Posted by Mike Bijon December 06, 2005
Since Google’s search supports using OR, it’s possible to find (almost) every page in a book with a simple search string. Find the book you would like to read, click on the book to pull up some result pages, then “search inside the book” with the string below. Just about every page will be in the search results:
and | but | of | a | on | or | the | from | I | you | it
There should be enough natural language that the pages gaps are less than 5 pages long - letting you “next page” through the gaps. I’ve already found one exception, Combinatorial Optimization: Algorithms and Complexity. Anyone have suggestions to improve on my search string above?
Update: Just one day later, they didn’t take long… Google Print now places a limit on the number of pages you can view in any single book.
Posted by Mike Bijon December 01, 2005
Is it still spyware if it’s the OS double-checking its licensing startup?
It’s not to say that Microsoft will enforce the schema documented in their new patent app or that the application will be approved or restricted in light of prior art. Nonetheless, I wonder if Big Brother’ish enforcement of licensing will really be more profitable for Microsoft. As a major software publisher trying to stay ahead of free, open source competitors I wouldn’t risk alienating customers by shutting down their systems. System shutdown is included in Microsoft’s real-time enforcement patent app:
The system receives digitized licenses associated with computer applications in a secure license store. The licenses are then monitored and compared with the actual use by users to determine compliance with licenses. If users employ an application in violation of licensing terms then corrective action can be taken such as providing warnings and/or shutting down or denying access to a licensed application.
With malware snooping on every 2nd PC and Google “anonymously” recording every page viewed, can anyone say they didn’t expect a major software vendor to enforce licensing over the internet? After all, even the auto companies are investigating ways to shut off your car when you stop paying the bills. Then again, a patent doesn’t mean anyone can actually pull it off. Odds are both Microsoft and an auto major will bungle their implementations and lock half their customers out of their cars AND computers…
Thanks to the IP news at dave’s district for catching recent Microsoft patent apps.
Mike Bijon: I work as senior technology manager and technologist for 
