Logical Eccentricity

On Monday, Microsoft unveiled a new program aimed at preventing
pirated copies of Windows XP from updating. Hackers have developed a
simple hack which turns off the trigger for the key check, allowing
users to get around the requirement to verify their serial number
before using Windows Update. This really doesn’t do much, because
Windows Updates were available, and continue to remain available for
all users through the automatic updater, even if they have an illegal
version.

According to NASA, the space shuttles are grounded once again. After
spending $1 billion to correct the problem of falling debris from the
external fuel tank, it happened again. A 3 foot piece of foam fell from
the external fuel tank at take-off, thankfully it missed the shuttle
and there appears to be no damage at the moment. Early this morning the
shuttle docked with the International Space Station, the shuttle will
continue on its mission, and land as scheduled. However, the next
launch will certainly be delayed until the problem can be corrected.
Furthermore, it is unclear how this will impact President Bush’s plans
to send a manned mission to Mars.

Microsoft released Beta 1 of Vista, the new version of Windows
previously code-named Longhorn, today. This beta version contains many
of the behind the scenes technologies, but not the visual user
interface that is slatted to ship in the final version. This beta is
geared towards IT developers, and people that can give feedback about
major bugs in the system. This feedback will be incorporated into in
Beta 2, scheduled for release later this year. The final version of
Vista is scheduled for release in 2006.

Space Shuttle Discovery successfully reached orbit this morning,
marking the first mission to fly since the loss of Shuttle Columbia and
the STS-107 crew on Feb. 1, 2003. The mission has several objectives.
They crew will demonstrate new methods of inspecting and repairing the
Shuttle’s thermal protection system. They will deliver supplies to
the International Space Station, and perform three spacewalks.
Discovery and its crew are scheduled to return to Earth on Aug. 7.

Microsoft released more information about their next-generation
console on Thursday. They confirmed more than 25 launch titles,
including Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, Quake 4, and Dead
or Alive 4. Regarding backwards compatibility, Microsoft plans to make
best-selling game compatible, and work down a list of the best-sellers.
Currently, no price and launch date have been announced, other than the
console will be on shelves for Christmas around the world.

Microsoft will benefit as the first mover for the next-generation
consoles, but a report by Strategy Analytics suggests that Sony’s
PlayStation 3 will win 61 per cent of the next-generation console
market by 2012. If Microsoft cuts the price of the Xbox 360 at the same
time Sony releases the PS3, and Bungie releases Halo 3, Microsoft could
deal a huge blow to Sony, allowing Microsoft to possibly “win” this
console war.