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...movie/music/game video sampler UMD disc including multiple non-interactive game demos...

So for $250 you get a portable game system with game demos that you can't even play. It seems like you should at least bundle something that people can play with. What good is a game demo that you can't play?

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http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=13908694

Following my own link and reading a bit more it seems that Apple has already addressed issues like Web Services and even Patent litigation against the licensor (Apple).

Regarding Services (Major Changes in Apple Public Source License 2.0):

1. Licensees will only be required to release source code of Modifications they "Externally Deploy" (new Section 1.4, and Sections 2.1, 2.2). "External Deployment" is defined to cover the external distribution of APSL'ed code or use of APSL'ed code to provide a service (including content delivery) to a third party through electronic communication with that party.

Regarding Patent Litigation:

5. The Termination clause relating to patent suits (Section 12.1(c)) has been narrowed such that the license will terminate only if a licensee _initiates_ an action for patent infringement against Apple. It will not terminate in cases where Apple first sues the licensee and they file a countersuit.

So #5 seems to cover litigious bastards such as the SCO Group, except only for patent litigation. It'd be interesting if at some point this was updated to include copyright infringement litigation as well. And #1 seems to cover Web Services. Maybe Mr. Moglen will reference the APSL in revising the GPL.

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The issue of Web services has to be considered, he said. Some in the community are calling for a strong copyleft license with code that is used and changed to be returned to all. Others want the opposite.

"I do not believe that we will be reach consensus on this front, so I believe the license will have to accommodate options as to the question of Web services, but this must be squared with the ideological pursuit of freedom," he said.

I thought that this was interesting. So if a change like this were made it would make the GPL similar to the initial versions of Apple's Public Source License. In the first versions of that license you were required to submit any source code changes you made even if you didn't redistribute the software and only used it internally. My understanding is that if you're a Web Services company and you use modified GPL software, you don't need to contribute back the modifications you've made as long as you don't redistribute your modified software to anyone.

I doubt that the GPL will ever adopt this requirement, but it's interesting that some in the community want this.

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Actually the Cube has proven to be pretty good at cooling judging by the number of processor, video and hard drive/CD/DVD upgrades for it.

You can get up to a 1.7 GHz G4 processor upgrade and there was even a Dual 800 MHz G4 upgrade offered at one point. Some people have been able to put in nVidia GeForce 3 and ATI Radeon 8500, 9000 Pro and 9200 graphics cards in these things. Not to mention you can put a full-size hard drive into it.

The Cube will probably end up being a lot more upgradable than the Mini, but the Mini sure has a better price.

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Most teachers (5 years ago when I was in HS) don't have any idea what the parts of a computer do. Unless they know what the ports do, they would never care if they saw a little extra adapter between the keyboard and the computer's PS2 port. This is why they need to be educated on what their machines do. There is also the chance that the keyboard port was well hidden in the desk so the teacher wouldn't have noticed unless she took the time to explicitly check. This is bad physical security on the part of the school's IT dept.

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Free iPod? Try a free Mac Mini
Wired article as proof

She said the scheme was uncovered after authorities learned that the boy had attempted to sell the answers.He seems to have gotten caught because he was greedy. This brings up the question of how many kids have done this (use physical keystroke loggers) and have managed to get away with it. Do IT companies have any scheme to check for this sort of thing other than just locking up the physical case in the desk so the ports aren't reachable?

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Free iPod? Try a free Mac Mini
Wired article as proof

It's nice that there might be a unidirectional market for this, but what about a shared system where you trade your idle time for the right to use someone else's computer during your peak time? End users tend to want a lot of peak power but little average power. Grid computing would let you spread the peak out like a capacitor. If the average user needs N times their CPU to run an application at realtime speeds and they only use this peak for 1/N parts of the day and are idle the rest of the time, you can have N users from around the world distribute their load onto each other's machine.

This would work for applications that don't have low latency (e.g. FPS games would be out) and applications that don't have high bandwith (e.g. compressing movie files) but it would work for things like semi-professional graphic artists who can't afford renderfarms. By letting other people use their machine for 1-1/N of the day, they get a near N increase in computing power at peak times.

You could have every machine in a company run a VM at the lowest priority and share the cycles for this VM with other companies around the world. You would get some use out of all that idle time on modern machines. You could also have a company's engineering department run their simulation on the company's accounting department's machines since those machines are probably idle all the time and the simulation machines have a high peak CPU requirement.

This would even work well locally if IBM's Cell technology delivers. Your TiVo can offload the processing for digital compression into the chips in your PC, DVD, and other high end processing systems as needed or vice-versa the next time your PC needs to compress a bunch of files.

Given all the idle time on home machines, this might be a bigger market than supercomputer grid clusters.

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Free iPod? Try a free Mac Mini
Wired article as proof

The headline seems a bit misleading to me since there's only a few quotes from Linus in there:

"Software patents are clearly a problem, and I think it's a problem that the open source community has been pretty aware of for the last five years," said Torvalds. "The good news is that a lot of proprietary vendors are starting to see it as a problem as well."

The last one is pretty good though:

Torvalds was reluctant to make predictions though. "I'm the anti-visionary. I distrust people with visions," he said. "You don't see what's right in front of your face and you don't see the technical issues that face everyday users."

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As I've previously discussed on slashdot, you do not need to be moving outward from your energy source in a solar sail, you can achieve thrust vectors in any direction from full away to orthogonal (perpendicular for the 2D vector peeps) And orbital mechanics isn't of the form of "thrust straight at where you want to go" it's more like "thrust in the direction of orbit to move away from primary, thrust against the direction of orbit to move towards primary"
Good point.

People don't realize orbital mechanics is an arcane science completely unlike the common perception of strapping a rocket booster to yourself and pointing yourself in the right direction. For example, look at the "Interplanetary Superhighway" for normal spacecraft. It's the path of least resistence for spacecraft and it looks nothing like a straight line since it's based on Lagrange points and other strange artifacts of three+ body orbital systems. I'm guessing there is another similar path possible for this solar sail system that invovles it flying in a curve where it's never directly between us an Mars. I.e. it's thrust vector isn't the same as its position vector with respect to Earth. Thus it would be quite possible to steer and stop with this system if you know the right math.

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Free iPod? Try a free Mac Mini
Wired article as proof

This seems like it was created by someone who cared too much about creating an interface that Hollywood would love even if it has crappy usability. As long as monitors are flat, there is no point in trying to fit a 3d-ish UI onto the OS. You can do pseudo-3D where the 3D aspect is just eye candy like OSX's virtual desktop switcher or Longhorn's system to alt-tab through programs in 3d, but there is little point to adding 3d functionality...for now. Once we figure out how to get 3d glasses (or maybe just 2d HUD glasses) with enough resolution to act as a decent monitor, then it would be worthwhile to have an interface where your workspace was represented as the inside of a sphere with you in it. Each window would be flat (a plane tangent to the virtual sphere) but this would act as if you were surrounded by movable monitors. The entire system could react to head and eye movements to rotate the sphere. Now if technology could just catch up to my dreams.

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Free iPod? Try a free Mac Mini
Wired article as proof

...so here's my list of the 10 worst moments in Apple history.

1. Apple creates the first-generation Newton.
2. Apple discontinues the second-generation Newton, just as it was getting good.
3. Pippin. Apple was trying to create a game console. Microsoft had gone nowhere with the MSX; who was Apple to even try?!
4. Yellow Box. What the hell was that?
5. Mac TV. Take the greatest invention of the 20th century and couple it with the worst invention of the 20th century.
6. The toilet-seat iBooks. I know, let's sell a computer that has absolutely no video out, but it has a handle! Even TV-watching idiots stayed away.
7. Discontinuing 1-800-SOS-APPL. Now if you want support you have to buy AppleCare for as much as $350 -- and even then you get treated like crap unless you buy ProCare for $100 more!!
8. The iPod Mini. You can get five times as much storage for only $50 more.
9. The hockey-puck mouse. I know: let's make our computers not only hard to use, let's make them downright PAINFUL!

And the tenth worst event in Apple history is:

10. Apple not buying Be. Honestly, NeXT has no business being on my desktop.

Thank you, thank you. If you'd like to see more of these, please sign up with one of my valued partners. Once ten people do, I'll post again.

I forgot to add that the Mac platform is probably the best place to have a dual core CPU or even a dual CPU machine. Mac OS X already has excellent dual CPU support and already balances the workload very well among available CPUs. And since Apple has been shipping Dual CPU machines for years application developers have already done a lot to take advantage of Dual CPUs. As a result we, the users, benefit.

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Since the dual core freescale supposedly outperforms a G5 at same clock speed, I really would have liked to see the freescale in the new specs.

Not to flame, but I'm interested in where you're getting your information from (benchmarks, reviews, etc). I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a Dual Core G4 outperform a single core/CPU G5 when it comes to apps that are fully MP-aware (threaded properly). But I would be surprised to see a Dual Core G4 outperform a single core G5 on apps that are not threaded. I'd love to see some real world comparisons.

Remember just because it has 2 cores doesn't mean that it's twice as fast. It only means that there's the potential to do more at once if the software can take advantage of it through threading. Here's a great article that explains the problems/challenges software developers are going to face with multi-core CPUs.

Now I'd love to have a dual core CPU in my laptop and I'd love to program for it, but I image Apple would face some of the same challenges trying to get the dual core Freescale CPU into a laptop as they would in getting a G5 into a laptop, namely heat. A dual core G4 is going to be hotter and more power hungry than what they've got now. I'd love to see either the dual core G4 or a G5 in a laptop.

It works.
Free Flat Screens | Free Mini Mac

An earlier post proved the following link:

Best Resolution for Images and Words

The quality of the pixels you see impacts how you use your computer. After years of experience, Apple engineers have discovered the ideal resolution to display both sharp text and graphics -- a pixel density of about 100 pixels per inch (ppi). Other vendors may offer a larger monitor, but with less resolution, so you end up with fewer pixels, or a smaller monitor with a high resolution that causes eyestrain and headaches. Apple's balanced 100 pixels per inch format is optimized for images, yet allows you to easily work with text in email, Safari and sophisticated type treatments in layouts.

So that would be the reason why they don't make higher resolution displays.

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Another advantage that Time Warner's DVRs have over Tivo is the option of viewing/recording HDTV. Tivo's current plans for HDTV are to get something out by 2006! Now, you probably can't record very much HDTV content (20 hours is what they say) but at least they give you the option of having it.

We just got a projector to serve as part of our home theater and I'm not sure how long I'll be able to live with Tivo and standard television when I know that HDTV content is available.

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Here's my question: Will this apply to toll road "speed passes" too? Does this mean that someone can charge up my account driving around all the tollways broadcasting my id? That could be a huge problem when we don't find that out until the bill arrives... and no verification to enter to make sure it's you (that would defeat the purpose of the speed pass). And a whole lot of time and money to go back and fix that system!


Chris
http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14620338

Hey-

Check out this great site that is giving away totally FREE Mini Macs!

I've joined and I think you should as well.

It's a completely legitimate offer, and this company has already given away $4 million in FREE stuff!

All you have to do is join, complete an online offer, and refer friends to do the same. That's it!

Here is my referral link. To help me get my Mini Mac, click this exact link to join, or copy and paste it into a browser:
http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14249755

Hey-

Check out this great site that is giving away totally FREE Mini Macs!

I've joined and I think you should as well.

It's a completely legitimate offer, and this company has already given away $4 million in FREE stuff!

All you have to do is join, complete an online offer, and refer friends to do the same. That's it!

Here is my referral link. To help me get my Mini Mac, click this exact link to join, or copy and paste it into a browser:
http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14249755

Hey-

Check out this great site that is giving away totally FREE Mini Macs!

I've joined and I think you should as well.

It's a completely legitimate offer, and this company has already given away $4 million in FREE stuff!

All you have to do is join, complete an online offer, and refer friends to do the same. That's it!

Here is my referral link. To help me get my Mini Mac, click this exact link to join, or copy and paste it into a browser:
http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/?r=14249755

Dang,i didn't realize this was the emergency free imac thread.

Well, okay!

If the media industries only took the time in the late 90's to understand and serve this group - I believe they call it marketing - rather than fight against them their revenues would be significantly more. Of all industries that should know this it should be the movie industry.

Today, the film industry generates more income from video/DVD sales and rentals than from theater runs. Had they won their case 20 years ago against Sony and the Supreme Court ruled VCR's were illegal (it was a close 5 to 4 decision) the film industry would have less than HALF the revenues it does today.

http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=13908694

If you help me get my first Mac!

http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14101826

On another note, these things are pretty neat, but small form factor PC's have been around a long time and since market share on Macs is pretty low, I doubt a SFF mac is going to lead to any real changes...just a thought. But I do still want one, I have always had Mac-envy, just no money.

http://a9.com/cheeburger

Kinda neat... I go to cheeburger cheeburger, its a real popular place near my house for burgers.. It even showed a jpg of the menu! and the fat asses eating burgers and on the wall of fame for eating a one pounder.

Get a FREE Mini Mac http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14172807

HOWTO: Get a Free Mac Mini?

Step 1: Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac
Register using your email address - this will take only a few minutes.
Answer "NO" to all survey questions so you don't have to deal with junk
mail. They will email you a confirmation email, which you must confirm.

Step 2: Sign up for one of the offers - most of the offers are free trials
you can cancel AFTER you get the credit for it. I think the best right now
is the Video Professor trial, since you get immediate credit for them. Just
return the CD and you will even get your Shipping fee ($6) returned. There
are also easy offers from Blockbuster, and others.

Step 3: Refer some of your friends to the URL they give you.

Step 4: Check your mailbox and your free Mac Mini is on its way!

Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac

http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/

HOWTO: Get a Free Mac Mini?

Step 1: Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac
Register using your email address - this will take only a few minutes.
Answer "NO" to all survey questions so you don't have to deal with junk
mail. They will email you a confirmation email, which you must confirm.

Step 2: Sign up for one of the offers - most of the offers are free trials
you can cancel AFTER you get the credit for it. I think the best right now
is the Video Professor trial, since you get immediate credit for them. Just
return the CD and you will even get your Shipping fee ($6) returned. There
are also easy offers from Blockbuster, and others.

Step 3: Refer some of your friends to the URL they give you.

Step 4: Check your mailbox and your free Mac Mini is on its way!

Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac

http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/

HOWTO: Get a Free Mac Mini?

Step 1: Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac
Register using your email address - this will take only a few minutes.
Answer "NO" to all survey questions so you don't have to deal with junk
mail. They will email you a confirmation email, which you must confirm.

Step 2: Sign up for one of the offers - most of the offers are free trials
you can cancel AFTER you get the credit for it. I think the best right now
is the Video Professor trial, since you get immediate credit for them. Just
return the CD and you will even get your Shipping fee ($6) returned. There
are also easy offers from Blockbuster, and others.

Step 3: Refer some of your friends to the URL they give you.

Step 4: Check your mailbox and your free Mac Mini is on its way!

Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac

http://www.FreeMiniMacs.com/

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

...that I paid period for it. You can get one for free. http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14202116

So does this mean they will pay me to take one off their hands???

http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14319773

I'd love to get one now, but Tiger seems to have a number of really desireable features that I'm tempted to wait for its release. Any news on whether the mini will be fitted with Tiger when it comes out?

Maybe my free one will have Tiger on it by the time it ships. ;-)

Why not get a free one!

http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14101826

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

FREE MAC MINIS!

I saw this link on macslash.org (I think) and thought I'd pass it around. Apparently, you sign up for one offer (like a 30-day free trial of eFax) and get 10 friends to do the same, and they'll send you a free mini mac. If you're interested, use the following link to sign up:

http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14209873

I hope this kind of government activity becomes commonplace, because it will benefit all of us using open source software. Propietary formats force software lock-in and future profits for only those specific companies that developed those formats. Hopefully this will encourage others to embrace open formats in order to advance software quality in general, due to increased competition against propietary software vendors.

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Click Here to Register for a Free Mac Mini.

Wow I didn't know about that, I'll have to consider getting one for my Mac. It would make a great accessory to a Mini Mac that you wanted to turn into a Home Media Center. Thanks for the link.

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Join the Pyramid - Free Mini Mac

Yes that's what they say on their website but reader reports from XLR8YourMac.com show that people have gotten this thing running on machines far less powerful than the Mini. There's a report from a Cube owner with an 800 MHz G4 who said that it works fine. There are also reports from an 800 MHz iMac and PowerBook G4 867 MHz owner.

So while Elgato might not give you support if you run it on a slower machine it sounds like it does work.

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Join the Pyramid - Free Mini Mac

Well, if you get the Elgato EyeTV 500 HDTV recorder then it comes with an infrared remote.

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Join the Pyramid - Free Mini Mac

Follow the link in my original post to the Elgato EyeTV 500 product page. It's a Firewire HDTV tuner that now works with HDTV over the air as well as over Cable. I've also heard that most and possibly all HDTV tuners or cable boxes have a Firewire port out. If that is the case then you can just plug it into your Mac's Firewire port and view and record the HDTV content. You can't change the channels through your Mac though.

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Join the Pyramid - Free Mini Mac

But one of the problems is a lack of HDTV tuner. You could get Elgato's EyeTV 500 to make your Mini Mac into an HD PVR but you're still lacking 5.1 digital audio. I don't know what you could do about that. If you're spending the $$$ to get an HDTV then you probably already have, or would want to get a nice 5.1 or 7.1 sound system. You wouldn't want to be stuck with stereo from you Mini Mac.

I'm not sure Cringely's HD movie service would catch on either. It's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it would be very successful. One thing is certain though, a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun and do some cool stuff with their Mini Macs.

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Join the Pyramid - Free Mini Mac

I use asterisk at home and work. It works flawless (once you have it setup correctly) Whats great is my home asterisk box communicates with the work asterisk box. At work we have two seperate offices one in LV and one in NY, those two box's communicate to each other.. In the same way for example broadvoice will probally hook up with packet8 to eliminate the middle man and save mula, so those calls to eachother will cost nada. Get a Free mini mac - http://www.freeminimacs.com/?r=14172807

What is the deal with supernodes, isn't there a peer to peer protocol that doesn't revolve around supernodes?

Because this type of tiered network is what works and scales well to thousands and millions of clients. The original Gnutella protocol was designed not to use "supernodes" or a tiered network structure and it was a miserable failure. The bandwidth and large latency required for all of the clients to communicate with each other (especially ones using 56K modems) easily overcame the usefulness of the network. The current Gnutella protocol now uses a tiered (layered) network where clients can become supernodes and this version actually works with tens to hundreds of thousands of people connected.

When creating a large, scalable network this type of protocol is what has been proven to work.

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