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A Useful Addition
Observations on Software - Markets, Technology, and Companies
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Observations on Software - Markets, Technology, and Companies
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Mac Users Cry Foul Over Upgrade Fees
It's probable that the introduction of fees for .mac services, and the expense of the upgrade to 10.2 can be justified - but the way Apple is handling the situation is annoying the daylights out of lfans.
NPR Misses The Boat On Security
A two part story from NPR's All Things Considered. In Part One, Larry Abrahmson reports on a government program to better secure computers and completely misses the boat. First, he talks about patches in a way that suggests they actually fight off intruders - never pointing out the pieces of code are meant to close holes in poorly written software. Then, he focuses on the tension between tight security and ease-of-use, using the Plug and Play vulnerability as an example. Again, he never seems to get that it wasn't so much the feature that caused a problem, as the error made in implementing the feature. Not a helpful report. Part Two, on Logan's failing facial recognition software trial, does a better job.
Hopes For Security Spending Misplaced
IT security spending disappoints. Despite investors' high expectations for the information security sector after Sept. 11, growth rates have been more blah than bonanza, new data shows. [CNET News.com]
Blue Skies Are Going To Clear Up?
Venture Capitalists' Spirits Are Sinking [Washington Post: Business]
Sun Delivers Update To Identity Management Code
Sun gives face-lift to ID software [ZDNet Tech News]
The Large Print Giveth...
...and the small print taketh away. Roundup of analyst's advice to customers offers insights into common software license hangups.
Linux PC Sales Exceed WalMart Expectations
Linux finds room on Wal-Mart shelves. The lost-cost retailer expands its experiment in selling inexpensive PCs with the introduction of computers with the Mandrake version of Linux pre-installed. [CNET News.com]
HP Throws In EBusiness Towel
HP exits e-business software market. After a two-year effort, Hewlett-Packard kills off its line of e-business software after failing to make inroads into the multibillion-dollar market. [CNET News.com]
SSO Specs Advance
Liberty Alliance details network identity specs. Effort aims to make it easier to authenticate for e-commerce [InfoWorld: Top News]
Adobe's Photo Strategy "Out Of Focus"
Analysts express concerns that Phtoshop Elements misses its market by being too simple for pros, and too hard for home users.
Cue The Firestorm of Protest
A thought-provoking article slams the security industry's self-serving hackers who are alleged to generate FUD only to promote their own aims and careers.
Ebusiness: Just Resting?
High buzzword quotient, but the data may be useful.
Pssst!! Sildenafil Citrate, No Doctors!
eMail newsletters, once a hot marketing vehicle, have seen reduced effectiveness. Part of the reason is that the mails never arrive, having been caught in the heavy-handed filters administrators are establishing to try and stem the flood of spam. It's not only a problem for senders, but for recipients as well since they may not be receiving material they want - and in some cases have paid to to receive.
It's probable that the introduction of fees for .mac services, and the expense of the upgrade to 10.2 can be justified - but the way Apple is handling the situation is annoying the daylights out of lfans.
Mac users outraged at iTools, upgrade taxes. Read my lips: pony up [The Register]
8:57:06 PM 
NPR Misses The Boat On Security
A two part story from NPR's All Things Considered. In Part One, Larry Abrahmson reports on a government program to better secure computers and completely misses the boat. First, he talks about patches in a way that suggests they actually fight off intruders - never pointing out the pieces of code are meant to close holes in poorly written software. Then, he focuses on the tension between tight security and ease-of-use, using the Plug and Play vulnerability as an example. Again, he never seems to get that it wasn't so much the feature that caused a problem, as the error made in implementing the feature. Not a helpful report. Part Two, on Logan's failing facial recognition software trial, does a better job.
Software, Facial Recognition Used to Fight Terrorism [NPR News (Audio)]
11:27:18 AM
Hopes For Security Spending Misplaced
IT security spending disappoints. Despite investors' high expectations for the information security sector after Sept. 11, growth rates have been more blah than bonanza, new data shows. [CNET News.com]
11:15:47 AM
Blue Skies Are Going To Clear Up?
Venture Capitalists' Spirits Are Sinking [Washington Post: Business]
10:54:25 AM
Sun Delivers Update To Identity Management Code
Sun gives face-lift to ID software [ZDNet Tech News]
10:47:11 AM
The Large Print Giveth...
...and the small print taketh away. Roundup of analyst's advice to customers offers insights into common software license hangups.
Software deals--what's in the fine print? [ZDNet Tech News]
10:45:10 AM
Linux PC Sales Exceed WalMart Expectations
Linux finds room on Wal-Mart shelves. The lost-cost retailer expands its experiment in selling inexpensive PCs with the introduction of computers with the Mandrake version of Linux pre-installed. [CNET News.com]
10:29:38 AM
HP Throws In EBusiness Towel
HP exits e-business software market. After a two-year effort, Hewlett-Packard kills off its line of e-business software after failing to make inroads into the multibillion-dollar market. [CNET News.com]
10:27:52 AM
SSO Specs Advance
Liberty Alliance details network identity specs. Effort aims to make it easier to authenticate for e-commerce [InfoWorld: Top News]
10:25:53 AM
Adobe's Photo Strategy "Out Of Focus"
Analysts express concerns that Phtoshop Elements misses its market by being too simple for pros, and too hard for home users.
Future fuzzy for Adobe camera software. The company announces a new version of its image-editing software, but analysts are concerned Adobe's strategy might be a bit out of focus. [CNET News.com]
10:22:09 AM
Cue The Firestorm of Protest
A thought-provoking article slams the security industry's self-serving hackers who are alleged to generate FUD only to promote their own aims and careers.
Security industry's hacker-pipming slammed. Somebody had to say it [The Register]
10:18:14 AM
Ebusiness: Just Resting?
High buzzword quotient, but the data may be useful.
E-business lives on, says EDS. Poke it with a stick and see if it moves [The Register]
10:08:40 AM
Pssst!! Sildenafil Citrate, No Doctors!
eMail newsletters, once a hot marketing vehicle, have seen reduced effectiveness. Part of the reason is that the mails never arrive, having been caught in the heavy-handed filters administrators are establishing to try and stem the flood of spam. It's not only a problem for senders, but for recipients as well since they may not be receiving material they want - and in some cases have paid to to receive.
Smelling Spam, Software Rejects Newsletter. Recently a legitimate newsletter contained the word "Viagra," which resulted in the newsletter itself being tagged as spam by e-mail filters. By Jennifer 8. Lee. [New York Times: Technology]
10:03:23 AM