Windows RPC Update
Once again Microsoft has had to patch their previous Windows RPC (Remote
Procedure Call) update.
href="http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-026.asp"
target="_secure1">MS03-026 has been superseded by
href="http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-039.asp"
target="_secure1">MS03-039 issued September 10, 2003. The new patch
resolves the existing RPC/Port 135 vulnerability, as well as the RPCSS
Service dealing with RPC messages for DCOM activation. The latter can
allow arbitrary code execution as well as cause denial of service
attacks due to incorrect handling of malformed messages.
RPC is a Windows protocol used for inter-process communications that
allow program running on one computer to seamlessly access services on
another. More information on the ports used by it are
href="http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reski
t/tcpip/part4/tcpappc.asp " target="_secure1">available here.
Following on the RPC/DCOM theme, Steve Gibson's
href="http://www.www.grc.com/dcom/" target="_secure1">DCOMbobulator
(29 kB, Windows, free) helps identify, and prevent, any possible
DCOM/RPC problems. The utility tests if DCOM is enabled. And you can
choose to block it or leave it open if your company/cable Internet
network so requires. The utility can also check if Port 135 is in an
open or closed state.
Legion of the Sued
Would you believe that I have never downloaded music from the Net. OK
less lying required here. Yes, I have downloaded free MP3 files from
Amazon as well as from several (non-defunct) band sites that were (once)
offering live recordings for free. Many listeners hate live stuff. But
my ears have learned to tune out the static. Especially after listening
to live Elvis recordings. As well as the (seminal?)
href="http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/8313/discography/a_19.htm" target="_blank">Beatles Live at the Hollywood Bowl where the
female fans’ shrieks actually overwhelm John, Paul, George and
Ringo!
But I disagree with
target="_rant1">Tim Luoma on why MP3 are better than a CD
collection. I haven't managed to break any of my CDs yet. But I do lose
valuable albums with increasing regularity -- fallout of a disorganized
teen in the house. Or discover said album with multiple scratches that
cause tracks to skip. Or worse, the CD to develop a permanent stutter.
Either way a dead loss.
Yet I don't plan to rip my CDs to MP3. Without a laptop I'd only be able
to listen on the PC. Portable MP3 players don't thrill me either. So I
guess I'm not joining the legions of the sued sometime soon by the RIAA
or by their running dogs in India. Not that I help add to their coffers
as the general quality of music today isn't to my liking. Bar maybe
Elephunk by Black-Eyed Peas or
href="http://www.dobiegray.com/KRACKER.htm" target="_rant1">Drift Away
by Uncle Kracker. Or Seal's new album
href="http://www.bandbuilder.com/seal/player.php"
target="_blank">Heavenly. As well as some of the free
href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/468646/ref=m_mh_mn_d
d/104-2144487-5259107" target="_down1">Amazon music downloads are
interesting but you need to be a registered user to download any tracks.
Musical Junx!
So
target="_rant1">why should I pay for 11 songs that I don’t like and 1 good one.
Metallica's Saint Anger is a case in point that's one long fuzzy noise
from start to finish. In the olden days of vinyl, we had the seven-inch
single with 1 song track a side. Or the 10-inch aka EP (extended play)
which managed to cram in 2-3 tracks a side. There was a brief period of
madness with cassette singles and CD singles, but these just never took
off. And you can still get 12-inch singles used by DJs and Clubs.
So which is best media format and ergo the best player. With multiple
competing formats including non-backward compatible digital rights
management schemes I think MP3 and WMA are the future of audio online.
With
href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player.aspx"
target="_medpla">Windows Media Player as the winner.
Unlike its predecessors, WMP 9 isn't a resource hog except when running
visualizations. And resource use peaks at about 23 MB with the included
skin. Minimizing the player drops resource use to about 4 MB. WMP 9 also
includes almost all the audio, and video codecs you'll ever need for
digital media formats. Unfortunately precious few
href="http://www.wmplugins.com" target="_medpla">free add-ins.
However, once you have successfully registered and downloaded Windows
media files (WMA) then close runner-up
href="http://www.ultraplayer.com/" target="_medpla">Ultraplayer
seems a better playback tool. I have an ancient pair of powered speakers
dating back to 1992 with just volume and balance controls. Yet, these
deliver richer, full-bodied sound with Ultraplayer than with WMP 9 with
both the built-in equalization enabled and disabled!
Unfortunately, resource-wise Ultraplayer is a system hog. And consumed
nearly 15 MB maximized and about 13.5 MB minimized to the System Tray!
This resource use is not a problem with 128 MB or more installed RAM
systems, but can cause slowdowns and lockups with lower memory
computers.
But the lightest MP3 player (and mp3Pro encoder) is the free
href="http://www.mp3prozone.com/download.htm" target="_medpla">Thompson
MP3PRO player. Even though its equalizer only kicks-in for mp3Pro
media. It's extremely minimal interface disguises a very powerful client
with a tiny resource footprint of about 2 MB when maximized or
minimized.
Freeware Alert!
MyIE2 has been incrementally upgraded again this week to
href="http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail.php3?fid=1029407732"
target="_frees">0.8.2003. I've been using it and find is a lot
faster than before at rendering pages. Or accessing sites. Other new
features include extended mouse gestures, an ability to support other
applications DDE calls when MyIE2 is running so that you can pipe all
requests to open URLs to this browser. It also supports scripted IE
plug-ins. I also recommend a clean install instead of over-writing your
existing copy. I usually backup my entire folder. Then install a fresh
and update my proxy, URL alias, Function Key shortcuts later.
The past week has seen a lot of action with Opera 7.20 Betas. The latest
build number tested by me is 3114 (Opera 7.20 Beta 11) released Friday,
September 12, 2003. The complete list of updates, and a download link
are available
href="http://my.opera.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30318"
target="_frees">here. Besides the obligatory bug fixes, Beta 11
displays (unregistered users only) a generic selection of ads or you can
choose to view Google text ads (less intrusive) and make Google your
default search engine too. Again I suggest uninstalling any existing
Beta versions before installing the new Beta build.
Popcorn too has been updated to v1.5 Beta 3 that's a bug-fix release.
The new build is much faster than previous versions. And sending a mail
using the built-in composer too is a lot faster. What still hasn't
improved is Popcorn's ability to gracefully recover from a broken
connection (common on dial-up access). And the only way to stop the
application is to terminate it.
G Menon
href="mailto:imfr&#
101;eloading@Phr
;eaker.net?su&#<br />
98;ject=column-&<br />
#102;eedback">Clic</p>
<p>7; Here to Ema</p>
<p>5;l Me</a></p>
</p>
<p><b> Disclaimer: These views are Govind Menon's and CIOL does not necessarily subscribe to the same </b></p></p>