09.08.10
Posted in Bill Gates, GNU/Linux, Microsoft, Vista 7, Windows at 2:11 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: The libraries which Bill Gates has been giving ‘free’ Windows can no longer access crucial software that Microsoft has just announced it is killing, which “leaves users in limbo”
EARLIER THIS year we wrote about SteadyState [1, 2] in the context of the Gates Foundation attacking GNU/Linux in libraries. It’s an appalling attack on people’s liberty, but it is marketed to the public a a “charity” (libraries should not become indoctrination facilities for private companies). We gave an example from Greece not so long ago. Watch how Gates and his group are injecting their own (self-serving) ‘studies’ into coverage of these library matters. There are more new examples of that, which include ‘donation’ of Windows computers to libraries (exposure to many users in one fell swoop).
But anyway, the main news today is about yet another dead Microsoft product among many. “Windows® SteadyState™ To Be Phased Out,” announces Microsoft and press coverage has begun coming in:
Windows SteadyState is a handy tool for managing stand-alone PCs in public venues that cater to a motley crew of guest users. In a recent, terse announcement, Microsoft pulled the plug: “SteadyState will be phased out effective December 31, 2010. Microsoft will no longer support Windows SteadyState after June 30, 2011.”
“So because they will not sell XP anymore (in theory) they want to try and force libraries and others to buy Vista7,” explains Chips B. Malroy. He quotes: “With scores of organizations dependent on SteadyState, it has left a segment in a quandary or could be that a paid version is coming along.”
Quoting Gates from memory, Malroy types: “We will sort of get them hooked first, and collect later”
Here is the article Malroy cites:
Microsoft announces SteadyState dead, leaves users in limbo
Microsoft phased out its SteadyState tool that allowed sharing of a single desktop by multiple users at public avenues like libraries.
We have found two more articles about that.
SteadyState was originally published as the “Shared Computer Toolkit”.
What happens to libraries that became victim of Gates? A few months ago we explained the limbo they were already in. █
Permalink
Send this to a friend
Posted in Hardware, Microsoft at 1:44 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Andre Vrignaud quits Microsoft and Kinect is still malfunctioning, jeopardising the whole future of Xbox
THE Xbox management exodus carries on. Over the past few years we have shown just how many executives abandoned the team/project and abandoned Microsoft too (this includes the division’s president). Another thing we have shown however is that Amazon management keeps getting filled with those executives who leave Microsoft (nontheless, Amazon dumped Xbox Live Arcade games last week). That’s just what’s happening again, this time with Andre Vrignaud. Here is what the Microsoft booster had to say:
Director of games platform strategy Andre Vrignaud has left Microsoft for Amazon after eight years, having helped turn Microsoft into a top-ranking games brand.
More coverage can be found in:
Xbox 360 is a lost cause and this departure helps support this claim. Given the shoddy hardware (now downgraded) and bad demos of Kinect, there is no imminent turnaround. One reader showed us last night that Microsoft is rushing a defective product out the door. No lessons learned from poor Xbox 360 design which cost Microsoft billions in repairs?
For those of you who are still on the fence on whether or not to pick up Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Kinect kit, we have an article for you to read now, which suggests that the Kinect camera is still suffering from problems.
The article comes from Gamer.Blorge and they have stated that the real question is whether the Kinect software is reliable or not. They have mentioned various issues that have happened during Kinect showings, such as failing to recognise a person in view and still having problems tracking movements by the user.
The longer Xbox 360 is out there, the better. Losing products harm Microsoft more while they are still alive. █
Permalink
Send this to a friend
Posted in Deception, Free/Libre Software, Microsoft at 1:22 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Companies that are selling proprietary software present their products and themselves publicly as “open source”; some are actually linked closely to Microsoft
LAST WEEK we wrote about Likewise getting sued for patent violation. We had no sympathy because Likewise is a proprietary software company masquerading as “open source” and exploiting the work of Free software developers [1, 2, 3, 4]. Not surprisingly, Likewise is connected closely to Microsoft and it endorses software patents too. Here is Likewise getting chummy with former Microsoft executives who now run VMware and here it is announcing that it will promote working the Windows way at the Ohio LinuxFest. The audience there will hopefully know what it’s up against.
“Even the bad guys are using the term “open source” right now.”Likewise is not the only faker of “open source” (it’s really 'open' core, i.e. proprietary the way Microsoft loves it).
To give some new examples of fake “open source”, here is a company which markets its ASP.Net-based project as “open source” even though it clearly says: “Source code price is just US$ 700.”
Another new example of a faker comes from India. “The source code is available in three different licensing versions,” says the press release. It goes as follows: “Single site License, Enterprise License and OEM License. The pricing for these licenses are $5K and $10K accordingly. The OEM License is open for negotiation.” Even the bad guys are using the term “open source” right now. Will OSI step in and police the term? It’s a hard rope to walk. █
Permalink
Send this to a friend
Content is available under CC-BY-SA