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Comment Re:Changes incoming (Score 2) 148

by ciscoguy01 (#41838879) Attached to: Court Rules Website Terms of Service Agreement Completely Invalid
Uh, not really. I was presented with a clickable forced arbitration last week by Microsoft, for the Xbox network. I could agree or not use the service, which would essentially mean my 2 Xbox 360s, all the games, all the optional hardware would become nearly worthless. Not an option for me.
Congress should just make those forced arbitration agreements illegal.

Comment Re:not alone, WGA punishes only real users (Score 1) 2

by ciscoguy01 (#41532877) Attached to: Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Antipiracy Catches Non Pirates
Probably. When this came up I looked on the Microsoft online store to see if I could order some hardware that needed that driver.
Then, I could place a support call and Microsoft would have to deal with it.
Alas, I didn't find anything that would need that driver for sale at this time by Microsoft.
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Antipiracy Catches Non Pirates (microsoft.com) 2

Submitted by ciscoguy01
ciscoguy01 writes: The Microsoft WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) antipiracy program aims to reduce software piracy.
I needed a driver for my Microsoft hardware. I went to Microsoft's download site, found the needed driver and started the download. As a Firefox user I was prompted to download the genuinecheck.exe program to verify I hadn't pirated Microsoft Windows. No problem. It's a PITA but what the heck. I needed the driver. The genuinecheck.exe program I downloaded is here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/exe-validation.aspx?id=7716
I ran it, and it said "This version of the Windows Genuine Advantage Tool is expired. Please download a new version". The problem is there is no new version.
This program failure prevents all Microsoft customers from downloading needed software without using the IE ActiveX solution which I am not willing to use. This has been going on for several weeks and there are a number of posts on the Microsoft support forums about this, but Microsoft either has not woken up to the fact their standalone tool has expired.
I tried but was unable to reach anyone at Microsoft that can update the standalone tool, but I did get an offshore support tech who offered to charge me $99 to solve the problem. Heh.
I told him I would help Microsoft solve the problem of an expired file on their web server for $99.
Microsoft

Submission + - The Microsoft WGA Antipiracy Tool Is Expired. Is this intentional? (microsoft.com) 4

Submitted by ciscoguy01
ciscoguy01 writes: We've talked about the controversial Microsoft WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) program.
I needed a driver for my Microsoft IRDA keyboard and eHome USB receiver.
I went to Microsoft's download site, found the needed driver and started the download. As a Firefox user I was prompted to download the genuinecheck.exe program as I had many times before, run it and put the verification number in to verify I hadn't pirated Microsoft Windows. No problem.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/exe-validation.aspx?id=7716
I downloaded it and ran it, and it said "This version of the Windows Genuine Advantage Tool is expired. Please download a new version". The problem of course is there is no new version.
If you are on Windows 7 (maybe Vista) a silent activeX solution performs this function and you wouldn't have this problem. This prevents all Microsoft customers from downloading needed software without using the activeX solution. I am not willing to run the activeX solution.
This has been going on for several weeks and there are a number of posts on the Microsoft support forums about this, but Microsoft either has not woken up to the fact their standalone tool has expired or they are trying to get as many people as possible to install the full WGA on their system.
I am not willing to do that because some time ago I changed the motherboard in a customer's system with an identical one from another system and the WGA started complaining. I called Microsoft about it and they couldn't fix it even though they admitted this was not a case of software piracy!
Is Microsoft doing this intentionally? What does /. think?

Comment Re:And dont you DARE close your eyes or not listen (Score 1) 578

by ciscoguy01 (#40116177) Attached to: Fox Sues Dish Over "Auto Hop" Ad-Skipping Feature

TV here isn't quite as bad as it was in the us, but we still have lots of commercials...

But welcome to capitalism, greed ensures that they will always try to push customers as far as they can... this has resulted in increased prices and increased commercials over time, and it will only get worse until not only are their actions noticeably decreasing profits, but they can't find any consumer hostile way of keeping you locked in... Actually improving the service will be the absolute last resort.

Ya know, I listen to talk radio in the car. There are some ads they run so much I can't change the channel quickly enough. Some of the more obnoxious ads I hate so much I turn the radio off. There is a point of diminishing returns on that kind of advertising. You'd think those radio and tv companies would realize that. Maybe they think they haven't reached the breaking point yet. THEY HAVE!

Comment Re:And dont you DARE close your eyes or not listen (Score 1) 578

by ciscoguy01 (#40116121) Attached to: Fox Sues Dish Over "Auto Hop" Ad-Skipping Feature

I've been noticing this tactic for about 10 years now. There aren't any commercials in the first 15-20 minutes of the show, but as the show progresses the percentage of commercials approches 50%. It seems like they're stretching just how much you will put up with after you've been hooked. I don't think I could watch TV without MythTV's auto commercial detection any more.

SHHHH! Don't tell anyone about that! You wanna get us all sued?

Comment Re:And dont you DARE close your eyes or not listen (Score 1) 578

by ciscoguy01 (#40105899) Attached to: Fox Sues Dish Over "Auto Hop" Ad-Skipping Feature

Also, lets not forget about Apple's patent on software that would basically freeze our device unless we were demonstrably watching the ads they serve to us, making us answer questions about products featured and even using the camera to make sure that our eyes are focused on the screen.

How long will it be before we see something similar on anything with a front facing camera? I wonder if Microsoft has plans to build this into their next Kinect? This is where these assholes are going with this, and then they'll bitch and complain when even more people just pirate their shit. God, how ridiculous...

Ah, you must have seen "A Clockwork Orange".

Comment Re:ad block effect (Score 1) 79

by ciscoguy01 (#39417327) Attached to: Mobile Ads May Serve As a Malware Conduit
I know Google Chrome has an adblocker, it might use the same maintained blocking lists that Adblock Plus uses. If so I would really recommend it for Chrome users.
But Google Chrome is too minimalist for me, I like all the menubars and controls that Firefox has.
That said, I don't like the new Firefox as well as I liked the old version with again, more menubars and controls. Heh.
But I am an old guy.

Comment Re:Droid Wall (Score 3, Informative) 79

by ciscoguy01 (#39415113) Attached to: Mobile Ads May Serve As a Malware Conduit
And that background data that all those apps seem to want to use costs you money in this day of metered data.
It's easily possible for apps you never ever use to leak data day after day day, downloading ads you never see. This could make you go over your allotment from your cellular carrier and they will bill you for the overage.
All for nothing.
You never even saw those cool ads you downloaded!
Root your phone and put a big hosts table in there.

But, someone will say, "If you don't let them download and show you ads they won't be able to make those cool apps for free."
Sorry, if showing ads to someone who doesn't want to look at them is your business model and it stops working, you will have to either get a business model that works or go out of business.
I have been to websites that contained a warning "You are blocking ads, you may not use our website. Unblock our ads before you come back here".
Sounds like a website to stay away from to me.

Comment Re:ad block effect (Score 1) 79

by ciscoguy01 (#39414929) Attached to: Mobile Ads May Serve As a Malware Conduit
Having used Adblock Plus on Firefox for a number of years I don't really know what the unfiltered internet looks like. Whenever I am forced to use IE I have to experience it however briefly.
I know people who use IE exclusively which I can't imagine.
How many blinking ads can you stand? Darned few!
We badly need a way to support Adblock Plus on Android and on IE, or at least their filter list subscriptions.
IMHO Firefox has some pretty serious issues today, I would dump it except for Adblock Plus.

Submission + - I can only get slow DSL and competion is a joke 2

Submitted by ciscoguy01
ciscoguy01 writes: I just moved, and at my new place AT&T is the telco. I check online and they offer 1.5mb ADSL at the address (naked dsl) but no faster. Some problem with no remaining "high speed slots". The $20 price is pretty cheap.
I don't much want a slow 1.5 mb line, but there are few alternatives. The only CLEC is dslextreme.com, but they have the same speeds, no better. I would also have to pay ATT for a phone to use them, no naked dsl- so it's much more expensive overall.
The only alternative is Time Warner Cable and they are really expensive.
There doesn't seem to be any real competition in these residential DSL lines and I have nowhere to go for better service. The few providers have no reason to improve without competition.
Should the government regulate these data lines now that we all consider them essential and it seems the few monopoly providers are running roughshod over us? This is crying out for some regulation, some standards. I should be able to get a 3 MB line at least. If there were any real competition they would be knocking on doors trying to sell us. As it is we kind of have to beg for good service.

Comment Re:Classic patent trolling (Score 1) 436

by ciscoguy01 (#37599472) Attached to: Patent Troll Says Anyone Using Wi-Fi Infringes
Not necessarily.
They would all be the same case.
I wouldn't be nearly rich enough to stand alone on those cases. If someone else was ultimately responsible. Not like I engineered and sold the infringing product. It's completely reasonable to countersue the person or company that put you up to it.
What you are saying is that you're the wrong party, and the plaintiffs know that.
They don't want to sue big companies with deep pockets and hundreds of millions of dollars in sales to protect.
You have to bring them into the case so they will essentially do the defense, including your defense. They should anyway, you are just their customer, right? You are innocent and being sued by these miscreants for their convenience. They should be paying for your defense.
What could you possibly say in discovery? "Yeah, I knew it was infringing when I bought it on sale at OfficeDepot. I hoped to be able to get away with it." Ridiculous.
The last thing the plaintiffs want is you and a huge company on the other side willing to spend maybe millions of dollars to win against them.
What you need to do is countersue them and the manufacturer so they cannot dismiss the case, which believe me they won't be able to do quickly enough when Cisco's lawfirm calls them up and tells them they are going to do the case. Heh.

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