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Justice Dept slams ‘Machiavellian’ Microsoft
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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?
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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?
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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)
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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…
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People more drunk at weekends, researchers discover
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Andrew Orlowski
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It’s open season on Wikipedia these days. The project’s culture of hatred for experts and expertise has become the subject of widespread ridicule. Nick Carr christened it “the cult of the amateur”. But what has professional academia done for us lately? Here’s a study from the University of Amsterdam to ponder. New Scientist reports that…