PS3 loses Linux

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/03/sony-steals-feature-from-your-playstation-3

You hear me right, if you update your PS3 once the new firmware for it comes out, you will LOSE your Linux capability and never get it back.

This is the same thing as the ongoing "Homebrew" battle between Sony and the PSP modders. The cause for the Linux revoking is a hack that effectively bypasses the hypervisor and allows full access to the Cell and possibly the RSX.

Quote from the article:

Sony is effectively downgrading PS3s already sold and in the hands of consumers — when you bought it, it could play games, play Blu-ray discs, and run GNU/Linux. After April 1, it's an inferior product.

Could Sony be turning into the new Apple? Locking down so much that it's just like a iPhone/iPod Touch in terms of DRM? It looks like both aren't open source supportive after all.

Remember the days when Consoles didn't need firmware updates? (The PS2, Gamecube days?) This might want to keep some FLOSS (Free Libre Open Source Software) supporters on the PS2.

Edit: A less descript article on CNET on Sony's position on this. Way to brainwash people to say it's making the PS3 more "secure". Well, it is... primarily to lock people out of the hypervisor.

And may I quote a commenter on that article that is pretty much what everyone thinks of this:

This is total crap, seriously. An update to solely remove features is not an update.

Alert! The Computer is being Captured!

This is a BIG heads up for people who installed WATU or are going to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1... There's Spyware.

It has been confirmed by TechARP.

And page 2 talking about Windows 7 Service Pack 1 makes it only get worse.

The Windows 7 SP1 spying algorithm is similar to the way YouTube attempts to curb "shady" uses of content with their Video ID system. If a "qualified authority" abused this power, (Like Warner Music Group abused their power with Video ID) we'd see court cases spring up all over the entire world... (Yes, these updates apply worldwide.)

In short metaphoric terms, Microsoft is trying to close Pandora's Box, which is nearly impossible.

EFF or ACLU, this is clearly not acceptable. Another legitimate reason why you should avoid this update.

First Vimeo, now Viddler?

Ok, the reason I moved from my original file uploads from Vimeo to Viddler is because Vimeo abandoned it for basic accounts and Viddler didn't.

Well, guess what just came in my Inbox...

The Terms of Use are changing to state that personal level accounts’ original source file will be stored for 30 days from the date it was uploaded. Of course, the converted video file will be available as long as your account is active. And you will still be able to download the converted file.

This is Deja Vu all over again... Do video sites really want you to PAY to use it as a original file backup service? Some of us use it to both showcase and do an off-site backup. Now, there are NO MORE free off-site video backup/serving services...

I'm outraged by this. I'm guessing I won't upload to any of these sites since they're so untrustworthy to their basic account users until I get enough $$$ for Vimeo Plus... (Oh wait, I don't have a stinking credit card.)

I shall remain with only 2 out of the 3 golden places for backup. I have my Personal Internal and External HDDs, but I'll never get that off-site backup.

This will be cross-posted to my Buzz.

Fixing codec woes on Windows 7 64bit

So here was my problem, I couldn't run the AC3 ACM or XviD on Windows 7 64bit. There are steps you can do to get everything working again:

For XviD:

1. Get celtic_druid's x64 build of XviD here

2. Go into your Registry Editor, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\Drivers32

3. Delete the "vidc.xvid" (in lowercase letters) string and recreate the string as "vidc.XVID" (in all caps) with a value of "xvidvfw.dll". I've confirmed that renaming will not work as it will say "The key already exists".

For the AC3 ACM:

1. Get version 1.5 of the ACM here, it has both x64 and x32 versions.

2. Install the x64 version as you normally would. It will install correctly.

3. Take the x32 ACM and put it in Windows\SysWOW64

4. Go into the Registry Editor, under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\Drivers32

5. Create a new string called "msacm.ac3acm" with a value of "AC3ACM.acm"

This should get the AC3 ACM and XviD working on Windows 7 64bit.

Unblock ads to give up Privacy and Security? No way!

(from one of my Google Buzz posts)

I'm replying to the Ars Technica article about blocking ads: http://arst.ch/g8o

Listen, we ad blockers have a reason to ad-block: Privacy and Security. Remember when The New York Times bought ads from a super cheap Internet ad agency that actually put malware in the ads?

Not only that, tracking pixels are everywhere and some people don't trust them, blocking them gives that next level of privacy and security that they aren't being monitored the whole time.

It's obviously not that we want to hurt your revenue (though you make it seem like so with this article) It's our privacy and security that we want to protect. I have not gotten a single major virus ever since I started ad blocking.

If this is a round about marketing tactic, shame on you Ars Technica for trying to brainwash the smart to give up their ad blockers.

Edit (March 22): See? Nowhere is safe when it comes to banner ads... Especially if the server gets hacked into.

Thank goodness for Adblock. Again, shame on you Ars Technica.