Related link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=47799819

The Times of India is reporting: “President A P J Abdul Kalam on Wednesday urged Indian IT professionals to develop and specialise in open source code software rather than use proprietary solutions based on systems such as Microsoft Windows.

Kalam expressed this view after taking a tour of the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), at the Software Technology Park,Hinjewadi Pune, which was dedicated to the nation on Wednesday.

He said that he saw the extensive use of MS Windows at the institute and felt that India needs to look for software solutions based on open source codes.

This is important for security reasons and also because of the costs involved in purchasing proprietary software. Open source code operating systems such as Linux do not carry any licensing fees and offers higher operational security.

“The most unfortunate thing is that India still seems to believe in proprietary solutions. Further spread of IT which is influencing the daily life of individuals would have a devastating effect on the lives of society due to any small shift in the business practice involving these proprietary solutions. It is precisely for these reasons open source software needs to be built which would be cost effective for the entire society,” Kalam said. ”

In other news, sales of “Learning Perl”, “Running Linux”, “Learning Python” and “Apache: The Definitive Guide” are bound to increase. 8^)

One of my fears of buying an Apple came true yesterday. Apple crippled iTunes in a somewhat sneaky, under the radar kind of way. With the newest update, some of iTunes ’sharing’ capabilities were dismantled.

Let’s just say this isn’t something you see happening to the Linux kernel OK, but this is a proprietary application, as ‘freeware’ as it is.

I don’t think this would have happened in the pre Apple Music store era. Now it looks like the Music store, which iTunes is integral in, is a major revenue stream for Apple.

But, we have to buy this music through iTunes for Apple to make money. So as the ones with money we are the ones with the power in this relationship right? I’m not so sure. This has the creepy feeling about it that the RIAA has essentially managed your computer more than Apple has. I put on my tinfoil hat to write this, but how implausible is this scenario? The RIAA certainly doesn’t seem to have a care in the world about giving customers what they want, like fair use, so why should they care that Apple might want to?

My point here is that you, dear Apple owner, were not consulted. You don’t have the power in this relationship whatever the reason for iTunes to become more crippleware than it was a week ago.

I going to reserve total judgement on this, other than to say I’m feeling a little discouraged, to see how this plays out over the next week. It will be interesting to see how much your interests are discussed. Let’s all remember that people can continue to share their legally purchased music without iTunes at all.

Update and Response:

• “The sad fact is that a few idiots have ruined it for the rest of us.” This is a resounding sentiment isn’t it? Frankly I’m surprised at how many people, here and elsewhere, feel that when there are a few people abusing something that it should be taken away from everyone. What are you people thinking? Have a double latte & wake up.
• I’m not demonizing Apple as much as you’ve perceived. I still don’t believe that this “network access enhancement” would have taken place before the RIAA was in the picture with the Music store. What I am trying to emphasize is that the supplier, in this case the RIAA, has more power in this than the Apple customer. And that is not normal operating procedure folks.
• To clarify, I own an ibook.
• “Let’s just say this isn’t something you see happening to the Linux kernel OK, but this is a proprietary application, as ‘freeware’ as it is.” This does sound smarmy doesn’t it? My point here is that iTunes is proprietary so Apple can do whatever it wants to it even if the cost is zero. I was actually trying to give Apple leeway here.
• “People who purchase the music have no rights to decide what is fair use and adapt it as they see fit.” This same mentality almost cost you from having a VCR. Again, wake up.
• Added Thursday: One poster here has done some additional research into the question of whether this feature was actually a bug. He writes:
  

  NOT TRUE: “Show Package Contents” of (the original) iTunes 4. Open the following file(s) in Safari:

  /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/
  Resources/English.lproj/iTunes
  Help/pgs/695.html

  There you will see a note from the original help file: “You can also share
  your music with a computer that is not in the same subnet as you by setting up the other computer to look for shared music at your computer’s IP address.”

  …and also: /Applications/iTunes.app/
  Contents/Resources/English.lproj/iTunesHelp/pgs/705.html

  …where you will see: “To see the shared music on a computer that is not in the same network subnet as your computer, choose Advanced > “Connect to Shared Music,” then enter the IP address for the computer.”

  This doesn’t indicate that Apple was ‘pinched’ by the RIAA in this, but there were numerous comments here and via email that this type of sharing was an error/bug. This documentation would indicate otherwise for those interested.

I’ve also never been called a bum muncher before. That was pretty funny.

Feeling 0wnz0r’d?

Related link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2940270.stm

I know you won’t believe this, but copies of The Matrix: Reloaded are available on the internet. I know, I couldn’t believe it either.

There’s an article on the BBC News site running now that reads:

A high-quality copy of the film is being downloaded by hundreds of people each day via a website which uses the file-sharing computer program BitTorrent.

The availability of the film online will come as a blow to executives who co-ordinated a worldwide release of the film in an attempt to thwart piracy.

I’m sure they are as blown away as I am.

Then this article was noted on the dot. Now it appears, in my limited understanding of BitTorrent, that the central trackers needed by BitTorrent are swamped with, you guessed it, people downloading the movie. From BitTorrent’s FAQ:

I get an error message starting with ‘problem connecting to tracker’, what should I do?

The tracker for the one particular file you’re trying to download is probably down. Try to download again later.

Shssh. Is there anything slashdot can’t, well, slashdot?

Aside from the humor of this BitTorrent is now the newest whipping boy for piracy it seems. I just wish more people would hurry up and use it. I saw Reloaded already & wanted to review the bit where Neo met the architect of the matrix. Get to work people. The least you could do is become the threat you’re accused of being.

Update: It appears that a number of sites that normally host .torrent files have pulled them because of the clear and present danger the BBC and the subsequent Slashdot article have caused webserver owner’s wallets in term of bandwidth charges:

UPDATE: Downloads Section has been de-activated. . . . the /. story along with the bogus BBC story have left me with no choice at the moment. . . . i plan to bring them back, but right now all the money that goes to this site comes from my pocket, and to be honest, the pocket is getting a bit low with the bandwith these stories produce. Some people have asked how they can donate to the site. This is someting that i cannot allow, i believe that sites like this should be free, so i will not accept any money. . . . thanks anyway. As far as the downloads go, we are going to wait this one out. . . when the scene cools off a bit, we will be back. . . . Thanks again. . . . We will keep you up-to-date as things progress. . . .

“Where did all the bittorrents GO?” I know this is the question in all of your minds. . . . well, blame the media. . . . BBC has reported a completely bogus story about the pirateing of Matrix Reloaded. . .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2940270.stm

This has caused alot of panic in the BT community. . . even though most of the story is just made up. . . and NO, there is no version of the Matrix Reloaded that is the quality that this story claims. . . so dont ask. . . We will stay online for as long as possible, everyone is keeping there heads low at the moment. . . . We hope the whole community can pull though. . . . wish us luck.

Are you using BitTorrent? Email me your link?