Seagate Introduces 2TB 6Gb/s Enterprise Hard Drive
Seagate has just introduced a new hard drive that hits not one, but two sweet spots: it's 2TB in size, and it supports the new 6Gb/s interface. It's also an Enterprise drive, which means that it's extremely reliable and useful for always-on or server-based applications. The industry's first 2TB 6Gb/s SAS Enterprise Drive is now shipping, with the Constellation ES offering a 7200RPM spindle rate, PowerChoice optimized power and cooling technology, and a government-grade security option. There's no clear mention
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IDG's Jayson Blair Moment As Writer's Alter-Ego Exposed
Devil Mountain Software has been featured in IDG articles before, as a firm that offers performance testing based on its Exo Performance Network (XPNet). Nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that one of IDG's writers, Randall Kennedy, is actually the CEO of Devil Mountain Software, although he made up an alter-ego to cover his tracks. While that's already a source of concern for those who want performance data that is valid, truthful, and uncompromised (like HH readers), there's a secondary concern:
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Smart Cars To Gain Advanced iPhone App, Other Cars To Follow?
Smart cars are amongst the hottest out there. They're tiny, they're green and they get amazing gas mileage. They're hard to get of here in the United States, but if your order has come in, here's something to accessorize it. Daimler has announced that a new app for the iPhone will launch in Q2 2010, making the Smart Drive solution one of the most advanced available for any car. This is not the first time that an iPhone app has been attached to a car, but this is easily one of the more functional ones. Users
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General Imaging Reveals 2010 Digital Camera Lineup
You knew that Samsung, Sony, FujiFilm, Canon and Nikon made cameras, but did you know that the same company that makes kitchen appliances and medical systems does as well? General Imaging, which is the exclusive licensee of GE digital cameras, has just debuted a slew of new compact cameras at the PMA 2010 camera expo in California, and all of them fall within the bargain realm. There's a pretty wide variety of options as well, and while GE doesn't have the marketing power in the camera department like some of
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Samsung Introduces Robust Camera Lineup At PMA 2010
Need more camera news? PMA has it. Samsung has remained a steady and solid competitor in the point and shoot market, and while they have thus far stayed an arm's length away from the highly competitive DSLR market, some of these new cameras could very well replace a low-end DSLR for someone who doesn't need the option of swapping out lenses. The new HMX-U20 ($250) and the HMX-U15 ($230) both offer lots of new features, including Full HD video, built-in USB connectivity and an HDMI port. The U20 offers a 3x optical
Read More ...
Broken By Design: Ubisoft's New DRM Scheme, Their Worst Misstep Yet
Ubisoft is one of the largest video game publishing companies in the world, but when it comes to DRM (Digital Rights Management), the corporate executives at the helm have the collective intelligence of a ham sandwich. In years' past, the publisher was criticized for its use of StarForce copy protection, the PC port of Assassin's Creed tried to phone home every 75 seconds (causing the game to lag and stutter), and an official patch for Rainbow Six Vegas 2 broke the game for anyone who had purchased it online.
Read More ...
Sony Introduces Concept Alpha DSLR And Micro Four Thirds Competitor
A few years ago, many were shocked that Sony was attempting to tread on the grounds that were so well dominated by the likes of Nikon, Canon, FujiFilm and Olympus. The alpha DSLR series has proven to be a worthy competitor to those other brands, and Sony has continually pushed to improve it year after year. At this year's PMA (a major photography expo in America), Sony is debuting a new line of alpha gear, along with a slew of accessories. The most important introduction is the new ultra compact camera with
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Rumored: iPad Pre-Orders Coming Soon
Apple hasn't announced an exact date for iPad availability. Rather, their website still just says "late March" for wi-fi only iPads. There's also no date listed for pre-orders, but that may be about to change, as well.AppAdvice says an anonymous source "familiar with the matter," told them that Apple will begin taking pre-orders of the iPad as early as February 25th. Of course, you can stamp this note with a big fat "rumor," and as such, who knows, really?There's also really no reason to hang out on Apple's
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New Celebrity Cruise Ships To Offer Hipster Haven Called iLounge
When the Celebrity Eclipse launches in April, it will be the first in Celebrity Cruise Line's fleet to offer the all new Celebrity iLounge. Designed to offer the feel of a hip, modern lounge, the space will provide easy access to the Internet as well as classes and new products. The iLounge is comprised of three main areas and includes 26 workstations where guests can check their email, print boarding passes, and access the Internet. There will also be a retail space where customers can see and try out the latest
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Sony VAIO Y Series Notebook Review
The CULV notebook market has been overloaded with options over the past few months, and this year's Consumer Electronics Show saw even more PC makers jump in with an abundance of new offerings. Asus and Acer seemed to be at the forefront of the CULV revolution, which--for those who don't know--are machines that split the divide between low-powered netbooks and energy-draining full size laptops. Today we'll be looking at a CULV-based model from Sony, as they have taken their well respected VAIO
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New Celebrity Cruise Ships To Offer Hipster Haven Called iLounge
When the Celebrity Eclipse launches in April, it will be the first in Celebrity Cruise Line's fleet to offer the all new Celebrity iLounge. Designed to offer the feel of a hip, modern lounge, the space will provide easy access to the Internet as well as classes and new products.The iLounge is comprised of three main areas and includes 26 workstations where guests can check their email, print boarding passes, and access the Internet. There will also be a retail space where customers can see and try out the latest MacBooks, iPods, and other accessories. As the third component of iLounge, there will be an enrichment center where guests can receive tips regarding Mac or iPod usage from certified staff.
"Our new Celebrity iLounge is a direct outgrowth of our 'Designed for you' brand platform, and our commitment to listen to our guests and offer experiences and programs expressly designed for them," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "Our surveys show that our guests rely heavily on the Internet for research, learning and staying in touch, so we think this new offering will be a big hit, as will the contemporary online classes offered through the 'Discover' series of our inspiring and enriching 'Celebrity Life' experiences."
The iLounge will also include a series of enrichment and entertainment courses such as movie editing, web design, do-it-yourself photo books, and instruction regarding programs including iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, and iWeb. For guests who want to do a little shopping on board the ship, Celebrity is an Authorized Apple Reseller, so you'll be able to purchase iPods, MacBooks, and other accessories.
The Celebrity iLounge also will be found on Celebrity Silhouette, which launches in 2011, and the fifth ship in the Solstice Class fleet, which sets sail in 2012.
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Rumored: iPad Pre-Orders Coming Soon
Apple hasn't announced an exact date for iPad availability. Rather, their website still just says "late March" for wi-fi only iPads. There's also no date listed for pre-orders, but that may be about to change, as well.AppAdvice says an anonymous source "familiar with the matter," told them that Apple will begin taking pre-orders of the iPad as early as February 25th. Of course, you can stamp this note with a big fat "rumor," and as such, who knows, really?
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Sony Introduces Concept Alpha DSLR And Micro Four Thirds Competitor
A few years ago, many were shocked that Sony was attempting to tread onthe grounds that were so well dominated by the likes of Nikon, Canon,FujiFilm and Olympus. The alpha DSLR series has proven to be a worthycompetitor to those other brands, and Sony has continually pushed toimprove it year after year. At this year's PMA (a major photographyexpo in America), Sony is debuting a new line of alpha gear, along witha slew of accessories.The most important introduction is the new ultra compact camera with interchangeablelenses. Sony never mentions the words "Micro Four Thirds" specifically,so we are left to assume that this camera (if it were real, of course)would not accept the same lenses as the Olympus and Panasonic MicroFour Thirds bodies do. The new model is still a concept at this point,but it's pretty clear that Sony wouldn't be pouring R&D dollarsinto a Micro Four Thirds alternative if it never planned on making thiscamera a reality at some point.
The other major announcement is a concept alpha DSLR, one that wouldreportedly replace the long-standing A700 model that currently residesin Sony's lineup. No real details were provided about this, but twoprototype lenses were introduced alongside of it: a 500mm F4 pro lensand a 24mm lens that would be great for landscape shots. Hopefully Sonywill take all of this from the concept stage to the retail shelfshortly; the Micro Four Thirds segment in particular is just nowgaining steam, and there's hardly a better time to get noticed thanright now.
New concept خ± products being shown include an ultra compact model with interchangeable lenses, additions to the خ± family (including a successor to the خ±700), along with new TX5 and H55 Cyber-shotآ® cameras, new printers and other accessories.
خ± DSLR Camera
Inaddition to the current DSLR-A230, A330, A380, A500, A550, A850 andA900 digital SLR cameras, the following concept camera bodies andinterchangeable lenses will be exhibited. Current interchange lenses,including Carl Zeissآ® and G lens products will also be on display.
- Concept model of an ultra-compactinterchangeable lens digital camera system that packs the quality of aDSLR camera in an extraordinarily small body, along withinterchangeable lenses
- Mid-range concept camera for advanced users (a successor to the خ±700) as well as concept mainstream models
- Prototype of a Super Telephoto Lens (500mm F4 G) with class-leading optical performance
- Prototype of a Distagon T 24mm F2 ZA SSM, new Carl Zeiss wide angle lens for superior shots of landscapes and sweeping vistas
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Broken By Design: Ubisoft's New DRM Scheme, Their Worst Misstep Yet
Ubisoft is one of the largest video game publishing companies in the world, but when it comes to DRM (Digital Rights Management), the corporate executives at the helm have the collective intelligence of a ham sandwich. In years' past, the publisher was criticized for its use of StarForce copy protection, the PC port of Assassin's Creed tried to phone home every 75 seconds (causing the game to lag and stutter), and an official patch for Rainbow Six Vegas 2 broke the game for anyone who had purchased it online. Ubisoft's solution was to grab a previously issued CD-crack from a warez group and distribute it as a fix.Nothing, however, beats this latest. Beginning with Settlers 7 and Assassin's Creed 2, gamers in single-player mode will be required to maintain a constant Internet connection. If you lose that connection for any length of time or any reason, your game session is terminated. Ubisoft is spinning this as a feature, claiming that by adopting this system, they can offer gamers unlimited installs, cloud-accessible saved games, and the ability to play from any computer. The one point the company didn't mention when it first announced the structure of this system, is that the game doesn't save before it throws you out.
Ubisoft diving for safety from the skeery pirates. Too bad that water's only two feet deep.
Seriously, Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?
Ubisoft apparently believes that its customer base is located entirely within The Butterfly and Bunny Kingdom where Internet connections are impervious, woven as they are from pure sunshine, cuddles, and cloud fluff. In the real world, on the other hand, Internet connections temporarily fail for a dizzying number of reasons. Routers crash, power cords get unplugged, and cables fall (or are yanked) out. Every so often, for no apparent reason, your connection will drop or slow to a crawl and refuse to function properly until you reboot. If you're using wireless, you dodge some of the potential cord issues, but are subsequently subject to the whims of your wireless router, which might decide at any point that it hates you. God help you if there's a microwave between you and the base unit and someone wants popcorn.
We've not even touched on the myriad factors completely outside any consumer's control. Depending on geographical location, the age and quality of the local loop, and how many other customers are in the immediate vicinity (and using the 'Net simultaneously), uptime and quality of service can vary significantly. Ubisoft's FAQ indicates that the company may have made some small allowance for this—the game will "pause"—but there's no word on how long you've got before the game dumps you back to desktop. If your connection is interrupted because of a problem with the company's servers, well, that's just too bad. Out you go.
The other major technical concern is latency. Ubisoft goes to great pains to point out that the verification service uses very little bandwidth, but latency may prove the greater problem. If Ubisoft designed the system sensibly (a dubious possibility, given the aforementioned save "feature,") than the stream of client/server communication won't be ruffled by a huge latency spike or a series of spikes over a short time period. Considering the particulars of the situation and the parties involved, we aren't holding our breath.
Contempt So Thick You Can Churn It Like Butter -
As heavy-handed, ridiculously strict, and unacceptably penalizing as it is, Ubisoft's new DRM scheme is only a symptom of a greater disease. Beyond the question of whether or not the company's system is acceptable (and what might make it more so), looms the real issue—how did this idea get out of brainstorming at all? Ubisoft's executives haven't just forgotten anything they ever knew about gaming, they've violated one of the primary rules of customer service: Do not treat your legitimate customer base like the enemy. Our "reward" for purchasing an upcoming game isn't the ability to install from different locations, it's the privilege of having to maintain a connection in precisely the way Ubisoft requires, or lose your unsaved progress.
There's no trust in Ubisoft's system, a fact the company acknowledges in its FAQ. When asked why there's no Offline Mode option, the company response states: "We know that services such as Steam offer an offline mode but this option is not as efficient in its protection against piracy."
Translation: "We're unwilling to trust you, our legitimate customer, even though the pirates who have actually stolen the game aren't the ones who are hopping through these ridiculous hoops." Ubisoft obviously wasn't interested in developing any sort of compromise that would allow for offline play in certain circumstances; the company couldn't even be bothered to quicksave game content before dumping users back to desktop.
This goes beyond bad form or simple stupidity—it's the sign of a publisher that's become deeply disdainful of the gamers that keep it in business. Rest assured, the feeling is quite likely mutual.
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Samsung Introduces Robust Camera Lineup At PMA 2010
Need more camera news? PMA has it. Samsung has remained a steady and solid competitor in the point and shoot market, and while they have thus far stayed an arm's length away from the highly competitive DSLR market, some of these new cameras could very well replace a low-end DSLR for someone who doesn't need the option of swapping out lenses. The new HMX-U20 ($250) and the HMX-U15 ($230) both offer lots of new features, including Full HD video, built-in USB connectivity and an HDMI port. The U20 offers a 3x optical zoom, and both are looking to rival the Flip UltraHD and all of those other "pocket camcorders" that have made such an impact in a YouTube-obsessed world.The TL500 is a more standard point and shoot camera, offering a 10MP sensor, a 24mm lens and a 3" AMOLED display that's capable of articulating. The 10MP TL350 is a slightly weaker version of that, but it will offers 1080p HD video recording and a 3" AMOLED LCD. The waterproof AQ100 ($200) and the scratch-resistant SL605 ($130) have 2.7" LCDs and a 5x optical zoom, with the main difference being the movie mode (the AQ100 does 720p, while the other does just VGA).
All of the remaining details can be found below, but it's safe to say that Samsung has come out swinging. It's tough to find 1080p in a handheld form factor, and these definitely look promising.
The HMX-U20 and HMX-U15 come fully equipped with high-performing 1/2.3inch CMOS sensors which help capture stunning, 1920x1080 full HDresolution video (30p / H.264). In addition, the ultra-compact HMX-U20and HMX-U15 also boast impressive digital still image capability. Withthe HMX-U20, consumers can capture 10 mega-pixel digital still images,while the HMX-U15 shoots 14 mega-pixel digital still images. Thisimpressive digital still capability eliminates the need for consumersto carry a separate digital camera as everything they'll need is inone, ultra-compact device. The camcorders also include Hyper DigitalImage Stabilization to help produce blur-free video and the HMX-U20adds even more versatility with a true 3x optical zoom. Consumers canalso get creative with their video thanks to fun and unique featuressuch as time lapse recording, which allows users to program thecamcorder to record at a pre-set interval of one image every one, five,10 or 30 seconds. Time lapse recording is especially useful forcondensing extremely long events, such as rolling clouds on a sunnyday, into a short, easy-to-view video.
The Samsung TL500 is sure to turn heads thanks to its ultra-wide, f/1.8Schneider lens – one of the brightest ever featured on a compactdigital camera. The impressive f/1.8 lens offers photographers a widerrange of aperture steps and shallow depth-of-field, giving them theability to blur out the background of their images while maintainingfocus on their subjects. The ultra-fast, f/1.8 lens also allows usersto take better photos in low-light environments as more light is passedthrough to the new high-performance 1/1.7" CCD sensor. Larger than thesensors typically found in compact digital cameras, the TL500's 1/1.7"CCD offers unrivaled sensitivity (max ISO 3200/full-resolution).Together with Samsung's re-engineered and fast, DRIMeIII imagingprocessor, the TL500 captures high-quality images, regardless of thelighting environment.
The TL350 allows users to capture high-quality images no matter howfast the action may be. Its advanced CMOS sensor and re-engineeredDRIMeIII processor yield impressive low-light performance and mostnotably, speed, giving users the ability to capture up to 10pictures-per-second (pps) at the resolution of 10 mega-pixels.Additionally, the TL350 features a 1,000 fps (138x78), high-speed videorecording mode which today's creative consumer can use to revealdetails of a fast moving event in super-slow motion. Whether it's usedto capture an everyday moment in an astonishing new light or to analyzea golf swing, the capabilities of the TL350's super-slow motionplayback are endless.
Offering extraordinary capabilities, the slim (0.78" thick) AQ100 wasdeveloped for use in up to 10 feet of water and thanks to the camera'sexceptional low-light performance, it's capable of taking bright imagesat that depth. Whether taking photos of friends and family in the poolor a school of fish while snorkeling in the ocean, users will benefitfrom the AQ100's dedicated Aqua mode, which will optimize camerasettings for the best possible underwater photos.A powerful camera on land or in water, the AQ100 boasts an ample, 5xoptical inner-zoom lens complete with Digital Image Stabilization tohelp reduce blurry images. Additionally, the AQ100 features a bright,2.7-inch TFT-LCD screen for framing and reviewing images.
The new SL605 was designed with durability in mind, and offersconsumers Samsung's Anti-scratch Mask, which safeguards the camera fromany unwanted scratches during everyday use. Furthermore, key areas ofthe Samsung SL605, including the bottom, buttons and areas surroundingthe 2.7-inch TFT-LCD (230,000 pixel), are rubberized to further protectthe camera from elements such as dust, dirt or sand. Beyond its durability, users will also benefit from the Samsung SL605'sinternal 27mm wide-angle, 5x optical zoom lens, which gives them theability to take sharp and detailed images from any distance. With awide-angle lens at their fingertips, users will be able to capture moreof a desired scene, such as landscapes or large groups of friends andfamily. The SL605 offers standard definition, VGA video recording andalso features Samsung's intuitive and easy-to-use Smart Auto scenerecognition technology.
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Retreiving password XP
What software can I use to retreive administrative/ login password on XP Customer forgot his! Or can I change it from safe mode. I honestly cant remember how to do it!
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Smart Cars To Gain Advanced iPhone App, Other Cars To Follow?
Smart cars are amongst the hottest out there. They're tiny, they'regreen and they get amazing gas mileage. They're hard to get ofhere in the United States, but if your order has come in, here'ssomething to accessorize it. Daimler has announced that a new app forthe iPhone will launch in Q2 2010, making the Smart Drive solution oneof the most advanced available for any car.This is not the first time that an iPhone app has been attached to acar, but this is easily one of the more functional ones. Users would beable to dock their iPhone near the dash, dial up the application andenable the Smart driver to make hands-free calls, access and play backmusic, tune into an Internet radio station and even use a built-innavigation system. But that's just the beginning.
The app will also allow owners to get back to their parked Smart car,and considering that you can always update iPhone apps from a developerstandpoint, there's always the chance that Smart owners will see evenmore features in the months to come. The Smart Cradle will be availableat Smart dealers later this summer for around $300, while the app willbe available for between $10 and $20 (or $50+ per year for thenavigation add-on).
Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the
iPhone a perfect team:
* The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphoneserves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone andalso functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of thesmart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phonecalls are made.
* The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world’sfirst drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. Itcombines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All thefunctions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons andextra-large letters.Really smart – the clever app from smart
Listen to music, make phone calls and find your destination straightaway – the smart drive app for the iPhone masters all this and makescity driving even easier and more pleasurable.
Media: Enjoy your entire private music collectionwith the app. Thanks to an integrated web radio function you can alsolisten to your favourite foreign radio stations and podcasts wheneveryou want. The song ID function of the app enables you to obtaininformation online about titles and singers of songs that are beingplayed on the radio or on web radio.
Phone: The hands-free system and all importantfunctions needed to make phone calls are automatically available assoon as the iPhone is put in the smart cradle. Keypad, contacts,favourites, call lists and other telephony functions are clearlyarranged for simple in-car use.
Maps: The basic version of the app shows thevehicle’s position on a map of the area (â€Follow-me mapsâ€) and enablespoints of interest to be found by using the on-board database oroff-board via Microsoft Bing. The navigation upgrade is a highlight andturns the iPhone into a full navigation system with maps for Europe orthe USA – enabling navigation without being online. A smart guides youto your destination on the display of your iPhone. Street names are notonly shown but also read aloud. In addition, traffic information can becalled up in realtime so that you know where traffic jams are.
Assist: With the Car Finder your iPhone willautomatically remember where you parked your car when it is removedfrom the cradle and it will find the way back for you after a day’sshopping in town. The app from smart also uses the GPS function of theiPhone for a further service. Should roadside assistance ever beneeded, the driver can give his or her precise position via a directline to the smart hotline.
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General Imaging Reveals 2010 Digital Camera Lineup
You knew that Samsung, Sony, FujiFilm, Canon and Nikon made cameras,but did you know that the same company that makes kitchen appliancesand medical systems does as well? General Imaging, which is theexclusive licensee of GE digital cameras, has just debuted a slew ofnew compact cameras at the PMA 2010 camera expo in California, and allof them fall within the bargain realm. There's a pretty wide variety ofoptions as well, and while GE doesn't have the marketing power in thecamera department like some of the mainstays do, these prices mightjust grab some eyes. Here's a look at the 2010 GE camera lineup below.
- GE Active Series - G5WP
The waterproof G5WP features a sturdy metal design and 4X internal zoom lens to capture amazing picturesor video shots whether your adventures take you far away, underwater orkeep you close to home. With 12.2 megapixels you can be assured ofstriking enlargements of your favorite underwater photos. The G5WP willbe available in graphite gray, raspberry red and ocean blue in late Q2for a SRP of $179.99.
- GE Power Pro Series - X5
GeneralImaging moves beyond point-and-shoot technology with the new X5. Itdefines the Power Pro Series with the latest in intuitive high-techfeatures all captured in a professional, easy to use design. Opticalimage stabilization and a powerful 15X zoom put you closer to theaction to take photos like a pro. The X5 also touts ISO 3200 and a 28mmlens. The X5 will be available in Q2 for a SRP of $149.99.
- GE Power Series - E1486TW and E1480W
Forfocused photographers looking for more power and performance at anaffordable price, the GE E1486TW and E1480W are the latest additions tothe Power Series. Unveiled last month at CES 2010 , the E1486TW andE1480W are loaded with highly-coveted features, including the abilityto film high-definition movies, Optical Image Stabilization to insuregreat pictures, 14 megapixels of resolution for incredible clarity, anda large 3-inch LCD screen. The cameras also offer an amazing 8X opticalzoom, which is unprecedented compared to other models in a similarprice range. At only .83 inches thick, the cameras are one of theslimmest offering 8X optical zoom performance in the market. The E1480Wwill be available in Q2 for a SRP of $149.99, and the E1486TW will be available later this quarter for a SRP of $179.99. Both are available in black, red and silver.
- GE Smart Series - J1455
Theall new J1455 digital camera offers an exceptional value for anyonelooking for the latest camera features to help them take betterpictures. It features an impressive 14.2 megapixels of resolution and5X optical zoom lens, along with image stabilization for high qualityand vivid images at the tip of your finger. The J1455 will be availablein black, silver and red among other colors in Q2 for a SRP of $129.99.
- GE Smart Series C1033 and C1233
GeneralImaging's new C Series cameras are designed to be budget-friendly, yetfeature-packed with top of the line technologies found in priciermodels such as electronic image stabilization, face detection andred-eye removal. آ The C1233 and C1033 will be available in black,silver, red and other colors. The C1233 will be available in Q2 for aSRP of $59.99 and the C1033 in Q3 for a SRP of $69.99.
- GE Smart Series - A1255 and A1455
Lastmonth, General Imaging introduced the A1255 and A1455, two dependableand stylish cameras with intuitive features that make beautifulphotography accessible. Part of its smart value series, each cameraoffers 5X optical zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD screen to easily preview yourshots. The GE A1255 is a robust camera that features 12 megapixels ofresolution, for a SRP of $89.99. For theeveryday photographer who seeks even greater high-resolution detail theGE A1455 offers 14 megapixels of resolution for crystal clearenlargements at a SRP of $99.99. Both cameras will ship this spring, and are available in a variety of colors including black, silver and red.
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My views; on the impact of things, like the EU decision on M$, and the existing Cyber security threats affecting the US!
On this issue I am not necessary saying it is wrong, or not smart in general in any way. What I am saying is it is much like other issues in technology facing the world. When you let a problem get so large it is in most cases unchangeable this is a very good picture of this.
I was watching a teleconference on TV of a big conference of so called "experts", who were talking about the US being very vulnerable to Cyber threats now even though these experts were pre-warned it would happen. These are still in general the same people who got us in the problem to begin with.
The political realism in the US is that the government in general is run by 2 opposing parties. The president (a lone figure head and nothing more)and all these groups to deal with these issues is ineffective and has been so because of there basic definitions, and the basic layout of politics in the US. This is in no way setup to deal with where we are as a world.
On the Cyber threat area broadcasting on world wide television that you are vulnerable in a mapped way, and showing all the weak points in this is idiotic basically. You do not go into a fight telling your opponent or opponent's exactly all your weaknesses, for if you do you will loose, and most likely with considerable damage. This is what they did though, so now anyone who wants to attack the country in this way knows exactly where to start.
This is although not directly the same as the M$ issue in Europe is the same in many aspects. The world governments have no clue how to deal with these issues, and it is obvious. The first thing is M$ already controls the computers of every 6-7 out of 10 individuals. So the larger percentage will just choose to stay with there browser as well as anything else the make at least to a much larger percentage.
As pointed out, but not fully stated in several posts, the way M$ has done this has been with a full enabling by the powers that be. Therefore; the largest number of individuals will make no change and just use what there comfortable with. I personally do not and have not used the IE browser for years. There are many on this board like me I know. We are however a rather small part of the general computer users worldwide though.
My mother and family in general except for my brother who uses Apple hardware, use nothing but IE. They do not know how to use anything else and or are uncomfortable doing so. This is because M$ was given the key years ago, and they know it. They also know that in general this will do nothing to them. This also in general sucks for the world and those who use computers in many ways.
I will also give M$ there dues. We would not have a world, communications, or in any way the amount of technology we do today in general use without them. They in many ways could have conducted themselves differently, and we would most likely be in a different place much further along if they had not. However; would we be as far along and as widely adapted if they had not?
I personally doubt it, and if someone had not taken the reigns and done what they've done we'd have been much more like it was 10 years ago today. This does not excuse it, but they were just doing business. In the end the government's and ruling parties in general let it happen knowingly. This is just like the US's as well as the world in generals weakness in a cyber security way. The problem is they do not in general change because we as a people do not change them. We just let them run on the same way they have for millennium.
This while being a change is in more way's just positive publicity. What happens will in the large way therefore do nothing really. Much like the US behaving in the same widely publicized way they have for decades on the Cyber front do nothing but make themselves weaker. If a large cyber group based in the US or anywhere in the world wanted to take over the US with the map of weaknesses they were given it could be done today. This also is in place for Al`Quiada, and any other extremist group.
They way things work and this maybe over with recession are in many ways the same. Much of the standard markets as well as the speed and movement of finances has changed. It has also changed while they were all at guard. This while not the only reason for these financial consequences, is greatly so. So these things that are being done in many ways are to little to late.
So while they may be great steps they will in the large picture not really impact anything, at least very much! Yes they may be great steps in the race, the problem is the race started almost 20 years ago. While we and the EU are not just starting it we are halfway done and the competition is 3/4 of the way through if not farther.
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