Bill Gates and DRM

Bill Gates told me to just rip it

Posted by Mathew Ingram @ 11:54 am on Thursday 14 December 2006

Next time someone gives you grief for ripping music from CDs to put on your iPod (or Zune, or whatever your player of choice might be), just tell them that the world’s richest man told you to do it. According to Mike Arrington of TechCrunch, that’s what Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates said when he was asked about DRM (digital rights management).

Gates said that no one is satisfied with the current state of DRM, which “causes too much pain for legitmate buyers” while trying to distinguish between legal and illegal uses. He says no one has done it right, yet.

There are “huge problems” with DRM, he says, and “we need more flexible models, such as the ability to “buy an artist out for life” (not sure what he means). He also criticized DRM schemes that try to install intelligence in each copy so that it is device specific.

And now the money quote: “His short term advice: ‘People should just buy a cd and rip it. You are legal then.’” Of course, you aren’t really — at least not in every jurisdiction. Canada has a private copying levy that allows you to make copies for personal use (and Britain is considering one) but other countries don’t. In any case, Bill’s point about DRM being too complicated and not easy enough to use is a good one.

In many cases, of course, it is also an attempt to turn back the clock and prevent you from using music you have purchased in ways you could before digital music existed, and that is probably my biggest beef with it. (Incidentally, the theme music for this post, if I had such a thing, would be a modified version of the famous Devo song Whip It called — of course — Rip It)

Apple Tablet Rumor

 

December 4 Matt Hickey

Let’s double up on the Apple rumor mongering, shall we? Just a few days ago, our own Vince brought you the rumor that Apple was in serious manufacturing talks with Taiwanese factories for a new tablet-style portable device with docking station.

Sure, that’s fine, it’s a rumor we see more frequently than a new episode of Lost. But then another rumor comes along stating that Apple is putting the finishing touches on its thinnest portable yet, ostensibly a 12-inch widescreen MacBook even more svelte than the current lineup. That would put it in the roughly .75-inch-range or smaller. Even more, the rumors state that the device would keep its optical drive and sport a dual-core proc.

What, dear reader, if these two portable Macs were actually one in the same? A docking station would make perfect sense as a way to allow the portable to keep its optical drive while remaining thin. Apple tried the same scheme before with the popular Duo line, there’s no reason to think it’s given up on the idea.

Both rumors also indicate a Q1-07 launch, and are both in about the same stage of development. Could this simply be two sides of the same Apple branded coin?

Palm Pays Access for rights to Garnet

For better or for worse, we're about full-circle with Garnet now: Palm just forked over $44 million to ACCESS for a perpetual, non-exclusive license to the Garnet source code, granting Palm "the right to use Palm OS Garnet in whole or in part in any product from Palm and together with any other system technologies," along with the welcome ability to modify underlying Garnet source code. The good news is that in the short term we should be seeing some stability and feature enhancements on the Treo and other Palm handhelds, the bad news is that this appears to be a further procrastination for the introduction of ALP to Palm devices, possibly even spelling a cancellation of that roadmap altogether. What we do know is that ACCESS and Palm have set up a "test/compatibility harness" to ensure "forward-compatibility" of Garnet apps on ALP's Garnet Host layer. For the time being we'll just be glad to see Palm shore up its ever-buggier OS, but one of these days we're going to want a modern OS from these guys to fiddle around with.

Is Now the Time to Move to Linux?

 

By Jack M. Germain
LinuxInsider
12/06/06 4:00 AM PT

The biggest reason for migrating to Linux is freedom, said Patrick Davila, co-host of an online Linux talk show. Linux is not owned by anyone and is the ultimate community project. "In many ways, the community reminds me of the early days of computers," he said. "People are willing to share information and help others. All one needs to do is ask."

 

Your next operating system move could be to one of the half-dozen most popular free Linux desktop versions instead of to Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows Vista. With these versions, you would not have to perform a risky software upgrade, nor would you have to settle for a watered-down Vista option if your new computer were underpowered.

The Linux operating system (OS) -- already well known in the workplace for its virus-proof ironclad security -- is garnering approval from consumers as the computer system of choice in the home- and small-business office.

Instead of glitzy media advertising , distributors of the various Linux versions rely on satisfied users and word-of-mouth support on the Internet to spread the news about using Linux.

 

Desktop Challenge

"Linux dominates the server market and is making big inroads into the embedded market where it is used in TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO) , cell phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and routers," said Patrick Davila, co-host of the Internet's "The Linux Link Tech Show."

"The last area for it to conquer is on the desktop," he added.

From Davila's point-of-view as a die-hard Linux user, the OS is ripe to become the desktop replacement for the majority of home and business desktop users. He also asserts that Linux is more stable and cheaper to run than Windows.

Davila is not alone in making that assessment. Nate Melby, an instructor at Kaplan University's School of Information Systems and Technology, is also a big cheerleader for the open source OS.

"Linux can be a very powerful alternative to other operating systems in enterprise, small business, home and educational environment use," Melby said.

Little Risk

For someone just starting out with computers, learning to operate Linux is not much different from learning to use Windows or the Mac OS. For more-experienced users, migrating to Linux does not mean that you must leave behind your prized Windows applications. Many Linux software programs are very similar to popular Windows applications.

In addition, "you can run Windows applications via virtualization software such as VMware or Parallels and through API (application programming interface) compatibility tools, including Wine and CrossOver Office," Davila suggested.

Even if favorite Windows programs cannot follow the migration path, the data they created can. Most open source programs -- OpenOffice is one example -- read and write in the same file formats as Microsoft Office documents, including Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint files.

A Downside Exists

Sometimes, however, program incompatibility can be an annoying issue. In fact, it is the most common problem when new users migrate to Linux, cautioned Melby.

"Sometimes they are challenged by the time that it takes them to refamiliarize themselves with the nuances of the graphical user interface. Similar applications, features or utilities may have names or operations that are not familiar to the user," he said, adding that it might take some time to adjust.

The need for support may be another pain point in a move to Linux, said Melby. Home and small business users must be more self-supporting and able to use resources such as newsgroups and forums to resolve problems.

Of all the Linux choices available, the Ubuntu distribution by European developer Canonical is rapidly shortening the learning curve for new users. Ubuntu has quickly built a reputation as "Linux for the rest of us," Melby said, because of its usability and ease of configuration.

Ubuntu can be downloaded for free. Users can test it from a live CD session without installing it or making any changes to their Windows computer.

Case Study

The experience of Kaayla T. Daniel, a nutritionist and author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food, provides a perfect example of what a typical consumer might face when adopting Linux as a replacement for Windows. Daniel had an outdated computer and was also having major virus problems with Windows.

"I needed PowerPoint and other software but didn't have the money to buy all the software I needed from Microsoft," she explained. "I had just completed a Ph.D. program and had massive student debt and maxed out credit cards. My Webmaster recommended I get a Linux tower and Linux software as I could get a lot more for my money."

She started with the Xandros distribution but switched to Ubuntu Linux. "Xandros was a nightmare," Daniel remarked, "with one problem after another. So far, Ubuntu is doing fine after two months."

Daniel's biggest problem was finding a computer technician who could work with Linux. Another headache was getting ISP (Internet service provider) support.

"I had to get a Linux computer repair person to come to my house and set me up with EarthLink (Nasdaq: ELNK) DSL (digital subscriber line), as EarthLink technicians refused to help," she explained.

Support Issues

Davila is the first to admit that hardware support with Linux is not perfect -- "but it's pretty damn good," he maintained.

When he installs Windows and Linux for others, he often finds that the Linux installation goes smoother and faster and is not plagued with numerous reboots, as is Windows.

"Most Windows users never do an install of an OS. They simply get a new computer," he observed.

Gamers Loose

One potential disappointment is that hard-core gamers may find few top-notch offerings for Linux, but developers are expected to address that weakness in new Linux releases.

"Many developers have worked diligently to port popular games and devices such as PDAs and GPSs (global positioning systems) to Linux, but often the most current devices and games are not immediately supported," said Melby. "The community of Linux developers is quick to react to new devices and products, but it does take time for reliable ports to be written and functional."

Meanwhile, Linux users looking to stretch beyond the common fare of bundled games can rely on playing their favorite Windows games through emulator programs in Linux.

"The one big weakness for Linux is gaming. That's not to say there aren't any cool games available for Linux. There are some native ports of big games and other less known titles," noted Davila. "A lot of hardcore gamers who've switched to Linux either keep a Windows partition around or have migrated to a console gaming system."

Freedom Counts

For Davila, the biggest reason for migrating to Linux is freedom. Linux is not owned by anyone and is the ultimate community project.

"In many ways, the community reminds me of the early days of computers. People are willing to share information and help others. All one needs to do is ask," he said.

For consumers contemplating the Linux plunge, Melby sees ease of use as the biggest hurdle to overcome. The solution for them may well be Ubuntu, which targets those who want things to "just work," he said.

"Those users are on the fringe of happy Linux users today, and as the Linux distributions continue to become more friendly in terms of installation and usability, we will see more and more users migrate," he predicted.

Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs To Get Support for Office 2007

 

Microsoft has begun the process of rolling out Office 2007. This will be one of the most significant upgrades in this suite of applications in close to a decade, and the file formats used will change greatly.

One of the unfortunate side effects of this is that no current Windows Mobile device will work with files that have been saved in the new Office 2007 formats. However, Microsoft is not abandoning users of these handhelds and smartphones.

A company spokesperson promised today that an update for Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs will be released that will bring Office 2007 support to these devices.

In addition, this new version of Office Mobile will include some additional functionality, though the spokesperson declined to give any details on what this will be. He did say, though, that it will essentially be the version of Office Mobile that will ship with the next version of Windows Mobile, code-named Crossbow.

A semi-closed beta of this software will be out during the first three months of next year, and a public beta will be available during the second quarter of 2007.

Office 2007 itself is expected to be available to the general public in the first month or so of next year.

No Love for Windows Mobile 2003

Although today's announcement is good news for Windows Mobile 5.0 users, the situation is less pleasant for those with older models. Microsoft says there will be no upgrade for the Pocket Office suite on Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition devices, nor for any earlier version of this operating system.

Still, that still leaves open the possibility that developers of third-party software will step into the gap, and bring support for the Office 2007 file formats to older models.

A Short-term Solution

 

Until the Office upgrade for Windows Mobile 5.0 is available, users of Office 2007 who want to access their files on a mobile device will have little option besides saving their files in formats supported by Office 2003.

However, the the months just after the release of this updated suite of application, people who want to share their documents would be wise to do this anyway, as it will be quite some time before it can be assumed to a majority of users have Office 2007.

PC users, though, will have an option that handheld and smartphone users won't: Microsoft is going to distribute a free reader that will allow anyone to open files in Office 2007. However, that doesn't mean that Office 2003 will be able to open these documents; they'll have to be opened in the separate viewer.

The Treo 650 is being retired.

Two years after its debut, the Palm Treo 650 is clearly on the way out. The most obvious sign of this appeared today on Palm's official web store in the U.S.: a simple note saying this device is "no longer available".

The Treo 650 has been Palm's most visible smartphone since it was introduced in 2004, and in the intervening years has been offered by carriers all around the world.

This product, though, is starting to look a bit long in the tooth, and over the course of this year Palm has come out with a number of newer models.

In January, this company's first Windows Mobile-based smartphone debuted, the Treo 700w. This was followed later in the year with the Treo 750v, another device running that same operating system.

This spring, Palm came out with a new Palm OS-based model, the Treo 700p. And, of course, another Palm OS model, the Treo 680, debuted just a week or so ago.

Treo 650 Still Around

Just because the Palm Store in the United States has stopped offering the Treo 650 doesn't mean it's suddenly disappeared from store shelves worldwide, or even in the U.S. This smartphone is still available from Cingular Wireless, for example.

And Palm web sites in other countries are still offering it, including Australia and the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless, it's virtually certain at this point that the Treo 650 will gradually be replaced with new models, especially the Treo 680.

firefox

Kevin Rose confirms iPhone?

 

Posted Dec 3rd 2006 2:12PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Cellphones

So apparently last night Kevin Rose, of Digg and Diggnation fame, apparently confirmed information he knew about the iPhone on his eponymous vidcast. According to Kevin, who, to his credit, accurately predicted one of Apple's most secretive and hyped launches of 2005, the iPod nano, the iPhone will feature the following:

• January launch on "all" providers, both CDMA and GSM
• Extremely small form factor
• Two battery design (with single charger) -- one for playing music, the other for phone functions
• Flash memory: 4GB for $249, 8GB for $449
• "Slide-out keyboard"
• Possibly touchscreen

There's obviously a lot there to process -- some new rumor, some old rumor, and some which does and does not jibe with what we've heard. According to a trusted source of Engadget's, whose iPhone information has gone heretofore unpublished, it's pretty safe to say it won't have a QWERTY keyboard (although it may be a slider), touchscreen is out, and it's only going to be GSM with 3G at launch, going with a singular carrier in the US (guess which). So that covers basically all of the rumors we've already heard anyway. We can confirm we've also heard about this dual battery design which powers the flash music player and phone portions separately, but that's about all we've got that crosses over with Rose's information. Either way, we don't want to bark up the wrong tree with this one because insider and rumored information is so often totally inaccurate, even if only because radical design changes are known to be made, especially by Steve "loose cannon" Jobs. Guess we'll have to settle in for our usual wait until January.

Wal-Mat launches digital movie downloads

Retailer kicks off its own video downloads service beginning with an exclusive 'Superman Returns' DVD bundle.

By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com staff writer

November 28 2006: 12:39 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Wal-Mart Stores on Tuesday announced the launch its own video downloads service beginning with an exclusive "Superman Returns" DVD bundle containing a video download option with purchase of the physical DVD.

CNNMoney.com first reported in September that Wal-Mart (Charts), the world's largest retailer, had accelerated its efforts to launch a digital movie service before the end of the year.

Play video

Wal-Mart currently accounts for about 40 percent of all DVD sales in the United States. By launching its own service, industry watchers say Wal-Mart can protect that DVD market dominance.

Attack of the Wal-Martyrs

In a press release, Wal-Mart said the service is now available to its customers in all Wal-Mart stores nationwide.

With the purchase of the "Superman Returns" physical DVD, Wal-Mart said customers can also choose from three video download format options -- $1.97 for portable devices, $2.97 for PCs/laptops, and $3.97 for both portable players and PC/laptops.

The retailer said the physical/digital DVD bundle would offer customers the flexibility to watch the Warner Bros. movie on their TV, portable devices as well as their computers.

Warner Bros. is a division of Time Warner (Charts), parent company of CNNMoney.com.

According to Wal-Mart, the Superman Returns physical DVD will come with a video download "feature sticker" on the cover. Customers will then have to log on to walmart.com/superman, enter the promotional code, and select their desired download format.

For e-tailers, it's Cyber Monday

Once users create an account and install the video download manager, the purchase completes and the movie download process begins. Wal-Mart said customers can also begin watching the movie while it downloads.

Wal-Mart said it will also test additional DVD bundles as well as offer a beta version of a video downloads service. The beta launch will feature both movie and television content from a number of studios and TV networks.

This wouldn't be the first time that Wal-Mart has attempted to make headway in the digital movie marketplace. Wal-Mart's online movie rental service failed. Walmart.com now refers customers to Netflix (Charts) for movie rentals.

Industry sources said Wal-Mart was eager to get its own download service up and running especially after both Amazon (Charts) and Apple (Charts) unveiled their own movie download services in September.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Wal-Mart will launch the service on Wednesday, according to Wal-Mart's initial press release. Wal-Mart subsequently corrected the information and said the service launches Tuesday.

GotabeMobile review of the Lenovo X60 Thinkpad Tablet PC

 

- Warner Crocker

If it feels like a Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet PC week here at GottaBeMobile, well that might be accurate. To be honest, it is tough not to like this new Tablet PC, and I have to say, I’m very grateful for the opportunity I have had this last week to give it a once over and share some of my thoughts with you.

So, let’s take a look at the Thinkpad X60 Tablet PC. In this GBM Hardware InkShow I take a walk around tour of the unit I received which comes with the SXGA + (high res) screen option and is an engineering sample provided by Lenovo. I also discuss the battery options, examine the Nav Dial, take a look at the many utilities that come pre-loaded on the Thinkpad, and even show you a neat trick or two exclusive to the Thinkpad X60 Tablet PC. In my opinion, Lenovo has a winning entry in the Thinkpad X60 and it will certainly have as large an impact on the Tablet PC market as their original X41 entry, which was enormous.

A couple of notes: I was so excited putting the InkShow together that I goofed on the screen resolution options that are available when making the recording. Here they are:

XGA = 1024x768
XGA / Multitouch / Outdoor = 1024x768 (upgrade price of $200)
SXGA+ = 1400x1050 (upgrade price of $50)

On pricing, note that Lenovo will have three different options available with launch today, November 14, ranging from $1799 to $2399. On November 28 you will be able to configure your order to your liking from an array of options with a base price of $1699 (one year warranty as opposed to three.)

If you’re looking for more specs check out this GBM post that also contains the great interview that Dennis Rice conducts with Mike Hagerty, the Worldwide Segment Manager for the Thinkpad series, before you dive into this Hardware InkShow review.

Remember also, that GottaBeMobile.com will be publishing another exclusive Hardware InkShow very soon in which Dennis Rice will be reviewing the Multi-Touch/Indoor/Outdoor screen, the Ultra-Bay Media Slice, and much more. You don’t want to miss that one. 

• Watch the video ( 40 minutes, 280mb, Windows Media streaming or direct download).

• Visit the Thinkpad X60 Product page

• Check out the GBM Interview with Lenovo’s Mike Hagerty.

Latest Treo a big hit for Palm

By Mark Kellner
November 28, 2006

When Palm Inc. takes a big swing, it usually connects. I can't remember the last time the company whiffed.
    Their latest out-of-the-park achievement, available now, is the Treo 680, a mobile phone that seems to defy gravity, if not expectations. Gone is the nubby antenna; instead, there's a smooth shape and no "handle," as some users call it.
    Memory available to users is double: 64 megabytes versus 32 MB for the Treo 650. Battery life seems longer, and you can, with the appropriate data plan from your carrier, use this as a wireless Bluetooth modem for your computer.
    This is a GSM/GPRS phone, which means it can be used overseas, subject to your carrier's plans or the purchase of an appropriate "SIM" card for your phone from another carrier.
    The Treo 680's system for mounting and using SIM cards, by the way, shows a fair amount of promise: the holder is secure and unlikely to see the kind of card displacement I've observed in other phones.
    Palm has also updated the placement of a SecureDigital or SD card for added memory. It's now behind a tiny door on the side of the phone, making it far less likely to fall out or become lost. This one change helps elevate the new phone to a higher plane; keeping such cards in place can be very important.
    The Treo 680 also comes in four colors, probably for the fashion conscious, according to the www.palm.com/us Web site, where data about the phone can be obtained.
    Right now, Cingular Wireless is offering the device for $199, depending on service plan selected. An "unlocked" version of the phone -- meaning you don't have to sign up for a new service deal, is $399.
    What else is there to like about the phone? In my book, a lot: It retains the ease of use and more-than-decent keypad of the earlier Treo phones.
    Palm's operating software is, in my view, a superior mobile phone platform to Windows Mobile, and the Treo 680's use of the Palm OS offers users a phone that's easy to learn, and easy to keep using. There have been a few tweaks to the interface, all of which make using the phone less taxing.
    A voice-dialing option remains available, and the Bluetooth connection can work with a hands-free device to make calling while driving a bit easier and safer.
    The 320- by 320-pixel TFT display screen is bright and easy to read, even outdoors. Sound quality is impressive, and if you plug in the right headphones, your multimedia will come out in stereo, as will happen when you dock the Treo 680 with the Altec Lansing InMotion mobile speaker system, sold separately.

 The camera is described as being "VGA" in quality, but the images I took were in resolutions of 72 dots-per-inch and thus suitable for a Web page more than a magazine page.
    However, if I had to document a car accident, or show someone a ceiling fan at Home Depot, I suppose it would be more than adequate.
    In short, there's very little not to like with the Treo 680, especially because it costs $100 less than the 650 with more memory, a better (if not perfect) camera, and no "stub." Would I want one as a holiday gift?
    You bet!
    Read Mark Kellner's Technology blog at www.washingtontimes.com/blogs.

Iambic working on Agendus for Windows Mobile

I found this over at Palm Addicts.

They did a good job with the Palm versions lets see what they do with Windows Mobile.

I'm pleased to announce that Agendus will soon be available for the Windows Mobile platform, which is why you now see a brand new forums section, with a couple of subforums, this "beta program" being one of them.

Given the increasing popularity of Windows Mobile powered devices, given the requests from users we have been receiving in the past few months, we just couldn't resist to the temptation of having some fun (well -- for the most part at least ) with the latest development toys from Microsoft and put together a brand new version of Agendus.

http://support.iambic.com/forum/showthread.php?p=94474#post94474

NYT Markoff: Web 3.0 = AI + Web 2.0

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NYT Markoff: Web 3.0 = AI + Web 2.0

By Tim Finin on Saturday, November 11th, 2006 at 9:31 pm.

NYT reporter John Markoff has a story in tomorrow’s Times on Web 3.0, envisioned as the infusion of AI techniques and capabilities into the current Web. In Entrepreneurs See a Web Guided by Common Sense, he discusses attempts to make Web applications and services smarter:

From the billions of documents that form the World Wide Web and the links that weave them together, computer scientists and a growing collection of start-up companies are finding new ways to mine human intelligence. Their goal is to add a layer of meaning on top of the existing Web that would make it less of a catalog and more of a guide — and even provide the foundation for systems that can reason in a human fashion. That level of artificial intelligence, with machines doing the thinking instead of simply following commands, has eluded researchers for more than half a century.

The Blue Pill

Would Blue Pill create a matrix for PCs?

By Bill Brenner 30 Jun 2006 | SearchSecurity.com

Those who've seen "The Matrix" know the scene where Laurence Fishburne's character Morpheus offers Keanu Reeves' Neo a choice between two pills, one red and the other blue. Morpheus explains the blue pill will allow Neo to wake up in his bed and believe whatever he wants, while the red one will let him "stay in Wonderland and see how deep the rabbit-hole goes" -- in other words, to learn the truth about the Matrix.

In the real world, Joanna Rutkowska, a security researcher for Singapore-based IT security firm COSEINC, claims to have developed a blue pill of sorts that will create an equally fake reality for anti-malware sensors, including those baked into Microsoft's upcoming Windows Vista operating system.

She describes it in detail in her Invisible Things blog, and plans to show how it works at a couple upcoming security conferences, including the Black Hat Briefings in Las Vegas Aug. 3.

In the blog she writes: "Imagine a malware whose capabilities to remain undetectable do not rely on obscurity of the concept, malware which could not be detected even though its algorithm (concept) is publicly known. Let's go further and imagine that even its code could be made public, but still there would be no way for detecting that this creature is running on our machines..."

Rutkowska said she's been working on just such a creature over the past few months, and has code-named it Blue Pill. She claims it to be 100% undetectable malware that's not based on an obscure concept.

The idea behind Blue Pill is simple, she said. The operating system "swallows" the Blue Pill and it awakes inside a Matrix controlled by the "ultra thin Blue Pill hypervisor." This all happens without restarting the system.

"There is no performance penalty and all the devices, like graphics card, are fully accessible to the operating system, which is now executing inside [the] virtual machine," she said. "This is all possible thanks to the latest virtualization technology from AMD called SVM/Pacifica."

To some observers, this may sound a lot like the SubVirt rootkit researchers from Microsoft and the University of Michigan outlined in a recent (.pdf) paper. But Rutkowska says there are some key differences:

SubVirt is a permanent (restart surviving) rootkit, but unlike Blue Pill, it can't be installed without a reboot. SubVirt must also introduce some modifications to the hard disk, which allows for off-line detection, she said. SubVirt was implemented on x86 hardware, which doesn't allow it to achieve 100% virtualization. Blue Pill can go fully virtual because the AMD SVM technology it's based on allows for it. SubVirt is based on the Virtual PC and/or VMWare applications. Both of these applications create virtual devices to be used by the operating system, which are different from the real underlying hardware. This allows for easy detection. Rutkowska says she's cooked up a working prototype for Vista x64, but she sees no reason why it shouldn't be possible to port it to other operating systems like Linux or BSD, which can be run on a x64 platform. Her first demonstration will be at the July Symposium on Security for Asia Networks (SyScan) in Singapore, followed by Black Hat in August. Her Black Hat presentation is cheerfully called "Subverting Vista Kernel for Fun and Profit," according to the Black Hat Web site. Not everyone in the blogosphere is interested in taking this trip down the rabbit hole. Some dismiss the notion that this Matrix can even be constructed. As Kurt Wismer puts it in his Anti-Virus Rants blog, "The Blue Pill is hard to swallow." He offers some technical scenarios to explain how Blue Pill probably won't dissolve into the machine as fully as Rutkowska claims, then concludes, "If undetectable virtualization technology can be used to hide the presence of malware, then equally undetectable virtualization technology preemptively deployed on the system should be able to detect the undetectable VM-based stealth malware if [and] when it is encountered."