Search results matching tag 'Microsoft'

RE: Netflix Now Playing On Sony's PlayStation 3

3vi1 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:07:08 GMT

That's not why they need the disc. There's no technical reason you need a firmware update to stream video. Any PS store download can stream media - it doesn't need to be an embedded part of the XMB.

I found out the real reason: NetFlix has an exclusivity agreement with MS that makes the 360 the only console that can have this embedded functionality for the next year. It's on a disc solely for reasons that NetFlix wants to work around the wording in that agreement. It won't be part of the XMB until that contract expires in late 2010. :\

Microsoft is probably steamed, and going to sue them anyway - because M$ made it a Gold-member only feature in order to sell subscriptions to XBox Live.

RE: Firefox Users Exposed to Vulnerability Via MS Stealth Install

mhenriday — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:41:57 GMT

Endersothergame, in my opinion many Linux distros already are fully competitive with Microsoft's OS. Gamers who react to being locked in by Microsoft might want to note the recent Make Tech Easier article on the Djl game manager (http://preview.tinyurl.com/yfhvflk ), which provides «instant access» to over 100 games. Not being a gamer myself, I haven't installed it on my Ubuntu Karmic beta setups, but it would certainly be interesting to hear from gamers and Linux enthusiasts who have tried it....

Henri

RE: Firefox Users Exposed to Vulnerability Via MS Stealth Install

mhenriday — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:08:25 GMT

Manoeuvres of this sort make it very difficult for users to have any confidence at all in Microsoft....

Henri

Monster Patch Tuesday

3vi1 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:16:48 GMT

13 patches coming on Tuesday... including 5 for the yet-to-be-release Windows7.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139155/Microsoft_plans_monster_Patch_Tuesday_next_week

Re: Xbox 360 Woes: E74 Becoming Big Problem

3vi1 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:52:55 GMT

I've already convinced myself that I'm not buying the next MS console. At the very least, not in the first year.

First, my original XBox (1) was one of the early units that had the Phillips drive problems. So, it died on me. :(

Most recently: I got bit by the Red Ring of Death problem. It was not a relatively well known problem back when it happened to me - so I had to pay to have it fixed.

And here's the most irritating thing about having your 360 'fixed': They don't send you back the same unit; they send you a replacement unit. The problem with that is that all of the downloadable games you bought can from then on only be played on the account that bought them instead of any account on the system. So, if you do like I did - buy all of the games for your kids with your own account (so that you don't have to enter your credit card every time and can keep it locked down), now your kids have to use your account to play their games. :(

It's just another example of how DRM makes like difficult on the legal consumer while pirates are unaffected.

RE: Ballmer Confiscates iPhone at Microsoft Annual Meeting

mhenriday — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:09:26 GMT

That must indeed have been a real dilemma for Mr Ballmer - a choice between getting his picture taken with a competitors product (imagine what would have happened if the offending camera had been found on an Android !) or not getting it taken, which from what I understand, would not be an appealing alternative to a man with Mr Ballmer's need for the limelight. Presumably he resolved it by seeing to it that several photos were taken of him «stomping» on the phone....

Henri

RE: Judge Rules Microsoft Word Can No Longer Be Sold

3vi1 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:57:38 GMT

Listened to it, and read the patent.

My opinion is: i4i's patent is nothing more than an XML implementation of the document/view architecture that everyone's been using since GUIs were invented. It's just been written in a format that makes that nearly unintelligible. It's an obvious invention, but they may actually have a case as far as the implementation goes.

The good news is, it looks like Microsoft can just make some internal changes to make Word non-infringing. I hope Microsoft does that rather than give in to these trolls.

Funny thing is that MS would have avoided this whole thing if they had just used ODF instead of trying to make their own "open" standard.

RE: Microsoft Stops Making IE8 Default Browser - Again

mhenriday — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:18:08 GMT

Of course most users choose «Express installation» - after all, it's recommended by Microsoft and does, in fact, represent the wisest choice for users who are not very familiar with computer software (like Microsoft, I always recommend those fellow users I help to select «Express Installation»), as otherwise they will be confronted with further choices they are hardly equipped to make). But precisely for this reason, Microsoft should not be allowed to use «Express Installation» to effect changes in user settings that users have not mandated, of which automatically setting IE8 as the default browser when previously a non-Microsoft product was the default is a prime example. Any such change should only occur after the user has given specific, opt-in permission. The new window which pops up during the IE8-installation process seems to fulfill reasonable requirements - let us hope that we don't discover that after a few weeks Microsoft has eliminated it !...

Der Meister, I don't know what «most people» know or don't know - but as current statistics from StatCounter (http://preview.tinyurl.com/nyfqqq ) reveal, here in Europe at least, Firefox and IE seem to be running almost neck-and-neck in the browser market, so some people do seem to be aware that other browsers than Internet Explorer exist....

Henri

RE: Microsoft Stops Making IE8 Default Browser - Again

mhenriday — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:43:50 GMT

The short answer to Crisis Causer's post above is No, Microsoft should not, given it's quasi-monopoly position in the desktop OS market, be allowed to do what it wants with its OS, if doing what it wants is a transparent attempt at lock-in in order to stifle competition in the browser market, which, thanks largely to the efforts of the Mozilla Foundation and the qualities of its Firefox browser, has finally become a more open market. Users would not be served by a return to the situation obtaining five years ago, with a quasi-monopoly on the browser side as well. Now we have the opportunity to choose from several different browsers, such as Firefox, Chrome, Opera, etc, in additions to Microsoft's product, Internet Explorer. Let's keep it that way !...

Henri

RE: Despite SEC Filing, Microsoft Not Likely To Lose Sleep Over Linux Desktop Competition

mhenriday — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:16:28 GMT

I very much hope you prove prescient, 3vi1 ; Microsoft - and above all we users - need some competition in the OS market. I wonder what the release of Google's Chrome for netbooks will bring in its train ?

Henri