Journal Journal: Microsoft getting taste of its own medicine.
Apple is claiming that Vista is corrupting iPods and advising people to wait for the new release of iTunes.
Journal Journal: First pirated HD DVD movie hits BitTorrent 537
Ars Technica reports that the first HD DVD movie has made it's way onto BitTorrent, showing that current DRM efforts to prevent illegal sharing of copyrighted content are still futile and fighting an uphill battle.
From the article:
Submission + - Is it time for Open Office?
lazyron writes: I've been using Open Office a bit more lately, and got to thinking... This is much more like my current version of M$ Office than Office 2007 will be. Could it be time to try Open Office in the workplace? At least a little bit before Office 2007 is getting hammered down our throats? Are there any IT admins out there thinking about trying Open Office? Either with a few users or all of them?
Submission + - Where does Google's Hardware go to die ?
Anonymous Coward writes: "I was talking with a co-worker today about how Google is so big, and how they make such great use of commodity hardware to do their business, and one of the topics that came up is where does Google's old hardware go ?
Google has been around for many years now, and they have more machines than any sane person would own, and they are continually expanding. At some stage they must have to push out old equipment, either when it starts entering into its MTBF limits or it's been depreciated down. Searching (using Google of course) wasn't particularly fruitful.
Has anyone seen where Google's hardware goes when it dies ?"
Submission + - Democrats Propose Mandatory DRM for Podcasts
Knytefall writes: Joe Biden, Dianne Feinstein, and two GOP senators are sponsoring a bill called the PERFORM Act that would require podcasts with music and satellite radio to be locked-up with music industry-approved DRM software, according to a Cnet report and a statement from Sen. Feinstein's office. "All audio services — Webcasters included — would be obligated to implement "reasonably available and economically reasonable" copy-protection technology aimed at preventing "music theft" and restricting automatic recording." Do you really want the RIAA designing software and hardware?
Submission + - EU Commission Study Finds You'll Save Money Switch
PS3Penguin writes: "Groklaw has a great story about the EU Commission's recent findings ..
"Our findings show that, in almost all the cases, a transition toward open source reports of savings on the long term — costs of ownership of the software products."
The study can be found here. Also available is the pdf file of the report.
Of course .. we all knew that was the case :)"
Submission + - Is DRM Intrinsically Distasteful?
jelton writes: If digital media was available for sale at a reasonable price, but subject to a DRM scheme that allowed full legitimate usage (format shifting, time shifting, playback on different devices, etc.) and only blocked illicit usage (illegal copying), would you support the usage of such a DRM scheme if it meant a wealth of readily available compatible devices? In other words, if you object to DRM schemes, is your objection based on principled or practical concerns?
Journal Journal: EMI is in trouble
Funny article on Bloomberg: EMI Ousts Top Music Executives, Forecasts Lower Sales. Quote:
EMI Group Plc, the U.K. record company that signed the Beatles, ousted its two top music executives and forecast lower revenue after disappointing holiday sales.
