Jeez, you people are serious today, aren't you? I don't think Microsoft has the slightest interest in my music collection - I'm just baffled about the fact that having 650GB of data somewhere on a drive increases the time required to perform an upgrade to Windows 7 by an incredible amount of time.
The upgrade program must be doing _something_ with the data - I'd just like to know what...
Would you mind giving me a link or just copy/pasting? Just browsed through again at +3 and didn't see anything. I don't have time to read all 150+ comments:(
Or maybe you could just give me the gist of the explanation in a sentence or two:)
Here in Aachen (Germany), a relatively small town, there's a service called OecherWLAN, which is basically a network of access points with pay-for access at monthly rates.
They do provide free access to a number of city-run websites (like the local library websites, pages for tourists and stuff like that), but access to the rest of the internet requires their VPN client...
When I miss is cafes having open wifi for customers. Posting to Slashdot from while drinking a Latte Macchiato is much nicer when you're not paying 24c/MB for GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA...
The problem here is that (forgive me if parts of this are incorrect, as I mostly concern myself with audio) in order to produce a good analog signal (regardless of connection type), you need similarly good DACs.
Now consider this: The primary purpose of an iPod is to output audio. The quality of the audio output should, therefore, be top notch... but it isn't quite as good as, say, most Cowon portable devices (obviously it varies from device to device, as well as within the iPod ranks). So if the primary function isn't quite top notch, why would you expect the secondary functions to be?
It's also quite possible that I'm jumping to conclusions due to previous analog vs. digital experiences. It's funny that you should mention, by the way, that Component is "basically a VGA connection without the sync lines", because my previous dilemna involves VGA and DVI/HDMI. All the consumer class graphics adapters (mostly nVidia and ATi gaming cards) that I've used, have had awful analog output when compared to digital. Now, part of this analog degradation is most definitely due to the ADCs in the TFTs I was using, but, say, a Matrox G400 provided much better (much crisper, more detailed shading, sharper) analog output than the consumer class cards. The digital output on my Thinkpad is also much sharper and more detailed than the VGA output...
What I'm trying to say is that analog is good when implemented properly, with high quality components throughout the signal chain. However, when you cheap out and use unnecessary D/A/D on a signal, you're always going to get degradation compared to just keeping the signal digital - especially if you take into account any interference/loss caused by the cables. If you're using analog as a cost-cutting measure, I strongly doubt you'll be using top-of-the-line DACs and ADCs...
Not having tested the video output on an iPod, I can only guess at how the quality is (I doubt they'll output a signal that'd enable the end user to tell the difference between analog and digital anyway), but what's so hard about just using some common sense and not adding completely unnecessary A/D conversion? When you factor in the fact that you'd be enabling use of iPod video on not only TVs that come with component inputs, but also pretty much every computer display on the market these days, isn't it pretty much a no-brainer to just go digital?
In case you're still wondering, you're obviously right. An iPod can output a signal to a TV via component cables. For anyone who's still confused: RedK WAS RIGHT.
I've long moved on to discussing the component connection, which is a completely different issue... I just find it slightly insulting that a modern device sold with "TV Output" only does component, when every other device is moving on to DisplayPort/HDMI.
Interesting. I was under the impression that most people had moved to digital inputs, and that Component was purely legacy for stuff like old VCRs or older console systems. Again, why would you put a digital signal through DA, run it through a length of cable in analog form (in which it's bound to change in SOME way or other), and then convert it back digital before it's displayed on the (digital) screen?
As for the "I don't know anyone with equip. with component inputs" part: Obviously, I was exaggerating a little. A buddy of mine has a 30" tube TV that most definitely has component inputs...
Nope, I mostly just buy stuff that's priced right and works well... I'm not one of those idiots who buys $300 Monster HDMI cables or anything like that, but when it comes to analog signals (whch I don't actually use for video any more), I'm pretty careful about the cables I use. I've used my share of composite/component/s-video cables (work as a live sound tech part time, and often that includes setting up video of some sort - usually old projectors that have analog inputs and such) that didn't provide all-too-good quality, especially when run past fun stuff like racks full of dimmers or amps.
I'm blabbering about the fact that I'd prefer digital content to stay digital on its way to the digital display instead of going through D/A/D conversion, as well as having to pass through a crappy overpriced (probably badly shielded) iPod=>Component cable in analog form.
Or maybe it's the fact that I don't actually know anyone that has a device in their home that accepts component inputs...
"Overall, I think the advantages overwhelmingly outweigh the disadvantages. I think consoles with their crazy hardware architectures are going to die away, relegated to the dustbins of history. In the future, all games will be PC compatible. They'll still release local copies of some games for hardcore gamers to run on their PCs, especially of multiplayer only CD key requiring games (like first person shooters)"
Boy, I hope you're right. Finally being able to play all those old console games right here on my laptop would be awesome.:)
That's what I'm wondering, actually. As a Gmail user with a relatively long and complicated password, how would these services go about hacking into my Gmail account? All connections in and out are SSL'd, I don't use public WiFi without a VPN, my home WiFi is secured relatively well... Short of e-mailing me a trojan, what options do these guys have?
Slashdot Mirror
Jeez, you people are serious today, aren't you? I don't think Microsoft has the slightest interest in my music collection - I'm just baffled about the fact that having 650GB of data somewhere on a drive increases the time required to perform an upgrade to Windows 7 by an incredible amount of time.
The upgrade program must be doing _something_ with the data - I'd just like to know what...
Actually, an Atom N270/N280 has a pretty hard time playing back Flash video... so online porn isn't actually all that accessible on netbooks.
Do you take everything this seriously? Lighten up :)
Would you mind giving me a link or just copy/pasting? Just browsed through again at +3 and didn't see anything. I don't have time to read all 150+ comments :(
Or maybe you could just give me the gist of the explanation in a sentence or two :)
What the hell is the upgrade doing to all that data... identifying all the non-DRM'd illegal media and sending a list of it to Microsoft?
I don't get it.
Is the equivalent iPhone plan truly unlimited? Or are you just going off on a tangent here?
Here in Aachen (Germany), a relatively small town, there's a service called OecherWLAN, which is basically a network of access points with pay-for access at monthly rates.
They do provide free access to a number of city-run websites (like the local library websites, pages for tourists and stuff like that), but access to the rest of the internet requires their VPN client...
When I miss is cafes having open wifi for customers. Posting to Slashdot from while drinking a Latte Macchiato is much nicer when you're not paying 24c/MB for GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA...
I'm aware of that :)
The problem here is that (forgive me if parts of this are incorrect, as I mostly concern myself with audio) in order to produce a good analog signal (regardless of connection type), you need similarly good DACs.
Now consider this: The primary purpose of an iPod is to output audio. The quality of the audio output should, therefore, be top notch... but it isn't quite as good as, say, most Cowon portable devices (obviously it varies from device to device, as well as within the iPod ranks). So if the primary function isn't quite top notch, why would you expect the secondary functions to be?
It's also quite possible that I'm jumping to conclusions due to previous analog vs. digital experiences. It's funny that you should mention, by the way, that Component is "basically a VGA connection without the sync lines", because my previous dilemna involves VGA and DVI/HDMI. All the consumer class graphics adapters (mostly nVidia and ATi gaming cards) that I've used, have had awful analog output when compared to digital. Now, part of this analog degradation is most definitely due to the ADCs in the TFTs I was using, but, say, a Matrox G400 provided much better (much crisper, more detailed shading, sharper) analog output than the consumer class cards. The digital output on my Thinkpad is also much sharper and more detailed than the VGA output...
What I'm trying to say is that analog is good when implemented properly, with high quality components throughout the signal chain. However, when you cheap out and use unnecessary D/A/D on a signal, you're always going to get degradation compared to just keeping the signal digital - especially if you take into account any interference/loss caused by the cables. If you're using analog as a cost-cutting measure, I strongly doubt you'll be using top-of-the-line DACs and ADCs...
Not having tested the video output on an iPod, I can only guess at how the quality is (I doubt they'll output a signal that'd enable the end user to tell the difference between analog and digital anyway), but what's so hard about just using some common sense and not adding completely unnecessary A/D conversion? When you factor in the fact that you'd be enabling use of iPod video on not only TVs that come with component inputs, but also pretty much every computer display on the market these days, isn't it pretty much a no-brainer to just go digital?
I was actually pleasantly surprised as well (even if I find the choice of connection inappropriate and crude)...
That second question about formats is quite interesting as well.
In case you're still wondering, you're obviously right. An iPod can output a signal to a TV via component cables. For anyone who's still confused: RedK WAS RIGHT.
I've long moved on to discussing the component connection, which is a completely different issue... I just find it slightly insulting that a modern device sold with "TV Output" only does component, when every other device is moving on to DisplayPort/HDMI.
Interesting. I was under the impression that most people had moved to digital inputs, and that Component was purely legacy for stuff like old VCRs or older console systems. Again, why would you put a digital signal through DA, run it through a length of cable in analog form (in which it's bound to change in SOME way or other), and then convert it back digital before it's displayed on the (digital) screen?
As for the "I don't know anyone with equip. with component inputs" part: Obviously, I was exaggerating a little. A buddy of mine has a 30" tube TV that most definitely has component inputs...
Nope, I mostly just buy stuff that's priced right and works well... I'm not one of those idiots who buys $300 Monster HDMI cables or anything like that, but when it comes to analog signals (whch I don't actually use for video any more), I'm pretty careful about the cables I use. I've used my share of composite/component/s-video cables (work as a live sound tech part time, and often that includes setting up video of some sort - usually old projectors that have analog inputs and such) that didn't provide all-too-good quality, especially when run past fun stuff like racks full of dimmers or amps.
Very concise, me likey.
I'm blabbering about the fact that I'd prefer digital content to stay digital on its way to the digital display instead of going through D/A/D conversion, as well as having to pass through a crappy overpriced (probably badly shielded) iPod=>Component cable in analog form.
Or maybe it's the fact that I don't actually know anyone that has a device in their home that accepts component inputs...
So what do I do with those weird looking plugs? :P
Do TVs still come with composite inputs? I know all my displays have D-Sub/DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort, so I guess I'd be SOL if I had an iPod...
HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, it's all the same. No, composite is not an option. No, S-Video isn't an option.
Weird, googling "iPod HDMI Out" didn't lead me to many adapter cables...
Shouldn't that read "iPod docks that cost twice as much as the iPod itself output to televisions"?
Sure seems to... at least on IE6.
As offensive as they may be, these PR stunts are pretty well thought out... I'm gonna go find out what this game is about now :)
"Overall, I think the advantages overwhelmingly outweigh the disadvantages. I think consoles with their crazy hardware architectures are going to die away, relegated to the dustbins of history. In the future, all games will be PC compatible. They'll still release local copies of some games for hardcore gamers to run on their PCs, especially of multiplayer only CD key requiring games (like first person shooters)"
Boy, I hope you're right. Finally being able to play all those old console games right here on my laptop would be awesome. :)
So you got a Mac because of the lack of choice available at each price point?
That makes a whole lot of sense...
I forgot to mention that I don't use security questions ;)... if an answer is required, I just enter gibberish.
That's what I'm wondering, actually. As a Gmail user with a relatively long and complicated password, how would these services go about hacking into my Gmail account? All connections in and out are SSL'd, I don't use public WiFi without a VPN, my home WiFi is secured relatively well... Short of e-mailing me a trojan, what options do these guys have?
You're aware that there is security cam footage of this heist, right? Watch it.