Hmm. I think it's highly delusional to think CyberEspionage organisations aren't targetting - Windows, Linux, MacOS and FreeBSD concurrently. Probably OpenBSD too.. While I agree that Windows appears to be a gaping wide attack surface, I equally believe that the large number of people running Linux sans Virus checkers patting themselves on the back for feeling secure - are living in la la land. The same fundamental architecture underlies Linux. Stack frame over-runs, heap exploits, SMM exploits, lack of digitally signed and restricted binaries + TPM.

When you get right down to it - the entire architecture of computer systems is not designed for verified operation or security - so - while some systems are more vulnerable - all are going to be vulnerable.

Linux users are living in I think a false sense of security. If as much interest were taken in finding exploits on Linux as is taken in finding expoilts on Windows - you'd find a whole bunch of "OMFG - my webserver has been serving up my p0rn mail to the CIA for the last 10 years due to a trojan" type /. posts.

Have you written *all* the software on your computer system - including keyboard, hardisk, WiFi and webcam firmware? No... OK then - your guarantee of security is exactly nil !

This is all about internal optics in the big company.

VPs need to be seen to be coming to the market with "innovative" new products. Note is cloning a chromecast an innovation ?

This is the right announcement - eight/ten years late. Chromecast is out there and ARM owns this market segment. The time to get into thumb-size TV set-top box additions was 2004

Also didn't Intel recently sell off it's TV division ? Now it's getting back in, in the USB stick/chromecast side... WTF. Hey - make a decision and stick to it guys !

At 200 dollars - with the average Atom selling for 60 dollars a pop - adding in profit taking fo the middle man - at best Intel can flog Atom processors at cost - or very generously at say 10% margin.

This smells like a VP and some organisation doing a "look at me I've produced something" - in time for the next pay review cycle, with some marketing stuck on to it.

Actual potential to provide shareholder value - nah - unlikely. Actual likelyhood of costing the company money - about the same...

Nothing to see here I'd suspect. Atom + USB interface + (WiFi maybe) + Android.

Linux is a serious business these days. In business - fucking people out of it on a regular - public basis is a sign of not having a clue.

Linus - is used to the pedestal he's on - and fair play to him he's earned it. The rest of the world simply doesn't have the luxury of being able to behave like a rock star and have people still love you.

When rock stars trash hotel rooms, or vomit all over the place - hey they are rock stars and it's cool.
When software rock stars flame you publicly on LKML - hey - that's all part of the experience of going to the concert (like crowd serfing to extend the analogy).

In this mode - Linux is a bit like a Metallica concert.
The days of heroin and overturned busses is over. The days of the receding hairlines and the ballads are upon us and ... the fans are all old corporate fogies who like not-too-much distortion in the chorus.
Also - major corporations - like Intel - provide most of the financing to the Linux foundation - and in this light I'm sure the wise corporate benefactors would be pleased if use of the fuck word - were put to an end.

You can say crap but you can't say shite ! He who pays the piper - calls the tune !