Highdef DVD format wars, free Exchange (and Doom on your iPod)

The HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray format war continues with HD DVD delayed and Blu-Ray adopting "improved" encryption (BD+ and ROM-Mark). The HD DVD fans hit back, alleging that the new encryption scheme would be Blu-Ray's downfall. Here's what bloggers are saying...

Ars has a good summary:

In the battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray, HD DVD proponents have been counting on a Holiday 2005 launch to get a leg up on Sony, whose Blu-ray spec isn't expected to materialize before mid-2006. Now, however, it looks like the launch will be less of a coup than expected. Dare I say it, but I think Blu-ray has HD DVD on the ropes.

Charles van Dyke has his own summary and an out-of-the-box angle:

It would seem that the product delay will end up benefiting the consumer, for once, as they will end up with the two technologies competing head-to-head on their merits rather than having an inferior product shoveled down their throats by a marketing department because it "got there first". Good times.

Ed Felten points out possible flaws:

Systems of this sort have always failed in the past, because it has always proved possible to make an exact copy of a licensed disc. [BD+] will inevitably add to the cost, complexity, and fragility of Blu-Ray players. Trying to do this raises some nasty technical issues that may not be solvable. Content will be copied regardless of what they try to do, and the main effect of these technologies will be to make player devices more expensive and less reliable, and to limit entry to the market for the devices. To law-abiding consumers, [this] means more expensive, less capable technologies.

Rob Yannetta worries that this cedes all control to the RIAA and the MPAA:

Am I the only one that finds this disturbing? Isn't this a violation of fair use? Will the public buy a player with BD+ in it?

Bill Roehl worries about talk of a "self destruct" mechanism:

That's stepping a little too far over the bounds of protecting your content. If you destroy my hardware you have invaded my private space which is unacceptable.

To which Tom Grimley rejoinders:

Even worse: what about when hackers can start sending these self destruct packets themselves. Imagine how pissed you'd be when someone "destroys" your DVD player!

"MegaZone" simply calls it:

FUD wrestling.

Free-as-in-beer Exchange alternative offered in Scalix's Community Edition. Scalix has pared down its commercial email/collaboration Linux product, producing a free option...

Michael Sampson summarizes:

Scalix Corporation released the Scalix Community Edition, a free, unlimited use edition of its email and calendaring software for Linux. Available to any organization, and includes the Scalix Server, Scalix Web Access, and support for POP/IMAP clients. It also offers five Scalix Enterprise Edition licenses, and a seamless upgrade path to the Enterprise Edition, which adds native full-function Outlook support, group scheduling, public folders and wireless email and PIM, among others. Available immediately.

Ivan Pavlov muses on whom this might be suitable for:

Organizations commonly have diverse populations of users, often large in numbers, many with roles that lend themselves to less frequent email use than the typical knowledge worker. Examples include commercial industries with large labor workforces, such as retail and manufacturing, academia where the email requirements for students can vary widely from those of faculty and staff, and government agencies among others.

Jan Beilicke points out that the Scalix Web Access client uses an AJAX architecture (like Gmail).

Buffer overflow:

• Glitch hits MS patch Tuesday
• Do companies really not report online attacks?
• Keeping your IT team at full-speed ahead performance
• Anti-Microsoft group wants Microsoft to scrap Vista
• How can a company get access to Windows Error Reporting data?
• US government funds VoIP tapping
• Thinking about Apple's Rosetta in light of Transmeta
• Anecdotal cameraphone identity thieves in the news again
• Download sizes and disk images
• Apple, the enterprise and roadmaps
• Gentoo LiveCD and installer
• Omigod, it's Y65!
• Quest for a decent keyboard

And finally... Got iPod? Got Doom?

Richi Jennings is an independent technology and marketing consultant, specializing in email, blogging, Linux, and computer security. A 20 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. Contact Richi at blogwatch@richi.co.uk.