Entries for Badgerguy

Vista UAC - time for DRM keyboard? [Vista UAC - time for DRM keyboard?]

Badgerguy — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:45:40 GMT

I've been using Vista for a while now, and to get a feel for it - I've left UAC on.

This is a good thing, right? Well, no, because UAC is pretty annoying - a fact that becomes pretty clear given that most lists of 'Tips and Tricks' for Vista out on the net usually include the instructions for turning UAC off somewhere near the top.

The problem I see with UAC is it pops up usually to simply confirm a mouse click - I double click on a management console icon for example - and up pops a UAC prompt asking for confirmation.

So how is it that we have DRM technology that can protect content going out through the soundcard and even beyond, but we don't have any kind of DRM technology in keyboards and mice that might allow the OS to ensure that an initiated action is one being carreid out by the user with their input devices, and not by a malicious program or script?

If DRM was built into input devices, UAC could pop up allot less, not having to basically confirm mouse clicks on trusted software (such as microsoft's own built in consoles and control panels) - and allowing for three different levels of UAC: Off, On for untrusted software, and on for all actions.

Thoughts?

in reply to Vista UAC - time for DRM keyboard?

MSN Music (UK) does not work on Vista (and poor response from support) [MSN Music (UK) does not work on Vista (and poor response from support)]

Badgerguy — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:28:42 GMT

Microsoft; Please here my tale of woe with Windows Vista, and music bought from the MSN Music Store in the UK.

In short - technical support for MSN Music UK have told me that the music I have bought from the store - a Microsoft branded store - will not run on Windows Vista. The only solution? Support have instructed me to crack the DRM - yes, that's right, the recommended solution is for me to take the music to an XP system, burn it to disk, and then rip it back.

Want to know more? Read on.

Over a period of several years, I've been buying quite a bit of music from MSN Music UK - (not the same as the US store, which is now closed). This service is provided by OD2 (On Demand Distribution), a LoudEye company, which also offers over 60 music stores in various coutries, mostly in Europe. Nevertheless - it is a Microsoft branded store, and of course, Microsoft will have some kind of agreement with OD2, and will be taking some of the money.

I've over 150 tracks - a modest collection by some standards I'm sure, but nevertheless - I paid for every one of them legally, using the MSN Music store.

Recently, I had the opportunity to install Windows Vista RTM at home. I jumped at the chance, and decided to dive in at the deep end, and moved over completely, transferring my files - including my music.

When I got up and running, I tried playing one of my purchased tracks. Of course, as I was now on a completely different setup of Windows - Windows Media Player (11), needed to refetch the license from the licensing server at OD2. It popped up with a small web-page dialog, provided by the OD2's systems, asking for my username and password - which I put in. The page simply reloaded, asking for my details again. No matter how many times I put my credentials in - the page simply reloads, with no error message.

Before we start re-covering the obvious - yes, it's the right username and password, since it's the same one that I can sucessfully use to log on to the MSN Music Store's main home page, and if I enter incorrect details on purpose, I get an 'invalid username / password' error that I don't see when I enter the correct information.

Of course, I contacted tech support - who replied telling me I need to reset my DRM folder, and gave me instructions on how to do this that seemed to be crafted to an XP system (despite me making it clear I was using Vista with WMP11).

After being taken through various troubleshooting steps, none of which solved the problem (and I followed them carefully, I assure you), I was eventually sent an email telling me that it is in the terms and conditions that the service is incompatible with Windows Vista (I can find nothing of the sort in the terms of service), and that if I want access to my music, I should take the tracks to a PC where the music does play, burn the tracks to CD, and then rip them back - essentially I was told to crack the DRM; which in itself is a violation of the terms of service!

I was pretty shocked at this. All I'm trying to do is play music in Windows Media Format, on Windows Media Player, on Windows, purchased from a Microsoft branded store, protected using Microsoft's DRM systems - and it doesn't work.

I complained, and expressed my astonishment at their recommendation. That was almost three weeks ago. I received an email from escalated support, advising me to carry out a few steps that I'd allready done. I replied back, but have heard nothing since on any email address I have for them.

Microsoft: do you know how badly the people providing your Music Store in the UK are handling support? Are you aware of how underprepared they are for a new version of your flagship product? I doubt it, hence in my frustration, I'm 'going public'.

Please - someone help me! I'm happy to furnish anyone who needs it screenshots, screenvideos of the problem, and email logs.

in reply to MSN Music (UK) does not work on Vista (and poor response from support)

Niall Kennedy quits MS, speaks of Win Live troubles [Niall Kennedy quits MS, speaks of Win Live troubles]

Badgerguy — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:55:05 GMT

Not sure of this has allready been posted, but RSS wiz Niall Kennedy, who only joined Microsoft a few months ago and joined the Windows Live efforts, has quit - and not in a good way

"Windows Live is under some heavy change, reorganization, pullback, and general paralysis and unfortunately my ability to perform, hire, and execute was completely frozen as well...If we had the resources I truly believe we could have tackled the number of users Hotmail, Messenger, Spaces, or even Internet Explorer might supply, and then ask for more by opening up the platform to the world...It's easier to get funding outside Microsoft than inside at the moment, so I am stepping out and doing my own thing."

The article has a small interview with Niall, in which he makes it clear that had Microsoft given him the resources he needed, he'd have stayed.

Is this a Microsoft employee throwing a tantrum, or a sign of a real management problem impacting the Windows Live teams? - I certainly hope not, because allot of the Windows Live stuff is pretty good IMHO. Either way, frankly when the talent leaves, it's allot more concerning to those of us who use and promote technology than when a Manager or cheif-bigcheese leaves. If Niall is all he's cracked up to be, then how have Microsoft let him slip away so soon?

in reply to Niall Kennedy quits MS, speaks of Win Live troubles

Calls for Vista delay [Calls for Vista delay]

Badgerguy — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 13:19:42 GMT

Despite Mirosoft having taken allot of flak for Vista taking so long to get to market, some are actually calling for it to be delayed again.

Why? Well, seems that an increasing number of those who want Windows Vista to be a good, stable release are saying that given the present beta and CTP releases, it just isn't going to be ready for the planned RTM date, and that if it is relased then, it won't up to standard.

Robert McLaws is saying it
>Paul Thurrott is saying it
Scoble is saying it

And these people aren't the 'anti-microsoft crowd' They are generaly pro-windows people who usually defend Microsoft.

I haven't spent much time with the latest betas, so I can't comment directly, but I hope I'm right in thinking that most people will agree; to hell with shareholders, to hell with arbitrary shipment dates - the most damaging thing Microsoft could do is to release a buggy OS - release it only when it's good and ready!

in reply to Calls for Vista delay

Thurrott vs WGA - posts screenshots and overview [Thurrott vs WGA - posts screenshots and overview]

Badgerguy — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:32:57 GMT

Paul Thurrott has had a run in with WGA - albeit on a testbed system, but it gave him chance to have a look at just exactly how the Microsoft 'nag screens' appear - and he shares those screenshots on one of his websites.

The overview that accompanies the screenshots stops short of describing WGA as a 'cancer' as he did (famously?) with IE, but it's certainly clear that he thinks WGA is a bad idea, executed poorly.

in reply to Thurrott vs WGA - posts screenshots and overview

Microsoft Vista Keyboard [Microsoft Vista Keyboard]

Badgerguy — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:22:42 GMT

Just read this on Neowin - Microsoft are going to bring us a new keyboard & mouse combo.

It looks pretty good, is wireless, and is backlit! (Hope that battery technology is up to scratch!).

So, I can get a keyboard and mouse, a webcam, and there are rumours of a monitor. All we need now is a Microsoft case and all the basics will be covered!

in reply to Microsoft Vista Keyboard

OneCare - Outside US Please? [OneCare - Outside US Please?]

Badgerguy — Wed, 31 May 2006 13:17:45 GMT

I see Windows Live OneCare has been released - there isn't much on the site that says it's for the US only apart from in the 'FAQ' section.

Is OneCare available for non-US English speaking countries? Is there anything stopping me from installing it in the UK?

Surely it should not be a huge issue to get a non-US english version available.

in reply to OneCare - Outside US Please?

Windows Mobile 5 Certificate Requirements [Windows Mobile 5 Certificate Requirements]

Badgerguy — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:03:51 GMT

Hi there

We're trialling a Windows Mobile 5 based PDA - we're working on trying to get it to synchronise with an Exchange 2003 server - but my collegues are telling me that we have to buy a commercial certificate to get synchronisation working with Windows Mobile 5.

We've had no luck using a certificate issued from our own CA that we've installed on Windows Server - doesn't seem to work in the same way as Pocket PC 2003.

Is this true? Do I really need to buy a commercial Certificate to make this work? If not, can someone point me to some information to get my own certificate issued by a Windows 2003 based certificate services to work right.

--
Mark Lomas

in reply to Windows Mobile 5 Certificate Requirements

Exchange 2003 not obeying size limit settings [Exchange 2003 not obeying size limit settings]

Badgerguy — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:46:48 GMT

We have a problem with an Exchange server that is throwing a weird problem.

It's Exchange 2003 SP2 on a Small Business Server 2003 (SP1).

For one user, and one user only, he is all of a sudden receiving errors and warning emails from Exchange telling him he has reached his mailbox size limit - and is prevented from sending or receiving mail.

We have long since removed all global mailbox size limits on the mailbox store, and the user has no user specific settings defined either.

Whats even more bizarre, is that the warning email he got says his mailbox size limit is 200MB - but he's been way over that for quite some time now (ie, currently at 1.8GB!). Various other users have mailboxes even larger - but they don't get this problem.

Any ideas?

Many thanks!

in reply to Exchange 2003 not obeying size limit settings

Future MCP / MCSE for Vista? [Future MCP / MCSE for Vista?]

Badgerguy — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:53:15 GMT

With Windows Vista being released (hopefully!) this year, and Longhorn Server also in development, I wondered if Microsoft had any plans for the Microsoft Certifications and exams that these products will bring?

At the very least, I assume that there will be new courses, books and exams - but will there also be differing certification tracks?

in reply to Future MCP / MCSE for Vista?

UK.Gov wants Backdoor in Vista [UK.Gov wants Backdoor in Vista]

Badgerguy — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 16:14:43 GMT

According to a BBC Article here, our government here in the UK is in talks with Microsoft over the possibility of putting a backdoor in Windows Vista to allow the authorities to circumvent the hard drive encryption technologies that will be in Windows Vista.

This seems a little familiar - I remember the 'Key Escrow' problem from a few years ago, although I'm sketchy on the details of that.

The article mentions nothing of any response from Microsoft on this - hence I'm posting here.

I think we need to know very much in advance, and in very clear terms what Microsoft's stance is on this. I'm fairly sure that any attempt to put a backdoor in Windows would NOT go down very well.

in reply to UK.Gov wants Backdoor in Vista

IE7 Performance [IE7 Performance]

Badgerguy — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:15:42 GMT

So, I've been playing around with IE7, using it to browse the net a bit this afternoon, and my verdict so far is that it's still not as fast as FireFox at page rendering.

This is actually most noticable here on Channel 9! Even when loading 'from the cache' - FireFox is allot quicker than IE7 at building the page onscreen.

Now, I realise of course, that IE7 is still in beta - but I must stress, that my only reason for favouring FireFox over IE is that it's quicker.

Tabbed browsing, secutiy and download management (notably absent in IE7) are nice but don't really matter a great deal to me - speed is the key. If the final release of IE7 improves in performance, then I'll be switching back, if not, FireFox will most likely remain my day-to-day browser.

in reply to IE7 Performance

Re: Google Linux [Re: Google Linux]

Badgerguy — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:01:52 GMT

shooby wrote:
For those of you that said it'd never happen.

... suck it up.

Well, wasn't one of those people who said it 'would never happen' - but I'm more than happy to be part of the crowd that says: Who cares?

in reply to Re: Google Linux

MSN Music UK put their prices up - record comapny pressure blamed [MSN Music UK put their prices up - record comapny pressure blamed]

Badgerguy — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 21:58:04 GMT

So, I get an email from MSN Music UK the other day.

Some of their prices are going up, and they are removing their 1p streams. The streams allowed you to listen to virtually any track for only 1 pence.

This was excellent, as it meant you could, almost for free, listen to any track in its entirity before you bought it.

Now if you want access to such streams - you have to subscribe, for nearly £6 a month.
This is not useful to someone like myself who only buys music occasionally, and wants to (for example) check the track is the right track first.

I've emailed MSN Music UK about this (OD2 really), and they say this is all due to record labels fixing up new contracts.

Now, I don't blame Microsoft for this, nor do I blame OD2. I do of course, blame the record companies. Now that the popularity of online stores has risen, and the sharing of music on P2P networks is (seemingly) declining, they clearly want to crank the pricing back up again.

in reply to MSN Music UK put their prices up - record comapny pressure blamed

XP SP3 in 2007? [XP SP3 in 2007?]

Badgerguy — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:59:57 GMT

An article on WinInfo (and I think there are others around today), is pointing out that according to Microsoft's latest roadmap, we won't see XP SP3 until 2007 now.

I must say I find it a little hard to swallow. Given the length of time XP has been released, the idea that by the time Vista finally ships, there will have only been two service packs released for what has been Microsoft's flagship OS for over five years.

The last time I checked, running a full, total WindowsUpdate on a fresh install of XP with SP2, meant downloading over 100MB of updates.

I know Microsoft want to concentrate on Vista, but I thought the Sustained Engineering team handled service packs, and aren't as important to the development of the 'next' Windows version?

in reply to XP SP3 in 2007?

Future moves of Xbox 360? [Future moves of Xbox 360?]

Badgerguy — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:13:42 GMT

So, I was thinking today of how the Xbox 360 can replace some of the living room technology that allot of people have. It can play CDs - so, no need for a seperate CD player or hi-fi. It can play DVDs, so no need for a seperate DVD player.

Surely though, there is scope for the Xbox 360 to take over more living room technology functions. With it's Hard Drive, it could act as a PVR, and perhaps provide extended TV guide features for Xbox live subscribers. Here in the UK, the Sky Plus PVR box is quite popular, but for those without it (such as cable customers), alternative third party PVR devices have failed to gather much pace - the Xbox 360 could be the pefect device to capture some market.

In short - what future plans do Microsoft have for the Xbox 360? More accessories? More features in a future update?

in reply to Future moves of Xbox 360?

Re: Top 10 Ways to Help Microsoft Force Everyone to Upgrade to Vista [Re: Top 10 Ways to Help Microsoft Force Everyone to Upgrade to Vista]

Badgerguy — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:29:11 GMT

shooby wrote:

And of course I see right through this, its not how to 'Light Up' anything, its how to keep the world sucking on the Microsoft OS teat.

Sorry, I'm a little confused with your post.

Are you specifically attacking the content, or are you seriously trying to tell us that you're genuinely surprised that Microsoft is =shock= marketing it's own technology?

I have to say, pointing out that Microsoft's marketing is propaganda, is kind of stating the obvious. That's what marketing is!

in reply to Re: Top 10 Ways to Help Microsoft Force Everyone to Upgrade to Vista

Symantec would rather Microsoft didn't do AV. [Symantec would rather Microsoft didn't do AV.]

Badgerguy — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 16:33:15 GMT

According to this article over at NeoWin, Symantec have filed an informal complaint with the European Union regarding Microsoft's intention to bring it's own corporate Anti-Virus package to the market.

Personally, I'm a believer that Anti-Virus software should be free, and bundled with Windows.

Of course, that would be fine if it wasn't for the fact that Anti-Virus is big business, and firms like Symantec don't want their market to evaporate in a culture of free, bundled Anti-Virus.

What do you guys think?

--
Badgerguy

in reply to Symantec would rather Microsoft didn't do AV.

MS Anti-Spyware Dropped? [MS Anti-Spyware Dropped?]

Badgerguy — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 08:13:31 GMT

I normally don't give in to the rapant rumours and speculation of dodgy reporting, but I need to get some clarification on this Neowin Article, which is suggesting that when the Windows OneCare subscription product is released, Microsoft Anti-Spyware will not be available as a free product.

Say it aint so.

in reply to MS Anti-Spyware Dropped?

BITS Download manager (Why doesn't IE7 have this?) [BITS Download manager (Why doesn't IE7 have this?)]

Badgerguy — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:45:19 GMT

I found this a little while ago, and thought I would share it with you.

If you have Windows XP, you'll have the BITS service on your computer - usually this is only used by the Automatic Updates services to download updates for you in the background, without sapping all of your bandwidth.

What would be great though, would be if you could submit your own download jobs to BITS for it to handle. Well, with WinBITS you can!

It acts as a wrapper for the BITS service, allowing you to submit your own jobs. Then, if you wish, you can either leave the WinBITS interface running to monitor the download, or you can close the interface, and the BITS service will carry on downloading the file for you in the background (even if you log off!).

You can submit jobs with 'foreground' priority, if you want the files to download faster (ie, without the 'polite' bandwidth usage feature).

It's free, and for you OSS nuts, it's just been made open source too.

As an aside, I was really dissapointed to see no download manager built into IE7 - this is a really basic feature now, and its rather silly that IE doesn't have a decent download management system.

in reply to BITS Download manager (Why doesn't IE7 have this?)

IE7 vs FireFox performance [IE7 vs FireFox performance]

Badgerguy — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 11:59:05 GMT

I had one wish for IE7 - and that's that it would be faster.

The main (perhaps only) reason I use FireFox is because I find it to be quicker at rendering pages. My general experience using FireFox involves less waiting around navigating to, and building pages on the screen.

I'm not really bothered about tabs, or phising protection, or RSS support. I just want a fast browser. I have a fast PC, a fast net connection - a fast browser completes the picture.

I was then, a little dissapointed, when I installed IE7 on my XP SP2 PC here at work, and found IE7 didn't match FireFox's performance. Yes, it seems quicker than IE6, but it doesn't go far enough for me.

I realise of course, that this is a Beta, and there is time for improvement yet - but if the performance of the browser stays the same, then i'll be sticking with FireFox.

Please Microsoft, please - give us a little more than 'IE6 with tabs', improve the performance of IE, and i'll be converted back to using IE, no-questions asked!

I've yet to see what the performance is like under Vista Beta 1

in reply to IE7 vs FireFox performance

Microsoft's Response to the Claria 'downgrade' [Microsoft's Response to the Claria 'downgrade']

Badgerguy — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 10:09:12 GMT

I've just finished reading Microsoft's response to all the questions over the 'downgrading' of Claria.

OK, fair enough. If Claria has cleaned up it's act and no longer falls into Microsoft's category of what is a high threat that's fine. Obviously the conspiricy theories will still go on!

However, I would still like to make a suggestion about Microsoft's AntiSpyware product that would make me feel a little more comfortable.

At the moment, the default action for any item detected by MS AntiSpyware is decided by Microsoft.

How about bulding in some kind of basic 'policy' feature, so users can choose between:

Strict: Sets the default action to 'Remove' for ANY detected spyware, regardless of it's threat level.
Default: Sets the default action based on Microsoft's assesment.

This choice should be presented to the user during setup, allowing those more concerned about their privacy than others to select the stricter option.

in reply to Microsoft's Response to the Claria 'downgrade'

MS AntiSpyware downgrades Claria [MS AntiSpyware downgrades Claria]

Badgerguy — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 14:16:38 GMT

According to this Register article, the latest definitions for Microsoft AntiSpyware directs the program to set the default action to 'Ignore' when it detects Claria's Spyware on your system.

Frankly, I find this to be appauling.

As far as I'm concerned, Spyware is Spyware, and this is NOT changed by which companies Microsoft choose to get into bed with, acquire, or do deals with.

Gator/Claria spyware is notorious, and the company, and it's activities, are still the subject of scorn amongst IT 'people' whereever their name is mentioned.

Would someone at Microsoft perhaps care to explain, just WHY the default action is now 'ignore'??

in reply to MS AntiSpyware downgrades Claria

12 minutes to infection [12 minutes to infection]

Badgerguy — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 10:41:10 GMT

After seeing it referenced at Slashdot, I looked up this new article from Sophos, claiming that an " unprotected, unpatched Windows PC" would have a 50% chance of being infected by a virus after going online.

I wonder what Sophos mean by 'Unpatched' What versions of Windows are they talking about? By Unpatched, do they mean XP RTM?

in reply to 12 minutes to infection

MSN Toolbar with Tabs! [MSN Toolbar with Tabs!]

Badgerguy — Wed, 08 Jun 2005 16:05:35 GMT

Check out the story here at Neowin (includes direct link to the download, as toolbar.msn.com doesn't seem to have been updated yet).

Tabbed browsing finally comes to IE!

in reply to MSN Toolbar with Tabs!