Domain: citymax.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to citymax.com.
Comments · 6
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Ease of Use is the key
Personally, I'm continuing to use ooVoo even though it's now "out of beta" and not free. First of all, most of my calls are 2 or 3 way, and for that it is free, but I like to be able to record calls and I really like to be able to add PSTN lines to my conferences when people aren't available on a computer. I haven't bought it yet (it still seems to be free), but it looks like it will cost $10/month which isn't bad and everyone I do 4 to 6 way calls to doesn't need a subscription. The real key here for me is how easy it is to use because I never have problems with getting my clients and business partners onto ooVoo. It's quick, it's easy, it works with Mac or PC (Linux seems missing).
There are other solutions, like Sightspeed, which has good quality video, and Gizmo, and Palbee, but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for and I'm willing to pay a small amount for a good product. Skype has better audio for PSTN calls and if you can do high-quality (ie you have a dual core Intel and a logitech camera), the video quality is excellent. I'm happy to pay a small amount for Skype (and I do).
So, look at these:
http://gizmo5.com/pc/
http://www.sightspeed.com/
http://www.oovoo.com/
http://www.palbee.com/
http://www.ivisit.com/
http://www.eyeballchat.com/
http://www.dwyco.citymax.com/
http://www.counterpath.com/
http://www.parachat.com/
http://www.marratech.com/e-meeting.html
http://vsee.com/product.html
http://www.orgoo.com/
http://vawkr.com/
http://www.hearme.com/ (audio/video doesn't synch very well here, this is a version of PalTalk for biz)
http://www.avchat.net/avchat2-about.php
http://www.avchat.net/avconference-about.php
http://flashpioneer.com/ -
Re:Let me be the first to say...
There's just a small minority opposed to Darwin in the US, so people who are basically in the same camp feel the urge to show some sympathy for someone who had a good idea.
They're actually a majority in America and Britain. It is an extremely important problem because it feeds the culture of anti-intellectualism and distrust of science in other issues where fact-based policy-making and ideological politics are in conflict in both countries. People with a skeptical attitude towards science about evolution are more likely to have a skeptical attitude about global warming and to disregard studies about the effectiveness of abstinence-only sex education because they disagree with what they want to believe.
We desperately need to do something to rekindle the American love of science before our economy goes to rot thanks to the lack of people entering science and engineering majors and before the lives of millions are ruined by bad economic and social policies. -
Re:RDBMS != Object Store
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Re:RDBMS != Object Store
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Re:RDBMS != Object Store
You seem to know a bit on relational ideas, but really don't know much about the relational model.
The relational model is a general model of data -- it can model anything, including what one would think of as a typical object. Remember that no SQL product today is a RDBMS.
Rather than wasting my time typing it out, check out this site:
http://www.dbdebunk.citymax.com/page/page/627014.h tm -
Trademarks vs. SRD & OGL
First off, I'd like to say that I do understand WotC's attitude regarding the d20 trademark. It is essential that they maintain certain levels of deceny. As to whether or not they released the Book of Vile Darkness and to what level that goes, it was very clear that it was to be sold only to mature audience members (and some gaming stores would NOT sell it to anyone under 17), and they caught flack from long-time D&D-associated individuals.
Additionally, we have to consider that by putting the logo on a product, it is to associated it with D&D (or at least that's how most parents will see it). If you have a clear disclaimer on the cover, fine, but otherwise, you're lumping it in with the same people who make Pokemon cards. WotC's parent, Hasbro, might not like to see some company they have next to no control over coming out with a product filled with erotica that some parents will associated with those people who make Pokemon cards. I also see a lot of potential flack from owners of other brands (e.g. Star Wars) that have licensed those brands to WotC.
Can you still produce D&D compatible stuff without the d20 license? Yes! Matured and experience gamers will know what the SRD is. So call it SRD-fantasy compatible or SRD-modern compatible. Heck, get together and create a logo and have that logo owned by the Open Gaming Foundation for all I care. I won't buy stuff that's overly indecent, but if it's detailed, almost clinical in nature, and gives me rules to pick and choose for realism, I might buy it.
Having been published using the SRD, it's very, very important to not violate those things that WotC explicitly says no to and to avoid, for the most part where possible, things the SRD doesn't say yes to. Basically, create individually, and use the SRD and nothing else to look at, and you'll do well. Come up with something really unique and useful like Expeditious Retreat did and you'll be amazed at how quickly everyone likes your stuff.