News and Analysis to 16th November 2005
Sony
– Copywrong
Music publisher Sony BMG has had
to “temporarily suspend” its controversial CD copy-protection technology. It is
of course reasonable for the publishing giant to protect its intellectual
property, but introducing it in the form of spyware (Microsoft’s
classification) seems a little underhand. According to the Electronic Frontier
Foundation, a US-based consumer advocacy group, as well as making the PC
susceptible to third party attacks, the copy-protection software can cause
system crashes. Because of its hidden nature, users may have trouble diagnosing
the problem. It is recommended that you treat under priced Celine Dion
Christmas CD box sets with greater suspicion than usual.
Microsoft
plans disruptive services
A recent Bill Gates memo
‘leaked’ via the web suggests that Microsoft is concerned that it may have
missed the boat in respect of software-as-a-service. In a nutshell this
represents a major transition from buying software to a ‘pay as you go (and
hopefully pay forever)’ model. The tone of the memo is that
software-as-a-service will disrupt the software industry and if Microsoft does
not act decisively its business will be endangered. This would appear to be a
logical trend, and would certainly help in enabling the software giant to
squeeze ongoing revenues from its functionally obese Office suite.
Surreal-politik
Diplomats will be converging on
Tunisia shortly to attend the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information
Society. Rather than discussing substantive issues such as global economic
prosperity through information sharing, or tackling cyber terrorism, the theme
is most likely to revolve around who controls the Internet. Strictly speaking
nobody owns it, but an organisation called ICANN, which is responsible for
making the web surfable, has very strong links to the US Department of
Commerce. US hegemony is seen as a concern by a number of UN member states.
Some are contemplating creating their own alterative Internets. Given that the
Internet works and users are generally wowed by the step change it has brought
to their lives, it would seem myopic to politicise it. An alternative
perspective is that politicising the Internet is a carefully considered step to
dismantling it, which many would see as poor global governance, and perhaps
even a criminal act.
Microsoft
to find my stapler?
Microsoft has responded to
complaints from business users concerning how difficult it is to find documents
and email stored on Windows-based computers. Despite the imminentish arrival of
Windows Vista (H2 06), Microsoft has been compelled to release a business
version of its desktop search software. Search is one of Microsoft’s chosen
battlefronts. The fact that Yahoo and Google have their own similar offerings
will have pressurised Gates and co. to launch a tactical strike, rather than
waiting until for the next desktop operating system release.
Intel
provides brain for schizo PCs
Chipmaker Intel has just released its first desktop
processor chip designed to enable PCs to behave like several virtual PCs. The
benefits to the business user are not obvious. But IT departments may benefit
from compartmentalising the user device so that for example different
applications with different security sensitivities can be run in separate
environments each with the appropriate security settings. Or even to reserve
part of the PC’s capacity for performing batch-processing tasks, which would
normally be run over night, such as payroll processing. Having said that, virtualisation
has become an IT industry buzzword, and Intel’s multiple-personality chip feels
like a solution in search of a problem.
Microsoft
introduces Windows Defender
Surprisingly this isn’t the
collective term for Microsoft’s legal team, though it would be a good one. It
is in fact the new name for Microsoft’s Windows AntiSpyware software, which is,
not uncontroversially, to be bundled with Windows Vista, XP’s successor. This
should get the attention of the pure-play anti-virus vendors, who will no doubt
have booked an appointment with their local anti-trust advice bureau. This in
turn will be good news for Microsoft’s Windows defenders. More legal fees.
