Microsoft Exec: Vista More Secure Than Microsoft Rivals

• By Doug Barney
• 03/27/2007

While a report from Microsoft about Microsoft security has the scent of bias, I have no evidence to contradict Mr. Jones. There hasn't been a large quantity of Vista vulnerabilities, and so far no show-stoppers.

But critics smarter than me countered Jones, pointing out that his report only tracks those holes made public. Making them more suspicious is the fact that XP came in as the second-most secure operating system.

Abode Blends Web/OS Development
Adobe is taking a stab not just at Web development, but at rich application building, as well. Apollo, now in alpha test (how I've missed that term, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of CTPs, RCs, RTMs and other inane Microsoft names for test software), takes the best of what Adobe has learned with Web development and ties this to OS-style services such as printer drivers and personalization.

I hope this tool is a winner, partly because it will defuse the religious debate of thin vs. thick clients, but mostly because it will force Microsoft and others to build more flexible development tools.

Fully Armed Endpoints
Our friends from FullArmor recently treated us to some sushi at the local buffet (I used all my willpower and only had one heaping plate), and between sips of miso soup, chomps of calamari, mounds of mackerel and tons of tuna, we talked about their latest product: FullArmor Endpoint Policy Manager, a tool that lets admins build and enforce security and other policies for fixed desktops and roving laptops.

The whole idea is to make sure that laptops and mobile devices that have been out in the wild are in compliance with internal corporate security as defined by Group Policy when they return to the corporate nest.

The Last Word on Viacom vs. YouTube
You've heard the pundits pontificate on the Viacom vs. YouTube lawsuit. Now hear what Viacom itself has to say.

Doug's Mailbag: Sounding Off on Smartphones
In the wake of a possible Palm deal, I asked readers about their favorite hand-held smartphones. Here's what a couple of you said:

The one, the only -- BlackBerry.
-Chad

I'm a big fan of the Palm Treo 700w.
-Ken

BB 8700c. Bulletproof OS, doesn't restart itself several times a day and push e-mail is excellent. PIM functions and phone adequate for my uses.

Tried a Cingular Blackjack. It was OK as a PIM, poor as an e-mail device, good as a phone. Gave it back and went back to the BB.
-Walter

Given the likely change of ownership at Palm, let me say that I believe the Palm OS is a much more usable architecture, although Windows Mobile has gotten better.

I currently use a 2003 Samsung i500 smartphone -- Palm 4 OS, Web, e-mail, Sprint service. Unfortunately, Sprint abandoned this one for the Treo, which is so much bigger, I can't stand the idea of switching. Perhaps with new ownership, there's a chance for a new device with the guts (and graffiti) of a Palm, and with a more reasonable form factor. The i500 is struggling to keep up with new standards, but it's small and convenient. There's nothing else yet that takes its place!
-Aletia

Cingular 8525 (HTC Hermes) with Windows Mobile. This is my third smartphone, and they have each become progressively more usable and useful. The 8525 is damn near perfect.
-Gil

Originally had a Kyocera 6035 and loved it. Then I had a Kyocera 7135 and that was great, too (especially liked the voice dialing where I only had my favorites -- about 10 -- in the system and could train the phone so all I needed to say was "mom" or "dad," etc.). Now I have a Palm Treo 700p and it's doing all that I need -- except voice dialing, as it tries to handle all of the 1,200 contacts in my address book and I only need 10.
-Jim

I have been a Palmie since 1999 or so when I got a IIIe. I've since worked my way up to a Sony Clie NX70V and love it -- so much so that when mine broke, I went on eBay and bought another. Until they are no longer available even there, I'm not sure I'd switch to any other. It's still the coolest PDA out there: not too bulky, uses the full screen from time to time because of the virtual graffiti area (another thing to love), has the incredible flip screen, can record sound or play MP3s, can record video or take pictures (without looking like it's taking pictures or video, too, which can come in very handy), uses a memory stick for more memory and has a slot for wireless. And since it's Palm, there's a ton of programs out there both useful and just plain fun to put on it. The only thing it doesn't do is make calls. I'd take a separate cell phone rather than give up my Clie. I love it and feel completely lost without it.
-Gabrielle

A few days ago, I let out some steam about blogger Robert Scoble who harped on about how Microsoft's Web strategy s*&^!cks. John was just as aggravated:

I have to agree with you on your rant about Scoble. When he was at his peak, my aggregator was filled with his posts from MS corp. If blogs were magazines, Scoble was People and other MS employees were Scientific American.

A couple of years ago, I watched an interview of his on Channel 9 about this new "Monad" thing. I didn't know who he was; I just wanted to know more about this new command shell. I think toward the end (how's that for dramtic hyperbole?), he felt that he was bigger than the message, instead of just getting the message out about Microsoft.

I remember seeing his blog header and wondering, "So, like, what is it that you do?" (Think Office Space.)
-John

And finally, Carl responds to a letter we ran yesterday criticizing our headline "Fortran Father Passes":

So people who might believe in an afterlife should be prohibited from mentioning "passed" so you don't offend this idiot's sensitivities! Obviously, he spends a lot of time with the degenerate NY Times and hasn't a clue about what freedom of the press or speech really means. I have an aversion to people like this telling everyone else what they should say. Besides, "passed" could also mean passed from this life into nothingness which is where this guy seems to be now. And finally, if it isn't in the NY Times, it is probably good style.

To quote someone else who was getting a lot of disparaging commentary while trying to accomplish something, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"
-Carl

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