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Dreamworks, Sinbad & Linux

Ex-MislTech writes "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, an animated movie from DreamWorks Animation Technology that hits theaters July 2, is the first Hollywood production created entirely on Linux. More than 250 Hewlett-Packard workstations running Red Hat Linux make up the core of DreamWorks' graphics platform."

345 comments

  1. hmmm. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Once the ocean was "baked," animators could capture whatever segments they needed for a particular scene from whatever angles suited their purposes and then add landscape elements.

    Excellent, some major hydro must be growing under that water ;)

    1. Re:hmmm. by macdaddy357 · · Score: 1

      How can a first post be redundant? All redundant moderations will be meta-moderated as unfair. Here's something on topic. This article proves that Bill Gates' claim that Linux is not competition is wishful thinking. Linux is taking over important tasks, and the creative arts. You couldn't do a stick figure cartoon on Windows without it crashing.

      --
      How ya like dat?
  2. Another one bites the dust by amishgeek · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I look forward to reading the article in a day or so, when it is no longer "slashdotted"

    1. Re:Another one bites the dust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdotting wired.com?
      I think their servers are a little better than that, at least I would hope so.

    2. Re:Another one bites the dust by amishgeek · · Score: 1

      Actually, I thought I was replying to the Mac OS 10.3 story... Somehow I hit reply on that one, and it posted to this one.

    3. Re:Another one bites the dust by RevSmiley · · Score: 1

      I had no problem accssingh wired.com .. you are full of it.

      --
      As you can see I don't care about my karma.
  3. Eh... by frieked · · Score: 0, Troll

    Animation is simple enough...
    While this isn't something to snub your nose at, I'll really be impressed when a company such as Pixar starts using linux exclusively.

    --

    I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.
    -Xenocrates
    1. Re:Eh... by vasqzr · · Score: 5, Informative
    2. Re:Eh... by 3.5+stripes · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, most of the workstations of the animators are linux.

      The animation director's is a dual 2ghz xeon running limux. He told me so. He also told me they'd be changing in a few years, but wouldn't tell me what to :(

      --


      He tried to kill me with a forklift!
    3. Re:Eh... by hendridm · · Score: 1

      > I'll really be impressed when a company such as Pixar starts using linux exclusively.

      That would be impressive, especially since Steve Jobs is the chairman and CEO. Perhaps he could convince Darl McBride to do the same.

    4. Re:Eh... by DChristensen · · Score: 1

      Why, G5's, of course!

      --

      --
      Mac OS X--Unix without the assholes^Whassles.

    5. Re:Eh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why? Does Pixar do more or different animation than Dreamworks and PDI? Oh, wait, I get it - Pixar does 3D, right? Like Shrek? No, hang on - that's PDI/DW. Ok, that's 100% 3D animation, not like Sinbad, which is only 80% 3D animation. Hmmm... sounds pretty impressive to me.

    6. Re:Eh... by ignorant · · Score: 1

      well OK.. that is the O/S. But what software did they use?

      I guess some custom stuff? Any freeware alternatives available out there?

      - S

      --
      Alive, occupying space and exerting gravitational pull.
  4. Whew! by Dark+Paladin · · Score: 1, Funny

    When I saw "Sinbad" I was starting to think about the comic. No wonder it would take so many Linux servers to render the man. (Yes, he's funny - but man, I wouldn't want him sitting in my lap.)

    1. Re:Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Sinbad is a comic, too? I thought he was a comedian.

    2. Re:Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Yes, he's funny - but man, I wouldn't want him sitting in my lap.

      Is this Sinbad the Sailor or Sailbad the Sinner we're talking about here?

  5. Linux Quality by Dr+Tall · · Score: 1

    Why exactly is Linux being preferred here? Is it the OS or the apps that can run on Linux?

    1. Re:Linux Quality by TopShelf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's all about the cost savings - they've used Unix before, but this makes it less expensive to crank up the number of computers involved. Really, this isn't that big a story. It's well-known that Linux is becoming the platform of choice for this specific application...

      --
      Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
    2. Re:Linux Quality by Enry · · Score: 4, Informative

      A few years ago I replaced an SGI cluster with a Linux cluster. Due to the reduced cost of hardware and software (they even bought from VA Lin^H^H^HSoftware), they paid less to purchase the Linux cluster than the yearly lease fee of the SGI cluster.

      And the Linux cluster had at least twice (probably 3-4x) the performance.

    3. Re:Linux Quality by malducin · · Score: 1

      Both actually. The machines are running Linux and using Linux based apps. Maya for 3D I believe, and they have a propietary tool for 2D cell painting which was used last year in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

      LinuxJournal had coverage on this:

      GFX: DreamWorks Feature Linux and Animation
      Linux Dreamworks Redux

  6. Hooray by iamsoscrewed · · Score: 1

    As a Micro$oft pimp, I am glad to hear that Linux is finally getting it's dues in the high visibility world. I hope I see the penguin somewhere in the credits.

    1. Re:Hooray by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you've mentioned the one market segment that M$ has virtually no share of... you really don't like them do you?

      As for credits, yeah, it'd be cool - I remember being pleasently chuffed when "Amigas running Lightwave" popped up at the end of Babylon 5 Series 1...

    2. Re:Hooray by fitten · · Score: 1

      I believe Toy Story had the list of the names of all the computers in the render farm in the credits near the end.

  7. Problems... by jeffy210 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The biggest problems were the women and the water."

    Isn't that the problem that most men have to deal with anyway?

    --
    ------
    "And may your days be long upon the earth."
    1. Re:Problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I sometimes can't sleep at night because I can't stop thinking about the problems I have with water.

  8. the women by metallikop · · Score: 5, Funny
    The biggest problems were the women and the water.

    Strange, being a Linux user women are my biggest problem too.

    1. Re:the women by Dr+Tall · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's no better for Windows users *sigh*.

    2. Re:the women by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you need a Mac then so you can mac on the women as the mac daddy

      --
      --------
      Free your mind.
    3. Re:the women by Dr+Tall · · Score: 0

      I used Macintosh for about 6 years before I switched to Windows. Been there, done that. I don't miss it a bit.

    4. Re:the women by Exitthree · · Score: 1

      Your Mac called. It says you left your sense of humor behind with it. ::rolls eyes::

    5. Re:the women by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Umm - so six years of computer experience and nothing learnt?

    6. Re:the women by UnknownQ · · Score: 1

      Yah, all the Apple users get all the luck, don't they?

      --
      Wherever you go, there you are!
  9. Seeing the movie by Farnite · · Score: 0

    Having the article /.'d I didn't get a chance to read it, however, I will say this is one movie I'm going to see just to support linux/open source

    1. Re:Seeing the movie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      great...now we have to watch a cartoon about a gay sailor to support linux.

  10. I don't think Sinbad is that funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess he was okay in that Houseguest movie, but I think that was due mostly to the late great Phil Hartman.

    1. Re:I don't think Sinbad is that funny by chrismcdirty · · Score: 0

      I have a friend who met Sinbad like 2 months ago. He performed around here and then went to the movie theater by himself afterwards. My friend was a manager at the movie theater and got his picture taken with him. He then said he was a loser because he went to the movies by himself.

      --
      It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    2. Re:I don't think Sinbad is that funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are most certainly retarded. This is Sinbad the movie, not the comedian

    3. Re:I don't think Sinbad is that funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You certainly don't know how to take a joke, do you?

    4. Re:I don't think Sinbad is that funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Score:0 Funny haha that was funny. any more?

    5. Re:I don't think Sinbad is that funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, you mistaking it as serious was funnier, but still funny.

  11. Will it show in the credits? by strredwolf · · Score: 1, Funny

    The biggest question now is if a penguin will be in the credits.

    Oh oh.... BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

    --

    --
    # Canmephians for a better Linux Kernel
    $Stalag99{"URL"}="http://stalag99.net";
    1. Re:Will it show in the credits? by svallarian · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Oh yeah, sure, keep supporting the MPAA. And when linux won't run on DRM-mandated machines, don't come running to me!

      --
      I patented screwing your mom. But it got revoked for "prior art."
    2. Re:Will it show in the credits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you need to update your knowledge of TCPA.

    3. Re:Will it show in the credits? by FroMan · · Score: 1

      Now wouldn't that just take the cake.

      1. MPAA members are only using linux to render FX.
      2. MPAA somehow stops linux through DRM legislation.
      3. ??? (Mainly MPAA members thinking wtf did we just do)
      4. MPAA lobbies against DRM required systems.
      5. Ofcourse the profit goes here.

      Just a wacky idea.

      --
      Norris/Palin 2012
      Fact: We deserve leaders who can kick your ass and field dress your carcass.
    4. Re:Will it show in the credits? by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "And when linux won't run on DRM-mandated machines, don't come running to me!"

      Under what circumstances have people been running to you?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    5. Re:Will it show in the credits? by malducin · · Score: 1

      I saw a preview this past Thursday. I didn't see the penguin mentioned, but HP sure got a big logo in the credits as the exclusive technology providers for Dreamworks Animation.

  12. That will be the day by missing000 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Wired slashdotted? You gotta be kidding me.

    Sounds like you need broadband buddy.

  13. Ironic... by metz2000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I find it highly amusing that the only place I could find clips for this new movie was on WindowsMedia.com!

    "Created using Linux, advertised by Microsoft."

    1. Re:Ironic... by metz2000 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well, there is the Official Sinbad site, and seen as no one else has posted a link to that I thought I should

    2. Re:Ironic... by gid · · Score: 2, Informative

      You obviously didn't look that hard, it's also available in quicktime. Both formats, thanks to nice hackers, are very playable under linux. Although maybe not 100% legally... :(

    3. Re:Ironic... by markzdk2002 · · Score: 0

      You should have looked on quicktime.com or yahoo movies. Just looking for some whitty way to slam microsoft? I am not a Windows user I use Unix but come one Linux free? The cost of HP hardware alone would make you faint, lets not forget support! The cost of the OS is the minor cost. Hardware and support are through the roof.

  14. Another crippling bombshell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is this yet another crippling bombshell for the beleagured *BSD community?

    Stay tuned for more info!

  15. If you had doubt.. by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 1

    Red Hat is here to stay, this stuff is just good press for them.

    --
    --------
    Free your mind.
    1. Re:If you had doubt.. by AndroidCat · · Score: 1
      It's nice publicity for Red Hat, but how many copies did Pixar buy? (Then again, a big ticket customer like Pixar might have bought a hipri support contract.)

      The Amiga used to get good press too. ;^)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    2. Re:If you had doubt.. by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Agggh! Dreamworks, not Pixar. Fingers on auto-pilot.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  16. Linux Taken Seriously by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 2, Interesting
    And you have to ask yourselves, does anyone need more proof that Linux is as capable as any other operating platform out there?

    Short answer: No.

    Since when has a Linux user honestly given a cr*p what anyone else thinks?

    Rock on boys!

    --
    "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
    --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    1. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by Em+Emalb · · Score: 4, Interesting

      And you have to ask yourselves, does anyone need more proof that Linux is as capable as any other operating platform out there?

      No. I sure don't. In fact, we've been getting beaten over the head with this for a few years now.

      Linux used by company X! It'll be taken seriously now! Wohooo...that was in like 2000.

      Now, for whatever reason, geeks have this frigging complex that their operating system needs to have some sort of global warm fuzzy. This ain't all hollywood people. This isn't Sally Fields gushing about how we like her (we really like her!). Folks, use what you like, influence (if you must) who you can and just move on.

      LET...IT....GO.

      this message brought to you by the sarcastic Em.

      --
      Sent from your iPad.
    2. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 5, Interesting

      And you have to ask yourselves, does anyone need more proof that Linux is as capable as any other operating platform out there?

      About 95% of the world's computer users.

      Since when has a Linux user honestly given a cr*p what anyone else thinks?

      As long as I can remember. I'm not saying it's bad, but linux users are just as fanatical as Mac users. Almost any negative commentary about linux is met with a slew of rebuttals.

      If linux users are really independent of popular opinion, why is it that every high profile article stating that maybe linux isn't all it's cracked up to be generates several hundred comments on slashdot?

      --

      --
      the strongest word is still the word "free"
    3. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by mblase · · Score: 1

      And you have to ask yourselves, does anyone need more proof that Linux is as capable as any other operating platform out there?

      Depending on what you want to use it for -- business workstation? Graphics workstation? Graphics rendering? Consumer desktop? Internet server? Data server?

      Argument-wise, using Linux in one particular setting for one particular task is no proof that it's equally suited for every other setting and task.

    4. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by molarmass192 · · Score: 1

      I'd add that tech savvy Windows users are just as fanatical. This doesn't mean Aunt May, but the tech minded Windows users like those that read /.. Reality is that each OS has it's strong points and weak points and some people have very strong opinions on those points. Unfortunately, there are rarely, if any, reasonable discussions between the "factions" here that don't require a fire extinguisher to read.

      --

      Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws-Plato
    5. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "Since when has a Linux user honestly given a cr*p what anyone else thinks? "

      If they don't care what everybody thinks, then why does Slashdot post any story that contains the word Linux?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    6. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by KalvinB · · Score: 0, Troll

      Wow, Linux can make pretty pictures.

      However for the mass market that demands a little more, Linux still falls short.

      See what's dumb is that when someone says "Windows" they aren't talking about the kernel. Yet when you try to talk to a Linux zealot about Linux that's all they think about.

      Who cares what the "kernel" can do if the user doesn't have an easy intuitive way to access those features. Maybe you've heard of such a thing. It's called a "User Interface."

      Until Linux gets a real one of those that's mass market friendly, Linux isn't going to be ready for anything.

      Ben

    7. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by Mac+Degger · · Score: 1

      As pointed out, we all know Linux is a capable OS.

      What it isn't though is a comfortable desktop environment idiots can use without too much hassle. Once linux can do that (instead of hunting down stuff, or even having to use a command line), only then will the masses use the power of their wallets.

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    8. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by RevSmiley · · Score: 1

      Well I am no Linux zealot however I use it 99.9% of the time. My user interface is as good as they get unless you can hook me up with and interface that reads my mind. There is nothing confusing about it and I can make it look anyway I want to boot. I don't do CLI very often and when I do it's in a "window" on one of my mutiple "desktops"/workspaces. If I didn't have a very good and usable GUI I wouldn't be using Linux at all.

      Usability wise Linux knocks the crap out of all other OSes I have used. If you can't get it to work it's because you are a fucking retard.

      --
      As you can see I don't care about my karma.
    9. Re:Linux Taken Seriously by MikeFM · · Score: 1

      Myself, I'd like to use Windows users and their computers for target practice but that really has nothing to do with them using Windows. I just think that way of most people in the world. I really don't care if those people use Windows, MacOS, Linux, or whatever.

      I just forgive most Linux users.. they are one of the groups I usually feel like not killing. Not that some aren't worth killing.. but I take them on an individual basis before deciding.

      There.. isn't that a big difference from being an OS fanatic!? Actually, I'm half serious. People that seem to make some effort to be intelligent I tend to like.. even if they use Windows.. where as I dislike most other people.

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
  17. and its got Brad Pitt by AssFace · · Score: 1

    I can't really imagine him as the voice in a cartoon.

    Does this mean that he is moving into the kids movie realm now?

    I know that he says that he rejected the following he got from wuss movies that he started in as beefcake type roles (Legends of the Fall and such).

    Perhaps he is now rejecting the following he got from films like Seven and Fight Club.

    Or maybe he just likes Linux.

    --

    There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
    1. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1, Interesting
      I can't really imagine him as the voice in a cartoon. Does this mean that he is moving into the kids movie realm now? I know that he says that he rejected the following he got from wuss movies that he started in as beefcake type roles (Legends of the Fall and such). Perhaps he is now rejecting the following he got from films like Seven and Fight Club. Or maybe he just likes Linux.

      Or maybe he just needs some money.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    2. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by AssFace · · Score: 1

      yeah, I'll bet he is hurting under the load of his wife's career constantly pulling him down.

      I just hope that they have enough to eat tonight.

      --

      There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
    3. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 2, Funny

      Perhaps he is now rejecting the following he got from films like Seven and Fight Club.

      HEY! You do NOT talk about Fight Club!

      --
      --------
      Free your mind.
    4. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by prozac79 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I can't really imagine him as the voice in a cartoon. Does this mean that he is moving into the kids movie realm now?

      Actually, take a look at all the high profile actors that do voice-over work for animated and CG films. A lot of big name actors lend their voices to kids movies, but that doesn't mean they are moving into that realm. It's just another job (and another paycheck).

      Or maybe he just likes Linux

      Anyone want to take me up on a bet that he doesn't know what Linux is? For some reason I don't see actors choosing to work on this movie because they have some heart-felt connection with Linux advocates.

      --
      "Oh dear, she's stuck in an infinite loop and he's an idiot" -Prof. Farnsworth (Futurama)
    5. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Voice talent for cartoons is respectable these days. Look at how much they plugged the voice of Bruce Willis for a dog in that Wild Thornberries one.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    6. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by AndroidCat · · Score: 1
      It's just another job (and another paycheck).

      And probably a quick one. I imagine they get the voice talent in and out pretty fast, and then match the graphics to the voices.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    7. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      Voice talent for cartoons is respectable these days. Look at how much they plugged the voice of Bruce Willis for a dog in that Wild Thornberries one.

      They did that because the movie had nothing else to offer. The third movie in the franchise, they desperately needed some hook to draw people back in. It didn't work.

    8. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Hey, I didn't say the movie was respectable. Not that I saw it, but you could tell from the advertising.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    9. Re:and its got Brad Pitt by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1
      yeah, I'll bet he is hurting under the load of his wife's career constantly pulling him down.

      I just hope that they have enough to eat tonight.

      Paypal donation site, anyone?

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  18. Newsbreak: Baked producers find women a "problem" by GillBates0 · · Score: 2, Funny
    The biggest problems were the women...*snip*...Once the ocean was "baked,"...*snip*...But the Sirens still looked like naked plastic women...

    Me thinks the Dreamworks team had a whole lot of wholesome fun while making the movie.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  19. a quote from the article by pytheron · · Score: 0, Redundant
    The biggest problems were the women and the water

    Personally, I don't think they were referring to the rendering process here ! Use linux, and watch the chicks become a thing of the past , and the thought of water near your person makes you itch uncontrollably !

    --
    "I am not bound to please thee with my answers" [William Shakespeare]
    1. Re:a quote from the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WTF?

      how the FUCK is the parent post redundant ?
      do mods know what REDUNDANT means ?

      WTF ?

      because mods are on CRACK !!

  20. They call those Sirens? by svenjob · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The least technologically advanced "feature" I've ever heard a company boast about.
    "Each Siren has 16 strands of hair"
    Alright... 16 strands of hair? I thought modern computer graphics were up to thousands of strands. Am I missing something here? Maybe 16,000? Anyways, it's good to see Linux in the mianstream like this. Eventhough I use Windows and Mac OSX for work and school, linux still finds a way to get into my life.
    --

    Totally Life!

    ALL replies

    1. Re:They call those Sirens? by Bonker · · Score: 3, Informative

      Each 'strand' is one curving segment of hair that can be manipulated and curved to a great degree. Compare to typical japanese-animated hair, which has only two segements, the front hair that covers the character's face, and the back that appears behind their face. Yeah, I know it sounds like they only have 16 hairs, but it looks quite a bit better than that. Check out this character picture for a clearer idea of what each 'strand' really is:

      http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/2002091437/ww w.wired.com/news/images/full/sinbad_b800_f.jpg

      --
      The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
    2. Re:They call those Sirens? by confused+one · · Score: 1

      It's done bundles (called strands) for simplicity. It could be modelled as 16,000 strands; but, the movie might take a few extra years to render.

    3. Re:They call those Sirens? by fitten · · Score: 1

      Pronounced "Fizz-tee," the software is so powerful, it individually simulated each of the 3 million hairs that cover one of the lead monsters, and into the bargain, it reduced the process from weeks to hours.

      http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,48052, 00 .html

    4. Re:They call those Sirens? by defishguy · · Score: 1

      Hey.... some guys reading this would LOVE to have 16 strands of hair!

    5. Re:They call those Sirens? by killmenow · · Score: 1
    6. Re:They call those Sirens? by Allen+Varney · · Score: 2, Informative
    7. Re:They call those Sirens? by confused+one · · Score: 1

      Well, Ok.... Foot stuffed firmly in mouth with keyboard propped at odd angle to allow typing...

    8. Re:They call those Sirens? by hondo77 · · Score: 1

      Alright... 16 strands of hair? I thought modern computer graphics were up to thousands of strands. Am I missing something here?

      These characters had to integrate with 2d characters, not photo-real or even Pixar-style characters. Millions of strands of hair would look out of place next to a hand-drawn character.

      --
      I live ze unknown. I love ze unknown. I am ze unknown.
    9. Re:They call those Sirens? by svenjob · · Score: 1

      Gotcha. I was wrongfully comparing this style (cartoonish animation) to other styles that are just trying to be realistic and act as technology demos (Monsters Inc, Final Fantasy...). Those had MUCH more than 16 strands of hair. But I guess they're trying to do something completely different.

      --

      Totally Life!

      ALL replies

    10. Re:They call those Sirens? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey! My ex-wife!

    11. Re:They call those Sirens? by Mac+Degger · · Score: 1

      Basically 16 control strands (CS)...these strands control the direction of other strands of hair which look for their position to that CS. The individual CS' interact with each other too, transferring those interactions to the strands they control.

      Anyway, it's bad enough animating a human body convincingly, now add realistic hair to it and you'r happy that you can use just 16 strands instead of doing each hair individually :).

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
  21. I'm confused!! by TrollBridge · · Score: 5, Insightful
    So it's OK for the movie industry to use Linux to CREATE movies, but it's not OK for us to use Linux to VIEW movies...

    That makes about as much sense as putting a screen door on a submarine.

    --
    There's a Mercedes gap too. I want one and can't afford one, but it's not government's job to do anything about it.
    1. Re:I'm confused!! by fobbman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      YOUR confused? Considering the ongoing hatred of the MPAA, I don't know if I should see this movie or not.

    2. Re:I'm confused!! by broeman · · Score: 0

      because it is so hard to use mplayer for windows media files, quicktime, Divx, AVI, MPEG and so on

      --

      (yes this can be compared with sex)
    3. Re:I'm confused!! by TrollBridge · · Score: 1

      MPlayer uses DeCSS for its DVD playback, which technically makes it illegal.

      --
      There's a Mercedes gap too. I want one and can't afford one, but it's not government's job to do anything about it.
    4. Re:I'm confused!! by listen · · Score: 1

      No, it uses libdvdcss, which is very hard to call illegal. It cracks the css keys for any DVD you put in.

      DeCSS was questionably a derivative work of Xings DVD player as it used the keys.

      Are there any claims against libdvdcss that you know of? It'd be pretty damn hard to make it stick. In the free world, that is.....

    5. Re:I'm confused!! by axxackall · · Score: 1

      Good point. But very wrong place to ask. You should forward your concern to Linus and let him correct the license: from now on it's illegal to use Linux to produce (render, store, transfer) any movies untill there will be (someone will develop and open-source) the tool to view movies.

      --

      Less is more !
    6. Re:I'm confused!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you meant to say "you're" confused, instead of "your". You're is a contraction of "you are" as in "you are confused?" Your is possessive, as in, "is this your shirt?" See the difference? Try not to let it happen again, okay?

    7. Re:I'm confused!! by Mac+Degger · · Score: 1

      The way I see it is like this: we like the output (entertainment), but don't like the business methods (I'm not saying anything new yet, am I :)

      What needs to be done is for us to send a clear message to the industry that we don't like being treated like criminals and we want to use our digital devices however we want.

      Now the solution, the way to have our cake and eat it too, is simple:

      1)wait for a blockbuster to come out...Lord of the Rings 3, for example.
      2)organise, flyer, whatever, then when it comes out.../don't see it!/.
      3)???
      4)have a couple of million people not see it for a week, then see the movie (Profit!!!)

      Hey presto, we send a message and it doesn't cost us anything; all you need is the discipline to not resist temtation :)

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    8. Re:I'm confused!! by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      Are there any claims against libdvdcss that you know of? It'd be pretty damn hard to make it stick. In the free world, that is.....

      It would be very easy to make it stick, at least if DeCSS is settled completely. Distributing a utility that can crack the css keys is illegal according to the DMCA.

    9. Re:I'm confused!! by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      Hey presto, we send a message and it doesn't cost us anything; all you need is the discipline to not resist temtation :)

      What if we have free tickets? :) (I managed to see The Two Towers for free 3 times...)

    10. Re:I'm confused!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      YOUR confused?

      About how to spell the contraction "you are"? Apparently so...

  22. do we really want linux associated with disney by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    one of the biggest copyright monsters in the world. Plus, no amount of free linux software is going to make disney movies worth watching or have any kind of quality. Pixar movies don't count, since all disney does is distribute the movie.

    1. Re:do we really want linux associated with disney by Joel+Bruick · · Score: 0

      Sinbad is a Dreamworks film.

      Dreamworks is not Disney.

      Congratulations.

    2. Re:do we really want linux associated with disney by confused+one · · Score: 1
      Disney didn't publish the film, but...

      Yes. Because if Disney has to work in Linux, then they might learn something...

      I don't care if it's copyrighted. I'll pay for decent music or movies... I just want to be able to legally view it once I've bought it.

  23. yarr by huntz0r · · Score: 5, Funny

    More proof that Linux users are a bunch of pirates

    --

    Karma: Chameleon (mostly affected when you come and go, you come and go)
    1. Re:yarr by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 1

      I thought those were Kazaa users?

      --
      --------
      Free your mind.
    2. Re:yarr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      So, will this movie be rated AARRRRGH?

    3. Re:yarr by delcielo · · Score: 1

      I was thinking the same thing:

      Next Up: Ali Baba and His 40 Thieves!

      --
      Hot Damn! It's the Soggy Bottom Boys!
  24. JUST GREAT by geekoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    "is the first Hollywood production created entirely on Linux. "
    another thing I won't be able to watch with windows..

    oh wait.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  25. Oh boy, they tackled this years ago.. by MrPerfekt · · Score: 1

    The Road To El Dorrado had to face similar challenges with the water and gold (and it had the music of Elton John *swoon*). Gold also tends to be very hard to animate because of it's luster.

    --
    I just wasted your mod points! HA!
    1. Re:Oh boy, they tackled this years ago.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no, it wasn't elton john... it was someone that sounded ALOT like him... read the credits.

    2. Re:Oh boy, they tackled this years ago.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually Elton John was one of many who contributed music to the movie:

      Klaus Badelt (additional music)
      Justin Caine Burnett (additional music)
      Elton John (songs)
      John Powell (I)
      James McKee Smith (additional music)
      Geoff Zanelli (additional music)
      Hans Zimmer

      Perhaps you should read IMDB before making such claims ;)

  26. Another Movie...with Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is this news? We've already seen other movies made using Linux. For example, Titanic, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Jungle Book 2, Shrek, Enemy at the Gate, Pixar movies, etc...

    1. Re:Another Movie...with Linux by confused+one · · Score: 1

      maybe not "news" but it's good publicity -- always a good thing...

  27. If was ask nicely... by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1
    If we ask nicely, do you think they'll GPL any of that nifty software?

    Please Mr. Spielberg...

    Pretty, pretty, please...

    With sugar on top...

    --
    "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
    --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    1. Re:If was ask nicely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, Spielberg doesn't have anything to do with DW's animated film division; he's live action exclusively. Katzenberg's the man to plead with - although I have doubts that he knows what open source is. Rumor has it his assistants print out his e-mail and videotape their web-surfing so he can look at stuff without touching a computer.
      And if I'm not mistaken DW _has_ contributed back to the linux world; by running close to 1000 workstations, servers and render machines, both in Glendale and at PDI up north, they have done massive beta testing and bug reporting to Red Hat and HP; they've contributed to projects like CrossOver Office (Disney, Pixar, and DW spent $$ to get Photoshop 7.0 working in CXOffice 2.0); etc.
      But they are a corporation. I doubt they'll GPL any propriatary software. :-\

    2. Re:If was ask nicely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't it better spend money to persuade Adobe to release native Photoshop for Linux instead of CXOffice?

  28. Trouble with the pre-screening... by pb · · Score: 4, Funny
    Apparently they're having trouble getting this deployed because the theatres are having a tough time with their new digital video systems; it quits immediately with this error:

    - MPlayer crashed. This shouldn't happen.
    It can be a bug in the MPlayer code _or_ in your drivers _or_ in your gcc
    version. If you think it's MPlayer's fault, please read DOCS/bugreports.html
    and follow the instructions there. We can't and won't help unless you provide
    this information when reporting a possible bug.




    (and, yes, that was a joke, folks...)

    --
    pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
    1. Re:Trouble with the pre-screening... by confused+one · · Score: 2, Funny
      An even better joke:

      They're having trouble getting it deployed because RIAA and MPAA are objecting to the use of decss on some digital video systems...

    2. Re:Trouble with the pre-screening... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right, man. That was a totally awesome joke. I mean. I had trouble breathing after reading your post. I haven't laughed like that in awhile... Thanks, man. I needed that. Whoo-wee..

      Alright, now, back to work...

    3. Re:Trouble with the pre-screening... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are truly aptly named if you think that contained any humor.

    4. Re:Trouble with the pre-screening... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      god the moderators need a spanking on this one.

      there's a difference between giving us potential material for a joke, and a bonafide finished, polished joke with A DELIVERY.

      this was not funny in anyone's distortion field.

      please for the love of god, someone provide a setup, and punchline (even a weak one) for the subject matter(i refuse to call it a joke) the "confused one" has mentioned.

  29. uhm by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There are better ways to do that, man.

    --

    --
    the strongest word is still the word "free"
  30. How is it different then this: by geekoid · · Score: 1

    Its ok to give away sex, but as soon as you charge for it you are a criminal.

    now I have to go put a kickstand on my horse.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re: How is it different then this: by Black+Parrot · · Score: 0, Offtopic


      > Its ok to give away sex, but as soon as you charge for it you are a criminal.

      > now I have to go put a kickstand on my horse.

      For the benefit of us more strait-laced types, could you explain what the kickstand and horse have to do with sex, and whether they are used with the kind you give away or the kind you charge for?

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    2. Re:How is it different then this: by Veranix · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, you've never been married.

      Or maybe you have...no paycheck, AND no sex!

    3. Re: How is it different then this: by travdaddy · · Score: 1

      could you explain what the kickstand and horse have to do with sex, and whether they are used with the kind you give away or the kind you charge for?

      I'm not sure if you're humor-impaired, or if I am. ;-)

      --
      Adidas To Bring Back Sneakernet
    4. Re: How is it different then this: by kenthorvath · · Score: 1

      You missed the parent post about a screen door on a submarine, and he was making the kickstand on the horse analogy. The common link is utilities that don't make any sense on a given device, or more specifically a mode of transportation.

  31. Re:SICK OF LINUX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    agreed

  32. a film on Microsoft tech... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well, Microsoft can easily match that. All they have to do is remake Derek Jarman's 'Blue'.

  33. both - Re:Linux Quality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's better than: WinXP, OS X, FeerBSD, Hurd, Slowlaris, WinNT, HP-UX, IRIX, Plan9, DOS and OS X.

    Simple. There isn't something in the other oses that the linux folks haven't thought of and made reallity already.

  34. 16 strands? by pr0ntab · · Score: 2, Informative

    Each hair isn't drawn individually. What they might have termed "strands" is really a clump that gets it's own outline, and has it's own controls.

    If you look at the picture, 16 seems about right for the number of "clumps" of visible hair bundles with outlines. I imagine the CG animation on these is very intricate.

    --
    Fuck Beta. Fuck Dice
    1. Re:16 strands? by deadsaijinx* · · Score: 1

      not really, 16 strands is hardly anything these days, but if that's all they need to get the job done, then so be it.

      --
      YOU SUCK BALLS!
  35. Open source licenses and movies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This makes me wonder how various open source licenses deal with non-software endproducts. Should they include requirements for crediting the software and its creators?

  36. Sigh... mod me down by pVoid · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Animating Sinbad proved a demanding test of the Linux operating system.

    In other news:

    "Making coffee proved a very difficult task for my Ford Explorer."

    1. Re:Sigh... mod me down by pVoid · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Fucking fucking losers... alright, I have karma to burn (and enemies to make I guess)...

      Sinbad's numerous ocean scenes created a daunting technological task. If animators had created the film's oceans segment by segment (as in the past), it could have added years to the movie's production time. By using Linux, the DreamWorks effects department was able to create a rolling oceanscape rather than compose the ocean frame by frame.

      What has linux got anything to do with anything here? it's an OS not a rendering suite!!!

      Hype like this just makes you lose credibility man...

    2. Re:Sigh... mod me down by DASHSL0T · · Score: 2, Funny

      Fucking fucking losers... alright, I have karma to burn (and enemies to make I guess)...

      Considering I saw this under Ford Explorers making coffee, I take it yours does not make decaf. :-P

      --
      Freedom Is Universal
      Linux-Universe
    3. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What has linux got anything to do with anything here? it's an OS not a rendering suite!!!

      Too bad nobody modded you down. Oh well, perhaps there are others who don't know that essentially the whole animation industry has gone to Linux, or is in the process of doing so. That includes writing open source tools specifically to run on, and enhance the usability of Linux as an animation platform. Ever heard of Film Gimp? There are some open source compositing tools as well, I've heard. There's also Sweep, a slick little sound editing program that was apparently supported by the animation company that did most of Lord of the Rings.

      --
      Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
    4. Re:Sigh... mod me down by bogie · · Score: 1

      Wow, so hateful because Linux on the desktop got some needed street credit.

      Are your sure your at the right site?

      btw I think they were reffering to how efficient linux turned out to be.

      If I had to cherry pick a single quote from the article it would be this.

      "You hear a lot about Linux not being ready to work on desktops," said HP's Jeff Wood, director of product marketing for personal workstations. "Well, here we have the perfect example of how Linux is more than ready for the desktop -- hundreds of animators successfully used Linux to create a film right from their desktops."

      --
      If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
    5. Re:Sigh... mod me down by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      As was pointed out elsewhere in this story thread, when you are dealing with hundreds of render stations, linux is much, *much* cheaper to deploy.

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    6. Re:Sigh... mod me down by pVoid · · Score: 1
      Yeah man, I think I'm on the right site. I never said I was anti linux. I use linux myself...

      But here's my cherry pick for you: "You hear a lot about Linux not being ready to work on desktops,"

      So let's respond to FUD by writing stuff that makes linux people look like defensive 14 year old girls who shy of their own bodies... The text in that article is just plain demeaning... it has the tone of a desperate teenager's cry. Think all you want of me... the truth is there.

      There are two possible outcomes of this: a) it's going to make some people look like idiots - namely the people writing that article, b) it's going to work (make linux look good somehow), but then you will have whored out your own principles and will be at the same level of advertising as microsoft is.

      You pick.

    7. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Don't worry. the troll lords will come sniffing soon and mod me down, and you'll have your wish. And you will think you are justified and right...

      -pVoid

    8. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Zapdos · · Score: 1

      12-volt coffee makers are pretty easy to find.
      http://kitchenandcoffee.com/lp-7027.htm.

    9. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use sweep sometimes. Though sometimes I like xwave.

    10. Re:Sigh... mod me down by nomadic · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That wasn't his point. He was responding to this:

      Sinbad's numerous ocean scenes created a daunting technological task. If animators had created the film's oceans segment by segment (as in the past), it could have added years to the movie's production time. By using Linux, the DreamWorks effects department was able to create a rolling oceanscape rather than compose the ocean frame by frame.

      His point was valid. Animators might be moving to linux en masse; that's fine. But to claim that linux itself is able to do things graphically that other OSes can't is just ridiculous. Linux may be cheaper than the alternatives, but let's not pretend that the underlying technology is so much better than say SGI that you can do things graphically on linux that you are unable to do on SGI.

      Or are you really claiming that whatever technique they used to render the oceans couldn't be done on anything other than linux?

    11. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right, but the software in the rendering suite needs capabilities that are found in Linux (and many Unices) but most certainly NOT in Windows. Most likely Mr. Gates does not ever want that kind of software to run under Windows. You see, that would imply a whole bunch of capabilities that Billy G. does not want in Windows; like effortless thin clients, cluster management that allows sharing computer power across the network and a real blurring of what software is actually running on what hardware. That would really shoot a hole in M$'s one computer, one license (soon to be one computer, one monthly fee forever) money making machine, wouldn't it?

      Customers (like computer animators, schools, ISP's) want it and would use it if it was available in Windows, but it never will be! Yet another example of how M$'s "innovation" is only tuned to benefit M$, not computer users!

    12. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey loser. Did anyone in this thread ever talk about windows? In the article? Anywhere? Windows, and your jerking pin-up poster boy Gates are completely irrelivant to the topic at hand. I think it's time you pull your fucking 2 inch cranium out of your diarhetic ass.

    13. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that you, Bill?

    14. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 2

      Animators might be moving to linux en masse; that's fine. But to claim that linux itself is able to do things graphically that other OSes can't is just ridiculous. Linux may be cheaper than the alternatives, but let's not pretend that the underlying technology is so much better than say SGI that you can do things graphically on linux that you are unable to do on SGI.

      Linux is apparently much faster. As for whether you could or couldn't do this on some other OS platform, it likely hasn't gotten to that point yet, other than in practical terms of price.

      --
      Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
    15. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Pseudonym · · Score: 1

      Under Linux, you can do things that you previously could pretty much only do on SGI. Because it's commodity PC hardware, it's much cheaper, and because it's sufficiently Unix-like, it's very easy to port.

      That it's open source is at best icing on the cake.

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
    16. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, because the ability to run one app in a specialized environment proves it's ready for the general market.

      Not.

      Please, get a clue. In fact, get several. You have the clue-space for them.

    17. Re:Sigh... mod me down by pVoid · · Score: 1
      And please enlighten us as to why a piece of software that is mostly mathematical (read the most complexe things it will ask out of the computer are 64 bit floating point operations - not realtime interrupt handling) would need the underlying OS to be open source?

      Rendering software needs the following:

      a CPU, with floating point operations (emulated if necessary)

      persistent memory management - read: a file system capable of housing, you guessed it, files

      sockets for network communications in case you want to distribute the tasks - you are quite the fools if you think linux miraculously makes any application distributed

      Are you guys seriously thinking that linux is providing something here that the other OSs can't? If you are, it means you are beyond hope.

    18. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Pseudonym · · Score: 1

      First of all, I explicitly said that the open-sourceness of an OS is at best icing on the cake. All that Linux provides that most other OSes can't is access to commodity hardware with a Unix-like interface at the right price.

      Secondly, contrary to common belief, real-world rendering software is not mostly mathematical. I used to work for a certain company which writes rendering software used on such films as The Matrix and Fight Club, and I was as surprised as you to learn this.

      A large Pixar-sized frame might have 2Gb of compressed geometry data and 10Gb of compressed texture data in it. The two limiting factors are network bandwidth (moving that much data around a render farm can be a real bottleneck) and memory (while not all 12Gb will be in memory at once, because the rendering software will do a lot of the caching itself, good virtual memory performance is critical).

      And remember, of course, that rendering is only the last step in the pipeline. There's modelling, rigging, animation, simulation, lighting and non-graphical tasks like asset management all to take into account.

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
    19. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      for not even posting something interesting.

      someone punch this guy in the face.

      i'd rather read a post from MS fanboys going on about Microsoft Bob

    20. Re:Sigh... mod me down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll bet you'd prefer even more having some fat hairy guy ram you up the ass...

  37. Translation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Somehow" = "I shoot up smack and read /."

  38. The real reason for the length of production by pytheron · · Score: 2, Funny
    Animators studied the movements made in gymnastics, ballet and modern dance and looked at underwater filming to get a feel for the fluid movements these "water women" might make.

    No wonder the film took four years to make !
    Animator: Sorry love, we didn't quite capture that.. once more, but this time come closer.. we need to get an artistic feel

    --
    "I am not bound to please thee with my answers" [William Shakespeare]
  39. First time was last year by beef3k · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...that "an entire Hollywood production was created on Linux", at least according to this

    Hey, it's even the same company.

    1. Re:First time was last year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It says "almost exclusively"...

    2. Re:First time was last year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ha! Ha! That's great! Truth in marketing strikes again! :-)
      I think Spirit was _part_ linux, _part_ SGI's Irix. Sinbad is all linux.... supposedly. I guess we'll see what the next marketing pitch is!

    3. Re:First time was last year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for the link - this must be one of the three animated films that were in production at that time - w00f!

  40. From The Article ... by SuperDuG · · Score: 1
    But the Sirens still looked like naked plastic women until the effects department incorporated particle systems.

    Prepare Linux Users, our plastic women will be realistic longer than we think!! To think, we've had these particle systems the whole time and never thought about giving them to our plastic women.

    --
    Ignore the "p2p is theft" trolls, they're just uninformed
  41. GOOD JOB BROADCASTING THAT YOU NEVER DATED by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Every month women have a problem with water retention, which means that their men have a problem with water retention.

    If you ever get a date, you'll understand.

    1. Re:GOOD JOB BROADCASTING THAT YOU NEVER DATED by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      thats why i buy my bitch depends undergarments.

    2. Re:GOOD JOB BROADCASTING THAT YOU NEVER DATED by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Umm..
      that doesn't help. Not the same problem.
      Nice try

    3. Re:GOOD JOB BROADCASTING THAT YOU NEVER DATED by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like I said, he's never been on a date. He went & broadcasted it again!

  42. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by neildiamond · · Score: 2, Insightful

    These always make me laugh. "How come the IBM Linux commercial is only on Windows Media not some open source codec that only we know about..."

    It is not irony. There are two major reasons for this:
    1. It is marketing. Most people still have windows and will until Linux wins out on the desktop for average users.

    2. Avid or whatever they use for edting outputs in whatever the video format guy knows how to use. Most TV producers are not computer scientists and don't see the irony and/or don't care.

  43. 3d animation tools? by e2d2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The article didn't mention what specific workstation tools they were using to model or develop the animation. I assume that these are home-grown tools but any chance that they will release that software?

    1. Re:3d animation tools? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Alias|Wavefront's Maya, with Renderman for shaders.

    2. Re:3d animation tools? by e2d2 · · Score: 1

      Holy sh*t. I was totally unaware that Maya had a linux version. I guess I need to keep my head above the windows sand a little more.

    3. Re:3d animation tools? by paradesign · · Score: 1

      they have an OSX version too.

      --
      I want 2D games back.
  44. Hah, that's not true... by pb · · Score: 1

    If it were, a lot of couples would be in prison right now...

    --
    pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
  45. Re:A funny geek joke for you... by chrismcdirty · · Score: 0, Troll

    ummm... it's Q: "why do programmers confuse halloween with christmas?"
    A: "because OCT 31 == DEC 27!"

    --
    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
  46. This could kind of "protect" Linux from lawsuits by motown · · Score: 1

    As Hollywood's dependence on Linux grows, it will at the same time be more difficult for them to attack the Linux community (for instance for introducing DVD functionality in Linux) without being considered hypocrites.

    I can picture the following court case:

    Prosecution (on behalf of the MPAA): Let us consider this "Linux community". As is widely known, many people among this community are hackers and potential terrorists with no regard for intellectual property whatsoever. For example, take the current SCO suit against..."

    Defense (on behalf of some Linux-related project): Objection, Your Honor! The Open Source community is not on trial here!

    Prosecution: I am merely describing the reputation of the Linux community to give an idea what kind of people we're dealing with.

    Defense: But Linux enjoys a lot of appreciation and support among motion picture companies throughout Hollywood, which make extensive use of it themselvers!

    Judge: Prosecution, is this true?

    Prosecution: Well, uh, I don't know... Perhaps... But that's not the point!

    Judge: It isn't? Then why did you bring it up in the first place?

    Prosecution: Well... Um...

    Defense: You honor, I think about now would be a good time to move towards the dismissal of this suit.

    (Okay, so perhaps that last line is a little to optimistic, but you get the idea. ;) )

    --
    "Oooh, does that mean we get to kick some puffy white mad zionist butt?"
  47. Re:A funny geek joke for you... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dorkboy,

    1. 11 Octal is 9 Decimal.
    2. Veterans day is in November.

  48. it is about time that they made a movie about him by AssFace · · Score: 2, Funny

    That comedian always had the zaniest things to say.

    And his pants!

    The article doesn't mention anything about Linux having any issue with his pants. Big, billowy pants - likely what inspired MC Hammer now that I think of it.

    --

    There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
  49. First Hollywood production created on Windows? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    David Lynch's Bluescreen Velvet

    1. Re:First Hollywood production created on Windows? by jejones · · Score: 1

      Oh, yeah...later on he did Twin Pentiums: FireWire with Me.

  50. Yeah, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If sinbad is doing movies now, who the hell is gonna
    take his place for stand-up comedy?

    Anyone who reads this is a bitch.

  51. So? by Rogerborg · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Have they created any patches? Have then released them?

    If not, what have they contributed to linux (or GNU, or X or KDE or GNOME or...)? Anyone answering "credibility", please go on to explain how encouraging other studios to use linux farms without contributing back helps linux. Anyone thinking that this helps fund Red Hat, please quote where it says that they bought distros or support, rather than doing it in house.

    Hearing about people using linux doesn't do anything for me. My mother could use it, but all that would accomplish would be to ensure that I spend all of my time doing tech support for her.

    Linux needs contributors, not users.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    1. Re:So? by 3.5+stripes · · Score: 1

      Great, so a bunch of people make the OS, but nobody does anything with it. Sounds like a wonderful idea.

      --


      He tried to kill me with a forklift!
    2. Re:So? by Computer! · · Score: 3, Informative

      What does a multi-million dollar installation in the entertainment industry do to help Linux?

      It means another customer for content production applications on Linux, to help ensure that these applications will continue to be produced

      It means another support contract for Red Hat or whoever is going to be supporting the render farm

      It means another job for a Linux sysadmin

      It means more customers making sure that whatever hardware/software they buy works on Linux

      It means more publicity for your favorite OS

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    3. Re:So? by fr2asbury · · Score: 1

      Uh. . . to which rodent are you refering? I wasn't aware that Dreamworks was in the mouse or rat business.

    4. Re:So? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      uhm..... Sinbad is made by Dreamworks.....not Disney

    5. Re:So? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think that they released Eye Patch 1.2.

    6. Re:So? by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

      >It means another customer for content production applications on Linux, to help ensure that these applications will continue to be produced

      What commercial application did they buy? Quote it. From the article I read that they did most of the work in house. Say, where would I get my hands on the rendering tools they produced.

      >It means another support contract for Red Hat or whoever is going to be supporting the render farm

      Does it? Quote where it says that. I assume - and assert - that they did it in house. Prove me wrong.

      >It means another job for a Linux sysadmin

      Which benefits Linux - and therefore you and me - how exactly?

      >It means more customers making sure that whatever hardware/software they buy works on Linux

      Granted, good point.

      >It means more publicity for your favorite OS

      Which means more usage of the type above, i.e. usage, with absolutely no evidence of contribution back to linux either directly in terms of code or indirectly in paying money to people to write it.

      Look, it's very simple. If every Microsoft user switched to linux tomorrow, how would that benefit linux? How would it directly contribute to improving it. Concrete examples, not just "Uh, because, mindshare." Hardware and driver support is the only one that I can think of.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    7. Re:So? by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

      > Great, so a bunch of people make the OS, but nobody does anything with it. Sounds like a wonderful idea.

      The people contributing to it use it. Look, I don't mind other people using it, but I'm challenging the assumption that it's an actively good thing, that it somehow benefits me.

      How does it benefit me? Hardware and driver support, yes. Anything else? Anything?

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    8. Re:So? by planckscale · · Score: 1
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy

      Priceless

      --
      Namaste
    9. Re:So? by Computer! · · Score: 1

      What commercial application did they buy?

      Beats me. I never said they did. Who's out there buying Apache? Yet, the more web servers that run it, the better chances that consulting shops, Php programmers, and Apache admins will have to get some business. The better chances that module authors will have to make some money.

      I assume - and assert - that they did it in house. Prove me wrong.

      Why? Very few large, professional UNIX installations provide 100% of their own support. I very seriously doubt that they would have been granted the PO to go out and build this render farm on the assertion that they could hire a few nerds to keep their huge render farm up and running all by themselves. If they are not using a support contract of some kind, they are not as bright as I thought. Since most production shops have a support contract, including the one I work for, and most likely the one you work for, and most likely the one the other /. readers work for (assuming it's not Ma & Pa), the burden of proof is on you. Do I have to prove they bought UPSes and are running backups, too? Besides, even if they are doing it in-house, they still have to pay someone, most likely several someones, to admin all of those machines. When those someones get done with work, guess what they do? Go home and hack on OSS software.

      Which benefits Linux - and therefore you and me - how exactly?

      More jobs = more people choosing open source as a viable carreer alternative = more folks learning OSS = more OSS. And, unless you live in a hole and eat air, you and I both depend on jobs in order to have electricity in order to make more OSS.

      Which means more usage of the type above, i.e. usage, with absolutely no evidence of contribution back to linux either directly in terms of code or indirectly in paying money to people to write it.

      The more users, the more legitimacy OSS gains. The more CIOs who are ready to get checks written. Just because no one's buying the software doesn't mean no one's making money off of it. Just because they are not airlifting crates of code to Linus' house doesn't mean that no one's contibuting.

      If every Microsoft user switched to linux tomorrow, how would that benefit linux?

      Where would they go to get their distros? IRC? Doubtful. They'd walk into a store, and buy a shrinkwrapped distro, thereby contributing to the distro makers. They would walk into a CompUSA and demand that there be Linux pre-installed on a selection of computers. Some of them would demand application support in their companies for the new Linux desktops on everyone's desk. Some of them would demand that their favorite office apps be ported to Linux.

      If you really think increasing userbase doesn't help Linux, why did you install it?

      And, furthermore, who cares? It doesn't seem to me that the OSS community is slowing down at all. Maybe instead of trying to figure out how more users helps OSS, we should just realize that it simply does, and get on with our lives.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    10. Re:So? by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

      >If you really think increasing userbase doesn't help Linux, why did you install it?

      So that I could change getpeer() and hack a netrek client. While I was there, I contributed a little.

      >If you really think increasing userbase doesn't help Linux, why did you install it?

      Quite right. Correlation equals cause. How foolish of me to actually question that. I forgot that this is a religion.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  52. Re:Ain't That The Truth by HughJampton · · Score: 1

    Unfortunately due to random BSA raids, Frodo was found to be contravening the license terms and was subsequently locked up in DARK LORD POUND-ME-IN-THE-ASS DARK TOWER!

    --
    In Soviet Russia, beowulf clusters imagine YOU!
  53. Re:A funny geek joke for you... by Jonsey · · Score: 2, Funny

    DEC 25 perhaps?

    Because everyone knowns that OCT 33 just doesn't make sense.

    --
    I assert that my comment is only my opinion, not that of any employer, past, present or future.
  54. The best part of the article... by LordDartan · · Score: 1

    "You hear a lot about Linux not being ready to work on desktops," said HP's Jeff Wood, director of product marketing for personal workstations. "Well, here we have the perfect example of how Linux is more than ready for the desktop -- hundreds of animators successfully used Linux to create a film right from their desktops."

    Kind of brings a tear to your eye!

    1. Re:The best part of the article... by Junta · · Score: 1

      Of course, the example doesn't really speak to the 'not for the desktop issue'. This illustrates that linux can work for the professional workstation, not that it is ready for the home desktop, or even the corporate desktop. I would wager the HR people, receptionists, higher level management types, accountants, and others of their kind were using Windows. This is not saying that it is technically incapable of dealing with the task, or that it is too hard.

      The dominating factor here will be the labor market. Non-hardcore computer users are intimidated by the mere word 'linux'. If the job description included the word 'linux' for a secretary position, you can be that the market of people that feel they can fulfill that role is small, and those that feel they can would expect more money as they are a rarer candidate than Windows users. Companies realize that Windows is doing fine in those roles and that any savings in licensing is offset by the higher pay for the run of the mil positions. In higher-tech careers, most of those people have Linux skills anyway, and so the divide isn't so great, and thus the licensing and technology benefits of Linux pay off in the workstation and server realm.

      And though I'd like to believe some distributions are now at least as easy to use as Windows or OSX, I have to admit that I really can't get into the frame of reference of a novice easily anymore, and I don't think many experienced users really can. I realize that because of this, I really can't say if it is easy enough or not. I think a lot of the people defending Linux on the desktop have this same problem and just won't realize it, though I think the same can be said of some experienced users who would assume the common user incapable of understanding certain tasks that are well within the common user's grasp...

      --
      XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
  55. Re:A funny geek joke for you... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Get it right... OCT 31 == Dec 25

  56. Re: Some might be to do with... by op51n · · Score: 1

    Maya now being available for Linux. Now I can't be sure that that is what they are running, but hell, if they're smart and getting great quality...

  57. Re:A funny geek joke for you... by FroMan · · Score: 0

    One would hope that this was intentional, for the "funny" factor.

    Chirstmas in my neck of the woods is celebrated on the 25th of December.

    --
    Norris/Palin 2012
    Fact: We deserve leaders who can kick your ass and field dress your carcass.
  58. What software are they using? by Kingpin · · Score: 1


    Anyone know if they use custom software or 3rd party stuff?

    --
    Unable to read configuration file '/bigassraid/htdig//conf/14229.conf'
    Geocrawler error message.
    1. Re:What software are they using? by hondo77 · · Score: 1

      Anyone know if they use custom software or 3rd party stuff?

      Yes, they do.

      --
      I live ze unknown. I love ze unknown. I am ze unknown.
  59. I don't get it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you're going to call blatent trolls dolts, you better point out ALL the errors.
    And show your work.

  60. OT - your sig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was in Colorado Springs and witnessed the events you are talking about. Your parallel between Tear Gas and Capitalists is revolting and ignorant, however I must admit that the tactics and excuse used by police for deploying tear gas were inexcusable. They said their intention was to disperse the crowd, yet they fired into the parking lot. This resulted in people running away from their cars. I did catch on film an instance of protestors (not at Palmer Park, but at Constitution) rushing into the street when one man ran into the street and gave police the finger. He was arrested and there were approx 35 people in the street yelling and chanting.

    1. Re:OT - your sig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm...

      I wonder how you justify your statement. Revolting? I don't think so. The revolting thing to me is the fact that the cops used the teargas because they were afraid of the protesters who were massed around the Lockheed Martin building.

      Ignorant? How? I know you probably like capitalism, but the connection is obvious from your account of things. The police violence could only be justified if you consider it a gut reaction to the display of anti-capitalism and anti-authoritarianism in the crowd.

      While you are certainty entitled to your opinions, I urge you to consider others. If you want more information on copwatch or the activist community in Denver, I would suggest going to the breakdown bookstore.

  61. Glad to see they're still at it. by Joel+Bruick · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder if Dreamworks will ever come up with some original concepts for their animated films.

    A Bug's Life/Antz (Obvious.)
    The Emperor's New Groove/Road to El Dorado (These were much closer originally, but changed quite drastically after rewrites on both sides).
    Monster's Inc./Shrek (This is quite a stretch, but hey, green monsters star in both, heh.)
    Treasure Planet/Sinbad (Hardy har har!)
    Finding Nemo/Sharkslayer (Something smells fishy here.)

    Obviously these movies aren't all complete ripoffs by any stretch of the imagination, but it is quite interesting that Dreamworks/PDI movies that closely follow the release of Disney/Pixar ones have similiar basic ideas behind them.

    1. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by jbrasch · · Score: 1

      Exactly my feeling.

      I saw a pre-release last week (w/the kids). It was a good story but the animation quality was just ok.

      I would not point to this movie as to what can be done with linux.

    2. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by sabshire · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I hadn't noticed that, but a very interesting take on it, nonetheless. Add to that fact, most Disney movies are ripoffs of some other story themselves. So we have a ripoff artist being ripped off. How "ironic"! :)

      --
      You will never "find" time for anything. You must "make" it.
    3. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by JahToasted · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Hmmm...

      Armeggedon/Deep Impact Dante's Peak/Volcano etc. etc. etc.

      Could it be that hollywood is just unoriginal... Nooo... that can't be it.

    4. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by Glendale2x · · Score: 1

      I wonder if Dreamworks will ever come up with some original concepts for their animated films.

      Well, I personally thought all of the Dreamworks films listed (With the exception of Monsters Inc. and Shrek since the two concepts had nothing in common) were way better than any of the films Disney released.

      Or is it just me?

      --
      this is my sig
    5. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      it is quite interesting that Dreamworks/PDI movies that closely follow the release of Disney/Pixar ones have similiar basic ideas behind them.

      That might be interesting, if it were true.

      From IMDB.com:

      The release date for "Antz" was 9-19-1998, two months before "A Bug's Life" on 11-14-1998.

      "Road to El Dorado" release on 3-31-2000, while "The Emporer's New Groove" released on 12-10-2000 (and the only thing they had in common is that they took place on the same continent)

      "Shrek" released on 4-22-2001, six months earlier than "Monsters, Inc" on 10-28-2001.

      The only two Dreamworks movies on your list that actually follow Disney movies are "Sinbad" (following "Treasure Planet") and "Sharkslayer" (following "Nemo"). Seeing as "Treasure Planet" (not a Pixar film, nor was "Emperor's") was a huge failure, as will "Sinbad" be, this Dreamworks copycat theory lacks motive. "Sinbad" is based on the story of Sinbad the Pirate, while "Treasure Planet" is a modernization of "Treasure Island". "Sharkslayer" and "Nemo" both take place under water. I guess you win there.

    6. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by cgb8176 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      it is quite interesting that Dreamworks/PDI movies that closely follow the release of Disney/Pixar ones have similiar basic ideas behind them.

      That might be interesting, if it were true.

      From IMDB.com [imdb.com]:

      The release date for "Antz" was 9-19-1998, two months before "A Bug's Life" on 11-14-1998.

      "Road to El Dorado" release on 3-31-2000, while "The Emporer's New Groove" released on 12-10-2000 (and the only thing they had in common is that they took place on the same continent)

      "Shrek" released on 4-22-2001, six months earlier than "Monsters, Inc" on 10-28-2001.

      The only two Dreamworks movies on your list that actually follow Disney movies are "Sinbad" (following "Treasure Planet") and "Sharkslayer" (following "Nemo"). Seeing as "Treasure Planet" (not a Pixar film, nor was "Emperor's") was a huge failure, as will "Sinbad" be, this Dreamworks copycat theory lacks motive. "Sinbad" is based on the story of Sinbad the Pirate, while "Treasure Planet" is a modernization of "Treasure Island". "Sharkslayer" and "Nemo" both take place under water. I guess you win there.
      forgot to log in before

    7. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Eh, release date has nothing to do with it though. These movies are years in the making.

    8. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by One+Louder · · Score: 3, Interesting
      This all stems from Jeffrey Katzenberg's ongoing fury with Michael Eisner over not getting promoted.

      Effectively, Dreamworks tries to figure out what Disney and/or Pixar is up to and attempts to beat them to the theater with a movie with a vaguely similar theme.

      If you watch the "special features" on some of the DVD (Spirit, for instance), you can practically see the venom dripping from Katzenberg's chin as he tries to position Dreamworks as the leader in CGI vs the carefully unnamed Pixar.

      The problem is that Dreamworks does not have a great storyteller like John Lasseter or Andrew Stanton, and Pixar's CG capabilities for the Toy Story/Bug's Life/Monsters Inc class of animation are unrivaled.

    9. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      # The release date for "Antz" was 9-19-1998, two months before "A Bug's Life" on 11-14-1998.

      Because they busted their asses to rush through so they could finish it first. Jeffrey Katzenberg was in the room as a Disney exec when the Pixar team pitched A Bug's Life to Disney. He soon took off for Dreamworks and pushed hard for Antz. He has a reputation for scouting out what other studios are doing, and then pushing through a rush job movie with a similar theme. The cute thing is that in Deep Impact's case (one of the first movies he pulled this little ploy with), his rush job was better than the movie he was imitating (Armageddon. Then again, making a better movie than Armageddon isn't a huge challenge).

    10. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by MikeFM · · Score: 1

      A Bug's Life sucked.. Antz was pretty funny.
      Emperor's New Grove and Road to El Dorado both sucked.
      Monster's Inc and Shrek were both pretty funny but Shrek was far far better.
      Treasure Planet was a lame rip of the game Skies of Arcadia and the book Treasure Island. I haven't seen Sinbad yet so I have no opinion.
      Haven't watched Finding Nemo but it looks lame.. haven't heard of Sharkslayer.

      Pixar has made some pretty good movies. Toy Story (especially the second one) was very good. Disney hasn't made an animated movie I've liked in several years.. at least I can't think of one. Dreamworks IMO is pretty good. I really liked Antz and Shrek is one of my favorite movies ever made. Dreamworks overall seems to make pretty good movies I think. Don't all movies come in spurts of semi-original (for the time anyway) movies that start a fad of similar movies? We get a burst of teen angst, then sci fi, then comic, then horror, etc.. whatever is selling at the time period. Dreamworks might make mostly copycat films but they do a good job at it.

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
    11. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by MikeFM · · Score: 1

      Shrek sure seemed to have open mouth fangs aimed at Disney but it was still, and maybe because of that, a great movie. It was both a fantasy story and a parody of a Disney-style fantasy story and it worked well as both.

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
    12. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by Boing · · Score: 1
      I agree with you. Hmmm, let's see. The most successful of all of the Dreamworks movies you listed was Shrek. Also, the most original of the Dreamworks movies was Shrek...

      2 + 2 = Forget the tired old rehashed storylines that Disney uses, Dreamworks! Make your own movies, we like them... really!

    13. Re:Glad to see they're still at it. by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      Could it be that the audience Hollywood is catering for doesn't want original stuff.

  62. So? by kperrier · · Score: 1

    If its created on Linux I am supposed to go and see it? No way, Death to the Great Rodent Empire!

    Kent

  63. The future of animation is Linux . . . by shamitbagchi · · Score: 1

    This is the beginning of high end graphics works on Linux and just watch out for the future. More than 250 Hewlett-Packard workstations running Red Hat Linux made up the core of DreamWorks' graphics platform. Shows how powerful individual systems can be used collectively to provide great performance options - graphics intensive computing. Linux provides a cost-effective way to put the fastest available computers in the hands of animators for thenm to proceed withease on rock-solid stable computing bedrock !

  64. YHBT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
    Neeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrds!
    The funny part about that "joke" is the number of literal-minded anal-retentive geeks that feel the need to "correct" it, totally missing the meta-joke.

    hint: The joke isn't about math, it's about geek personality disorders. It's like going to an obsessive compulsive's house and putting one of his pictures off kilter.

    1. Re:YHBT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      You ignorant 'merkin pig-dog!

      Boxing day is traditionally the first workday after Christmas. So it's numeric date is a VARIABLE!!!

  65. Re:Ain't That The Truth by tds67 · · Score: 0
    Unfortunately due to random BSA raids, Frodo was found to be contravening the license terms and was subsequently locked up in DARK LORD POUND-ME-IN-THE-ASS DARK TOWER!

    Yes, but Gandalf used open source-ery to get him out, thus preserving the sanctity of his little hobbit anus.

  66. Sorry, not the first, maybe the second? by Baavgai · · Score: 1

    While it's nice that OOS is getting applied in such a high profile venue, I'm afraid "the first Hollywood production" is overstating the matter.

    It's been done; I recalled it being pretty big news for Linux enthusiasts at the time:

    http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/04/24/1643238. sh tml

    1. Re:Sorry, not the first, maybe the second? by Diomedes01 · · Score: 1

      Well... the article says that this is the first time Linux was used both in the front and back-ends for the animation on "Spirit"... it doesn't say that only Linux was used... that's what the big deal is with this new film.

      --
      "To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!"
  67. Re:SICK OF LINUX by haoto · · Score: 1

    Well I guess this post will be modded out of existence, but I have to say I agree with the parent post. As a GNU/Linux user I hate to see this kind of trivial things posted again and again. Imagine seeing someone writing "Windows is used to create text documents!"

    C'mon, this article sucks. Admit it.

  68. Pirates! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Microsoft Attorney: Ahoy! We finally have a proven link between Linux and Pirates. Those open sourcers are up to no good, pillaging our market share! We'd like to take this moment to distinguish ourselves as corporate raiders and not pirates.
    What do we want to buyout today?

  69. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by Surak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Most TV producers are not computer scientists and don't see the irony and/or don't care.

    Can you imagine how awful TV would be if it WERE produced by computer scientists?

    Channel 45: The Slashdot channel! Geeks rant and rave about Microsoft, SCO, and RIAA! Then they geek out over Linux, *BSD (which they always seem to point is dying), and Mac OS X!!!

    Channel 52: The Microsoft Channel! Bill Gates discusses his plans for world domination!

    Channel 54: The Linux channel! Kernel hacker Alan Cox takes you line-by-line through the Linux source code!

    Channel 58: The Apple Channel! Steve Jobs demonsrates his famous "Reality Distortion Field" and exaggerates a lot about Apple's latest G5 computers!

    Channel 62: The FSF Channel! RMS talks about how Channel 54 should be called the GNU/Linux channel!

    Channel 69: The SCO Channel! *** programming unavailable ***

  70. Distributed Effort by neilmoore67 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It surprises me that no animator (that I know of) has started some kind of distributed rendering effort with people on the Internet (eg. distributed.net). Not only could it be faster and cheaper, but you immediately have a huge number of people who feel that they have a stake in the movie, this might also increase audiences.

    --
    You've probably noticed that people's noses get bigger as they get older. That's because old people are huge liars.
    1. Re:Distributed Effort by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      there already is...
      Internet movie project
      its using povray, very cool.

  71. They are one of the larger RH clients by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They have a large RH contract. Many developers independently contribute to opensource projects directly due to necessary extensions and indirectly due to immersion into the platform. More often than not, hard-core users of linux tend to become contributors inherently.

    BTW, they also have crossover licenses, Maya licenses, Insure++ licenses, etc. All on linux. All good for the platform.

  72. What ever happened to Spirit? by YodaToad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In this slashdot article it claims that Spirit was the first movie to be created in a 100% linux environment (in April 2002). How can this Sinbad movie be the first one if Spirit was... Over a year ago. Am I missing something here or is this just another PR attempt?

  73. Re: Evil sea hag SCO by DrWho520 · · Score: 1

    SCO probably thinks it should have a piece of the Sinbad booty since it was created on Linux.

    --
    The cancel button is your friend. Do not hesitate to use it.
  74. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by broeman · · Score: 0

    *cough* many trailers in quicktime only *cough* Steve Jobs and the film-industry *cough* (I think I have a cold?)
    Sinbad in Quicktime

    --

    (yes this can be compared with sex)
  75. Nah, it's OK....... by Ride-My-Rocket · · Score: 1

    Go right ahead and view the Windows Media file on Linux. You have their permission, I'm sure.


    That makes about as much sense as putting a screen door on a submarine.

    Just so long as it's your submarine they're putting the screen door on.

  76. Not looking very hard... by blamanj · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...if you didn't see it on the Apple Quicktime trailerssite. They're often the first place the trailer shows up.

  77. Re:This could kind of "protect" Linux from lawsuit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Humor...it's not too easy, is it?

  78. Doesn't it bother anyone... by blamanj · · Score: 1

    ...that the movie looks really lame. I mean really, it's derivative second-tier Disney. (Judging from the trailer, anyway.) The dialog is dreary, the character styling seem ripped off from Aladdin, and we have the requisite "big names" as voice "stars" to lure in the masses. So it's 3D instead of 2D. Big whoop.

    1. Re:Doesn't it bother anyone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course it is not Lame! It is host to 'She What Done It All", Our Lady of Discord, Eris! Hail Eris, All Hail Discordia.

      This is only the beginning, for now Eris has made herself manifest to the world, not just those of us who hunted her down and got the Holy Bitchslap. This is not the first time she has appeared in mainstream media. She was on a Cartoon Network cartoon called Grim & Evil. Then there was E.R.I.S. the evil organization in the recent teenage Boy Spy movie. Now this.

      Verily I say unto you, "Hail Eris, and eat your Holy Hot Dogs. For when she comes, those who eat the hot dog bun will find it turn to dust in their mouth."

      Or not.

      Ratatosk, Squirrel of Discord
      Muncher of the ChaoAcorn
      Chatterer of the Sacred Word of Eris

  79. The Illuminati are plotting... by Matrix14 · · Score: 1

    Quite the movie. Not only was it done entirely on Linux, it stars (err...horridly villainizes) Eris.

  80. Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I see these kinds of articles all the time on /. and other sites, and I can never figure out why anyone cares about them. Of course Linux is capable enough to handle this kind of job. That's painfully obvious and not the least bit relevant to real-world issues that the Linux faithful should be concerned with, like convincing business people and school administrators to convert servers and desktop systems from Windows to Linux.

    Focus, people. We have limited resources and a lot of major and very important battles to spend them on.

    1. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's painfully obvious and not the least bit relevant to real-world issues that the Linux faithful should be concerned with, like convincing business people and school administrators to convert servers and desktop systems from Windows to Linux.

      Sounds a lot like a religion. Why do you care what they run?

  81. Who cares? by RatBastard · · Score: 1

    Honestly, who gives a damn what OS the render farm was running? What we should care about is "is this movie any good", and frankly, it doesn't look like it will be any good at all.

    --
    Boobies never hurt anyone. - Sherry Glaser.
  82. Re:This could kind of "protect" Linux from lawsuit by motown · · Score: 1

    Neither is having the balls to post under your own username. :P

    --
    "Oooh, does that mean we get to kick some puffy white mad zionist butt?"
  83. I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by EnglishTim · · Score: 5, Informative

    I work in one of Europe's largest post production houses, and we've moved most things over to Linux now. However, we still need Windows to run Adobe Photoshop, as there's still nothing suitable yet in Linux. The GIMP just doesn't cut it, and I'm sure it's the same with them.

    Sure, the modelling, animation and rendering were probably all done on Linux, but it's probably not correct to say that it was done exclusively on Linux. I bet there were a bunch of Windows or Macs with Photoshop on them being used there, and unless they did all their compositing on Shake, they'll have probably used some dedicated compositing systems.

    Linux works quite well in visual effects, largely because all those who grew up using IRIX workstations find it quite familiar. The pipelining and scripting stuff is easier than it is in NT/2000/XP. However, it's worth noting that the vast majority of the actual graphics software we use is still commercial/proprietary - there's not much in the way of Open Source stuff out there of a sufficiently high quality. The notable exception to this is 'Liquid' a maya->Renderman convertor, and to a lesser extent FilmGimp - useful because there's not much else that will edit High Dynamic Range images, but less useful because it still appears to be rather unstable...

    1. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by spitzak · · Score: 1
      Clue: Linux is running commercial applications! So "the vast majority of the actual graphics software we use is still commercial/proprietary" does not mean you are not using Linux!

      The "dedicated compositing system" is by far the most likely thing to be running on Linux. Every commercial compositing system that is worth using has a Linux version.

      For every single person who says "Linux will never work because there is no good open-source house-blueprint software (or whatever)" is missing the entire point. Nobody expects good open-source house-blueprint software (it's not interesting enough to work on). If things were reversed and Linux was the most popular system, there would be a closed-source house-blueprint software for it, and every game and everything you see for Windows. And if Microsoft tried to compete would people then say "Windows will never work because the employees at Microsoft have not been able to write house-blueprint software"? Hopefully not, but it seems like they would.

    2. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it's called toon shading... only lamer animators work with 2d tools anymore.

      cripes, over 80% of the cartoons on the TV are actually 3d but with toon shading to give the desired look. it makes it possible for you to crank out show after show without having to redo everything....

    3. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by EnglishTim · · Score: 1

      Yes, I'm not talking about the toon shading, I'm talking about all the other 2D textures that you need, even if you are doing a toon-look animation. There will still be loads of 2D textures that you need for backgrounds, particle systems etc... and even the 3D toon characters themselves may have some texturing. All of these need a decent 2D program, and I'm afraid the gimp just isn't up to it.

    4. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      I agree with you about Gimp, but I've heard (haven't tried it myself) that Photoshop 6 and 7 run just fine under win4lin.

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    5. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by PetoskeyGuy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Very true. My friend does animations / special effects with Maya in Florida and South Carolina area. He would have an all Linux shop if not for Photoshop. He got into an argument at the last siggraph with a booth guy. Went more or less like this.

      Friend: When are you going to have photoshop on Linux? It's the only program I use that I need Windows for.

      Adobe: (Annoyed) Never. Linux people just want everything for free.

      Friend: You sound pretty upset, people must ask you that a lot

      Adobe: All the time! All day.

      Friend: Maybe you should think about that.

      As far as wanting things for free I'm not sure how much, but he paid several thousand for Maya on Linux over the years.

    6. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by Sabalon · · Score: 1

      Tell your friend to counter with the Shake, SoftImage, Maya - not free, but on Linux...guess only serious software works on Linux.

    7. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by charlie763 · · Score: 1

      How about Film Gimp? It was used in several films to edit stills. HA!

      --
      Welcome to the land of the free...pay toll ahead...no photography...please open your bag...
    8. Re:I bet any 2D textures weren't done on Linux... by EnglishTim · · Score: 1

      Film Gimp is a step in the right direction, but when we last evaluated it, it was very unstable. It is still useful if you need to do HDR work, though.

  84. What about Linux OpenGL support? by forgoil · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Or more exactly, the support for good GFX cards. Does HP provide special drivers etc for certain applications or what?

    Just thinking of the benefit for the avarage Linux user.

    1. Re:What about Linux OpenGL support? by Zapdos · · Score: 1

      I would not be suprised to find out that DW has a NDA with a graphics card manufacturer. But do not expect DW to provide you with a driver, as that may be part of the agreement. They may be the ones makeing the binary-only nvidia drivers.

  85. Not created on Linux! by Junks+Jerzey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It was created using various applications. Those applications could have been running on FreeBSD, OS X...it doesn't really matter all that much. In fact all of these applications can already be recompiled to run on OS X or whatever. That the name of the kernel providing virtual memory, process switching, device drivers, and some low-level services is "Linux" in this case, well, that's something that really only matters if you're a hardcore geek.

    I don't mean this as a flame at all. It's just that this story is misguided advocacy. Generic putdowns of "Windows" are equally as meaningless. People don't use an operating system. People use applications. Being fixated on operating systems is like being fixated on tires instead of cars.

    1. Re:Not created on Linux! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Well... try to run a production render farm on windows. I have seen that experiment run once and at a large scale it wasn't pretty. UNIX/linux in particular is far more suited for distributed work. By the way, DreamWorks has its own renderer also developed for Linux/Unix.

    2. Re:Not created on Linux! by Junks+Jerzey · · Score: 1

      Well... try to run a production render farm on windows. I have seen that experiment run once and at a large scale it wasn't pretty. UNIX/linux in particular is far more suited for distributed work. By the way, DreamWorks has its own renderer also developed for Linux/Unix.

      So you could run a render farm on any UNIX variant (of which Linux is simply one of many), and do the actual content creation on the system of your choice.

    3. Re:Not created on Linux! by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      Most of the "not ready for desktop" FUD against Linux is the supposed lack of applications. This example makes it clear that the apps are very much there, albeit it doesn't apply to general desktop usage.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  86. It's funny because it's true... by Dthoma · · Score: 1

    but on the other hand it's not funny because it's true; it's worrying. A media player should not segfault just because of a choppy MP3! In fact, no program should segfault just by reading in a slightly screwed up file, full stop. I'm not joking here, mplayer can be damn unstable at times - I have an MP3 of the song "I Ran" which mplayer core dumps on. Kind of funny, in it's own worrying way. Fortunately, since DreamWorks are creating video and not playing it back, they won't have to witness this kind of error.

    --

    Note to M1-ers: a curt but otherwise insightful message is not "Flamebait" or "Troll".

    1. Re:It's funny because it's true... by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      I'll go along with that! Is there a version of MPlayer that is actually stable? The ones I've tried (including the 0.90 release) are way too unstable...

  87. other animation movies + linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am always trying to tell my friends why things like FilmGimp are just as powerful as Photoshop. What are some other movie examples made at least partially using linux?

  88. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

    LMS - The Linux Music Station! Listen to a stirring reading of the kernel source code! Great bedtime listening :-)

    SB

    --
    It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
  89. I feel sorry for Mac... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Simply because if they lose their hold as the CGI/graphics specialists, the only thing they'll have left is schools...

    1. Re:I feel sorry for Mac... by afantee · · Score: 1

      You obviously don't know what you are talking about.

      Linux may be used by render farms, but Mac is the platform of choices for Hollywood studios, and the G5 has the power and potential to upseat the Lintel boxes from render farms.

      Almost all Linux software is also available on Mac OS X, but the opposite is not true. Apart from the lack of mainstream tools like PhotoShop and MS Office and QuickTime on Linux, Shake (the best movie composition) costs $5000 for Mac OS X but $10000 for Linux and other platforms, 25% Maya sales come from Mac, Final Cut Pro (most popular nonlinear video editing tool) and Logic (best music production) and DVD Studio Pro are all Mac only.

      Now that the 64-bit dual 2 GHz G5 Power Mac is 200% faster and $1000 cheaper than the 32-bit dual 3 GHz Xeon Dell, the Mac suddenly becomes a much better platform than Lintel.

      Take a look at this

      http://www.luxology.net/company/wwdc03foll owup.aspx

      and these:

      Adobe

      "Thanks to the hard work of Adobe's engineers, Photoshop performs twice as fast on Power Mac G5s, when compared to any other system we've seen from Apple," said Greg Gilley, vice president, Graphics Applications Development at Adobe. "The future of Photoshop on the Macintosh platform is being geared around exploiting the power of Mac OS X and tapping the outstanding hardware performance of a new generation of Power Mac G5s."

      Luxology

      "We are simply blown away with the performance we are seeing out of the chip and the incredibly wide pipes on the motherboard which allows our 3D technology to do more in real time than we ever thought possible," said Brad Peebler, Luxology's president and co-founder.

      Pixar

      "After running our RenderMan benchmarks, we can now say that the Power Mac G5 is the fastest desktop in the world," said Ed Catmull, Pixar's president.

      Macromedia

      "The combination of Macromedia products and the new Power Mac G5 from Apple is an ideal platform for developers to create great experiences," said Norm Meyrowitz, Macromedia's president of Macromedia Products.

      Digidesign

      "Processor power is one of the prime things that makes the magic of digital audio happen. The new Power Mac G5 is going to give our customers just want they want--loads of power and a great OS that really delivers," said Dave Lebolt, Digidesign's general manager and Avid Technology vice president.

      Alias|Wavefront

      "Alias|Wavefront is extremely pleased with the performance we're seeing from our initial tests of Maya on the Power Mac G5," says Kevin Tureski, general manager, Maya Engineering at Alias|Wavefront. "From dynamics to rendering, we're seeing twice the performance with our application. Our customers will be thrilled with the Power Mac G5."

      Wolfram

      "The Power Mac G5 is a scientific dream machine," said Wolfram Research co-founder Theodore Gray. "Mathematica Version 5's enhanced support for large-scale numerical linear algebra, linear programming, and PDEs, is a perfect example of what you need a machine as powerful as the Power Mac G5 for: Everyone who uses Mathematica, or should, would do well to look at the Power Mac G5 very seriously."

  90. Dreamworks and Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    1) Spirit wasn't done on Linux. That was marketing bull puckey. It wasn't rendered on Linux, either. There were some portions of the 2D animation that were done in linux, namely the Toon Shooter program and coloring the 2D animation.

    2) Backgrounds and some other minor stuff for Sinbad was done in Photoshop, on Macintosh G4. So this movie isn't 100% linux, either. Although now DW is using Photoshop 7 in Crossover on Linux, and (gasp) Windows 2000.

    3) 3D modeling and animation were done in A|W's Maya. Dreamworks contributed to both Maya and RH Linux by beta testing and reporting bugs, and making feature requests to both, that were rolled back into the public releases. Also they contributed to Crossover with Disney/Pixar to get Photoshop working on Linux. So they have contributed, a little.

    4) A friend of mine at DW got me a pass to see Sinbad last saturday morning. It's pretty good, actually, certainly not as bad as the previews make it out to be - but DW's marketing department pretty much sucks hiney, so I doubt that anyone will ever know that. The animation's not that great, though.

    1. Re:Dreamworks and Linux by axxackall · · Score: 1
      Although now DW is using Photoshop 7 in Crossover on Linux

      I think the cost of problems associated to such running would be more than the cost of contributing to GIMP to polish it for own tasks. Rather than this way of contributing:

      Also they contributed to Crossover with Disney/Pixar to get Photoshop working on Linux

      --

      Less is more !
  91. Re:SICK OF LINUX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, it's about the hypocrisy of the film industry.

  92. Dear Dreamworks, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dear Dreamworks,

    It has come to our attention that you have used Linux on the production of the animated motion picture Sinbad. As you know we are the copyright holders to the UNIX operating system and all derivative works. We have proof that the Linux software used at Dreamworks has illegally incorporated proprietary source code, patents and trade secrets from SCO UNIX. We would show you thte source code in question but we can't for legal reasons. We consider Linux and Sinbad derivative works of SCO intellectual property. Please pay up!

    Sincerely,

    SCO

  93. I think you misunderstood what I said by EnglishTim · · Score: 1

    I was pointing out that most of the applications we user are not free or open source, but rather are commercial, closed-source Linux applications.

    The big thing we are missing is Photoshop for Linux.

    As for the compositing systems:

    Flame and Inferno run on SGI IRIX machine with custom harware.
    The Avid systems run on Windows.
    The Quantel Henrys ran their own Quantel system - I'm not sure what the modern Quantel systems run on
    Certainly the only compositing system I know of that runs on Linux is Shake. Most of the others have custom hardware and don't run on Linux.

    1. Re:I think you misunderstood what I said by spitzak · · Score: 1

      Ice, Rayz, and Nuke all run on Linux.

    2. Re:I think you misunderstood what I said by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      What if you use the Windows version of Photoshop under Wine on Linux? Would that count?

  94. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by Kazir · · Score: 1

    > Can you imagine how awful TV would be if it WERE produced by computer scientists?

    Considering what is out there right now on TV, it just might be an improvement. *grin*

  95. Uhh... no. by May+Kasahara · · Score: 1
    Um, I'm one of those "lamer" animators who happens to use 2D tools. Obviously you didn't read the article carefully enough:

    Many of the characters in Sinbad were first drawn by hand and then integrated into the 3-D computer-created background scenes.

    The fact is that most animated TV shows (and a good amount of animated feature films) are still hand drawn. Additionally, many computer generated TV shows use 2D tools like (and recycle elements created in) Photoshop, Painter, Flash, and After Effects. 3D is another tool, sure, but it hasn't completely replaced 2D animation. The death of 2D is greatly exaggerated.

  96. Re:Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Chicks. How do you like your chicks? Cold and fat, or skinny and hot (and shinny). I know which I would pick. Everytime. Now go back to sucking linux cock. I hear penguins are into that kind of thing.

  97. Linux can draw? by tinrobot · · Score: 2, Informative

    "The first movie created entirely with Linux"

    So funny how everyone praises the technology. I'm sure they used at least one or two pencils to make that movie...

    Sinbad was traditionally animated, which means a lot of people hunched over light tables, exactly the same way they did it in the 1920-30's. The ink and paint department may be gone, and the effects are a little bit better, but an animator from that time would still fit right in...

    1. Re:Linux can draw? by MKalus · · Score: 1

      Not so sure about this. Yes, the movie might look "2D" but that doesn't mean that someone actually drew the character like in the good old days, then coloured them and shot the image.

      There are utilities available these days that allow you to do all that on a computer, so instead of having a pen and paper you have a graphics tablet and software.

      --
      If you want to e-mail me, use my PGP Key.
    2. Re:Linux can draw? by tinrobot · · Score: 1

      instead of having a pen and paper you have a graphics tablet and software.

      I work in animation. No artist in their right mind would swap their 4B Lumograph pencil for a Wacom. Not gonna happen. The 50 cent pencil still has the better interface. Believe me, if it was drawn, they used pencils, china markers, colerase, etc...

      Can't beat the classics.

    3. Re:Linux can draw? by MKalus · · Score: 1

      Interresting,

      what I have heard and seen from others "in the trade" indicated that after the first conceptual drawings people move over into the computer as it speeds up the process.

      Maybe only some smaller shops do this?

      M.

      --
      If you want to e-mail me, use my PGP Key.
  98. Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by gnugnugnu · · Score: 1

    You have criticisms of the GIMP, fair enough.

    Could you please (politely) say what they are?
    Are there fundamental features that you are missing or is that the GIMP is just less friendly and usable in general?

    Perhaps if you can give good feedback I could file some bug reports and suggestions, and in general I am interested to know what other people dont like about the GIMP.

    I use the GIMP, I know it could be better but I am not so sure about what stuff exactly should be improved.

    1. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      I actually use the GIMP more often than photoshop, mainly because I do nearly all my graphics work on linux (Blender). There are some features that Photoshop has that the GIMP doesn't, but I'm hardly an expert. You'd have to ask someone who uses it more seriously. As noted I work with Blender, so the interface is hardly an issue :-)

      However there have been many posts on Slashdot over the last year at least which do outline why a lot of texture designers don't use GIMP. Might want to start here, or for that matter ask the parent post to my post :-)

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    2. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      File preview when opening images would be nice (just thought of that :-)

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    3. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by gnugnugnu · · Score: 1

      > File preview when opening images would be nice

      both 1.2 and 1.3 have slightly different versions of a Preview in the open dialog.
      in 1.2 you select an image and there is a little button, the text on the button says "Generate Preview" which it does when you press it.

    4. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      Ah! I haven't updated in quite a while, guess it's time :-)

      Thanks

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    5. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by HopeOS · · Score: 1

      I use gimp often, and feel that I can comment on many of the things that are missing or broken. Here's two.

      1. 16 bit color is critical for professional work. film gimp has it, regular gimp does not. After running a sequence of filters, you frequently wind up with 7 or fewer bits of precision, and it shows. For webpage graphics, 8 bits is fine since it's usually palletized anyway.

      2. I find the path tool on gimp to be a miserable experience. Most of my cursing results from lack of undo support, inability to have multiple paths displayed simultaneously, gross difficulty in editing, adding, or removing points, splicing paths, joining paths, opening and closing paths, etc... It's just not fully functional. Adobe Photoshop and Corel's Photopaint both implement reasonable bezier path tools.

      Gimp is very powerful, and I get a lot out of it. But it has the appeal of a lawnmower with a four-cylinder engine and no handle.

      -Hope

    6. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      gimp still isn't intuitive. The name is right. Gimp as in crippled..

    7. Re:Dont like the GIMP or CinePaint? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks.

      From reading the lists the developers are unfortunately very aware of how poor the vectors and path tools are and would kill for someone to come forward and deal with the nasty mess for them.
      There are a various half assed attempts at doing things with vectors in GIMP but they are all fairly adhoc and what is needed is a solid base for them all to reuse as much as possible.

      I am amazed at ho much the vectors and layers get used in the GIMP, and I suspect that this is a reflection on the immaturity of Sodipodi.

      Hopefully thing will change the GIMP and Sodipodi will find ways to work together before the GIMP becomes a really crazy innappropriate Vector Drawing application.

      Posting A.C. because this is increasingly offtopic and i dont want to burn Karma

  99. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by CableModemSniper · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Sadly, I think I would actually watch Channel 54.

    --
    Why not fork?
  100. Entirely? by Wonko42 · · Score: 1

    So you're telling me they edited a major motion picture entirely on Linux? Right.

  101. nice Troll, d00d by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    rock on...

  102. So what? by autopr0n · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Really, what diffrence does it make what kernel ran their graphics software? I mean, this is a good victory for OSS, but it dosn't really help anyone of us.

    And notice that the article dosn't mention what software the actual animators used. Sure, I suppose they could have drawn each character on cells and scanned them, but I find that doubtfull.

    No, it'll be big news when a movie is produced entirely with Open Source (or at least cheap) software like the movie gimp and other tools.

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
    1. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. If i'm not mistaken, you can get Pixar's RenderMan for the SGI / WinNT / and possibly linux already.

      Took me a second to find, but
      [http://pixsoft.pixar.com/products/renderman/ prici ng/platforms.html]
      lists the following platforms The RenderMan Toolkit 3.9.2 is supported under

      Silicon Graphics Iris, IRIX 6.2 & up (mips3)
      Sun Microsystems SPARCStation, Solaris
      Digital Equipment Corporation (Compaq), ALPHA/OSF1
      Intel, RedHat Linux 5.0
      Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (Service pack 4)

      On a side note... "Pixar no longer supports its discontinued Macintosh and Windows software, but the original support docs are still online".

  103. Re:A funny geek joke for you... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But this does make sense:

    OCT 31 = DEC 25

    Halloween is Christmas?
    No. But true geeks know how this statement is true.

  104. Linux on the Desktop by hondo77 · · Score: 1

    "Well, here we have the perfect example of how Linux is more than ready for the desktop -- hundreds of animators successfully used Linux to create a film right from their desktops."

    Just because a bunch of computer-savvy animators sat down in front of a computer and made a movie that does not mean Linux is ready for the desktop. Back at Disney we had non-techie-types in their fifties working on their Sun workstations in 1990 and nobody is going to argue that SunOS was ready for the desktop 13 years ago. Things were made so that their interaction with the OS outside of the particular app they were using was very minimal. BIG difference between that and "ready for the desktop".

    --
    I live ze unknown. I love ze unknown. I am ze unknown.
  105. Now why doesn't Adobe port by The+Analog+Kid · · Score: 1

    Photoshop to Linux, with such a market using Linux I don't see why not. They apparently don't like Macs anymore. Does that mean though that they used GIMP for textures?

  106. distribution must be trusted! by twitter · · Score: 1
    MPlayer at the screening, what a joke. DRM is like "gun control", where the state tell you only the state can have guns. You don't think a movie maker would ever distribute a moving on anything but some horrid DRM system, do you? The real error message would look something like this:

    Explorer.exe has cause an exception fault in module WMP at 0x0...[binary crap] A representative of the MPAA will be notified of your illegal movie watching.

    Free software might be very useful to movie makers, but that won't keep them from pushing DRM on everyone.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  107. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At least there would be a Sumi Das pr0n channel.

  108. Cant wait for Star Wars made with Linux. by Bilange · · Score: 1

    They could say "Use the source, Luke!"

    --
    "...a generation of kids has grown up thinking Trance is the shittiest music since country and western." - Paul van Dyk
  109. Think of it like gun control. by twitter · · Score: 1
    So it's OK for the movie industry to use Linux to CREATE movies, but it's not OK for us to use Linux to VIEW movies...That makes about as much sense as putting a screen door on a submarine.

    You should think of it like gun control. The state imposes gun control so that only the state has guns. Movie makers have a double incentive to steal and supress free software that might be useful for making movies.

    The first reason is, as you noticed, they are afraid people will convert their movies into formats than can be shared. That can be done on windoze too, but windoze will soon have enough locks on it that watching a movie will be difficult.

    The second reason is more fundamental, movie makers don't want competition in movie making. Lord knows there's a wasted surpluss of actors, screenwriters, producers and promoters starving around any big movie making town that would like to work at a new movie house. Both reasons are really the same thing, in order to avoid competition that technology is making cheaper and easier, they have to own every aspect of movie making from poduction to retail distribution. If any piece of the chain becomes open to competition, the rest open up.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  110. CHEER FOR ERIS! Patron of Computers! by farrellj · · Score: 1

    Eris Owns your Linux Distro...drop to a command prompt, and type "ddate" for proof! Works with everything from Tom's RootBoot disk to big distros like Red Hat!

    Hail Eris!

    All Hail Discordia!

    Goto www.fnord.org for more info, or consult your Pineal gland.

    ttyl
    Farrell

    --
    CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
  111. I'm not bothered. by twitter · · Score: 1
    I could care less if the movie is as lame as you said it is. When you step back, what you see is yet another highly competitive business chosing free software to get their work done. It's ready for the servers and it's ready for the desktops and workstations and it's been that way for a long time. The same supposedly lame movie could have been made with expensive closed source crap but it would have cost more and been more trouble.

    Free software continues to prove it's the right tool for the job, that's the news here. One day, someone will use the same tools to make a movie you actually like, unless you are such a fanboy that no such movie could ever please you.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  112. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by Drathos · · Score: 1

    ok.. i'll bite..

    what's on channel 42?

    there has got to be a channel 42 on geek run tv..

    --
    End of line..
  113. Nice stories by RichiP · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's nice seeing on slashdot's frontpage stories like Bill Gates' interview about Linux going nowhere and this story about Linux going everywhere.

    I swear, Bill Gates must be the worst technologist/visionary/prophet if he only sees Linux as a passing fad.

    1. Re:Nice stories by Mac+Degger · · Score: 1

      What, he's gonna tell his investors that there's something which does what his product can do (in most things) but for free, and that it's gonna ruin his business?

      Uh-huh.

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    2. Re:Nice stories by RichiP · · Score: 1

      No. He doesn't have to say anything. Or if he has to, then extol on the virtues of his product. Instead of making prophecies which make him sounds stupid.

      Of course, we all know he isn't stupid. Just annoying.

  114. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by Surak · · Score: 1

    pr0n. what else? ;)

  115. Why DreamWorks Chooses Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=4803

    This article from Aug. '01 goes into great detail. It all boils down to reduced costs and increased productivity.

    I would theorize they also appreciate the ability to make low-level modifications to the OS to better support their software needs.

    Now, where's my DreamWorks Linux distro?

  116. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by finkployd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Channel 54: The Linux channel! Kernel hacker Alan Cox takes you line-by-line through the Linux source code!

    Hot Damn! I would LOVE to see that :)

    Finkployd

  117. Linux steals code, Dreamworks steals ideas by writertype · · Score: 1
    Actually, before you mod me down as a troll, I was referring to this and this , both of which will probably be better than the Dreamworks film.

    (OK, maybe just the second one. And it was a troll-y subject line. But not a troll! Not a troll!)

  118. More like... by yerricde · · Score: 1

    Finding Nemo/Sharkslayer (Something smells fishy here.)

    More like...

    LOSING NEMO!

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  119. nah, tires make a difference... by caveat · · Score: 1

    ...if i slap a set of p-zero asymmetrico's on mom's forester, it's going to handle a lot better. os obsession is more like being fixated on the paint color or something..

    --

    Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. - Aldous Huxley
  120. Microsoft owns lots of Dreamworks! by bugnuts · · Score: 1

    I keep seeing articles here saying "gee, nice to see something about linux instead of microsoft". This is ironic twofold, since Microsoft is a primary investor in Dreamworks, and also since they're producing a movie all on Linux. Goes to show, you should use the best OS for the job.... word processing is still better on software written primarily for Microsoft OS's.

    Search for dreamworks here:
    http://www.tux.org/pub/tux/israel/dex/DEX/m sft.htm l

    1. Re:Microsoft owns lots of Dreamworks! by bugnuts · · Score: 1
      Gah, try this link

      Relevant parts are

      The company is also devoting resources and forming alliances to offer interactive media, including children's titles, games and information products. Microsoft owns 50% of Dreamworks Interactive, MSNBC Cable, and MSNBC Interactive News. The company also recently acquired WebTV Networks, and made investments in Comcast and Apple Computer.
  121. Mac OS X and G5 for 3D Rendering and video editing by afantee · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, Pixar president Ed Catmull said at WWDC last week that the dual 2 GHz G5 Power Mac was the fastest desktop computer for RenderMan.

    In addition, Final Cut Pro only runs on Mac, Apple sells Shake for $5000 on Mac OS X and $10000 on Linux and other platforms, 25% Maya sales go to Mac OS X. It looks that Mac OS X on G5 is a far better 3D and video solution than Linux, particularly now that the dual G5 Power Mac is cheaper than the dual Xeon Dell.

  122. Re:Mac OS X and G5 for 3D Rendering and video edit by xenocide2 · · Score: 1

    While I have the utmost respect for Dr. Catmull, one must remember a key player in both Pixar and Apple's operations: Steve Jobs.

    Of course this is merely speculation; Apple has had a track record of focusing on multimedia. Quicktime, iTunes, Photoshop (ok so they didnt build it, but maybe they designed future Apples to run it 'better'?). It could simply be that Apple has made some design trade offs to support the RenderMan software suite.

    Or I *suppose* the G5 Power Mac could be the fastest out there, but some of us are far too anti-Mac to support that hypothesis =)

    --
    I Browse at +4 Flamebait

    Open Source Sysadmin

  123. Uhh.... yes they were!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They were 1bit textures hand drawn with xfig. ;-)

  124. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by Surak · · Score: 1

    See what I mean? ;)

  125. The Major reasons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cost linux is the cheapest cluster that work great with update http. Basicly microsoft costs too much sco cost too and suns own os costs too much for just a very powerfull cluster these days.

    Number 2 if you are a web developer a bit sort on money it provids a development env with low overhead and able to fully copy servers on line so what works in the test bed with work on the server. And linux server space is the cheapest in town.

    The is one rule that always comes true microsoft was the cheapest in town so over time it killed every thing else. Now linux is the cheapest in town and it will kill everything else.

    Linux is starting to run out of market to kill basicly it has kill lots of the unixs and is killing SCO(ie the threat court case to try it save it skin). Basicly it has been attacking and taking the unix market but in the last few years they have been force to look at windows to keep there market expanding. Basicly the game with microsoft is only begining. Just like big gates he is blind. When microsoft took on OS/2 there OS was poorly made and OS/2 was made correctly. They won on the terms of price. FUD was ran this failed to stop dos/windows from growning in fact microsoft got more market share quicker because of it.

    Every one points to driver problems but this is a windows problem as well as a linux one microsoft does not always get the source code to driver but it has been forcing companys that make drivers to hand over there source code so they could check it. Now the question is why can microsoft demand the source code to a driver yet linux cannot. I think this is unfair competion again.

    Basicly linux is not perfect but it works well in the server world. Since you don't need stuff like keyboard switchs. And every thing you use for controling the system can be network parts this means anything breaks you can take parts from the control system to fix the problem in the short term. The thing is how long until microsoft wake up and sees the writing on the wall they are in trouble and big trouble. It will not help then where every they go. The big thing about linux is that you can almost use any hardware from any company to do you work even macs.

  126. G5 is the fastest desktop for Pixar's RenderMan by afantee · · Score: 1

    >> While I have the utmost respect for Dr. Catmull, one must remember a key player in both Pixar and Apple's operations: Steve Jobs.

    Steve Jobs created Pixar to make great movies and lots of money, not to help Apple, and virtually all of his wealth comes from the 70% Pixar stock that he owns. The company is run by very smart people like Ed Catmull who make decision in the best interest of Pixar, which is why their own render farm currently uses Lintel machines rather than Macs. But the G5 is going to change the CG landscape, and Pixar knows that from their own benchmarks.

    Does your conspiracy theory also apply to all these companies:

    Adobe

    "Thanks to the hard work of Adobe's engineers, Photoshop performs twice as fast on Power Mac G5s, when compared to any other system we've seen from Apple," said Greg Gilley, vice president, Graphics Applications Development at Adobe. "The future of Photoshop on the Macintosh platform is being geared around exploiting the power of Mac OS X and tapping the outstanding hardware performance of a new generation of Power Mac G5s."

    Luxology

    "We are simply blown away with the performance we are seeing out of the chip and the incredibly wide pipes on the motherboard which allows our 3D technology to do more in real time than we ever thought possible," said Brad Peebler, Luxology's president and co-founder.

    Pixar

    "After running our RenderMan benchmarks, we can now say that the Power Mac G5 is the fastest desktop in the world," said Ed Catmull, Pixar's president.

    Macromedia

    "The combination of Macromedia products and the new Power Mac G5 from Apple is an ideal platform for developers to create great experiences," said Norm Meyrowitz, Macromedia's president of Macromedia Products.

    Digidesign

    "Processor power is one of the prime things that makes the magic of digital audio happen. The new Power Mac G5 is going to give our customers just want they want--loads of power and a great OS that really delivers," said Dave Lebolt, Digidesign's general manager and Avid Technology vice president.

    Alias|Wavefront

    "Alias|Wavefront is extremely pleased with the performance we're seeing from our initial tests of Maya on the Power Mac G5," says Kevin Tureski, general manager, Maya Engineering at Alias|Wavefront. "From dynamics to rendering, we're seeing twice the performance with our application. Our customers will be thrilled with the Power Mac G5."

    Wolfram

    "The Power Mac G5 is a scientific dream machine," said Wolfram Research co-founder Theodore Gray. "Mathematica Version 5's enhanced support for large-scale numerical linear algebra, linear programming, and PDEs, is a perfect example of what you need a machine as powerful as the Power Mac G5 for: Everyone who uses Mathematica, or should, would do well to look at the Power Mac G5 very seriously."

  127. mis-spoke by pr0ntab · · Score: 1

    when I said the animation is intricate, I meant that there would be an overly-intricate amount of detail invested in each strand, to make the clumps look particularly dynamic (as would be required of sirens)

    --
    Fuck Beta. Fuck Dice
  128. overall aesthetic appearance of the movie by phelddagrif · · Score: 1

    I dunno, but maybe I'm the only one who is irritated by the animators/producers mixing what looks like hand drawn animation, and full CG. It looks really cheap, and segmented I find. Almost like the characters are on a different plane of existence than the Cg characters/environments. I think they should have gone all cell shaded or all rendered.

    All I'm trying to say really I guess is that the film seems to look disjointed as far as the aesthetics of the picture are concerned.

  129. Re:This could kind of "protect" Linux from lawsuit by RevSmiley · · Score: 1

    "Just say no to zionism!"

    OK. As long as we say no to islamic terrorists/fundementalists too.

    All intolerance is criminal.

    --
    As you can see I don't care about my karma.
  130. Linux is good; Ray Harryhausen was better by rubicon7 · · Score: 1

    All this fancy-schmancy CG stuff can't hold a candle to good-old stop-motion photography.

    The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
    Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger

    Thanks for the cheese, Ray.

    --
    --- We are not in the 8th dimension. We are over New Jersey.
  131. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by MikeFM · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually those sound like a major improvement.. I might bother getting cable if they had channels like that. The only channels I really like are like Discovery, TLC, and stuff like that.. though I admit I also watch MTV/VH1 and The Cartoon Network.

    Actually though I think geeks could make really good television. A lot of us are real movie/tv buffs and are actually pretty funny. I've actually thought about making a tv series of my life.. something like a combination Jerry Springer, Seinfield, and Freaks & Geeks. I think it'd be pretty popular.. especially with my fellow geeks. :)

    --
    At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
  132. Watch, buy, and rip. by MikeFM · · Score: 1

    Sure go watch the movies.. buy the movies.. rip the movies.. give copies to everyone you can. I sugegst printing out a stack of copies of your favorite movie and print fairly legit looking disc labels.. then leave them in places where people are likely to pick up copies. Leave them there anonymously and you can't be busted.

    --
    At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
  133. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by MidnightBrewer · · Score: 1

    Why should they care? What they care about is using the right tool for the right job. Also, producers are not advertisers; they hand advertising over to the advertising team, who then makes the call on how to advertise the piece.

    The Dreamworks IT team responsible for making this production work on Linux is hardly responsible for marketing the movie as well. The fact of the matter is, WindowsMedia.com has brand recognition and is a popular site, and the logistics are taken care of by someone else.

    Speaking of popular sites for movie trailers, have you ever heard of Apple QuickTime? They've got this great little movie trailers site, and it's always the first place I check. I found the Sinbad trailer right away.

    --
    "Give a man fire, and he'll be warm for a day; set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life
  134. Wired's poorly-researched sycophancy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the article, they claim that Dreamworks' method of creating an ocean (rendering the whole thing, then taking parts of it) is "novel." In fact, this has been done before, for Attack of the Clones.

  135. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by CableModemSniper · · Score: 1

    Huh? Will someone please mod that down.

    --
    Why not fork?
  136. Re:Newsbreak: Baked producers find women a "proble by sql*kitten · · Score: 1

    Me thinks the Dreamworks team had a whole lot of wholesome fun while making the movie.

    I'm sure in the Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within build scripts there's support for make -Daki=naked...

  137. Imagine... by Britz · · Score: 1

    a movie about the old Scandinavian warrior called Beowulf all done on Linux.

    OK, OK, it is not funny, but I didn't see the CowboyNeal Option and I thought something was missing.

  138. Re:This could kind of "protect" Linux from lawsuit by motown · · Score: 1

    OK. As long as we say no to islamic terrorists/fundementalists too.

    All intolerance is criminal.


    I agree with you 100%. I reject fundamentalism as well as zionism and especially the terrorism originating from both.

    --
    "Oooh, does that mean we get to kick some puffy white mad zionist butt?"
  139. Totals by Redbw6 · · Score: 1

    It seems like a great movie...I just have a feeling that it's not going to do as well as people hope. It seems like older people might be more interested in it than younger kids. Heck, kids have no idea who Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta Jones are.

  140. Re:Ironic... Give me a break folks. by babbage · · Score: 1

    How many home shopping channels are there? How many run sports all day long? You make it sound like it's not dreadful already, oy vey...