On one hand we've got an anti-American climate in Europe which has reached fever pitch.
And on the other hand we have the ultimate symbol of American innovation, technology, and success. (A symbol which happens to have absurdly deep pockets.)
(I know, I know, "Micro$oft Suxxx dude!", but hear me out)
Across the pond, we have countries like France who were so late to the software/internet table that its really something of a national embarassment. Remember it was only two years ago that France was angry that the web was perdominantly written in English. The EU has frequently voiced frustration that the Internet's governing bodies are located in America. And of course, let's not forget the ICANN fiasco of only a few weeks back.
Of course, anyone with half a brain can see that Microsoft is a monopoly. (And that our definition of monopoly must change to incorporate "bundling" as a fundamentally anti-competitive practice.) It also doesn't take a genius to see that Microsoft has played hardball and used its muscle in a way that's reminiscent of the days of the robber barons.
But, my point is, it also doesn't take much to see that there is a nationalist political agenda at work here too.
What's the answer?
Encourage competition. Promote free software. And fer crying out loud stop teaching kids to use Windows. (Whoever keeps suggesting that MS "give free copies of Windows to schools" needs to get their head checked).
All I'm saying is that this penalty smells a bit like a witch trial.
I for one am extremely stoked that game studios have finally adopted the "Its done when its done" mantra of releasing games.
Let's not forget that 'etched-in-stone' release dates are responsible for most of the really atrocious games inflicted on us over the last decade.
Blizzard, id, & Valve deserve enormous kudos for sticking firm to their convictions, and holding their corporate masters at bay while producing games that are polished and bug free.
Vaporware suggests that these companies have promised something that has not, and will not be delivered. We should keep in mind that at *no* point have any of these companies offered firm release dates. And they should be commended for not doing so.
What's funny is the really guilty party -- that is, the party which has most frequently made false promises of "what's coming down the pipeline" *has* to be Wired Magazine.
Jesus. I can't think for the life of me why someone would invest such a large amount of time and effort into a project which can never hope to offer true comprehensive hardware support, available applications, or sustain any meaningful user-base. (unless some insanely risk-loving VC doles out large sums of cash).
The question about SkyOS isn't really "what's the point" as much as it is "what's the point if you're not going to open-source it?"
OS/2 and BeOS should provide shining examples of what not to do.
Real's problem is that they think they're competing with Microsoft. And so they try to play like Microsoft -- with complicated EULAs, Bloatware, complex registry changes, etc.
What Real fails to understand is that Microsoft is not its competition: iTunes is its competition. WinAmp is its competition. MusicMatch is its competition. And the list goes on and on.
Real continuously loses marketshare -- not to Microsoft, but to the dozens of smaller, less install-intensive players on the market. And there's no end in sight either. Every release of RealPlayer gets more bloated, and more intrusive, opening the playing field to the smaller, more powerful, more feature-rich, easier to install, less expensive (if not *free*) players which are just over the horizon.
Personally, like most people who know, I'm still waiting for "el DJ" http://www.eldj.com
He's another guy who goes "Big Picture" and "Philosophical" because the nuts and bolts of technology, programming, and in this case encryption are (and always will be) beyond him.
Actually, correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't "X Windows" in reality just called "X". I think the "Windows" part was added on unofficially in common usage...
The question here is about the "Scope" of a trademark, and whether "Lindows" is confusable.
Typically if a trademark is huge (like Pepsi, Nike, etc.) the scope of the mark is larger and more leeway is given to the holder of the mark.
On the other hand, there is a long established history of "sound alike" marks. The famous mid-century German camera was the "Leica". The not-so-famous japanese clone was the "Ricoh" (which with a Japanese accent was indistinguishable.)
It should also be said that "Window" is *not* a Microsoft trademark. Apple's first Macintosh OS used the term "Window" to describe an enclosed area of screen real-estate used by a specific application. This is important because a trademark should *not* be descriptive in terms of functional value.
So part of the issue here is the strength and recognizability of the "Windows" trademark (which granted is huge) versus the functional, descriptive, and commonly used term "Window".
The judge clearly gave Microsoft a wide berth in terms of ownership -- making the judgement call that "Lindows" was in fact too close to "Windows" -- which in turn raises some questions: What about AOL's "Messenger" product -- has Microsoft infringed? What about "StarOffice"? (or "OpenOffice"?). Let's not forget that "Office" is also a Microsoft trademark.
One could then argue that "Messenger" is in fact a 'descriptive, functional' term... but then again... so is "Windows".
The crux of the problem is this: In the rapid development process of software creation and technology in general, the 'descriptive/functional term' and the 'protectable tradename' are typically closely linked.
Given that one cannot trademark a term that describes 'functional value', this presents an inherent problem with software and technology trademarks, and gives an unfair advantages to the first mover, or the established market leader.
But such casual use of the "human rights offenders" brush can't be ignored.
To quote Dershowitz: "holding Israel to a higher moral code than all other nations is indeed anti-semitic."
France's moral abuses in Africa this past year (for example) are of a scale and proportion *SO* much larger than Israel's. But...not a peep from the UN.
And let's not even talk about the internal human rights abuses that go on DAILY in EVERY SINGLE ARAB NATION. We're talking about countries that practice female genital mutilation (excuse the grafix) and don't allow their women to drive cars. And not a peep from the UN. Europe regularly discusses embargoing Israel, and France did billions in business with... (OMG)...Iraq!
Get with the program. The UN *REGULARLY* bashes Israel. Its not that Israel is perfect. But the truth is IT IS NOT LESS PERFECT. (We imprison suspects without trial. We assasinate legitimate leaders. And NATO forces in Afghanistan had the worst collateral damage figures of any army in the last 20 years).
The UN's focus on Israel's actions *is* anti-semitic.// --> End of Rant
The fact that ICANN was not allowed to be present at this discussion underlies a key undercurrent of the meeting:
Wresting governance of assigned names away from America.
Never mind that the current system isn't remotely broken, or the fact that ICANN *is* an open organization with clearly defined channels for the international community to voice issues, or the even more fundamental fact of: *we fucking built it biyatch* -- this is a good apolitical example of what the United Nations has become: A knee jerk reactionary body whose goal is to counter perceived U.S. unilateralism.
What's so sad about this is that it will result in poorly governed, poorly engineered chaos.
Its ironic that in what is perhaps the only non-political open environment, the global-body which claims to believe in universality and equality is creating political and national partisanship.
There are two available pricing options for Java Desktop System:
$100 / desktop / year. An OEM volume tier pricing schedule is also available. $50 / employee / year for Sun Java Enterprise System customers. A special promotion is also planned that reduces by 50% the first year price of either of the above two options. This promotion is in effect until June 2, 2004. See: How to Buy.
Q.
Why would I purchase a per desktop license at $100 when the per employee license is available at only $50?
A.
The per employee pricing is available only if you purchase the software for all employees of your company. If only some employees will use the Java Desktop System, it may be more economical to purchase per desktop licenses.
Slashdot Mirror
Rumor has it that the new U.S. Budget Proposal was written entirely in Comic Sans.
On one hand we've got an anti-American climate in Europe which has reached fever pitch.
And on the other hand we have the ultimate symbol of American innovation, technology, and success. (A symbol which happens to have absurdly deep pockets.)
(I know, I know, "Micro$oft Suxxx dude!", but hear me out)
Across the pond, we have countries like France who were so late to the software/internet table that its really something of a national embarassment. Remember it was only two years ago that France was angry that the web was perdominantly written in English. The EU has frequently voiced frustration that the Internet's governing bodies are located in America. And of course, let's not forget the ICANN fiasco of only a few weeks back.
Of course, anyone with half a brain can see that Microsoft is a monopoly. (And that our definition of monopoly must change to incorporate "bundling" as a fundamentally anti-competitive practice.) It also doesn't take a genius to see that Microsoft has played hardball and used its muscle in a way that's reminiscent of the days of the robber barons.
But, my point is, it also doesn't take much to see that there is a nationalist political agenda at work here too.
What's the answer?
Encourage competition. Promote free software. And fer crying out loud stop teaching kids to use Windows. (Whoever keeps suggesting that MS "give free copies of Windows to schools" needs to get their head checked).
All I'm saying is that this penalty smells a bit like a witch trial.
Ok... flame away.
Jesus Christ, Half Life II? Doom III?
I for one am extremely stoked that game studios have finally adopted the "Its done when its done" mantra of releasing games.
Let's not forget that 'etched-in-stone' release dates are responsible for most of the really atrocious games inflicted on us over the last decade.
Blizzard, id, & Valve deserve enormous kudos for sticking firm to their convictions, and holding their corporate masters at bay while producing games that are polished and bug free.
Vaporware suggests that these companies have promised something that has not, and will not be delivered. We should keep in mind that at *no* point have any of these companies offered firm release dates. And they should be commended for not doing so.
What's funny is the really guilty party -- that is, the party which has most frequently made false promises of "what's coming down the pipeline" *has* to be Wired Magazine.
My 2 cents.
Just browse with no associated video file types.
They'll never do this with QuickTime (filesizes are too big), so just make sure you don't have WMP installed...
(And of course... stay faaaar away from RealPlayer)
Jesus. I can't think for the life of me why someone would invest such a large amount of time and effort into a project which can never hope to offer true comprehensive hardware support, available applications, or sustain any meaningful user-base. (unless some insanely risk-loving VC doles out large sums of cash).
The question about SkyOS isn't really "what's the point" as much as it is "what's the point if you're not going to open-source it?"
OS/2 and BeOS should provide shining examples of what not to do.
Real's problem is that they think they're competing with Microsoft. And so they try to play like Microsoft -- with complicated EULAs, Bloatware, complex registry changes, etc.
What Real fails to understand is that Microsoft is not its competition: iTunes is its competition. WinAmp is its competition. MusicMatch is its competition. And the list goes on and on.
Real continuously loses marketshare -- not to Microsoft, but to the dozens of smaller, less install-intensive players on the market. And there's no end in sight either. Every release of RealPlayer gets more bloated, and more intrusive, opening the playing field to the smaller, more powerful, more feature-rich, easier to install, less expensive (if not *free*) players which are just over the horizon.
Personally, like most people who know, I'm still waiting for "el DJ" http://www.eldj.com
Maybe if we all pull "left" at the same time...
You can *not* compare support options on open source vs. support options on proprietary software.
Open source software is patchable by the entire user community even if Red Hat decides to discontinue support.
Microsoft software is not patchable (with reasonable ease) by anyone but Microsoft.
A better analogy would be the phone company sicontinuing support for existing phones and requiring customers to buy new phones from it.
Utilities, by the way, are also de facto monopolies. Its just that we regulate them.
All someone has to do now is marry this technology with a term-paper database, and "Hello Original Work!"
The question will then become, how many different unique "paraphrases" can the system ultimately generate?
And this "requirement" and the associated key will be spoofed in
I say 3 months.
"No, but this will be an 'un-hackable and un-spoofable' system."
"Right. Pass me another DVD-R please."
One extremely cool wallet from jfold.com
And one very groovy 5 LED flashlight from thinkgeek.com
She claims she had no help. (Right).
Then again, she always told me to never let the truth get in the way of a good story...
I used to play DAOC. I used to love DAOC. But a creator of new ideas DAOC is not.
Dark Age uses the most widespread, obvious and well-known cultural and mythological references for its game world.
We must remember that Mythic's case against Microsoft constitutes a claim of ownership over these themes.
For once Microsoft is right.
Mythic: you should have been more original if you wanted something protectable.
Verdict goes to the defendant.
"He who reads deep
He's another guy who goes "Big Picture" and "Philosophical" because the nuts and bolts of technology, programming, and in this case encryption are (and always will be) beyond him.
He's a lightweight.
If you're still confused: See "Esther Dyson"
Doh! Finnish...but the point still applies...
Actually, correct me if I'm wrong... but isn't "X Windows" in reality just called "X". I think the "Windows" part was added on unofficially in common usage...
This is like trying to stop underage drinking by offering teenagers free O'Douls.
The question here is about the "Scope" of a trademark, and whether "Lindows" is confusable.
Typically if a trademark is huge (like Pepsi, Nike, etc.) the scope of the mark is larger and more leeway is given to the holder of the mark.
On the other hand, there is a long established history of "sound alike" marks. The famous mid-century German camera was the "Leica". The not-so-famous japanese clone was the "Ricoh" (which with a Japanese accent was indistinguishable.)
It should also be said that "Window" is *not* a Microsoft trademark. Apple's first Macintosh OS used the term "Window" to describe an enclosed area of screen real-estate used by a specific application. This is important because a trademark should *not* be descriptive in terms of functional value.
So part of the issue here is the strength and recognizability of the "Windows" trademark (which granted is huge) versus the functional, descriptive, and commonly used term "Window".
The judge clearly gave Microsoft a wide berth in terms of ownership -- making the judgement call that "Lindows" was in fact too close to "Windows" -- which in turn raises some questions: What about AOL's "Messenger" product -- has Microsoft infringed? What about "StarOffice"? (or "OpenOffice"?). Let's not forget that "Office" is also a Microsoft trademark.
One could then argue that "Messenger" is in fact a 'descriptive, functional' term... but then again... so is "Windows".
The crux of the problem is this: In the rapid development process of software creation and technology in general, the 'descriptive/functional term' and the 'protectable tradename' are typically closely linked.
Given that one cannot trademark a term that describes 'functional value', this presents an inherent problem with software and technology trademarks, and gives an unfair advantages to the first mover, or the established market leader.
Is *still* the best RPG ever made.
The game is HUGE, complex, beautiful. And the game's manual is still the benchmark by which all other D&D clones will be judged.
How is it that a studio with that much talent, and that many great titles can't be rolling in cash?
And I think the article makes a strong point.
Afterwards we had a cigarette (and really had no desire to write OS software).
Dear Slashdot Moderators,
Please control our friendly neighborhood neo-nazi's from posting their hate messages here.
This poor neanderthal (above thread) actually thinks tiny, economically ravaged Israel is close to some sort of world domination.
Thanks.
But such casual use of the "human rights offenders" brush can't be ignored.
To quote Dershowitz: "holding Israel to a higher moral code than all other nations is indeed anti-semitic."
France's moral abuses in Africa this past year (for example) are of a scale and proportion *SO* much larger than Israel's. But
And let's not even talk about the internal human rights abuses that go on DAILY in EVERY SINGLE ARAB NATION. We're talking about countries that practice female genital mutilation (excuse the grafix) and don't allow their women to drive cars.
And not a peep from the UN. Europe regularly discusses embargoing Israel, and France did billions in business with
Get with the program. The UN *REGULARLY* bashes Israel. Its not that Israel is perfect. But the truth is IT IS NOT LESS PERFECT. (We imprison suspects without trial. We assasinate legitimate leaders. And NATO forces in Afghanistan had the worst collateral damage figures of any army in the last 20 years).
The UN's focus on Israel's actions *is* anti-semitic.
The fact that ICANN was not allowed to be present at this discussion underlies a key undercurrent of the meeting:
Wresting governance of assigned names away from America.
Never mind that the current system isn't remotely broken, or the fact that ICANN *is* an open organization with clearly defined channels for the international community to voice issues, or the even more fundamental fact of: *we fucking built it biyatch* -- this is a good apolitical example of what the United Nations has become: A knee jerk reactionary body whose goal is to counter perceived U.S. unilateralism.
What's so sad about this is that it will result in poorly governed, poorly engineered chaos.
Its ironic that in what is perhaps the only non-political open environment, the global-body which claims to believe in universality and equality is creating political and national partisanship.
Fuckers.
A yearly subscription fee???
Taken from the sun.com:
Pricing
Q.
How much does Java Desktop System sell for?
A.
There are two available pricing options for Java Desktop System:
$100 / desktop / year. An OEM volume tier pricing schedule is also available.
$50 / employee / year for Sun Java Enterprise System customers.
A special promotion is also planned that reduces by 50% the first year price of either of the above two options. This promotion is in effect until June 2, 2004. See:
How to Buy.
Q.
Why would I purchase a per desktop license at $100 when the per employee license is available at only $50?
A.
The per employee pricing is available only if you purchase the software for all employees of your company. If only some employees will use the Java Desktop System, it may be more economical to purchase per desktop licenses.