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Woz on Open Source, DRM
destinyland writes "Steve Wozniak just weighed in on DRM, saying "it doesn't make much sense if these things are going to have DRM forever." In this great new interview, he complains that even now, only six songs on his iTunes playlist are DRM-free. He applauds the Open Source Movement, saying "it's very honorable and it's very good for the customers." He's even considering publishing the hand-written code for the Apple II as a manuscript.
He's also surprisingly non-commital about the iPhone. ("Will word of mouth kill it or make it a hit? Who knows?") He also talks about his favorite pranks, and reveals that "the Secret Service read me my Miranda rights once.""
To Woz, about Steve and Woz and Apple :"You guys are Adam and Eve of nerds."
Its funny, interesting, insightful and can also be flamebait/troll at the same time.
I believe Ellison is Larry Ellison of Oracle fame. I didn't realize he was beloved by everyone though.
He applauds the Open Source Movement
Actually, I don't think the Open Source Movement has much contribute to the fight against DRM. Let's not forget that Open Source is just a way of writing software. The Free Software Movement however really fought against DRM, for example the Free Software Foundation launched the campaign DefectiveByDesign.org.
And he was able to sell it for less than $1000. You can trace the start of the home computer revolution to his Apple ][ and the small, cheap floppy drive.
My understanding is that Apple was still 3rd behind PET and Tandy even though they had a floppy drive. It was so expensive that it was not a top seller. People lived with mostly cassetts until the early 80's, at which point the other vendors had their floppies working and they grew cheaper. Apple eventually led PET around 1980 because VisiCalc was first written for the Apple, not because of floppies.
See what I mean about fucking others over?...Wozniak is ten times the man, and ten times the geek, that Gates is. Gates is more comparable to Jobs than Woz. Paul Allen was more the Woz equivalent for Microsoft.
It is because Woz does not care about money and fame. He just wants enough money to play around, but is still mostly frugal. The others want money and power for the sake of money and power.
Table-ized A.I.
Here is the kicker. Gates isn't giving his money away. A very small portion of his wealth (proportionally much smaller than other's charitable donations) are going to the Gates Foundation. And 95% of the Gates Foundation is in investments for companies making more money. Most of the wealth in the Gates Foundation comes from Warren Buffet, who was once the world's richest man.
He lives here in Omaha, NE and is a very frugal, simple man who from time to time can even be seen mowing his own lawn. Buffet always said he was doing to donate the bulk of his wealth and not burden his children with the responsibility it bears. His kids aren't pampered rich kids who ever assumed they would inherit anything. I've met both Peter and Susy Buffet, and not only do they make their own way in the world, they've both been very socially responsible to use their fame to help raise money for charity.
Gates was named Man of the Year and gets all the credit for good deeds he isn't doing.
And for the record, Gates repeatedly said for years he did not believe in charity and refused to donate much of anything. When he was forced to make small donations for tax purposes, he donated Microsoft software and computers to schools, again an act that is self-serving. Even Philly's much-hyped all technology school that Microsoft gets credit for was paid for in full by Philly. Neither Gates nor Microsoft donated a dime.
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