The one problem I have with the current trend of promoting easy-to-use tools to those who need them is that the Internet is being populated by those who do not know what they are doing, are (sometimes) gullible, and cheapen connectivity for the rest of us. I know many people who think the Internet is America Online.
Granted you need to have some open standards, but SVG won't be implemented because it isn't economical. Why would America Online and Microsoft work to push SVG when the SWF standard is already widely supported -plus- Macromedia has sophisticated the format and is making lots of money off of it? While things like SVG are great for the little guy, large corporations are not helped particularly by it.
There isn't as clear cut a parallel between the tobacco and gun industry versus Napster, as you cannot stop smoking through cigarettes and violence through guns as you can stop Napster-orchestrated file trading by shutting down Napster. Granted, MP3 trading will still occur, but (under your analogy) it would be knife fighting and pot smoking.
I don't think this is much of an issue; I've downloaded Communicator in the past (I'm waiting for NS6 now!) and did not have to deal with the SmartDownload if I didn't want to. Therefore, the only people who should be concerned with this are net-sheep (and AOL already has their information).
I am all for using the internet as a distribution method for music, however the level at which bandwidth and formats exist right now do not make it the perfect solution many would like to believe. MP3 compression causes too great a degradation in sound quality for audiophillic listeners. Even at high and/or variable bitrates the tonal range is nowhere near CD listened through good headphones or speakers. I would be more apt to purchase music online if this was improved.
This story reminds me of one of the judge's conclusions in the RIAA vs. Diamond trial over the RIO. He stated that since it doesn't make exact copies of the music itself, the RIO is a "time-shifting" device like a VCR; it allows the user to listen to music at a more convenient time. Since the service is capturing shows just like a VCR, it can be seen as an offsite time-shifting device and would be completely legal.
I can appreciate the nostalgia of using souped-up old machines (we've all seen those people with cool retro cars we all want), but a computer can be a thing of pride without the fancy (or not so fancy being the case... no pun intended) stylings or most powerful hardware. I loved my old Packard Bell 120mhz machine, telling people i was using it when ripping them to shreds in TFC (Half-Life needs a 133), but I replaced it with a custom build. The new one is better, and I am just as proud.
The release of the WinCE source fits in perfectly with the standard MS tactics (Introduce free/low cost product backed by monopoly to drive away competition). The Palm division of 3Com is splitting off into a new company, and while they will continue to produce their PDA lines, most of their efforts will be concentrated on developing the PalmOS (to license to sell to hardware makers). As everyone knows the Palm-based PDAs are slaughtering WinCE platforms hands down. So what a better way to clear Palm out of the market than to entice companies with the open source model? Microsoft wants companies to embrace WinCE rather than PalmOS, kind of the same way companies are introducing open source Linux machines rather than pricey, closed source NT boxes. At least that is the way I see it...
I think that it is one of the greatest human technological achievements, right up there with the shoehorn, highlighting tape, rubber toucans, and twisty ties... I just can't wait till there is a text-based linux port of Ultima Underworld!
I think that the Litestep interface is a quality way to ignore a little bit of M$ from the bowels of your HD. There are reasons (however few) to not use Linux or another open operating system, and Litestep provides an innovative way to run win32 applications. I think it is refreshing to see someone developing open source sofware without keeping their mind focused solely on Linux. I know that things that are new and different can often be denounced in ignorance. Anyways, does Linux need another shell?
I think that Slashdot would smell like the bellows of a musty old accordion (Salute to TMBG)... but only on Mondays. On other days, it would smell like... tacos? Or maybe frozen pizza (the breakfast of champions)..
I'm under the opinion that it shouldn't matter whether or not your mp3 player knows to which type of song you are listening. If you own the CD, you should already know...
Slashdot Mirror
The one problem I have with the current trend of promoting easy-to-use tools to those who need them is that the Internet is being populated by those who do not know what they are doing, are (sometimes) gullible, and cheapen connectivity for the rest of us. I know many people who think the Internet is America Online.
Granted you need to have some open standards, but SVG won't be implemented because it isn't economical. Why would America Online and Microsoft work to push SVG when the SWF standard is already widely supported -plus- Macromedia has sophisticated the format and is making lots of money off of it? While things like SVG are great for the little guy, large corporations are not helped particularly by it.
There isn't as clear cut a parallel between the tobacco and gun industry versus Napster, as you cannot stop smoking through cigarettes and violence through guns as you can stop Napster-orchestrated file trading by shutting down Napster. Granted, MP3 trading will still occur, but (under your analogy) it would be knife fighting and pot smoking.
I don't think this is much of an issue; I've downloaded Communicator in the past (I'm waiting for NS6 now!) and did not have to deal with the SmartDownload if I didn't want to. Therefore, the only people who should be concerned with this are net-sheep (and AOL already has their information).
I am all for using the internet as a distribution method for music, however the level at which bandwidth and formats exist right now do not make it the perfect solution many would like to believe. MP3 compression causes too great a degradation in sound quality for audiophillic listeners. Even at high and/or variable bitrates the tonal range is nowhere near CD listened through good headphones or speakers. I would be more apt to purchase music online if this was improved.
This story reminds me of one of the judge's conclusions in the RIAA vs. Diamond trial over the RIO. He stated that since it doesn't make exact copies of the music itself, the RIO is a "time-shifting" device like a VCR; it allows the user to listen to music at a more convenient time. Since the service is capturing shows just like a VCR, it can be seen as an offsite time-shifting device and would be completely legal.
I can appreciate the nostalgia of using souped-up old machines (we've all seen those people with cool retro cars we all want), but a computer can be a thing of pride without the fancy (or not so fancy being the case... no pun intended) stylings or most powerful hardware. I loved my old Packard Bell 120mhz machine, telling people i was using it when ripping them to shreds in TFC (Half-Life needs a 133), but I replaced it with a custom build. The new one is better, and I am just as proud.
So when do the ignorant masses send off paper books as the next dead media?
The release of the WinCE source fits in perfectly with the standard MS tactics (Introduce free/low cost product backed by monopoly to drive away competition). The Palm division of 3Com is splitting off into a new company, and while they will continue to produce their PDA lines, most of their efforts will be concentrated on developing the PalmOS (to license to sell to hardware makers). As everyone knows the Palm-based PDAs are slaughtering WinCE platforms hands down. So what a better way to clear Palm out of the market than to entice companies with the open source model? Microsoft wants companies to embrace WinCE rather than PalmOS, kind of the same way companies are introducing open source Linux machines rather than pricey, closed source NT boxes. At least that is the way I see it...
I think that it is one of the greatest human technological achievements, right up there with the shoehorn, highlighting tape, rubber toucans, and twisty ties... I just can't wait till there is a text-based linux port of Ultima Underworld!
I think that the Litestep interface is a quality way to ignore a little bit of M$ from the bowels of your HD. There are reasons (however few) to not use Linux or another open operating system, and Litestep provides an innovative way to run win32 applications. I think it is refreshing to see someone developing open source sofware without keeping their mind focused solely on Linux. I know that things that are new and different can often be denounced in ignorance. Anyways, does Linux need another shell?
I think that Slashdot would smell like the bellows of a musty old accordion (Salute to TMBG)... but only on Mondays. On other days, it would smell like... tacos? Or maybe frozen pizza (the breakfast of champions)..
I'm under the opinion that it shouldn't matter whether or not your mp3 player knows to which type of song you are listening. If you own the CD, you should already know...