Re: Microsoft tries to polish a turd


Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8Bit


V.I.S.T.A. = Virus Infection and Spyware Transmission Architecture

Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:

Vladimir Vassilevsky wrote:

John Larkin wrote:

High expectations of Microsoft products? Somebody has those?

I remember people standing in the lines in the front of the stores at
the release day of Windows 95. MS XBOX and optical mouse caused some
hullabaloo, too.

XP is good enough that they should leave it alone. Vista is trying to
mimic the Apple OS, but without the programming skills.

Vista is an attempt to do the things finally in the right way, when
everything had gone too far for making changes.

Was an attempt.
The attempt was aborted because it was taking too long and a defective
product was released with most of the major innovations omitted.

They did, however, have *plenty* of time to implement DRM. The recording
and movie industries, it seems, are more important customers that we are.

DRM is a kernel service in Vista that prevents users from accessing
media or using high-end monitors without authorization from the
"approriate" parties. Vista grants third-parties the right to
irrevocably alter policies and disbale functionality on systems in
accordances with their own EULAs without warning. Basically, it
provides a kernel service that lets signed apps install rootkits
and spyware, prohibit you from using competitors products, or
monitor your use and charge you for EULA infractions

A few interesting quotes:


"The contentious stealth update that Microsoft delivered
to customers this summer blocks 80 patches and fixes from
installing after Windows XP is restored using its "repair"
feature... The background updates were delivered and
installed without prior notification, even when the PC's
owner had told the operating system not to download or
install updates without notification and permission."
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9039258&pageNumber=1


"many of Vista's DRM technologies exist not because Microsoft
wanted them there; rather, they were developed at the behest
of movie studios, record labels and other high-powered
intellectual property owners."
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9005047


"NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks
Handfuls of Windows Vista Media Center users found themselves
blocked from making recordings of their favorite TV shows
this week when a broadcast flag triggered the software's
built-in copy protection measures. The flag affected users
trying to record prime-time NBC shows on Monday evening,
using both over-the-air broadcasts and cable. Although
the problem is being "looked into" by both NBC and Microsoft,
the incident serves as another reminder that DRM gives
content providers full control, even if by accident."
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080514-nbc-vista-copy-protection-snafu-reminds-us-why-drm-stinks.html


Schneier: Do not upgrade to Vista: Security guru Bruce Schneier
has given a big thumbs-down to Windows Vista, arguing that the
DRM (digital rights management) features built into the new
operating system "will make your computer less reliable and
less secure."

The celebrated cryptographer, who is credited with designing
or co-designing several widely used encryption algorithms,
is calling on consumers to send a message to Microsoft by
avoiding Vista entirely.

"[The] only advice I can offer you is to not upgrade to Vista.
It will be hard. Microsoft?s bundling deals with computer
manufacturers mean that it will be increasingly hard not to
get the new operating system with new computers. And Microsoft
has some pretty deep pockets and can wait us all out if it
wants to. Yes, some people will shift to Macintosh and some
fewer number to Linux, but most of us are stuck on Windows.
Still, if enough customers say no to Vista, the company might
actually listen," Schneier wrote in an essay posted at his
personal blog.

His argument is that Microsoft has succumbed to the
entertainment industry and built copy-protection (DRM)
schemes into the OS that will make computers less stable
and force customers to spend to upgrade peripheral hardware
and existing software.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=28
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/02/lockin.html


MSN Music to shut down, leaving DRM customers in the
lurch: Microsoft is ceasing support for its MSN Music
service. After August 31, 2008, people who have bought
music from the service will no longer be able to move
that music to different computers, or even change
the operating system on their current computers.
With restricted music, every time you move it to a
new system, you have to get new approval. Microsoft
is shutting down the servers that currently grant
that approval, which leaves everyone who bought
music from them holding locks with no keys, and
no recourse.
http://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/1131


Also see:
http://cbbrowne.com/info/mslinks.html


V.I.S.T.A. = Virus Infection and Spyware Transmission Architecture

--
Guy Macon
<http://www.GuyMacon.com/>

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Vista protection cost?
    ... >>> obvious anti Microsoft bias. ... DRM is not specific to Vista. ... > importantly their customers when they can't use the media they just ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Vista protection cost?
    ... problem but it's not a Vista problem. ... I agree that DRM goes to far but business wise I can't see ... whatever, to listen/watch this media and MS doesn't go along, who are ... "The only reason I can imagine why Microsoft ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Vista protection cost?
    ... >>> obvious anti Microsoft bias. ... DRM is not specific to Vista. ... > importantly their customers when they can't use the media they just ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Their Passon is XP
    ... Unless it's someone running Windows XP, a version Microsoft wants to ... They trumpet its superiority to Windows Vista, ... For them, the impending disappearance of XP computers from retailers, ...
    (alt.os.windows-xp)
  • Re: Netscape Allowed to Finally Die a Natural Death
    ... I've been tinkering with computers since about forever. ... My I_Hate_Windows friends were telling me they hate Windows, they hate Microsoft, they hate Bill Gates, etc. So I tried an experiment. ... Everybody has been whining about Vista. ...
    (alt.politics)