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*HOT* Tech News And Downloads, I Would Read This Thread And Post Any Good Info
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AfterDawn Addict
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18. September 2007 @ 19:09 |
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Reseachers detail vulns affecting Windows, IE and media players
Three new reasons to believe in net insecurity
By Dan Goodin in San Francisco → More by this author
Published Wednesday 19th September 2007 00:14 GMT
Security researchers are warning of a newly discovered vulnerability in Windows operating systems that makes applications susceptible to remote attack if they rely on widely used application programming interfaces. It is one of at least three PC-based security flaws to be published in four days.
The vulnerability resides in two locations in the Microsoft Class Foundation, a sprawling set of code that software developers can call on to make applications do everything from displaying certain types of graphics to performing searches. Two libraries responsible for searches across the file system, MFC42 and MFC71, are susceptible to a buffer overflow attack if an overly long argument is passed to an affected function.
"Any application that uses the API, allowing the user to manipulate its first argument, is vulnerable to this heap overflow," officials from the Goodfellas Security Research team wrote in a blog post.
Secunia rates the vulnerability as "moderately critical," its third highest rating on a five-rung severity scale. Microsoft officials are looking into the report and are unaware of any exploits, a spokesman said.
A second flaw in Apple's QuickTime media player allows attackers to pass malicious code to Internet Explorer. Proof-of-concept code shows how a simple QuickTime file embedded on the Blogger website can shut down the Skype application without any action taken by the user.
Last week, a researcher showed how the same QuickTime bug, which was disclosed more than a year ago, can cause Firefox to install backdoors and other malware on a fully patched system. Mozilla on Tuesday introduced an updated version of Firefox that is designed to protect users until Apple comes out with its own patch, according to this post.
Petko Petkov, the same researcher who published details about last week's QuickTime flaw, on Tuesday disclosed a new vulnerability in Windows Media Player that allows attackers to lure visitors to malicious sites using Internet Explorer. It could be aimed at people who have avoided the Microsoft browser for security concerns, Petkov said here.
While the vulnerability only affects the earlier Version 9 of the media player, Petkov said that is the "default" player for Windows XP SP2, meaning users who rely on the Windows automatic update feature are never prompted to install the upgrade. A Microsoft spokesman said company researchers are investigating the latter two vulnerability reports as well.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/19/...bility_reports/
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. September 2007 @ 09:46 |
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MPAA Still Trying To Convince ISPs To Act As MPAA Police
Posted by l33tdawg on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 05:55 AM (Reads: 80)
Source: Tech Dirt
The entertainment industry has been on a bit of a crusade this year trying to convince ISPs that either they should feel responsible for the fact that people use their broadband connections to share unauthorized content. It started with NBC Universal arguing that ISPs somehow bore the responsibility for policing their networks for others' content. It's an odd argument, because most ISPs will admit (in a quiet moment) that unauthorized file sharing had been one of the biggest drivers in convincing people to switch from dialup to broadband. Furthermore, considering that there are some enlightened companies who realize that having your best fans promote and distribute your content can be good for business, it's impossible for ISPs to know whether or not the content being passed around is being done so with or without the approval of the content holder. In fact, that can lead to situations where content that producers are happy having shared gets taken down against their will.
MPAA Still Trying To Convince ISPs To Act As MPAA Police
from the why-should-they-protect-someone-else's-obsolete-business-model? dept
The entertainment industry has been on a bit of a crusade this year trying to convince ISPs that either they should feel responsible for the fact that people use their broadband connections to share unauthorized content. It started with NBC Universal arguing that ISPs somehow bore the responsibility for policing their networks for others' content. It's an odd argument, because most ISPs will admit (in a quiet moment) that unauthorized file sharing had been one of the biggest drivers in convincing people to switch from dialup to broadband. Furthermore, considering that there are some enlightened companies who realize that having your best fans promote and distribute your content can be good for business, it's impossible for ISPs to know whether or not the content being passed around is being done so with or without the approval of the content holder. In fact, that can lead to situations where content that producers are happy having shared gets taken down against their will.
No matter, though, as the entertainment industry has already convinced the government that its outdated business model needs to be protected, now it's trying to convince other industries that they, too, spend their own resources to protect another industry's dying business model. The MPAA's Dan Glickman, who has had trouble understanding basic economics before, is now trying to convince various ISPs that it's their job to protect the entertainment industry's business model. Why? About the only argument he can come up with is that all that unauthorized content is a bandwidth glut: "more and more they're finding their networks crowded with infringed material, bandwidth space being crowded out." That sounds nice, other than the fact that it's not true. So far, not a single prediction that the entertainment industry has made about unauthorized file sharing has come true -- and each step they take seems to make things worse. Why would another, totally separate industry, buy into the argument that it, too, needs to drag itself down to protect someone else's dying business model?
http://techdirt.com/articles/20070918/155108.shtml
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. September 2007 @ 09:50 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13366
Top open source file sharing apps
p2pnet news | P2P:- The auld grey corporate heads who control the entertainment spindustries figured by closing down, and/or subverting, legitimate companies legitimately marketing P2P file sharing applications, they could stop the clock, turn back the tide and remain locked safely in the 1970s when they ruled artists and consumers alike with an iron hand.
The movie and music moguls continue to live out their dazed existences in a foggy dreamland, believing they have everything under control.
But change, not stasis, rules and the rest of the world moves on around them, innovators coming up with endless streams of open source technologies and applications.
With music, Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG believe they?ve effectively stopped progress in its tracks by killing the competition and suing their own customers, who are showing alarming signs of thinking for themselves instead of following corporate dictates.
But they?re wrong and Datamation is currently running a list of the Top 10 P2P filesharing applications which continue to evolve, cartel efforts to crush them, and anything remotely like them, notwithstanding.
Distributed under the GNU General Public License, they are:
They are:
1 - Ares Galaxy
2 - eMule
3 - Azureus
4 - DC++
5 - Shareaza
6 - Burst!
7 - ABC
8 - Freenet
9 - MLDonkey
10 - Kceasyand
Datamation is also running a list of programs which, while they?re not file sharing apps, are ?closely related open source tools that you might need?.
They are:
PeerGuardian
Owl Intranet Knowledgebase
eGroupWare: Enterprise Collaboration
FileZilla
Nice one, Datamation.
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Also See:
Datamation - Top 10 Open Source File Sharing Programs, September 17, 2007
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. September 2007 @ 10:19 |
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Acronis True Image 11 Home Released
Sep 19, 2007 - 7:03 AM - by Digital Dave
One of the best just got better and with the new "try and decide" feature, this one I'm getting.
Try and Decide - Create a temporary, safe place on your hard disk where you can perform changes to your system that otherwise might not be advisable, such as installing new software, downloading files from the Internet, or opening e-mail attachments. If the operations are successful, you can apply those changes to the real system or discard the changes as you wish.
acronis.com
Acronis True Image 11 Home
Features / Backup
Acronis True Image 11 Home provides the maximum flexibility to ensure you are adequately protected and can recover from unforeseen events such as viruses, unstable software downloads, and hard drive failures. Create an exact copy of your PC for a full backup or backup only your important data and application settings ? your choice!
New! Try&Decide
Create a temporary, safe place on your hard disk where you can perform changes to your system that otherwise might not be advisable, such as installing new software, downloading files from the Internet, or opening e-mail attachments. If the operations are successful, you can apply those changes to the real system or discard the changes as you wish.
New! Exclude Files and Folders from Image Backup
Save space when creating backups by ensuring that you are not backing up the information you don?t want to keep.
New! Backup your system state
Registry, boot files, as well as important system files from system crashes.
New! Automatic catalog of all your backups
Easily locate your archives as system automatically remembers their placement.
New! Raw Images support for supported and corrupted/unknown file systems.
Backup your entire PC with our patented disk imaging technology
Protect your entire system, including the operating system, applications, all updates and data.
Backup data in specific categories, such as documents (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Power Point), financial records (Microsoft Money, Quicken), music (Mp3s, iTunes), photos, and videos
Ensure that your digital memories and important files are protected.
Backup Microsoft Outlook
Preserve your emails, contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, signatures, news folders, e-mail rules and user settings with just a few mouse clicks!
Backup application settings for the following applications:
Productivity tools: Microsoft Office 2000/XP/2003/2007, ABBYY FineReader 8 and more;
Email: Microsoft Outlook (including the IMAP folder on the server), Outlook Express, Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5, The Bat! 3 Home and more;
Browsers: Internet Explorer 6.0 SP2/7.0, Mozilla Firefox 1.5/2.0, Opera 9 and more;
Security: Norton Internet Security 2007, NOD32, Spyware Doctor 4.0, Zone Alarm 6.5, F-Secure Internet Security 2007, Outpost Firewall 3.5 and more;
Audio and Video Applications: Windows® Media Player 10/11, iTunes 6/7, QuickTime 7, RealPlayer 10.5, Winamp 5.0 and more;
Instant Messaging: Windows Live Messenger 8.0, Yahoo Messenger 8.0, AOL Instant Messenger 1.2, ICQ 5.1/6.0, Skype 2.5/3.0 and more;
Digital Photography: Corel Paint Shop Pro X 10, Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3, 3D Studio Max 8/9, ACDSee 8.0 and more;
Utilities and Drivers: WinZip 10/11, WinRar 3, Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0/8.0, Alcohol 120% 1.9, Nero 7.0-7.7, FlashGet 1.7/1.8, RegGet Deluxe 4.2 and more;
Developer Tools: Microsoft Visual Studio 2003/2005, Macromedia Dreamweaver 8/CS3 and more.
Protect you application settings and avoid the time consuming process of redoing your custom settings.
Quick backup
Initiate backup of selected files from Windows Explorer directly, without starting the Acronis® True Image application first.
Exclude files
Save space when creating backups by only backing up the types of files you want to keep.
Create incremental and differential backups
Faster backups by only capturing changes since the last backup or the last full backup.
Perform live backups
Keep being productive by using your PC during backups.
Other Features:
Recovery
Management
Privacy Protection
Storage Media
Tools
link
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/pro...ackup.html#frst
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. September 2007 @ 10:24 |
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Mozilla slaps temp patch on Firefox
Sep 19, 2007 - 6:46 AM - by Digital Dave
I'm sure most of you who use Firefox have noticed Firefox has upgraded itself to 2.0.0.7.
The reason for the upgrade was to try and address the Apple Quicktime vulnerability which seems to affect Firefox.
Mozilla Corp. on Tuesday updated Firefox to block attacks targeting a vulnerability in Apple's QuickTime that a frustrated British security researcher reported more than a year ago.
Last Thursday, Petko Petkov, a U.K.-based Web application penetration tester, posted exploit code for a bug in Apple Inc.'s QuickTime media player. The bug, which Petkov first disclosed in September 2006, lets attackers run script commands on systems equipped with Firefox 2.0.0.6 or earlier and gives them a way to completely compromise machines. Petkov posted attack samples last week after he'd contacted Apple twice in 2006 without receiving a reply.
computerworld.com
http://www.computerworld.com/action/arti...urce=rss_news50
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. September 2007 @ 13:51 |
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Top 10 Internal Hard Drives
Need more storage? The top-ranked internal hard drives will fill the bill. Ratings and rankings can change due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.
Edited by Melissa Perenson
Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 11:00 AM PDT
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Test Center About the Test Center
How We Test ? What Our Ratings Mean ? How the Charts Work
Compare
Use the Check Boxes to see a Side-by-Side Comparison
Rank Name PCW Rating
1
BEST BUY
Western Digital Caviar SE16 750 GB
Western Digital Caviar SE16 750 GB
Drive size (GB): 750
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.31
Price When Reviewed: $230
Bottom Line: Top-flight performer posted some of the fastest write times we've seen.
(Last Rated: September 14, 2007)
Test Report
86.8Very Good
2
Samsung SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ
Samsung SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ
Drive size (GB): 500
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 16
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.34
Price When Reviewed: $170
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Among the 500GB competitors, Samsung's model performed the best and cost the least.
(Last Rated: May 09, 2007)
Test Report
86.7Very Good
3
Hitachi Deskstar 7K750
Hitachi Deskstar 7K750
Drive size (GB): 750
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 32
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.4
Price When Reviewed: $299
Bottom Line: Plenty of capacity in a single, speedy drive; but, you'll pay more than you would for a couple of smaller capacity drives.
(Last Rated: September 14, 2007)
Test Report
81.5Very Good
About
Computer Hard Drive
Shop Dell Computers & Accessories. Low Prices on Printers, Ink & More.
www.dell.com
Hard Drive
Internal & External, 20GB to 1TB. Super Low Prices- Same Day Shipping.
www.TigerDirect.com
Hard Drive
Many Brands & Sizes! Office Depot Has the Hard Drive for Your Needs.
www.OfficeDepot.com
4
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000
Drive size (GB): 1000
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 32
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.4
Price When Reviewed: $400
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Super-sized model performs well, but you'll pay for having all that storage in one drive.
(Last Rated: May 09, 2007)
Full Review ? Test Report
82.8Very Good
5
Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200JB
Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200JB
Drive size (GB): 320
Supported Interface(s): Parallel ATA-100
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 8
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.38
Key Software: Data LifeGuard software
Price When Reviewed: $120
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Medium capacity drive has solid specs, performance, and design, plus it is inexpensive.
(Last Rated: March 03, 2006)
Test Report
80.1Very Good
6
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD
Drive size (GB): 250
Supported Interface(s): SATA-150
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 8
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.4
Key Software: Data LifeGuard software
Price When Reviewed: $100
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Reasonably priced model has solid performance and it offers sturdier SATA connectors than most competing drives.
(Last Rated: March 03, 2006)
Test Report
79.8Good
About
Computer Hard Drive
Shop Dell Computers & Accessories. Low Prices on Printers, Ink & More.
www.dell.com
Hard Drive
Internal & External, 20GB to 1TB. Super Low Prices- Same Day Shipping.
www.TigerDirect.com
Hard Drive
Many Brands & Sizes! Office Depot Has the Hard Drive for Your Needs.
www.OfficeDepot.com
7
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Deskstar 7K500
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Deskstar 7K500
Drive size (GB): 500
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 16
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.6
Key Software: Software download only
Price When Reviewed: $300
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Giant-sized storage capacity and solid performance make this drive appealing.
(Last Rated: November 06, 2006)
Test Report
79.2Good
8
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JB
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JB
Drive size (GB): 250
Supported Interface(s): Parallel ATA-100
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 8
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.4
Key Software: Data LifeGuard software
Price When Reviewed: $100
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: This well-priced drive was the speediest PATA model on our copy files test.
(Last Rated: March 03, 2006)
Test Report
78.2Good
9
Hitachi Deskstar T7K500
Hitachi Deskstar T7K500
Drive size (GB): 500
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 16
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.36
Price When Reviewed: $180
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: It's difficult to recommend this drive when other 500GB models are cheaper and faster.
(Last Rated: May 09, 2007)
Test Report
74.8Good
10
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB
Drive size (GB): 500
Supported Interface(s): SATA-300
Speed (RPM): 7200
Buffer Size (MB): 16
Cost per Gigabyte: $0.34
Price When Reviewed: $170
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: This inexpensive 500GB model is fast and comes loaded with the free Google Desktop software.
(Last Rated: September 14, 2007)
Test Report
go here to read more
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123680...es/article.html
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AfterDawn Addict
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19. September 2007 @ 14:07 |
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P2P sites ridicule MediaDefender takedown notices in wake of e-mail leak
By Ryan Paul | Published: September 19, 2007 - 10:27AM CT
Peer-to-peer (P2P) poisoning company MediaDefender has sent a flurry of takedown notices and legal threats to P2P web sites that are facilitating the propagation of a 700MB archive of internal MediaDefender e-mail that was leaked onto the Internet this week. The e-mails, which were obtained by a group that calls itself MediaDefender-Defenders, reveal that the company attempted to deceive the public after the disclosure of its affiliation with the MiiVi site and was providing information about file-sharing network users to the New York State Attorney General's office.
MediaDefender is now in damage control mode and hopes to slow the spread of the e-mails by intimidating P2P site operators. MediaDefender is represented by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton (SMR&H), which is recognized one of the top law firms in the United States. The P2P sites are unimpressed with the empty threats.
Although MediaDefender president Randy Saaf was eager to tell us a fabricated cover story after the MiiVi incident, MediaDefender has not responded to our numerous requests for comment this week. Similarly, the New York General Attorney's office has declined to provide a response to our inquiries. MediaDefender has, however, contacted several popular P2P sites, including isoHunt, which provided us with a complete record.
"Despite security precautions by our client, a person or persons illegally accessed MediaDefender's email and other files," says a cease and desist notice sent to isoHunt and seen by Ars. In the notice?which cites various sections of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and the California Computer Data Access and Fraud Act?SMR&H attorney Robert S. Gerber requests that isoHunt "immediately and permanently cease and desist from posting, distributing or otherwise making available MediaDefender's trade secrets and confidential information."
The popular P2P site's formal response to SMR&H is filled with caustic wit and considerable legal expertise. "If Mr. Gerber is truly as experienced in IP law as his bio claims he is," asks the isoHunt administrator in his response, "why is it that he is incapable of composing a DMCA takedown notice as per USC Title 17 Section 512?" The isoHunt administrator explains that Gerber failed to adequately specify the allegedly infringing content as required by law. The administrator also helpfully provides a link to a valid sample complaint so that SMR&H will be less likely to send the improper information in their second attempt. The following is an excerpt of the isoHunt administrator's response:
"This e-mail serves as a counter notification under USC Title 17 Section 512 (c)(3)(A)(iii) that you have failed to properly identifying links to content that allegedly infringes your copyright/trademark/rights (or, in this case, has something to do with really embarrassing trade secrets *and* employee social security numbers) AND you have failed to address your e-mail to the appropriate agent, namely copyright@isohunt.com, so I invite you and your clients to take a long walk off a short pier, since you and/or your clients might actually manage to NOT get something that simple wrong."
In closing, the isoHunt administrator says that the he will comply with the request if it is properly submitted. "Despite us being located in Canada, if you do actually figure out how to compose a valid DMCA notice, we will honor it," he concedes, "just as soon as we're done laughing at you."
Torrent site Meganova received an identical letter from SMR&H, but responded publicly and with a bit less civility. "Dearest little asstunnels, Let me start off by thanking you for your pitiful attempt to have your e-mails removed from the entire internet," Meganova's response says. "In case you haven't noticed, this site is located in Europe (I hope you can point it out on a map) where your stupid copyright claims have no base. But fair is fair you guys did suffer over the past week so here's bit of advice to you guys: F*** you! F*** you again! F*** you again and again and again!" (I'm guessing that an "asstunnel" is what you get when a European whose first language isn't English tries to say "asshole." It seemed awkward when I first read the response, but the expression has since grown on me.)
The organization behind the leak, MediaDefender-Defenders, has set up a web site with an HTML archive that includes all of the e-mails, largely uncensored, but with minor modifications to protect MediaDefender employees from identity theft. The site also published an e-mail allegedly sent by Saaf himself. "I am the CEO of MediaDefender," the message says. "We have begun our civil and criminal investigations into the stolen e-mails from our company. We are meeting with the FBI on monday. Your IP address has been logged. I hope it was worth the thrill."
The site has been running intermittently since its launch, and the disruptions are thought to be the result of massive traffic coupled with a denial of service attack apparently launched by MediaDefender.
Attempting to stop the spread of the e-mails is an exercise in futility at this point. MediaDefender's entire business model has been based on recognition of the inescapable fact that litigation cannot stop the spread of content on the Internet, so it is ironic that the company has turned to legal threats. In the past, we have seen attempts to stifle the dissemination of information on the Internet backfire and compel activists to promote broader distribution. Given that reality, MediaDefender might want to lay off of the threats for the time being.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/200...-mail-leak.html
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. September 2007 @ 09:57 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13390
Freakonomics of Music
p2pnet news | Music:- It?s safe to say most people believe once they?ve spent $10-$25 on a CD, they?re entitled to do with it what they like, within reason and provided they?re not performing a genuinely criminal act, such as using their purchases as templates for counterfeit products.
It?s called ?fair use?.
But the music industry claims this is ?piracy? - a combination of file sharing and counterfeiting, neither of which has anything to do with the other. And it?s causing terrible distress to industry workers and wreaking havoc with bottom lines, they cry in endless press statements.
People who share music files with each other without paying the music industry are criminals and thieves, say EMI (Britain), Vivendi Universal (France), Sony BMG (Japan and Germany) and Warner Music (US), the Big 4 labels which control the corporate music industry.
The Effect of File Sharing on Record Sales: An Empirical Analysis from Koleman Strumpf, professor of business economics at the University of Kansas Business School and Felix Oberholzer of the Harvard University Business School, effectively dismissed the assertion that file sharing is directly related to massive sales and, consequently, revenue losses.
Moreover, a new study says, ?Fair Use exceptions to U.S. copyright laws are responsible for more than $4.5 trillion in annual revenue for the United States? and employs ?millions of workers?.
Nor has Strumpf changed his mind. He?s quoted, in a New York Times OpEd written by Stephen J. Dubner of Freakonomics fame, as stating once again, ?there is surprisingly little evidence to support the claim that file sharing has significantly hurt record sales?.
If file sharing hurts record sales, ?then albums that are more heavily downloaded should experience lower sales than comparable albums that are less downloaded,? he goes on, but, ?after controlling for the role of popularity, we found that downloads had little effect on album sales?.
He concludes:
As for the future, I am dubious about making forecasts. Much will depend on the choices the major labels make on key issues (will they run experiments to determine the optimal pricing of digital downloads?) and the arrival of still-unforeseen technologies (which could allow labels to more cheaply distribute music, or lead to new forms of piracy). At the same time, I reject the argument that recorded music is close to death, simply because the financial incentives to create music have never been particularly high. In 2005, less than one in five albums were released on a major label, and even among those releases, fewer than one in fifteen went gold (the usual measure of record success). With such daunting odds, recording an album may have seemed like a pointless task. But in that year, nearly 44,000 albums were released ? enough to provide almost three consecutive years of listening. Regardless of what happens to companies that produce and distribute music, I am sure that recorded music will continue to be made.
But Strumpf isn?t the only person Dubner quotes.
He also has interestingly divergent views from Fredric Dannen, author of Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business; George Drakoulias, music producer, artists & repertoire executive at American Recordings, and veteran of Def Jam Recordings; Peter Rojas, founder of Engadget and co-founder of RCRD LBL, a free, online-only music label launched by Downtown Records; and, Steve Gottlieb, president of TVT Records in his ?Freakonomics Quorum? entitled, What?s the Future of the Music Industry?
Head over to the NYT site to read what they have to say. For now, below are their conclusions >>>
Fredric Dannen
In 1999, I wrote an editorial for the New York Times predicting that MP3 was an unstoppable force that would destroy the oligopolistic power of the record industry. This paper did not believe me; the editorial ran instead in the Los Angeles Times.
It was an easy prediction to make. You can always count on the record industry to cling to the past, and to fight innovation. (Apart from resisting the LP, the cassette, and the CD, the industry also fought MTV.) The industry could have adopted and embraced MP3 as the new dominant format, had it understood why it was unstoppable. But the business? failure to understand has been striking for its persistence. By the time Napster hit the scene, the industry had a Hobson?s choice: accept MP3, or die.
We all know what happened next.
George Drakoulias
A few years ago, I worked on a record called The Last DJ by Tom Petty. The songs on the album addressed the problems we are currently dealing with in the industry. I thought the record would be a wakeup call for consumers; but it?s hard to tell kids, ?Eat your broccoli, it?s good for you.? I?ll try to nurture new talent and make records that sound exciting, emotional, and timeless, and to bring some level of craft back into record-making, ensuring that the artists I work with have the ability to play live and move an audience.
One option that doesn?t seem feasible is making everything free and eliminating copyrights. Hopefully, someone smarter than I am will come up with the right formula to get music to consumers in the way that they want it, and to collect fees that are distributed accordingly. I hope that person shows up soon.
Peter Rojas
The Internet, combined with low-cost (or even no-cost) digital tools, has led to an explosion of creativity, with millions of amateurs making music for every conceivable genre, sub-genre, and microgenre, and then sharing their creations online. Andrew Keen might look down on these results, and no doubt 99.9 percent of the music being created today is terrible; but that?s besides the point. Even that one-tenth of one percent means that there is more great music being created than any of us will have time to listen to ? and that?s not even taking into account all of the ?professional? music that still manages to get made. Many professional artists are discovering that, regardless of how well their music sells, they?re still able to make a healthy living from live appearances, merchandise, and licensing ? and the Internet only makes it easier for them to build a fan base. It?s the Britney Spearses of the world that are hit hardest by all of this change. Manufactured pop doesn?t do quite so well when consumers have better options to choose from.
The majors thrived in an era of artificial scarcity when they were able to control the production and distribution of music. Today, we have an infinite number of choices available to us, and when content is infinitely abundant, the only scarce commodities are convenience, taste, and trust. The music companies that are successfully shaping the Internet era are recognizing that the real value is in making it easier to buy music than to steal it, helping consumers find other people who share their music tastes, and serving as a trusted source for discovering new music.
Steve Gottlieb
? if we accept that free music has become the model for consumption, then we have little choice but to invest in advertising-supported free services that will make this type of consumption profitable. This step will require patience, leadership and a long-term view. After formulating a way to recapture the revenue it?s losing, the industry can then address the development of a new, secure file format that offers audio, meta-data, and other digital features superior to those of MP3s. This should be an easy task, and will give the industry access to both ad-supported free ?iPod quality? MP3s, and higher-quality digital products that can be sold directly.
Unless the labels actively reinvent themselves and embrace change, they will continue to find themselves in an expanding music marketplace that rewards their efforts less and less.
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Also See:
$4.5 trillion in annual revenue - ?Fair use? pulls in $4.5 trillion, September 20, 2007
New York Times - What?s the Future of the Music Industry? A Freakonomics Quorum, September 20, 2007
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21. September 2007 @ 09:59 |
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War: Hackers Strike Hard Against RIAA Ally
Protected by FormShield
Copyright infringement monitors are the latest target of a well-organized, motivated hacking group
The group calling itself the MediaDefender-Defenders (MDD) has, as promised, struck again, this time leaking what appears to be the full, uncompiled source code to anti-piracy watchdog MediaDefender?s toolset.
MediaDefender's software is used internally on behalf of clients like the RIAA and Sony BMG to control the illegal distribution of copyright movies, music and other media online. One company e-mail, leaked last Saturday, detailed the performance of the company's attempts to poison the distribution of pirated copies of "Spiderman 3" just days after its theatrical release.
?The [leak] is complete for their operations regarding Kazaa, bittorrent, gnutella etc. This system is ? released for the public in order to identify the decoys [MediaDefender] set up,? states the leak?s accompanying NFO file.
The leak is a treasure trove of information for anyone seeking to better understand the anti-piracy operations of MediaDefender and its ilk. Judging by the sheer quantity of different programs written for each network, BitTorrent seems to be MediaDefender?s largest target, with the leak containing 16 different tools target it. In addition to software for creating bogus media files, the leak includes tools for to control the who?s who of filesharing networks: Ares, DirectConnect, eDonkey2000, FastTrack/Kazaa, Gnutella, Kademlia, Overnet, Piolet, SoulSeek and WinMX networks, among others.
Unlike the previous two leaks, MDD claims it received the leaked source code directly from a MediaDefender employee. and the NFO file ends with ?a special thanks to the MD employee that gave this to us.?
While DailyTech has been unable to verify the authenticity of any of the leaked materials, MediaDefender has indirectly validated them through a series of cease-and-desist notices sent to various BitTorrent trackers earlier this week; the letters admit that ?despite security precautions by our client, a person or persons illegally accessed MediaDefender's email and other files,? and that the sites in question ?immediately and permanently cease and desist from posting, distributing or otherwise making available MediaDefender's trade secrets and confidential information.?
Responses have varied, ranging from compliance to outright mockery. In one case, Meganova.com replied publicly in a profanity-laden tirade against MediaDefender?s legal firm.
MediaDefender?s woes began last Saturday, when almost 700MB of the company?s e-mails hit the underground. The following day, MDD released copies of a VOIP conversation between MediaDefender and the New York Attorney General. In a previous NFO file, MDD promised that there was ?more to come,? and it looks like the group will continue to make good on its claim.\
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=8990#cmt187258
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21. September 2007 @ 10:03
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. September 2007 @ 10:38 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13395
New wave of RIAA extortion letters
p2pnet news | RIAA News:- We?ve instructed our RIAA to harass another 403 students in 22 universities nationwide, say Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG proudly, going on that to coincide with the new academic year, they?re also about to cause further serious teaching interruptions through an escalation of their university sue ?em all campaign.
The ramped up attacks will feature full-page advertisements made by college students they?ve managed to scam into acting for them.
They?ll be, ?published in college papers across the country? to ?encourage fans to enjoy online music legally and remind students of the legal, privacy and security risks associated with illegal downloading,? says the Big 4?s RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), which is fronting the assault.
Some considerable time ago, the members of the Big 4 music suborned Penn State University as their first self- and parent-funded scholastic sales and copyright enforcement division, installing Napster II (the corporate version, not the original P2P file sharing application which started started at all) as their download vehicle.
The labels fully expected other universities to immediately follow suit, but the scheme was a complete failure and this year, they tried to correct the situation by specifically targeting senior teaching institution across America, using school staffs as copyright enforcers tasked to deliver RIAA extortion letters to the students they?re supposed to be instructing and protecting.
24 copyright infringement lawsuits
Twenty-two schools have been selected for this latest attack.
They are: Arizona State University (35 pre-litigation settlement letters), Carnegie Mellon University (13), Cornell University (19), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (30), Michigan State University (16), North Dakota State University (17), Purdue University - West Lafayette and Calumet campuses (49), University of California - Santa Barbara (13), University of Connecticut (17), University of Maryland - College Park (23), University of Massachusetts - Amherst and Boston campuses (52), University of Nebraska ? Lincoln (13), University of Pennsylvania (31), University of Pittsburgh (14), University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Stout and Whitewater campuses (62).
?In addition to the new round of pre-litigation letters, the RIAA also today filed 24 copyright infringement lawsuits against previous recipients of letters who have ignored settlement opportunities,? say Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG.
?The lawsuits were filed in federal court against students from University of California ? Santa Cruz, Florida International University, University of South Florida, Cornell University, Morehead State University, University of Maryland ? College Park, North Carolina State University, North Dakota State University, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, University of Massachusetts ? Amherst, Columbia University, Ohio University, Kent State University and Marshall University.?
The American Public Media Marketplace had just finished airing an excellent presentation discussing the corporate music cartel?s attempts to blackmail and extort its own customers into once again becoming compliant ?consumers? and industry product.
Meanwhile, in July, p2pnet ran a story which we?re repeating, once again, in full below >>>
RIAA student victimisation campaignThe pleasure of enjoying music has become seriously tainted by the venality of EMI (Britain), Vivendi Universal (France), Sony BMG (Japan and Germany) and Warner Music (US), the members of the Big 4 organised music cartel who together control the corporate music industry. Aided by so-called trade organisations such as their RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), which is currently terrorising music lovers in the US, they?ve succeeded in using their financial clout and elements of the mainstream media to escalate copyright infringement, originally a purely civil matter, to the level of major crime.Until fairly recently, their practice was to have about 750 subpoenas aimed every month not only at adults they were accusing of being massive online distributors of copyrighted music, but also very young children. The Big 4 imply these subpoenas equal successful prosecutions.
However, a subpoena is merely an instruction to, ?appear at a certain time and place to give testimony upon a certain matter,? as the Wikipedia sums it up.
It is not a court case.
It is not a lawsuit.
It is not a prosecution, successful or otherwise.
It is not a suggestion that someone has been, or will be, found guilty of something.
This particular aspect of the campaign, Part I, was brought to a halt in February, 2006, after around 20,000 people had been subpoenaed, and this year Part II was implemented, following the same basic pattern.
But this time, American students in universities across America are the targets with school staffs used as corporate copyright enforcement cops.
Pay up. Or else ?..
Under the new scheme, the RIAA sends out what it calls ?pre-litigation? settlement letters.
Actually, they?re self-incrimination documents and they?re designed to extort preset amounts of around $3,000 from students with the empty promise that by paying up, they?ll remove the threat of being hauled into court on charges of copyright infringement.
In reality, all the students are doing is providing the RIAA with personal and private information which can conceivably be used against them at some point in the future when the Big 4 agency ramps up to a new level of intimidation.
In the sixth wave of blackmail, the RIAA is targetting 23 universities nationwide with 408 ?settlement? letters. ?Since launching its deterrence program in February 2007, the RIAA has sent approximately 2,423 pre-litigation settlement letters to universities nationwide,? it boasts without shame.
?The letters are in addition to the lawsuits that the RIAA continues to file on a rolling basis against those engaging in music theft via commercial Internet accounts.? Singled out for special attention this time around are: State University of New York at Morrisville, Georgia Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, University of Central Arkansas, University of Delaware, Northern Michigan University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, George Washington University, Ohio State University, New Mexico State University, Eckerd College, University of Minnesota, California State University - Monterey Bay, University of Kansas, University of Missouri - Rolla, University of San Francisco, Case Western Reserve University, Northern Arizona University, San Francisco State University, University of Tulsa, Franklin and Marshall College, Western Kentucky University, and Santa Clara University.
Colleges and universities should be ashamed
?Students on campuses throughout the United States, many of whom are experiencing their first year as members of university communities, are facing unprecedented legal intimidation at the hands of the recording industry,? says Ohio lawyer Joe Hazelbaker.
?It appears that many institutions are simply prepared to wash their hands, refusing even to question the tactics of the industry, let alone providing meaningful legal assistance to their students,? he told p2pnet, going on:
In fact, one university has advised its students that they could use the recording industry?s attorney as ?an information source? despite the obvious conflicts. This is true despite the fact that the colleges and universities enabled the network on which the alleged activity took place, knew that the alleged activity could take place, failed to educate incoming students regarding the issues, and neglected to use available technology to prevent the alleged activity. Many of the students targeted were required to live in university housing because they were deemed not mature enough to live off-campus (ie, many campuses require first and second year students to live on-campus). Yet, they are now apparently mature enough to be left on their own to defend themselves against the recording industry. These colleges and universities should be ashamed.
The number of students victimised in this way is infinitesimal compared to the millions of people who routinely share music with each other online.
It?s been estimated that approximately sixty one million people in America alone regularly share with each other online. The RIAA says it?s only managed to send out 2,423 threat letters to students, and yet the mainstream media report this as though significant numbers of people whom they accuse of being illegal file sharers have been identified.
That a subpoena has been sent out doesn?t mean the person on the receiving end will act on it and indeed, increasing numbers of academics in the US are protesting as the labels continue to seriously disrupt classes and lessons by firing these documents at students, and by coercing school staffs into passing on the extortionate ?settlement? letters to those whom they?re supposed to be teaching, not intimidating.
Harvard and other universities to which the RIAA sent pre-litigation notices, ?ought to take strong, direct action? and ?tell the RIAA to take a hike,? believe Charles Nessor, William F. Weld professor of law, Harvard Law School, and founder and faculty co-director, Berkman Center for Internet & Society; and John Palfrey, clinical professor of law and executive director, the Berkman Center. They go on:
This Spring, 1,200 pre-litigation letters arrived unannounced at universities across the country. The RIAA promises more will follow. These letters tell the university which students the RIAA plans on suing, identifying the students only by their IP addresses, the ?license plates? of Internet connections.
Because the RIAA does not know the names behind the IP addresses, the letters ask the universities to deliver the notices to the proper students, rather than relying upon the ordinary legal mechanisms. Universities should have no part in this extraordinary process.
And on IP addresses, ?by itself an IP number on a packet has only suggestive value and is not reliable evidence at all,? says University of Chicago professor Mike O?Donnell.
Stay tuned.
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. September 2007 @ 13:19 |
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this is some bad news for people in Germany
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13396
Germany caves in to entertainment cartels
p2pnet news | Politics:- Entertainment cartel lobbyists can chalk up a clear victory in Germany.
They?re been collectively and singly agitating for changes to copyright laws in countries around the world and Germany?s Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, is the latest to cave in.
It?s approved a copyright law which makes it all but illegal for individuals to make copies of films and music, even for their own use, says Variety.
?Consumer groups and the Green Party had campaigned in vain to include a ?bagatelle exemption,? so youngsters and other private users wouldn?t be criminalised, says the story, saying the law, slated to go into effect, goes beyond previous legislation brought in by the German government to help the entertainment industry.
?Germany?s federal justice minister Brigitte Zypris claimed that the legislative reform brought German law into line with European Union codes,? it says.
This should, of course, read, ?the new German law is line with EC (Entertainment Cartel) dictates?.
Copying of DVDs, CDs verboten
Digital copies of TV programs banned
By ERIK KIRSCHBAUM
Talk Back - post a comment
BERLIN ? Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday approved a controversial copyright law, which makes it all but illegal for individuals to make copies of films and music, even for their own use.
The Bundesrat pushed aside criticism from consumer protection groups and passed the law, which makes it illegal for anyone to store DVDs and CDs without permission. The law also covers digital copies from IPTV and TV broadcasts.
Consumer groups and the Green Party had campaigned in vain to include a "bagatelle exemption," so that the measure would not "criminalize" youths and other private users. The law is set to take effect in 2008.
The law goes beyond previous legislation brought in by the German government to help the entertainment industry. Germany's federal justice minister Brigitte Zypris claimed that the legislative reform brought German law into line with European Union codes.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972...egoryid=19&cs=1
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21. September 2007 @ 13:23
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21. September 2007 @ 17:10 |
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Windows on the cheap with Open Sauce
Comment I want to break Free
By Liam Proven: Friday 21 September 2007, 17:49
YOU'VE PROBABLY seen a lot of articles going on about how great Linux is. This isn't one of them.
Typically, these pieces sing the praises of free software. They talk about the advantages of never paying licence fees, no restrictions on use, rapid security fixes, no danger of being tied into proprietary file formats or commercially-motivated upgrade cycles... All that sort of jazz.
Which would be fine, but changing operating systems means getting rid of Windows and starting over with a clean slate. No more "Start" button, no more C: and D: drives, and you kiss goodbye to all the software that you've painfully learned to use.
To be fair, it's easier than you might think, especially these days, when Linux distros are mostly quicker and easier to install than Windows and come out straight off the bat with everything you'll need preloaded, but it's still a big, wrenching transition.
However, you don't have to go Linux to get the benefits of free software. These days, you can get pretty much everything you might need for day-to-day computing for nothing, right at home on Windows. You don't need to pay a penny. Some of the biggest names in free and open-source software are available on Windows, and where there either aren't offerings or they don't exist because Linux doesn't need such things, there are proprietary but no-cost native Windows products which you can download and use, gratis.
Of course, the Linux evangelists will protest that this won't help you break free of the shackles of commercial software. You even might have to put up with the odd advert for upmarket paid-for offerings. Still, you can save a lot of money and hassle. What's more, by moving away from familiar big-name programs, you're getting a step closer to leaving the security blanket of Windows behind one day.
There's another advantage, too: security. Microsoft's tools are the most widely-used in the world, and especially online. As such, they are the target of most of the Internet-borne malware out there: viruses, spyware, trojans and so on. This isn't helped by the problem that historically, Microsoft's Internet clients have been among the most insecure around. Its products are gradually getting less bad, but there are still good reasons for using alternative programs.
"But I need Office and Photoshop!"
It's easy to get seduced into thinking that you need to run the same applications as everybody else, but it's not true. There are millions of people using Macs and Linux PCs happily interworking with their Microsoft-based colleagues. All you really need is to be able to read and write the most widely-used file formats, and that's a given these days. For instance, Microsoft Office documents are the lingua franca of the commercial world. The alternatives are no harder to use and you don't need to relearn everything - for example, OpenOffice resembles Office 2003 dramatically more closely than Microsoft's own Office 2007.
Everyone needs different things from their PC. It's what's called the Pareto Principle, or more familiarly, the "80:20 Rule". Eighty percent of people only use twenty percent of the functionality of their tools. The problem is, not everyone uses the same twenty percent ? so to cover all the bases, software ends up becoming bloated, trying to cover the 80% of the functions that 80% of its users need. Which means that we all end up with huge, complex programs of which each of us only needs a fraction. And usually, they're very expensive, too.
Now, I can't predict everything that you might want to do with your computer. All I can do is aim at the basic tasks that pretty much everyone wants out of a modern PC: web access, email and Internet chat; media playback and CD and DVD burning; office productivity; security software, including anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall; and image editing and management.
Over the next few articles in this series, I'll look at a range of free alternatives for these tasks. They might not be the big-name tools you're used to, and in some cases, they might not do everything that their paid-for big brothers can, but the chances are, they'll do everything that you actually need.
Where possible, I'll favour Open Source software, stuff that's Free with a capital "F": i.e., Free as in freedom. With Free or Open Source Software - FOSS for short - the apps are not the confidential intellectual property of some faceless company, they're written and maintained by volunteers and given away for the benefit of the Internet community. This means you'll never get trapped into having to pay for a new version or for updates and fixes, and any files you create with FOSS apps can be read and handled by their rivals - the formats and descriptions are published, rather than being kept secret and defended by patents. Finally, with FOSS, you never have to consent to restrictive licence agreements and sign your rights away. After all, your computer is your own, to do with as you wish; shouldn't your software be the same?
Sadly, though, in many cases, there isn't an open source offering available just yet, or it's there but it's not yet quite up to scratch with its proprietary rivals. In which case, I'll recommend some proprietary tools that will get the job done.
One bundle that I must mention is the Google Pack: this is a selection of useful Windows apps presented by the search company. Sadly, some are only trial versions, and when they expire you must pay, which I think is a raw deal. In other places, Google offers proprietary apps when there are excellent FOSS alternatives. So I don't agree with all Google's choices, but its Pack is certainly an easy start.
If you want to jump straight into the world of FOSS apps on Windows, the GNU Project maintains a list of some of the most popular offerings.
L'Inqs
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=42541
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AfterDawn Addict
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21. September 2007 @ 18:16 |
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Microsoft to Allow PC Makers to Downgrade to XP
Posted by Zonk on Friday September 21, @06:31PM
from the going-back-in-time dept.
Microsoft Businesses Windows IT
mytrip pointed out a News.com story about a new Microsoft program to allow PC makers to downgrade from Vista to XP if they so choose. They're still pushing the new version of Windows very hard, but the option now exists for PC resellers to offer the now venerable OS. This is especially interesting as the article points out that OEM licenses for XP officially run out at the end of January.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx
"Hewlett-Packard also started a program in August for many of its business models. 'For business desktops, workstations and select business notebooks and tablet PCs, customers can configure their systems to include the XP Pro restore disc for little or no charge,' HP spokeswoman Tiffany Smith said in an e-mail. She said it was too soon to gauge how high customer interest has been. 'Since we've only been offering (it) for about a month, we don't really have anything to share on demand.' A Microsoft representative confirmed there were some changes made over the summer to the options computer makers have with respect to XP, but the representative was not immediately able to elaborate on those changes."
The XP alternative for Vista PCs
Microsoft is quietly telling PC makers they can offer a Windows XP "downgrade" to customers buying systems preloaded with Vista.
Image: Lenovo's XP 'downgrade' program
By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: September 21, 2007, 12:11 PM PDT
Last modified: September 21, 2007, 3:51 PM PDT
Tell us what you think about this storyTalkBackE-mail this story to a friendE-mailView this story formatted for printingPrint Add to your del.icio.usdel.icio.us Digg this storyDigg this
update While Microsoft is still pushing Vista hard, the company is quietly allowing PC makers to offer a "downgrade" option to buyers that get machines with the new operating system but want to switch to Windows XP.
The program applies only to Windows Vista Business and Ultimate versions, and it is up to PC makers to decide how, if at all, they want to make XP available. Fujitsu has been among the most aggressive, starting last month to include an XP disc in the box with its laptops and tablets.
"That's going to help out small- and medium-size businesses," Fujitsu marketing manager Brandon Farris told CNET News.com.
Hewlett-Packard also started a program in August for many of its business models. "For business desktops, workstations and select business notebooks and tablet PCs, customers can configure their systems to include the XP Pro restore disc for little or no charge," HP spokeswoman Tiffany Smith said in an e-mail. She said it was too soon to gauge how high customer interest has been. "Since we've only been offering (it) for about a month, we don't really have anything to share on demand."
Lenovo page
A Microsoft representative confirmed there were changes made over the summer to make it easier for customers to downgrade to XP. Under Microsoft's licensing terms for Vista, buyers of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate Edition have always had the right to downgrade to XP, but in practice this could be challenging. In June, Microsoft changed its practices to allow computer makers that sell pre-activated Vista machines to order Windows XP discs that could be included inside the box with PCs, or shipped to customers without requiring additional activation. Microsoft noted in a statement that neither it nor the PC makers are "obligated to supply earlier versions to end users under the end user licensing terms."
While there is always resistance by some to move to a new operating system, there appears to be particularly strong demand, especially from businesses, to stick with XP.
One of the challenges, for both businesses and consumers are Vista's hefty graphics and memory needs.
Lenovo, for its part, has details for its downgrade program on its IBM ThinkPad Web site.
Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden said Dell has been offering businesses that have a Premier Page set up the option to order systems with XP, Vista or Vista with XP downgrade rights. There is no extra charge for the downgrade rights.
"We've been offering it and we're still offering it," she said.
HP, Gateway and others also still sell machines with XP on them, nearly a year after Microsoft first started offering Vista to businesses. Vista went on sale broadly to consumers in January, at which point XP largely disappeared from retail shelves.
However, demand for XP has remained. In April, Dell brought XP back as an option even on consumer PCs.
There is an issue, though, over how long PC makers can keep selling machines with Windows XP as the preloaded operating system. Microsoft is requiring large PC makers to stop selling XP-based systems as of January 31, though some PC makers would like to sell XP machines for longer.
"We're all lobbying for it," Farris said.
http://www.news.com/The-XP-alternative-f...l?tag=nefd.lede
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22. September 2007 @ 06:27 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13397
MediaDefender boss Randy Saaf arrested
p2pnet news | Crime:- MediaDefender boss Randy Saaf (left) and sidekick Octavio Herrera are being questioned by Las Vegas Police.
The pair, shown here in handcuffs, were arrested following the online publication of confidential MediaDefender documents, including a transcript of a phone call with US police authorities.
Saaf?s MediaDefender has been posting fake download files on behalf of entertainment cartel hit organisations, principally Hollywood?s MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), which then releases statements claiming the ?spoofs,? as they?re called, are the work of ?pirates?.
In one of the most recent examples, ?Pirates frequently make ?spoofs? of titles available on peer-to-peer networks, so what you think you are downloading might in fact be a fake,? says the MPAA?s MPA (Motion Picture Association).
Saaf and Herrera will be arraigned next week on 10,00,324 charges of illegal uploading with intent to deceive, bandwidth theft, and grievous misrepresentation.
Meanwhile, MediaDefender-Defenders, the site carrying the leaked MediaDefender documents, remains defiantly online.
This is a list of the famous leaked MediaDefender e-mails, displayed neatly in both thread and chronological order. Enjoy!
Click here for
http://www.mediadefender-defenders.com/
* View by threads
* View by date
* (NEW) MediaDefender.Source.TrapperKeeper-MDD Torrent
* Transcript for MediaDefender.Phonecall-MDD (Enhanced OGG (V1), 11.4 MB)
* Upload stats for Gnutella/etc decoy files
* List of all IPs that MD has used (14.3 MB)
* List of all IPs that DDoS us that are MediaDefender Owned
And definitely stay tuned.
.SlashdotSlashdot it! Add to Technorati Favorites
Also See:
online publication - MediaDefender fiasco: update III, September 19, 2007
recent examples - Hollywood invades Taiwan schoolss, September 20, 2007
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22. September 2007 @ 06:39 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13371
NPR?s long, hard look at the RIAA
p2pnet news | RIAA News:- ?I don?t think we?ve suddenly had a massive morality shift, where tens of millions of Americans who wouldn?t shoplift a CD in a store have suddenly lost their moral compass and are rampaging out there, eager to break the law.?
Or ?..
?There are tools, in terms of, uh, uh, authentication here, and, uh, uh, I?m not a technician so I?m, I?m, I really can?t go into that in great detail.?
The first remark came from leading EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) lawyer Fred von Lohmann in a documentary on American Public Media?s Marketplace.
The second was from RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) spin-doctor-in-chief Mitch Bainwol, both of whom were interviewed for a three-part American Public Media Marketplace series which kicks off:
The recording industry has gotten serious about illegal file sharing. In the last four years it has filed thousands of lawsuits. But, as Bob Moon reports in a special series, even those targeted by mistake, like Tanya Andersen, get no reprieve.
It takes a long, hard - and commendably objective - look at Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG?s bitter and relentless assault on the men, women and children who keep the money rolling in and whom the Big 4 are calling criminals and thieves. But even as the major labels desperately try to sue them into once again becoming the compliant cash-cow ?consumers? of the physical 1970s, the technically intelligent customers of the 21st digital century are dangerously determined to exercise their rights to choose freely.
Part I, No pause in music industry?s tough play, aired on Monday, Part II, Free? Illegal? ? What?s the difference? Music biz?s future rests on key changes, was broadcast on Tuesday, and Part III, Music biz?s future rests on key changes, was heard yesterday afternoon, wrapping the three-part series.
Featured, in addition to von Lohmann, are:
* Tanya Andersen, the disabled Oregon mother who?s looking for class-action status in a case she wants to bring against the Big 4?s RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) .
* Lory Lybeck, Andersen?s lawyer, a deft hand who?s consistently challenging the Big 4 enforcement organisation?s legal teams
* Ray Beckerman, the New York attorney who was one of the first to act for RIAA victims and who today runs Recording Industry vs The People, a blog caring detailed reports of cases, together with links to stories and commentaries covering them
* Bainwol
* Peter Jenner, the former Pink Floyd manager who currently represents an artists? coalition in London
* Felix Oberholtzer from the Harvard University Business School, who, with colleague Koleman Strumpf from the University of Kansas School of Business, first firmly gave the lie to corporate music industry claims that files shared equal sales lost. Their paper, The Effect of File Sharing on Record Sales: An Empirical Analysis, remains a milestone
?It was challenging to try to sort through a lot of seemingly contradictory angles to all of this, coming from different directions, frankly,? the series presemnter, Bob Moon, told p2pnet shortly after the final segment aired.
?One example is something we just didn?t end up with enough time to explain as we were heading into production,? he said, going on:
As we know, the recording companies have now stipulated - and a judge has ruled ?with prejudice? - that there was no case against her. It just adds yet another confusing layer if you try to explain that they?re now arguing their motion to have her countersuit thrown out, at least in part, on the idea that she really was an online pirate who should have had no expectation of privacy.
It really raises the problem of how detailed can a story be before your listener starts losing track of everything.
The answer to that is probably: as detailed as necessary, and that?s exactly how it?s starting to be, thanks entirely to the Net which gives online citizen media and reporters the space and the freedom to be as verbose is they need to be.
In Part I, No pause in music industry?s tough play
?- Tanya Andersen relates how she reacted to a letter, ?warning that she had breached undisclosed copyrights and owed hundreds of thousands of dollars? which she initially believed was a scam, ?until she phoned someone at what the industry calls its ?settlement support center?,? says Marketplace, going on:
ANDERSEN: You know, I told them, ?Look, take my computer. Look at that. I can prove to you I didn?t do this.? And he said, ?What do you guys expect us to look at everyone?s computers that says they?re innocent??
The first lawyer she consulted offered some advice that turned her stomach:
ANDERSEN: ?Just let ?em take a judgment against you and file bankruptcy.? And I told him, ?Why should I have to do that? That?s not fair.? And he said, ?I didn?t say it was fair. It?s how you have to deal with those people.?
So it was back on the phone to the ?settlement center,? where she says a support rep listened sympathetically.
ANDERSEN: He ended up telling me, ?Well, you can write a letter to my bosses, but no guarantee. Once they start a lawsuit, they just don?t back off.?
LORY LYBECK: And that?s when her life went down the rabbit hole.
That?s Lory Lybeck. Andersen?s lawyer:
LYBECK: Lo and behold, somebody shows up at her door with a federal lawsuit, saying ?We?re going to ruin you. We?re going to sue you for over a million dollars.?
He bases that on the industry?s past demands for up to $750 per song. He says Andersen was accused of trading 1,046 music files.
Lybeck responded with a counterclaim in the fall of 2005, and Andersen says after that things really got ugly. It was right around the time she moved to a new home, and her apartment manager got a call:
ANDERSEN: He told them he couldn?t release my personal information. They told him that he would either give it to them or he was going to get in a lot of trouble. It terrified me. Come to find out, they were trying to serve Kylee.
Her daughter, who was just 7 years old when the file-sharing supposedly happened. Andersen?s lawyer says he was able to confirm that call came from the recording industry?s law firm. What remains a mystery is something else that he says happened around the same time:
LYBECK: Calls were made to Kylee?s elementary school, under the pretext of somebody calling saying they were Kylee?s grandmother, and was she there that day? I haven?t tracked that call directly back to the law firm, but it was most disturbing, especially since Tanya checked, and grandma made no such calls.
The head of the Recording Industry Association of America refused to comment on any specific case, but Mitch Bainwol did tell us this.
MITCH BAINWOL: I would remind you that folks, when they have a legal dispute, often can be creative with the way they portray the facts.
In Part II, Free? Illegal? ? What?s the difference?
?I often run into musicians and artists who say, ?Thank you for what you?re doing,? states Bainwol. ? ?We know you take hits for this, but it?s about my future, it?s about my dream. And I know that our property has to be respected?.?
Says Jenner:
It?s the same way that when you see lots of civilians being killed in a war, you know that?s bad for your war. And I think it?s the same if you?re harming individuals randomly.
No one disputes that millions around the world continue to engage in unauthorized sharing of music. But critics complain the industry is using desperation tactics that haven?t solved the problem and, they charge, are both legally and morally dubious.
Say Beckerman:
The RIAA doesn?t conduct an investigation to find out whether someone committed a copyright infringement. It conducts an investigation to find out who paid the bill for an Internet-access account. And that?s where their investigation should begin, but in their weak minds that?s where it ends.
Lybeck picks up the thread:
Parents are falsely accused of downloading music and are sued inappropriately for downloading music every day.
MOON: Aren?t they responsible for what their kids do?
LYBECK: No, the law certainly doesn?t support that, unless they?re benefitting from it in some way.
When parents do decide to fight, he says, lawyers show no shame training their legal guns on the children. Lybeck points out the industry has sued kids as young as 12 ? nevermind something the head of Warner Music, Edgar Bronfman, told an interviewer.
LYBECK: He was being questioned as to whether his children had downloaded music, and he frankly admitted they had. ?But don?t worry, I?ve had some very stern conversations with them, and they?re not going to do it anymore.? Which, out of fairness, a lot of parents would like to have that opportunity, rather than being pestered and abused and threatened with financial ruin with a federal lawsuit.
The industry might actually be tempting youngsters, and even adult fans, to try out the very file-sharing sites it?s battled for years to shut down.
You can hear this confusion as the head of the RIAA lays out his case for us. Initially, he argues flatly that ?free? means ?illegal.?
BAINWOL: The reality is, almost everybody understands that the practice of taking copyrighted works for free is illegal.
But what about when the industry is giving away its own free songs? . . . This summer, a deal was announced to flood file-sharing sites with 16 million free downloads, reportedly from the popular rapper Plies.
Trouble is, fans were left guessing exactly which track would be legally free. And until the file is actually downloaded, there?s no way to be sure that it?s the ?authorized? version that includes an embedded ad. Sprint pays for its logo to appear whenever the song is played.
The label that?s reportedly offering these free songs is one of the same companies that?s been suing to discourage file sharing. Question the head of the RIAA on this haziness and ? listen closely ? Mitch Bainwol starts making subtle exceptions.
BAINWOL: Teenagers today understand that if you get something for free, in all probability, unless it?s explicitly legal, it?s not.
FRED VON LOHMANN: How?s the fan supposed to know?
That?s Fred Von Lohmann of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He complains the moving lines could lure unsuspecting fans into being sued. And it?s not just the file-sharing sites that leave him confused. Some online bulletin boards also offer free MP3 music files, seemingly with the industry?s blessing:
VON LOHMANN: Promotional CDs get sent to these MP3 bloggers all the time, really encouraging people to post some stuff on the Internet, get some buzz going. There are some independent artists who take a much more open-minded view to file sharing. Many fans have no idea whether their favorite artist is on an independent label or on a major label. This is just an area of continuing confusion.
We tried asking the industry?s top representative how the average law-abiding teenager ? or even his own organization ? might tell the difference between what?s legal and what?s not. But even Mitch Bainwol didn?t seem to know clearly:
BAINWOL: There are tools, in terms of, uh, uh, authentication here, and, uh, uh, I?m not a technician so I?m, I?m, I really can?t go into that in great detail. I?d be happy to get you somebody who can.
Check the press release http://investor.news.com/cnet?GUID=25543...wer&Ticker=ARTD announcing those free ad-supported downloads we mentioned and it simply says, ?The tracks are indistinguishable from illegal, pirated content.?
Despite this left-hand, right-hand confusion, and questions about his industry?s tactics, Bainwol told us he?s convinced the ongoing lawsuit campaign against music fans continues to be a valuable educational tool.
In Part III, Music biz?s future rests on key changes,
?- the recording industry?s ?top lobbyist, Mitch Bainwol,? insists his organisation is trying to adapt and support the technologies fans have embraced, ?even in the face of ridicule that it?s too little, too late?:
Mitch Bainwol: We are seeking to monetize all sorts of distribution channels. I find it ironic when we do what critics want us to do, we get criticized for that.
Online sales are steadily rising, and Bainwol sees that as a reason to keep on suing unauthorized file-sharing fans. He says that legal pressure helps give legitimate Internet sales what he calls ?the traction they need.? He?s convinced history will record his industry?s tactics as pivotal.
Bainwol: It took some pretty gutsy actions by the music industry and others to establish that, in fact, intellectual property is worthy of protection.
?Cowardly? might be a better word than ?gutsy?, and meanwhile, Von Lohmann sums in an opinion Bainwol and the people who pay his salary will do well to consider deeply:
I think 10 years from now, everyone will look back at this entire episode with shame. I can?t believe it ever got so bad and we were so unimaginative, unable to transition to a new model, that we actually started treating our customers - our fans - as the enemy.
If nothing else, the series will sensitise people who may never have heard of the bizarre RIAA sue ?em all marketing campaign to some of the issues.
Each segment attracted the largest number of listeners as Marketplace aired them and this morning, all three were at the top of the online lists.
Moon says flagship afternoon show Marketplace and the early Marketplace Morning Report are heard by an audience of more than 8.1 million unique listeners during the week, and on more than 330 public radio stations nationwide.
The program is also distributed worldwide by American Forces Radio and also has the largest audience of any business program in the United States, on radio or television, says American Public Media.
Definitely stay tuned.
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AfterDawn Addict
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22. September 2007 @ 12:02 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13400
Sony drops Sunncomm/Amergence lawsuit
p2pnet news | Music:- ?Under the, ?You knew it was coming sooner or later? heading, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is suing The Amergence Group,? p2pnet posted recently.
Amergence? Never heard of them?
That could be because it was formerly SunnComm International, ?the company which developed MediaMax, a spyware DRM application which, included on Sony music CDs, sparked an international scandal that?s still reverberating around the world.,? p2pnet went on.
Now, ?We have recently received notice that Sony-BMG has withdrawn its lawsuit against The Amergence Group,? says an investor?s statement, continuing:
Although the music giant can decide to re-institute the lawsuit at a later time, Amergence shareholders should know that we are prepared to defend the action. In addition, the Company is currently contemplating a counter-suit against Sony-BMG for the damage they?ve caused by bringing the action against the Company and through what we believe to be the reckless introduction of rootkit technology utilized in a competitor?s technology (First4Internet?s XCP copy protection).
?Jon,? Astrid emailed me, ?Unbelievable as it might seem, the people at SunnComm fell for your spoof piece and felt the need to write a denial - Astrid.?
We?d posted a lampoon which among other things said:
From December 1, all iTunes downloads will carry a new kind of Fair Play DRM, a direct negative feedback ?watermark? recognized by Fair Play earbuds and, ultimately, by other audio devices from manufacturers who sign up for the code, which was created under a joint SunnComm and Macrovision venture.
When an iPod (or other) user wearing the new audio devices plays an iTunes track not sanctioned by Organized Music (EMI Group, Vivendi Uiversal, Warner Music), Fair Play feedback ?instructs? the buds to emit a piercing, high-pitched scream in stereo at 250 decibels.
Microsoft?s PowerHit system is a DRM application keyed to the company?s Power Management technology. Starting at midnight on December 1, all users of Windows 2000 and higher will receive automatic system updates which will instruct desktops, laptops and PDAs running appropriate MS OS software to release a 125-volt anti-p2p DRM ?charge? into computer chassis every users attempt to play unauthorised iTunes tracks.
Amergence/Sunncomm boss Peter Jacobs (right) felt compelled to rush out an international press release declaring:
There are published reports circulating online that state SunnComm is creating a new kind of DRM under a joint venture with a competitor named Macrovision (NasdaqNM:MVSN - News).?
It added:
At this time SunnComm is not involved, in any way, with Macrovision as it relates to development projects or other discussions with Apple Computer. Executives at MediaMax Technology Corp. (OTC BB:MMXT.OB - News), the seller of MediaMax, have confirmed that they are not currently working with Macrovision in relation to the development of a new kind of DRM for Apple(r).
(Thanks again, Astrid)
SlashdotSlashdot it! Add to Technorati Favorites
Also See:
p2pnet - Sony BMG sues SunnComm (Amergence), July 12, 2007
statement - Sony-BMG withdraws suit against Amergence, September 21, 2007
posted a lampoon - Apple, Microsoft p2p collaboration, November 5, 2005
international press release - SunnComm falls for p2pnet spoof, November 9, 2005
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AfterDawn Addict
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22. September 2007 @ 12:03 |
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http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13399
Make better music, major labels told
p2pnet news | Music:- ?The music industry needs to concentrate on making better music if it wants to revive its fortunes, says veteran entertainment journalist and music historian Larry LebBlanc.
Interviewed during a nationally televised CTV Canada A.M. show, the major labels should perhaps, ?take a look at the stores,? he told CTV?s Seamus O?Regan.
?There?s a lot of crappy music out there. There?s a lot of music that people aren?t interested in.?
LeBlanc also said CD sales or radio airplay aren?t the only barometers of determining how well the music industry is doing.
Bands selling music at shows is an example of music being made available outside of traditional music retail channels and wouldn?t show up on industry charts, he pointed out, going on that the selling of music through digital avenues will continue to grow but online music retailers need to decide on a consistent pricing system.
But LeBlanc also believes the current model won?t be completely phased out.
?I think the CD is still alive,? he said. ?It will thrive but not in the way that we see it right now. It might be extra value - I think people still like the shopping experience. I?ll tell you what is dead. The bad album with only one track is dead.?
LeBlanc added catalogue sales had masked the fact that new music releases were in decline for years.
When catalog sales slowed and ?big box? stores competitively drove the price of music down, according to LeBlanc, it made the music industry?s struggles more apparent.
But ultimately, LeBlanc says the feels the problems facing the music industry are
directly linked to its product, adding:
?I think what the industry has to get back to is good music.?
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AfterDawn Addict
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22. September 2007 @ 15:00 |
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FREE,CDBurnerXP Pro 4.0
http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_6_205_9600.html
Size: 1.93MB
Publisher: Visit Website
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
Release Date: 2007-09-22
Submit Date: 2007-09-22
OS: Win 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Publisher's Description
CDBurnerXP Pro is a freeware burning solution with many features. It can burn any Data on CD-R / CD-RW / DVD+R / DVD-R / DVD+RW / DVD-RW, including double layer mediums, Blu-Ray discs and HD-DVDs. It can also burn and create ISO files and burn audio discs.
Features:
* burn all kinds of discs
* audio-CDs with or without gaps between tracks
* burn and create ISO files
* data verification after burning process
* create bootable discs
* multi-language interface
* bin/nrg to ISO converter, simple cover printing and much more!
* Operating Systems: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista
CDBurnerXP is a free application to burn CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs.
It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs, as well as a
multilanguage interface. Everyone, even companies, can use it for free. It does not
include adware or similar malicious components.
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
http://www.freewarefiles.com/downloads_counter.php?programid=9600
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. September 2007 @ 06:14 |
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i did not try this,no coffee yet
Windows
Find Out If Your Computer Is Secretly Connecting to the Web
If you are trying to track down why your computer is running so slooowwwly, try using this simple DOS command from Digital Inspiration to uncover a possible problem:
* Type cmd in your Windows Run box.
* Type "netstat -b 5 > activity.txt" and press enter.
* After say 2 minutes, press Ctrl+C.
* Type "activity.txt" on the command line to open the log file in notepad (or your default text editor)
This .txt file will have a record of everything that has made an Internet connection in the last couple of minutes; you can then check your task manager to find out where it is and take care of it.
Is Your Computer Connecting To Websites Without Your Knowledge [Digital Inspiration]
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. September 2007 @ 11:24 |
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MediaCoder 0.6.0.38.80
Author: Yi-Chun Huang
Date: 2007-09-22
Size: 16.9 Mb
License: Freeware (GPL)
Requires: 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/2003
MediaCoder is a free universal audio/video batch transcoder, putting together lots of excellent audio/video codecs and tools from the open source community into an all-in-one solution, capable of transcoding among different audio/video formats with many extra features.
Typical applications:
- Improving compression / reducing file size
- Converting from lossless/high-bitrate audio to low-bitrate audio to play with portable DAP
- Converting to device (mobile phone, PDA, MP4 player, PSP, VCD/DVD player)
- Extracting audio tracks from video clips
- Ripping CD/VCD/DVD
Supported source formats:
- Audio: MP3, OGG/Vorbis, AAC, MusePack, WMA, RealAudio, FLAC, WavPack, APE/APL, WAV
- Video: AVI (Xvid/DivX/H.264), MPEG1/2/4, QuickTime (mov), WMV/ASF, RealMedia (rmvb), MP4, Matroska (mkv)
CUE Sheets, CD, VCD, DVD
Supported target audio formats:
- Lossy: MP3, OGG/Vorbis, AAC, AAC+/Parametric Stereo, MusePack, WMA
- Lossless: FLAC, WavPack, Monkey's Audio (APE), WMA Lossless, WAV
Supported target video formats:
- H.264, Xvid, DivX 4/5, MPEG1/2/4, H.263 etc.
Supported target container formats:
- AVI, MPEG, Matroska, MP4, PMP (PSP Media Player Format)
DOWNLOAD
http://www.majorgeeks.com/MediaCoder_d4987.html
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. September 2007 @ 11:45 |
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Vista SP1 ?tries to hide the Ultimate Extras shame?
Sep 23, 2007 - 10:33 AM - by Digital Dave
Yea, the Ultimate Extras we were all promised with Vista are not going to make it. Kinda sad if you ask me.
If you?re still holding out hope for any exciting Extras, you might as well give up now because it doesn?t look like we?ll be seeing any. Face up to it, if you bought Windows Vista Ultimate because you hoped to get your hands on cool Extras, you were conned, and being conned sucks.
September 23rd, 2007
Vista SP1 ?tries to hide the Ultimate Extras shame?
Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 5:09 am Categories: Microsoft, Vista Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
While many are waiting on Windows Vista SP1 to come along to knock off some of Vista?s rough corners, it seems that some at Microsoft will welcome the release too - specifically Microsoft?s Windows Ultimate group.
Long Zheng explains why:
On a related note, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 even tries to hide the Ultimate Extras shame by removing much of the information in the Control Panel applet. This is what you see in the current RTM version about Ultimate Extras.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/images/ultimateextras1_sm.jpg
This is what you see in Service Pack 1.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/images/ultimateextrassp1_sm.jpg
This dramatic change to the wording is basically Microsoft?s way of trying to pull the curtain on the cornucopia of Windows Ultimate Extras that were initially promised to customers. Forget the ?cutting-edge programs,? the ?innovative services? and ?unique publications? because there aren?t any. If you?re still holding out hope for any exciting Extras, you might as well give up now because it doesn?t look like we?ll be seeing any. Face up to it, if you bought Windows Vista Ultimate because you hoped to get your hands on cool Extras, you were conned, and being conned sucks.
So far the Extras that we have seen have been dismal and the ones that are allegedly still in the pipeline (a final release of DreamScenes and a handful of language packs) are even more dreary and uninspiring, and that?s if we ever see them (actually, not seeing them might be better). The unofficial Powertoys that Microsoft made available for previous versions of Windows were a lot more exciting (and useful).
Anyone else feel conned?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=806
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. September 2007 @ 11:53 |
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Sony DVDirect MC5
Video-transfer device is a quick, convenient way to get content onto DVD without firing up a PC.
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The $230 MC5 is the latest in Sony's DVDirect series of stand-alone video transfer devices, and for quick, easy burning of photos and video to DVD without using a PC, you can't beat it. The big news is that the MC5 is the first DVDirect model to support HD video.
However, it doesn't create Blu-ray or HD DVD discs, but rather the AVCHD format, which is basically h.264/MPEG-4 video burned to DVD (still high-definition, but the discs won't hold much). Nonetheless, it looks good. Other new features include the ability to import a JPEG file from a memory card to serve as the DVD menu background, or an MP3 file to provide background music for photo slide shows.
Unlike past versions, though, the MC5 won't talk to a computer--despite having both USB and FireWire ports. You can pick up a DVD burner for $50 or less, so this is not a huge consideration. It immediately recognized the Sony HDR-SR7 camcorder I attached and started the AVCHD disc creation wizard.
I burned two test DVDs with the MC5: One was a slide show created from files on an SD flash memory card (the MC5 also reads Compact Flash, xD-Picture Card, and all Memory Stick media); the other contained HD footage from the camcorder. (To view the AVCHD discs that the MC5 creates, you need software like Cyberlink's PowerDVD, a Blu-ray player, or a DVD player that supports the format.) Both projects required virtually no intervention on my part, burned quickly, and looked great--especially the AVCHD disc.
Though the MC5 is easy to use, I had to search for a format function hidden in the setup menu to reuse Nero-burned +RW and -RW media. The MC5 does nothing you can't do with a PC and a DVD burner, but for videographers on the go, it's both quicker and more convenient.
-- Jon L. Jacobi
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137362...ia/article.html
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. September 2007 @ 11:57 |
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Disability Advocates Gripe to FCC About iPhone
Hearing loss group says Apple didn't ensure the iPhone works with hearing aids, violating disabilities laws.
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
Sunday, September 23, 2007 10:00 AM PDT
A group representing people with a hearing loss filed complaints with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last month, accusing Apple Inc. of not making its iPhone compatible with hearing aids.
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), a Bethesda, Md. advocacy group, filed formal complaints with the FCC in August, Brenda Battat, the HLAA's associate executive director, said in e-mailed comments about Apple's iPhone. "The phone [is] not usable with a hearing aid, either on the microphone or telecoil setting," said Battat. "Clearly it was not designed to be hearing aid compatible. It should have been."
Under its Section 255 regulations, the FCC requires phone manufacturers, including those selling mobile handsets, to make their products accessible to people with disabilities, if such access is "readily achievable." That standard is defined by the agency as "easily accomplishable without much difficulty or expense."
The FCC has also set benchmarks that spell out what percentage of a handset maker's line must be hearing aid compatible. Currently, each manufacturer must offer at least two hearing aid-compatible models.
People with hearing loss often rely on an induction coil, dubbed a "telecoil," in their hearing aids to use telephones, including cell phones. The telecoil detects magnetic energy and converts it into sound, amplifying the conversation as well as shutting out external noise; when the telecoil is switched on, the hearing aid's microphone is generally switched off.
In its complaint, the HLAA said Apple, when designing the iPhone, should have tested it for hearing aid compatibility (HAC) standards so that it could be used by hearing aid and cochlear implant users. "It was probably tested for HAC prior to release," said Battat. "As soon as they got the results they would have known it was not accessible to hearing aid and cochlear implant users."
Battat has met with Apple representatives twice since the iPhone's debut, including one meeting where the company demonstrated the iPhone. The demo left a poor impression, said Battat. "When held up to a cochlear implant and or a hearing aid it gives out a loud buzzing interference," she said.
Apple's designated FCC Section 255 contact, Mike Shebanek of its worldwide product marketing group, did not reply to a request for comment.
"Apple is well aware of the accessibility problems, not just for hearing aid users but for people with low vision or who are blind," said Battat. "They state a willingness to get up to speed with accessibility. Too bad they did not do it prior to release and not after."
Several bloggers have called on hearing aid users to complain to Apple, either by calling its public relations section or by posting comments on the company's iPhone support forum. Some followed the latter advice.
"As a long-time Mac user, a professional working with people with hearing loss and hearing aid wearer myself, this is HORRIBLE," said someone identified as LongTimeUser2 on the Apple message forum. "I love you Apple, but this one has to be rectified. Let's do it the easy quiet way. I'm sitting on $300 or so wanting an iPhone. You want it?"
According to documents posted on the FCC's Web site, however, Apple may not be required to make changes to the iPhone. "Handset manufacturers that offer two or fewer digital wireless handsets in the U.S. need not comply with the hearing aid compatibility compliance obligations," the FCC states.
Managers of the FCC's Disability Rights Office did not respond to calls for comment and clarification.
"In my opinion, Apple set itself up for the dissatisfaction from the disability community," said Battat. "Expectations were huge and they let us down. All the marketing hype just made it worse for them when they finally unveiled it and it was lacking so much access needed for people with disabilities."
Apple has until the end of this month to respond to the complaints filed with the FCC, Battat said.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137433-c,iphone/article.html
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AfterDawn Addict
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24. September 2007 @ 08:01 |
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Pirate Bay fires a salvo
File sharers pursue the content companies
By Alice Winter: Monday 24 September 2007, 13:46
SWEDISH buccaneers The Pirate Bay seem to have been galvanised into action by the success of yet another International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
It appears that in addition to juicy revelations about the MiiVi file sharer honeypot site, the recently leaked MediaDefender documents also contain the first solid evidence that the content industry have been paying people to hack the popular Torrent tracking site.
On Friday The Pirate Bay announced that they have reported 10 companies representing some of the biggest names in software, music, and film publishing to the Swedish police. They allege that the companies employed professional hackers, presumably MediaDefender themselves, to perform various acts of cyberterrorism, including hacking and denial of service attacks.
While The Pirate Bay have thus far been successful in fighting off considerable legal challenges to their operation, no-one disputes that many of the torrents that they track are illegal to download in most juristictions.
The evidence upon which they are making their accusations has a questionable legal status itself, having been obtained by hacker group MediaDefender-Defenders. It remains to be seen whether this development will result in anything more than a brief spurt of publicity for The Pirate Bay. µ
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=42580
L'INQ
The Pirate Bay's announcement
TPB files charges against media companies
Thanks to the email-leakage from MediaDefender-Defenders we now have proof of the things we've been suspecting for a long time; the big record and movie labels are paying professional hackers, saboteurs and ddosers to destroy our trackers.
While browsing through the email we identified the companies that are also active in Sweden and we have tonight reported these incidents to the police. The charges are infrastructural sabotage, denial of service attacks, hacking and spamming, all of these on a commercial level.
The companies that are being reported are the following:
* Twentieth Century Fox, Sweden AB
* Emi Music Sweden AB
* Universal Music Group Sweden AB
* Universal Pictures Nordic AB
* Paramount Home Entertainment (Sweden) AB
* Atari Nordic AB
* Activision Nordic Filial Till Activision (Uk) Ltd
* Ubisoft Sweden AB
* Sony Bmg Music Entertainment (Sweden) AB
* Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic AB
Stay tuned for updates.
Posted 09-21 21:50 by bkp
http://thepiratebay.org/blog/86
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AfterDawn Addict
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24. September 2007 @ 08:10 |
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The Gimp 2.4.0 RC3 Beta
Author: The Gimp Team
http://www.gimp.org/
Third Release Candidate for GIMP 2.42007-09-24
GIMP 2.4.0-rc3 fixes most of the bugs that were reported for the earlier release candidates. Have a look at the NEWS file for the changes made in this release. If you want to help by testing this release candidate, you can grab the source code from ftp.gimp.org. The release notes for the development releases still apply.
Date: 2007-09-24
Size: 14.7 Mb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It has many capabilities. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc. GIMP is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted.
link
http://www.majorgeeks.com/The_Gimp_d4485.html
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