That's true. But it's pretty much a given that the Torys will get in next time anyway. A few seats for the Pirate Party will reinforce that policy, (if the Conservatives have a change of heart for example). A party doesn't have to win to have influence on government decisions (look at the Green Party or Lib Dems).
1. Set up a file sharing website with a cool name 2. Build a domain and brand worth millions 3. Profit! 4. Move to another domain 5. ??? 6. Profit again!
I'm from the UK, and my mental image of measurements is fucked.
I know how much a pint is. I know how much 1kg is, but I don't know how much is 1 pound in weight. I know how tall I am in feet and inches, but not in meters.
All because we use metric for some reasons, and we are still stuck in imperial for others. My milk comes in bottles that are labelled 568ml although *everyone* refers to it as a pint, obviously our alcoholic drinks come in pints and half pints. Our speed limits are measured in miles per hour, yet we used to run the 100 meters at school. My height has always been given to me in feet and inches (while growing up by my parents) and if you speak to pretty much anyone they will also give their height in feet and inches, yet if I go to the doctor, they want me to know how high in meters. If you go under a low bridge, the height is given in feet.
When I go swimming the pool is in meters, when referring to medium distances anyone aged over 40 refers to yards, everyone below that refers to meters, at larger distances it's rare for anyone to use kilometers. Anyone over 40ish only understands Fahrenheit, everyone below uses degrees centigrade.
Generally speaking things are moving to metric (thankfully) but it will take many many years for imperial to die here currently we are in one big measurement mess and we will be for some time, especially as every traffic sign is in imperial.
I normally agree with Shuttleworth, but I don't think he's right here. He's right in the long-term, Ubuntu shouldn't just be another platform for running Windows apps, because ideally long-term all apps will be written cross-platform to hit both markets.
However, in the short term, I firmly believe that Wine is the only way to massively increase Ubuntu's market share. It's the appications that people care about, like iTunes, Photoshop or Autocad. If Wine can run your Windows apps, what do you have to lose by migrating? If Ubuntu doesn't run Windows apps, then whole crowds of people just can't dump Windows for it.
This release is awesome, I've been running it on my laptop, desktop and work PC for some time and it's been rock solid.
That said. There is one VERY VERY annoying thing that changed in this release. The update notification icon is no longer there unless you fiddle around with gconf. Instead you are treated to an automated "pop-under" launch of the full update manager window once a week unless it's a security update in which case it's 2 days. I dunno if this behavior has changed recently but that was the design a few weeks ago.
So that means: a.) You probably wont know about feature/bug updates for a week. b.) You probably wont know about security fixes for 2 days (even if it's urgent) c.) You will get a window appear out of nowhere behind all your current windows launched seemingly by itself (yeh coz that's not gonna scare Windows migrants)
What a great idea! NOT!
P.S if you wanna revert to the old behavior, run gconf-editor. Go to apps->update-notifier and uncheck "auto-launch".
I have the impression that the sponsorship rather contributes to no improvements. Best example is the DIB engine. First implementations were proposed years ago but always rejected. It was said it takes like 3 month. Still there would be the option to introduce a DIB engine in a branch and stablize it. It won't happen. We probably have the fourth DIB engine implementation now. The patch rejection policy of the dictatorial project leader can be explained and rationalised by underlying commercial objectives of the commercial implementations which gain here competitive advantages or utter mismanagement of the development process.
I think that's a little unfair. The DIB engine has been rejected several times because noone has yet managed to implement it in a way which doesn't cause MASSIVE regressions. The DIB engine implementation is huge, Alexandre Julliard (the "dictatorial project leader" as you put it) won't accept code which breaks Wine or is the wrong approach. He also won't accept one massive patch which may cause a tonne of regressions, I don't blame him for that.
I believe the current DIB engine which is being worked on is still going to be rejected because it hasn't solved the fundamental problem with the other approaches - how to implement it in small incremental stages.
I have NEVER seen a patch rejected by AJ for any reason other than it's technically unsound, if your patch is rejected you simply ask in #winehackers and AJ will be happy to tell you what's wrong. His rejections have nothing to do with the commerical applications of CodeWeavers, it's down to code quality.
1. SDL doesn't have text functions, but in that discussion they are talking about using SDL without OpenGL. 3D games wouldn't be using the 2D blitting abilities of SDL so the point is irrelevant when OpenGL is being used. Now you could point out that DX on Windows has outline fonts and bitmap fonts, but then there are plenty of FreeType based OpenGL font libraries out there.
2. As I said, use OpenAL for sound, I never suggested SDL for audio, AT ALL. I don't even think it supports 3D positional sound.
DirectX forms a very small part of any well designed game. Everything would be abstracted for portability, you think the PS3 supports DX?
Let's just go through the thought process of porting a game that supports Windows to Linux MacOSX, starting from a DX only codebase.
It would be trivial to support OpenGL as a 2nd renderer as well as D3D because, as I said, games are designed for portability, but as you pointed out that's more maintenance.
But then why keep D3D? OpenGL is portable and runs on Linux, Windows and OSX so the logical decision would be to ONLY support OpenGL, suddenly the game becomes more portable.
Then there are the other things that DirectX does that need to be duplicated for other platforms, for example input, sound etc. The logical choice would be to use, I dunno, some libraries that already took care of the work, like SDL (windowing, input and events) and OpenAL (sound).
But wait. If you use SDL + OpenAL then suddenly the game runs on all platforms... then what's the point of a DX version?
The point I'm getting at is if a game developer wanted to support the 3 main PC platforms they could do with the same amount of development work. The reasons they don't are:
1. They already have a whole DX tool chain built on Windows and with the blessing of Microsoft. It is a risk for them to change their whole process, what if it doesn't pay off?
2. There WILL be more testing required. Chances are things would work the same as all platforms but they'd still have to test that.
There are of course some advantages to writing for more platforms:
1. Compiling your code with more than one compiler is good practice because it flags up bad code that your original compiler allowed erroneously
2. Parts of the code that aren't abstract enough will be flagged up pretty quickly.
Anyway I'm waffling. The point is, the studios won't change until the increase in market share makes up for the change in their development processes.
Hasn't every Windows release been (at least partially) responsible for the upgrade treadmill which in turn gives hardware manufacturers plenty of business?
OK, firstly, I *DID* read your post and you didn't mention anything about the desktop icon if you mean "fake handles for Gnome-only apps." then that's not very specific.
Secondly, there is a REASON those links are different. Right click on them and look at the menu items; there are special ones there, like for example, "unmount". That's the reason they aren't just symlinks.
Erm, you do realize that's because Gnome now mounts per-user, not system wide. If you REALLY REALLY want system wide mounts then use fstab to specify them or use the mount command manually.
I don't see the problem. Any app can use the mount in ~/.gvfs anyway.
Slashdot Mirror
That's true. But it's pretty much a given that the Torys will get in next time anyway. A few seats for the Pirate Party will reinforce that policy, (if the Conservatives have a change of heart for example). A party doesn't have to win to have influence on government decisions (look at the Green Party or Lib Dems).
From the UK and don't like the ID card proposals? Then use your vote next year!
Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium etc...
You could even associate the electron count with the final digit of the IP address or something....
Smart?! The guy just lied on a bed that hits his head repeatedly until it hurts and he's done the same thing every morning for 4 years! :p
Darwinism at work. :)
of that $70 billion was spent developing that site? :p
1. Set up a file sharing website with a cool name
2. Build a domain and brand worth millions
3. Profit!
4. Move to another domain
5. ???
6. Profit again!
??? is probably "GOTO 1"
I'm from the UK, and my mental image of measurements is fucked.
I know how much a pint is. I know how much 1kg is, but I don't know how much is 1 pound in weight. I know how tall I am in feet and inches, but not in meters.
All because we use metric for some reasons, and we are still stuck in imperial for others. My milk comes in bottles that are labelled 568ml although *everyone* refers to it as a pint, obviously our alcoholic drinks come in pints and half pints. Our speed limits are measured in miles per hour, yet we used to run the 100 meters at school. My height has always been given to me in feet and inches (while growing up by my parents) and if you speak to pretty much anyone they will also give their height in feet and inches, yet if I go to the doctor, they want me to know how high in meters. If you go under a low bridge, the height is given in feet.
When I go swimming the pool is in meters, when referring to medium distances anyone aged over 40 refers to yards, everyone below that refers to meters, at larger distances it's rare for anyone to use kilometers. Anyone over 40ish only understands Fahrenheit, everyone below uses degrees centigrade.
Generally speaking things are moving to metric (thankfully) but it will take many many years for imperial to die here currently we are in one big measurement mess and we will be for some time, especially as every traffic sign is in imperial.
The fact that this is modded flamebait is hilarious.
I normally agree with Shuttleworth, but I don't think he's right here. He's right in the long-term, Ubuntu shouldn't just be another platform for running Windows apps, because ideally long-term all apps will be written cross-platform to hit both markets.
However, in the short term, I firmly believe that Wine is the only way to massively increase Ubuntu's market share. It's the appications that people care about, like iTunes, Photoshop or Autocad. If Wine can run your Windows apps, what do you have to lose by migrating? If Ubuntu doesn't run Windows apps, then whole crowds of people just can't dump Windows for it.
You're right. How dare those hardcore graphics driver developers over at X.org down tools on Gallium3D to work on Ubuntu's boot time....oh wait...
So the stability of a release is proportional to the campness of the name? Excellent, so the plan is...
1. Create a distro called Fluffy Fairy
2. ???
3. Profit!
Firstly, can we get an Ubuntu icon yet?
This release is awesome, I've been running it on my laptop, desktop and work PC for some time and it's been rock solid.
That said. There is one VERY VERY annoying thing that changed in this release. The update notification icon is no longer there unless you fiddle around with gconf. Instead you are treated to an automated "pop-under" launch of the full update manager window once a week unless it's a security update in which case it's 2 days. I dunno if this behavior has changed recently but that was the design a few weeks ago.
So that means:
a.) You probably wont know about feature/bug updates for a week.
b.) You probably wont know about security fixes for 2 days (even if it's urgent)
c.) You will get a window appear out of nowhere behind all your current windows launched seemingly by itself (yeh coz that's not gonna scare Windows migrants)
What a great idea! NOT!
P.S if you wanna revert to the old behavior, run gconf-editor. Go to apps->update-notifier and uncheck "auto-launch".
I just wish in all of that it was able to run Rogue Squadron, an old Windows 98 game because that is really the only game I miss.
But I suppose Rogue Squadron is too much of an oddball; it's old and probably relies on some undocumented jazz in Windows 98...
Heh, I used to love that game.. good times. I'll try to dig it out this weekend and see if I can hack Wine to make it work ;)
I have the impression that the sponsorship rather contributes to no improvements. Best example is the DIB engine. First implementations were proposed years ago but always rejected. It was said it takes like 3 month. Still there would be the option to introduce a DIB engine in a branch and stablize it. It won't happen. We probably have the fourth DIB engine implementation now. The patch rejection policy of the dictatorial project leader can be explained and rationalised by underlying commercial objectives of the commercial implementations which gain here competitive advantages or utter mismanagement of the development process.
I think that's a little unfair. The DIB engine has been rejected several times because noone has yet managed to implement it in a way which doesn't cause MASSIVE regressions. The DIB engine implementation is huge, Alexandre Julliard (the "dictatorial project leader" as you put it) won't accept code which breaks Wine or is the wrong approach. He also won't accept one massive patch which may cause a tonne of regressions, I don't blame him for that.
I believe the current DIB engine which is being worked on is still going to be rejected because it hasn't solved the fundamental problem with the other approaches - how to implement it in small incremental stages.
I have NEVER seen a patch rejected by AJ for any reason other than it's technically unsound, if your patch is rejected you simply ask in #winehackers and AJ will be happy to tell you what's wrong. His rejections have nothing to do with the commerical applications of CodeWeavers, it's down to code quality.
hehe, OK sorry if I came across abrupt at all. I am indeed interested ;)
Both those articles don't relate to what I said..
1. SDL doesn't have text functions, but in that discussion they are talking about using SDL without OpenGL. 3D games wouldn't be using the 2D blitting abilities of SDL so the point is irrelevant when OpenGL is being used. Now you could point out that DX on Windows has outline fonts and bitmap fonts, but then there are plenty of FreeType based OpenGL font libraries out there.
2. As I said, use OpenAL for sound, I never suggested SDL for audio, AT ALL. I don't even think it supports 3D positional sound.
DirectX forms a very small part of any well designed game. Everything would be abstracted for portability, you think the PS3 supports DX?
Let's just go through the thought process of porting a game that supports Windows to Linux MacOSX, starting from a DX only codebase.
It would be trivial to support OpenGL as a 2nd renderer as well as D3D because, as I said, games are designed for portability, but as you pointed out that's more maintenance.
But then why keep D3D? OpenGL is portable and runs on Linux, Windows and OSX so the logical decision would be to ONLY support OpenGL, suddenly the game becomes more portable.
Then there are the other things that DirectX does that need to be duplicated for other platforms, for example input, sound etc. The logical choice would be to use, I dunno, some libraries that already took care of the work, like SDL (windowing, input and events) and OpenAL (sound).
But wait. If you use SDL + OpenAL then suddenly the game runs on all platforms... then what's the point of a DX version?
The point I'm getting at is if a game developer wanted to support the 3 main PC platforms they could do with the same amount of development work. The reasons they don't are:
1. They already have a whole DX tool chain built on Windows and with the blessing of Microsoft. It is a risk for them to change their whole process, what if it doesn't pay off?
2. There WILL be more testing required. Chances are things would work the same as all platforms but they'd still have to test that.
There are of course some advantages to writing for more platforms:
1. Compiling your code with more than one compiler is good practice because it flags up bad code that your original compiler allowed erroneously
2. Parts of the code that aren't abstract enough will be flagged up pretty quickly.
Anyway I'm waffling. The point is, the studios won't change until the increase in market share makes up for the change in their development processes.
Targeting a larger audience results in more sales. Who'd have guessed? :p
Hasn't every Windows release been (at least partially) responsible for the upgrade treadmill which in turn gives hardware manufacturers plenty of business?
The UK is absolutely putrid - tastes like raw sewage.
It's not that bad!
Gah, where's my insightful modpoints when I need them? ;)
OK Ballmer, the game's up, we know it's you :p
OK, firstly, I *DID* read your post and you didn't mention anything about the desktop icon if you mean "fake handles for Gnome-only apps." then that's not very specific.
Secondly, there is a REASON those links are different. Right click on them and look at the menu items; there are special ones there, like for example, "unmount". That's the reason they aren't just symlinks.
Erm, you do realize that's because Gnome now mounts per-user, not system wide. If you REALLY REALLY want system wide mounts then use fstab to specify them or use the mount command manually.
I don't see the problem. Any app can use the mount in ~/.gvfs anyway.