For Microsoft UI lovers, a taste of freedom:


Zorin OS 15 nods at Ubuntu and welcomes Windows escapees

Fit and finish, spit and polish, and Zorin Connect make the leap from 12 to 15

While Microsoft may be shoehorning the Linux kernel into Windows 10, veteran Linux flinger Zorin has applied some buffing to its Windows-like distro...




And yes, you can even pay money for it!


IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Some of the latest How to info for managing Windows 10 and others, updates.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3400953/save-yourself-a-headache-make-sure-windows-automatic-update-is-off.html

It has specific steps for Windows 10 Pro. I haven't made it through the Windows 10 Home part though. Since I have Win10 Pro I guess I am not motivated.

Tom

---

A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association).

Some of the latest How to info for managing Windows 10 and others, updates.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3400953/save-yourself-a-headache-make-sure-windows-automatic-update-is-off.html

It has specific steps for Windows 10 Pro. I haven't made it through the Windows 10 Home part though. Since I have Win10 Pro I guess I am not motivated.

Tom

Thanks for this, Tom! 😀 Just made the Win 10 Pro changes per the article on dad's two Systems. (One Desktop, one Laptop.)

NO 1903 hitting here for awhile! (Both Systems on 1809.)


TL

---

TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join Calm Chaos

Some of the latest How to info for managing Windows 10 and others, updates.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3400953/save-yourself-a-headache-make-sure-windows-automatic-update-is-off.html

It has specific steps for Windows 10 Pro. I haven't made it through the Windows 10 Home part though. Since I have Win10 Pro I guess I am not motivated.

Tom

Hi Tom,

That article is outdated even though it was written yesterday. I have been following those procedures since 1803. I did have a problem, some time ago, where an update kept breaking the File Explorer, but that seems to be fixed now. I am on 1809 now. And I never, ever, ever, ever click "Check for updates". I have used Micro$oft's Media Creation Tool to create a 1903 bootable USB stick. But until I get the update to go to 1903, I'm staying on 1809.

I have updates set so that I get notified that there are updates, but Windows does NOT download and install until I give the word to do so. ;) I have somewhat, some control over updates now. They will get installed, that's mandatory, but not until I say so and NOT when Micro$oft says so. ;)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

---

CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

And... Wait for it...

It's... The week of...


The Microsoft Patch Tuesday!


Read on for the new goodness (graciousness) unfurled for you all:

It is with a heavy heart that we must report that your software has bugs and needs patching: Microsoft, Adobe, SAP, Intel emit security fixes

And Google drops a zero-day on Windows after deadline miss

... Users and admins are encouraged to test and install the updates as soon as humanly possible.

For those running Windows and Windows Server, you'll be interested in as many as 88 CVE-listed flaws that need addressing in Microsoft's products...

... There are also patches for critical remote code execution bugs in Edge and Internet Explorer, a Patch Tuesday staple. A dirty dozen ... used by Edge and IE. Each bug can be potentially abused by miscreants to execute code on a vulnerable machine simply by having the user view a poisoned webpage.

Also catching the eye of security experts is CVE-2019-0941, a denial-of-service vulnerability in Microsoft's IIS web server...

... Speaking of annoying denial-of-service bugs... Google Project Zero has released a proof-of-concept security certificate that when processed by Windows will cause the code to go into an infinite loop, requiring a reboot in certain circumstances. No patch exists for it right now...

All never ending? Never receding?? Never reducing? Forever??

Reminds me of an old Fortune quote from long ago:

Microsoft DNS service terminates abnormally when it recieves a response
to a DNS query that was never made.  Fix Information: Run your DNS
service on a different platform.
        -- BugTraq

Live long and prosper! (Some in the IT world will be busy with that little lot...)

IT is what we allow it to be...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

... Reminds me of an old Fortune quote from long ago:

Microsoft DNS service terminates abnormally when it recieves a response
to a DNS query that was never made.  Fix Information: Run your DNS
service on a different platform.
        -- BugTraq

Perhaps that should be updated to the new Microsoft Windows 10 of:

Microsoft academic concessionary charges terminates arbitrarily.
Greatly increased licensing charges ensue.  Fix Information: Run your
services on a different platform.
        -- BugTraq

We have in progress:

CERN Is Working To Move Further Away From Microsoft Due To License Costs Going Up By 10x

... Due to Microsoft license fee increases affecting their work in the research laboratory and its budget, they established the Microsoft Alternatives "MAlt" project...



Should not CERN be charging Microsoft extortionate fees in return for the Microsoft commercial use of the CERN's invention of The Internet and other technologies that Microsoft freely (ab)uses?...

Windows 10 at 10x the price?...

Unbelievable! And CERN is one very advanced organization not to be trifled with...



Live long and prosper!

IT is what we allow it to be...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Hi Martin,

CERN Is Working To Move Further Away From Microsoft Due To License Costs Going Up By 10x

Yeah, like Micro$oft doesn't have enough money already, greedy slobs. lol ;)

Have a great day! :)

Siran

---

CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

Hi Martin,

CERN Is Working To Move Further Away From Microsoft Due To License Costs Going Up By 10x

Yeah, like Micro$oft doesn't have enough money already, greedy slobs. lol ;)

Or has CERN been steadily moving away from Windows already and the 10x pricing is a kick in their teeth and a last gasp money grab?...

Or an 'incentivisation' to others working away from Microsoft lock-in?

Or all just a strange game of Marketing?


All just my personal uneducated guesses as always...

IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Last time CERN faced a similar problem gave to the world the web protocol, which has the immense effect on our lives we all know.
In many ways, also BOINC is a result of this effort and relies on the same set of principles and commands.

I hope, but I also believe, that this steer away from MS by CERN will produce a new set of software that eventually will permeate also the lives of people outside CERN.
CERN has very big demands in all kind of software, from office, to cooperative, to graphic/CAD. Of course also scientific software, but that is another ball game and may involve less the layman.
And they have the highly skilled personnel resources to do anything just pushing a bit the accelerator in that direction.

So, fingers crossed, let's hope that someone at CERN not only produces good software, but also has the genius to cause another big wave in the IT world.

Since CERN ran a lot of programs on Scientific Linux and that is now deprecated and EOL, they are going to put a lot of development into CentOS for operating systems.
The reason for the price increase is Micro$oft has proclaimed that CERN is no longer an education institution and has lost the education license cost reduction.

---

Seti@Home classic workunits:20,676 CPU time:74,226 hours

A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association)

Roll up, roll up, to the all new Windows 10, including a Linux kernel in there:


Halleluja! The Second Coming of Windows Subsystem For Linux blesses Insider faithful

Microsoft has given its army of unpaid testers some Linux loving with the latest build of next year's Windows 10.

Build 18917 arrived overnight with improvements to the narrator and options to stop the thing "optimising" the life out of a user's bandwidth during delivery.

However, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2 is the highlight of the release.

WSL 2 does what would be unthinkable a few short years ago and drops a Linux kernel into the Windows OS – a tweaked version of 4.19 to be precise. The result is something that enjoys full system call compatibility, according to Microsoft, and considerably snappier file performance inside Linux...



Microsoft Borg or a Trojan Penguin?...

IT is what we make it!...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

The reason for the price increase is Micro$oft has proclaimed that CERN is no longer an education institution and has lost the education license cost reduction.

There had to be a rational reason for such a large jump. Guess you have to teach classes.

The reason for the price increase is Micro$oft has proclaimed that CERN is no longer an education institution and has lost the education license cost reduction.

There had to be a rational reason for such a large jump. Guess you have to teach classes.

CERN is a phenomenal teaching establishment. Speaking to some of the leading people there, I was very impressed for their emphasis on developing excellence in research (and development) by their academic teaching and training and research for thousands of scientists/researchers. They showed a beautiful enthusiasm for truly investing in the people going through CERN.

Personally, all I can say is that the Microsoft Marketing categorization for them as "non-Educational" is astronomically perverse...

But also, that is similarly perversely good for moving more quickly into the much richer and reliable world of FLOSS, all for the users as opposed to further fattening the greedy fat cats.


IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Microsoft is poised again to take over your keyboard:


Microsoft Testing New Office Key

Microsoft appears to be testing out a new “Office key” on their in-house keyboards. This new key sports the Office logo and seems to replace the existing Menu key - the often overlooked key nestled between the Function and Alt keys...



Useful? Or merely yet more intrusive 'clever' Marketing?

(Last time I used such a key was for calling up and navigating the Windows menus for Windows 95! Quicker to use the keyboard than to grab the mouse!!)

Cue new after-sales market for LibreOffice key stickers? ;-) :-)


IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Microsoft rediscovers (or redefines?) the...

Terminal:


Microsoft Releases First Preview Of Windows Terminal

... Windows Terminal, announced back at Build 2019 in May, is a Linux inspired terminal for Windows 10. The Windows Terminal adds support for tabs, user customizations, and even support for emojis. It's a really major rework to enhance the experience compared to what is presently available with Command Prompt or PowerShell and really aims to inch it closer to feature parity with the many Linux terminals...



Curiouser and yet more curious still?...

IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

What is the use of emojis in the terminal? So you can flip the bird when you make typos in your command?

---

What is the use of emojis in the terminal? ...

They're essential for the "Twitterati" ;-)

For myself, I have a smiley face for my command prompt that goes to a frownie for any failed commands. That acts as a very good indicator for what to pick-up/catch.

Also, the emojis are useful for emailing via the terminal display (and sometimes faster than doing the pointy-clicky stuff).


Each to their own, it is good to have a good choice.

IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

...I was hoping that MS (or somebody else) had produced a suitable "M$ go away" command that required the use for several well known emojis.....

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

The Death of Windows 10 (on phones, and the final death of the old Microsoft PBX service):


You should really get an Android or iPhone, says Microsoft: No more app updates for Windows Phone 8.x holdouts

Another milestone was reached today in the long, drawn-out death of Windows Phone: Microsoft has stopped distributing app updates to the dozen or so Windows Phone 8.x devices not already consigned to the recyclers...

... The death throes of Microsoft's mobile phone strategy have a while to run yet. Updates can still be distributed for apps with Windows 8.x packages aimed at Windows 10 devices...

... As for Windows 10 Mobile itself, support for 1703 (found on the Lumia 640 and 640XL models) ran out on 11 June and the final supported version 1709 will see no more fixes, security or otherwise, from 10 December...



All has come to pass?

IT is what we make it...
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Microsoft surreptitiously adds telemetry functionality to July 2019 Win7 Security-only patch

Unannounced, Microsoft has added telemetry functionality to the July 2019 Security-only Update for Windows 7 KB4507456. Alerted on Patch Tuesday by an anonymous poster:

Warning for group B Windows 7 users!

The “July 9, 2019—KB4507456 (Security-only update)” is NOT “security-only” update.

It replaces infamous KB2952664 and contains telemetry. Some details can be found in file information for update 4507456 (keywords: “telemetry”, “diagtrack” and “appraiser”) and under http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/ScopedViewInline.aspx?updateid=7cdee6a8-6f30-423e-b02c-3453e14e3a6e (in “Package details”->”This update replaces the following updates” and there is KB2952664 listed).

It doesn’t apply for IA-64-based systems, but applies both x64 and x86-based systems.

Microsoft included the KB2952664 functionality (known as the “Compatibility Appraiser”) in the Security Quality Monthly Rollups for Windows 7 back in September 2018. The move was announced by Microsoft ahead of time.

With the July 2019-07 Security Only Quality Update KB4507456, Microsoft has slipped this functionality into a security-only patch without any warning, thus adding the “Compatibility Appraiser” and its scheduled tasks (telemetry) to the update. The package details for KB4507456 say it replaces KB2952664 (among other updates).

Come on Microsoft. This is not a security-only update. How do you justify this sneaky behavior? Where is the transparency now.

Susan, we need your Pinocchio with a loooooong nose.

Update: Details at Computerworld

If you installed it already:

Windows guru @abbodi86 has looked at the internals of the patch and concludes:

Disabling (or deleting) these schedule tasks after installation (before reboot) should be enough to turn off the appraiser

\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater
\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser
\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\AitAgent

but it’s best to wait until next month to see if the Security-only update comes clean

Edit: that's it, I have disabled Windows Update to check for new updates any further. The system next to my TV is going to be discontinued at the end of the year anyway, while my present gaming system is going to replace it, with me having a new Ryzen based system to play with. The latter will have my dreaded Win10 plus some nice Linux version, the TV system can do with a Win7 version until it falls to dust. It's to stream stuff from the NAS mostly as well as play Youtube and Netflix videos, not much more. No need for heavy security.

---