JAN 2005 


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Computers

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2013-11-03

worm.gif (3649 bytes)      SONY Style Service...

  The Computer Died and the service is CRAP!

 

Links
   Apple:  iPod, iTunes
   Run Mac OS X on PCs!

 Sorry, WE'RE CLOSED 
As of February 1st, 2008 the ImageStation online service is permanently closed. We sincerely appreciate the patronage of all our friends and members. Thank you for your support.

For more information on the closure of the ImageStation site, please visit our frequently asked questions.

 

 


 The 2nd Problem ...

Sony tries to get rid of you using "the path of least resistance"...

 

That's all she wrote.  It's convenient to get rid of those pesky, pesky victims... er... "customers", isn't it?

Computers

Returning It


 The 1st Problem...

My computer went black 6 weeks after warranty.  I found the SONY technical assistance telephone number in the FINE PRINT near the end of the Limited Warranty Statement.  I called the number:  1-888-4SONYPC (1-888-476-6972).

To make a long story short:

  • Trouble Shooting was unsuccessful.

  • Trouble Shooting costs money.

  • Sony promised to call me back the next day.

  • I missed work to accept the call, but no one called

  • I called Sony.  I asked for am email address or a mailing address so that I can complain.

  • They would not give me an email address.  After many more requests, and after 2 hours, I was given the Sony mailing address. It is:
          1 Sony Drive
          Park Ridge NJ  07656

I'd like twenty dollars to compensate me for the work I missed when Sony promised to call.  It's less than what I lost, but it's reasonable.  It was like pulling Hens' teeth to get someone to even address this issue.  I was told (again) someone would call me back in a day to explain why I would or would not receive this money.  Stay tuned. 

Meanwhile, my computer is still dark and belly up.  I can't get proper service from Sony.  I'm going to take it back to Circuit City and make a really big, loud, long bad stink so that Circuit City will give me a refund on this 13+month old computer which can't be serviced by Sony's technical assistance team.



 

I hate to give Sony a free plug, but THIS is one darn fine 5MP camera.  I bought 3 of them in the last 3 months.  I hope the cameras have better support that the computers.

From
Amazon.com

Gift Certificate

 


BTW... Sony allows you to record the telephone conversations you have with it.  I know this to be so, because at the beginning of the telephone interaction, we are told that the conversation may be recorded in order to improve the assistance given.   I wish I had recorded it; next time I will record it and post it here.

Philosophy is questions that may never be answered.

Religion is answers that may never be questioned.

 I hope this web page will lead to an improvement of Sony's service. 

Later I found many more email addresses for Sony on the net.  The Sony help desk was unable to find one to give me.
Here are some I found on the net:

Janet.Couch@am.sony.com
Manny.Gaudier@am.sony.com
Manju.Mitra@am.sony.com
John.Fleming@am.sony.com
Dan.Nicholson@am.sony.com
Hiroshi.Urano@am.sony.com
Shirley.Shears@am.sony.com 201-487-6103
Mary.Sjogren.@am.sony.com  972-915-3251


Sony BMG recalls copy-protected CDs         http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051116/tc_nm/sonybmg_recall_dc

By Lucas van Grinsven, European Technology Correspondent Wed Nov 16, 2005

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Music company Sony BMG (6758.T), yielding to consumer concern, said on Wednesday it was recalling music CDs containing copy-protection software that acts like virus software and hides deep inside a computer.

Sony BMG has used the XCP copy-protection software on 49 titles from artists such as Celine Dion and Sarah McLachlan and produced an estimated 4.7 million music CDs. Around 2.1 million units have been sold on to consumers.

The software, developed by British software makers First4Internet, installs itself on a personal computer used to play the CD in order to guard against copying, but it leaves the back door open for malicious hackers.

"We share the concerns of consumers regarding discs with XCP content-protected software, and, for this reason, we are instituting a consumer exchange program and removing all unsold CDs with this software from retail outlets," Sony BMG said in an statement.

Sony BMG announced in a separate statement it would distribute a program to remove the software from a PC where it jeopardizes security.

"We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause our customers. Details of this (recall) program will be announced shortly," Sony BMG said.

Sony said will soon issue more details about the swap program. Consumers can identify their copy-protected CDs by a Web address on the back of the CD containing the letters XCP.

Of the 49 titles, 24 were new major releases. The remaining albums were reissues and other material from the catalog.

Sony reiterated that the copy-protection software installs itself only on personal computers and not on ordinary CD and DVD players. Market research group NPD Group found in a recent survey that around 36 percent of consumers listen to their CDs on a personal computer.

OUTCRY

Problems with the copy-protection software became acute last week, when the first computer viruses emerged that took advantage of security holes left by the program.

Responding to public outcry over the software, Sony BMG, the music venture of Japanese electronics conglomerate Sony Corp. (6758.T) and Germany's Bertelsmann AG had said on Friday it would temporarily suspend the manufacture of music CDs containing XCP technology.

It then provided a patch to make the hidden program more visible. At the time it did not recall the CDs or offer a program to remove it from computers. Sony BMG's patch and the removal software still left PCs vulnerable, according to software engineers.

The anti-virus team at Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday it would independently add a detection and removal mechanism to rid a personal computer of the Sony's DRM copy-protection software. It should have a deeper understanding of its own operating system, and how to remove software safely.

The software installs itself only on PCs running Microsoft's Windows operating system.

Sony BMG has positioned itself as a defender of artists' rights. It had re-emphasized on Friday that copy-protection software is "an important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of our artists."

Sony BMG last week was targeted in a class action lawsuit complaining that it had not disclosed the true nature of its copy-protection software.

This story originally appeared here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051116/tc_nm/sonybmg_recall_dc


Sony rootkit settlement with US states reaches $5.75M

Robert McMillan, IDG News Service - MacCentral Fri Dec 22, 7:24 AM ET

Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s botched attempt to stop unauthorized music copying has cost the company another US$4.25 million.

Two days after reaching settlements worth a combined total of $1.5 million with Texas and California, Sony on Thursday agreed to pay another 40 states the money to end investigations into its use of two copy protection programs: First 4 Internet’s XCP (extended copy protection), and MediaMax, written by SunnComm International.

In a statement, Sony said it was pleased with Thursday’s settlements.

More than 12 million Sony BMG CDs shipped with this software last year, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Attorney General.

Sony’s trouble began in late 2005, when a computer science researcher disclosed that XCP used dangerous “rootkit” techniques to cloak itself after installation.

Later, investigators found that even users who declined to install the MediaMax program would have software placed on their computers, and one version of the program created a security issue, the Massachusetts statement said.

Sony has reportedly also reached a tentative settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in the matter, although nothing relating to that investigation was announced Thursday. Sony settled a class-action lawsuit over the software in May.

As with the California and Texas agreements, residents of the 40 states that settled with Sony are entitled to up to $175 in refunds for damages that may have been caused to their computers. The settlements also limit the ways that Sony can use copy protection software in the future and require that the company notify consumers if it uses this kind of software.

A list of the states covered in Thursday’s settlement can be found in the Massachusetts statement.

Sony has set up a Web site with information for consumers on the matter. It is expected to eventually include information on how to file a claim under these latest settlements.

This story originally appeared here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/macworld/20061222/tc_macworld/rootkit20061222_0&printer=1

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 2013-11-03