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TPM (Trusted Platform Module)!!!!!!!!!

Sky is falling!!!!!!!

Paranoia!!!!

Static!!!!!

9. Processors code names came from towns in which they were designed: Conroe (Texas), Woodcrest (California), and Merom (ancient lake in Israel).

The Merom chip was developed in an ancient lake in Israel?

hmm.. Im planning to get a Macbook Pro 2.16 Core Duo in the next week or two, should I wait for the Core 2 Duo ? How long would it take before it appears on a Macbook Pro, and when it does, will it have first version problems again ?
.. Decisions.. Decisions.

Mazel tov, Merom!

Not developed in an ancient lake in Israel. Just designed there.

With all of the anti-Israel problems in the Middle East will this new Merom chip not be in the computers sold over there? There are some weird import laws in Muslim run coountries about Israel.

so then they unearthed the processor it in the ancient lake? I'm so confused.

id hold off on getting the mac book pro dude, the macbook and the macbook pro atm are very closely speced out, and performance wise too, benchmarks support this from what i've read.

however Apple will want that to change and give people more of a reason to consider the macbook pro.

if it was me, i couldn't buy one now, knowing that in as little as 4 or so weeks new macbook pros could feature faster, more efficient COOLER chips. itd be worth it for the temp drop. hold our brother hold out.

its not definant on when theyll arrive but it shouldnt be that long.

SEE I TOLD YOU!!!

TPM is already in the new MacTels to lock Mac OS X to hardware. I predicted this sort of implemtation would be needed when Apple first announced switching to Intel processors to keep Mac OS X off of generic Intel boxes.

Now other software companies can also use this TPM chip to lock thier software to one machine as well as put identifying information into every picture, file and document you create.

Not only that, EFI will allow drivers to be written that can contact the internet and download files even without the operating system (thus you) even knowing about it. Not only that, software and hardware will be made in such a way that it will cease to operate UNLESS it has a occassional internet connection.

Hackers are busy right now cracking EFI, because this will give them a nice back door into our machines.

Remember how SISCO was discovered to have backdoors into their routers so the NSA can tap the internet backbone? Well EFI will give the same spooks complete access to our machines.

Welcome to TRUSTED COMPUTING.

Hey, read the news lately how dashboardadvisory daemon in Mac OS X contacts Apple every eight hours right?

We Mac users are the lab rats for testing the public's willingness to accept these super restrictions on what we can do with our OWN hardware. They are just sliding this crap right under our noses.

Bad news

Seems the new Core Duo 2's have a serious problem with RAID 5 etc.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32842

RAID 5 is often used by home hobbiests to store large amounts of video and audio entertainment due to it's combination speed and redundancy of data. It's a excellent choice for storing HD video.

Uh, sounds like Intel is bending over very hard to please the content creators and Apple is along for the ride.

The consipracy is unfolding.

Static Mesh,

RAID 5 is also used by thousands of big companies for their server farms. There is no way in hell Intel will loose sales to big companies because RAID 5 is a no show.

In other news:

Online crazy person and closeted Mac hater Static Mesh's head explodes from whacked out conspiracy theories.

It's good to know that every other lake in the world is much less ancient than Merom. All the newer lakes come with amenities not found in Merom, such as running water.

Haha, I used to live near Conroe Texas and it is a total PIT STAIN! How the hell could it have been designed there?

theinquirer.net is a joke site... you cant beleive ANY of the stories

as soon as you see their name in a link it has no credability; get a clue

also, personally I will NOT visit their site. If I accidently bring them up, they are being closed immediatly.. I dont give them even ½ a chance anymore.

Carlo, you said:
"if it was me, i couldn't buy one now, knowing that in as little as 4 or so weeks new macbook pros could feature faster, more efficient COOLER chips. itd be worth it for the temp drop. hold our brother hold out.

its not definant on when theyll arrive but it shouldnt be that long."

This is ALWAYS the case. Go ahead and wait '4 or so weeks' and at that point you will be able to say the same thing. The computer industry is always changing, and always improving. Get a computer when you need it, thats all.

Static Mesh does hate Macs more than anything else. He just has a negative attitude. My son's like that. On a beautiful sunny day he'll say the sun is burning him and we're all going to die!

"Watch out, guys. With that new trusted computing thing we're all gonna be slaves to the man within a year."

(WHAAAAAAAH, Whaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh)

"SEE I TOLD YOU!!!"

proof again that Static Mesh IS MacDude

Maybe we should look into the possible repercussions of TPM before we chop Static Mesh off at the knees. If we all just trust that TPM must be great simply because it's part of the next generation of processors, then we may all be in for a future where we leave our rights on the table for someone else to decide. Hasn't anyone been paying attention to the attack on personal rights (cell phone records being obtained by fed agencies), how broadband providers are positioning themselves as internet gatekeepers? Or, at even the least intrusive level, how the movie industry has been reluctant to move forward with HD-DVD or BluRay media releases? Ready for a revival of the DIVX style system for YOUR OWN High Definition movie collection? I'm not.

In fact, I wouldn't even want to write this response if I had that chip in my system.

Anim8r said:
Online crazy person and closeted Mac hater Static Mesh's head explodes from whacked out conspiracy theories.

SM is a bit ... extreme ... in his opinions at times, and may hate Macs as well. Maybe he hates ALL technology. But his warnings have been pretty much to the point - and we can only trust this "Trusted Platform" thing as far as we trust whoever configures it. Microsoft has historically taken the "invasive" path while Apple has traditionally avoided such vile behavior.

Static Mesh said:
Remember how Cisco was discovered to have backdoors into their routers so the NSA can tap the internet backbone?</i>
and:
Hey, read the news lately how dashboardadvisory daemon in Mac OS X contacts Apple every eight hours right?

Both are true. Just not "the whole truth". The "backdoor" mentioned certainly gives various entities - Cisco, the various agencies within the NSA, the Republican Party - access to all information passing through the Internet ... without even a warrant! The information so gathered may not be admissible in court, but can be used to the disadvantage of anyone who disagrees with whoever is filtering the information. And there's no hiding! You set up an anonymous webmail address? They can track the reading browser back to the nearest router!

As for Apple 'calling home', if you believe them then you must understand the limited nature of those calls. And the fact they benefit YOU. I'm a bit annoyed that they posted no warnings, provided no options, but all they are doing is insuring your Widgets are up to date. The problem is, they COULD be doing/have done so much more. They didn't, but someone else might have. Say, someone from paranoid Microsoft.

So, SM is also a bit paranoid. And believes the worst about people. With MS offering the bulk of the software out there and proving by bad example that people ARE out to get us, I don't see how you can hold a little paranoia against him. When you know they are out to get you, a little paranoia is a Good Thing and none at all is the choice of a fool.

just because you are paranoid does not mean that somebody is not watching.

If I didn't complain, would you even know your rights to privacy was slipping through your fingers?

What's the use spending close to $3000 for a machine that you rent?

What's the use spending close to $300,000 for a house you supposely own only to find out people you don't even know come in and out uninvited?


Right now on EFI based Mactels, a EFI driver could be checking the contents of people's hard drive and sending it out over the internet without nobody even knowing.


I'll tell you a secret. I've tightened up Little Snitch from the default rules, basically deleting all rules and starting over. Guess fscking what?

iTunes contacts pegasus.lunarpages.com on TCP port 80 (http)

Who the fsck is this? I can't seem to find out, it's just a hosting service, but for whom? The RIAA?

Why does iTunes need to contact anybody else besides Apple?

Static Mesh, calm down. Apple isn't going to identity theft you or something. Just chill and check out the Core 2 Duo article.

64-bit?

Funny they don't mention SSE4, which is finally a decent 128-bit vector processor built into the Core 2 Duo. Apple fans who knew about Velocity Engine should be happy.

SM has some valid points - even if he is insane. Apple isn't much concerned about locking up the OS, in fact one could argue that at some degree, it has no value to them other than to serve as the interface for their underlying media platform. What they are concerned about locking up is DRM. As more and more of their revenue moves to iTunes and content, they need to get the RIAA, MPAA and all of the players completely comfortable that their systems will eliminate any chance of digital piracy. And they can now use this technology to show the content providers that not only can they better prevent the piracy, but they can easily trace it to the source and take action. No big deal - right? EVERY file on your Mac is going to get tagged with snipets of code that will tie it back to your computer. The computer that you registered with Apple. They have your information should they need it. The question isn't whether this is good or bad, that decision was already made when Apple jumped over to Intel. The question is can you live with that? Most of you guys on here already drank the Kool-Aid and raved about how much better Intel was than PowerPC months ago without even considering some of these points. Good that we're at least talking about it for once.

TeamZissou: let's say I sell my macbook to somebody, and they then take it with them to Mexico, or Pakistan, or Singapore, and connect to the net through a free wifi setup at a cafe - how does Trusted Computing keep track of who it is? That would be really interesting to know. Seems if I had originally registered the macbook through Apple, all they would be able to say is it was still me, when I had passed on the laptop long ago. This could get confusing to them at best, I'd think. Lots of data doesn't necessarily mean accurate data.

I long ago used Little Snitch to block iTunes. I don't care that I can't listen to blathering idiots on a "news-talk" station 2,000 miles away or hear music I can listen to on a radio.

Now, though, I wonder whether Little Snitch should keep an eye on itself. (The best place to hide a spy is in the spy agency.)

Maybe I could duplicate it and have each watch the other.

The problem with even having this argument with Static Mesh is simply that you can't prove a negative.

You can't PROVE that Apple isn't going to lock down the OS, your files, your media content. You can't prove that the NSA won't be watching you surf the internet. You can't prove that it isn't all a big conspiracy to defraud you of your rights.

The bottom line is, as always, common sense. As someone above mentioned - more data doesn't mean good data. Squeeze the user too hard and eventually there is an outcry and public humiliation for the company (Sony rootkit anyone?) responsible.

And if it gets really bad, there will be lawsuits of the class-action kind. I think class action lawyers ought to be the biggest proponents of Trusted Computing for this reason. Ensures future growth in lawsuits.

Seriously, there is more data available about the world than ever. Instantly accessible. Your internet surfing, your every purchase with plastic, your every phone call, every UPS, FedEx, and DHL package sent, every major intersection you drive through has a camera, plus every ATM, fuel station, Post Office, bank, liquor store, Best Buy, Target.

If you think about it, you are being tracked nearly every minute that you do any interaction, whether it's through video, electronic purchase records, etc.

The only real question is - who would actually take the time to sort through this haystick to find the needle - you - in it? There would have to be a good reason to be worth the trouble. And it would be a helluva lot of trouble to assimilate all the potential sources.

THIS is security through obscurity.

"Funny they don't mention SSE4, which is finally a decent 128-bit vector processor built into the Core 2 Duo. Apple fans who knew about Velocity Engine should be happy.

Yep, can now do it in *one* pass instead of two. This is a HUGE performance gain. Video encoders will be very happy.

Static Mesh,

Keep up the good work. It's interesting to read what you have to write.

The only problem with Trusted Computing and the TPM Platform (chip) is that *if* they are going to lock things down to the n'th degree, they better come up with some fair use policies (am I dreaming?). I want to be able to backup media I OWN (and without jumping through hoops to do so). I also REALLY hate the idea of my files being tagged with a unique pin/identifier and emails as well. The only recouse we have is to see how this plays out, and then take action. TPM is out there - that is a done deal. None of us is going to change the fact that it is built right into the hardware itself. It does have useful purposes, but can also be abused. For the next 2-3 years it's a wait and see game for me. Believe me, when it starts being abused, the EFF and others will be all over this.

Blucaso: If you think about it, you are being tracked nearly every minute that you do any interaction, whether it's through video, electronic purchase records, etc.

The only real question is - who would actually take the time to sort through this haystick to find the needle - you - in it?

Identity thieves might benefit. Also, the difference between the way we are currently tracked is that we currently have to actively GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING to be tracked. Trusted Computing would bypass that annoyance and potentially allow digging into whatever personal information you have about yourself, etc. , straight from your house, whether you did anything or not. See the differnce?

difference

© says: "The only problem with Trusted Computing and the TPM Platform (chip) is that *if* they are going to lock things down to the n'th degree, they better come up with some fair use policies (am I dreaming?). I want to be able to backup media I OWN (and without jumping through hoops to do so). I also REALLY hate the idea of my files being tagged with a unique pin/identifier and emails as well."

Well, buckle your seatbelt meine freund, b/c hoop jumping is exactly what the content providers want. And it looks like they have a more than fair shot at getting it too. Besides the technology that they've forced everybody - even Apple - to adopt, they are hitting things hard on the legislative side too, and Congress's present majority seems all too willing to pass the laws the give you no choice in the matter. EFF actions to fight this have, thus far, not been all that effective, mainly b/c the politicians hear the money talking in favor of DRM lockdown, much more than voters speaking out against it.

Find out who your Representative and Senator are, and call them up. It works.

As for identifying data files, well I hate to say it but Spotlight (metadata tags) + TPM (unit ID) = Exactly that.


huh? says: "... let's say I sell my macbook to somebody, and they then take it with them to Mexico, or Pakistan, or Singapore, and connect to the net through a free wifi setup at a cafe - how does Trusted Computing keep track of who it is? ... Seems if I had originally registered the macbook through Apple, all they would be able to say is it was still me, when I had passed on the laptop long ago. This could get confusing to them at best, I'd think. Lots of data doesn't necessarily mean accurate data."

You're right to point out this rather large hole in The Plan(TM), but it's not registering on the radar of anyone who is actually making these decisions for us. Simply put, they don't care if you wind up in SuperMax for something that another person has done with your lawfully re-sold property. The greater goal is to simply track the info, and you being an innocent man in a jail cell just means they still have a lead on tracking whoever IS using your old rig. While you could re-aquire your freedom, or even be able to avoid the worst of what they could do to you in the first place, your rights in general are not the government's priority. Not anymore.

And if there's a huge outcry from some poor sucker getting ass-raped in the Federal pen after selling his old MacBook Pro to the 'wrong sort', I'd prepare for yet another law. This one will require that you MUST alert Apple (or whomever) whenever you sell your 'private' property to someone else. Under 'DRM Everywhere', the inexorable logic is that the average citizen simply won't be allowed to really own ANYTHING anymore.

In the meantime, remember to wipe that hard drive before you resell it. Ok?