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September 2010 News Archives
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September 18, 2010 - Open Letters
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Well, it has been a busy month for me, as if that is anything new. But, this will be a busy semester. However, don't think that will cause me to neglect the site, or that it will prevent me from sharing with all of you the latest and most important news to come out of the tech industry. In that spirit, here we go.
First, before I get into the other stuff, Microsoft's "Patch Tuesday" was this past Tuesday. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that, no matter which OS you use (INCLUDING Mac OS), keeping your updates current is critical. Also, updates to programs like your antivirus program, Adobe Reader and Flash Player, and any other applications installed are just as important. There is currently a vulnerability in Adobe Reader/Acrobat, which is actively being exploited. Since there is no patch, you can't do much to resolve it for now. But, when the patch is released, it will be important to install it on all of your computers as soon as possible. In the meantime, Microsoft has provided a good solution. Their new tool, the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET), is linked in the Security section of the Downloads section. There are also active uses for EMET against the Adobe zero-day in Acrobat and Reader, and this is further explained by this article.
Next, Windows Phone 7 is right around the corner. I have been very excited, and have watched quite a few videos about the new mobile OS, which I believe has a ton of potential. However, I was disappointed to read this yesterday, which basically says the first phones will not be available through Verizon Wireless and Sprint. Well, I am a Verizon Wireless customer, and I have been for about 5 and a half years. I don't get good reception with any cell phone carrier where I live, but Verizon at least seems to be the best. So, I have no intention of switching, but I suggest Verizon get on board sooner than later, as I could easily be persuaded if WP7 turns out as good as it looks like it is going to.
Finally, the reason for my post title this month. I finally buckled down and posted a few open letters on Facebook. Each was created as a group, in order that anyone could join the group, as a way of adding their signature to the letter. In addition, it presents a forum for those who wish to debate the points, add to them, or contribute their information and opinions. The link to each group is as follows, in case you are interested in checking each one out.
Open Letter To Apple
Open Letter To Facebook
Open Letter To Microsoft
Open Letter To Open Source
One last thing. I am very disappointed in Dell as of late. In addition to their lack of strategy and direction over the past year or so, they allowed HP to bully them out of purchasing 3Par, which would have helped Dell to enhance their storage and data center offerings. This was a very clear showing of weakness on Dell's part, and I was not happy to see it. Many people are well aware that I am not a big of HP or Dell, but this is my objective feelings on the subject, as I support anything that shows drive in this industry. HP allowing Hurd to go, and then filing lawsuit against Oracle for hiring him is ridiculous. Now, in California, non-compete clauses were outlawed a year or two ago. So, instead, HP chose to claim a violation of trade secrets. Guys. Lawsuits in the tech industry are getting out of control. Fighting over a patent that you purposely wrote to give you dominance over a broad range of technologies (Apple), or filing suit against a former employee who was more or less forced out (HP), and imposing fines on companies who just happen to have a dominant position in the market (the EU), or filing suit against a company who enhances their product by incorporating functionality that formerly required your plug-in (i4i) is all just ridiculous. This is a fast-moving industry, and it DEMANDS innovation, in order to continue its rapid growth. All of these things do not help. Look at the smartphone industry. Apple got a little nervous with Android's sudden surge, and tried to file suit against HTC over a wide range of patents. Apple's idea? Bully the much smaller HTC into submission, and defeat Google via a proxy, rather than take on Google head-to-head. Unfortunately for Apple, with some 113 Android devices on or soon to be on the market, that plan isn't going to work. I realize Apple isn't a fan of encouraging competition and the free market, but the rest of us are, and that principle is what has helped to make the tech industry the diverse field it is today. Anyway, it's time to get off my soapbox for now. Until next time.
--Master Joe
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