated doing so for the following reasons.

1) DRM infection free. Why is it that I can buy a CD at a store, or used at Ebay and rip and enjoy DRM free music yet the RIAA hides behind 'Stopping Piracy' with it's DRM infected online offerings.
2) Operating system agnostic. Sure, the Windows client at AllOfMP3.com offers bulk download instead of one by one in Linux, but still, I can't imagine that this is all that great a hardship, and people have automated Linux tools to do the bulk download.
3) I can play it on my UMS (Universal Mass Storage) Iriver T30. I recently eliminated the DRM infection from this device and now it just plays tunes, instead of monitoring me.

So, why haven't I purchased from them, simply put, I can't rip the Artist off the same way the RIAA does for online purchases. They created the music, and if I purchase online from Itunes or other, especially AllOfMp3, I know that the artist is going to get basically squat. You would think, but you would be wrong, that Artists get a substantial cut of online sales. AFTER all costs are recouped by the recording studio, the artist MIGHT get 7c/song for a typical Itunes purchase. (With AllOfMp3, they likely get 0c/song).

References:
Recording Artists Coalition
Weird Al on Royalties

I suspect that the RIAA skews the royalty cut in this way since with online purchases, the consumer does not have to pay for the filler tracks. With CD sales, the Artist gets around 33c/track.

So where does this leave me. Well, I am not a lawyer, and about all I understand about online music, copyright, and distribution is the RIAA has deep pockets and will only allow for any sales that result in the majority of money going into their pockets. Whether they have to resort to illegal means (lawsuit city), or purchasing laws (DMCA), they will do whatever it takes.

The question I have for those in the know is this. Since AllOfMp3 has the right to distribute music in this form in Russia, could I or someone with the money/lawyers become a reseller of their distribution here IF THEY HAD THE ARTIST'S CONSENT?

Using Smashing Pumpkins as an example, apparently, the Artist actually owns enough of their musical creations to BYPASS their labels and offer music directly to the public.

Suppose I place a call to the Smashing Pumpkins and tell them that I would like to distribute AllOfMP3s versions of their music legally here in the US, but I must have their permission to do this. In exchange for the right to redistribute AllOfMP3s music here, they will receive 67% of the online purchase price, where the purchase price will never be below 50c. This means that for every song of theirs sold, they will get a MINIMUM of 33.5c/song which is inline with their CD cut. I get them to sign this document, and now, I offer their songs online for the cut rate price to 75c. They get 50c, AllOfMP3 gets 10c and I take in 15c for my trouble of providing a front end to AllOfMP3's site for people to use. (75c is for 192 kbits/sec, 80-85 for flacc, etc). My advertising slogan is 'Let the Artist make some money from that online music purchase'.

I am sure that such an offering would be 1) extremely popular and 2) attacked viscously by the RIAA, Itunes, and all DRM locked in Music stores, but what a treat it would be to be able to purchase online music, be allowed to listen to it how you like, and actually give the Artist back some money. I am probably dreaming.

Happy Trails

TripleII

iriver T10/T20/T30 in Linux/OS-X the easy way

If you read my latest blog regarding another perfectly functioning DRM process, you will know why I bought an iriver T30 for the express purpose of hacking it back into UMS mode. I did manage to do it in a Linux only solution using Gphoto2 and lots of links to various firmware hexes, but it was an arduous process.

It turns out the iriver PROVIDES a tool where you can convert your T10/20/30 back into UMS mode and not be forced to use Windows, not forced to use WMP and in general, you can once again own your device, and not a lease to use. The link below is from the iriver global site. iriver US, nowhere, ever, mentions that you can eliminate the DRM infected firmware.

iriver MTP to UMS converter

Anyway, I followed the process twice, after using it to convert back from UMS to MTP. The first time, it appeared not to take. The second time, after tapping the on button I saw 'formatting' then it was pure UMS, and freely accessible using Linux. It was 204 ogg songs on it now. I expect that since OS-X supports any Usb Mass Storage device, it will now work with OS-X, but have no way to verify this.

Tips:
1) When dragging files to the device with LONG names, you may get a generic error in Konqueror 'the file could not be copied'. Shortening the ogg file name fixed that.
2) At around 165 songs, no more could be added to the directory, again giving the generic error. I created subdirectories and kept dragging content to them.

I originally recommended iriver because of OGG support, and I give them credit for supplying the ability to convert back to UMS, however, they lose my recommendation until they provide a Linux tool or purely Linux process to get rid of MTP.

Hint: 3,370,000 hits on google with 'iriver linux' should be enough to tell you that you are alienating a HUGE market.

Disclaimer: it worked for me, but since I have no control over the iriver supplied software, I can't tell you that you won't create a paperweight. Of course, if you are like me, and Linux only, with MTP firmware, it is already a paperweight.

Happy Trails

TripleII

A DRM Story. Piracy Halted in it's Tracks.

A friend of mine decided to purchase an MP3 player for his niece. Seems like a simple enough task. She already had one, but it was old and had 64M of ram. With a 14 or so song capacity, it was not used that much anymore. On a recommendation from me, I suggested a non apple brand because of price considerations. He settled on a 1 Gbyte unit and ordered it. (regardless of price, I can't bring myself to recommend Apple anyway, but that's another story)

Since it was to be a surprise, and with her being technically challenged, said friend decided that he better 1) learn how to use it first and 2) make sure it worked, before sending it on to her. After a week, it arrived, he tried it out and all seemed to work perfectly. That done, he packed it up and shipped it to his niece.

It arrived, and of course she called to thank him. At that time, he wanted to walk her through using it over the phone and show her how easy it was to use. She plugged it into her computer, the computer said it had found new hardware, it was configured, and then nothing. NOTHING. Opening WMP 10 stated that it could not talk to the device (of course WMP started automatically when it detected the device!?!), and MyComputer failed to show the device. After about 2 hours of trying to talk a technically challenged person through troubleshooting, and talks with the device supplier, he had her ship it back to the vendor as defective. Fast forward 11 days, the new device arrives, he checks it out, and this time drives it over to his niece's home (an hour away) where THE EXACT SAME thing happens again.

Refusing to give up, he places yet another call to the vendor. After an hour of useless suggestions (is it plugged in, is the batter good), a call is placed to me.
I usually don't support Windows, but since this was my suggestion, I try to help. We try formatting the player, uninstalling the driver and re-installing on Windows. I then hit google. I learn that it is an MTP device (much to my disgust, since I recommended it) with a proprietary MS only DRM infected firmware controlled operating system. About 8 seconds later, I have found the problem.

See, he was an EVIL pirate in the eyes of flawed software. By connecting the device to HIS computer first, and WMPs DRM flaw where multiple root keys were downloaded, he had effectively made it impossible to connect the device to any other computer. I called the vendor directly and told him that I was having an install problem and cut him off before he could go into his "is the battery good" speil.

I asked him how to work around the DRM bug where a player can only be connected to a single computer. Silence. Finally, 3 tech support people later, one came on the line, confirmed there was a hotfix for WMP 10, but just to download WMP 11 that has the fix included and all should work. His final words were, however, that it was out fault because I should only ever connect it to one computer, it is to avoid illegal copying.

I finished up by telling him that the DRM for piracy/fraud was a joke, it is ALL about forcing music sales/use through Windows, and that their choice to use MTP had cost them at least $200 more than the cost of the original player (replacement and 2+ hours of tech support). I called my friend, they installed WMP 11, and the device now works.

Now, we all know that carrying a portable MP3 player from computer to computer is the #1 way in which BILLIONS of (claimed) lost sales happen. It makes no sense for someone who wants to share their music illegally to burn a CD or DVD with 200-2000 mp3 songs on it. Yes, a person like that WILL load 150 songs on a player, drive from house to house plugging into other computers and then back home to get the next 150. There is no chance they might mail them to friends or broadcast them on the internet, it is the rougue people driving the world over with MP3 player in hand that is driving the RIAA out of business.

I now know that under no circumstances will I recommend any MTP player because, as those of you who read this entire blog know, there is ZERO chance that any company codes a DRM infected device/operating system patch/process, perfectly. This tiny little "flaw" cost me 2 hours, my friend about 11 days plus hours of fruitless "troubleshooting" on computers, and took a LOT of the shine off what was supposed to be a great gift for someone.

If MS has bothered to put the massive effort required to pop a dialogue stating why MS had decided the leased MP3 player (you don't think you own the right to use it do you?) could not be used, a lot of money and time could have been saved. Of course, this would hurt Geek Squad's revenue stream, so I guess the reason is self evident.

I have already found the hack to turn the device back into a UMS device that would work with any operating system, but since it is working, my friend said let's leave well enough alone until the next DRM enhancement breaks it.

On the upside, the world is safe once again from Piracy.

Happy Trails

TripleII

Blu Ray Follow Up

I got a lot of emails regarding my post listing the top 5 reasons Blu Ray won't ever be in my home. Let's get some things out of the way.

1) I am not PRO HD-DVD, I'll pass on this technology as well, as the original blog stated. Therefore, I am not a "shill".
2) I never stated that Blu Ray had won, lost, would lose, or would win. I could CARE less if it wins/won the new format wars. All I stated is, Blu Ray has no place in my future.

Now, how about the #1 point most people emailed me about. They currently have BluRay and DO NOT need an internet connection. Again, as I posted from the BluRay FAQ section, an internet connection is not currently required for basic playback.

Well of course. Today the manufacturers and movie studios are going to BEND OVER backwards to "play nice" until critical mass is reached. This means that

a) Movies will NOT have the "Digital Downgrade" flag set, allowing those of you who only have component video inputs left (Broadcast TV using your single HDMI input) to enjoy the full HD experience
b) No internet connection will be required until it is needed by the vendor and they know they have won. It is the bait and switch, and make no mistakes, what you can do now, and the "rights" they currently grant you can be changed at THEIR option because the DMCA laws.

Do you really believe that once critical mass (like DVDs did, critical mass came about, finding Full Screen DVDs became harder and harder), that finding NON CRIPPLED output DVDs will be easy to find? Think about it, once VHS was beaten, they had to nag u with black bars on the top and bottom when watching on a standard TV to help the adoption of HDTVs.

Ask yourself, what is "Basic Playback". The FAQ states that you will be able to have basic playback without internet connection. Did they define it as Basic HD-Playback? I could find no definition of "Basic Playback" with respect to the quality. I know that for now, it will be HD, however, they CAN change the rules and decide that Basic playback is now regular DVD quality. They CAN and WILL change the rules.

Why would all the studios PUSH for the ability to downgrade analogue output? They WILL use it. Now, these are common "features" of both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. So why am I further opposed to Blu-Ray. It is simply BD-Plus.

BD-Plus is a mechanism where the player manufacturer can update the anti-piracy mechanisms and remotely disable your players if they think you are misbehaving. Now, back to my original point. Show of hands, who thinks they will code the current and updated policies flawlessly? .......Anyone? .......(Is that the sound of crickets?).

BD-Plus is the reason that most movie studios are salivating over Blu-Ray. They can continually update tokens, keys, firmware, rules, the whole shooting match. That is what it is there for, that is why it exists. This "enhanced" experience REQUIRES an internet connection, otherwise BD-Plus is USELESS. If they have no access to the machines, you have no ability to dynmaically update the machine. I therefore state that at some time, Mr average will put in a rented DVD (probably from Fox, see link below) and get a notification on their screen something like this.

"Your device has been updated with state of the art encryption updates, and at this time we are downconverting your component outputs to lower definition. In order to restore full HD component output, this device must register with the manufacturer and you must register and follow the activation process. This is a one time process until the next update is required. We recommend that you leave a permanent internet connection to this device in place so that you won't have to revalidate, however, please connect a phone line at this time and press enter to follow the onscreen registration"

Again, I can only assume that this process will work PERFECTLY for everyone, with zero flaws. If you think it can't or won't happen, there is no point in arguing the point anymore. The rules will change, and there is NOTHING you can do about it.

Sony won't INITIALLY downconvert movies.
Yes, these will NEVER fail to function flawlessly
Fox Proprietary DRM, there's a good idea!

Amazingly enough, no one who complained about my article was concerned, or even mentioned the spyware big brother aspect, and many actually told me that the studios had the right to monitor all my movie watching habits. A lot of 'if you have nothing to hide' attitude.

OK, another show of hands, the MPAA will successfully eliminate piracy and never affect law abiding customers. No one will ever be spied on, and of course, the Sony Rootkit Fiasco was an aberration, companies rarely do this kind of thing.

Happy Trails and enjoy your movie.

Another Blu-Ray Update, Some Good News

TripleII

Windows no threat to Linux

Let's face it, if Windows was all of the following, Linux would have always remained a niche very minor player in the computing world.

1) Secure (the OS, without Anti-virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-name_your_exploit_here
2) Reliable (Geek squad, "PC-Doctor software", BSODs common till XP, ...)
3) Non-Intrusive (Non DRM infected, Second Guess your intelligence, etc)
4) Inexpensive or reasonable return on investment
5) Customer Oriented (i.e. focused on customer needs instead of customer $s)

Either I would still be using Solaris, or, if all the above were true, I might actually have used or be using Windows. The fact is, for myself and probably many tens of millions of Linux desktop users worldwide, and certainly, on the server side where Linux has made phenomenal inroads, the above reasons are what drove/kept us away from Windows.

If the world Linux user base froze today, and not one more person or business deployed Linux, Linux would still be here to stay. There are so many high quality applications for the desktop and server today, and they will continue to get better and better regardless of whether the base grows.

On the other hand, is Linux really a threat to Windows. Well, I think that anyone who thinks that Linux hasn't won and now dominates all web servers simply hasn't moved beyond 2002. How many years ago was it when Microsoft and so many pundits announced that Linux was no threat to MS server sales on the web? Well, we now have the official Denial from Microsoft stating that Linux is no threat on the desktop.

This can only mean that Microsoft is very, very, very worried about Linux on the desktop. Now, the mass OEM market will and is the toughest market to crack, because, unlike on the server where the money is in the OS, and savings of tens to hundreds to millions of dollars is a direct result of NOT using Windows Server offerings. The reasons why the OEM market is harder to crack, you can see the reasons here

This does not mean it won't happen, and is indeed happening. You CAN find smaller OEMs offering Linspire, Xandros, etc, and the Windows monopoly position for desktops is being nibbled away from the edges.

But lets re-examine the initial list. Is Microsoft really trying to address all of these deficiencies and therefore, will they be able to head off the next person, and the next, from moving to Linux on the desktop or their server?

1) Security. I truly believe that Vista is a good start at attempting to secure the Operating System itself instead of relying on third party vendors. I don't believe that anyone, MS included, would state that using Vista without anti-virus and anti-spyware will be normal operating procedures. They would not want this, however, since there is too much money to be made securing their OS. Kinda ironic that deficiencies in their operating system create the market that they will now charge users to protect, but that is a completely new blog in itself.

Now, before the tired old argument comes out where "If Linux were more popular it would be attacked", read this. That dog won't hunt.

2) Reliable. Despite reading lots of angst, and hearing of many delays, I'll currently give MS the benefit of the doubt and assume that Vista will be as reliable as Linux.

3) Non Intrusive. In this respect, Microsoft is about as pro-linux as any company can be. Instead of making Windows less intrusive and less of an actual hastle to use, these and probably more to come/be discovered will ONLY help Linux adoption rates.

WGA Spyware Included
WGA is functioning flawlessly
Which version of Vista do you need?
Admin Pop Ups Done Right
More DRM control

This is the tip of the iceberg. Vista will come with many more controls over what you are allowed to use, and expect a continuing barrage of upgrade offers if you try to save some money and purchase a "cheaper" Vista. Several versions DO NOT even include a media player.

4) Inexpensive. In a world where 8-10% profit margins are considered good, have a look at Windows 77% profit margin, Office System profits of 71.8% here. With the coming confusion with 6 different cost points, MS is hoping that tens of millions of users will just get sick of a crippled version of Vista and download that "Cheap, $99.95 upgrade" (I have no idea what the price, but I am guessing it will be low enough that most just give in) to get an fully functional and feature capable desktop.

5) Customer Oriented. OK, look at 3 and 4 above and tell me with a straight face that the customer comes first. To be fair, Admin Pop Ups are part of security, and not part of the money making machine, and I hope they get it right, but it is still going to erode the "ease of use" advantage Windows has over Linux.

I think that Vista will do two things. It will make Microsoft a LOT of money in the short term and certainly drive Linux desktop adoption to the next level, especially outside the US.

Happy Trails

TripleII