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Submission + - Microsoft has announced the retirement of the TechNet Subscriptions service (microsoft.com)

Pigskin-Referee writes: Those who qualify for TechNet get access to nearly all of Microsoft's software (Office for the Mac being a notable exception), with a limited number of license keys for each application. Microsoft's recently announcement stated that TechNet users could buy or renew a one-year subscription through Aug. 31.

Microsoft hasn't specifically stated that software piracy is the root cause of TechNet's demise. But there's no doubt that a significant number of TechNet subscribers have abused the service. In truth, the program has been rife with petty-level pirating for all of its nearly 20 years.

Back in the early days, packs of TechNet CDs arrived in the mail. It was like manna from the mother ship. And those CDs got passed around.

Today, TechNet's many offerings are simply downloaded as easily copied and shared ISO files. For the most part, the downloads are managed through a sort of honor system. That makes it easy for some subscribers to game the system — i.e., download genuine copies of Microsoft software along with perfectly legitimate keys and then either give the software to family and friends or sell it at the local flea market. Undoubtedly, a few unscrupulous PC resellers sold systems with free TechNet software keys — and charged their customers "discounted" application fees.

Submission + - Supreme Court upholds DNA swabbing of people under arrest (nbcnews.com)

Pigskin-Referee writes: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the police practice of taking DNA samples from people who have been arrested but not convicted of a crime, ruling that it amounts to the 21st century version of fingerprinting.

The ruling was 5-4. Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative, joined three of the court’s more liberal members — Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan — in dissenting.

The five justices in the majority ruled that DNA sampling, after an arrest “for a serious offense” and when officers “bring the suspect to the station to be detained in custody,” does not violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches.

Submission + - Supreme Court Rules For Monsanto In Patent Case (huffingtonpost.com)

Pigskin-Referee writes: WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sustained Monsanto Co.'s claim that an Indiana farmer violated the company's patents on soybean seeds that are resistant to its weed-killer.

The justices, in a unanimous vote Monday, rejected the farmer's argument that cheap soybeans he bought from a grain elevator are not covered by the Monsanto patents, even though most of them also were genetically modified to resist the company's Roundup herbicide.

Justice Elena Kagan says a farmer who buys patented seeds must have the patent holder's permission. More than 90 percent of American soybean farms use Monsanto's "Roundup Ready" seeds, which first came on the market in 1996.

Comment What if Microsoft had pulled this "bullshit" (Score 1) 299

First of all, this is old news. Secondly, has it occurred to anyone that if Microsoft had pulled this stunt, the resident "Slashdoter's" would have been up in arms crying over the inhuman policy of a tyrannical corporate entity. However, since it is Google, who personally I believe is far more evil than Microsoft, the posts are mostly low keyed and benign in nature.
Firefox

Submission + - Mozilla Firefox browser upgrade taken offline due to vulnerability (bbc.co.uk)

Pigskin-Referee writes: The latest version of Mozilla's Firefox browser has been taken offline after a security vulnerability was discovered.

Users who had upgraded to version 16 were advised to downgrade to the previous safe release until Firefox developers released a fix.

The vulnerability allowed "a malicious site to potentially determine which websites users have visited", Mozilla said.

The non-profit company said that only a "limited number of users are affected".

The download had been taken off-line within a day of its initial release, the organization's UK spokesman said.

Comment Re:There are no Facts (Score 1) 1469

<quote><p>I wouldn't be so sure his flawed understanding of rape and conception is his motivation for opposing abortion in the case of rape.</p><p>I understand women can get pregnant from a rape, but still think abortion in the case of rape should be outlawed. The child is still a life and isn't responsible for the rape. Therefore, the child doesn't deserve to be punished with death for a crime he or she didn't commit.</p></quote>

I am going to assume you are a male and therefore would never be put into the position of having to carry an unwanted pregnancy resulting from a rape to term. The entire question of abortion should be left to women since they are the only sector of the human race that actually has to perform that chore. If men and not women were the ones to become pregnant, the legality of abortion would never have been questioned.

Comment Re:Give it away for free (Score 0) 330

<quote>Last I read, they were making a lot of money selling operating systems. It's their bread and butter. They're already also making a lot of money selling other things, so why change a formula that is successful? I think most linux users and definitely most osx users are using the other operating systems for reasons other than the cost of the OS license, so I wonder how many new users a move like that would really attract.</quote>

While there is no doubt some truth in your statement regarding "OS X", the vast majority of Linux users that I know are using it primarily because they either cannot afford to purchase a full MS License or are socialist and believe everything should be handed to them sans payment of any kind. If Microsoft were to sell its operating systems for a token amount, say $25 or $50 it would cut a huge hole through the *.nix user base.
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft unfurls patent lasso, snares Linux servers (theregister.co.uk)

Pigskin-Referee writes: Microsoft’s crusade to lock Linux companies into patent protection deals has netted Redmond’s first service provider.

Amdocs Software Systems is paying Microsoft to license undisclosed Redmond patents in a deal that "provides mutual access to each company’s patent portfolio".

The deal extends to the Linux servers running in Amdoc’s data centres, with the unidentified boxes receiving a licence under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. Specific terms of the deal were not announced, including how much Amdocs will pay Microsoft.

Until now, Microsoft has focused its efforts on device makers whose systems run Android Linux – HTC, General Dynamics Itronix, Onkyo Corp and Velocity Micro – in addition to Acer, ViewSonic and Casio. To our knowledge, this is Microsoft’s first strike at the server market. Amdocs specialises in customer and network management and service delivery systems for operators such as cable TV companies.

Comment They win either way (Score 1) 1

Windows 8 is really nothing more than a BETA test for Windows 9. With the FOSS condemning them at every turn and thereby giving adding to the advertising of Windows 8, they have very little to lose. Even if it is only moderately successful, it will give Microsoft the needed information on how to proceed with Windows 10. In any event, with the FOSS expressing their displeasure with the OS, (sour grapes), it will force the FOSS to try and play catchup. I don't see how they can lose.
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft's Windows 8: tragic mistake or stroke of genius? (sciencefictionworld.com) 1

bowman9991 writes: "When Windows 8 hits 26 October with multiple new tablets, PC desktop machines and ultra-books (and a new version of Microsoft Office), PC users everywhere will suddenly be faced with Microsoft's radically designed "Metro" user interface. Have Microsoft made a massive mistake by introducing an operating system that appears at first glance to be focused on touch and tablets when the majority still use non-touch machines? Or have they built a software system that will impress and thrive on any hardware form factor? Windows Vista or the greatest unified software master stroke of the 21st century?"
Security

Submission + - NVIDIA Kills Online Store In Response to Hacker Claims (securityweek.com)

wiredmikey writes: Following a shutdown of its “NVIDIA Developer Zone,” earlier this week after the online community for developers had been hacked, graphics chip maker NVIDIA on Friday also shut down its online store located at store.nvidia.com.

The group of hackers behind the attack, going by the handle of “The Appollo Project”, made mention of the claimed compromise in its original post exhibiting its successful attack against the NVIDIA Developer Zone site.

While the company has shut down the online store, it has not acknowledged that a successful attack has taken place. “NVIDIA has suspended operation of the NVIDIA Gear Store (store.nvidia.com) as a precaution, following confirmed attacks on several of our other sites,” a statement on the site posted on Jun 13 read.

Commenting on the developer forum hack, the claimed attackers noted, “We aren't acting extremely maliciously, we've used this database to target disgusting corporations who deserve to be brought to justice.. and we are getting there, slowly but surely.”

Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft's Controvercial Magic Constant For HyperV (muktware.com)

sfcrazy writes: Who said Microsoft developers don't have a sense of humor. Even if that humor is sexist. Our own Matthew Garrett, UEFI secure boot fame, has posted a blog about the magic constant Microsoft used in its HyperV code.

Matthew writes: Paolo Bonzini noticed something a little awkward in the Linux kernel support code for Microsoft's HyperV virtualisation environment — specifically, that the magic constant passed through to the hypervisor was "0xB16B00B5", or, in English, "BIG B**BS". It turns out that this isn't an exception — when the code was originally submitted it also contained "0x0B00B135". That one got removed when the Xen support code was ripped out.

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