Skype is Computer to something. VoIP / SIP is phone to phone (or computer if you want).
The standard protocol is SIP, and there is a multitude of SIP phones and adapters available (allows you to use old phones). This allows you to use IP telephony even with the computer turned off, and you can also get real phone numbers so you can get rid of the POTS/ISDN phone and do it all over broadband.
The Skype phones you can buy all requires a POTS telephone line if they are to be used with the computer turned off. So they suck and are NOT an alternative to the traditional phone like SIP.
Here in Denmark there are 5 providers or so, and we are only 5 mio people.
The difference between digital cameras are often the software. The same camera can be sold in different packges (Canon IXUS/Elph vs their S-series vs G-series), and they are basicly the same camera with different sensors and packaging.
The cheap cameras has very bad image processing algorithms, so they would gain from open software. They would still use an old plastic bottle for molding the lens though.
The famous example of camera hacking is the Russian hack for the low-end Canon EOS 300D. 2 bytes changed enabled the custom functions menu of the big brother, the 10D. Then there were a few more mods. Think the best firmware had 20 bytes changed, and closed the gap between the 2 products.
The is also lots of things that are the same between the Canon 20D and the Canon 1D Mk II. If the extra features were enabled in the 20D, there would be even less reason to pay 3 times as much for the 1D Mk II. (It also has more buffer RAM + weather sealing).
So it is there in the hope they can sell the same product as 3 different ones.
If the law says breaking DRM is illegal, then it is illegal. The agreement can onlycover breaking DRM made by the entities represented by those 2 private organizations.
3119 Danish Kroner (DKK) = Approx $555. So about 10% extra, which might cover some uncertainties on the $ exchange rate. I do not think it is bad. They need to pay for localization of the software, the extra support org etc.
The bundle I bought is 5517,60 DKK = $981. This costs $871, so here there are slightly more expensive because the price of the parts has been rounded up
Microsoft has the problem, that the not even the OS group is using the OS.
Major flaws are: No ICC support in IE and other apps. This means we can only create images in a color gamut the equiv of an average 5 year old low-end monitor.
Microsoft has screwed up, and translated keyboard shortcuts to make sure that the OS and the application is not the same. (US OS foreign keyboard) (Ctrl-F = Fat letters in danish. Ctrl-B = Find (B is not part of any find-like word)).
Microsoft has products (ISA 2004) where you can not use copy/paste in dialog boxes. So they must do something to avoid default behaviour.
There are many other small annoyances in Windows, whereas you get the consistent user interface / user experience in MacOS X. Apple has documented things like Human Interface Guidelines, and reserved letters for Find etc. MS just lets developers decide. They think a consistent UI is not worth the trouble.
I use SIP providers. A local one for a local phone line/number here in Denmark (90 cents/minute), I do have a SipPhone account on the other port of my Sipura 2000 for when I have to call the US.
Also uses peering through FWD (Free World Dialup) for calling 1-800 numbers and other SIP providers.
Skype is hype is a closed proprietary standard, and all the "stand-alone" Skype phones you can buy requires the PC to be on if doing IP to IP calls.
SIP is an open standard, there are loads of adapters/phones available. And they work even if the computer is shut down. So I am all pro-SIP. Can change provider to the cheapest I want at any time.
I am planning on puttin up an Asterisk server so I can route calls more efficiently. And I will connect a cellphone to it, since cell -> cell is way cheaper than calling them from a landline.
BTW: I do not have a non-VoIP landline. Only a standard 2048/512 ADSL line + a cable modem (1mbit/s + pay for usage) for backup.
And have them revoke the suppliers rights to sell products for Windows, since they haven't got a clue.
I am working in a big company, and if the vendor do not spend the little money to fix their broken app, we will pick another. If they haven't got a clue about security on a network, they are are too dumb to deliver software for us.
uses AD or LDAP as backend. Works with most Windows applications, since it can watch dialog boxes, enter correct info for you etc. Can also script applications like terminal emulators.
We have been looking at it, and it looks good. Can even use different passwords for different systems, all stored in your keyring. Can even handle password changes and pick random passwords.
Here in Denmark, the law was changed to reflect that those non-competitive agreements becoming more and more normal.
So the law says, thay are not legal, unless the contract clearly states you will get half your salary for the binding period (up to 2 years). This is to compensate for a lower paying job. The former employee will not have to pay in full if you get a job at your former income.
that they are running out of money, and you are better off starting to look for a new job right now.
The old workplace first scrapped free fruit, then they started with the rest to cut minor expenses, but many of them. Result is, some employees will leave the company, and often recruiting costs of one employee + the higher salary he wants makes it bad business for the company.
Why isn't IM hit by DCMA or some other US regulations ?
The apply different techniques to circumvent company firewalls, and whatever else is needed to no comply to company policies. And the suppliers does all they can to make it impossible to block. I.e. placing servers on different subnets where they also place other servers that people needs access to for other reasons.
I think something should be done to kill this plague.
Download speed is measured in kByte/sec. Line speed is measured in bits/second (and often real bits at that).
If ATM is used (often the case), then there is an overhead of 5 bytes per 48 bytes of ATM data.
Add to this a TCP/IP overhead of up to 42 bytes/packet, giving an efficiency of around 95%.
This gives you more than 15% overhead. So a factor 10 is a good bet.
Now, if it is cable, there are many other things actually in there, as many are sharing the same cable etc. So it might eat another 20% - just like 802.11 is only spending half the bandwidth in each direction - and have lots of overhead.
Is it really that hard to keep it running ? When you log in, you are connected to a random idle cluster, which serves you a webpage. Since HTTP does not really work session based, you can hit a different server each time. It is trivial to make the front-end run 24/7. Even slashdot manages.
Talking to some application servers should also be trivial, just using a pool of connections. If something goes down, try another.
And for the back-end, database clustering is way old technology.
It is not free. If you ask Microsoft "free" things like Open Source, Hotmail etc kills innovation and profits in the US leading to the higher cost of a total collapse of society.
Here in Denmark, buying stolen goods is a criminal offense. I wonder why this isn't so in the US ? The only excuse is good faith, and that usually requires at least a receipt with a name from the seller, or the original receipt.
In Denmark, the law is made for the good of the society, not to protect the criminals. And as long as it is legal to buy stolen goods, somebody is willing to sell them. If you accept an offer too good to be true, then you will be guilty as well. So this is a law made to make crime less worthwhile.
Call you senators. Also make it criminal to accept stolen or fraud money for the campaign:)
People follow the instructions on how to spread the virus blindly. They will happily download a file, double-click it, and go in complete denial when confronted.
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft will get way more complaints if file were safe and could not be recovered.
For Microsoft false security sells, and true security doesn't. So of course they shell out products with "backdoors".
Now, the RC4 implementation is not one of those, but just a plain bug.
Skype is Computer to something. VoIP / SIP is phone to phone (or computer if you want).
The standard protocol is SIP, and there is a multitude of SIP phones and adapters available (allows you to use old phones). This allows you to use IP telephony even with the computer turned off, and you can also get real phone numbers so you can get rid of the POTS/ISDN phone and do it all over broadband.
The Skype phones you can buy all requires a POTS telephone line if they are to be used with the computer turned off. So they suck and are NOT an alternative to the traditional phone like SIP.
Here in Denmark there are 5 providers or so, and we are only 5 mio people.
The difference between digital cameras are often the software. The same camera can be sold in different packges (Canon IXUS/Elph vs their S-series vs G-series), and they are basicly the same camera with different sensors and packaging.
The cheap cameras has very bad image processing algorithms, so they would gain from open software. They would still use an old plastic bottle for molding the lens though.
The famous example of camera hacking is the Russian hack for the low-end Canon EOS 300D. 2 bytes changed enabled the custom functions menu of the big brother, the 10D. Then there were a few more mods. Think the best firmware had 20 bytes changed, and closed the gap between the 2 products.
The is also lots of things that are the same between the Canon 20D and the Canon 1D Mk II. If the extra features were enabled in the 20D, there would be even less reason to pay 3 times as much for the 1D Mk II. (It also has more buffer RAM + weather sealing).
So it is there in the hope they can sell the same product as 3 different ones.
place the library above the law ?
If the law says breaking DRM is illegal, then it is illegal. The agreement can onlycover breaking DRM made by the entities represented by those 2 private organizations.
Take the base unit.
3119 Danish Kroner (DKK) = Approx $555. So about 10% extra, which might cover some uncertainties on the $ exchange rate. I do not think it is bad. They need to pay for localization of the software, the extra support org etc.
The bundle I bought is 5517,60 DKK = $981.
This costs $871, so here there are slightly more expensive because the price of the parts has been rounded up
That the machine has sold very well, and that the shipping date for new orders are no longer Jan 22nd, but 3-4 weeks.
Luckily, my order got through early, so mine is expected to ship Jan 28th or earlier. This is pretty good since official release in Denmark is 29th.
Why a USB Ethernet ? Just order it with Airport Express. You probably have wireless anyway.
This one rocks. Too bad is has so much success that the Apple store is down already.
Microsoft has the problem, that the not even the OS group is using the OS.
Major flaws are: No ICC support in IE and other apps. This means we can only create images in a color gamut the equiv of an average 5 year old low-end monitor.
Microsoft has screwed up, and translated keyboard shortcuts to make sure that the OS and the application is not the same. (US OS foreign keyboard)
(Ctrl-F = Fat letters in danish. Ctrl-B = Find (B is not part of any find-like word)).
Microsoft has products (ISA 2004) where you can not use copy/paste in dialog boxes. So they must do something to avoid default behaviour.
There are many other small annoyances in Windows, whereas you get the consistent user interface / user experience in MacOS X. Apple has documented things like Human Interface Guidelines, and reserved letters for Find etc. MS just lets developers decide. They think a consistent UI is not worth the trouble.
I use SIP providers. A local one for a local phone line/number here in Denmark (90 cents/minute), I do have a SipPhone account on the other port of my Sipura 2000 for when I have to call the US.
Also uses peering through FWD (Free World Dialup) for calling 1-800 numbers and other SIP providers.
Skype is hype is a closed proprietary standard, and all the "stand-alone" Skype phones you can buy requires the PC to be on if doing IP to IP calls.
SIP is an open standard, there are loads of adapters/phones available. And they work even if the computer is shut down. So I am all pro-SIP. Can change provider to the cheapest I want at any time.
I am planning on puttin up an Asterisk server so I can route calls more efficiently. And I will connect a cellphone to it, since cell -> cell is way cheaper than calling them from a landline.
BTW: I do not have a non-VoIP landline. Only a standard 2048/512 ADSL line + a cable modem (1mbit/s + pay for usage) for backup.
And have them revoke the suppliers rights to sell products for Windows, since they haven't got a clue.
I am working in a big company, and if the vendor do not spend the little money to fix their broken app, we will pick another. If they haven't got a clue about security on a network, they are are too dumb to deliver software for us.
uses AD or LDAP as backend. Works with most Windows applications, since it can watch dialog boxes, enter correct info for you etc. Can also script applications like terminal emulators.
We have been looking at it, and it looks good. Can even use different passwords for different systems, all stored in your keyring. Can even handle password changes and pick random passwords.
But it is not cheap. Think $30 per user or so.
It is the Novell NSure SecureLogin.
It is open source, so it is the users fault that he didn't make or get somebody to make a code review before installing it.
Since it is free, he has paid noone else to take responsibility.
There is a pproduct called messagewall, which I have used for over a year. It does exactly this. Does the filtering before feeding it to the MTA.
Here in Denmark, the law was changed to reflect that those non-competitive agreements becoming more and more normal.
So the law says, thay are not legal, unless the contract clearly states you will get half your salary for the binding period (up to 2 years). This is to compensate for a lower paying job. The former employee will not have to pay in full if you get a job at your former income.
If you have a license for the OS, just run it in the emulator.
BTW: At works we use a mainframe z/OS machine with a capacity of 1000-1500 MIPS or more. The emulator gives you about 1 MIPS per GHz.
that they are running out of money, and you are better off starting to look for a new job right now.
The old workplace first scrapped free fruit, then they started with the rest to cut minor expenses, but many of them. Result is, some employees will leave the company, and often recruiting costs of one employee + the higher salary he wants makes it bad business for the company.
Why isn't IM hit by DCMA or some other US regulations ?
The apply different techniques to circumvent company firewalls, and whatever else is needed to no comply to company policies. And the suppliers does all they can to make it impossible to block. I.e. placing servers on different subnets where they also place other servers that people needs access to for other reasons.
I think something should be done to kill this plague.
Download speed is measured in kByte/sec.
Line speed is measured in bits/second (and often real bits at that).
If ATM is used (often the case), then there is an overhead of 5 bytes per 48 bytes of ATM data.
Add to this a TCP/IP overhead of up to 42 bytes/packet, giving an efficiency of around 95%.
This gives you more than 15% overhead. So a factor 10 is a good bet.
Now, if it is cable, there are many other things actually in there, as many are sharing the same cable etc. So it might eat another 20% - just like 802.11 is only spending half the bandwidth in each direction - and have lots of overhead.
Minix was commercial as far as I remember, but cheap, and open source.
I still have the binder and all the floppies. Wonder if they can still be read.
That was surely open source unix before Linux
The Windows are not translucent. They just have a background picture in them.
Sure, we need a pr0nblocker filter in the graphic card.
If tooo much skin, just refuse to draw it.
Is it really that hard to keep it running ? When you log in, you are connected to a random idle cluster, which serves you a webpage. Since HTTP does not really work session based, you can hit a different server each time. It is trivial to make the front-end run 24/7. Even slashdot manages.
Talking to some application servers should also be trivial, just using a pool of connections. If something goes down, try another.
And for the back-end, database clustering is way old technology.
So it ought to be a trivial task.
It is not free. If you ask Microsoft "free" things like Open Source, Hotmail etc kills innovation and profits in the US leading to the higher cost of a total collapse of society.
Here in Denmark, buying stolen goods is a criminal offense. I wonder why this isn't so in the US ? The only excuse is good faith, and that usually requires at least a receipt with a name from the seller, or the original receipt.
:)
In Denmark, the law is made for the good of the society, not to protect the criminals. And as long as it is legal to buy stolen goods, somebody is willing to sell them. If you accept an offer too good to be true, then you will be guilty as well. So this is a law made to make crime less worthwhile.
Call you senators. Also make it criminal to accept stolen or fraud money for the campaign
Won't work.
People follow the instructions on how to spread the virus blindly. They will happily download a file, double-click it, and go in complete denial when confronted.