Is Google the new Microsoft? The spotlight is shining brightly on Google (and its stock price) but people are already griping that they wield too much power. Then again, it should be much easier to switch web services than operating systems. Are we any better off trusting Google with our data than we are Microsoft? Whatever the outcome I’m thrilled to see competition thriving in the industry. I wonder what would happen if Microsoft were to spin off a dozen or so small companies and free them to create cool products? Couldn’t the small team approach used at Google work for Microsoft as well? If I were Bill I’d start by spinning off Xbox and MySpaces. Both of those groups have great ideas and know how to generate excitement.
Sprint announced a new wireless music download service which sounds very interesting until the price ($2.50 per song) is mentioned. Is there a market for people willing to pay more than twice the iTunes price per song? Then again, I’m probably not the type Sprint is targeting since I don’t understand the hoopla surrounding ringtones either. But I like the idea just not the price.
This should be illegal. I cannot believe that Sony feels it’s ok to install this crap on people’s computers. On NPR Technology they interviewed a spokesman from Sony who said, “Most people don’t know what a rootkit is so it shouldn’t concern them”. It’s hard to imagine that level of arrogance. Virus writers are already taking advantage of this rootkit. Sony assumes everyone is a pirate, and tactics such as this surely drive some of us back to P2P, Usenet and Bit Torrent. I’m sure this same junk will show up in games and DVDs. Download the Rootkitrevealer to see if you’ve been hit. The EFF has published a list of infected Sony-BMG CDs.
Nov 11 update: Stung by bad publicity, Sony halts anti-piracy CDs until they can come up with a scheme that’s much more difficult to detect.
Nordquist Blog 