There are people with legitimate need to run Windows Server (like the boss will fire you if you don’t). Today Microsoft released Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). It offers increased security. You should certainly peddle right over to MS and get a copy if you are running their server software. They expect to shortly release a similiar update for their small business server as well.

A couple of articles in the Register and Cnet claim that iPods are targets for bandits in muggings. It wasn’t that long ago that a pair of Jordon shoes (okay I guess it was a while ago) or a Starter Jacket marked you as a target for thiefs. I guess it makes sense that an iPod might be next. What is interesting that two articles from opposite sides of the world “coincidentally” note the same thing. I am wondering, is is a coincidence, or a scare tactic from some unknown source to discourage use of iPods?

Me thinks me smells a rat.

Security Focus has a nice two part article on tracking a hacker (family member or employee) on your system. It shows how you can use some readily available tools to search internet browser caches.

I must be as good as this guy … or at least a tenth as good. Cnet reports that incoming CEO at HP, Mark Hurd, will draw a $2,000,000 signing bonus and $1,400,000 annually plus stock options. He isn’t alone in making such amazing amounts of money, but what makes one person that valuable? The last CEO did pretty well for herself as well, despite nearly crashing the company into the side of the proverbial mountain.

This guy has been around for a while of course. Back in 1998, then Vice President of Marketing for NCR’s Computer Systems Group, Hurd said, “As a leading provider of enterprise solutions to customers with mission-critical computing needs, NCR is always looking for new ways to improve the reliability and manageability of the business solutions we sell.” Does that actuallyl mean anything? Maybe the problem is that I say things that make sense. I should try changing that as it apparently works because he later became the CEO at NCR.

Here is what he now says about NCR:
“I’m very proud of what NCR has achieved during my tenure as CEO and I’m confident that with the company’s leading technologies and attractive markets, coupled with the management team’s focus on execution, the momentum will continue.” Okay Mark, congratulations on the new job, and may the confusing sentences be with you! We’ll be focusing on execution now too, thanks for clueing us in.

Microsoft is further investing in the to-go video market to support the Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Center. For $20 a year for a premium membership, you get content from many big name partners including Fox Network, MSNBC and so forth. Because these sources already underwrite the cost of production, they can afford to fill this market with content. It will be interesting to see how to-go videos, podcasts, and other items like this that give people alternatives to reading a magazine or the paper on their commute or wait time.

Toshiba has announced a new lithium-ion battery that will recharge in minutes as detailed in this story. Now there is something I could use. Everything I have takes longer to recharge than discharge, with the possible exception of my Dewalt Power Tool batteries when put to certain uses, like drilling that are start and stop in nature. The initial uses will be industrial and automotive, but I want something like this for my laptop. Come on, Toshiba is making the thing — why not for laptops? My kid has a little car he charges in seconds and it zips around for another five or ten minutes. Micro-remotes I think it they are called. I hope the same concept soon arrives on my laptop’s doorstep.

Our site has been suffering from what appears to be a mild DOS attack over the last few days and that may have caused it to be slow to respond and in some cases not to respond at all for brief periods. We apologize for the problem and we are doing everything we can to rectify the issue in a timely manner.