My first thought about Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser saying the half the music on iPod is stolen, is "you're just jealous." Honestly, as the link below suggests, many people HAVE downloaded "stolen" music, but many of them have a lot of their own music they have ripped for iPod play. Steve Ballmer allegedly echoed Glaser's sentiments by stating that "The most common format of music on an iPod is 'stolen'." May I remind both Rob and Steve that *IF* they had a decent iPod killer, there would also be "stolen" music on their players. It has nothing to do with the iPod. The problem really lies in the shift of a MAJOR music paradigm. It is mostly a matter of format. People generally rip their own albums because they want the ultra-mobility, style, and easy listening that the iPod offers. The fact that Apple has sold so many songs means that something is working. Just because the average is 25 songs to an iPod purchased legally, doesn't mean that many people still don't have an iPod, and simply buy songs for listening on their PC or Mac. This is another case of a CEO spouting off without doing his research or having the gusto to back up what he says, perhaps in the form of a REAL music store or a REAL mp3 playing device. Until then, I don't want to hear about it. Stolen music is a bigger problem than just iPod users. I thought everyone knew that by now.

Cnet features Microsoft executive Michala Alexander talking about piracy and why people do it. Alexander states that, "it's just because people want what they can get for the cheapest price." While I understand this view and agree with the observation of human nature, I think the deeper issue is that software companies still cause a lot of piracy, because they haven't figured out what customers need. I know many people who bought a computer, then one day, inexplicably, their computer crashes. What do they do? They find the nearest guru, and ask for help. He gives them a copy of the operating system (that they didn't get when they bought the computer) to fix their computer. It may not be right, but is it fair to NOT give customers a copy of THEIR operating system THEY bought pre-installed? This is near-sighted and stingy of software companies. Most people in this situation would be fine if they could just get their computer back, yet no provision is made for them when the system crashes.  I know this isn't all of the piracy going on, but this is the portion that I have witnessed. In this way, software companies are pirating their own software.

Product naming at Microsoft has gotten so bad that even their fans are getting frustrated. Robert McLaws, a well-known developer and writer relates his frustration at Microsoft's product naming fiascos, as does the very prolific and well-respected Ed Bott, author of many books relating to Microsoft products. Others in the blogosphere are piping up all over the place to voice their displeasure.

It's gotten so bad that ever-optimistic Robert Scoble has weighed in on the subject, and quite definitely on the side of needing better product names. Interestingly, he actually got a comment on that post by David Webster, who is the guy that is ultimately responsible for Microsoft's product names. In his long and illuminating comments, David says:

Even if you're not interested in protecting the name, you still need to find a name you can safely use. This isn't a matter of "lawyers running the company".

He then goes into three paragraphs describing exactly that - the legal reasons it is problematic to choose good codenames or product names. His argument comes down to the fact that Microsoft is a large legal target, which, while true, is weak. He points to Apple's legal problems when using a codename of "Sagan" as an example of why they need to be careful.

And I think that gets right to the point. Why is Microsoft perceived as boring? Because everything they do is careful. David is right; Windows Live Mail Desktop is certainly never going to be claimed by anyone else, because the name is so godawful that nobody would should admit to having creating it.

According to an article at the New York Daily News, Microsoft has settled a class-action lawsuit in the state of New York that will allow anyone who purchased a Microsoft operating system between 1994 and 2004 in the state to be eligible for a $12 settlement, up to a maximum of 5 purchases. The crazy thing is that no proof of purchase is required to take advantage of this settlement. As Elliott Back points out, this means that everyone in New York is eligible to claim $60 from Microsoft with no requirement of backing documentation proving they deserve the money.

I see the million new faces of Vista like a beauty pageant for operating systems. Picture if you would the Miss Vista's from each OS State: Small Business, Business, Enterprise, Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, not to mention the N editions.

Would the miss Vista from Washington please come out from behind the curtain, no seriously, just come out, we're tired of waiting. Even if you're not ready yet, sometime this year, or this decade even. If Microsoft ever gets this pageant on the road we will see what Vista has to offer the world. Honestly, to be frank, amidst the abyss of everyone yelling about Vista not being out yet, it can only be better for consumers to wait for it to be done right. One thing I have learned writing software is that you never get done, but only done enough. You have to come to a point where it is good enough. Nothing will ever be perfect, including Miss Cupertino over here. I would rather wait a little longer, even though it has been plenty long enough to wait already.

In the end, all those Vista's have different talents and strengths, and they all have different platforms they want to promote, but in the end, what they all really want is world domina...{cough} peace. World peace. I don't know about you , but I'm rooting for Miss Ultimate Vista, she is one of a kind.

So I'm a guy, and as with most guys, oh how can I put this...I consider the water-closet, or the restroom, to be my kingdom, my domain, my sanctuary. If you're a guy, or know a guy, you probably know what I'm talking about, right? Well, nothing is perfect, and there's trouble in paradise. I never have anything to read in my "kingdom." I have read all the woman and baby magazines 1000 times, and today I have simply had enough of 10 things you should do if your baby is inextricably gassy. I feel disgustingly indoctrinated and helpless against the mind-numbingness (if that's a word) of it all. I try to read my PHP5 book or other massive manuals on such things as ColdFusion, ASP.NET, MCSD, *NIX, hacking, hardware mods, and sometimes even Grey's Anatomy (the medical reference not the TV show) but the books are too heavy to hold for more than five minutes. 

Enter Origami. What if I could read e-books, watch IPTV or web video, my favorite episodes of sci-fi shows, and even surf the internet, all within the comfort of my "kingdom?" That kind of a device would make me happier than if I had that killer gaming rig I still haven't built with all these piles of cash. I mean two things I consider sacred, my kingdom and my entertainment all in one place. Now that is the 21st century in technology. The only thing I won't try on origami is most likely video-conferencing. Yeah, that's right, not pretty.

Here's my list of what would make the Origami or UMPC a major killer app for me:

1. 100GB-300GB Drive (4200-7200 RPM).
2. 1-2GB DDR Memory.
3. 2-4GHz processor.
4. 128MB nVidia GeForce4 or equivalent. (Gotta have halo)
5. Ports and slots (2 USB, SD/MMC/SM/MS, VGA/DVI, Mic, Headphones, DV, IEEE 1394, S-Video, Ethernet).
6. Wireless, Bluetooth, GPS/Sat. (perhaps the latter will also allow DirecTv reception?)
7. Digital camera for both stills and video conferencing. (pricey models will have an integrated video-camera?)
8. Prop-stand. I think this is essential because it will make so many laptop-hostile environments suddenly UMPC-friendly, for example: on a plane, places where there is no table, or no chair, small booths at a restaurant, cramped kitchen counters, narrow hall table, bathroom counter, nightstand, top of your piano, need I go on?