Gripe Line: Apple’s deliberate use of an update to cripple iPhones running so-called unauthorized software is the latest in a long string of instances involving a vendor that acts “as if it can do whatever it wishes with its products after we buy them,” Ed Foster explains. “It’s enough of a trend that, even before the Apple story heated up, one reader was already contemplating it as a result of a stealth update from another megacorporation — Microsoft.” All your products belong to us. The price for these companies, and others including Intuit and Sony, is an open question. “It’s scary to think how far this trend of vendors thinking they own the products we buy from them might go.” The news beat: As expected, Microsoft launches Office Communications Server 2007 today and details how it will arm the software to work more closely with office phone systems. Sun issues informational updates on open source efforts, including OpenSolaris, Java and GlassFish, in a conference that one executive said brings together all the people working on open source within the company. Chipmaker Intel disbands its Verified by Intel standardization program, claiming it met the stated objectives. And Apple faces a potential lawsuit from the Center for Environmental Health over toxins found in iPhones.Feature well: Measuring and reducing technological risks is a big job. A strong plan, the right skills and, of course, a good set of tools can help. “The time and skills necessary for effective security assessment will never be free, but a terrific plan and excellent tools are readily available at no cost, courtesy of the open source community,” Tom Bowers explains in IT’s best free security tools. These are free in upfront cost — but not in resources or manpower allocated toward them, so “be prepared to spend time learning how to use open source tools and techniques properly.” Technology Industry