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Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft Patches BEAST SSL Flaw in Windows (threatpost.com)

Trailrunner7 writes: Microsoft on Tuesday patched the vulnerability in Windows that was exploited by the BEAST SSL attack tool developed by Juliano Rizzo and Thai Duong last year. The patch is one of several rated important that was issued by Microsoft in January's Patch Tuesday release, and there also was a critical bulletin released, fixing two separate vulnerabilities in Windows Media Player.

The vulnerability that is fixed by the patch in MS12-006 actually lies in the SSL 3.0/TLS 1.0 protocol. The attack that Rizzo and Duong developed and released in September enables them to decrypt users' SSL sessions on the fly and hijack them, including sessions with online banking sites and other sensitive sites. The bug has been known for a long time, but it wasn't until last year that a practical exploitation of it surfaced.

Submission + - Kodak Said to Weigh Bankruptcy (businessweek.com)

Pigskin-Referee writes: Eastman Kodak Co., the unprofitable 131-year-old camera maker, is weighing options including a bankruptcy filing because of concerns raised by possible buyers of its patent portfolio, said three people with direct knowledge of the process.

Some potential bidders for the patents are wary of proceeding because a purchase may amount to a so-called fraudulent transfer if Kodak is insolvent, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. Kodak confirmed that it hired Jones Day to advise it on considering options and said it doesn’t plan to seek bankruptcy protection.

“As we sit here today, the company has no intention of filing, and there is no change in our strategy to monetize our intellectual property,” Gerard Meuchner, a spokesman for Kodak, said yesterday. “We’re not concerned about fraudulent conveyance in regards to the sale of our IP portfolio.”

The company will make a $14 million coupon payment due today, he said. Meuchner declined to comment on whether the company had discussed a potential filing with law firms, saying that Kodak is “focused on the fourth quarter and on delivering on our strategy to become a profitable, sustainable digital company.”

A number of suitors, such as Google Inc., have signed confidentiality agreements to examine the assets, said the people. If a sale was judged fraudulent, creditors may sue for more money, said one of the people. A bankruptcy filing may help clear the way for a patent sale, said the people. The sale could fetch about $3 billion, MDB Capital Group estimates.

Comment Re:To avoid antitrust (Score 1) 248

<quote><p>There's no need to look for ulterior motives (like antitrust) for supporting Mac - all you have to do is look at SEC filings to see that the Microsoft's Mac Business Unit is quite profitable as a standalone entity. That's plenty of direct motive to keep supporting the platform.</p></quote>

Considering that they really have no competition, unless you are so foolish as to actually believe that OpenOffice or it latest sibling LibreOffice is actually any real competition, they cannot be anything but profitable. Perhaps if MS Office were still stuck at Office97 that might be true but certainly not today.

Comment Re:This could be a way out... (Score 1) 141

<quote><p>The way to address these patents IMO is to fight the corrupt system that gave them validity in the first place.</p></quote>

What you really mean is that you want someone else to do the hard work of development and then you or some other slimy socialist/fascist wants to use said development for your own nefarious purposes sans payment. Thank God that there are hard working people who want to develop or invent something with hopes of recovering their investment and making a profit rather than a group of scum bags who just want to feed off the sweat of others.

Comment Re:Blue Screen of Nuclear Death ? (Score 1) 467

So tell me, how many dollars has the *nix/BSD community contributed to society? Please list the hospitals they have build, the food they have supplied or other humanitarian deeds that they have preformed? I can see your problems with that question since the open-sore community is by and large a socialist/fascist group that expects to be serviced sans any reciprocity action of any kind.
Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft's Voice Search for Xbox (pcmag.com)

Pigskin-Referee writes: Microsoft said Sunday night that it plans to launch its fall update for its Xbox 360 game console, complete with voice search via Xbox Kinect, this week.

Microsoft also announced a significant number of related content partnerships, bringing most major services to the Xbox platform this week or by early 2012. On Dec. 6, Starting Dec. 6, a free Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone will let also let users find, learn more about and control content from popular entertainment services on Xbox LIVE.

Microsoft

Submission + - Microsoft at the heart of TV viewing (cnet.com)

Pigskin-Referee writes: Microsoft will push out an update to Xbox consoles Tuesday, designed to get consumers to turn on the device every time they flip on their televisions, not just when they want to play games.

Though most gamers will notice a dramatically different interface, and some will take advantage of more advanced voice-recognition controls, the real significance of the update is how boldly the software giant is putting itself at the core of the TV entertainment experience. Microsoft is partnering with 40 content providers from around the globe to significantly increase the amount of live and on-demand content available on Xbox.

Over the next month, Microsoft will add content in the United States to the Xbox from Verizon's FiOS TV, ESPN, and the Syfy channel among others. Next year, HBO Go and Comcast's Xfinity on Demand will come to U.S. customers. Many of the apps from partners are only available to customers who purchase an Xbox Live Gold Membership.

Microsoft is also adding new programming to the Xbox experience abroad. Canadian customers will get content from Rogers Media, Maple Leaf Sports, and TMZ, among others. And new programming will roll out in Europe, Australia and Asia.

Comment Re:I have problems with this (Score 1) 1319

It is worth noting that the great man produced little of scientific note later in life, mostly because he could not accept the evidence produced by the quantum scientists. If you allow your beliefs to interfeer with reality, you can no longer do science.

Most great scientific and mathematical breakthroughs are achieved by individuals before the age of 40. In fact, a large percentage is achieved before the age of thirty.. The mind, like everything else in the body, starts to slow down.

Most great scientists and mathematicians who are 50 years or more in age are living on their achievements accomplished decades earlier in their lifetime. It is consistent with virtually all athletes, etcetera.

Comment Three Strike Rule (Score 1) 108

If I am reading this correctly, the offender gets three warning (strikes) before any legitimate action is taken. May that should be extended to where the first to felony offenses are not counted against an individual. Show it be inferred that a burglar has two free attempts to ransack my home before I can call the police? Seriously, what moron conceived this idea?

Comment Re:We B OS (Score 1) 226

Well, the update service is to make up for the lack of an update system built into the OS...
The rest can really be done without.

Try Linux if you want sensible printer drivers, especially for HP printers... No helper apps, uses the update service already built into the OS etc.

Are you joking? Finding printer drivers compatible with Linux is hard enough. Finding ones that work with FreeBSD is virtually impossible. Good luck finding a Brother color laser printer driver that works on FreeBSD. I have had scores of ink-jet printers that have no drivers available under Linux.

And it gets worse. I have seen all to many cases where a printer will work under one applications but not another in Linux/*BSD. If I have a printer that absolutely, positive must work I use it via Windows. At least I am sure I can use the printer to its full capacity.

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