FSF: Microsoft’s Windows 7 Deadly Sins

No! It is not FFS. It’s FSF. It stands for Free Software Foundation.

It’s “Free” as in Liberty, noat as in free beer.

As much as I believe that there are a lot of Hippies out there involved in the Free Software Foundation, I still wonder why I’m making this very statement.

Let’s get to the main story. As I read an RSS item from Slashdot (lots of Hippies are frequenting this site), one really caught my short attention span. Well because it is on the top of the RSS feed and the only unread items at that moment. I was previously offended by the troll-behavior of Microsoft P.R. team (Paul Thurrott, Ed Bott and  Mary Jo Foley with the addition of Randall C. Kennedy) as described by Tom Reetsman. By the way, Reetsman (via The Small Wave) just posted his take on Thurrott’s rants against anything that is not Microsoft; specifically Apple. Well, at least Thurrott has one loyal supporter (an accomplice *cough*) defending everything Thurrot said and attacking the non-Microsoft company (namely Apple in this article).

Oh where was I? I told you my attention span was short.

Free Software Foundation, Inc. has created a site titled “Windows 7 Sins – The case against Microsoft and proprietary software.”
http://windows7sins.org/

Don’t worry Apple haters, they mentioned “proprietary software.” Apple does make proprietary software, therefore guilty by association. I bet that Thurrott is trying hard to make himself look neutral by attacking other companies that make “proprietary softwares.” We all know that Thurrott lives off Microsoft’s business model.

I prefer to slack than copying and pasting the arguments brought up by FSF. I get the message, but I do not blindly agree to every single point they make. I do take advantage of many things the Open Source Community have to offer in the past and present. I am pretty sure that it will be a similar situation in the future. I do also believe that propriety was born out of necessity. I don’t mind proprietary software as long as we have other alternatives. I’m pretty sure that  Google has some kind of proprietary software. I still use Google as my main search engine; Microsoft can Bing themselves.

OK, I opted not to slack as much by echoing FSF’s argument points:

  1. Poisoning education
  2. Invading privacy
  3. Monopoly behavior
  4. Lock-in
  5. Abusing standards
  6. Enforcing Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)
  7. Threatening user security

If you feel compelled to say that there are other companies also guilty of the sins, then feel free to tell FSF about it.

To loosely quote MacBreak Weekly panel, Apple and Steve Jobs would be worse than Microsoft if they had the monopoly.

Well, I definitely need to get some sleep, no wonder this turns into a rant.

P.S. EFF – I just feel like saying it at this moment.

Apple, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!

The past week was filled with news about Apple, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!

Microsoft inked a deal with Yahoo! in the search business. Basically the deal artificially gives Microsoft Bing a boost in the online search engine war. Yahoo! is doing what many agree to call as stupid move. As usual, Microsoft head cheerleader and PR spokesperson with the name that rhymes with “Saul Tour Rot” said that this is good for Yahoo! I don’t believe that for a second. Apparently Microsoft can’t compete fairly.

Does anyone still remember when Google and Yahoo! were working on the web-advertising deal? Some people were quick to cry antitrust!

Well, since the Microsoft and Yahoo! combined are still smaller than Google’s share on the online search business………..

Microsoft is a bully, and they are bullying Yahoo! to give up part of their business. Microsoft does not innovate, they just use their war-chest to buy their way into other people’s territory.

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Let’s get to Apple and Google now.

Eric Schmidt quits Apple Board of Directors amid scrutiny and controversy.

First, Google is (in)directly competing with Apple in the smart-phone space; namely Android. With the announcement of Chrome OS, Google will be competing against Apple in the Operating System space.

Second, came along the Google Voice controversy. Apple has been systematically pulling Goggle Voice related apps from iTunes App Store and rejecting Google’s own Google Voice app. Many believe that AT&T is pulling the strings. AT&T stated that they neither manage nor approve apps for the iTunes App Store. What about the Skype and SlingPlayer Mobile apps, AT&T?

Exclusivity contract is the bane of the iPhone in the U.S. and in other countries. Rather than being a 13-year old like “Screw You” Mike Arrington, consumer should tell Apple what they think.To be honest, most users won’t care or even know what Mike Arrington is talking about.

Tell Apple what you think (U.S. contact info):

I am an iPhone and Google Voice user. I want Google Voice App on the iPhone.

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Some other thoughts.

Apple has the right to say what apps can and cannot be installed on the iPhone. Apple has the right to approve and rejects any apps for the iPhone. Apple has the right to allow and disallow any devices to sync with iTunes. In the end Apple can’t please each and everyone. I am not happy that certain apps are blocked from the Apps Store.

Not a surprise for Leo Laporte to call iTunes + (iPod & iPhone) a monopoly. Leo is wrong!

Maybe I should complain that my PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii are monopoly in their own hardware & software business.

Maybe I should demand Avid to support Final Cut Pro and vice-versa.

Maybe I should demand Sony to support my Samsung remote control with their TV.

Maybe I should stop for now.

Bing: Microsoft is Cheating.

It is a surprise, not! Microsoft claims that Bing is on the rise and people are using it more as CNET reported. Some technology pundits also reported that Bing has been gaining marketshare shortly after its official launch. Let’s take a look at the Microsoft’s claims closer.

  • Bing automatically replaces Live search in Internet Explorer.
  • Bing is the default search engine in Hotmail interface.
  • Bing is the search engine in Microsoft’s own website.

hotmail_search

When I’m looking for Knowledge Base article using Microsoft.com search, I’m actually using Bing.

microsoft_site_search

When I’m searching for something in Microsoft Download page, I’m actually using Bing.

mcrosoft_download_search

Well done Microsoft, old habits die hard.

The Road Left Behind: May 2009

May 2009 has been a busy month and I’ve been posting less on this blog. I figured that I should post the stuff I’ve been meaning to post here.

……. to be continued.