First look at Microsoft’s Azure: Epic fail!

I was very excited coz I finally got my account approved for Azure but after logging in I never felt confused like this in my entire life! What the fuck is this?!!

The management page and the documentation page seem got stuck together then totally explodes into series of links from one domain to another as authentication tokens get passed over the URL. Currently I have access to 4 services which has 4 different management page with 4 different documentation page for a total of 8 different sites.

As far as i can remember I created 2 projects but after re-login in I'm am totally lost how to access them again.

So… Azure… are you really fucking sure what you’re doing?

Anyway Azure mostly supports .Net with a couple of Java and Ruby libraries to boast its support for open standards but a quick check on its web services schema says otherwise with whole new sets of conventions.

Oh well if MS is throwing this for free, then why not – good enough for some hobby site but I wouldn’t bet a dime on this service!

Microsoft defeated by crackers (again) Vista activation got cracked.

Since last week, rumors have surfaced about Vista's activation crack. Not until this weekend that the story was verified, its true. Vista got cracked and MS scrambled to release KB929391 WGA to patch the hole but warnings has already excalated not to apply the patch for cracked Vista.

The crack is ingenious, tit actually runs an emulated WGA authentication server and validates the Vista installation. This technique is not entirely new, using packet reverse engineering any server can actually be emulated, even Blizzard's complex WOW server has been emulated a few weeks after the game was released out of beta. Certainly MS WGA server isn't as complex as WOW server so it not surprising it was reversed that fast.

Root Meeee: Linux Virtualization on WinXP

I had another itch to try something crazy so i tried installing a virtual OS on Windows XP.

I tried Ubuntu at first but my PC just couldn't take it and keeps on hanging so i settled for Damn Small Linux which is based on Knoppix/Debian. Im pretty pleased with its speed considiring im running it with just 5Gig Virtual HD and 128Mb Virtual Memory using QEMU. I can run in on background with all my usual heavy duty WinXP apps also running; keeping it at 11% CPU usage which is amazing considering im running an entire OS compared to some of my WinXP apps that takes up alot of CPU power by just idling.

Kudus to DSL and QEMU developers!

Google 3D

Im a great fan of 3D animation and it took me a while to learn how to do it myself, however the learning curve can now be lowered thanks to Google's SketchUp plus it works with Google Earth!

SketchUp is best for those who want to start into 3D modeling, it provides the simplistic approach on understanding the basics of 3D modeling and textures while still being equally powerful as supporting known formats for 3DSmax and AutoCAD. The extensive flash video tutorials also helps alot to quick start you learning process which also covers using the application with real photos as textures, Google Earth and Google's 3D warehouse which allows all the authors to share their works.

Windows defense handcuffs good guys

A story on Digg: "Microsoft's PatchGuard is designed to keep out malicious code. Security firms complain it's keeping them at bay, but not intruders."

Looks like another bad idea, MS seems to be streaking lately on "bad".. bad design, bad idea, bad code. Or maybe people just became wiser.





read more | digg story

Microsoft WGA Defeated Again.

News submitted to Geek.com says Microsoft will disable for the mean time the Window Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool which MS distributed via Windows Update. This is after the tool received much bad press last week due to it intrusive nature. According also to the story, MS "promised" to fix this problem by setting the tool to check every 14 days instead of the daily routine.

However a quick search over the net will give you a pretty large amount of information how to disable the tool ranging from using firewalls to block the tool from connecting over the Internet to completely disabling it via registry which leaves me thinking, was this tool really necessary? MS cant even secure Windows against casual crackers and hackers, what more against the entire world who is bent into defeating WGA I guess MS will be fighting a losing battle with this one

Windows Live OneCare: What virus you want installed today?

I was feeling adventurous today so I went beta hunting, I ended up at Microsoft.com and I found this front page ad about Microsoft Live OneCare. Being a fan of cutting edge technology I was excited with the prospect to be one of the first users to try it out.

Like any good user would do, I checked out the systems requirements first to see if it runs on my old Windows machine, well good enough its on the guide's Step #1 then... WTF!?!



"Step 2. Uninstall other antivirus and firewall programs"

Has MS been on dope!!? I tried to read again, maybe I'm still half-awake after an all-nighter work.. noooooo. It even goes worst than that:



"Antivirus and firewall programs known to conflict with Windows Live OneCare:"

* Symantec Norton Internet Security 2005
* Symantec Norton Antivirus 2005
* Symantec Norton SystemWorks 2005
* McAfee Internet Security Suite 2005
* McAfee VirusScan 8.0/2004
* Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2005

Ok this is crazy! These are the best anti-viruses available on the market, what is MS thinking of? Ok so what's their suggestion on how to protect myself:

"You do not need to uninstall Windows Firewall, which is a component of the Windows operating system and cannot be removed. It does not conflict with Windows OneCare; in fact, Windows Firewall provides basic firewall protection while you are removing the old software and installing Windows Live OneCare."

Great! I'll be left protected virtually by nothing but a useless firewall that i don't even use. I think this new product's motto is: "Windows Live OneCare: What virus you want installed today?"

Ok Microsoft Live OneCare Beta, i hope you just stay that way forever. i can't even start to imagine what it would want me to uninstall when it comes out of Beta.

Furl: http://www.furl.net/search?search=cache&id=8017707&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.windowsonecare.com%2Fpurchase%2Fs+ysreq.aspx

NEW Internet Explorer Exploit

This one is VERY VERY Bad Phiser's are using it already! Digg This so Others can do the Test, Click on the Link and go to the "Start Test" link on the page

read more | digg story

Microsoft Vista: Not 'People Ready'

The new programs are phenomenally complex, with scores of buttons and pull-down menus and myriad connections among various applications.

read more | digg story

Bill Gates makes Fun of Himself (video)

Bill Gates recently gave a keynote at Mix '06, where he got on YouTube and did a search for "Bill Gates".

read more | digg story

What Windows Vista will do for PC gaming

The launch of Windows Vista will not only fatten the pockets of Gates' but it will also bring with it DirectX 10. "It will offer six to eight times the graphics performance of DirectX 9.0"

read more | digg story

Microsoft Vista: Microsoft loses confidence in .NET

Microsoft appears to have concentrated their development effort in Vista on native code development. In contrast to PDC03LH, Vista has no services implemented in .NET and Windows Explorer does not host the runtime, which means that the Vista desktop shell is not based on the .NET runtime.

read more | digg story

WinXP on a Mac! Finally!

So it appears, someone has cracked the Mac. Sources indicate that a solution has been submitted for review to claim the now $12,000 prize. Furthermore, it appears the source is enlisting additional testers. Guess, its not impossible after all!

read more | digg story

MS to release 6 Versions of Vista

Yes you heard me, SIX versions of Vista! Now in IMHO that means 720 ways to have incompatible systems on a network (6! = 720 permutations).

This story is from informationweek.com. To Quote:

"Microsoft plans to disclose the lineup for Vista Monday, after it inadvertently posted information about its packaging plans for the software on its Web site last week. Microsoft's new PC operating system will arrive in two editions for business customers, three editions for home users, and a special low-priced "starter" edition for sale in India, Russia, Mexico, and other developing countries."

"As a result, each edition for Vista, except for the starter edition, will include 64-bit functionality out of the box, and every edition, except the starter and basic home editions, will include technology from today's Tablet PC and Media Center versions of Windows."

- Windows Vista Enterprise, available to Microsoft's largest corporate customers, adds new BitLocker hard-drive encryption, a virtual PC program for running software written for other platforms, and a new subsystem for running Unix apps.

- Windows Vista Home Premium is designed for the majority of home PC users and includes the ability to show photos on a large-screen TV, play music on a home stereo, write and copy DVDs, and edit high-definition video. It also includes the ability to sync files between two computers.

- Windows Vista Ultimate combines all the features of the Vista Business and Home Premium editions -- it's designed for corporate employees who often work on company projects from home.

- Windows Vista Home Basic is aimed at users who mainly read and send E-mail and surf the Web. It doesn't include the Tablet PC, Media Center, photography and music software in Vista Home Premium.

- Windows Vista Starter will retail only in emerging markets such as India, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia. It won't be available in the United States or Europe, and runs only in 32-bit mode.

Microsoft on black-propaganda ADS

I ripped this screen shot from INQ7.net's website, another classic example on how desperate Microsoft is to fight Open Source Movements. I think this AD would be more effective if they give away Ipods and PS3s per click :))

The full url of the flash AD banner is found here.