Extra Bait

Microsoft is aiming high (or low) to help spread its popular software like Windows and Office. They are deciding to market some of these software suits for as low as $3 in countries like China which have experienced a huge techonlogical progression in the recent years. It probably should also be noted that this is a partial effort in helping to combat pirated material, which is a very dominant practice in the Asian markets.

"According to Microsoft, the software is part of a “new commitment to help close the digital divide” and an effort to “bring social and economic opportunity to the estimated 5 billion people who are not yet realizing the benefits of technology.”"

However in order to recieve this offer

"Governments will have to subsidize the purchase prize of a PC by a margin of greater than 50%, at least 10,000 PCs have to be ordered at once and delivered in a single language in a single year, and the software must be activated using Microsoft’s general software activation process."

This is not the first time these startegies were implemented, and hopefully not the last.

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We here at GamerBait have reported on several past incidents of mass identity theft from various companies and school, and here we go again,

"An online user by the pseudonym MaddoxX has posted a message on an anti-Valve site with pictures of what he claims are internal Valve files, including the company's balance sheet and customer transaction data."

However unlike the majority of these incidents which benefit directly from customer information, it appears that the hacker is holding the files for a pay off or ransom from Valve. Aside from the gloating he had this to say,

"I prefer you come with something good unless you want me to expose ALL of the customers [and] their information."

No response from Valve has been issued at this time.
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Now some comedy for everyone following the PS3 fiasco. About 2 months ago I mentioned here at GB that Sony was in no hurry to drop the price of the PS3. It was a bold statement in an interview with Gamedaily which asked Phil Harris,

"But don't you feel pressure from the realities of the market and people who maybe don't want to spend $600? Do you feel there is pressure to drop the price this year?"

to which he responded,

"Absolutely no pressure at all. I think that the reality of the market is that there's a great deal of software people want to buy, there's a great deal of software coming that will stimulate further activity in the market. We're very comfortable with the plan."

Fast forward to today and this statement came from the President of Sony, Ryoji Chubachi,

"We are re-examining our [PS3] budgeting process in terms of pricing and volume. Sales assumptions change and the market is competitive. We are in the midst of revisiting our strategy for the PS3."

This back and forth talk reminds me of good ol' Bush administration.

Source, Sony, Hacker, Microsoft.