Category: Stories
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Digital music nirvana isn’t impossible, it just takes longer
by
Andrew Orlowski
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An early look at on-demand streaming of your own music. The cloud buzzword hadn’t caught on back then… The idea of being able to play your music anywhere, on any device, has become a cliche without quite coming to pass. Viewed from a distance, this looks like one of technology’s greatest failures. If you’re acquainted…
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Justice Dept slams ‘Machiavellian’ Microsoft
by
Andrew Orlowski
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Vista’s fate foretold… by Machiavelli. A prophetic quote. trust settlement, and quoted Machiavelli to support its case for an extension to the monitoring program. As of 1 February, over 700 issues remained outstanding out of over 1,000 submitted to the monitoring committee, which was set up to ensure Microsoft keeps to its word in the…
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The worse Google gets, the more money it makes?
by
Andrew Orlowski
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Microsoft today is barely acquainted with how its software is produced. Now Google’s search results look similarly out of whack. It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when the mainstream press was barely acquainted with the genius and foresight of today’s technology leaders. Fifteen years ago Bill Gates appeared on the BBC’s…
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A neutral net is a neutered net?
by
Andrew Orlowski
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So-called “network neutrality” legislation hampers innovation and harms business and the public, Verizon’s chief spokesperson said this week. Tom Tauke, Verizon’s executive VP of public affairs, said in a speech that efforts to legislate against discrimination would hamper the take up of multi-tier network applications such as VPNs. “The hospital that wants to provide home…
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BBC seeks ‘Digital Assassins’
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Andrew Orlowski
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What if they held a digital media revolution – and nobody came? The BBC is having trouble finding citizens to attend a conference devoted to the exciting new world of Citizens Media. It’s a Beeb-sponsored day about the “democratization of the media”, but despite a 50 quid bribe to attend – that’s more than you…
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Bill Gates’ letter to hobbyists (en Français, 2006)
by
Andrew Orlowski
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Free software doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as web hucksters. Not only is it a historical continuity of the way much of our software infrastructure has been developed, but it has encouraged commercial value to built through service models, or dual licensing. It’s a pity free software and open source advocates…