How will we ever cope? I mean for the last 20+ years we've had these systems called IBM Compatibles. All of them have exactly the same amount of memory, the same amount of storage, the same speed CPU, the same speed GPU, the same size and number of displays, the same peripherals, run the same OS, the same networking stacks. It's been awesome because if they happened to all be different no one could ever ship software for them.
They can just build 1600ft tall "Freedom Towers" and then happen to place a cell antenna on top. The "cell equipment" will equipment will be at least 1500 ft away from all buildings and no politician will be able to argue against "Freedom Towers":-p
Let's say you want the thing to just work and work out of the box and have the remote work out of the box and not have to tinker with it just to watch TV?
It might work day 1. It wont work day 90. Boxee is not known of keeping their apps working. At least with a Zino you have the option to switch to something that's working. With Boxee you're at the mercy of the Boxee group.
Maybe you want to make sure your hardware is always supported. Boxee software and Boxee hardware.
What? I think Dell will be around far longer than Boxee. Of course I hope Boxee does well but there is no guarantee they will even be around in a year or even if they are that they will still be supporting the Boxee hardware 1.0
I've owned a couple of different dedicated media boxes. So far they always disappoint. While Boxee is better I don't expect it to not disappoint as well. It already doesn't display several video formats that work in XBMC. It's ridiculously slow to display images. So, PC means I can switch to things that work. Boxee hardware means I'm stuck.
Why would I pay $229 for a Boxee when I can pay just an extra $30 more and get a Dell Zino which is a full powered PC that will not only run Boxee but anything else I might need (VLC, XBMC, Flash,...)
For $229 I get some piece of hardware that can only run Boxee. Some new service comes out and I get to wait months or forever until someone decides to make a Boxee version. Or I could just use a PC and not have to wait.
I love Boxee the software. I use it everyday. But Boxee the hardware sounds like a losing proposition. Heck, the Zino even has a DVD drive and an optional Blu-ray and far more powerful GPU.
Now if they'll relax a few more I might actually buy an iPhone again.
Specifically. Let other music app/stores exist. I want Amazon to be able to download songs directly, not only iTMS. I also want to be able to subscribe to podcasts on my iPhone. I shouldn't have to plug it in to desktop iTunes for that.
Finally, let me read the memory as a USB drive for all data so I can copy music, pdfs, videos, pictures and other stuff on/off the phone without iTunes. Apple doesn't have to add this to iOS they just have to allow apps that make it possible.
One more thing. I think a PC is better than a dedicated box like AppleTV, PopcornHour (which I owned) and other boxes because...I can also browse the net and use the latest software. So for example if Boxee ever dies I can still use a browser to watch Hulu or Vimeo or PBS. If some new service suddenly appears it's pretty likely I'll be able to use it immediately. With a dedicated box that's generally not true.
I have a Mac Mini. Anything post Oct 2009 is fast enough for HiDef. I have an Ubuntu server sharing via SMB and I use Boxee or XBMC on the Mac Mini.I'm connected to a 42 inch Sony at 1920x1080p. Bonus because the Mac has remote control support built in. The Mac Mini is SILENT!
The only downside is cost. A Mac Mini is $599.
A Dell Zino is the same size and seems like it should also fit the bill and they start at only $260 but (a) I've never used one so not sure they can do HD. Boxee and XBMC are supposed to use the GPU for video decoding now so maybe the Zino is fine. (b) I have no idea if the Zino is silent. (c) no built in remote but given the price difference you could easily add that and still be well under the price of the Mac Mini
Bonus, you can get BluRay on Zino, something you can't do on Mac Mini AFAIK.
I've had the exact opposite experience. I got an iPad, I used it for about 8 hours total in 2 months. Why? Because I'm not just a consumer. I actually like to create. I like writing emails, posting to friends on facebook. I like editing my blog, editing photos and posting them on flickr. I like flipping back and forth between 6 browser windows each with 6 to 12 tabs. So, every time I pick up the iPad it's silky smooth interface is neato but within a few minutes I'm frustrated by it's limitations.
Oh, and also hate the content I miss. Yea, I read sites like boingboing.net, indiegamer.com and several others which often have articles that contain flash video or links to flash games. Even non-flash sites often don't work on iPad. Try making a map on Google maps. You can look one up, you can't edit one though. Try using this app (http://mugtug.com/sketchpad/) which is 100% pure HTML but sucks ass on iPad.
So yea, if you like isolating yourself because it sucks to type on iPad or if you don't create much and just consume then iPad might be for you. For me, even for those times when I only want to consume (airline flight?) it's still not worth it to me to use an iPad since I still have to carry a netbook or notepad for when I actually do want to create and since the netbook or notepad will also let me consume just fine I have no reason to use my iPad.
Or you could open your mind and see that the entire thread is a troll.
The students blatantly copied somebody else's work. In many circumstances that can get you expelled from school. Why are we supposed to have sympathy for them except that it's "evil corp" vs "innocent students"?
I've had this problem with every phone I've owned since 2003.
I'll be someplace where I know there is a strong signal. I'll try and try and try to either (a) dial or (b) connect to some site. After 3-6 tries with no luck I reboot the phone and it immediately works.
This was true for me with a Sharp phone, 2 Casio phones, a Sony Ericsson phone, an Apple iPhone 3G and my Nexus One.
I learned on Byte and Compute! as well but that's because back then that's all there was. That and a few books.
Now there's a gajillion ways now to be a techie. Whether it's coding to the metal or using JavaScript or Flash, using Java or C# or C++ or C or hand coding assembly. The number of ways to get the same buzz I got from those magazines in the early 80s has increased exponentially.
If you're stuck in the 80s though and just want to hand poke hardware then try the Arduino movement or one of these
And no, I'm not dissing those projects. I'm just trying to say that writing something in JavaScript or Python gives me the same feeling I got back in the 80s from typing in programs out of Compute! It's 2010. I'd much rather be programming in C# on XNA on my PC/360 than in basic or assembly on my Atari800.
3.3.1 Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++ or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++ and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).
That still describes exactly Flash, Unity3D, Torque, SDL, Unreal and most game engines.
It's also contributed to many Japanese forgetting how to write many less common kanji because in their day-to-day life most of them rarely have to write by hand anymore. They type the sound and press "convert" and pick from a list on both their PCs and cell phones.
I don't know how old your machines are but I believe every version since at least Windows 2000, maybe even 95, has had Windows Scripting Host so no need to have your users install anything.
You can use visual basic scripting or javascript (jscript)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Script_Host
There are books on it.
If your stuff works as DOS commands great. If you find you need more power to your language and you don't want users to have to install anything than Windows Scripting Host is probably your only other option.
Sure. If you don't mind giving up more than 50 percent of your market. IE still makes up the majority of browser use and it doesn't run html5. It does run flash.
Sure it is. It's proof that the development system you use to make the app has nothing to do with whether or not the app is quality.
Jobs claims unless you use C/C++/Obj-C or JavaScript and unless you call the apis directly and not through some compatibility library your apps will suck
Hey then goes on to show apps that don't suck that broke the very rules he claims are required to not suck.
Here's the problem with that reasoning. The 3.3.1 agreement does not say "don't use flash". It says nothing but Objective C, C, C++ and WebKit JavaScript. There are at least 300 apps already breaking this rule. 44 of them are listed on the Unitt3D site. Another 62 are listed on the Torque site.
One of them, Tap Tap Revenge, is written in Lua. Jobs demoed that on iPad at launch. It's kind of hypocritical to show off how awesome the iPad is and claim it requires native apps to get that level of quality and then use a non native app running in Lua and using a compatibility layer as a way to show of the iPad.
Except of course it's been running on low-power, low-spec'd mobile devices in Japan since like 2003.
A large percentage of Japanese cell phones since around 2003 use flash for their UIs. This is great for the cell phone providers because they can contract out their UIs to graphic designers and UI/UX people can differentiate their UIs every 6 months.
I loved the selectable Flash based UIs on my both my 2003 and 2005 Japanese Casio phone
I'd like to manage my music without iTunes thank you.
iTunes is not for me. It's bloated, it doesn't have the features I want. It doesn't let me organize music "my way".
Personally I'd like to be able to manage music directly from the phone. That includes being able to purchase music from any online store that has the music I want. iTMS doesn't carry most of the stuff I listen to.
Given that Macs cost 2x to 3x more than a Windows PCs those development tools are not "free". There cost is just included in the higher price of a Mac. You could have bought a Windows PC and used the difference in price to buy your dev tools (and more)
Of course that same argument doesn't hold for a Linux PC.
I don't know how to put into words the difference between a regular phone and a smart phone except to say smartphones are considered a cross between a PDA and a cellphone.
Slashdot Mirror
How will we ever cope? I mean for the last 20+ years we've had these systems called IBM Compatibles. All of them have exactly the same amount of memory, the same amount of storage, the same speed CPU, the same speed GPU, the same size and number of displays, the same peripherals, run the same OS, the same networking stacks. It's been awesome because if they happened to all be different no one could ever ship software for them.
They can just build 1600ft tall "Freedom Towers" and then happen to place a cell antenna on top. The "cell equipment" will equipment will be at least 1500 ft away from all buildings and no politician will be able to argue against "Freedom Towers" :-p
Let's say you want the thing to just work and work out of the box and have the remote work out of the box and not have to tinker with it just to watch TV?
It might work day 1. It wont work day 90. Boxee is not known of keeping their apps working. At least with a Zino you have the option to switch to something that's working. With Boxee you're at the mercy of the Boxee group.
Maybe you want to make sure your hardware is always supported. Boxee software and Boxee hardware.
What? I think Dell will be around far longer than Boxee. Of course I hope Boxee does well but there is no guarantee they will even be around in a year or even if they are that they will still be supporting the Boxee hardware 1.0
I've owned a couple of different dedicated media boxes. So far they always disappoint. While Boxee is better I don't expect it to not disappoint as well. It already doesn't display several video formats that work in XBMC. It's ridiculously slow to display images. So, PC means I can switch to things that work. Boxee hardware means I'm stuck.
Why would I pay $229 for a Boxee when I can pay just an extra $30 more and get a Dell Zino which is a full powered PC that will not only run Boxee but anything else I might need (VLC, XBMC, Flash, ...)
For $229 I get some piece of hardware that can only run Boxee. Some new service comes out and I get to wait months or forever until someone decides to make a Boxee version. Or I could just use a PC and not have to wait.
I love Boxee the software. I use it everyday. But Boxee the hardware sounds like a losing proposition. Heck, the Zino even has a DVD drive and an optional Blu-ray and far more powerful GPU.
Now if they'll relax a few more I might actually buy an iPhone again.
Specifically. Let other music app/stores exist. I want Amazon to be able to download songs directly, not only iTMS. I also want to be able to subscribe to podcasts on my iPhone. I shouldn't have to plug it in to desktop iTunes for that.
Finally, let me read the memory as a USB drive for all data so I can copy music, pdfs, videos, pictures and other stuff on/off the phone without iTunes. Apple doesn't have to add this to iOS they just have to allow apps that make it possible.
Well, here's hoping.
One more thing. I think a PC is better than a dedicated box like AppleTV, PopcornHour (which I owned) and other boxes because...I can also browse the net and use the latest software. So for example if Boxee ever dies I can still use a browser to watch Hulu or Vimeo or PBS. If some new service suddenly appears it's pretty likely I'll be able to use it immediately. With a dedicated box that's generally not true.
I have a Mac Mini. Anything post Oct 2009 is fast enough for HiDef. I have an Ubuntu server sharing via SMB and I use Boxee or XBMC on the Mac Mini.I'm connected to a 42 inch Sony at 1920x1080p. Bonus because the Mac has remote control support built in. The Mac Mini is SILENT!
The only downside is cost. A Mac Mini is $599.
A Dell Zino is the same size and seems like it should also fit the bill and they start at only $260 but (a) I've never used one so not sure they can do HD. Boxee and XBMC are supposed to use the GPU for video decoding now so maybe the Zino is fine. (b) I have no idea if the Zino is silent. (c) no built in remote but given the price difference you could easily add that and still be well under the price of the Mac Mini
Bonus, you can get BluRay on Zino, something you can't do on Mac Mini AFAIK.
I've had the exact opposite experience. I got an iPad, I used it for about 8 hours total in 2 months. Why? Because I'm not just a consumer. I actually like to create. I like writing emails, posting to friends on facebook. I like editing my blog, editing photos and posting them on flickr. I like flipping back and forth between 6 browser windows each with 6 to 12 tabs. So, every time I pick up the iPad it's silky smooth interface is neato but within a few minutes I'm frustrated by it's limitations.
Oh, and also hate the content I miss. Yea, I read sites like boingboing.net, indiegamer.com and several others which often have articles that contain flash video or links to flash games. Even non-flash sites often don't work on iPad. Try making a map on Google maps. You can look one up, you can't edit one though. Try using this app (http://mugtug.com/sketchpad/) which is 100% pure HTML but sucks ass on iPad.
So yea, if you like isolating yourself because it sucks to type on iPad or if you don't create much and just consume then iPad might be for you. For me, even for those times when I only want to consume (airline flight?) it's still not worth it to me to use an iPad since I still have to carry a netbook or notepad for when I actually do want to create and since the netbook or notepad will also let me consume just fine I have no reason to use my iPad.
Or you could open your mind and see that the entire thread is a troll.
The students blatantly copied somebody else's work. In many circumstances that can get you expelled from school. Why are we supposed to have sympathy for them except that it's "evil corp" vs "innocent students"?
Yes, because you know how like copying pacman is a super creative activity and shutting it down is stifling creativity. ::rolleyes::
I've had this problem with every phone I've owned since 2003.
I'll be someplace where I know there is a strong signal. I'll try and try and try to either (a) dial or (b) connect to some site. After 3-6 tries with no luck I reboot the phone and it immediately works.
This was true for me with a Sharp phone, 2 Casio phones, a Sony Ericsson phone, an Apple iPhone 3G and my Nexus One.
I learned on Byte and Compute! as well but that's because back then that's all there was. That and a few books.
Now there's a gajillion ways now to be a techie. Whether it's coding to the metal or using JavaScript or Flash, using Java or C# or C++ or C or hand coding assembly. The number of ways to get the same buzz I got from those magazines in the early 80s has increased exponentially.
If you're stuck in the 80s though and just want to hand poke hardware then try the Arduino movement or one of these
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/fun_games_and_entertainment_open_so.html
And no, I'm not dissing those projects. I'm just trying to say that writing something in JavaScript or Python gives me the same feeling I got back in the 80s from typing in programs out of Compute! It's 2010. I'd much rather be programming in C# on XNA on my PC/360 than in basic or assembly on my Atari800.
3.3.1 still says
3.3.1 Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++ or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++ and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).
That still describes exactly Flash, Unity3D, Torque, SDL, Unreal and most game engines.
It's also contributed to many Japanese forgetting how to write many less common kanji because in their day-to-day life most of them rarely have to write by hand anymore. They type the sound and press "convert" and pick from a list on both their PCs and cell phones.
I don't know how old your machines are but I believe every version since at least Windows 2000, maybe even 95, has had Windows Scripting Host so no need to have your users install anything.
You can use visual basic scripting or javascript (jscript)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Script_Host
There are books on it.
If your stuff works as DOS commands great. If you find you need more power to your language and you don't want users to have to install anything than Windows Scripting Host is probably your only other option.
Sure. If you don't mind giving up more than 50 percent of your market. IE still makes up the majority of browser use and it doesn't run html5. It does run flash.
Sure it is. It's proof that the development system you use to make the app has nothing to do with whether or not the app is quality.
Jobs claims unless you use C/C++/Obj-C or JavaScript and unless you call the apis directly and not through some compatibility library your apps will suck
Hey then goes on to show apps that don't suck that broke the very rules he claims are required to not suck.
Here's the problem with that reasoning. The 3.3.1 agreement does not say "don't use flash". It says nothing but Objective C, C, C++ and WebKit JavaScript. There are at least 300 apps already breaking this rule. 44 of them are listed on the Unitt3D site. Another 62 are listed on the Torque site.
One of them, Tap Tap Revenge, is written in Lua. Jobs demoed that on iPad at launch. It's kind of hypocritical to show off how awesome the iPad is and claim it requires native apps to get that level of quality and then use a non native app running in Lua and using a compatibility layer as a way to show of the iPad.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/steve-jobs-weighs-on-iphone-os-dev-controversy.ars
Except of course it's been running on low-power, low-spec'd mobile devices in Japan since like 2003.
A large percentage of Japanese cell phones since around 2003 use flash for their UIs. This is great for the cell phone providers because they can contract out their UIs to graphic designers and UI/UX people can differentiate their UIs every 6 months.
I loved the selectable Flash based UIs on my both my 2003 and 2005 Japanese Casio phone
When some radio station you normally trust starts reporting a hoax it takes a while to figure out it's a hoax. It's happened several times.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2005/06/29
I'd like to manage my music without iTunes thank you.
iTunes is not for me. It's bloated, it doesn't have the features I want. It doesn't let me organize music "my way".
Personally I'd like to be able to manage music directly from the phone. That includes being able to purchase music from any online store that has the music I want. iTMS doesn't carry most of the stuff I listen to.
Given that Macs cost 2x to 3x more than a Windows PCs those development tools are not "free". There cost is just included in the higher price of a Mac. You could have bought a Windows PC and used the difference in price to buy your dev tools (and more)
Of course that same argument doesn't hold for a Linux PC.
Paying taxes != free services.
You pay through your taxes. Whether that is more than you'd pay if you paid directly is instead of through your taxes is debatable.
Japanese have been able to install apps on there "non"-smart phones since the late 90s.
Here's one of literally 100s of directories of apps.
http://appget.com/im/pc/
I don't know how to put into words the difference between a regular phone and a smart phone except to say smartphones are considered a cross between a PDA and a cellphone.