A new patent by Microsoft is by far, the scariest thing I have ever seen. It’s so horrible that I can’t quite wrap my head around how anybody in their right mind could have gone forward with the patent application. This patent allows for an advertising framework that draws context data for targeted advertising from new sources.
Those sources? How about:
The other source may be any number of locally available data including, but not limited to, user document files, user e-mail files, user music files, downloaded podcasts, computer settings, computer status messages (e.g. a low memory status or low printer ink)
Stop. No. Just no. This is a bad idea. Fundamentally flawed. John McBride sums up what most of us are not doubt thinking.
The patent is a fascinating exercise in advertising delivery systems. But surely that’s all it is—an exercise. No way anyone would ever actually make a thing like this. Right?
To be honest, I don’t want to gamble on the chances of whether Microsoft decides to roll this into a Windows service pack. I’ll be sticking right where I am.
Open Question: Could this patent signify a movement by Microsoft towards an ad-supported business model in much the same way as Google?
In fairness this isn't really new. Google targets adverts at you based on the content of your GMail email and I believe that Google Desktop is used to look into your documents for the same purpose (one reason why I haven't installed that under Windows or OS X). However, this is one of the main reasons why I don't use Google's products beyond search - benign or not I don't want a ton of ads.
Regardless, it is indeed correct that this is another reason to stay with a Mac for the moment.
What a creepy company but they have been known to test the waters and see public reaction before they go into it or not.
This is appalling and again shows the lack of respect they have had for their customers, I mean slave users.
And that is why I enjoy my computing in a 100% Microsoft free environment.
They wouldn't need to do any of this themselves; they could just sue any spammers that are found and try to get their money. Of course, if the patent ever got approved, any spammer could easily prove prior work, provided they survive the legal onslaught.
Another reason I don't feel bad for using a downloaded copy of XP.
I think this is great! Because Microsoft has an enforcable patent, NO ONE ELSE can do this!!! OS X, Linux, Solaris, etc. can not do this (even if they wanted to)... and this applies whether MS chooses to use their patent or not. I love it!!!
Getting along quite fine with NeoOffice.