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What's coming with Windows? Even the insiders aren't sure...

Sometimes you find fascinating little tidbits of Microsoft news buried in obscure places, tossed in as throwaway remarks. Today’s case in point comes from a post at the Windows Installer team blog, which tries to explain why some references to Windows Installer 4.1 appeared on an MSDN and then were...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Explanation, News, Reality, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott

Blog posts 2007-10-01

Fortune-Telling (zip)

This ancient program suggests most interesting guessing with a technique of ancient Chinese hexagrams (the Book of Changes - I-Ching). There is the explanation corresponds each combination of hexagrams. This guessing get a special urgency in our vague time of changes.

Tags: Explanation, Productivity

Software downloads 2007-01-18

XPlainer: Visual Explanations of XPath Queries

This paper introduces XPlainer, a language that provides explanations of why XPath expressions return a specific answer. An explanation returns precisely the nodes in the input XML paper that contribute to the answer. This paper provides a complete formalization for explanation queries based on the semantics of XPath. This enables...

Tags: Explanation, XPath, XPlainer-Eclipse Tool, XML, Software/Web Development, Web Development

White papers 2006-10-11

Additional Resources

Microsoft joins 'patch DNS now' chant; Apple patch missing

Microsoft joins 'patch DNS now' chant; Apple patch missingI couldn't make this stuff up if I triedSeriously, I'm not that creative.[url=http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12691-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=48138&messageID=898138] Apple fan explains why Apple isn't responsible for PWN2OWN vulnerability [/url][i]A Perl exploit isn't an Apple bug, anymore than the Flash exploit on the Vista machine was a Microsoft...

Tags: Apple Mac OS X, Domain names, Apple Mac OS, Operating systems, DNS, Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc.

Discussion threads 2008-07-25

DTrace and the Linux bunker mentality

DTrace and the Linux bunker mentalityBecause it is the Linux way Paul1) Take something good and copy it badly.2) Never, ever listen to anyone offering advice regarding usability [i]"Linux ain't no Fisher Price OS"[/i] etc.3) Spend more time arguing on the mailing lists, than actually developing and bug-testing.RE: DTrace and...

Tags: OPEN SOURCE, Operating systems, UNIX, DTrace, SCO Group Inc., Linux

Discussion threads 2008-07-24

Apple hints at lower prices as iPod, notebook refresh on tap

Amid all the chatter about Apple's fiscal third quarter results, which were strong, most concerns about the future revolve around two words: Gross margins. The big takeaway for technology buyers: Those lower margins hint at cheaper iPods and notebooks in the not-to-distant future. Following Apple's typical strong...

Tags: Notebook, Apple iPod, Apple MacBook, Apple Inc., Peter Oppenheimer, September, Digital Music, Digital Media, Personal Technology, Consumer Electronics, Larry Dignan

Blog posts 2008-07-22

iCrash: Buggy apps tarnish iPhone 2.0 appeal

Installation problems, buggy applications, lack of trial versions, and a mediocre selection have dampened initial enthusiasm for Apple's brand new iPhone App Store. Not counting punishing server load when the store debuted last week, some users like me have encountered a series of obstacles to get apps...

Tags: Apple iPhone, App, Engineering, Digital Music, Personal Technology, Ed Burnette

Blog posts 2008-07-20

Microsoft's search ambitions are its Vietnam

Is Microsoft fighting an unwinnable war with its online business and search obsession? It's a valid question and one that needs to be asked. At some point you have to wonder if Microsoft's Google envy is its Vietnam. As Mary Jo Foley noted Microsoft's answer to its...

Tags: Business, Microsoft Corp., Investment, Finance, Larry Dignan

Blog posts 2008-07-18

From Chapter one: Data Processing and the IBM Mainframe

From Chapter one: Data Processing and the IBM MainframeGood PostIn those days i was the Manager of Technical Services and Computer Operations and remember not too fondly the innumerable meetings, courses, seminars required to implement changes. The technique "Structured or Top-down programming" was used to insure data integrity when program...

Tags: Mainframes, Servers, mainframe, Y2K, IS-department, data-processing, IBM mainframe, business rule, IBM Corp.

Discussion threads 2008-07-18

Intel faces new antitrust charges in Europe: report

Intel faces new antitrust charges in Europe: reportRather moot, isn't it?Sort of like the US case against Microsoft after Netscape was already pushing up daisies, any fines assessed against Intel won't revive AMD. In fact, it's a good bet that any fines against Intel will show up on the...

Tags: Corporate law, Semiconductors, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel Corp., new antitrust charge, antitrust charge, antitrust

Discussion threads 2008-07-16

The (un)Biased Parties Explain Online Ad Biz to Capitol Hill

Just so we understand each other, the Internet is like a series of tubes, kind of like tunnels. And large amounts of data get moved through those tunnels, like in the back of a truck, you see. And inside those tunnels, there are advertisements - sort of like the billboards...

Tags: Google Inc., Internet Search Advertising, Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft Corp., Online Advertising, Search, Internet, Sam Diaz

Blog posts 2008-07-15

Ad-to-ad combat: Covering your Web tracks

You're worried about the constant advance of ads tied to your behavior online. You're not going to wait for Congress to get around to mandating clear privacy protections online, as suggested last week in a modest proposal. What's an avid Web user to do? ...

Tags: Web, Advertisement, AnchorFree Inc., HotSpot Shield, Mark Smith, Tom Steinert-Threlkeld

Blog posts 2008-07-14

iPhone 3G: Initial reaction (updated 2x)

iPhone 3G: Initial reaction (updated 2x)I'm hearing the activation process is a total disasterCNN is reporting that all users are being told to go home to complete the activation. I can't even fathom what type of problem would make activation work at someone's home and not an Apple or AT&T...

Tags: Cellular phones, WIRELESS, Handhelds, Apple iPhone, Apple Inc., iPhone 3G, 3G, GPS, 2G, phone

Discussion threads 2008-07-11

Email preservation standards extremely lax, GAO finds

Email preservation standards extremely lax, GAO finds.....Can we say DUH! It has been pointed out time and time again that the Bush administration has absolutely no respect for the Constitution nor do they care to adhere to the laws they create. The "we are above the law" mentality and the...

Tags: preservation standard, Email preservation standard, e-mail, General Accounting Office, U.S. Congress

Discussion threads 2008-07-10

Microsoft says it's time to stop worrying about Vista - Does that make you feel any less worried?

Microsoft says it's time to stop worrying about Vista - Does that make you feel any less worried?There are still issues...Network performance still needs work.File copy performance still needs work.The ghost town that is Ultimate Extra's needs to start giving us what we were promised and paid $100 extra for.I...

Tags: Operating systems, Microsoft Windows Live, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Corp., operating system, Microsoft Windows Vista

Discussion threads 2008-07-09

Open source lending tinged with racism

Open source lending tinged with racismProfit opportunityIf some non-financial factor is restricting the ability of some people to obtain the loans, then anyone who ignores that factor will be able to charge a higher rate than would otherwise be obtained.If someone's financial profile would justify a 5% rate (just to...

Tags: Financial services, open source, borrower, racism, auction

Discussion threads 2008-07-09

A Modest Privacy Proposal

The Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow on Privacy Implications of Online Advertising. Appearing before the committee headed by long-time Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) are lawyers for Google and Microsoft, as well as Facebook's chief privacy officer -- and Robert R. Dykes, the chairman...

Tags: Google Inc., Web, Internet Service Provider, Service Provider, Internet Service, Internet, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Business Services, Tom Steinert-Threlkeld

Blog posts 2008-07-08

ICANN says registrar was hacked

Two weeks after ICANN's own domains were hijacked by Turkish hackers, the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers says it was its registrar -- not ICANN's servers themselves -- that were attacked. On June 26, a number of ICANN sites popped up with this message: ...

Tags: Registrar, ICANN, Attack, Security, Richard Koman

Blog posts 2008-07-08

Google trying to take privacy seriously

This week was a very interesting week as far as Google and privacy goes. First, a burglary the same on that affected CNET earlier last month was confirmed to have affected all Google employees hired before December 31, 2005. There's nothing Google could have done about it, but it's...

Tags: Google Inc., Privacy, Social Security, Security, Government, Garett Rogers

Blog posts 2008-07-05

Windows Vista, meet my Mother-In-Law.

Windows Vista, meet my Mother-In-Law.Truth must be toldYou have to be honest with her. Just tell her the truth and she will understand. It might take a longer time but once she knows how to use a PC I bet you she will get the point.Try this:The computer is fine....

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Windows Software, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, Apple Macintosh

Discussion threads 2008-06-30