01.11.06

Sky by Broadband – do you trust it?

Posted in News at 1:37 pm by variablereference

Interesting this one. The BBC is reporting that Sky UK are to provide movies for download by broadband. Interesting, as I get this for free with the current subscription I have I went to check it out……There wasn’t a lot of information about what the software is actually doing when it installs on your machine, so I referred to the terms and conditions. This made for interesting reading!!!

The quick summary of the T’s&C’s shows that should you attempt to deconstruct, decrypt, copy, share or anything of the like you are liable, fair enough. Other items include the fact that the software is proprietary to Sky and you can’t touch it in anyway apart from use it for it’s intended purpose, again fair. Then the fun starts….Sky holds no responsibility for any third party content delivered through the service, Sky holds no responsibility for any advertising delivered through the service…..and Sky holds no responsibility for any damage caused through using the service. Forgive me if I am wrong but I take that to mean that I have to have blind faith in the software to be secure and not to let in any virus or hack onto my system. The concern here is that they use the term “as-is” when referring to the state of the software and “The entire risk arising out of the use or performance of the Software remains with you” which fills me with dread for what is going on behind the scenes.

I’m sorry Sky but I have no faith in your software when you are not prepared to give me your guarantee that it is safe and secure, you run and hide from responsibility for it yet expect me to trust it. When you are willling to be responsible for the quality of the software I will consider installing it. You also need to be more open about exactly what this software is doing while it is installed on my system.

When you consider the Sony fiasco this just makes me run away……

p.s. apparently there is also a tie in with Microsoft somewhere in this…..

01.10.06

Who says it could only happen in the movies

Posted in News at 5:20 pm by variablereference

Blazing mouse sets fire to house

A US man who threw a mouse onto a pile of burning leaves could only watch in horror as it ran into his house and set the building ablaze.

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Blazing mouse sets fire to house

Don’t know whether this is true or not but it’s funny.

10.25.05

SpaceStations anyone….

Posted in News at 1:19 pm by variablereference

Image of eggplants in Project Entropia

Neverdie is a popular character in the land of Project Entropia

A virtual space resort being built in the online role-playing game, Project Entropia, has been snapped up for $100,000 (£56,200)

I don’t get it!!! $100,000 for a fictional space station. I know there is a lot of money floating around in the creation and selling of virtual assets but this sort of money is a bit over the top!! Interested to know if this player has a business plan in mind for this as a means to earn money from the investment.