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Bloating and Statistics0
Joe M posted in opinion on April 15th, 2010

After perusing an article at Ars Technica, about piracy estimates and losses…

Any time you hear someone quoting statistics, remember…

92 % of all statistics are completely useless!

It’s not that I am against watching trends and analyzing data.

I like to look at reports and graphs, as much as the next person.

It reminds me of some interesting stories over the years.

Without citing names…

Several hacker stories come to mind.

When you talk about damages being done… whether intentional or coincidental…

It seems that the intention of accuracy gets thrown out the window.

Is it because the dramatic gives way to leverage and planning… and helps someone state their cause?

I would imagine… or… I would guess.

I will say, that whenever I hear the term ‘estimates’ and it used with statistics…

I always question the accuracy or validity of the statement being made.

If you hear someone in a business estimating ‘losses,’ you are taking the person’s account and report on faith and trust.

Most of the time, unless you see the business owner, writing a check and handing it over to someone…

Or calling a third party to negotiate some sort of repairs…

You could question the extent of damages in any situation.

It seems inherent in human nature that we dramatize and emphasize.

In discussing losses, many times that behavior is positively reinforced.

I can remember stories of a hacker logging in to a publicly open wi-fi network… owned by a private company.

When all they do is look around.. and get off, within five minutes…

It does not seem like they have a whole lot of time to do much damage.

But… it seems that in those situations, you always hear stories of how that single event costs that company between $500,000 and $1,000,000 in damages.

Many times… the damage estimates include buying equipment and software to make sure the event does not happen again.

(In other words, “We had no clue what we were doing when we set this up. We did not know you had to secure it!“)

So… if they needed to buy the equipment, anyway… is it really considered damage?

Mobile Ads And Search0
Joe M posted in opinion on April 12th, 2010

Not too long ago, Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt were seen sitting at a cafe in Palo Alto, CA.

While people are scratching their heads at what the topic of conversation was…

There is much competition going on, there.

Google bought AdMob, not too long ago.

That’s to help their continued endeavor into the mobile market.

Apple has also purchased a mobile-based ad company.

According to Steve Jobs, desktop search is very lucrative.

As for mobile search, people just are not using it the same as they would a desktop.

What’s in it for the future?

According to some reports, mobile advertising will continue to grow.

Of course, these projections will hold true, if all things are considered equal.

Adding, of course, that nothing major happens to change the mobile hardware market over the next few years.

Some projections have mobile advertising doubling, between 2013 and 2014.

It’s good to see continued competition between players.

In my opinion, right now, smart phones and internet mobility are somewhat luxuries.

Not everyone can afford an iPhone or smart phone… or the plan.

In order for the mobile markets to become really lucrative…

Mobility has to be attainable by the masses.

More people on, means more people to reach in advertising.

That could account for the massive ad revenues related to desktop search.

Setback For Net Neutrality0
Joe M posted in opinion on April 7th, 2010

Over the past couple of years, we have heard various arguments on Net Neutrality.

On one side, it seems as if internet providers may do whatever they wish with traffic, traversing their network

One could argue, that if they offer VOIP or phone service… they could, in practice, disable free VOIP applications.

That’s in hope that you will get frustrated and buy their VOIP service.

On the other side of the argument… You have the free and open internet.

To have any government or entity step in, and start regulating it… would detract from the internet economy.

Many see any regulation as a step in the wrong direction.

The things that make the internet a great environment, might cease to function.

That’s a simple explanation.

Today, The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. ruled that the FCC lacks authority to regulate the internet.

Early on… I was convinced that there needed to be regulation to help ‘the little guy.’

Recently, my feelings have changed.

In an open and free internet, without regulation, economies and innovation will thrive.

Boundaries are made to be broken.

Limitations are often an exercise that makes invention thrive.

With the government becoming more and more involved in our economy…

I am relieved to hear that the internet will still be open and free.

That’s free from regulation, free from tax and free from red tape.

According to some reports, the next move for the FCC, if they really want to pursue regulation…

Is to re-classify cable providers as communications companies.

It will be interesting to watch how all that unfolds.

On Internet Truth0
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion on March 6th, 2010

I received an email earlier today, that questioned the expertise and validity of one popular fact-checking / research website.

How accurate is the information that we find on the internet, anyway?

If you are researching a technical problem, with a PC, a server or an operating system…

Chances are pretty good that you will come across someone with a similar model in hardware, or a similar software error.

The internet is rich in researching technical issues and solutions.

But…

What if you are looking up an event, what someone said or some event?

I am not sure, myself.

But whether I am looking up an article on Wikipedia… or just plain Googling a person or event…

I have several rules of thumb.

Regardless of who or what the rumor, email or report is about, I resolve myself to research and check it out, before I form an opinion.

Just because you get an email about it, might not mean it’s true or false.

Check several websites, if you Google.

Don’t settle for the first answer you get, or just one answer.

Get multiple views, takes or opinion… even if some of the people writing them seem to be at the opposite end of the political spectrum from you.

Remember, just because it’s posted on a website, or several, does not confirm truth or falsehood.

Sometimes, research will simply yield more food for thought.

With all of us… truth, falsehood, right and wrong are defined by our values and our culture.

You may not get to the bottom of the item you are researching… but you can find more information on it, as well as more opinions.

And… continue to get your information and news from more than just one source, or one website.

After you have thoroughly researched a topic, on all sides, at that point is an acceptable time to form an opinion.

You’ll find that your opinions will be stronger, and that your ability to defend and explain your opinion will be stronger.

I still love the words of Max Erhmann in his poem Desiderata.

I still find myself pulling it up, from time to time…

One Of the Biggest eBay Scammers Convicted0
Joe M posted in opinion, security on February 28th, 2010

A man in South Florida has been convicted of one of the biggest eBay scams in history.

Nilton Rossini was a Brazilian businessman. He had over 260 accounts on eBay. He also had quite a few email addresses including Yahoo, Google and AOL.

He also had about 60 post office boxes.

At last count, he scammed over 5,500 people, possibly more. The scams ran from 2003 to 2008.

He used some of his eBay accounts to provide fake buyer feedback.

He also discouraged his customers from using PayPal… and encouraged them to send cash or money order.

Postal Inspectors began the investigation. The prosecution gathered enough evidence to get a strong conviction.

Rossini was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

Part of his M. O. was to constantly change P. O. boxes.

If you buy stuff over eBay, it’s never a good idea to send cash, money order or wire transfer.

Paypal and credit cards provide the best protection against fraud.

As a side note… it may not happen as often anymore…

But a couple years ago, I bought a few items on eBay.

During the bidding process, I bid first on the item, with no previous bids.

I noticed a buyer with no previous history seemingly come out of nowhere to bid higher on the item.

It’s called ’shilling the bid.’

It’s also against the user terms of service for eBay.

Since that time, I have been wise and cautious to it.

If I suspect shilling… I do not up the bid.

If the seller is shilling, they win their own bid, unless someone else jumps in.

I do not let my desire to own an item, or a need to win overwhelm me into a bidding war, over an item.

Teaching More Than You Think0
Joe M posted in opinion on January 26th, 2010

An article at Ars Technica seems to indicate that anxiety toward math in female students might actually be ‘absorbed’ or learned behavior.

If you think about it, it only makes sense.

It seems that by some nature or legacy, females (of ‘the norm’) don’t seem to be mathematically inclined.

Since many math teachers are female, is it possible that they are not only teaching procedures and principles, but more?

I think this article scrapes the surface of a much larger picture.

Looking back, at my experiences, and those of my classmates and acquaintenances, I can draw more than just this one theory.

Let me preface, saying, teachers are human beings.

I had some wonderful teachers in elementary, middle, high school and college.

There are some really positive influences that I have had, that I attribute to those wonderful human beings.

They stimulated my curiosity, my intellect and much more.

Now, the other side… the dark side.

Not all teachers are quite so positive.

Many are overcome by ego, by bias (which is not necessarily equivalent to racism), by pre-disposition…

Just to name a few dark and not-so-desirable qualities.

I can remember more than one occasion, in which someone I knew had a negative experience in school.

One person I knew had a male coach for a math teacher.

I am not sure what sort of personal issues the teacher had… but he made a habit out of calling the person out in math class.

I am not sure how the person fairs with math, these days… but from what I observed… the treatment completely turned the person off, on the subject of math.

My point is this:

Teachers take on a great responsibility, when they choose teaching as a profession.

They are agreeing to help shape minds and individuals, and help prepare them for complete function in the real world.

Good teachers realize they are teaching, even when they aren’t aware of it.

It’s sad to say, but not all teachers are necessarily aware of that fact.

Teachers pass on much more that what is in a book or written on a chalkboard.

The Hemingway Hack1
Joe M posted in homelife, opinion on January 12th, 2010

I am a fan of mind and creativity hacks.

I have always considered myself open-minded, and I am constantly looking for ways to improve my processes.

I came across this hack for writing.

It’s built around a quote from Ernest Hemingway.

The idea is…

To stop writing when you are going good.

Put the item away, for the day.

While you are concentrating on something else, your subconscious will work on the item for you.

The next time you sit down to write, you will find that you have fewer problems getting stuck, or writer’s block.

The things I would add…

During the brainstorming session, write simple words and phrases.  Leave room for thought about how to build the sentences around them.

Make it a point to do your composition in two or three sessions.  Allow your ideas to have ‘time to cook.’

Bounce your ideas off of someone else, or ask for an opinion about a topic of interest.

You may find that you need to clarify or explain your idea… or you may discover that there is a flaw in your reasoning.

And…

As much as I preach it… it never hurts to Google ideas and phrases… to get additional food for thought.

I have seen suggestions that everyone should write something every day.

It helps to keep your writer’s mind in practice.

Boxee Releases The Beta0
Joe M posted in homelife, opinion on January 8th, 2010

Boxee released the much anticipated (for me, anyway) Beta version.

It was unveiled about a month ago, at a press conference.

At that time, they offered a sign-up list for those users that wanted to participate in the beta test.

I signed up, but evidently, I did not ‘rate.’

I am thrilled to download and install it, now, though.

I have not gotten a chance to play with it much…

But I can tell you, from my initial reactions…

The eye candy alone is pretty pleasing.

The Beta version is now available on the Boxee website.

You will have to set up a user account, if you haven’t already.

In my opinion, if you want to see a step in the next evolution of web content delivery…

Boxee is the one application you should try.

It’s available for Windows, Mac, AppleTv, and Ubuntu Linux.

(The Beta now supports 64-bit Ubuntu.  That’s something for which Ubuntu enthusiasts have been waiting.)

Unbelievable Short Sci-Fi Film0
Joe M posted in opinion on January 7th, 2010

“Ataque de Pánico!”

I don’t have many details about this.

The fascinating thing is that in some reports I saw, the producer made the film for $300 US.

In another report, they said he shot the live action sequence for $300.

Not sure how accurate either of those statements is, but either way around… it is a great production.

Shows some real talent on someone’s behalf.

How I did: My predictions for 20090
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion on January 4th, 2010

The following are predictions I made for 2009, at the end of 2008.

You can read the original post here.

1. Security – With the economy in a decline and people losing their jobs, the hard truth is… we can expect more malware, more viruses, more phishing and more exploits; even some new ones.  As economies suffer, the crime rate goes up.  The difference is, now the crimes can be perpetrated from a remote location. This will be one area in IT (in the business sector) that will grow in 2009.  Companies will be more security conscious than ever before, and will make room in their budget for IT security professionals. Wide Area, anti-virus, anti-malware, Routing and Encryption will all be areas to watch.

Accuracy:  A+

I think I hit this one, dead on.  The more complex technology gets, there is a time delay… and soon everyone is figuring out how to use old techniques in deception to harvest valuable data.  The under-handed practices may change, as in the technology steps used… but it still boils down to the same thing.

People are always going to figure out how to steal.  The description of the act may change.  The technology may sound overwhelming.  But when the smoke clears… it’s still stealing.

The business sector took these threats seriously in 2009.  Security was strengthened in both physical and data.  Policies were revised, even to mention acceptable and unacceptable practices.

2. Windows Re-acceptance – Don’t expect the business world to begin upgrades in 2009, but if Windows 7 pans out, you can expect the business world to make plans to upgrade in 2010.  How will Windows 7 sell in the private sector?  That will depend on the pricing structure that Microsoft sets up.  I don’t expect many people beyond Hardcore Windows Geeks and new machine buyers to be running W7, unless Microsoft makes it a real bargain.

Accuracy:  A-

Microsoft surprised us with the family pack this year.  It allowed families to install Windows 7 on up to three machines in the household, for $150.  They also offered pre-ordering for OS upgrades.

There was our bargain.

Windows 7 was a breath of fresh air.

I do not believe that people rushed out to buy the OS at the regular retail list prices, beyond the bargains mentioned above.

Microsoft always reports record sales with their OS releases.

If you take into consideration the package deals that they influence the manufacturers to bundle with new hardware, I am not sure the records they report are quite as impressive as they would have you believe.

3. Hardware Procurement Decline – In the business and private sector, people will be looking for ways to stretch their hardware over 2009.  With that said, I believe that better deals on hardware will be offered late third quarter and last quarter 2009, to stimulate consumer spending.

Accuracy:  B+

Many hardware purchases scheduled for late 2009 were delayed and pushed into the 2010 budget.

Businesses were pushed to identify mission critical components in their infrastructure, distinguishing those from ancillary systems.

Budgets were re-vamped throughout the year, and cuts were made as necessary.

Sales and distributions were competitive in the last two quarters of 2009.  The sales forces were hungry.

4. Free Software Acceptance – More people in the private sector will be looking for corners to cut during 2009.  I expect the use of free Windows software to rise in 2009.  What will be interesting is the profit model for free software, and how it evolves.  Will it be ad-supported?

Accuracy: B

Everyone became more aware of free software in 2009.

From free virus scanners to free optical burning applications, just to name a couple.

Google announced Chrome OS in 2009.  We also got to see glimpses of it.

Microsoft even flirted with Free Software.  Windows 7 Beta was released to the general public, to give us all a taste.

The changes in this area are still taking place.  It’s not over yet.

5. Failure for Linux Support – I expect some strides to be made in Linux support in 2009, but not to the point that Linux will be gaining a major market share.  As in previous years, it will be more profitable for OEMs to produce Windows drivers and software, which help them to realize a profit faster.  Companies will not be taking fewer risks in 2009, so don’t expect daring or bold moves for Linux on the business desktop any time soon.

Accuracy:  B+

Businesses seem to have a tendency to want to buy Open Source and Linux offerings.

I do think that businesses began to consider open source alternatives more in 2009.

I also think that we will see evidence of more development on the Linux platform, coming in 2010.

I do expect the private sector to have a few more Linux-curious, and a few more that will try it in 2009.  Will it replace their Windows desktop?  Probably not.  The people that try it, will try it dual boot; but use Windows as their primary desktop.

I have no statistics to base an opinion on this one.

I can tell you… last year… most semi-geeks had no clue what Ubuntu was, or had any cares to try it.

This year?

Most geeky and semi-geeky types have heard of Mac OS X and Ubuntu.

Those brave enough to try installing Windows by themselves… and brave enough to try installing Ubuntu… found that the experience was pretty painless.

Now, more than ever… you can find support for issues in Linux easier, in some cases, than for issues with Windows.

That’s easier, as in comparison to a year ago.

And…

2009 was both conservative for the Business sector and characterized by frugality by the private sector.

Overall Grade:  A-

Predictions For 20100
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion on January 2nd, 2010

With all of the holidays pretty much out of the way, and the efforts that go into those… I can finally concentrate on 2010.

Here are my thoughts and predictions for 2010.  They are in no particular order.

1.  The maturation of UIs (User Interfaces) within the media distribution and delivery of content will finally become more widely accepted.  With Boxee, XBMC and Hulu users on the rise, the UI for these apps will continue to improve in 2010.  A great GUI for content delivery via a simple remote control, connected to a screen will be the aspiration for ownership for consumers in 2010.  This will be the year that consumers realize that there is an easier way to view content from the internet, as opposed to just connecting a PC to your TV.  The UI will be important in simplifying this delivery.

What I personally would like to see is something that will allow me to throw away the cable box and the cable remote… and pull everything through my media center.  TV and HDTV should just be a menu option within my media center UI.

2.  For years, everyone has predicted the fall of Microsoft, the fall of Linux or the domination of Mac OS.  2010 will be no different in the amount or range of these predictions.  I personally think that 2010 will be the year that consumers and businesses realize the value of each OS as applicable in particular spaces.  Due to tight budgets, businesses will begin to compare prices and costs of deployments, rather than blindly choosing Microsoft.  That’s not to say that a non-MS OS will always win, but they will receive more consideration than in previous years.

Microsoft will still be around.  And… we will still hear the stories of exploits and vulnerabilities on a regular basis.

3.  As for the economy, we may see some recovery in 2010, but not to the point of living in abundance.  Consumers will continue to flock to solid value in the market place.  The days of consumers paying high dollar for euphemistically named technologies that add no value for the consumer, like DRM, are coming to a decline.  Netbooks and smartphones will continue to thrive… in synchronization with social media.

As consumers, we will continue to be aware of exactly what we are spending our money on.  Unlike 2007, and before, we will no longer just buy items blindly.

4.  Security will continue to be a focus for the business world in 2010.  Security was one of the only areas to grow in jobs in 2009.

We will continue to hear stories of social engineering, and new ways of deception.  With security awareness on the rise, those that make their living in deceptive practices will meet swift and harsh punishment.

5.  More stringent requirements for employee behavior, both in and outside the workplace, will become defined in 2010.  Employers will make know what is acceptable and unacceptable for employee use of social media.  Many employers will develop and adopt a ‘no social media’ approach to the workplace.

We can expect more “What-the-?” individual horror stories in the news, as employers continue to crack down.  Policy handbooks will become harder to understand, and will read more like contracts with scary loopholes.

6.  2010 will become the year of partnership scrutiny.  With the government becoming more involved in the business and consumer relationship, this will foster more caution within marketing and strategy.  Businesses will pay more attention to the behavior of their partners.  Any business that readily hands over secure information to a third party about a consumer, or a consumer’s account, will be putting their ability to earn a profit at risk.

Businesses will be required to learn more about their partners, and their partners’ practices and behaviors, in order to continue to thrive in 2010.

7.  Windows 7 will become more widely accepted, but will be tied to new purchases of computer hardware.  Consumers will still flirt with Linux and Mac OS X, as alternatives, but will keep a version of Windows around.

We’ll see households with more than just Windows around, on a growing basis.  Microsoft will be the most common, but we will see familiarity with Mac and Linux growing.

8.  Businesses will discuss desktop upgrades from Windows XP to Windows 7, but due to budget constraints, the actual upgrades will not begin to take place until later on in the year.  Many will move their plans to upgrade into 2011 and 2012.

The approach to upgrading will be, “If XP is working, why would we change?”  Many businesses have agreements that will allow them to continue to get updates for XP from Microsoft.

9.  As for business models, we can expect banks to respond to new regulations.  To sustain operations and jobs, the banks will find loopholes for creating new charges within the new regulations, or will tighten the account restrictions for cards issued.  Plastic credit in 2010 will come with a higher price, and applications will be harder to get approved.

Many government types have proclaimed that they want consumers to use cash, as opposed to credit.  They have even imposed some regulation to allow discounts for using cash.  Where will consumers get cash, especially when they are used to credit and plastics?

10.  Bargains have defined much of the shape of purchases in 2009.  Consumers began to shop the bargain stores, first, in some scenarios.  That’s prior to checking out the retail or department store.  That trend will continue on through 2010.  Bargain stores and websites will continue to receive a wide range of traffic.

Blogs that offer information about discounts, shortcuts and hacks will continue to thrive.  Finding new uses for household items and hints on stretching value in items will drive content that is sought.

Overall, 2010 will not be “The Year That Turns Everything Around” from any perspective… but, overall, it won’t be the year of doom and gloom either.

(Within the next couple of days, I will be reviewing my predictions for 2009, and grading myself on those.)

The OLPC XO To Come0
Joe M posted in opinion on December 24th, 2009

The OLPC Foundation has announced plans for the XO-3.

It will be a tablet, 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches.

It will have a virtual keyboard, no buttons, and will be waterproof.

The target date for release is 2012.

The target price is $75, or less than $100.

The original XO’s target price was $100, but fell short.

When parts and production came into play, it turns out that they had to charge $199 instead of $100.

The speculation is… that the XO-3 will have a similar experience.

The cost of parts plus the costs of production may drive the price up from the $75 price point.

I am wondering if the tablet will have the same market effect, as the XO?

Plenty of experts and persons throughout the IT industry scoffed at the aspirations of the XO.

Microsoft and Intel were not very anxious to get involved with the project.

Since that time, Microsoft has done 180 degrees, and actually slimmed down XP and Windows 7 to run on the XO, and netbooks and nettops.

Intel has plenty of items on its schedule.

The next iterations of OLPC ventures include products featuring Via, AMD and ARM processors.

The XO 1.5 will be released in January 2010, and the XO 1.75 will be released in 2011.

Shuttleworth Names New CEO at Canonical0
Joe M posted in opinion on December 18th, 2009

Canonical is the company responsible for the delivery of the Ubuntu Linux Distribution.

Mark Shuttleworth has been the CEO at Canonical.

Today, he announced that he is handing over the job of CEO at Canonical to Jane Silber.

He said he will still be quite active in Canonical, but feels great confidence in Jane Silber’s abilities.

Silber has been the COO of Canonical since the beginning.

Shuttleworth feels that he can continue to contribute on a greater scale to Canonical, as a result.

He wants to concentrate on product development and business partnerships.

What does this mean for Ubuntu?

According to Shuttleworth’s statements…  Ubuntu has a clear direction.

It will not change.

From the announcements…  Shuttleworth is pleased with the progress made at Canonical.

So, what I see…

Shuttleworth set the groundwork and the foundation.

He is moving forward to pursue greater opportunites for Canonical.

Over the past few years, Ubuntu has become a contender in the desktop.

People that would have never dreamed of trying a Linux distribution, now sing the praises of Ubuntu.

From what I have found…

The install and performance have won out, in comparison to my experiences with Windows.

The knee-jerk reaction of some, might be that things may not change for the better at Canonical.

My reaction is… I think Shuttleworth knows what he is doing.

Congratulations to Mark Shuttleworth on his new opportunities.

The Cost Of Being Online And Being Social0
Joe M posted in opinion on December 13th, 2009

Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, said in a recent CNBC interview:

“I think judgment matters. If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. If you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines — including Google — do retain this information for some time and it’s important, for example, that we are all subject in the United States to the Patriot Act and it is possible that all that information could be made available to the authorities.”

Asa Dotzler, director of community development for Mozilla, saw the interview.

He was not pleased, to say the least.

He has also proclaimed that the privacy policy for Microsoft’s Bing is better than the privacy policy for Google.

You can read his blog posting here.

For the most part, I would tend to think that looking at an individual’s data in the mass of Google infrastructure would probably be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Sure, if you are a little paranoid… and think that they are actually out to get you… it could be unsettling.

Reading over the posting, I am scratching my head.

I approach the whole internet thing, much like Mr. Schmidt.

I doubt there is anything that most of us do, that anyone would find interesting.

Even though Bing’s privacy policy may have better wording… I think I would still rather trust my privacy to Google.

In the big scheme of things… I have the opinion that there is not a search engine or ISP out there that will not buckle to a government agency, if pressured… if only due to a loophole within a privacy policy.

As we continue to find new ways to socialize online… one of the tradeoffs is…

That our information is easier to access… and more of our information is available for access.

How Will Chrome OS Affect The Desktop User Space?0
Joe M posted in Musing, homelife, opinion on December 6th, 2009

Listening and watching the news over the past few weeks, Google has positioned itself to enter deeper into the user space.

With Chrome OS being released in somewhat of a prototype…

Speculation is on the rise.

Google has also announced that it will release extensions for the Chrome browser, next week.

With all of this activity…

Many people seem to think that Chrome OS will be a threat to Microsoft’s various versions of Windows.

If you have seen a demo of Chrome OS, you know that it is very much an implementation of an idea based on cloud computing.

Since it’s based on the Linux kernel, it should be secure and offer some advantages for the common user.

Will people dump their XP and Windows 7 install to run Chrome OS?

If what we have seen with the demo of Chrome OS, so far, is any indication, I would say, “No.”

It will be a good tool to use, for each of them.

If you need to access an online account, securely… or your Windows install is hosed..

Chrome will offer a great alternative in which to perform research on the problems with it.

It will offer ways to check your gmail and your online docs.

From that standpoint, it will be a great addtional tool to have.

Since computers and the work force are still evolving…

There is plenty of space left in the market for several more appliances.

Specialized tasks can be handled accurately with different Operating Systems.

The fact is… even though we will use each in different ways… there is plenty of application for both Windows and Linux.

If you look around your household, you may find Linux running on things you never thought possible.

Microsoft aims to have a similar offering with Windows in the appliance space… but for now, their biggest domination is still the desktop market.

The bottom line is… the desktop, appliances, cloud computing… all will work best to complement each other in design.

My opinions and preferences aside… for users and administrators… it would be wise to broaden your knowledge on all of these.

Keep on your toes, and pay attention.

The Future Of News On Google0
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion, products on December 1st, 2009

I have been watching the public exchange over Rupert Murdoch and Google, over the past few weeks.

Murdoch essentially wants Google to quick linking to articles on his companies related news sites.

It’s Murdoch’s observation that Google has been earning revenue by indexing articles from his organizations.

It has been reported over the past few days… that Murdoch’s news companies have been in talks with Microsoft… for the potential possibility of being exclusively indexed exclusively by Micrsoft’s Bing search engine.

So… what we could eventually see is Google News that is missing links from Murdoch’s companies.

Or… will we?

Google may not have the resources, now.

But what is to stop them from venturing into an alternative?

What if they built their own news organization from the ground up… or purchased a fledgling news company?

Thinking about what happened with Microsoft… Google may approach Rupert Murdoch’s observations as a challenge.

I might be completely off base.

Google seems to have a knack for drawing an audience… and utilizing their advertising dollar.

If they approach it the right way… It could turn out to be a positive spin of events, instead of a negative.

The interesting thing is… over the past few years that Google has been the dominant force in search…

People and companies have spent millions of hours trying to figure out how to rise to the top of search results for Google.

That’s a result of realizing the benefit of having their links at the top of each.

The major news organizations have wound up at the top… and yet, they feel that Google is not allowing them to earn their full revenue potential.

Cyber Monday Is Tomorrow0
Joe M posted in opinion on November 30th, 2009

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday.

It’s the Monday, following Black Friday.

It’s the time in which the internet population usually begins their online shopping sprees, before the Holiday Season.

As for my suggestions…

Google Products is always good.  I always seem to have pretty good luck, there.

Many of the links point to eBay.

(I just found out recently, that eBay now will back your purchases, with the exception of shipping fees.  That’s good news!)

Bing has some deals with certain merchants and businesses for discounts.

Shopper.com is usually pretty good.

There are loads of others.

Whichever sites you use…  My suggestions are as follows:

1.  Decline ‘Web Loyalty’ deals from some of the major online retailers.  There is currently some government investigation going on with some of these WL programs.  Steer clear of them, no matter how good the purchase you are making, makes them sound.

2.  Just because a site says an item is on sale… check multiple sites… see what the average price for the item on your shopping list.  Many sites (and stores) will label an item as ‘On Sale’ when in fact, it is the same price as the MSRP.

3.  Watch for outrageous shipping fees.  This is not as big a problem, as it once was… but it does not hurt to be on the lookout.

4.  Watch for petty, itemized purchases.  You may find an item that sounds like a good deal, from a search engine.  When you move ahead with the purchase, you may find that the merchant will try to sell you what should be included accessories, with your purchase of the cheap item.  What ends up happening, is that you end up paying more, in the long run…  for the item and the additional charges for each accessory.

5.  Beware of additional ’savings’ offered during a shopping transaction, to enroll in a credit card program.  Many times, you may see outrageous annual fees, interest rates or additional charges.

There are numerous coupon sites and deals out there.  More and more companies are offering better deals for online shoppers.

The best tip of all:  Shop around, and don’t buy the first deal you come across… use your printer or a pencil and paper to keep track of the best deals.

Compare them all, after you finish.  Read and compare all the fine details, then make a decision.

A Thanksgiving Thought0
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion on November 27th, 2009

Since it’s Thanksgiving, I have been doing quite a bit of reflecting.

Helping people has become a part of my personality, and my approach to life.

It’s one of my many blessings, for which I am thankful.

For many people, the task of working on a machine or software seems mundane… too much like work.

For me… I find value in many of the tasks.

It’s not that I want to fix everyone’s PC, or clean them off.

I have too much on my schedule, as is.

What I have learned:

Synaptically, there is a bigger picture that many people do not see.

Facing minor challenges arm the solution provider with much more than accomplishing a simple mundane task.

When you consider a problem, there is much more going on, in your head.

Most people do not realize that as you make it a practice to solve problems, that ability becomes stronger.

The solutions become added to your personal overall knowledgebase.

Even though you might not remember every single solution, you are strengthing your problem-solving abilities.

Looking at the darker side…

Many times, the people that I help may seem to have an aloof nature about them… as if they are getting something for free… and that I may not realize it.

The hard truth is… many times, they are shorting themselves valuable experience.

Even if it is not part of your skillset, or daily practice… Finding solutions can benefit everyone… even non-IT types.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

I do not believe in allowing people to take advantage of help.  Many times, I turn people away, while offering them direction in finding their own solutions.

The other part of the truth is… the lighter side… by helping others, we grow.

Mother Teresa was a living example of that part of the truth.

Recently, I have faced some challenges, in which I feel I had an advantage in facing.

Through my own motivation to learn new challenges… those challenges then evolved into opportunities.

In my reflection, I thank God for the chance and the ability to see those truths.

I want to wish my readers a Happy Thanksgiving and leave you with one thought:

When it comes to helping people and problem solving, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

The Evolution Of Appliance Television0
Joe M posted in homelife, opinion on November 19th, 2009

Over the past two weeks, I have been playing with my media center.

Prior to using Boxee and Hulu…

I was using Ubuntu to download videos and watch them with whatever player worked best.

Having heard about Boxee for quite a while, I decided to give it a spin.

What I discovered, was… I fell in love with it.

No more going to websites, saving video podcasts or audio podcasts.

Boxee offered a great interface with one-stop features.

I found that it is a great complement to my cable box, when there is little on.

Boxee has announced a hardware partnership.

That means, that sometimes in the coming months, we will likely see a media appliance with a Boxee logo.

My guess is, we will see both ad-supported content and subscription-based content availabe for digital delivery.

Looking at digital media delivery, in the big picture…

With Rupert Murdoch pondering how Google makes money, and questioning if it cuts into mainstream media revenue…

There are certain patterns emerging… and certain theorems that remain strong.

There is still revenue to be generated in media.

The difference that is emerging… is the way in which media is delivered.

Television has been around a long time.

The fact is… advertisements and commercials are stil going strong… and still providing quite a bit of revenue.

The challenge for media organizations is to figure out a way in which to generate the revenue, without turning away the general public.

Television and cable are still doing it, so it’s not impossible.

With the hardware partnership announcement from Boxee, we can expect the TV appliance market to continue to evolve.

If it’s going to be successful, it will have to be based on an ad-supported model, or provide a subscription-based model with features for which all consumers will yearn.

(Apple has yet to achieve this yet with AppleTV.)

Over the past two weeks, playing with Boxee and Hulu…

I find myself watching and discovering things that I would not in normal circumstances.

I spend time exploring the menus and feeds.

This is a potentially untapped delivery mechanism, of which mainstream media and the likes should realize.

There is still money to be made, there… but the challenge is to generate revenue while keeping an audience.

Preview Of An $80 Laptop0
Joe M posted in opinion, products on November 17th, 2009

This video is a little long, almost 20 minutes.

Keep in mind, this laptop he has seems to be somewhat of a prototype, or a proof of concept.

The Arm processor it’s built with is out of date… but the important thing are the basic demos.

Pay attention to the fact that this one is running Windows CE.

I can’t wait to see someone take and tweak Android or another appliance-oriented Linux for one of these.

And, don’t forget… Arm is forging ahead with new designs in processors.

Their success means that computing becomes more affordable, for all of us.

No more paying for stuff you don’t want or need… whether it’s hardware or software.

I don’t know why I am so intrigued with these.

Not sure if it is the boost in competition or the boost in efficiency.

Google Thinks Outside Of The http Box0
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion on November 13th, 2009

Google has released a proposed new addition to the HTTP protocol for the web.

Their goal is to speed up websurfing and web transactions.

The new protocol is called “SPDY”… Pronounced Speedy.

It makes allowances to use SSL within the new specifications.

They have tested it, in the lab… and the results seem promising.

Among the features in the new specifications are the ability to push from a server to the client.

The tests Google has performed have seen roughly a third to a half of the current speed increase.

The proposal seems to offer a great deal of features.

With an implementation of SSL, it seems to promise easy access through routers and firewalls.

Google has a web server and a Chome build with the SPDY implementation.

You can read the specifications here, and even download the code, if you so desire.

Regardless of whether it takes off or not…

It’s good to see things like this in the works.

What it means for you and me… the possibility of faster browsing and sending traffic ‘a different or alternate way’ over the internet.

It possibly could add some advantage for web enabled service provision… and subsequently deliveries like social media.

What if Twitter or Facebook were more interactive, and actively notified you when there were updates?

Ideas and innovation power the economy and society.

My own take is… the more ideas we see and innovation…

The more we flourish and the better chance of economic recovery we have.

Joss Whedon Wants To Breathe New Life To An Old Franchise2
Joe M posted in Musing, opinion on November 3rd, 2009

Joss Whedon has written an open letter to the owners of the Terminator franchise.

It seems that he wants to buy the franchise, at least according to reports.

To me, this is exciting.

I love everything Joss Whedon puts his hands on.

Dollhouse is a constant head-scratcher.  Not in a bad way.

When I watched the pilot, it seemed at first that every week… there would be the same formula.

Much like the 70’s and 80’s formula for TV.

And to everyone’s unsuspecting surprise…

Every week that comes along, Dollhouse produces something different.

There are no rules or guidelines that are followed during the writing or production.

Even though the description may sound a little negative… it’s anything but negative.

I was also a big fan of Firefly.

Loved it.  Characters, plot and dynamics kept it going.

Fans are still begging for more.

If anyone can continue the Terminator franchise… Joss Whedon can.

Check out this writing.

The Focus On Net Neutrality0
Joe M posted in opinion on October 20th, 2009

Listening to radio and TV lately, I have heard several mentions of Net Neutrality.

It seems that with anything, when you mix politics and any issue, the issues become murky.

Net Neutrality is about allowing bias related to personal internet service provision.

Your phone company or cable company may offer services, available for subscription.

If you find a free, or paid, identical service and subscribe to it, via the internet…

The way the laws are currently written, there is nothing to prevent them from filtering that service via internet traffic.

So, the end result?

Your third party app or service doesn’t work.

In a nutshell, that’s what Net Neutrality is all about.

As I hear mentions of Net Neutrality on the news, it seems that many people do not have a complete understanding of the basics.

With any issue, lines are drawn and parties take sides.

Sometimes, special interests come into play.

For the most part, Net Neutrality is about fairness to the consumer.

It’s not about freedom of speech, at least, no one has been able to prove to me yet, that it is.

Lawmakers need to stick to basics, and address the main issue.

That issue is… allowing providers to mess with internet traffic for a particular capitalistic return.

The lack of regulation with providers, as it stands gives them the voice to say, “Don’t want our service?  Well, we’re not going to let any other identical services work across our network.”

All parties should be operating in the interest of the consumer.

There should be no special interests, and minimal qualifiers or riders if laws are to be made to effectively protect the consumer.

Thinking back a few years… CANSPAM was an effort with good intentions.

Due to a lack of understanding the basics… it’s not as effective as it should have been.

If lawmakers are not careful, Net Neutrality laws may wind up with the same lack of effect.

No matter what party with which you affiliate yourself,  if you use the internet, Net Neutrality laws can and will affect you.

Parties on both sides, should avoid the temptation to take the focus away from the actual basic issue… as well as trying to use the issues to push through any non-related special interests.

For our sake, the laws should be kept simple and address those basic issues.

Providers should not be allowed to ‘foul’ traffic to make more money.

Balloon Boy Dominates The News0
Joe M posted in opinion on October 17th, 2009

The “Balloon Boy” has dominated the news over the past few days.

Tuesday evening, this week, I left the TV on, while I worked on my laptop.

Not really paying attention, ABC’s WifeSwap was on.

This one featured one family with three boys, who seemed to be a little strange.

Not knowing anything about them, I only caught bits and pieces of the show.

The things that I tuned into:

• The family was understood to be intellectual and scientific. The family would aid the father in storm chasing… while he rode ahead of the SUV on a motorcycle and attempt to put himself into the live action of a storm that was taking place. The SUV was driven by his wife, with the three boys also on board.
• The father seemed to be characterized for having a temper. He managed to bring his “swapped” wife to tears several times.

What struck me as odd, was the father seemed to be going to an extreme, during the show.

If I did not know better, I would say that he seemed to be acting, or putting on a show.

On Thursday, of this week, I walked by a TV.

There was live-footage, following a suspected boy in a homemade weather balloon.

It had a vague familiarity about it, but I was not sure why it did.

As the story unfolded, the boy was 6 years old. His older brother was said to have had witnessed the 6 year old climbing into the balloon.

During the radio and TV blitz… I heard a caller on one radio show, saying that he had done the math.

According to his calculations, the balloon in size and shape would not have carried the boy. (According to his calculations, it would only carry an 8 lb. payload.)

Later, it was revealed that the boy was not on board the balloon. He was hiding in the attic, at home, inside of a box.

To my surprise, the boy and the family were one featured on the Tuesday evening episode of WifeSwap that I have watched.

The questions that come to mind:

Was it the boy’s idea to hide, or did someone put him up to it?

Is the family working the publicity angle, working on a reality show?

Was it a hoax, and if it was… what was the lasting impact or damage… was there money lost during this incident?

Now, to make it really interesting, an anonymous source has come forward, with the suggestion that calls the whole incident into question.

Microsoft Vulnerabilities, In Record Numbers0
Joe M posted in opinion, products, security on October 14th, 2009

With a record number of flaws being patched, it’s time once again to run Windows Updates.

According to a post at Microsoft, 34 vulnerabilities have been identified.

The patches include fixes for critical exposure in several Windows functions.

There are vulnerabilities in Windows Media Player, SSL, XML and SMB2 (for Vista).

There’s 13 bulletins and 34 flaws published.

Once you start thinking about software “Time-based” licensing, and the vulnerabilities, it makes for an interesting scenario.

Would it put Microsoft at a disposition of greater exposure?

Think about leasing an apartment.

You tell your landlord, “The locks are unsafe, and need to be replaced.  I am afraid my belongings are at risk of being stolen.”

If the landlord ignores you, can you launch a civil suit for your losses?

Now, think about Windows as your apartment, and Microsoft as your superintendent and landlord.

Your identity gets stolen, through malware and viruses.

Would you expect Microsoft to take the blame, or at least part of it?

The suspected caveat… I bet there is a loophole / waiver in the EULA that prevents it, and protects them from user and consumer lawsuits.

For everyone running any version of Windows…

If you have not run a virus scan, malware scan or Windows Updates in a while, now is the time to do so.

Microsoft Innovations: Time-based Licensing0
Joe M posted in opinion on October 13th, 2009

Microsoft has filed yet another patent application.

Interesting enough…  the patent application is for “Time-based (software) licensing.”

Over the past few years, Microsoft has been quite active in applying for patents.

Some of them are a little frustrating, for the software community.

From trying to patent ad-supported operating systems, to using the page up and page down keys to scroll a document… many of these patents will make a person scratch their head.

For a long time, we have needed several reforms in the digital realm.

Patents are no different.

Let’s face it… without being sure of what process or people these applications traverse… some of them seem downright idiotic.

As for “Time-based software licensing,” it seems that the patent should logically be stopped or denied somewhere in the process.

This type of licensing has actually existed for a while in commercial form.

In the consumer world, I think the earlier commercial adopters to implement this idea were in security.

Anti-virus companies found out, early on, that it made more sense to use a time-based approach to licensing.

That’s due to the fact that many people would buy virus scanner software, and not update it.

It was a security concern for consumers to run outdated software, as well as the lost revenue for the Anti-virus company.

So, when you hear about this patent, and consider Prior Art, it seems that this patent from Microsoft in particular should be denied.

There may be more to the picture, but that’s an opinion based off of what I have read.

The question that pops up, is…

If someone else comes out with a software product, time-based… will this patent give Microsoft the right to sue for damages?

Going even further…

Could this patent be applied, outside and beyond software?

It seems to me, by a wide interpretation, a car or apartment lease could be considered “Time-based licensing.”

Depending upon the application / patent (?) wording… you never know.

Goodbye MS Works, Hello MS Office 2010 (With Ads)0
Joe M posted in opinion, products on October 10th, 2009

Microsoft announced this week… it’s ‘The End’ for Microsoft Works.

MS Works has been a sort of ‘lite’ version of MS Office.

It has been able to open and edit MS Word and MS Excel documents, but has often lacked the full function and features available in MS Office.

It has hosted some proprietary capabilities for documents, spreadsheets and databases.  It has also featured a mail-merge function.

These functions were somewhat limited, and did not have much range of portability.

It was, by my understanding, a version of a suite that more or less encouraged you to buy the full MS Office suite.

Since MS Office 2010 has been seen on the horizon, Microsoft has decided to take a little different, but still familiar approach to 2010.

MS Office 2010 will be introduced by several OEMs (yet to be named), and will be offered with new systems.

It is expected to be bundled with Windows 7, as well.

The drawback for these versions of MS Office 2010?

They will be ad-supported, and will not have all the features in full.

Users and consumers will be able to purchase a license, enter the key, and unlock the full potential of the suite.

The features will be in the software, but the key will be required to unlock them, and to get rid of the advertisements.

One of the caveats…

MS Office 2010 will not install on a machine running MS Office 2007.

So, you can’t try 2010 without uninstalling 2007.

Not sure that was a really good move, on Microsoft’s part.

I will be interested to see how this little change affects the acceptance of MS Office 2010.

They’ve changed… but not that much!

The Next Needed Reform… Software Licensing!0
Joe M posted in opinion, products on October 8th, 2009

There is a story about Steve Ballmer addressing a group in a meeting at a Microsoft event in London…

Ballmer admits to MS licensing being a nightmare to comprehend.

Quoted from OSNews:

Ballmer was frank, and acknowledged that there are problems with Microsoft’s licensing policies. He said that Microsoft’s fine print certainly has its ‘gotchas’, but that his people should not harass companies about these gotchas. “I’m sure we have fine print we don’t need. We’re not saints,” he said.

This brings to light a problem, that is growning more complex, each day that goes by.

License agreements are filled with so much double-talk, they’re hard for anyone to understand.

How many people have installed P2P software, scanned over the license agreement, and never seen the acknoledgements?

The devil is in the details.

Now, doing research for a friend of mine… he asked about a terminal server solution.

In case you are not familiar with it… Microsoft Terminal Server provides a way to offer access to a Windows desktop session, over a network or remotely.

You can install MSTS, and install your apps on the TS.  That’s opposed to installing the needed apps locally on each PC or laptop.

That’s it in simple terms, but there are more benefits… which I won’t go into.

I came across a really promising software package.

It’s XPUnlimited.

It’s a terminal server that runs on Windows XP and Windows 7, without having to have Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 installed.

You can check it out at www.xpunlimited.com.  (You can use it for 60 days, trial.  It offers 3 concurrent sessions, including the local login.)

Relative to my discussion about licensing… I have looked at several websites, and several posts.

I am still scratching my head.  I can’t tell if it complies with the MS EULA for Windows XP.

You have to be both a software expert and an attorney to be able to understand it.

If someone were to ask me, the simplest solution from the consumer and commercial standpoint… I think it would be to require Plain Language in the license.

If it’s too hard to understand, make it null and void.

Windows 7 Partying At Your House (If You’re Lucky)0
Joe M posted in free stuff, opinion, products on October 4th, 2009

In case you haven’t heard… Microsoft has taken a different approach to the market and Windows 7.

If you host a party at your home, you can receive a free Windows 7 Party Pack featuring a free copy of Windows 7, for you, as the host.

(I’ll hand it to Microsoft.  Even though I think it sounds a little hokey… at least there’s someone that appears to be putting a great deal of thought into marketing it.)

After looking through the website, from what I can tell, it’s a pretty intense process.

First off, you have to log on and answer several questions.

And…

Just because you fill out the questionnaire (they call it the screener), that does not mean that you will be selected to host the party.

There are several party themes from which to choose.

The date and time have an impact on the selection process.

Evidently, there are several scheduled parties, all at the same time.

Interesting  quote from the Frequently Asked Questions, at the House Party website:

How does House Party select its hosts?

In order for you to be considered in the host selection process, you need to fill out the online application (which asks you questions about your knowledge of the sponsor brand, how you typically throw parties, whether you are an internet user and have a digital camera, etc). After completing the application, you will need to respond to the confirmation email by clicking on the link within it (to make sure our means of communicating with you works). From the group of applicants who confirm their email address and complete the application, we choose a pool of hosts who fit House Party’s and the sponsor’s host criteria.

If you did not receive a confirmation email but believe you have completed a screener, do not hesitate to contact us at help@houseparty.com, and we will be happy to confirm the status of your application.

I read that and was scratching my head.

Why would I want to go to that much trouble?

I also got the impression that they seem to want to be pretty selective in their hosts.

If you are interested, you can go to http://www.houseparty.com and check out the themes and apply to be a host.

Read the FAQ.

Don’t expect any reimbursements for your expenses.

(I’m not sure if there are any ways to claim tax breaks on it.)

Rumors And Aspirations In Mobile Phones1
Joe M posted in opinion, products on September 24th, 2009

For interesting write-ups… Gizmodo has a great one on the rumored pink phone from Microsoft.

From reading the description, it looks as though this is the Microsoft answer to the iPhone.

And… it does not appear to be an evolved Zune.

Although reading through the comments, it looks as though people are already slamming the design…

I tend to think that, if it’s real, it will make some contributions to the market.

Although I am as big a Microsoft Skeptic as anyone, I do think that their overall effect on some of their markets is a positive one.

Based off of a bunch of “if’s”…

Where do they usually fall short?

It’s usually design.  It always seems to be the biggie.

Bill Gates said it best, when he was interviewed next to Steve Jobs.  To paraphrase, he said something similar to, he wished he had ‘Steve’s taste.’

As for the pictures along with the article, they have some characteristics of a sidekick and some of a Palm… crossed with a blood pressure monitor.

I have not used Windows Mobile, much… but I am guessing it will provide the basic functions for the phone and email capabilities of the device.

There’s been added rumor of an application store.

Will the price of the apps be competitive?

The last big hurdle?

One carrier or many carriers?

I think if Microsoft avoids the one-carrier-only agreement, that would give them a better chance.

My bottom-line opinion is, this:

Microsoft needs to have competitively priced apps, a stable mobile OS and leave out the exclusive-one-carrier agreement.

If they can jump those hurdles, the pink phone (if it’s real) may just capture a small, but profitable portion of the phone market.