Actually, that is exactly why SONY isn't pushing mp3 players. Their players all play ATRAC3 files and only recently have they started rolling out their NetMD, a minidisc player that will let you transfer songs from your PC. SONY Electronics is very careful not to step on the toes of SONY Music.
I don't think gas really has if you don't take the absolute last two years into account. It's been pretty steady. Fast food though has gone up (yet they all have $0.99 menus now).
what else? Video games (the majority at least) have remained at about $50 since forever (though gameboy games have climbed). Hardware, just about any type, is always dropping. Magazines (for the content based argument) seem to sell for approximately what they always have. What else out there continues to climb in price year after year?
Well 1) I don't believe R movies don't sell. Half the flix at my local cineplex are rated R and 2) While I completely agree that parents should be making the decision about what their children can and cannot watch, I don't think a movie rating system in any way censors a movie. Only when you get into the R vs. NC-17 realm do I think driectors/studios/etc compromise content based on rating.
I'm all for Free Software, but the truth is, a lot of companies want MS technologies or Solaris. A long long time ago, like 1996 long ago, we used to be a linux/NT house, and all the clients that wanted linux wanted it because they could nickel and dime us. It was just a pain in the ass (so I've heard, I wasn't around then). As for now, none of our clients are asking for it. I've prepared a "how to get a linux mahine up" document just in case, but they all want Win2K or Solaris. *sigh* And most of our cost doesn't come from OS licenses. For most of our clients a couple grand on licenses is a drop in the bucket compared to cost of analysis, design, development, testing, etc.
I know its easy to get +1 funny for all the jokes but c'mon, you know that 90% probably reads/.
Sorry things didn't work out MCL people. Consulting sucks, I know. My company had to lay people off to get to break even and we're still struggling to tread water. And we were one of the slow and steady firms during the boom. Its kept us afloat after the crash, but man does it suck. Competition is fierce and clients want more for less. Props for trying to do it with Linux (wish I was as lucky), but I guess it just didn't work out
Press Release: The Corporation today unveiled their newest product: CrayTablet! Using a sharpened stick, called a stylus, users will be able to etch writings into the CrayTablet and retreive them later using an encryption algorithm known as "R-E-A-D-I-N-G" (which The Corporation will sell at a once-per-use license of $2000). READING operates under the "shared source" license and is only known to a few select individuals inside The Corporation since learning the READING algorithm would violate the DMCA (may Gates bless it). The Corporation reps said "using the CrayTablet will enable users to experience a more natural interface". The CrayTablet is made of secret reddish brown material found on the ocean floor and in quarries.
OpenBSD doesn't use ipf as of version 3.0 over licensing issues with Darren Reed. They wrote a custom packetfilter named... *TADA* pf. It's supposed to be easier to use than ipf though it is "backwards compatible" with ipf. See here for the full story/reason. Funny though, Darren Reed released a version of OpenBSD with ipf a little while ago.
I agree with the grandparent of this post. OpenBSD is pretty easy to set up (and its gotten easier with every version since I started using it at 2.7) and the man pages are fantastic.
"This europop remix of the Tetris theme [mp3s.com] has been arranged, performed, and ripped by Gregory Chekalin [mp3.com], who has authorized it for world distribution. This licence has been digitally signed by Gregory Chekalin." The SDMiPod verifies the signature, checks the license, and plays the MP3 file.
OK, I think I have it now.
Huh? Doesn't every work have a copyright on it from creation?
I thought you explicitly had to copyright something. I honestly don't know, hence all my questions. Thanks for answering at least part of if not all of them though.
My question is "how does this all work?" I have a CD. I rip it (because jesus, that should still be my right). I upload the files to my iPod. Does the iPod then check and say "This was ripped by psxndc. This iPod belongs to.... psxndc. OK, I'll play it."?
Another scenario: I then take an mp3 downloaded off the net and try to play it. My iPod then says "This was ripped by |337 H4X0r. This iPod belongs to... psxndc. Sorry". Cool. I'm prevented from stealing music.
Lastly, you rip an mp3 that is music you created to put up on mp3.com. I download it. If it has a copyright on it, and I didn't rip it, how do I play it? If it doesn't have a copyright on it, then won't my iPod refuse to play it because it isn't complient? I admit I don't understand how the technology is going to work, but I don't understand how people will be able to give their creations away under this system.
psxndc
A little bit of perspective...
on
SSSCA Hearing
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· Score: 4, Insightful
How messed up is it that rather than feed the homeless, or develop medical programs to help people in need, or REAL PROBLEMS, the Movie and Record Industry want congress to prevent kids from making copies of mp3s and trading them? This isn't flamebait. I think people here are complaining that their freedoms are being taken away and I agree (see my other posts), but the "problem" that the record and movie industries cry about is sooooo insignifact in comparison to the problems we have as a nation and a world leader. Valenti, stfu and let congressional leaders get back to doing what they are supposed to be doing: making this a great nation and helping other nations.
And the solution is: stop making the other items! If you lose money on them, stop producing them. Concentrate on just making the damn burger. I realize a certain amount of money must go into R & D and you have to try new things, but if you have to charge a ridiculous amount for your popular item, the thing that breeds customer loyalty, to cover the cost of your R & D, what's costing you customer loyalty, you're spending too much on R & D.
If you decrease the cost of your burger, more people will be able to buy it. I gave the analogy in another post and it applies here: I won't buy a CD for 18 dollars, but I _will_ buy two CD's at 12 dollars a piece. By lowering your price 1/3, you actually increased your revenue by 1/3. I'm all for people, including the RIAA and the MPAA, getting what's due and making a profit, but leeching the consumer more and more every year and then crying when the consumer gets sick of it is BS
Even beyond that, I wouldn't mind not being able to return a CD (like it is now) with only 2 or 3 good songs if I had only paid $8 dollars for it. If I'm paying almost $20, the whole album better be pretty damn good. What I also don't understand is why can mom and pop stores charge at most $13 for a CD, but Recordtown has specials for $16 (regular price being $18)?? I realize there's more infrastructure supporting Recordtown et al, but necessary to make a $2-$5 more profit per CD sold? C'mon.
I'm not going to buy an $18 dollar CD dammit. I'll buy two $12 dollar ones though. Make less crap, drop the cost of the CD, and I'll buy more. As a finger to the man, I'll just use etree for now (though the RIAA get kickbacks for CD-R sales so I lose either way). I've bought all the CD's of the artists I want to buy for now. Nothing appealing has come out lately.
2 out of 10? Make less crap. That should bring the price down. If the movies cost less, more people would go to them. I know I've cut back my movie going (at one point a few years ago I had seen every movie at the local Loews 10) when I realized it costs 10 friggin dollars to go see a movie.
People are pissed about stifling innovation not because you don't want them to pirate movies, but because Alen Cox and others won't give lectures in the US because they are afraid of being arrested for violating the DMCA, the worst piece of corporate interest legislation in recent history.
The people that don't want the government to influence business are the same ones trying to use business to influence government.
That's my point. You can't just have a client and no server to connect to. Somewhere you'll be flooding a server. My reply was aimed at "You don't need an SMTP server". Somewhere along the line, you do.
And what do these SMTP clients connect to? How does their client get to my mail server? By connecting to an SMTP server somewhere (maybe even my own) and forwarding on the mail.
Slashdot Mirror
psxndc
psxndc
what else? Video games (the majority at least) have remained at about $50 since forever (though gameboy games have climbed). Hardware, just about any type, is always dropping. Magazines (for the content based argument) seem to sell for approximately what they always have. What else out there continues to climb in price year after year?
psxndc
psxndc
psxndc
Sorry things didn't work out MCL people. Consulting sucks, I know. My company had to lay people off to get to break even and we're still struggling to tread water. And we were one of the slow and steady firms during the boom. Its kept us afloat after the crash, but man does it suck. Competition is fierce and clients want more for less. Props for trying to do it with Linux (wish I was as lucky), but I guess it just didn't work out
psxndc
Maybe if we just table it for a week, things will look better
insert more RIPE jokes here
psxndc
It's not the same if _I_ do it. jeez.
Press Release: The Corporation today unveiled their newest product: CrayTablet! Using a sharpened stick, called a stylus, users will be able to etch writings into the CrayTablet and retreive them later using an encryption algorithm known as "R-E-A-D-I-N-G" (which The Corporation will sell at a once-per-use license of $2000). READING operates under the "shared source" license and is only known to a few select individuals inside The Corporation since learning the READING algorithm would violate the DMCA (may Gates bless it). The Corporation reps said "using the CrayTablet will enable users to experience a more natural interface". The CrayTablet is made of secret reddish brown material found on the ocean floor and in quarries.
psxndc
Well would your imaginary daughter like this hello kitty laptop??. I personally am much more scared of something like that.
psxndc
I agree with the grandparent of this post. OpenBSD is pretty easy to set up (and its gotten easier with every version since I started using it at 2.7) and the man pages are fantastic.
psxndc
OK, I think I have it now.
Huh? Doesn't every work have a copyright on it from creation?
I thought you explicitly had to copyright something. I honestly don't know, hence all my questions. Thanks for answering at least part of if not all of them though.
psxndc
My question is "how does this all work?" I have a CD. I rip it (because jesus, that should still be my right). I upload the files to my iPod. Does the iPod then check and say "This was ripped by psxndc. This iPod belongs to .... psxndc. OK, I'll play it."?
Another scenario: I then take an mp3 downloaded off the net and try to play it. My iPod then says "This was ripped by |337 H4X0r. This iPod belongs to ... psxndc. Sorry". Cool. I'm prevented from stealing music.
Lastly, you rip an mp3 that is music you created to put up on mp3.com. I download it. If it has a copyright on it, and I didn't rip it, how do I play it? If it doesn't have a copyright on it, then won't my iPod refuse to play it because it isn't complient? I admit I don't understand how the technology is going to work, but I don't understand how people will be able to give their creations away under this system.
psxndc
psxndc
psxndc
If you decrease the cost of your burger, more people will be able to buy it. I gave the analogy in another post and it applies here: I won't buy a CD for 18 dollars, but I _will_ buy two CD's at 12 dollars a piece. By lowering your price 1/3, you actually increased your revenue by 1/3. I'm all for people, including the RIAA and the MPAA, getting what's due and making a profit, but leeching the consumer more and more every year and then crying when the consumer gets sick of it is BS
psxndc
psxndc
psxndc
Make less crap.
I'm not going to buy an $18 dollar CD dammit. I'll buy two $12 dollar ones though. Make less crap, drop the cost of the CD, and I'll buy more. As a finger to the man, I'll just use etree for now (though the RIAA get kickbacks for CD-R sales so I lose either way). I've bought all the CD's of the artists I want to buy for now. Nothing appealing has come out lately.
psxndc
People are pissed about stifling innovation not because you don't want them to pirate movies, but because Alen Cox and others won't give lectures in the US because they are afraid of being arrested for violating the DMCA, the worst piece of corporate interest legislation in recent history.
The people that don't want the government to influence business are the same ones trying to use business to influence government.
psxndc
psxndc
Hopefully after Steve's voice deepens and they have to find a more intelligent spokesperson.
psxndc
psxndc
psxndc