Anything Sorta Goes: GizmodoGate, Microsoft vs. Android, and South Park!

It has been a busy week and I somehow forgot to write anything for this site. As a matter of fact, everyone are busy with their day job, personal life, etc. I told myself that I should be the first to break the streak this time.

Anyway, huge story from last week, even though I don’t really want to talk about it. The GizmodoGate! The San Mateo DA issued a search warrant to seize evidence in the “lost” Apple 4th Generation iPhone Prototype. Jason Chen, Gizmodo and Gawker Media are yelling “FOUL!” and trying to hide behind the Journalist shield law. The evidence in a way is pretty damnig. Jason Chen is smart enough to have video of himself with the iPhone, which turned out to be considered a stolen item. In addition to that, Gizmodo admits that they paid some money for the iPhone from the person who “found” it. Jason Chen also smart enough to take the iPhone apart and document it; you can find the videos easily, Google is your best friend. Jason Chen has now hired a defense lawyer. The EFF for sure scrutinizing the conduct of the San Mateo and the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT). EFF is great but sometimes they could go overboard. Personally I do not like Gizmodo for all the attention-grabbing stunts they have done in the past, and most likely in the future. Anyone remembers 2008 CES?

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This one is a shocker and predictable. Microsoft is asserting the rights to collect royalty payment over Android Operating System. HTC has agreed to pay Microsoft for using Android Operating System. Where are the torches and pitchforks? The last time I saw them marching to Cupertino after Apple sued HTC for Patent Infringement. Where is the rage Mr. Laporte?

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Now, let’s get on to the finale of this post. South Park, Censorships, and Muhammad. For those who care already know what happened to South Park. April 14th, 2010 South Park celebrated its 2ooth episode with an episode aptly titled “200.” The episode drew somehow offended some Muslims and a group based in New York posted a warning against South Park creators.

RANT ALERT!
Seriously? You’re based in New York and you’re enjoying the Freedom Of Speech to threaten others for their Freedom Of Speech. Why don’t you move to a cave somewhere in the Middle East and then you can complain about other’s Freedom Of Speech. Wait, it’s still ironic. The Qur’an has never specifically or explicitly forbidden images of Muhammad. Now you’re threatening other human being over it?
/END OF THIS RANT

April 21st, 2010 Comedy Central aired “201” with tons of extra audio bleeps. Sure they bleeped out profanities. Comedy Central also bleeped out any utterance of “Muhammad” from the episode. Even further, Comdey Central bleeped out the closing speech that didn’t even mention anything about Muhammad. According to South Park Studios, Comedy Central does not approve the airing or streaming of Episode “201” in its original form. The episode was subsequently pulled off the air and has not been approved for sale on places such as iTunes Store and Amazon Video On Demands. In addition to that Comedy Central also pulled Episode “200” off the rebroadcast and the online stores.

Thousands of complaints from readers of this blog were sent to Comedy Central. Who’s to blame? Comedy Central is acting to protect their employees while subsequently caving in to terrorist’s demand.

ANOTHER RANT ALERT!
I for one values the First Amendment to The United States Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Comedy Central is acting within their rights to censor South Park. Matt Stone and Trey Parker have the right to express their opinion through their creation that is South Park. The fans have the right to complain to Comedy Central.

I am so appaled by the action of the party responsible for the death threats against Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Are there any Muslims out there who agree that the death threats is against everything what being human is all about? I do not want to be associated with anyone who supports violent against the South Park Creators. This is not the 13th century. For the Muslims who still thinks the custom of one region of the world from hundreds of years ago is the way the world should be, please leave us be.
/END OF THIS RANT – FOR NOW

Microsoft to hold Special Event on Monday April 12th, 2010.

There are a lot of Tech news today. Forget the iPad, forget the trollish post by the Toolish Troll Paul Thurott.

Speaking of Tool, Paul Thurrott has already written a rave review of Microsoft Special Event on Monday April 12th, 2010. Wait, Microsoft is having a special event? Once again, I thank Engadget for breaking this news, for me.

Microsoft Special Event will take place in San Francisco, and according to Microsoft P.R. Paul Thurrott it would be about Microsoft Pink Phones.

We have just received Paul Thurrott brainstorming list about the Microsoft Event.

  • It is mind-blowing.
  • Microsoft has out-Apple Apple.
  • Apple could never come up with anything remotely close to what Microsoft just unveiled.
  • For get the iDud that iPad is, Microsoft has schooled Apple what a successful product should be.
  • Never count Microsoft out of the smart-phone market.
  • This one should be called Hyper-phone.
  • Forget the Apps! This is a Microsoft Experience.
  • Microsoft is taking Experience to the next level.
  • Bringing everything not into the Application, but to the “Experience Level.”
  • This is what Apple iPhone dreams to be.

Well, it goes on and on and on.

We will see what’s coming at the Microsoft Event.

I’ve told you so, no one should ever believe Paul Thurrott; The Original Microsoft Cheerleader.

Thanks to Chris Grande for exposing what Paul Thurrott really is; a Microsoft Cheerleader. Thanks to John Gruber for pointing out John Grande’s post.

From Daring Fireball:

Paul Thurrott’s Curiously Shifting Thoughts on Copy-and-Paste.

Delightful catch by Chris Grande.

You should read what Chris Grande wrote.

I for one have been noticing what a shill Paul Thurrott is. I even called him out on Leo Laporte’s TWiT network. It is funny how Leo Laporte is defending Paul Thurrott even though outside the Abomination of a show called “Windows Weekly” that should have been called “Microsoft P.R. Weekly” Laporte often expressed his disagreement with Thurrott. I theorize that Leo Laporte is suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. You’ll never know which Leo Laporte would show up. There are a lot of real Tech Journalists can host “Windows Weekly” but Leo Laporte still insists that Paul Thurrott is fair and balanced. Yeah, just like Fox News.

A lot of time Thurrot does make valid points, only to have his credibility destroyed by his adoration with Microsoft. I don’t know if it’s a pure adoration or it’s financially motivated. I don’t know. This I know that Thurrott has the double standard whenever it comes to Microsoft and other companies.

Message to Leo Laporte, get someone who is not financially motivated by Microsoft to host Windows Weekly.

There I said it.

Rants: Windows Vista Home Basic is a digital abortion!

I’m working on a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop with Windows Vista Home Basic installed. According to Dell, this computer is not fully compatible with Windows 7. Come on! This computer was purchased in late 2008 and is not compatible with Windows 7? Does that mean Windows Vista has to stay? Windows Vista Home Basic is performing So poorly on this computer. The 3GB of RAM can not stop Windows Vista from dragging everything down.

I should try installing Windows XP or Windows 7 on this computer. The next thing I have to do is finding all the drivers myself.

Windows 7: File Deletion Bug.

I was moving a few files from a network drive to local hard-drive on a Windows 7 computer. For some odd reasons an error occured mid-transfer and Windows 7 deleted the files both on the network drive and local drive.

I managed to replicate the issue.

Still looking into this problem on Microsoft Support site and others.

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Microsoft offers free Office 2010 upgrade if you buy Office 2007 starting March 5th, 2010.

Microsoft is offering free Office 2010 upgrade for every Office 2007 purchased between March 5th and September 30, 2010.

From Amazon:

Promotion Details

  1. Buy a qualifying Office 2007 product (with or without a new PC) between March 5 and September 30, 2010.
  2. Install and activate your qualifying Office 2007 product by September 30, 2010. This qualifies you to upgrade to the corresponding Office 2010 product.
  3. Once the corresponding Office 2010 is available, simply go to www.office.com/techg by October 31, 2010 to download it at no additional cost, or purchase a DVD for a fee. Follow the online steps to verify eligibility. You will need an activated Office 2007 Product Key.
  4. Download the product and receive an Office 2010 Product Key online. There is an option to purchase a DVD for a fee.

* Office 2010 downloads will be accessible at general availability. Discs can be ordered for a fee. Eligible Office 2007 software must be purchased from Microsoft or an authorized reseller and activated between March 5, 2010 and September 30, 2010. Request your Office 2010 product by October 31, 2010 using your activated Office 2007 Product Key and dated sales receipt. One (1) Office 2010 product per qualifying Office 2007 purchase, limit 25 per person. For complete details, visit www.office.com/techg.

From Microsoft (FAQ):

Below are some of the Office 2007 products that qualify for the Technology Guarantee.

  • Office Home and Student 2007
  • Office Small Business 2007
  • Office Professional 2007
  • Office Publisher 2007

See full list of Office 2007 qualifying products.

Remember, according to Microsoft Licensing you must not use Office 2007 once you upgraded to Office 2010. I guess they can enforce that by deactivating your Office 2007 installation.