Windows XP SP3

Microsoft have finalised the code for Windows XP SP3 last week, to be made available for download this week.

Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system, in addition to a small number of new functionalities that will not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system. This white paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3, and how to deploy the service pack.
– Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview [PDF]

Release schedule:
April 14, 2008: Support is available for the release version of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP
April 21, 2008: Released to OEM and Technet/MSDN subscribers
April 29, 2008: Manual Update (Microsoft Update, Windows Update, Download Center), but was quickly removed when compatibility issues arose.
May 06, 2008: Re-released via manual update
June 10, 2008: Automatic Update (Windows Update)

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) build 5512 was released to manufacturing on April 21, 2008, and Microsoft planned to make it available to the general public on April 29, 2008 via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. However, due to a compatibility issue with Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 was delayed.
– [Wikipedia]

The delay is because there is a “compatibility issue” between the XP SP3 and Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, a retail chain management program. Microsoft has now also removed the automatic distribution of Vista SP1 because of the same RMS bug issue.

Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit [1]
A blocking tool is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update. This tool can be used with:
* Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 ( valid through March, 2008 )
* Windows XP Service Pack 3 ( valid for 12 months following general availability )
* Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ( valid for 12 months following general availability )

As we need to perform a large amount of testing against our standard operating environment, we may find that some packages are incompatible with SP3. In this case we may need to block the distribution of SP3 via Windows Update.

The Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit is used to set or clear a specific registry key that is used to detect and block download of Service Packs from Windows Update.

Even if some sites are recommending that users should upgrade to SP3, use caution even for home systems as there may be gotcha’s lurking in the deployment that we are not yet aware of.

“Windows XP Pro SP3″ has now been added to our equipment register as a valid OS, but is official not supported by our unit or by our central IS area. Let the testing begin

[1] Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit [MS]
[2] Windows XP Service Pack 3 FAQ [Paul Thurrott]
[3] Windows XP Service Pack 3 Resources for IT Professionals [MS Technet]
[4] Microsoft releases the long-anticipated Windows XP SP3 (updated) (2008-Apr-29) [ARS Technica]

This weeks links (2008-04-28)

Orson Scott Card on the Harry Potter Lexicon
Orson Scott Card writes about the J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter Lexicon debacle.
Can you believe that J.K. Rowling is suing a small publisher because she claims their 10,000-copy edition of The Harry Potter Lexicon, a book about Rowling’s hugely successful novel series, is just a “rearrangement” of her own material.
Yes, I think J.K should have a nice hot cup of tea and look at the many fair-use lexicons that exist in the Sc-Fi and Fantasy genra. Better add two teaspoons of reality into the cup.
… People who hear about this suit will have a sour taste in their mouth about Rowling from now on. Her Cinderella story once charmed us. Her greedy evil-witch behavior now disgusts us. And her next book will be perceived as the work of that evil witch. …
J.K. Rowling, Lexicon and Oz (2008-Apr-24) [RhinoTimes]

Everest still suffering from the Olympic Torch relay

“The Chinese bribed the Nepalese to make the mountain a police state,” Benitez said. “I’ve been a mountaineer my whole life and I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Olympic-Torch Security Troops Block Everest Bloggers’ Climb (2008-APR-30) [WIRED]

“There is a small police post at 6400m (ed: camp 2) on Everest and the one armed soldier does the rounds each day, with conspicuous sniper rifle, however they mostly give a friendly Namaste,” is the latest report to ExWeb from Everest south side.
Everest and Himalaya wrap-up: Sniper in Everest south side camp 2 (2008-Apr-29) [MountEverest.net]

Following a young American climber last week, a BBC reporter has now been kicked out from Nepal’s side of Everest. Meanwhile, Chinese media insist that the torch arrived at the Rongbuk glacier base camp on Sunday, and climbers on the south side are now banned also from using their radios.
Everest and Himalaya wrap-up: BBC reporter kicked out from Nepal EBC; torch for Chinese eyes only; Himalaya summit bids before the storm (2008-Apr-28 ) [MountEverest.net]

Podcast Celebrity
The Age discovers Le Laporte and the TWiT network;
… Laporte is passionate about using technology and the internet as a platform. “The thing that excites me is using technology to find a voice, to be able to express yourself, which is what I’m doing,” he says. “Whether you’re a digital artist, a photographer, a musician, a filmmaker, a writer, a painter … digital technology allows you to create stuff less expensively, more easily and enables you to find a global audience using the internet. You could never do that before. Digital technology gives people a voice.” …
– Cult of the podcast celebrity (2008-Apr-26) [The Age]

fanboyism
That said, the term fanboy is thrown around all too casually, and is now on par with the word emo when it comes to having lost all meaning through erroneous overuse. If you want to be a true fanboy — and I know all of you do — then you must, of course, follow ten golden rules. The ten elegant laws that will see you rise above the pretenders and take your place in fanboy Valhalla.
– the ten golden rules of videogame fanboyism (2008-Apr-27) [destructoid]

RIAA – “SERIAL BAD FAITH”
Inside Tanya Andersen’s private war with the recording industry. Hint: She’s winning
Does She Look Like a Music Pirate? (2008-Apr-24) [Business Week] (

Dear Email Account Owner

The following email has been making the rounds over the weekend. Please note that it is another phishing exercise. You will never be asked for passwords or other sensitive information by email. Please do NOT reply to the scam email.

If you have replied to the email contact your IT support and have your password changed.

Dear *.*.au Email Account Owner,

This message is from *.*.au messaging center to all *.*.au email account owners. We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail account center. We are deleting all unused *.*.au email account to create more space for new accounts.

To prevent your account from closing you will have to update it below so that we will know that it’s a present used account.

CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL IDENTITY BELOW

Email Username :

EMAIL Password :

Address :

Department :

Attention!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or her account within ten days of receiving this Notification will lose his or her account permanently.

Thank you for using *.*.au!

Notification Code:VX2G99AAJ

Stephanie Hunter
ONLINE SERVICES

ANZAC Day 2008 – Their Service, our Heritage

“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”

We will remember them

2008-04-25 ANZAC [Flickr]

she has already gone to hospital…

she has already gone to hospital…
Hello, ****.
Listen to me carefully, i don’t know what your name is, but i’ll find you and i’ll cripple you, because this is you who tempted her!!!
She has already gone to hospital, you’re next, this is evidence:
[link removed]

Ahh the tranquil backwaters of the internet Now we see phishing via threats of physical violence.

The link opens up a window that shows a pornographic picture, but in the background the Website tries to infect you with an embedded virus.

OUR ADVICE:
It is a phishing scam, send it to the trash where it belongs!

This weeks links (2008-04-23)

What, no Macs?
More users are demanding Macs in the enterprise. Thanks to key computing shifts, supporting their appetite for Apple is now a straightforward option for IT — Why ‘no Macs’ is no longer a defensible IT strategy (2008-Apr-21) [InfoWorld]

And a few classics from the UK relating to the METs unfortunately daft campaign against photography.

“There’s a general alarm about terrorism and about paedophiles, two heady cocktails, and police and PCSOs [police community support officers] and wardens and authorities generally seem to be worried about this.“
– Innocent photographer or terrorist? (2008-Apr-17) [BBC]

And another example >>
… we were surrounded by six hostile and aggressive security guards. They then said photographing shops was illegal and this was private land. …
– radio for back up [Flickr : i didn't mean to go to Stoke]

Raiders of the lost bricks

LEGO Indiana Jones
Where Indy is up against the Nazis unidentified bad guys. Queue the music “Dum dah daaah, dum da da bum …”

Rene Belloq: You and I are very much alike. Archaeology is our religion, yet we have both fallen from the pure faith. Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am but a shadowy reflection of you. It would take only a nudge to make you like me. To push you out of the light.
Indiana Jones: Now you’re getting nasty.

Much to my son’s amazement, I received the LEGO set 7622 Indiana Jones Race for the Stolen Treasure for my birthday. I am now constantly being asked ‘when are we going to build it’

Now for some archaeology themed adventures!

Indy: Meet me at Omar’s. Be ready for me. I’m going after that truck.
Sallah: How?
Indy: I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go.

Next on the hit list is 7620 Indiana Jones Motorcycle Chase and the Lucas Arts game LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, PC/Games for Windows, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS)

Birthday Parties & Weddings Parties Anything

WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING
Corner Hotel, Richmond
Fri 18 Apr – Doors: 8.30pm

Weddings Parties Anything at the Corner, my precious. It’s our birthday and we wants it! As it says on the Mick Thomas site, tonight is Sold Out so it should be pretty crowded.

Weds 16th, Thurs 17th, Fri 18th & Sat 19th April SOLD OUT
**5TH & UTTERLY FINAL SHOW ADDED Sun 20th April
early matinee show / children friendly (kids free entry)
BBQ on the rooftop before doors open at 2:30pm
Dan Warner & band 3pm, Ron Hawkins 3:45pm, WPA on-stage 5pm
WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING
with special guest Ron Hawkins (Canada) & Dan Warner & band
THE CORNER HOTEL
57 Swan St, Richmond, VIC

Weddings Parties Anything – Live at the Corner

CORNER HOTEL LIVE BOOTLEG
BOUGHT TO YOU BY NEW FOUND FREQUENCY
WPA’s triumphant return to the Australian music limelight will come to a close with an unprecedented series of shows at The Corner Hotel in Richmond. History will be made with our four night residence and New Found Frequency will be there too. That’s right, WPA is pleased to announce that they will be creating an exclusive *Artist Controlled Bootleg of the April 16th show. For those of you attending on the 16th, NFF will record and instantly deliver a recorded ‘bootleg’ CD immediately after the show. Those of you going to another night, they’ll be there too, selling this limited edition CD all nights of our unprecedented stand at The Corner.
This will be a single disc comprising of 70+ minutes of audio (encore may be omitted). The first 1,000 pre-sales will be signed by the band themselves so get yours early!

Space Invaders

Earlier this week I happened to see this amazing little guy while walking to purchase some network cables.

Merriweather of the Derringdos posted about Cologne Space Invader which started a mini investigation to see if this is a “real” Invader mosaic.

This one is at the base of a doorway in Carlton, Melbourne Australia, and does appear to be an Invader work. Now to find some more

[1] space invaders invade the world >>> the story of an invasion by an anonymous artist called space invader [space invaders]
make sure that you view the source HTML of the home page!
[2] Space-Invaders Photo Pool [Flickr]
[3] Invader (artist) [Wikipedia]
[4] When Mario meets Mozart (2008-Feb-07) [The Age]

Google Earth 4.3

On the Google Earth team, we’re big fans of Earth Day, so much so that we couldn’t hold out until it arrives next week to release our latest labor of love: Google Earth 4.3. With this version, we have completely rethought how you might interact with the 3D world. We’ve redesigned the navigation to make it much easier to fly from the heavens down to the streets of your town. And with all of the great user-created buildings in the 3D Warehouse, we wanted to make it easy for you to get right up close to see the rich detail. — (2008-Apr-16) GoogleBlog

New! in Google Earth 4.3 (beta)
* Photo-realistic buildings from cities around the world
* Dawn to dusk views with the Sunlight feature
* Swoop navigation from outer space to street-level

On the Google LatLong Blog in the post Introducing Google Earth 4.3, Peter Birch goes into a lot more detail of the new features.

Changed navigation controls

NOTE: Google Earth 4.3 is still a beta

[1] A whole new world to explore (2008-Apr-16) [GoogleBlog]
[2] Introducing Google Earth 4.3 (2008-Apr-16) [Google LatLong Blog]
[3] Watch the Sunset From Google Earth 4.3 (2008-Apr-16) [Wired]
[4] Google Earth 4.3 Offers a Number of New Features (2008-Apr-17) [SlashDot]
[5] Swoop from space to the streets in Google Earth 4.3 (2008-Apr-16) [Google LatLong Blog]
[6] Touch down on the Earth’s surface with Street View (2008-Apr-16) [Google LatLong Blog]
[7] 3D buildings galore (2008-Apr-16) [Google LatLong Blog]