Posted 10:10 AM (0) comments

Is that a server in your pocket?

USB devices (those 'storage on your keychain' tools, like the iDuck) are now being touted as Personal servers which allow users to carry around all of their applications, services and data with them. No more remote connection to the network. One of the biggest drivers for this is, surprisingly, security. While you might think that USB storage would be a security nightmare, some of the devices (the more secure ones) check untrusted systems for malicious code such as key loggers, and when the user is finished working, leave no trace on the system. No need to lug a laptop around, or put up with tiny keyboards and screens on palm-sized devices. Just carry everything on your keychain and plug in to a public terminal when you need to work.

Posted 3:18 PM (0) comments

Dumb and Dumber

Dell VP (and CEO-in-waiting) Kevin Rollins showed why he's the perfect person to succeed Michael Dell when he told the San Francisco Chronicle that competitor HP was purposely losing money on every PC it sold so that it can stick consumers with the bill for printer cartridge replacements and refills. Now, I could understand if he said they were, in essence, giving away printers for that reason. Its called the "Gillette strategy", named for King Gilette the man who gave away razors in order to sell disposable razor blades. While no one has ever been as successful at it as Gillette, others are still trying (look at Swiffer and others in the cleaning lines as an example).

Last I looked, though, PC's didn't need ink cartridges. So either Carly Fiorina is dumb to sell PCs below cost in the hope of stimulating cartridge sales, or Mr. Rollins doesn't understand the technology of printers or computers. Which puts him on par with his boss.

Posted 11:57 AM (2) comments

But Who Read It?

"You Sent It, But Did They Read It?" is the mantra of DidTheyReadIt.com, who promise to be able to tell you when, where and for how long a recipient is reading your email. They don't actually mention how they do this, but it isn't that difficult to figure out. Lot's of spammers (and crackers) use what are called "web bugs" as a way of tracking by whom and when a bit of email is read. Its a tool well known to the sleazy.

The folks behind didtheyreadit.com are Rampell Software, LLC, whose other products allow you to spy on remote computers, log keyboard activity on computers and generally become just as sleazy as they are. Here's the outfit all those folks up-in-arms about Gmail should be going after - sleazy people who read your email and track its receipt. Not only should you avoid this bunch, you should work actively to get them shut down and run out of town before they compromise your identity, privacy and security.