Actually, BMG and another record label whose name escapes me at the moment are backing a third party, whereas Sonsy is doing it themselves. Thus, your argument holds true for Sony, but not BMG and [?].
The thing that bothers me about this is that Sony, BMG, etc. are all involved with ventures to create "digital music lockers" (a term that Sony coined). and now, legislation will be passed making them legal... conveniently after MP3.com was just (fatally?) injured by a lawsuit centering on that exact same issue!
Could the sneaky members of club-RIAA have planned it so they'd destory MP3.com while it was illegal, then make it legal and make money on the exact same idea?
Can't we trust the judge? He's not some lowly traffic court judge, either. He's a Supreme Court Justice. You don't get there by having poor ethics.
It sounds to me like the judge only acknowledged the obvious fact that if the Supreme Court decides the government antitrust suit against Microsoft it could have a direct effect on his son's private lawsuit. Of course it would. Any decision in a lawsuit will usually affect any litigation associated with it.
I think the media wants us to believe that the judge admitted he would have personal conflict in deciding the case, and possibly in this first decision. The more likely case is that the media dug up three statements from the always-infallible law-professor-bin to drum up some sensationalism about this high profile case.
Unless their is reason to believe Renqhuist has let his personal life interfere with his professional, the media should keep their dirty mouths shut.
Considering the differences between the clients, and the fact that one-half of that combined user base would be irritated if their UI (with all of its nuances) was converted to the that of the other client's in the merger, I doubt the clients willbe integrated. Its even less likely that it would be one new client.
Instead, I'm betting there will be some simple gateway within AOL's network borders that allows messages to jump back and forth between the two given the proper addressing.
Gee, I can't wait to see what happens when they inteagrate two programs with horrible user interfacesandfeature bloat. Could the combination be any worse?
think if you did away with the keypad on a cell phoen and use a high-res screen, the form factor would still allow for a screen capable of displaying tons of information.
That's no good because many people search for buttons by feel... Now if you had an LCD screen that also had retractable tactile feel, then it could work.
I've always thought voice-recognition would be better than buttons. Heck, you could even speak out "555-1212".
There ya go: no buttons, more screen real-estate; voice-recognition, no need for buttons.
A phone should be small(ish) and a PDA should have a large, hi-rez, readable screen.
I think if you did away with the keypad on a cell phoen and use a high-res screen, the form factor would still allow for a screen capable of displaying tons of information.
don't recommend the "hands-free" solution
Well, if you'd prefer to gum up your scroin with your bodily oils, go right ahead. I'f you'd rather lose a hand or shoulder while talking on the phone, go ahead.
I think a lot of poeple, myself included, would prefer hands-free opertation -- which would, as you said, enable you to use the PDA while tlaking on the phone. All you need to communicate via a phone is a speaker/ear-piece and a mic.
I think X said it best in #50 -- this is secure, direct instant messaging but the information still goes through many routers on its way to its destination, so comeone could still capture it.
If you really want true secure communication methods, you can:
Distribute bits of your communication through IM, e-mail, FTP, HTTP, snail mail, sky-writing, etc.
Use quantum entanglement
Work for the FBI
Make up your own language
Use telepathy with those you wish to contact
Refuse to communicate, thus, nothing will be intercepted
Yes, I knew it. I wish I had Flash RAM so I could do it easily. What I'm asking for is an alternative approach through a SpringBoard, new ROM chip (surely some hacker will start selling them), or even a RAM-based patch (like the existing Handspring Visor OS patches).
And as for why I bought it, I didn't buy it because it was cheaper. I bought it for the Springboard slot, faster syncing, and because Jeff Hawkins and Debbie Dubinksy were heading the company.
As I've said elsewhere, I don't think the cellphone module is integrated.
From what I've read, it's been described as being a SpringBoard -- even having it's own battery rather than draining the Visor's.
Besides, Hawkin's has already commented many times (for example, in the Red Herring chat) that there would be a cellular module. Think of how much more money they can make this way!
I've heard that PalmOS 3.5 is only capable of supporting 8-bit color.
If that is the case, then perhaps Handspring extended PalmOS3.5 to 3.5h (like they did for 3.1) to support the 16-bit color.
If that is true, why couldn't they also extend it to support higher resolutions? None of the articles has said one way or the other what resolution the new devices will be.
I don't know why they can't put the reoslution up to 320x320 and make it fall back to 160x160 for old apps using a 2x2 pixel group for each pixel.
Perhaps even those old applications would only see 160x160 resolution, but the fonts, buttons, etc. would all have sharper edges unbeknownst to the application?
As one of them, I can say that we've been waiting for some inklink of Palm OS 3.5 capabilities for a while now (for official color and greyscale support, IR syncing, network syncing, etc.)
However, we don't have Flash RAM, so any OS upgrade would have to be in RAM (no big deal if its small enough), or on a SpringBoard.
Either that, or we have to foot the bill for a $200+ upgrade after sellng our existing Visors.
First of all, it will be 64k color (16-bit color) versus Palm's 8-bit color. Still, the screen is expected to remain 160x160 resolution (due to PalmOS limitations) which means, at best, you could display about 1/3 of the 64k colors on the screen at once anyways.
The new units will also include a rechargable Li-Ion battery (charges in 90 minutes), 30MHz Dragonball CPU (they used to be 16-20MHz), PalmOS 3.5 (for official color and greyscale support, IR syncing, network syncing, etc.).
Unfortunately, the unit will also be a tad thicker, and come with a hefty $449 pricetag.
As for the cell unit, I was under the impression it was a SprignBoard that would work in any Visor, not a different Visor model. After all, that's Handpsring's differentiator.
Boycotting the hacker challenge is just one extreme. I'd rather have us "hackers" show the Borg-like SDMI collective that their motives are futile.
How can this be done? I'm no expert on watermarking, so I'll leave that one to someone else. But, for conventional means of copy protection, I have some ideas. If you can hear it, it can be recorded. Better yet, if its digital and your sound card plays it, then its driver is being sent the raw, unencoded, unencrypted data.
How about a fake sound driver? If someone wrote a sound driver (preferably for Windows so the collective would see the impact more plainly) that acted like a regular asound driver but instead recorded the raw audio data to a file, the "protected" songs would be available in an "unprotected" form.
So, how about it? Or do you think the SDMI would just have a law passed to make all Audio Card manufacturers adhere to SDMI specs and encrypt the data down to the DAC?
I e-mailed CeBIT asking why they banned MP3 audio equipment. They replied:
Thank you very much for your e-mail!
We would like to inform you that we in fact never banned MP3 Players or the
MPEG storage format from CeBIT. There will be around 25 companies in hall 9
this yearshowing MP3 players.
ObviouslyCreativeLabs released a press article serveral days ago, saying
that they are cancelling the CeBIT becausewe excluded MP3players from our
nomenclature. This isdefinately not true and wedo not understand the
reasons for such an article.
I've always blown off the media's claims that the Internet is something new and different. They've credited it with everything from the booming economy, to new societies.
Sure, it lets you publish things easier, read things easier, buy things easier... Everything is just easier with the click of a mouse than getting in your car, driving, and using some sweat.
But just how profound is it? Is it so profound that we're developing special rulings and laws just for it? Maybe I'm wrong and the Internet truly is different.
OK, so you forgot your Palm with all of your appointments, todos and phone numbers. You simply call the phone number for the AnyDay Web-based calendar telephone interface and verbally ask for your information. Doh! What's that number again?. I know, it's in my Palm, I'll just look it up. Double-doh! I forgot my Palm! No problem, I just call the AnyDay Web-based calendar telephone interface and get the number...
Now, I'm no DNA expert, but how can that be reliable? I'm assuming the DNA is no longer "alive" and regenerating once its used in the ink. So, is susceptable to breakdown and will not be able to duplicate itself.
So won't exposure to certain wavelengths of light (UV, etc.) damage the DNA? If a rack of Olympic Windbreakers are hanging in a shop window, couldn't the tags have their special ink altered by direct sunlight?
Now, why do you need a Linux based wristwatch do do those things? I do all of those on my PalmOS PDA. Why, someone could put PalmOS on a wirstwatch instead.
The point isn't exclusively the OS, its how well the applications match the form-factor of the device you're dealing with. While the article points out the advantages of Linux (for example, large code base available), I'm not convinced that those advantages translate directly to this mostly-unexplored form-factor.
Dealing with limited colors, memory, display size, etc. are special considerations for the wrist-watch even more so than the PDA.
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Actually, BMG and another record label whose name escapes me at the moment are backing a third party, whereas Sonsy is doing it themselves. Thus, your argument holds true for Sony, but not BMG and [?].
Could the sneaky members of club-RIAA have planned it so they'd destory MP3.com while it was illegal, then make it legal and make money on the exact same idea?
I believe that is intended to be vague so it could be interpreted by the courts, probably purposely so.
As for how? Well, click-wrap licenses seem to work for software, so why not for a digital music locker...
Personally, I feel the technologically sound process that My.MP3.com used would be sufficient.
It sounds to me like the judge only acknowledged the obvious fact that if the Supreme Court decides the government antitrust suit against Microsoft it could have a direct effect on his son's private lawsuit. Of course it would. Any decision in a lawsuit will usually affect any litigation associated with it.
I think the media wants us to believe that the judge admitted he would have personal conflict in deciding the case, and possibly in this first decision. The more likely case is that the media dug up three statements from the always-infallible law-professor-bin to drum up some sensationalism about this high profile case.
Unless their is reason to believe Renqhuist has let his personal life interfere with his professional, the media should keep their dirty mouths shut.
Instead, I'm betting there will be some simple gateway within AOL's network borders that allows messages to jump back and forth between the two given the proper addressing.
Sure, maybe it will take up more RAM, too!
Got to love it when reporters don't chekc the facts first.
That's no good because many people search for buttons by feel... Now if you had an LCD screen that also had retractable tactile feel, then it could work.
I've always thought voice-recognition would be better than buttons. Heck, you could even speak out "555-1212".
There ya go: no buttons, more screen real-estate; voice-recognition, no need for buttons.
Sorry, I had to do it.
In some of the articles about this, it was confirmed that the device will sync to a computer.
I think if you did away with the keypad on a cell phoen and use a high-res screen, the form factor would still allow for a screen capable of displaying tons of information.
don't recommend the "hands-free" solution
Well, if you'd prefer to gum up your scroin with your bodily oils, go right ahead. I'f you'd rather lose a hand or shoulder while talking on the phone, go ahead.
I think a lot of poeple, myself included, would prefer hands-free opertation -- which would, as you said, enable you to use the PDA while tlaking on the phone. All you need to communicate via a phone is a speaker/ear-piece and a mic.
If you really want true secure communication methods, you can:
This News.com article has quite a bit more information on the VisorPhone, including a picture.
And as for why I bought it, I didn't buy it because it was cheaper. I bought it for the Springboard slot, faster syncing, and because Jeff Hawkins and Debbie Dubinksy were heading the company.
What's unreal are some people's assumptions.
From what I've read, it's been described as being a SpringBoard -- even having it's own battery rather than draining the Visor's.
Besides, Hawkin's has already commented many times (for example, in the Red Herring chat) that there would be a cellular module. Think of how much more money they can make this way!
If that is the case, then perhaps Handspring extended PalmOS3.5 to 3.5h (like they did for 3.1) to support the 16-bit color.
If that is true, why couldn't they also extend it to support higher resolutions? None of the articles has said one way or the other what resolution the new devices will be.
I don't know why they can't put the reoslution up to 320x320 and make it fall back to 160x160 for old apps using a 2x2 pixel group for each pixel.
Perhaps even those old applications would only see 160x160 resolution, but the fonts, buttons, etc. would all have sharper edges unbeknownst to the application?
As one of them, I can say that we've been waiting for some inklink of Palm OS 3.5 capabilities for a while now (for official color and greyscale support, IR syncing, network syncing, etc.)
However, we don't have Flash RAM, so any OS upgrade would have to be in RAM (no big deal if its small enough), or on a SpringBoard.
Either that, or we have to foot the bill for a $200+ upgrade after sellng our existing Visors.
First of all, it will be 64k color (16-bit color) versus Palm's 8-bit color. Still, the screen is expected to remain 160x160 resolution (due to PalmOS limitations) which means, at best, you could display about 1/3 of the 64k colors on the screen at once anyways.
The new units will also include a rechargable Li-Ion battery (charges in 90 minutes), 30MHz Dragonball CPU (they used to be 16-20MHz), PalmOS 3.5 (for official color and greyscale support, IR syncing, network syncing, etc.).
Unfortunately, the unit will also be a tad thicker, and come with a hefty $449 pricetag.
As for the cell unit, I was under the impression it was a SprignBoard that would work in any Visor, not a different Visor model. After all, that's Handpsring's differentiator.
How can this be done? I'm no expert on watermarking, so I'll leave that one to someone else. But, for conventional means of copy protection, I have some ideas. If you can hear it, it can be recorded. Better yet, if its digital and your sound card plays it, then its driver is being sent the raw, unencoded, unencrypted data.
How about a fake sound driver? If someone wrote a sound driver (preferably for Windows so the collective would see the impact more plainly) that acted like a regular asound driver but instead recorded the raw audio data to a file, the "protected" songs would be available in an "unprotected" form.
So, how about it? Or do you think the SDMI would just have a law passed to make all Audio Card manufacturers adhere to SDMI specs and encrypt the data down to the DAC?
Thank you very much for your e-mail!
We would like to inform you that we in fact never banned MP3 Players or the MPEG storage format from CeBIT. There will be around 25 companies in hall 9 this yearshowing MP3 players.
ObviouslyCreativeLabs released a press article serveral days ago, saying that they are cancelling the CeBIT becausewe excluded MP3players from our nomenclature. This isdefinately not true and wedo not understand the reasons for such an article.
Sincerely
Deutsche Messe AG
Interesting, no?
Sure, it lets you publish things easier, read things easier, buy things easier... Everything is just easier with the click of a mouse than getting in your car, driving, and using some sweat.
But just how profound is it? Is it so profound that we're developing special rulings and laws just for it? Maybe I'm wrong and the Internet truly is different.
OK, so you forgot your Palm with all of your appointments, todos and phone numbers. You simply call the phone number for the AnyDay Web-based calendar telephone interface and verbally ask for your information. Doh! What's that number again?. I know, it's in my Palm, I'll just look it up. Double-doh! I forgot my Palm! No problem, I just call the AnyDay Web-based calendar telephone interface and get the number...
So won't exposure to certain wavelengths of light (UV, etc.) damage the DNA? If a rack of Olympic Windbreakers are hanging in a shop window, couldn't the tags have their special ink altered by direct sunlight?
The point isn't exclusively the OS, its how well the applications match the form-factor of the device you're dealing with. While the article points out the advantages of Linux (for example, large code base available), I'm not convinced that those advantages translate directly to this mostly-unexplored form-factor.
Dealing with limited colors, memory, display size, etc. are special considerations for the wrist-watch even more so than the PDA.