Microsoft and the Linux Foundation are both opposing a law group’s proposal that would create an implied warranty that software products ship with no material defects.

Finally, Microsoft and the Linux Foundation agree on something.

“While the principles reflect a lot of hard work and thought by the ALI, Microsoft and the Linux Foundation believe that certain provisions do not reflect existing law and could disrupt the well-functioning software market for businesses and consumers, as well as create uncertainty for software developers”, Microsoft deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez said in a blog posting.

The ALI is meeting in Washington this week and is scheduled to take up the issue, noted ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley.

Microsoft and the Linux Foundation aren’t the only ones against this. As Foley points out, the University of Houston’s Raymond Nimmer also wrote a biting critique of the ALI proposal.

Linux Foundation chief Jim Zemlin noted in a blog that its partnership with Microsoft makes for strange bedfellows. But, he said, the proposed legal standard would hurt open source and commercial software makers alike.

“The principles outlined by the ALI interfere with the natural operation of open source licenses and commercial licenses as well by creating implied warranties that could result in a tremendous amount of unnecessary litigation, which would undermine the sharing of technology,” Zemlin wrote.

Gutierrez also noted that Microsoft and its partner in this effort don’t necessarily see eye to eye on everything.

“The mere fact that the Linux Foundation and Microsoft are joining forces may be viewed by some as remarkable, given that our differences receive far more public attention than when our interests converge,” Gutierrez said. “Our industry is diverse and sometimes contentious, but if nothing else unites us it is that we all believe in the power of software.”

Gutierrez held out an olive branch, of sorts. “I hope that this represents just one of many opportunities to collaborate with the Linux Foundation and others going forward,” he said. “We have a lot more we can do together.”

The joint letter comes just a couple short months after Microsoft, for the first time, sued a company over its implementation of the Linux kernel. The company eventually settled with TomTom, but the move has created uncertainty over whether Microsoft intends to take legal action against Linux vendors that refuse to take a license to Microsoft’s patents.

Credit: cnet

OK, I know we’re all anticipating the release of Windows 7 (OK, maybe not everyone) but, there are going to be quite a few who will stay with either XP or Vista. If you are one of those, then the following Windows Vista & XP run commands thread should be useful to you.

Microsoft Learning is providing 3 free online E-Learning Clinics on Windows 7 geared toward 3 distinct audiences.

• What’s New in Windows 7 for Consumers
• What’s New in Windows 7 for IT Professional
• What’s New In Windows 7 for information Workers

These “clinics” focus on many of the new features and functionality seen in Windows 7.

Microsoft Learning also has a Windows 7 Learning Portal that just went live too.

Thanks to Brandon LeBlanc for the information.

PS: If you’re having any problems with Windows 7, then you can always post in our dedicated WIndows 7 forum.

A researcher has discovered a problem in the User Account Control of the beta version of Windows 7.

Security researcher Long Zheng has shown how an attacker could bypass the User Account Control (UAC), although he’s also shown how it can be remedied quite simply.

The UAC has been troublesome to Vista users’, as it notifies the user every time a program tries to alter the system. Many vista users’ disabled the UAC because of its frequent dialog boxes. In Windows 7, though, Microsoft has granted new rules that allow changes to Windows settings without notification, although other alterations still requite notifying the user.

The graphical interfaces system of Windows 7 RC contains old codes from Windows 3.1 where security is not considered when developed. When Microsoft optimizes the graphical interfaces of Windows 7, the incompatibility with old codes leads the system to blue screen.

Attackers will be able to firstly invade the System server of certain object to launch the attack, or to make a potential opportunity for a second attack. Thus, the security hole is a greater threat for the firm and government customers who’re using Windows 7 RC.

Microsoft however, have insisted that “the functionality is ‘by design’, dismisses the security concerns and again leans towards they will not be addressing the issue for the final release of Windows 7.

Microsoft’s Jon DeVaan has posted a response on the official Windows 7 blog with an extensive look at the UAC system in Windows 7 and their decision on the default security policy. In conclusion, they continue to stand by their decision and does not indicate they will change the default UAC policy.

A new computer worm called Downadup as infected 3.5 million personal PCs by exploiting a vulnerbility Microsoft patched last October. It reached 3.5 million in such a short period of time, using several different methods to spread, and has the ability to download new versions of itself.

This worm is actually pretty clever. It will attempt to call home to a variety of random domains that haven’t been registered which infected machines attempt to establish contact with. All its creators have to do is register one of the generated domains and bingo - they have your personal information

F-Secure’s CFO, Mikko Hyppönen explains: “The bad guys only need to predetermine one possible domain for tomorrow, register it, and set up a website, and they then gain access to all of the infected machines — pretty clever.”

F-Secure also managed to take a peek at the inner workings of the worm by registering one of the randomly generated domains. This has allowed them to analyze the connections that Downadup is making and, in fact, they have gained the ability to modify the worm’s update mechanism to remotely disinfect affected systems. However, for legal reasons, the company has decided not to do so.

Now is a very good time to run an anti-virus scan and also make sure you are using a strong password. And don’t forget to install Microsoft’s latest security updates. Additionally, Microsoft has added detection to the latest version of its free Malicious Software Removal Tool, which is available here.

While Windows Vista did have some success with a small pocket of the user base, for the most part people were ranting and raving that it was a massive failure. And with that part of the user base still reeling from Vista’s apparent misdeeds, Microsoft is already going to be rolling out a new operating system in the late end of 2009.

Windows 7 will supposedly be a big change from Windows Vista, sporting various improvements and tweaks at our request, which will hopefully make it far better than Vista. However, some of the previews being given suggest something altogether different.

Here is a sample of them: http://www.thinknext.net/archives/2268

What’s this? At the surface, it still looks almost exactly the same as Windows Vista! It is even projected that Windows 7 is going to be running on exactly the same system requirements as Vista. Is Windows 7 really that much different? Is it going to be such a huge change?

The answer is both simple and complex: yes, and no. Windows 7 will be a huge change because it will finally be running on the hardware that Vista should have been running on when it was released. This means that people can’t complain that their system runs it too slowly because almost every system will be able to handle it by then. It will also certainly contain various tweaks and improvements that people strongly disliked in Vista as shown in the previews. Reorganized toolbars, a few new features for Windows Media Player, and some other things that are thus far only interface related. However, people may be turned off by how strikingly similar it is to Windows Vista.

The problem comes in the form of the user mindset. Vista, contrary to popular belief, was not a terrible operating system. It was just too demanding for the time. Windows 7 will have the advantages that Windows Vista didn’t. And I for one believe Windows 7 has the potential to surpass XP by a long shot if people would finally let go of XP and give something new a chance. People will simply be scared off by the user interface because it will remind them too much of their bad experiences.

However, the fact that Windows 7 runs almost exactly like Vista is not necessarily a bad thing entirely. Since the standard for most systems is rapidly shifting to two gigabytes of memory, a decent video card, and a dual-core processor of some sort, this means that Windows 7, unlike Vista at the time of its release, will be able to run very comfortably on just about any system. Had Vista been released in 2009, it would have probably been given a much better reception.

A smooth performance will likely win back some of Microsoft’s users and get them to stop clinging onto XP for dear life. We will all have to make the switch eventually. At least Windows 7 shows some promise despite inconclusive previews. If Microsoft is smart about it, Windows 7 will be very affordably priced too.

The first one was a little disappointing, but the second ad is a little more entertaining.

Some sources appeared to jump the gun and reported that the ads had been cancelled, however Gizmodo is reporting that the ads have not been cancelled. Microsoft did however request that the “I’m a PC” spots become the new focus. They’re saying “Crispin Porter has another completed spot featuring the lovable, affluent couple in the can, ready to air (even though it won’t quite yet).”