November 2006
McAfee Accuses Microsoft of Careless Security Practices |
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In a paid advertisement last
month, the chairman of the
computer security software
firm, McAfee, alleged that
Microsoft has been playing
dangerous games with the
security of its upcoming
operating system, Windows
Vista.
The criticisms came as a
result of Microsoft
designing Vista to deny all
third-party software access
to the operating system’s
kernel, the core of the
program that provides all
the most basic
functionality. |
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The problems McAfee has alleged are twofold: firstly, locking other companies out of the kernel gives Microsoft an unfair edge on the competition when developing security software or any other software that is a supplement to the operating system, and secondly, it restricts the type of security measures developers will be able to implement on the new system, which could compromise security. To make the matter worse, McAfee points out, Microsoft’s tactic is unlikely to make Vista’s kernel immune to resourceful hackers.
Microsoft maintained that they have always opposed third-party patches to the kernel of Windows systems and that enforcing this policy with a lockout does not compromise security or indicate an unwillingness to cooperate with other software vendors. However, due to mounting pressure and allegations of monopoly abuse, Microsoft reluctantly agreed to provide code to other software companies that would allow their products to access Vista’s kernel.
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Mitsubishi to begin manufacturing Laser-powered TV |
| A television is in development by Mitsubishi that incorporates optical chips and lasers by an Australian firm called Arasor
and displays a picture that
reproduces 90% of the colors the
human eye can detect (twice the
color range of today’s plasma TV
sets) with half the weight and
75% less power usage. |
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In addition, they are expected to sell for a significantly lower cost than comparable plasma screens. The same type of technology is currently being explored as a possible alternative to the light-emitting screens in PC monitors, as well as cell phones and other handheld devices. Though the great potential of lasers to power screens has often been speculated upon, recently technological developments have enabled lasers to become powerful and cheap enough to use in this way. |
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Apple’s next operating system may support both next-generation DVD formats |
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Sources close to Apple are claiming that the next update to their OS-X operating system will be able to read DVDs in both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray formats. Although Apple previously threw its support behind Blu-Ray,
the industry consensus is that
the format war between the two
technologies is currently at a
stalemate and it may take some
time for a winner to emerge.
Given this, it is not difficult
to see how this move would be
seen as a good business decision
for Apple. |
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In addition, Apple may perceive that providing full-support for all next-generation DVD formats will give them a needed edge in competing against PC machines running Microsoft operating systems.
Microsoft’s Media Player 11, which will ship as a part of their upcoming Vista operating system, will support neither Blu-Ray nor HD-DVD. Therefore, it appears that third-party software will be necessary to use either format on a PC. |
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