*HOT* Tech News And Downloads, I Would Read This Thread And Post Any Good Info

i think this works on only pro,i could be wrong

Make Windows Messenger Go Away (without having to uninstall anything) -

Today, 11:35 AM
One of the most powerful areas of any Windows OS, well... I should say from Windows 2000 and forward is the use of gpedit.msc.

A lot of the more advanced users live in here probably more than they do in the Windows Registry.

So how do you turn off Windows Messenger without actually having to uninstall it?

Simple:

1 - Make sure you're logged in as Administrator (this will not work unless you are)
2 - Start - Run and in the RUN box type - GPEDIT.MSC
3 - Once the Group Policy Object Editor is up and running, in the left hand pane you will see "Computer Configuration" and "User Configuration". This might seem a little confusing but it's really not. Just think about it.

Computer Configuration - affects the entire computer, thus all accounts on that computer.

User Configuration - affects only the current user who is logged in so make sure you are not logged in as Administrator cause all your going to do, if you choose User Configuration is disable it for the Administrator Account.

Ok, both the Computer Configuration and the User Configuration areas contain directories called Administrative Templates. You need to choose what you want to do here. Do you want to disable it for all user accounts OR just your account. Be careful here. If you choose the entire computer, and your... say... daughter use Windows Messenger to chat with her friends, well... you will hear about it.

Alright, let's get this done.

- Expand Administrative Templates (in the area of your choice)
- Expand Windows Components
- Find Windows Messenger in the left hand pane and click on it.
- In the right hand pane, double click on both: (Note - **Both settings should be set to "Enable" and saved.**)
- Do not allow Windows Messenger to be run
- Do not automatically start Windows Messenger initially

That's it. Close the GPEDIT.MSC window, re-boot and you should be good to go.

 

Can blind people see in their dreams?
And can people have the same dream at the same time?
By Dr Stephen Juan → More by this author
Published Saturday 9th December 2006 10:02 GMT

Also in this week's column:

* How the 'true blue' political maverick gave the senate to the donkeys
* What is selective mutism and is it for real?

Can blind people see in their dreams?

Asked by Cindy Webster of Palmerston North, New Zealand

Most researchers believe that people who are blind from birth or who become blind in infancy do not see in their dreams. They do not retain visual imagery because it was never acquired in the first place.

However, those blinded in childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, or afterwards usually do see in their dreams. "They often retain visual imagery in their waking life and in their dreams," according to Drs Nancy Kerr of the Department of Psychology at Oglethorpe University and G. William Domhoff of the Department of Psychology at the University of California at Santa Cruz.

They write in the December 2004 issue of Dreaming that "individuals blinded before the age of about five report no visual imagery in dreams as adults, whereas those blinded after about the age of seven are likely to retain visual imagery in dreaming".

This conclusion is based upon four sleep laboratory studies conducted between 1966 and 1999. According to the Royal National Institute of the Blind in London: "Dreams are experienced in the same way as life is lived. If someone loses their sight, they will dream of events during the days when sight was available in visual terms. If dreams are about recent events when sight was not used, sensations will be in terms of sound, smell, texture, and so on." A person dreams as they live.
Can people have the same dream at the same time?

It is called simultaneous dreaming. This occurs when two or more people have the same dream. The dream need not occur at the same time to qualify as a simultaneous dream. But sometimes this happens too. There are no scientific studies of simultaneous dreaming.

However, there are a few anecdotal reports of simultaneous dreaming on the internet. It is usually mentioned in relationship to lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is the conscious perception of one's state while dreaming with the intended effect of having clearer dreams and to be able to control, focus, and utilise dreams to improve one's life.
Are humans the only animals that dream?

Besides humans, other animals probably dream too. According to Dr Allan Hobson, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, writing in the August 2003 issue of Discover: "Although it cannot be proved, it is reasonable to suppose that many animals see, hear, feel, and run in their sleep just as we do."

Most researchers agree that brain activity during dreaming functions to help keep body temperature stable during sleep. Body temperature stability during sleep is also necessary in mammals besides humans. There is also evidence that dreaming helps solidify memories. This would have a survival advantage in both humans and non-human animals. For these and other reasons, Dr Hobson concludes that it is logical to conclude that at least some animals probably do dream. Too bad they cannot tell us and remove all doubt. Perhaps they might some day? Dream on!

Stephen Juan, Ph.D. is an anthropologist at the University of Sydney. Email your Odd Body questions to s.juan@edfac.usyd.edu.au
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/09/the_odd_body_dreaming/

 

Friday, 8 December 2006
Blood Supply Threat: Mad-Cow Disease
Topic: Brain,Health

The BBC reports that there's still plenty of risk for people who were transfused with blood contaminated by the human form of mad-cow disease. And even worse news: people may be infecting the blood supply right now.

Reportedly, 66 people received contaminated blood and three have been infected. A remaining 24 who are still alive -- and didn't die of other causes -- are at risk.

It sounds like there isn't a good way to protect the blood supply:

Experts believe that, based on the cases seen so far, infection from a blood transfusion can develop in just six or seven years.

Professor John Collinge of the MRC Prion Unit said: "That three individuals from this small group of people that we know to have been exposed through blood transfusion have already developed vCJD infection suggests that the infection may be efficiently passed by this route.

"So the risk to remaining individuals is likely to be substantial."

[snip]

"... of course people who are silently incubating vCJD at the moment may be blood donors and there is no way of knowing where that blood is going."

Read a recent story of mine about mad-cow and related diseases here.

link
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,71971-0.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2

 

UK,Apple discontinues UK mail-in repair service
Take a hike, Mr Jones

In a manoeuvre distinguished by both its stealth and audacity, Apple UK has discontinued its mail-in repair service without notifying its customers or, it appears, its resellers.

The move came to Ping Wales' attention when regular contributor and resident Mac guru David Chisnall contacted Apple to schedule a repair for a PowerBook which has been registered with the vendor's AppleCare Protection Plan, a service that extends the warranty on Apple products from the statutory requirement of one year to three. It also extends telephone support from the standard 90 days after purchase to three years.

However, instead of going through the usual procedures associated with the direct mail-in service – which involve Apple sending the customer prepaid shipping labels, packaging material if it's needed, and paying for shipping to and from its repair centre – he was told to take the machine to the nearest Apple authorised repair centre.

Apple declined to comment on the matter, but a call to the company's tech support call centre confirmed that the mail-in repair service had been discontinued just over a month ago.

A straw poll of businesses in Wales which use Macs reveals that no business customers have been informed of the change to the repair service. Among the companies polled is fotoLibra.com, a digital picture library based in Harlech.

Gwyn Headley, managing director, told Ping Wales: "We haven't received any information from Apple to inform us of this change, but though it is a cynical viewpoint, I'm not surprised at any computer manufacturer reducing their support service, because of the cost to maintain it."

Headley added that the move will not dissuade fotoLibra.com from making future Apple purchases, as the performance of its other Apple equipment, such as servers and laptops, had been largely faultless.

Apple resellers in the region told Ping Wales that they hadn't been informed of the change either, adding that this did explain why the number of repairs coming in had increased significantly over the last few weeks.

For Apple customers in South and West Wales, this means taking their faulty equipment to Cardiff. For those living in more northern parts of Wales, getting Apple products repaired may take a trip to Chester or beyond.

Either way, any Welsh business considering buying Macs now has to take into consideration the impact this will have on the total cost of ownership of the equipment. Popping a machine in a box and handing it to the UPS man is a lot cheaper than having a technician drive to Cardiff twice. There's also the issue of downtime; many repairs will require parts to be ordered, and can't be completed while the customer waits, so the machine will have to be left for a day or two.

Apple's FAQ on the AppleCare service states: "The AppleCare Protection Plan includes telephone technical support, global repair coverage, on-site repairs for desktop computers, web-based support resources and powerful diagnostic tools."

At the time of publishing, Apple continued to assert in its terms and conditions that a direct mail-in service was available for most equipment covered by AppleCare. However, as the company has not made any official statement on the matter, it remains to be seen whether this service promise will be honoured for existing customers without the pressure of a class-action lawsuit.
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/12/09/apple_uk_mail-in_repair/

 

Leading killer in Finland? Alcohol.

December 9, 2006 12:53:29 AM PST

Alcohol is now the leading killer of Finnish adults, with consumption reaching an all-time high last year in the Nordic nation, officials said Friday.

More than 2,000 people between the ages of 15 and 64 were killed by alcohol poisoning or illnesses caused by alcohol consumption last year, the government's leading welfare and health agency said. Nearly 1,000 people died in accidents or violent incidents caused by alcohol.

"This is truly a worrying trend," said Kristiina Kuussaari of the National Research and Development Center for Welfare and Health. "The serious negative effects will continue to grow for years to come."

Alcohol was responsible for 17 percent of all deaths among 15- to 64-year-old men, surpassing heart disease for the first time, the agency said. Alcohol also caused more than 10.5 percent of all deaths in adult women, alongside breast cancer, for the first time.

Since 2003, the cost of treating alcohol-related illnesses has grown by 14 percent, peaking at $1.1 billion last year in this nation of 5.2 million known for heavy drinking.

The government has traditionally kept a tight control on alcohol consumption with high prices in its Alko monopoly retail outlets, and supermarkets do not sell beer with higher alcohol content.

However, in March 2004 it slashed alcohol taxes by more than 40 percent to discourage growing "booze cruises" to Russia and neighboring Estonia, where alcohol is much cheaper.

The move caused an outcry from health officials who warned of negative health effects, and police who reported a rise in public drunkenness and anti-social behavior.

Officials reported a 10 percent growth in binge drinking among 17-year-olds in the first six months after the tax cut, and general consumption began to grow, reaching new records.

Last year, Finns drank the equivalent of 14.5 million gallons of pure grain alcohol — a 14 percent increase from 2003, just before the alcohol taxes were slashed.

 

November game sales explode, and old sells well

12/9/2006 3:53:24 PM, by Ben Kuchera

The one thing we can take away from the NPD sales numbers for November is that people are spending a lot of money on video games this year. Sales increased 34 percent from last year, totaling 1.7 billion dollars—up from $1.3 billion. You might assume that new consoles were the main culprits, but the numbers don't really agree with that assessment—people are spending money on older technology. A lot of it.
Out with the old?

In terms of hardware sales, the "old" definitely outshined the new. The two-year-old Nintendo DS is again the clear winner with 918,000 units sold in in the US last month. We've remarked on the amazing ability of the DS to sell units, and it doesn't look like those sales will slow down anytime soon. In fact, by our count, November was the best month for DS sales yet.

The PS2 comes in second with a very strong 664,000 units sold. I hate to pound this point into the ground every time we look at numbers, but the PS2 has a great price point and the strongest library of games among all the systems on the market right now. No one should be surprised by its continued legs at retail. The big shocker? The GameBoy Advance sold an almost surreal 641,000 units, without any large game releases buoying the numbers. That's an incredible achievement for an aging system with no appreciable hits this year, and a fancier big brother priced within striking distance.
In demand for the new

While current-generation—and in the case of the GBA, last generation—hardware is making money for everyone but Microsoft, it's time to look at how the next-generation systems faired in terms of sales. The PS3 and Wii numbers have nothing to do with popularity; it's simply a case of how many systems each company could get to retail. Every unit shipped to stores sold, making November more of a question of manufacturing than consumer demand. The PS3 launched with only 197,000 units so far.

The Wii did much better with 476,000 units, but again that number was limited by how many Wiis were available. Many readers report problems finding the Wii and long lines in front of retail stores.

The 360 certainly saw a boost, as it sold 511,000 units in the month of November—a record month for the 360. The boost was certainly helped by shortages of other consoles, and Microsoft also had a big win with Gears of War, which sold a million copies in November for $61.5 million in sales. For a game that cost $10 million to make, that's not a bad turnaround in the first month, and it looks like they have the beginning of a very solid franchise in that title judging by the ending of the game (my review).

It's impossible to make any clear judgments about the console war based on these numbers; it's not like the market has been exactly flooded with systems. What is clear is that Sony has stumbled out of the gate with the PS3, but as we have noted more than once before, the PS2 is amazingly strong, and right now it's selling better than the Xbox 360 in its record month. It looks like these old fellas still got it.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061209-8389.html

 

VERY LONG BUT A DAM GOOD READ..

Us and Them

p2pnet.net special:- Normally, every weekday, I get up at between 3:30 and 4:00 am. Saturday, I usually have a bit of a lay-in, and then do a few stories, but not as many as during the week. Sunday, I sleep until around 7:00 am and sometimes, I don't post at all. Today, though, I'm only going to do one post. Because I was still awake at 3:00 am with Michelle Santangelo (right) on my mind. And her mother, Patti, and brother, Bobby (right).

The Big Four Organized Music cartel, Warner Music (US), EMI (Britain), Vivendi Universal (France) and Sony BMG (Japan and Germany), accuse them of being "criminals" and "thieves". But they're not. The crooks are the Big Four themselves.

Bobby was 12 and Michelle, 16, when, as alleged "massive" online distributors of copyrighted music, they were supposed to have caused the Big Four so much grief. Briana LaHara , too, 12. She was one of the first Big Four child victims. But today there are plenty of other Brianas and Michelles around the world.

"It is not our intention to target children," Peter Jamieson declared disingenuously. "But [we will] if they are breaking the law on a very large scale."

Children? Breaking the law on a large scale? And to the extent a vast, international, multi-billion-dollar industry, is "forced" to go after them, one by one?

Jamieson works for the BPI (British Phonographic Industry), one of the many alphabet shills owned by the Big Four, and running from different countries around the world under the IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry), an umbrella outfit, with the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) as the only 'associate' member.

But although the Big Four want primarily to get at the consumers of the future, your children, they're not forgetting you, their parents.

You are, after all, the means by which they get to your kids.

Judges who don't know a computer from a banana

In this the 21st century, the law and justice have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Money talks, but contrary to the oft-quoted proverb, bullshit doesn't walk. In fact it's alive and doing very well in courts around the world, to the satisfaction and benefit of Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG.

Because these day, Justice isn't only blind, she's deaf and dumb as well. And we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Lawyers versus lawyers, heard by lawyers. No one but lawyers can understand the arcane laws originally created to protect us, but which have become self-perpetuating laws unto themselves. They enslave us. They drive us into penury on behalf of the unbelievably wealthy corporations which use them to control us, the people who made them so very rich in the first place, and who keep them that way.

File sharing isn't criminal, notwithstanding the costly and deplorably successful PR efforts by the cartel's RIAA to use the mass print and electronic media to elevate it to that level. It's a civil matter. And what's at issue isn't if someone's broken a law, it's whether or not he or she has breached a copyright, a simple commercial infringement and a very long way from "criminal" or "illegal".

RaeJ (Ray-Jay) Schwartz is a New York mother who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, a terrible, debilitating disease made worse by undue stress.

According to the RIAA, she's been robbing its masters blind by sharing music online. So she's become another of the 20,000 or so American RIAA victims hauled into US courts, often before judges in their dotage who can't tell a computer from a banana and who, it seems, rely wholly on RIAA lawyers to enlighten them. The RIAA, of course, fully exploits the judges' ignorance to spin insubstantial and vaporous evidence to suit the people who pay them, the Big Four labels..

Jonathan Whitehead is a man held up by the RIAA as an investigator. But, "It's obvious that Mr. Whitehead doesn't know Kazaa from a kazoo ... or he's simply pretending he doesn't," says systems expert Zi Mei. "The RIAA's 'investigative' techniques are sloppy and harmful, to say the least."

RaeJ, says the RIAA, signed up with the AOL and through it, illegally distributed and downloaded copyrighted songs. She insists she's never had such an account. "Lies!" - shouted the RIAA, claiming they had the paperwork to prove it.

When push came to shove, however, it had nothing of the sort. On Recording Industry vs The People, her lawyer, Ray Beckerman, says he got a copy of the "proof," but it contained no reference to "downloading" or "distributing" copyrighted songs. But the damage had been done. The faithful mainstream media had reported it.

Warner, et al, were not, however, really after RaeJ. They want her daughter.

Nor were they truly targetting Marie Lindor, the home health aide who can barely turn a computer on. They were after her son, Woody. And Michelle's mother, Patti, was never the Big Four's real target. They had their eyes on Michelle and Bobby, with Patti's other three kids, Nicole, Ryan and Jack in the background. And by the same token when, a while back, the labels zeroed in on Candy Chan, they didn't want her. They wanted her young daughter, Brittany.

Who'll it be tomorrow?

You and your kids?

Terror and extortion

I call Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG 'Organized Music' because to me, there's litttle or no difference between them and Organized Crime.

For a criminal organization to prosper, "some degree of support is required from the society in which it lives," says the Wikipedia. "Thus, it is often necessary to corrupt some of its respected members, most commonly achieved through bribery, blackmail, and the establishment of symbiotic relationships with legitimate businesses. Judicial and police officers and legislators are especially targeted for control by organized crime via bribes, threats, or a combination."

But maybe there is difference. Organized Crime doesn't pretend to be honest.

OC and OM are both pyramid organizations answering only to themselves. The tiny group of people who run them use lies, misinformation and, distortion as normal business tools.

They both use sex and drugs as motivational aids. Both buy politicians to corrupt the systems meant to protect the tax-paying citizens who fund them. They both use terror, blackmail and extortion to get what they want. And if you think these words are mis-used in this context, just ask any one of their thousands of victims what it's like to have the RIAA, or any of the other **AA 'trade' organizations, on your back.

The principal of Innocent until proven Guilty is mocked by the Big Four which, with the active and enthusiastic assistance of the mainstream media, regularly and routinely hold people of all ages up as criminals who have been tried and convicted of the heinous crime of sharing with each other online.

But these people have never been to court. They're ordinary men and women and they can't even begin to find the financial and legal resources with which take the RIAA lawyers on. So they agree to RIAA extortion, settling out of court.

And while all of this happens the true criminals, the counterfeiters and duplicators who use the readily and universally available physical software, music and movie CDs and DVDs as masters with which they make and sell their own 'product' underground, count their profits, virtually unscathed as they run rings around the cartels.

RICO = Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization

With the comparison to Organized Crime still in mind, Organized Music is currently being sued under America's famous RICO act, introduced to help law enforcers tackle the Mafia and other major crime gangs. Suing them are Tanya Andersen, an Oregon mother who's on a disability pension, and Thomas J. Korb.from Illinoise.

It's also worth remembering that the labels have themselves been deeply investigated at state and federal levels in the US for bribery and price fixing.

The were nailed by New York attorney Eliot Spitzer, eventually reaching "setttlements" without having to actually admit they did anything wrong.

For 'bribe' read, 'the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage'. And for 'illicit,' read illegitimate or prohibited. And on top of that, the labels have been repeatedly caught trying to dodge paying royalties to their contracted artists.

If you or I were found guilty of anything even remotely like what the labels routinely get away with, we'd be thrown into jail and fined until we were cross-eyed.

PLAYS (Performance Log Archive of Your Songs) said "thousands of artists" were "united" in receiving "a fair price for the licensing of their music in a new digital world" and that members include small, medium and large independent record companies, as well as the major label groups and artist-owned labels.

PLAYS used to be SoundExchange, once a Big Four Organized Music royalty collection and distribution agency, run under the auspices of their RIAA. But not only weren't thousands of artists not receiving a fair price, they weren't receiving anything at all.

"The Internet is an endless smorgasbord," said Nashville entertainment attorney Fred Wilhelms . "And the RIAA ignored the party until it was too late. And because the smorgasbord was already up and running, they graciously 'volunteered,' through SoundExchange, to be the guys sitting at the front door, selling tickets. They also sit at the back door, selling tickets in the form of license fees to the people bringing the musical food in.

"Quite a racket, and completely legal."

"I've been screwed from the beginning," Canadian singing star and musician Joni Mitchell said. "The deal that I got was just atrocious. I mean, it was like slave labor, really - no points, no budget. And I've never really had a good deal in the business."

She also said, "Now, this is all calculated music. It's calculated for sales, it's sonically calculated, it's rudely calculated. I'm ashamed to be a part of the music business. You know, I just think it's a cesspool."

Then there are the cases of old-time stars being forgotten.

Fair and balanced reporting

You'd think by now, the ongoing scandal would have made international headlines and resulted in numerous court cases, with the labels in the criminal box.

Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG sued under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act? Going after kids? Not paying their own contracted artists? Bribing DJs for air-plays? Fixing prices to eliminate competition and dominate world markets?

But forget the idea of fair and balanced reporting, of an impartial press corps. There are splashes, every now and then, but nothing substantial, and nothing consistent.

Individual reporters and editors would no doubt like to run the real, unspun news, but at the end of the day, they do what they're told. Or they walk. Ultimately, the entertainment cartels are in charge. They own and/or directly or indirectly, through arm's length holdings and advertising dollars, control most of what we see and hear in the corporate outlets.

There was scant mainstream coverage of the RICO cases, but thanks to the international print and electronic media, the RIAA were able to humiliate and embarrass the Santangelos not just locally, but around the world.

"Having made New York mother Patti Santangelo's life quite literally a living hell, Warner Music, EMI, Sony BMG and Vivendi Universal have now turned their attentions to two of her children, Michelle and Robert, going so far as to blackmail Robert's best friend into making statements against him," I wrote.

The story was a follow up to an earlier post centering on an Associated Press wire article which ran in The New York Times and The Washington Post, to name but two major newspapers. It was also everywhere online: US Today, CBS and Fox news, The San Francisco Chronicle, BusinessWeek, and so on.

AP quoted a supposed RIAA court filing, "supposed" because the document in question wasn't actually submitted until many weeks after the stories ran globally.

Which is nothing new.

Back in 2003, for example, when I spoke to Lorraine Sullivan, one of the first RIAA victims, "I heard about the summons from a reporter and it wasn't until a week later than I actually got it," she said. And any number of other people have learned they were being targeted only because a newspaper wanted a reaction for a story.

Warner Music Group chairman Edgar Bronfman, jr, admits his own seven children, "stole music". But will they be sued? Will they hell. And did the revelation make shock-horror headlines around the world? Did it hell.

The mainstream media are buzzing about the Gower report which says UK copyrights shouldn't be extended, to the disgust of old-time corporate rockers who are now extremely rich, billionaires, some of them, because you paid to see their shows and bought their music.

Songwriter's war? What war? This isn't about them. It's about us. The people who put money in the song-writer's pockets.

But all that's changing, thanks to the Net.

So-called file sharing criminals

I'm just one old guy (65, almost) living in a tiny town on Vancouver Island off the coast of British Columbia in Canada. I don't have much in the way of money. But I don't need much. My wife, Liz, and I home school our 10-year-old daughter, Emma. We hardly ever watch TV, we go to the movies once in a blue moon, and even then, because we're not in a big city, it's the $5 matinees where the staff still keep the floors clean and people with Big Mouths get kicked out.

We love music (it's what got me oinline in the first place) and have a large collection of vinyl records and a fair number of CDs. And I have a bunch of mp3s, mostly jazz, blues and pre-80s rock.

I also have an online account, thanks entirely to Pablo Soto, who runs Blubster, Mike Weiss at StreamCast of Morpheus fame, and the guys at Warez P2P.

Bearshare and Limewire also used to advertise with p2pnet, but Bearshare has gone the way of Kazaa and Limewire is presently suing the RIAA.

But thanks to Pablo and the others, I can still feed my family, pay my mortgage and stay online. I'm not, though, wealthy. Far from it.

p2pnet isn't a business. It's not entrepreneurial. It's a web page which allows me to be a reporter, a trade I've worked at for almost all of my adult life, and to talk directly to you without editors and vested interest advertisers getting between us. And you, in turn, can talk to me by email, or you can also use comment posts.

Nor is my interest academic. I know first-hand what it's like to be a party in a terrifying lawsuit with a multi-millon-dollar company on the other end.

Ironically, I'm being sued for alleged libel by Nikki Hemming, Sharman Networks and Kazaa boss. Owned by Australia's Sharman Networks, Kazaa is the same p2p application application used by Briana and thousands of other so-called file sharing criminals. I don't have any money either and I'd be on a limb by myself were it not for Dan Burnett, who's representing me pro bono.

Click here if you want to know more about my case.

Meanwhile, the wheel is turning and Kazaa itself is now being sued in a case launched by a former user.

Keeping us in the dark and feeding us bullshit

For the fist time in history, we all talk to each other. Around the world.

Information, not money, is the only real currency and today, in the 21st digital century, we can tap it and share it, a privilege once confined solely to the Powers That Used To Be.

And that's the most frightening thing that's ever happened to the labels and all the other corporate entities who have hitherto been able to treat us like mushrooms, keeping us in the dark and feeding us bullshit.

We don't need them. But they need us. In fact, they literally can't survive without us and for the first time, they're experiencing the sheer horror of having to face informed consumers who can pass what they know on to others. And the labels aren't doing so well in another respect, either.

Also for the first time, they're facing competition in the form excellent musicians and performers, amateur and pro, who showcase themselves online.

A critical mass is on the verge of being reached and when it gells, the wheel will have come full circle with the labels where they should be, wooing you instead of suing you. Because the RIAA,and all the the Big Four RIAA clones around the world, have achieved one important victory. For us.

They've created a brand new consumer class, and one which won't go anywhere near Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG or any of the 1,637 so-called RIAA member companies.

And why would they need to with the excellent free and independent online musicians to choose from?

I've focused mainly on US cases, but this isn't a localized problem. The American RIAA sue 'em all travesty is merely one element of a carefully orchestrated, carefully controlled word-wide conspiracy to subjugate 'consumers' everywhere ---- to bring them to heel.

Under the aegis of their IFPI, the Big Four are using their so-called 'trade associations' to sue people in every part of the world.

In Canada, it's the CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association), in Australia, the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association), in Hong Kong, the IFPI (Hong Kong Group), in India, the IMI (Indian Music Industry), in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Group of IFPI, and so on.

Big Music is like a huge and ugly octopus with the various trade groups as its tentacles.

Meanwhile:

* File sharing is NOT a crime.
* File sharers are NOT criminals or thieves.
* The Big Four are NOT being devastated by us.
* Files shared do NOT equal sales lost.
* We do NOT owe Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG a living.
* No one is deprived of anything when a file is shared.

Because although the labels and the movie studios and the software groups and all the other cartels are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to make us believe we need them, we don't, especially now the digital 21st century and p2p are changing the world.

The customer is always right. And that's us.

"Merry Christmas cartels!" - said a reader in a recent email. "Who knows, it may be your last!"

But it doesn't have to be like that. We're reasonable people. All the cartels have to do is learn, in this modern day and age, to be reasonable as well.

Cheers!

Jon Newton - p2pnet

Also See:
Michelle Santangelo - Michelle Santangelo: I'm no thief, December 8, 2006
Briana LaHara - We gave up on Prohibition ...
RaeJ (Ray-Jay) Schwartz - RIAA builds new consumer class, November 20, 2006
Kazaa from a kazoo - RIAA alters 'sloppy' testimony, February 23, 2006
Recording Industry vs The People - Letter Contains No Reference to Downloading or Distributing of Copyrighted Songs, December 7, 2006
truly targetting - RIAA attacks Marie Lindor's son, November 22, 2006
real target - Patti Santangelo update, April 156, 2006
young daughter - RIAA Chan case dismissal, April 21, 2006
revealed - Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss, Says "Making Available for Distribution" is Sufficient Allegation, December 8, 2006
Tanya Andersen - Victim sues RIAA under RICO Act, October 1, 2005
Thomas J. Korb - RIAA again in RICO claim, December 6, 2006
admit they did anything wrong - Warner Music in trouble, May 6, 2006
blackmail Robert's best frien - RIAA, Santangelo court doc farce, November 3, 2006
earlier post - RIAA goes after Santangelo kids, November 2, 2006
Lorraine Sullivan - RIAA gets $2500 from Lorraine Sullivan
stole music - WMG boss' kids 'stole music', December 4, 2006
old-time corporate rockers - Dead stars sign UK copyright ad, December 7, 2006
admit wrongdoing - CBS Radio nailed for bribery, October 23, 2006
anything at all - Big Music Owes You Money !!!, September 29, 2006
endless smorgasbord - Unpaid Artists: Part II, September 22, 2006
screwed from the beginning - File sharing, p2p criminals, March 12, 2005
representing me - Free speech in Canada, June 2, 2006
gone the way of Kazaa - Kazaa deal paid for RIAA victim?, November 18, 2006
suing the RIAA - LimeWire versus the RIAA: Part II, November 18, 2006
Click here - Cyber-libel and p2pnet, July 31, 2006
launched by a former user - Kazaa sued in class action, December 7, 2006
p2pnet newsfeeds for your site | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php

(Saturday 9th December 2006)
http://p2pnet.net/story/10700?PHPSESSID=1888bd30f51a021f3e4a49eb3df02653

 

FREE,TweakNow RegCleaner Standard 3.0.0
Author: TweakNow
Date: 2006-12-09
Size: 1.1 Mb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All

The Registry is a heart and soul of any Windows system. It contains information that controls how your Windows appears and how it behaves. Most applications today use registry to store configuration and other important data. When you install an application, a new registry entries will be created. This entries will automatically be deleted when you uninstall the application. Unfortunately, it is not always work that way. Sometimes, you will find that some applications fail to remove their own registry entries. This entry will become obsolete.

After a long period, after installing and uninstalling a lot number of applications, your Windows registry will contain a large number of obsolete entries. This will significantly increase the registry size and thus will slowdown your computer, because Windows will need more time to load, search, and read data from registry.

To keep your computer in top performance, it is recommended to periodically clean your Windows registry.

Why using TweakNow RegCleaner?

Fast: using a high performance engine, TweakNow RegCleaner quickly scan your registry to find obsolete entries.
Accurate: using complex algorithm TweakNow RegCleaner accurately identify obsolete entries.
Secure: TweakNow RegCleaner automatically create backup file before deleting obsolete entries from your registry.
Flexible License: TweakNow RegCleaner available in two licenses, commercial ($13.95) and non commercial (free).

DOWNLOAS LINK
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4134.html

 

MICROSOFT SHARED COMPUTER TOOLKIT FOR WINDOWS XP..........

Some nice tools: Windows Disk Protection - Protects the Windows partition (typically drive C) that contains the Windows operating system and other programs from being modified without administrator approval. Disk changes made are cleared with each restart unless the administrator chooses to save them. User Restrictions - Restricts user access to programs, settings, and Start menu items. The tool also allows you to lock shared local user profiles to prevent permanent changes. (This tool is specifically for use in workgroup environments that do not use. Active Directory and Group Policy - A Group Policy template is also included for use in Active Directory environments.) Profile Manager - Creates and deletes user profiles. You can use this tool to create user profiles on alternative drives that will retain data and settings even though Windows Disk Protection is on. You can also use the tool to completely delete profiles that have been locked by the User Restrictions tool. Accessibility - Makes Windows accessibility options and utilities such as StickyKeys, FilterKeys, and Magnifier available to users who have been restricted from accessing Control Panel and other system settings. Includes a comprehensive, 107-page Handbook in PDF format.....(free).....GO THERE!

MICROSOFT
LINK
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx





Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP
Brief Description
The Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows® XP. Version 1.1 software update is now available. The new version still offers the same powerful software tools for shared computers in classrooms, school computer labs, libraries, and other public places as the previous version, and also includes software updates that resolve a few known issues.


Overview
Shared computers are commonly found in schools, libraries, Internet and gaming cafés, community centers, and other locations. Often, non-technical personnel are asked to manage shared computers in addition to their primary responsibilities.

Managing shared computers can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Without restrictions, users can change the desktop appearance, reconfigure system settings, and introduce spyware, viruses, and other harmful programs. Repairing damaged shared computers costs significant time and effort.

User privacy is also an issue. Shared computers often use shared accounts that make Internet history, saved documents, and cached Web pages available to subsequent users.

The Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP provides a simple and effective way to defend shared computers from untrusted users and malicious software, safeguard system resources, and enhance and simplify the user experience. The Toolkit runs on genuine copies of Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

What’s New in the Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP Version 1.1
Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit Version 1.1 provides the following software updates:

* The error, “There is a Problem with this Windows Installer Package. A Script required for this install to complete could not be run. Contact your support personnel or package vendor.” will no longer appear when uninstalling the Shared Computer Toolkit.
* The Shared Computer Toolkit uninstalls properly when it was previously installed in a domain environment and Windows Disk Protection is enabled.
* When you upgrade to MSN Messenger 7.5 from a previous version, your User Restrictions for MSN Messenger will be retained.
* When Windows Disk Protection is enabled and the protection partition is full, the end user will be prompted to save files to a different location and restart the computer.



Tools Summary
The Toolkit includes several command-line tools and the following graphical tools:

* Getting Started. Provides access to computer settings and utilities and helps first-time operators learn the Toolkit basics quickly.
* Windows Disk Protection. Protects the Windows partition (typically drive C) that contains the Windows operating system and other programs from being modified without administrator approval. Disk changes made are cleared with each restart unless the administrator chooses to save them.
* User Restrictions. Restricts user access to programs, settings, and Start menu items. The tool also allows you to lock shared local user profiles to prevent permanent changes. (This tool is specifically for use in workgroup environments that do not use Active Directory and Group Policy. A Group Policy template is also included for use in Active Directory environments.)
* Profile Manager. Creates and deletes user profiles. You can use this tool to create user profiles on alternative drives that will retain data and settings even though Windows Disk Protection is on. You can also use the tool to completely delete profiles that have been locked by the User Restrictions tool.
* Accessibility. Makes Windows accessibility options and utilities such as StickyKeys, FilterKeys, and Magnifier available to users who have been restricted from accessing Control Panel and other system settings.

This download includes a comprehensive, 107-page Handbook in PDF format. The Handbook can be browsed online on TechNet.

Warning: The Toolkit is not intended for use on family computers as a parental controls measure — many of the security features may have adverse effects on family computers. Be sure to review the Handbook section on restricting children on a family computer if you are installing the Toolkit at home.

Note: Users of the Beta Release should review the SCT Beta Upgrade Notes.

Top of page
System Requirements

* Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP Home Edition ; Windows XP Professional N; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Supported operating systems: Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2). Windows Genuine Advantage validation is required to install and use the tools in the Toolkit.

The User Profile Hive Cleanup Service must be installed and running. This service ensures that profiles are fully unloaded upon logoff, which is required for the proper operation of the Toolkit.

The NTFS file system must be in place. FAT32 and other file systems do not meet the security requirements of shared computers. If your computer is not using NTFS, see Knowledge Base article 307881 to learn how to convert it to NTFS before you install the Toolkit.

A Portable Document Format (PDF) file viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the Handbook included in the installation.

Top of page
Instructions
This download is available to customers running genuine Microsoft Windows. Click the Continue button in the Validation Required section above to begin the short validation process. Once validated, you will be returned to this page with specific instructions for obtaining the download.

Top of page
Additional Information
Disk Requirements
Before you can turn on the Windows Disk Protection tool, the computer must have unallocated disk space (1024 MB or approximately 10 percent of the disk, whichever is greater) to create a protection partition. Detailed instructions for doing this are provided in the Handbook.

Note: You can reserve unallocated disk space when installing Windows XP, or you can reduce the size of an existing partition using a third-party product such as TeraByte BootIt Next Generation or Symantec Norton PartitionMagic to create unallocated disk space after the existing Windows partition. This unallocated disk space does not need to be available to install the Toolkit, and it is not required to use the other tools.

Support and Feedback
Support and feedback for the Shared Computer Toolkit is available through the Microsoft Windows Shared Access Newsgroup (microsoft.public.windows.sharedaccess), which is closely monitored by the development and support team.

Product Support Services (PSS) can be contacted for paid support, or if you already have a support agreement. Use the Shared Computer Toolkit Product ID when contacting PSS: 77695-100-0001260-04309.

Known Issues
Problem: A message stating that a “suspicious or malicious script has been detected” might appear while you install and use the tools in the Toolkit.
Reason: Some security software claims that any unknown script is suspicious or malicious.
Solution: Disable script warnings in your security tool, or allow or authorize the Toolkit installer and each tool to run. See the Handbook for more information about using the Toolkit with script-blocking software.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...56-E3DA-42EA-857D-92B716077A84&displaylang=en

 

for those that have a problem with anydvd of lost drives after the last update..

heres some thing that might help for that problem

upper and lower filters

Here's a useful free utility for anyone interested...devFilter from busTrace.com
http://www.bustrace.com/products/devfilter.htm

Introduction
busTRACE Technologies has developed a simple utility that allows you to view which filter drivers are specified for the Disk and CD/DVD devices on your computer. This applet shows you those filter drivers that are specified in your registry. They may, or may not, be actually running. That is dependent on the driver itself.
This is a useful diagnostic applet for those users who have a need to determine which Disk/CD/DVD filter drivers various 3rd party applications, or Microsoft itself, have installed on your system. You can download this utility for free.
What operating systems are supported?
The software only supports Windows 2000/XP/2003 and above. The software is also compatible with the x64 versions of Windows.

 

Comodo AntiVirus and firewall
FREE lifetime license

Eliminates Viruses, Worms and Trojans from Windows XP and Windows 2000 computers.

Features on-demand & on-access scanning, email scanning, process monitoring, worm blocking, full scheduling capabilities and more.

It's easy to install and configure; will not slow down your PC by hogging system resources and the full program is free for life to the end user.

go here

http://www.comodogroup.com/products/free_products.html

 

Have spent the last 2 1/2 hours installing and uninstalling the Comodo antivirus. It won't let me turn on the access scan. The emails to support come back thatI don't have a Id with them ,heck now I've got 5 if I count the firewall I installed the other day. In the applications it won't recognise the Firewall or anti spam as being there. Has anybody else had problems.Chris

 

Federal judge: Making files available for download = distribution

12/10/2006 6:01:45 PM, by Eric Bangeman

The RIAA's argument that making files available for download constitutes copyright infringement received an important boost from a federal judge. In an decision delivered in October and first reported over the weekend, Judge Ann Aiken found that making songs available for download via a P2P application such as Kazaa is equivalent to distributing the files and forms a sufficient basis for a claim of copyright infringement, the first time that a judge has made such a ruling in a file-sharing case.

The case in question, Elektra v. Perez, follows the pattern of the numerous other file-sharing lawsuits brought by the RIAA. After MediaSentry discovered a number of songs in a Kazaa user's download folder, the RIAA filed a "John Doe" lawsuit which was supplanted once the defendant, Dave Perez, was identified by his ISP as the owner of the account allegedly used to share music.
What constitutes distribution?

In his response, Perez denied the accusations of file sharing and said that even if he was responsible for the "perez@kazaa" account, merely making the files available in a shared folder for other Kazaa users falls short of infringement. The argument echoes that made in many other file-sharing cases, including Elektra v. Barker: distribution does not take place until someone actually downloads one of the songs from a Kazaa share, and that the RIAA would have to show that someone illegally downloaded the file in order to demonstrate that copyright infringement occurred. In the Elektra v. Barker case, the EFF filed an amicus brief outlining its position that sharing music files does not infringe the "distribution right" granted to copyright holders.

It's a difficult question, due in large part to the copyright law's predating the "digital age." As written, US copyright law explicitly says that in order to "distribute" a copyrighted work, an actual, physical exchange of a material object must take place. The EFf and other groups have urged the courts to define "distribution" as necessitating involving physical objects. Oddly enough, that position also embraces the pre-Internet concept of "distribution," even though most would agree that the iTunes Store and other online music services selling purely digital goods engage in the authorized distribution of copyrighted works.

Perez, the EFF, and others might use libraries to illustrate their arguments. A public library has a wide selection of copyrighted works available for patrons to use, read, watch, listen to, and even copy, within limits. However, the library is not responsible for what its patrons do once they borrow a book or DVD. In other words, its's not the collection itself and public access to it that causes infringement, it's the actions of those who use items in the collection. There are special provisions protecting libraries from the actions of their users, but online users may be responsible for what others do, should they even make it possible for others to get access to copyrighted materials.

Judge Aiken ruled in favor of the RIAA. In her order, the judge noted that in a copyright infringement case, the plaintiff needs to do two things: demonstrate ownership of the material and show that the party accused of infringement "violated at least one exclusive right granted to copyright holders under 17 U.S.C. § 106." Making songs available for download fulfills the second requirement, wrote Judge Aiken.

"[P]laintiffs' Amended Complaint refers to 'Exhibit B' attached to the complaint, which allegedly represents music files being shared by user 'perez@KaZaA' at the time plaintiffs' investigator conducted the investigation... I find that Exhibit B, in the context of the allegations in the Complaint, supports plaintiffs' allegation that defendant made copyrighted materials available for distribution," wrote Judge Aiken. "In sum, plaintiffs' amended complaint alleges the necessary elements of a copyright infringement action pursuant to the Copyright Act"

This appears to be the first instance in which a judge presiding over a file-sharing case has ruled that having a shared folder available on Kazaa constitutes copyright infringement. Although that particular argument has been widely used in other file-sharing cases, Judge Aiken's ruling may have little effect on those lawsuits, as the dismissal without prejudice significantly lessens the likelihood that the opinion will be precedent setting.

Judges have yet to rule on the other defenses still in play in file-sharing cases, including arguments that the settlement reached between the RIAA and Kazaa bars recovery of any additional damages from file-sharing defendants and that statutory damages should be capped at $2.80 per song. Just last week, another RIAA defendent sued Sharman Networks for deceptive marketing, saying that the Kazaa application made her music collection available for downloading without her knowledge.

Judge Aiken also denied Perez's request for attorney's fees. Three of his children who have reportedly admitted using Kazaa have been added to the original lawsuit as defendants.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061210-8393.html

 

Gadgets Microsoft Sued for Bricking Xbox 360s

Marcus Yam (Blog) - December 11, 2006 12:42 AM

A class action lawsuit seeks $5 million and free repairs

When Microsoft released the Fall Dashboard Update for the Xbox 360, users expected 1080p, HD DVD, WMA streaming and more. What no one expected was that the update crashed consoles, rendering them mostly useless. Microsoft quickly acknowledged and fixed the problem, and advised those who had bricked consoles to contact Xbox tech support for further instruction.

More than a month after Microsoft’s dangerous Dashboard, a Californian man is leading a class action lawsuit against Microsoft after his own Xbox 360 was disabled by the update, according to Ars Technica’s report.

Apparently, after contacting Xbox tech support following the faulty update, Kevin Ray was refused repair of his console unless he paid the usual $140 charge that Microsoft requires for servicing/exchanging a machine. The class action suit filed in a Washington federal court seeks over $5 million in damages in addition to free repair for all Xbox 360 fallen victim to the Fall Dashboard Update.

Microsoft only warranties Xbox 360s for 90 days following purchase, but users have the open to purchase extended warranty directly for an added fee. Failure rates have been abnormally high, especially among launch window consoles, that Microsoft has agreed to repair all machines manufactured in 2005 free of charge, and issue a refund for those who already paid for repairs of launch units.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5291

 

Blu-Ray for the PS3 was a "mistake"

Analyst reckons

By Nick Farrell: Monday 11 December 2006, 09:39
FORCING PS3 punters into buying a Blu-Ray format player with their consoles might be backfiring on Sony.

Not only did a shortage of Blu-Ray gear force the PS3 to ship late and in too low quantities, according to analysts, a lot of players hate it. Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman said that early adopters of the PS3 would have bought it at any cost. But those who come to the product later will be more price-sensitive.

Blu-Ray however is adding $150 to $200 to the product and punters do not really want it.

Goodman said that Sony had created something that is not for today's market. Blu-Ray was not a market driver on a console and it is only driving the price higher.

Cymfony, a company which looks at Internet sites, surveyed more than 18,000 posts on bogs, discussion boards and consumer review sites from October 1 to November 30 and found that there was 46 percent more positive discussion about HD-DVD than Blu-ray.

Most of the negative Blu-ray conversations indicated punters did not trust Sony, and gamers were miffed that it was flogging Blu-ray with PS3.

More here. µ
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...xml&WTmodLoc=TechNewsHome_C2_technologyNews-2

 

GOOD MORNING ALL!! Gerry1 is having a nice strong cup of coffee and simply wanted to stop by and say hello to everyone. I haven't been around much the last few days and probably won't be around much until Monday. Schedule has been nuts.

MY new digital camera was delivered yesterday and I haven't had much time to play with my new toy. I've found that it will be necessary to read the user's manual. What ever happened to the good ol days when one merely used the manual to see what you were doing wrong? Oh well. I hope everyone is well. Odd how you sort of miss AD when you're unable to stop by as frequently as you would like

 

Title: Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2006
Issued: December 12, 2006


Patch Tuesday

In case you forgot, today is patch Tuesday, hit the Windows Update button and patch your box. Among the things fixed / patched; the Windows Media zero-day flaw, Visual Studio flaw and Internet Explorer stuff has all been taken care of. Head on over and get your fix on.

Critical Security Bulletins
===========================

MS06-072 - Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (925454)

- Affected Software:
- Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4 on Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4
- Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 on Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003 and Windows
Server 2003 Service Pack 1
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based
Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based
Systems
- Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition


- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS06-073 - Vulnerability in Visual Studio 2005
Could Allow Remote Code Execution (925674)

- Affected Software:
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2005


- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS06-078 - Vulnerability in Windows Media Format
Could Allow Remote Code Execution (923689)

- Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows Media Format 7.1 through 9.5 Series Runtime
on the following operating system versions:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Microsoft Windows Server
2003 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Media Format 9.5 Series Runtime x64 Edition
on the following operating system versions:
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or on Microsoft Windows
Server 2003 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition


- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

Important Security Bulletins
============================

MS06-074 - Vulnerability in SNMP
Could Allow Remote Code Execution (926247)

- Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1
for Itanium-based Systems
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition


- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS06-075 - Vulnerability in Windows
Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (926255)

- Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems


- Impact: Elevation of Privilege
- Version Number: 1.0

MS06-076 - Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express (923694)

- Affected Software:
- Outlook Express 5.5 Service Pack 2 on Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4
- Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1 on Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4
- Outlook Express 6 on Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Outlook Express 6 on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Outlook Express 6 on Windows Server 2003 and Windows
Server 2003 Service Pack 1
- Outlook Express 6 on Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based
Systems and Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based
Systems
- Outlook Express 6 on Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition


- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

MS06-077 - Vulnerability in Remote Installation Service
Could Allow Remote Code Execution (926121)

- Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4


- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Version Number: 1.0

 

With a blanket license, will CDs get cheaper?
Or dearer. Or disappear?
By Andrew Orlowski → More by this author
Published Tuesday 12th December 2006 20:00 GMT

So last year's " Future of Music™", the DRM-encumbered digital downloads model pioneered by Apple, has stalled. What now?

After reading our take on it, Sava Zxivanovich has a very good question.

"Does blanket licensing mean that CDs and DVDs will be cheaper? We buy them a lot."

A blanket license for digital music, now being considered by labels (big and small), songwriters and performers, gives you the right to exchange music freely over computer networks - for a small fee. The pool of money is then divided up according to the exchanges, and returned to rights holders. The model operates today in many situations where it's too onerous to count, let alone restrict the exchanges taking place: such as for radio, and music played in pubs and shopping malls, for example.

When it's introduced, it will result in some pretty dramatic transformations, as you'll be able to walk past a cafe or store and "collect" the music on your phone, and carry on using P2P networks legally - without the nuisance of DRM or threat of RIAA stormtroopers.

link to the rest of the story

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/12/will_cds_get_cheaper/

 

iTunes sales 'collapsing'
Digital flatline looks ominous for music labels
Page: 1 2 Next >
By Andrew Orlowski → More by this author
Published Monday 11th December 2006 19:49 GMT

The leading DRM digital download service, Apple's iTunes, has experienced a collapse in sales revenues this year according to analyst company Forrester Research.

Secretive Apple doesn't break out revenues from iTunes, but Forrester conducted an analysis of credit card transactions over a 27-month period. And this year's numbers aren't good.

While the iTunes service saw healthy growth for much of the period, since January the monthly revenue has fallen by 65 per cent, with the average transaction size falling 17 per cent. The previous spring's rebound wasn't repeated this year.

And it isn't just Apple's problem.

link to the rest of story

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/11/digital_downloads_flatline/

 

Corsair Announces 16GB Flash Drive
Anh Huynh (Blog) - December 12, 2006 6:14 PM

Lifted.. on Dec 13, 2006 at 12:49 AM

Corsair's Flash Voyager sizes up

Corsair today announced the latest addition to its Flash Voyager line of USB drives. The latest Flash Voyager drive arrives in a new 16GB size while retaining the portable form factor of smaller drives. An all-rubber housing surrounds the Flash Voyager 16GB USB drive and allows it to be somewhat water-resistant. Corsair equips the Flash Voyager with a USB 2.0 interface for speedy transfers up to 22MB/s reads and 7MB/s writes.

With the massive 16GB storage space the Flash Voyager can store plenty of high definition video and other multimedia content. Corsair’s Director of Product Marketing, Richard Hashim claims “As high definition content becomes more prevalent and that consumers demand portability of their favorite videos, pictures and applications, the need for an ultra high capacity drive increases. With a 16GB drive, you can put the entire series of three Lord of the Rings movies, an operating system, chat programs, photo editing software and still have storage space available for more,”

Other notable features of the Flash Voyager include 8 bit ECC technology to prolong product reliability and a bundled software encryption application. The bundled encryption application takes advantage of 256bit AES encryption technology.

Expect immediate availability of the Corsair Flash Voyager 16GB flash drive. MSRP pricing of the Flash Voyager 16GB has been set at $299 USD.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5331