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As I noted last year, one of the biggest challenges to open source software has been the patent status of video codecs. The most popular codec, H.264, is patent-encumbered and licensed by MPEG LA, under terms that prevent distributing it with open source products including Firefox. Cisco has announced today that they are going to release a gratis, high quality, open source H.264 implementation — along with gratis binary modules compiled from that source and hosted by Cisco for download. This move enables any open source project to incorporate Cisco’s H.264 module without paying MEPG LA license fees. Video, for everyone!
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We continue to make progress in unifying our platform and providing one consistent experience for developers across our various workloads, and today we are excited to announce the launch of a newly streamlined Office Dev Center (http://dev.office.com). For all your Office coding fun
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Microsoft Press is pleased to offer the second preview of Kraig Brockschmidt’s in-depth ebook on writing Windows Store apps using HTML, CSS3, and JavaScript within the Windows 8.1 platform. Is the title longer than the book?
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Healthcare.gov has been racked with technical problems since the site's launch, but a new vulnerability may have unintentionally exposed users. Last week, researcher Ben Simo reported that the site's Password Reset function was vulnerable to social engineering, and that by manipulating the site, an attacker could deduce whether a given username was in use and what email address was associated with that username. The vulnerability was reportedly fixed on Monday, but for days after, crucial user info was exposed to anyone with rudimentary web skills. /face palm Someone get little Bobby Drop Table to log in
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According to The Hill, Microsoft sent letters back to the committee late last week stating that the company had in fact "offered to provide technical expertise and assistance" with Healthcare.gov. Sorry I can't stop giggling long enough to write something here
[modified] OK, I'll try:
It looks like you're trying to create a health care system. Would you like help with that?
Initializing Healthcare.gov. 15 minutes to go... 14... 2... 3 hours... 10 minutes... 60 days
Now installing patch 12 of 34. Reboot of the country may be required.
modified 29-Oct-13 20:05pm.
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Kent Sharkey wrote: Sorry I can't stop giggling long enough to write something here
Yes, you can.
"I am from Microsoft and I am here to help you."
"I am from Microsoft and I am here to take your money away from you."
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You've inspired me. I came back and updated that post with a few of my own.
But yeah, I'm sure every "corporate consultant" company would Looooove to get their paws in to "help" (read, take your money away from you).
--------------
TTFN - Kent
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These jokes are way too old. Microsoft makes solid products. Not perfect but neither do any of us.
And there was never anyone better to overtake Microsoft or they would have.
Just saying. I never understood the hate towards Microsoft.
You must be an apple person.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Yeah, there has been a distinctly anti-Microsoft vibe with The Insider News since Kent took over posting. I miss Terrence...
Be The Noise
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I don't feel I'm anti-Microsoft any more than I'm anti-Google (see all the "Do some evil" posts) or anti-Apple (see all the "Well that's thinking different" posts) or anti-just about everyone. There are few companies that I am completely anti (and those probably just never appear in the newsletter).
You may have also noticed I take requests (see the "Thank you" items). So... feel free to post sunshine and roses.
--------------
TTFN - Kent
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I'd guess you are just rather sarcastic - In fact, you are anti-Microsoft on the same level as you are anti-Google, Samsung or any other of the big playas.
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Thank you - that is where I'm aiming: to be a all-inclusive cynic.
--------------
TTFN - Kent
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Kent Sharkey wrote: feel free to post sunshine
Now, that is so wrong on so many levels... 
This isn't a signature
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RyanDev wrote: You must be an apple person.
Jaaaaaaaayzzzzzzzzzuzzzz. One does not have to be an "apple person" to have issues with Microsoft nor vice versa. It's not "hate".
This simple-minded tribalism that suggests that one can never say anything disparaging towards "my company" and only think bad thoughts of "that other company" is ridiculous in this day and age. Yes, Microsoft has done some real good in this industry. Yes, they are a successful company. But they are also a company (like every other large corporation) filled with stupid ideas that make it into the products. If we're not allowed to see them, comment on them, and laugh at them, how is Microsoft expected to learn to know better?
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TTFN - Kent
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I agree. It was an observation and if I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. It's the same in politics. If I disagree with something Obama says people automatically assume I support the Republicans.
However, since you aren't an apple fan then why do you appear to hate Microsoft?
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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See above email. I don't "hate" Microsoft anymore than I "hate" every other company out there. All of the companies often need, and deserve, pokes now and again when they do something silly. If I really hated Microsoft, you'd never see anything about them.
For the record: I used to work at Microsoft, they're still my single largest customer, and I still know (and communicate) with many people still inside the Fish Shoppe. I poke them about some Microsoft decisions, they poke at some Microsoft decisions.
Finally, here are the last 'n' posts about Microsoft. Which one(s) seem like I "hate" Microsoft?
Microsoft says it has offered to help fix issues with Healthcare.gov site
Sorry I can't stop giggling long enough to write something here
Microsoft partners with Corona Labs to let its 300,000 developers build apps for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8
Lime slice and beach available separately
Microsoft's latest big earnings reminds the world: We're fat, happy, and successful
"Our weapons are useless against it!"
Microsoft erects a giant Surface tablet in the center of London
I wonder if the touch screen works?
Katana 2 is available!
"Now it cuts like a knife, but it feels so right"
Newest forecast kicks Windows' rebound further down the road
"Fortune, good-night: smile once more; turn thy wheel!"
Microsoft's Frank Shaw rips into Apple and the press for daring to compare iWork to Office
We're back to Apple vs. Microsoft? Good times return.
Microsoft makes it harder to avoid Azure
"When I woke up tonight I said I'm gonna make somebody love me"
Microsoft pulls some Windows Phone web 'apps' following complaint
I really don't see what the problem is: Google has had their "Apps" for a while now, and many of those could be replaced with a bookmark. A lot of consumers think of Web sites as separate applications and having a quick way to get their Facebook hit might be useful to some.
Microsoft reportedly testing Google Glass competitor
It looks like you're trying to read something, would you like help with that?
Microsoft brings speech recognition to Bing developers
"Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all"
Microsoft, the sleeping giant of the cloud
"Fee-fi-fo-fum!"
Windows RT 8.1 pulled from the Windows Store
They really should have spoken to the company that released that hardware
Windows 8 support will end in two years
"And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!' "
--------------
TTFN - Kent
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RyanDev wrote: I never understood the hate towards Microsoft.
History.
Years ago people started bitching about Windows, comparing it to the then-existing competition (think Amiga, multitasking full color Windows). The idea that Windows and MS "suck" has sticked around because people are more like parrots than like the "sapiens" they claim to be.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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BlackBerry is turning out to be much more popular by being on the market compared to its own mobile devices flailing in the consumer tech market. Can we just create a shorter list of "companies not thinking of buying Blackberry"?
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Ransomware is an especially odious type of malware. The way it works is simple. Your computer will be infected with some malicious software. That software then renders your computer entirely unusable, sometimes purporting to be from local law enforcement and accusing you of committing a computer crime or viewing explicit pictures of children. It then demands monetary payment, either in the form of a ransom or a ‘fine’ before access to your computer is returned. "Methink’st thou art a general offence and every man should beat thee."
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Do you really believe you'll receive the decryption key when you pay the ransom? Oh you are so naive, let's try a superinfection with the next malware for the next ransom...
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Bernhard Hiller wrote: Do you really believe you'll receive the decryption key when you pay the ransom? Oh you are so naive, let's try a superinfection with the next malware for the next ransom...
This POS was covered on Ars Technica[^] earlier this month; and they do give the key to people who pay up (normally; some people got burned recently when whitehats took down a C&C server that held the decrypt keys).
As a hypothetical, the first thing victims finding when Googling cryptolocker being "I paid up and never got my computer back" would seriously hurt their revenue stream.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
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I don't care if they provide the key or not. It's the principle of thing!!! No one's personal data should be held ransom. Paying these cretins only perpetuates the problem.
-NP
Never underestimate the creativity of the end-user.
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Once your data is ransomed and you find yourself in trouble, principles tend to become flexible. Good luck with paying the rent on principles.
NickPace wrote: No one's personal data should be held ransom
People should not steal nor kill either, but it happens.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Thanks for the link. That's important information.
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When tech behemoths like Apple and Google need to work the bugs out of their latest miracle creation, they want eyes on it, pronto. And that means everyone from the CEO to the lowliest intern is going to be eating a lot of dogfood. Getting paid like one is your job
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