Author: Dr. Bill

In a sly move, perhaps to destroy Linux once and for all, Microsoft’s new Windows 8 will have a secured boot process tied to the BIOS itself. So, if a vendor creates a machine that complies with Windows Secure boot, it will not be able (without hacking the BIOS) to dual boot Windows and Linux.

The key is the new UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) secure boot, with includes a registered operating system signed by a trusted Certificate Authority. This has some upsides: for instance, Windows 8’s fast booting is due in part to this, and malware won’t be able to hijack your OS. But, M$ being M$, they consider Linux as malware, in effect, so you are doomed. Well, OK, an exaggeration, but you see what I mean.

Linux could incorporate UEFI Secure Boot, but there are roadblocks to doing it. Not the least of which is the requirement that the signed OS certs must be proprietary. But, the Linux developers will probably figure something out… so, I am not too worried. However, if you have a “home-grown” distro, you may really be shut out. Also, M$ has promised to support older BIOS systems as well, for backward compatibility.

I guess I do… I have WAY too many. But, it is a way to secure your “name” so that folks don’t misrepresent you.

——–

So, you know I blog here at:

https://www.DrBill.CC

(For Computer Curmudgeon)

And, my Video Show is at:

https://www.DrBill.TV

But, do you know about:

https://www.drbillbailey.biz/

Same as my “main site” which is the .net, because I was/am a web host (for a few select sites), and, now, a network of shows.

https://www.drbillbailey.com/

Same as my “main site” which is the .net, because I was/am a web host (for a few select sites), and, now, a network of shows.

https://www.drbillbailey.info/

Same as my “main site” which is the .net, because I was/am a web host (for a few select sites), and, now, a network of shows.

https://www.drbillbailey.net/

The “Official Main Site!”

https://www.drbillbailey.org/

Same as my ministry site, Word of Faith Ministries, which is:

https://www.wofm.org/

And, of course:

https://www.drbillbailey.tv/

Same as my Dr. Bill.TV site! Wow! Do I collect sites, or what? Sigh. Oh! And, I almost forgot about the .US site, which is:

https://www.drbillbailey.us/

Again, same as the .net site. US being the United States based site, of course… oh well.

Be sure to watch the video! It is actually kinda cool.

Introducing Engadget Distro!

“Say hello to Engadget Distro. At its most molecular level, it’s nothing more than a series of ones and zeros, cobbled together in a compiler and made to look like words and images on Apple’s iPad. But in reality, it’s something far greater — something that the entire Engadget staff couldn’t be more proud to have their names on. Distro is the week in technology news, distilled down and reformatted into a beautiful, offline view that can be enjoyed anywhere. You know, like one of those regional jets still awaiting their rightful Gogo injection. We’ve got a team of designers and editors toiling around the clock to assemble our best long-form feature content and reviews, re-wrapping it in a fashion that takes full advantage of a little thing called ‘multitouch.’

As of now, we’ve got plans to launch Distro on the iPad soon (as in, super soon!), but you can bet we’re already hammering away on versions for the other major tablet platforms. Rest assured, we’re as eager to finish them as anyone, and yes, they’ll all be absolutely free of charge. For those who find themselves a touch overwhelmed with the sheer torrent of news that occurs in this space each and every day, Distro offers a relaxing, peaceful alternative. Sort of like morphine, but available sans a prescription. We’ll be showing off a sneak peek during tonight’s live Engadget Show (tune in here!), and we’ll be sure to keep you abreast of our launch date as it draws closer.”

Plus, I kinda like the name… my Linux background showing!

Wow! You knew they had to start somewhere!

29 years ago, a smiley was born :-)

At 11:44 a.m. on September 19, 1982, a man named Scott Fahlman posted a message to an electronic computer-science department bulletin board at Carnegie Mellon University. And with that simple action he did something wonderful: He became the individual who would later be credited as the inventor of :-), an ASCII-based emoticon.

Thanks to the efforts of Microsoft Director of Identity Partnerships Mike B. Jones — who worked at Carnegie Mellon University when the original post was made — and a small team of dedicated individuals, we know that the following is the message Fahlman sent:

19-Sep-82 11:44 Scott E Fahlman :-)
From: Scott E Fahlman

I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:

:-)

Read it sideways. Actually, it is probably more economical to mark
things that are NOT jokes, given current trends. For this, use

:-(

If you’re curious about the exact context of the message, then you can actually read through the full “joke” message thread in which it was posted or Fahlman’s “Smiley Lore :-)” post which explains the thoughts that led to the use of the emoticon.”

Yep… it once cost $15.00 a month to get in at the door, but as of October, it is free to play!

DC Universe Online free to play

“Sony Online Entertainment is changing its pay model to allow gamers to play DC Universe Online for free!

The massively multiplayer online game lets users become heroes and villains in the DC Universe and was previously $15 per month.

The new tiered structure is now free for everyone to play, premium content is unlocked if you purchase $5 of in-game items and the $15 ‘Legendary’ game pass is an all-access membership.

The new pricing structure will take effect in October.”

Here’s the letter that he sent me (via email) about the recent controversy over pricing:

“Dear Bill,

I messed up. I owe you an explanation.

It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming and the price changes. That was certainly not our intent, and I offer my sincere apology. Let me explain what we are doing.

For the past five years, my greatest fear at Netflix has been that we wouldn’t make the leap from success in DVDs to success in streaming. Most companies that are great at something – like AOL dialup or Borders bookstores – do not become great at new things people want (streaming for us). So we moved quickly into streaming, but I should have personally given you a full explanation of why we are splitting the
services and thereby increasing prices. It wouldn’t have changed the price increase, but it would have been the right thing to do.

So here is what we are doing and why.

Many members love our DVD service, as I do, because nearly every movie ever made is published on DVD. DVD is a great option for those who want the huge and comprehensive selection of movies.

I also love our streaming service because it is integrated into my TV, and I can watch anytime I want. The benefits of our streaming service are really quite different from the benefits of DVD by mail. We need to focus on rapid improvement as streaming technology and the market evolves, without maintaining compatibility with our DVD by mail service.

So we realized that streaming and DVD by mail are really becoming two different businesses, with very different cost structures, that need to be marketed differently, and we need to let each grow and operate independently.

It’s hard to write this after over 10 years of mailing DVDs with pride, but we think it is necessary: In a few weeks, we will rename our DVD by mail service to ‘Qwikster‘. We chose the name Qwikster because it refers to quick delivery. We will keep the name ‘Netflix‘ for streaming.

Qwikster will be the same website and DVD service that everyone is used to. It is just a new name, and DVD members will go to qwikster.com to access their DVD queues and choose movies. One improvement we will make at launch is to add a video games upgrade option, similar to our upgrade option for Blu-ray, for those who want to rent Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 games. Members have been asking for video games for many years, but now that DVD by mail has its own team, we are finally getting it done. Other improvements will follow. A negative of the renaming and separation is that the Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated.

There are no pricing changes (we’re done with that!). If you subscribe to both services you will have two entries on your credit card statement, one for Qwikster and one for Netflix. The total will be the same as your current charges. We will let you know in a few weeks when the Qwikster.com website is up and ready.

For me the Netflix red envelope has always been a source of joy. The new envelope is still that lovely red, but now it will have a Qwikster logo. I know that logo will grow on me over time, but still, it is hard. I imagine it will be similar for many of you.

I want to acknowledge and thank you for sticking with us, and to apologize again to those members, both current and former, who felt we treated them thoughtlessly.

Both the Qwikster and Netflix teams will work hard to regain your trust. We know it will not be overnight. Actions speak louder than words. But words help people to understand actions.

Respectfully yours,

-Reed Hastings, Co-Founder and CEO, Netflix”

This is an interview that fellow Techpodcaster Jeffery Powers from Geekazine (and The OTT, or “Over the Top Television”) did with Leo LaPorte on building the “TWiT Brick House”… check it out!

And that is NO lie… at least until September 20th! So, hurry and download Portal, if you want the FREE!

Portal is free! Portal is free! (for PC and Mac)

“Well here’s some interesting timing. Just days after I finished playing Portal for the very first time (more on that in a bit), Steam is offering the game absolutely free.

Specifically, from now until September 20, you can download Portal (PC and Mac) absolutely free. Yesterday, it would have cost you $10.

In case you’re not familiar with it, Portal is regarded by many (myself included) to be one of the best games of all time. GameSpot awarded it a 9.0 and an Editors’ Choice. IGN called it ‘quirky, clever, polished, and presented with a spark of a subtly evil humor.'”