With a closed system, you end up with a challenge. Take routers for example. Linksys WRT routers are a good example. Locked from the vendor with proprietary software, yet arguably one of the most modded out there. Closed systems have existed in technology since the inception of a 'PC'. They never remain closed as someone always manages to hack them, or reverse engineer them, and create something new. The whole premise of this article just reads like some sort of anti Apple rant.
They do realize it has to go public at some point?
on
Making Sense of ACTA
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· Score: 1
All of this secrecy just feeds the intense interest from the public. Everyone from conspiracy theorists, to fringe lunatics will have ample time to take pot shots at it. That said, they do realize that at some point, they will have to put their 'yay' or 'nay' on this thing? It will be obvious to anyone wanting to read it what it says? If it adversely affects millions of Americans in any significant way, the folks who ratify this thing are history. Brown should be a good reminder of that. Piss enough people off, or scare them enough, and they will act out of self defense. I don't see anything in ACTA that is comfortable, and it actually does make me extremely nervous that only folks like the RIAA are invited to attend. I've seen the ridiculous lengths they will go to and what they consider sane and sensible.
I had the same though, but given the nature of this technology, you only need an optical signal repeater or an electrical connection (might breath new life into PowerLine adapters).
From TFA: "Multiple sensors could allow the light signal to pass from room to room or even from floor to floor. The system could also be set up to convert the signal to electricity, transfer it to another location and change it back to light. Optical systems can also operate in locations where radio frequency transmission would interfere with other equipment."
Don't forget that prior to the latest iMac, both used laptop parts exclusively, and should both be treated as such for upgrade purposes. They were never designed for the end user to take them apart.
That said, the iMac makes it easy to do the memory, but not the hard drive or any of the other components. The iMac has a panel on the bottom edge of the display which can be removed to easily upgrade the ram. The panel is the same sort you see on any laptop. The hard drive on the iMac is much more difficult. You have to use suction cups to remove the glass, which exposes the innards. Fortunately you can order 1 or 2 TB 7200 RPM drives right from the factory for the iMac so it's not a big need for most people to upgrade the hard drive. Most of the pre-fall '09 iMacs used only laptop parts (2.5" HD's, slimline optical drives, mobile graphics chipsets). The latest model iMacs are now using some desktop components which is a nice change, although I still don't have the urge to crack the case. That said, I've always had plenty of space due to the large hard drive selections, and I've found the graphics hardware adequate for my needs.
The mini is easy to replace the hard drive and upgrade the memory, however they still use all laptop parts and I don't expect that to change given it's footprint. The mini is easy to upgrade, but again only the parts you can typically replace in a laptop. It doesn't mar the visible parts of case. You simply use a putty knife on the inside edge of the case. I literally had the entire thing apart in 5 minutes. About the only unnerving bit is releasing the clips that hold the case (the noise sounds like the plastic case is cracking). Mine had no scuffs or any other visible damage when I was done. The cover snapped back on firmly when I was done with no apparent damage to the fastening clips.
I just purchase the base model of Mini, and upgraded it to 4 GB for $80 bucks. The hard drive unfortunately, also uses the 2.5" form factor, so the options for larger storage are expensive (I do see that WD now has a $200 1TB 2.5", although it's only 5200 RPM). I opted for an external 3.5" 7200 RPM 1TB drive for $99 bucks and an external USB SATA enclosure for $20 bucks. It makes a good (and cheap) HTPC since it, like every Mac, includes the Headphone Jack/SPDIF Optical combo port. It has no problems with 1080p video.
I've heard of some people upgrading the CPU in these, but I'd be hesitant to do so considering their both similar to laptops when it comes to thermals. In a work environment, I would think either would be fine. For a home power user, the temptation to upgrade components would probably be contrary to the design.
In all cases, they should be considered as laptops when thinking of upgrade options (Ram, Optical Drive, and Hard Drive). I'm hoping the recent shift to desktop components in the iMac will change that, and hopefully spur Apple to make it a bit more serviceable.
Who said anything about security? IE6 came with XP, and we had no pressing reason to upgrade, combined with in-house apps written specifically for IE6 that would require testing of thousands of pages and/or apps on a newer version.
Apologies. I should have been more clear. Why wouldn't they just suggest the latest release version for the IE browser (IE8) to begin with? I'm not going to debate it's merits or cons, and I don't use IE, but it doesn't make sense, or seem very responsible to suggest an older browser version that is arguably less standards compliant than IE8. It would seem like Google is just shooting themselves in the foot by doing so.
Did anyone else just fall out of their chair when they read this? I was a little disappointed that in TFA, they mention they would suggest users upgrade to IE7.
"Support for IE6 in Google Docs and Google Sites will end March 1, Sheth said in the post. At that point, IE6 users who try to access Docs or Sites may find that "key functionality" won't work properly, he said.
Sheth suggested that customers upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 3.0, Google Chrome 4.0 or Safari 3.0, or more recent versions of those browsers. "
Why would they even suggest IE7?
I'm also wondering how this will affect corporate infrastructures who rely on Docs or Sites. My company is one of those stuck in IE6 ZombieLand, but we are already in the certification process for Windows 7 and IE8. Unfortunately, for an organization our size, it takes 1-2 years to move to a new version of windows. I can't imagine we're all that unique. This time line seems very aggressive (don't get me wrong, I understand Google's perspective completely).
To be fair, on an iPhone, you only need an e-mail address and a file to click with your finger. Most people don't walk around with a cell phone that has the 2G/3G radio disabled. Subjects are optional, and in both cases, the person would have to browse for the file. I'm not sure where you were going there with the smtp router path. You're talking milliseconds for each hop. Lets try to keep this little sub-topic in perspective.
I was actually fine with the first response, although it was a bit snarky. If that person doesn't want to e-mail it, then that's a perfectly acceptable answer.
From my perspective, owning an iPhone, the iPad is just 'meh' for me. I like the bigger display, but I work from home (telecommute), so I've already got a 27" screen for big stuff, and my iPhone for mobile work. No real need for anything in between.
That said, pop an extra $250 bucks, and you get kindle capabilities + everything that the iPhone offers (sans the voice cell capabilities), meaning music, video, games, apps, location tools/utilities, etc. To my mind, that at least makes for an interesting combination. I think it's largest market will be in games, and books, and maybe a smattering of video and movies for those folks on the go (travelers or mobile babysitters to keep occupied on long trips). If board games become a common app for this, instead of paying $20-$99 bucks for them, you could easily end up with a $5-$10 dollar app store equivalent. Buy more than a few, and you've paid for your investment.
It's just a more versatile than a piece of cardboard.
Will I buy one? No (see above for 'meh' factor). I just don't have a need for it, but I can see the appeal.
So what are the cost benefits of an unlocked iPhone for example? There is no change in software. Do you get a cheaper rate from AT&T if you buy the phone outright? I'm still not seeing much benefit from what I see here.
Perhaps it's just not being explained very well, and I didn't see any options on AT&T's site for non-subsidized phones. They all seem to require a contact when you start using AT&T.
MP4 uses many different profiles and levels within those profiles to cater to various video and audio formats a device can play. It's not an Apple thing, it's a standards thing. If you encode something at a higher profile/level than the device supports, it won't play it. It's not some dark conspiracy, it's a standard.
My iMac converts a 3 hour movie for the iPhone at a couple hundred frames a second using handbrake and is typically done in 10-20 minutes. I find it hard to believe that any recent PC would take 6-8 hours for video that was using 480p resolutions (or less).
5 minutes Googling will tell you exactly how to adjust the timing. It's not some dark industry secret. Just put your car into service mode and adjust the timing. The new 'default' will be accepted once you take it out of service mode. For instance, on a typical GM, it just requires shorting two pins in an easily accessible connector usually located in the arm rest. A plain old paperclip will work just fine.
Claims that a 'regular' mechanic can't work on a car are about as valid as saying a PC hobbyist can't work on a Dell. The work is more complicated than the 'olden days', but any cheap auto manual can be picked up at any parts dealer and you have all you need to know for your basic shade tree mechanics.
You think the 'just don't buy' it argument is ridiculous because that argument doesn't your point of view. Most people simply don't see any problem with it and find the Apple model works just fine. It's called free market. If people didn't like it, it wouldn't be so hugely popular. Developers don't have to design for iPhone/iPod Touch if they choose not to. They like it, because it gives them a publisher/distributor for a 30% cut without any of the hassle.
The simple fact is, due to iPhone, you have a very similar choice which purports to be open in the manner you describe. Buy a droid and move on. Your opinion is irrelevant to any corporation in the business for a profit. It all comes down to bottom line, and in this case, it works just fine for Developers, for Apple, and for end users.
What happens when you've paid off the subsidized cost of the phone? Do you continue to pay the higher monthly cost, or does the monthly cost drop to 'non-subsidized' monthly costs?
Someone help explain this to me. What is the difference for an end user with a subsidized phone. If you buy an unlocked for (say for $500), in order to you that phone on a cell network, you still have to sign a contract for $x a month.
If you buy an locked phone (say for $300), you are automatically signed up for a contact for $x a month.
Is the contact cost less if you purchased the phone outright (unlocked?)
The exposure for IE (it wasn't targeted at IE8 but IE8 could be vulnerable) will own any XP PC on IE6. If they have XP SP3 and IE7 they are not currently vulnerable to the initial threat, but that will change quickly. If they have XP SP3 and have upgraded to IE8, they are currently safe, unless they then turned of DEP.
Whether you choose to violate your agreement is your choice, but those are from Verizon's own contracts.
AT&T does not cap it's iPhone plan. I've gone over 5 GB a few times over the last 3 years and have never received a letter, phone call, or a word of warning. Don't confuse their 'wireless broadband' plans with their cell phone unlimited data plans. They are two separate plans (one for smartphones, and the other for wireless broadband cards. If you have a reputable web site that proves a 5GB cap for their smartphone data plan, I'd be interested to see it.
When it comes to 'broadband wireless plans' from all of the cell providers, I believe both Verizon and AT&T have a 5 GB limit. Not sure about Sprint as I've never used them and I have no need of wireless broadband.
As to your point of dropping 3G calls, I can't comment on that. I live in a major US city and have no issues with coverage.
I was Mobil employee (pre Exxon merger days). Probably one of the best companies I have ever worked for. Progressive work environment, friendly people, ideas were treated with respect, and about as diverse friendly as you can get. They did everything right, but were bought out by Exxon. I've never seen such an about turn in such a short amount of time. It was much like I imagine going from a free country to the iron heel of some repressive regime.
Obviously if your a fortune 500 company, there must be a way to meld a happy work environment with a profitable one? Why isn't this more the rule than the exception?
You're comparing fast food which has easily measurable adverse effects on a persons health, to art, which is totally subjective to the viewer and not easily measurable in any way to society at large as every person would have to judge for themselves if it was good or bad. In what way would any art, good bad, or otherwise do harm to society?
I might suggest that in critiquing art that you dislike in the manner that you do, as well as expressing your opinion of it's fans in the same manor by calling them prigs, you become the very thing you denounce.
Prig |prig| noun a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if superior to others.
There is a reason they call it the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
"In addition to Disney (whose extensive lobbying efforts inspired the nickname "The Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), California congresswoman Mary Bono (Sonny Bono's widow and Congressional successor) and the estate of composer George Gershwin supported the act. Mary Bono, speaking on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, said:
Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution.... As you know, there is also [then-MPAA president] Jack Valenti's proposal for term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress."
Slashdot Mirror
With a closed system, you end up with a challenge. Take routers for example. Linksys WRT routers are a good example. Locked from the vendor with proprietary software, yet arguably one of the most modded out there. Closed systems have existed in technology since the inception of a 'PC'. They never remain closed as someone always manages to hack them, or reverse engineer them, and create something new. The whole premise of this article just reads like some sort of anti Apple rant.
All of this secrecy just feeds the intense interest from the public. Everyone from conspiracy theorists, to fringe lunatics will have ample time to take pot shots at it. That said, they do realize that at some point, they will have to put their 'yay' or 'nay' on this thing? It will be obvious to anyone wanting to read it what it says? If it adversely affects millions of Americans in any significant way, the folks who ratify this thing are history. Brown should be a good reminder of that. Piss enough people off, or scare them enough, and they will act out of self defense. I don't see anything in ACTA that is comfortable, and it actually does make me extremely nervous that only folks like the RIAA are invited to attend. I've seen the ridiculous lengths they will go to and what they consider sane and sensible.
I had the same though, but given the nature of this technology, you only need an optical signal repeater or an electrical connection (might breath new life into PowerLine adapters).
From TFA:
"Multiple sensors could allow the light signal to pass from room to room or even from floor to floor. The system could also be set up to convert the signal to electricity, transfer it to another location and change it back to light. Optical systems can also operate in locations where radio frequency transmission would interfere with other equipment."
Don't forget that prior to the latest iMac, both used laptop parts exclusively, and should both be treated as such for upgrade purposes. They were never designed for the end user to take them apart.
That said, the iMac makes it easy to do the memory, but not the hard drive or any of the other components. The iMac has a panel on the bottom edge of the display which can be removed to easily upgrade the ram. The panel is the same sort you see on any laptop. The hard drive on the iMac is much more difficult. You have to use suction cups to remove the glass, which exposes the innards. Fortunately you can order 1 or 2 TB 7200 RPM drives right from the factory for the iMac so it's not a big need for most people to upgrade the hard drive. Most of the pre-fall '09 iMacs used only laptop parts (2.5" HD's, slimline optical drives, mobile graphics chipsets). The latest model iMacs are now using some desktop components which is a nice change, although I still don't have the urge to crack the case. That said, I've always had plenty of space due to the large hard drive selections, and I've found the graphics hardware adequate for my needs.
The mini is easy to replace the hard drive and upgrade the memory, however they still use all laptop parts and I don't expect that to change given it's footprint. The mini is easy to upgrade, but again only the parts you can typically replace in a laptop. It doesn't mar the visible parts of case. You simply use a putty knife on the inside edge of the case. I literally had the entire thing apart in 5 minutes. About the only unnerving bit is releasing the clips that hold the case (the noise sounds like the plastic case is cracking). Mine had no scuffs or any other visible damage when I was done. The cover snapped back on firmly when I was done with no apparent damage to the fastening clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-zGbcr1eWw
http://www.methodshop.com/gadgets/tutorials/macmini-ram/index.shtml
I just purchase the base model of Mini, and upgraded it to 4 GB for $80 bucks. The hard drive unfortunately, also uses the 2.5" form factor, so the options for larger storage are expensive (I do see that WD now has a $200 1TB 2.5", although it's only 5200 RPM). I opted for an external 3.5" 7200 RPM 1TB drive for $99 bucks and an external USB SATA enclosure for $20 bucks. It makes a good (and cheap) HTPC since it, like every Mac, includes the Headphone Jack/SPDIF Optical combo port. It has no problems with 1080p video.
I've heard of some people upgrading the CPU in these, but I'd be hesitant to do so considering their both similar to laptops when it comes to thermals. In a work environment, I would think either would be fine. For a home power user, the temptation to upgrade components would probably be contrary to the design.
In all cases, they should be considered as laptops when thinking of upgrade options (Ram, Optical Drive, and Hard Drive). I'm hoping the recent shift to desktop components in the iMac will change that, and hopefully spur Apple to make it a bit more serviceable.
Who said anything about security? IE6 came with XP, and we had no pressing reason to upgrade, combined with in-house apps written specifically for IE6 that would require testing of thousands of pages and/or apps on a newer version.
Apologies. I should have been more clear. Why wouldn't they just suggest the latest release version for the IE browser (IE8) to begin with? I'm not going to debate it's merits or cons, and I don't use IE, but it doesn't make sense, or seem very responsible to suggest an older browser version that is arguably less standards compliant than IE8. It would seem like Google is just shooting themselves in the foot by doing so.
Did anyone else just fall out of their chair when they read this? I was a little disappointed that in TFA, they mention they would suggest users upgrade to IE7.
"Support for IE6 in Google Docs and Google Sites will end March 1, Sheth said in the post. At that point, IE6 users who try to access Docs or Sites may find that "key functionality" won't work properly, he said.
Sheth suggested that customers upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 3.0, Google Chrome 4.0 or Safari 3.0, or more recent versions of those browsers. "
Why would they even suggest IE7?
I'm also wondering how this will affect corporate infrastructures who rely on Docs or Sites. My company is one of those stuck in IE6 ZombieLand, but we are already in the certification process for Windows 7 and IE8. Unfortunately, for an organization our size, it takes 1-2 years to move to a new version of windows. I can't imagine we're all that unique. This time line seems very aggressive (don't get me wrong, I understand Google's perspective completely).
To be fair, on an iPhone, you only need an e-mail address and a file to click with your finger. Most people don't walk around with a cell phone that has the 2G/3G radio disabled. Subjects are optional, and in both cases, the person would have to browse for the file. I'm not sure where you were going there with the smtp router path. You're talking milliseconds for each hop. Lets try to keep this little sub-topic in perspective.
I was actually fine with the first response, although it was a bit snarky. If that person doesn't want to e-mail it, then that's a perfectly acceptable answer.
I'm curious, why not just send it to your iPhone via e-mail? It's not overly difficult that way.
As to iTunes, there are quite a few free OSS alternatives. Don't like iTunes, just use something else.
From my perspective, owning an iPhone, the iPad is just 'meh' for me. I like the bigger display, but I work from home (telecommute), so I've already got a 27" screen for big stuff, and my iPhone for mobile work. No real need for anything in between.
That said, pop an extra $250 bucks, and you get kindle capabilities + everything that the iPhone offers (sans the voice cell capabilities), meaning music, video, games, apps, location tools/utilities, etc. To my mind, that at least makes for an interesting combination. I think it's largest market will be in games, and books, and maybe a smattering of video and movies for those folks on the go (travelers or mobile babysitters to keep occupied on long trips). If board games become a common app for this, instead of paying $20-$99 bucks for them, you could easily end up with a $5-$10 dollar app store equivalent. Buy more than a few, and you've paid for your investment.
It's just a more versatile than a piece of cardboard.
Will I buy one? No (see above for 'meh' factor). I just don't have a need for it, but I can see the appeal.
So what are the cost benefits of an unlocked iPhone for example? There is no change in software. Do you get a cheaper rate from AT&T if you buy the phone outright? I'm still not seeing much benefit from what I see here.
Perhaps it's just not being explained very well, and I didn't see any options on AT&T's site for non-subsidized phones. They all seem to require a contact when you start using AT&T.
MP4 uses many different profiles and levels within those profiles to cater to various video and audio formats a device can play. It's not an Apple thing, it's a standards thing. If you encode something at a higher profile/level than the device supports, it won't play it. It's not some dark conspiracy, it's a standard.
My iMac converts a 3 hour movie for the iPhone at a couple hundred frames a second using handbrake and is typically done in 10-20 minutes. I find it hard to believe that any recent PC would take 6-8 hours for video that was using 480p resolutions (or less).
There are free apps in the app store that will let you upload personal content like 'eReader'.
5 minutes Googling will tell you exactly how to adjust the timing. It's not some dark industry secret. Just put your car into service mode and adjust the timing. The new 'default' will be accepted once you take it out of service mode. For instance, on a typical GM, it just requires shorting two pins in an easily accessible connector usually located in the arm rest. A plain old paperclip will work just fine.
Claims that a 'regular' mechanic can't work on a car are about as valid as saying a PC hobbyist can't work on a Dell. The work is more complicated than the 'olden days', but any cheap auto manual can be picked up at any parts dealer and you have all you need to know for your basic shade tree mechanics.
You can sign the petition here: http://www.realnetneutrality.org/
Claims to be part of the EFF's effort and it's linked to directly on their site.
You think the 'just don't buy' it argument is ridiculous because that argument doesn't your point of view. Most people simply don't see any problem with it and find the Apple model works just fine. It's called free market. If people didn't like it, it wouldn't be so hugely popular. Developers don't have to design for iPhone/iPod Touch if they choose not to. They like it, because it gives them a publisher/distributor for a 30% cut without any of the hassle.
The simple fact is, due to iPhone, you have a very similar choice which purports to be open in the manner you describe. Buy a droid and move on. Your opinion is irrelevant to any corporation in the business for a profit. It all comes down to bottom line, and in this case, it works just fine for Developers, for Apple, and for end users.
What happens when you've paid off the subsidized cost of the phone? Do you continue to pay the higher monthly cost, or does the monthly cost drop to 'non-subsidized' monthly costs?
Is that how it works across all carriers in the US? You basically get a reduced monthly cost if you buy the phone outright?
Someone help explain this to me. What is the difference for an end user with a subsidized phone. If you buy an unlocked for (say for $500), in order to you that phone on a cell network, you still have to sign a contract for $x a month.
If you buy an locked phone (say for $300), you are automatically signed up for a contact for $x a month.
Is the contact cost less if you purchased the phone outright (unlocked?)
Here are the full specs: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
The exposure for IE (it wasn't targeted at IE8 but IE8 could be vulnerable) will own any XP PC on IE6. If they have XP SP3 and IE7 they are not currently vulnerable to the initial threat, but that will change quickly. If they have XP SP3 and have upgraded to IE8, they are currently safe, unless they then turned of DEP.
http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2010/01/15/assessing-risk-of-ie-0day-vulnerability.aspx
Whether you choose to violate your agreement is your choice, but those are from Verizon's own contracts.
AT&T does not cap it's iPhone plan. I've gone over 5 GB a few times over the last 3 years and have never received a letter, phone call, or a word of warning. Don't confuse their 'wireless broadband' plans with their cell phone unlimited data plans. They are two separate plans (one for smartphones, and the other for wireless broadband cards. If you have a reputable web site that proves a 5GB cap for their smartphone data plan, I'd be interested to see it.
When it comes to 'broadband wireless plans' from all of the cell providers, I believe both Verizon and AT&T have a 5 GB limit. Not sure about Sprint as I've never used them and I have no need of wireless broadband.
As to your point of dropping 3G calls, I can't comment on that. I live in a major US city and have no issues with coverage.
I was Mobil employee (pre Exxon merger days). Probably one of the best companies I have ever worked for. Progressive work environment, friendly people, ideas were treated with respect, and about as diverse friendly as you can get. They did everything right, but were bought out by Exxon. I've never seen such an about turn in such a short amount of time. It was much like I imagine going from a free country to the iron heel of some repressive regime.
Obviously if your a fortune 500 company, there must be a way to meld a happy work environment with a profitable one? Why isn't this more the rule than the exception?
You're comparing fast food which has easily measurable adverse effects on a persons health, to art, which is totally subjective to the viewer and not easily measurable in any way to society at large as every person would have to judge for themselves if it was good or bad. In what way would any art, good bad, or otherwise do harm to society?
I might suggest that in critiquing art that you dislike in the manner that you do, as well as expressing your opinion of it's fans in the same manor by calling them prigs, you become the very thing you denounce.
Prig |prig|
noun
a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if superior to others.
There is a reason they call it the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
"In addition to Disney (whose extensive lobbying efforts inspired the nickname "The Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), California congresswoman Mary Bono (Sonny Bono's widow and Congressional successor) and the estate of composer George Gershwin supported the act. Mary Bono, speaking on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, said:
Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. ... As you know, there is also [then-MPAA president] Jack Valenti's proposal for term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress."