Monday, September 13, 2004

New Windows OS Boosts Security. After years of trying to make it easier for peripheral devices to work smoothly with computers, Microsoft is building in some difficulty. The upcoming Longhorn OS should allow companies to keep gizmos like iPod from stealing data. [Wired News] I remember when some of this technology was first announced. It was partly proferred as a means of protecting company intellectual property in .doc format. Then it was also shown that it could be used to "protect" licensed music and movies downloaded and played on a Windows computer. It was all about Rights Managment for the most part. Now it appears a so called siege mentality is taking over at Micro$oft, and this technology now is going to cut out "competitors" or unhinge their current competitive advantage by making the OS disable the ability to communicate with devices like the iPod because they are inherently "evil". The only thing evil, the most obscene thing here is the sword of Damocles Micro$oft occasionally forges on a whim to wave over top of Apple's head. And iPod is outcompeting any Micro$oft offering by a large amount. Don't change the rules Micro$oft and tell us its a matter of utmost importance, it's a matter of "security". It isn't. Because you're the monopoly provider of the OS, you want to screw with your competitors. It's that plain and simple. 6:27:25 PM    comment []