Microsoft Security Essentials: It’s Totally Worth It

I’m the type of person who calls it like I see it. In the case of Microsoft Security Essentials, this is a winner. Yes, you heard me correctly. I like a product that Microsoft makes. That should show you how good it is. Here’s why I like it:

• It’s easy to install. All you have to do is download the installer, run it and it does the rest for you. It then downloads the latest virus definitions and does a quick scan of your hard drive. Best of all, it is crystal clear about what it’s doing and what it may need you to do. Oh yeah, during the install it will verify that you have a legit copy of Windows, but it won’t ask you to register or anything like that.
• The user interface is simple and easy to understand. If you see lots of green, you’re protected and everything is right in the world. If you see red, the fit has hit the shan and you need to see what has gone wrong. This is great for novice users.
• The application is quiet. It only seems to bother users when it actually needs something, such as it finding a virus and user input is required to deal with it.
• It doesn’t suck a ton of CPU power. Most users won’t know it’s running.
• It actually works. I tested it with the EICAR Standard Anti-Virus Test File and it was able to find it and deal with it easily.

My recommendation is that if you want an anti-virus application and you either don’t have one (which is really dangerous IMHO) or you’re running something free, you should at least take a look at Microsoft Security Essentials. Even those who are paying for something might want to take this for a spin as well. It’s free, simple and it works well. You can’t ask for anything more than that.

Microsoft Security Essentials Anti-Virus Software Available For Download

Now you truly have no excuse to run an anti-virus application on your Windows PC. Microsoft Security Essentials is now out and you can download it from here. It works with XP, Vista, and Windows 7 and does the following according to the software giant:

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

You’ll note the asterisk after the word free. It just happens to denote a rather important point:

*Your PC must run genuine Windows to install Microsoft Security Essentials.

That means that if you got your copy of Windows from the back of a truck, you’re out of luck.  Too bad they have to use the much hated WGA software to validate that your copy of Windows.

In any case, I’ll be sucking down a copy and installing it on my Windows 7 box. I’ll let you know what I think of it.

Craigslist Down…. World Plus Dog Freaks [UPDATED x2]

According to the Twitterati, Craigslist is down. As a result it leaves millions of people unable to buy and sell items locally, find jobs, apartments, or illicit hookups and one night stands of various types. I can’t find a reason for the cause of this in the Google searches I’ve done. But as soon as I do (or if Craigslist comes back online), I’ll post it here.

UPDATE: It seems to be back intermittently and is not all that stable. Total downtime seems to be about 18 hours from the posts that were on Twitter. Could someone confirm that please?

UPDATE #2: Things with Craigslist seem much more stable now.

Apple Pushes iPhone Configuration Utiltity To Windows Users… WTF? [UPDATED]

I really hate it when Apple does this sort of thing.

If pushing Safari onto Windows users and then stealth installing the Mobile Me control panel applet isn’t enough, Apple has now decided that it’s cool to push the iPhone Configuration Utility For Windows to Windows users who have an Apple software product installed (like iTunes). The fact that the users in question may or may not have an iPhone clearly didn’t factor into this decision to do this. Nor did the fact that this is really a tool for business system administrators to set up and administer corporate iPhones, rather than being an end user tool. So you have to wonder why it’s being offered up to end users at all? What logical reason exists for this to be shoveled onto PCs?  I didn’t ask for it, I don’t need it, so why do this Apple?

Fortunately, the solution is simple. Uninstall Apple Software Update so that it stops stuffing your PC full of this. You’ll have to manually download all your updates for iTunes, Safari or any other Apple software that you choose to install on your PC. But that’s a small price to pay until Apple starts to get a clue and stop force feeding unneeded software to its users.

UPDATE: The update in question has been pulled according to Computerworld. Still this leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth.

Apple Fanboi Posts Music Video…. It’s A Catchy Tune

I have to admit that when I first say this, I was impressed. So I figured that I’d share it with you. It’s called “I Fell In Love At The Apple Store” and it’s done by FattySpins who has other videos that are just as cool:

Latest Palm WebOS Update Doesn’t Sync Apple’s iTunes…. Hmmm

Just when you thought this circus with the Palm Pre was over and done with, comes the news that the latest version of Palm’s WebOS has hit the streets. Of interest, this is the first WebOS update that does not restore the ability for the Palm Pre to sync to Apple iTunes. But it does lots of other things that might be of interest Palm Pre owners.

Perhaps Palm has learned it’s lesson and plans not to try the iTunes syncing stunt again? Nah, I figure we’ll see it shortly.

Pirate Bay Buyer Has His Assets Seized By Sweedish Court

The founder of Global Gaming Factory Hans Pandeya got some bad news this week. His assets were seized by a Sweedish court in relation to some cash that he owed:

On Wednesday, the court found that there is enough evidence to show that Pandeya owes Johan Sellstrom, a former business partner in Global Gaming, the equivalent of about $400,000, which includes interest.

The district court in Sweden ruled that the state would take control of Pandeya’s assets until enough of them can be sold to pay back Sellstrom. The court said that Pandeya can appeal the decision but his assets will remain in the hands of the court until the appeal is heard.

One has to believe that this circus is finally over as I don’t see any way back from this. But this story just keeps going and going. But I truly suspect that we haven’t heard the last of this.

Verizon Says No To The Palm Pre? [UPDATED]

According to The Street, Verizon has decided to pass on the Palm Pre after saying that it would be on their network early next year:

The reason for Verizon’s change of heart on Palm has to do with several factors, say these sources. The fact that the Palm Pre has not been the blockbuster in sales that it was expected to be is one problem. To date, Sprint’s fading No.3 status has not been compelling enough to get the Pre phone sales over the crucial 1 million-sold mark.

Another snag is that Verizon wants VCast, its applications and mobile media download service, to be featured heavily on its phones. This is in direct conflict with Palm’s app store, according to these sources.

If this is true, that is a major kick in the testicles for Palm who need all the friends they can get at the moment. Why? Verizon has a massive subscriber base which I think would really help this phone to gain some market penetration. Sprint on the other hand is bleeding customers. Not good if you are trying to sell a smart phone that was intended to save your company. Perhaps they should have went GSM as I’ve been saying for a while? That might have given them a few more “friends” to work with.

Oh well, I guess it might be time to start planning the funeral for Palm.

UPDATE: The Boy Genius Claims that Verizon will get the Palm Pre. Others seem to agree. Perhaps Verizon and Palm would be nice enough to put this to rest and say that it’s going to be available (or not).

CRTC Hearings Into Wind Mobile Begin

You might recall that Wind Mobile/Globalive has been the target of a CRTC probe into it’s ownership structure at the request of Telus, and that the CRTC not only went along with the request but fast tracked it as well. Yesterday was day one of the hearings and things to say the least are interesting. The key issue is if Wind Mobile is owned by Canadians or not:

The Telecom Act specifies that carriers must be overwhelmingly Canadian-controlled. Globalive insists that it has satisfied the requirements with a structure where Egyptian-based cellphone company Orascom holds a 65-per-cent equity stake. The arrangement uses a complicated formula that involves two holding companies in which Mr. Lacavera owns the majority of voting shares.

However Rogers, Bell and Telus don’t see it that way:

But Telus vice-president Ted Woodhead and Rogers Wireless executive Ken Engelhart argued Globalive was simply obscuring the fact that Naguib Sawiris, an Egyptian billionaire and CEO of Orascom, was using the company as a pawn to get its hands in the Canadian market.

“The capital structure is not compliant,” Mr. Woodhead said, “and the web of other connections and control can lead to no other conclusion than Globalive has yielded control to non-Canadians.”

The chief of regulatory affairs at Bell Canada, Mirko Bibic, also argued that Globalive does not have a Canadian majority on its board, another legal requirement.

“You’ve got Orascom directly appointing three [board members] and having a say … in the other four,” Mr. Bibic said. “That’s control … that allows Orascom to completely control the operating entity…. We submit that it’s all merely window dressing.”

Regardless of the outcome, expect the losing side of this fight to file some sort of an appeal instantly.

Palm Gets Slapped For Trying To Sync With iTunes

Frequent readers of my blog will recall that Palm has been playing a cat and mouse game with Apple by trying to get the Palm Pre to sync with iTunes. Palm tried to up the stakes by reporting Apple to the USB Implementers Forum for trying to shut out competition. Today, they got their answer back and I don’t think that anybody at Palm is going to be happy:

In a letter submitted to Apple and Palm today, the group dismissed Palm’s claim that Apple has violated its USB-IF Membership Agreement. Worse, it took issue with Palm’s alleged use of Apple’s Vendor Identification Number (VID), which it says violates USB-IF policy.

Oh, it actually gets worse than that. Palm was sent a letter that includes the following:

I attach for your information the USB-IF’s adopted and published policy regarding Vendor Identification Numbers (VIDs). Under the Policy, Palm may only use the single Vendor ID issued to Palm for Palm’s usage. Usage of any other company’s Vendor ID is specifically precluded. Palm’s expressed intent to use Apple’s VID appears to violate the attached policy.

Please clarify Palm’s intent and respond to this potential violation within seven days.

That’s craptastic if you’re Palm. Clearly Apple now has the upper hand in this war. The question is, will Palm now play nice or will they once again raise the stakes?

Speaking of iTunes, the latest version of iTunes has hit the streets tonight. Get your copy here. Here’s what this version fixes:

Resolves issues browsing the iTunes Store.

Addresses a performance issue where iTunes may become unresponsive.

Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit.

Fixes a problem syncing Podcasts in playlists to iPod or iPhone.

Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.

Addresses an issue with the Zoom button not switching to Mini Player.

Improves application syncing for iPod touch and iPhone.

Genius is now automatically updated to show Genius Mixes.

Download away! Unless of course you have a Palm Pre which likely won’t work with iTunes.