IS IT PROVOCATION or is it simply PR? After the Microsoft "loves open source" nonsense [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Jon Brodkin from IDG (Network World) strikes again. He linked to the "loves open source" nonsense in the articles too, probably for some provocation or needless mind control. They do that a lot in Network World, embedding incorrect statements in articles that can only be corrected in rational readers' comments. For the uninitiated, the Fox News/News Corp. of technology seems to be IDG (paid by Microsoft through IDC) because it controls a lot of publications that cover technology. It has a lot of influence to sell and it sure sells influence by taking steps such as creating a "Microsoft Subnet" and stuffing it -- along with other so-called 'subnets' -- with Microsoft sympathisers. One of them writes about Windows Live Mesh and points out that GNU/Linux is excluded. "On March 31," she writes, "Microsoft will stop supporting the beta version of Live Mesh. Users of the file synching service must manually upgrade to the full production Windows Live Mesh service or lose the data stored in their folders. This cloud service synchs files between multiple Windows machines and Macs, but because it doesn't support Linux, other services like Dropbox still have an edge."

"Microsoft employee defends Microsoft? No way!"Yes, Microsoft sure loves open source, eh? It does not support a single open source platform, even on the Web which is supposed to foster open standards (Microsoft is also banning Free software in its phones). Anyway, in IDG's Microsoft section/s there is new poison and it comes in pairs. The Microsoft PR campaign now involves its employee, Gianugo Rabellino, who Brodkin says "takes on the hardest job at Microsoft" (we have heard the same thing about Hilf and Ramji). "A few months ago," says Brodkin ,"Gianugo Rabellino traded his Linux and Mac PCs for a Windows 7 laptop, left the open source company he founded and moved to Redmond for a new job with Microsoft. His goal: improve Microsoft's credibility within open source circles."

Bollocks.

His goal was to become rich. He only accepted this job because Microsoft is poaching (or at least trying) open source luminaries like Simon Phipps. His departure from "Linux and Mac PCs for a Windows 7 laptop" was just part of the deal. He sold out. There are mostly reasonable comments in the article and more in LWN (even a reference to Techrights). The whole thing is a whitewash and Dr. Glyn Moody responded to it with: "so, about those software patents MS claims OSS infringes..."

By the same author there is a second piece which got little attention. It's still from the same source, which is a full-time Microsoft employee. To quote: '"Rabellino says his main focus right now "is to enable PHP to shine on our platforms," including Windows Azure."'

Microsoft employee defends Microsoft? No way!

Satipera writes: 'Rabellino "This company (Microsoft) has changed" What nonsense. If MS could kill #FLOSS today it would.'

Of course it would, but it is trying to invade it to cause harm, just like in Nokia. More remarks about these whitewash pieces from Jon Brodkin can be found in Tuesday's IRC logs (specifically here onwards) and some of yesterday's. To quote bits and pieces from yesterday morning (including the complete quote from Groklaw), "page two is all Microsoft talking points, ass covering and propaganda." Pamela Jones wrote: "Of course, Microsoft wants developers to write for Windows instead of for Linux. But why in the world would a community person want to help them do it? Other than money. Because the end result will not be FOSS, with the F as in freedom." We're adding logs below (mostly quoting one longtime reader). ⬆