And I quote from the first link: "... We will therefore create our own branch called kroupware_branch in the modules kdelibs, kdebase, kdenetwork and kdepim. We aim to retrofit the changes on this branch as timely as possible back into the HEAD branch; this will happen in close collaboration with the maintainers of the affected projects, and following the KDE release cycle...."
All the development they do will be integrated into the main KDE branches after the fact, since they have to fast track this project.
The intend to integrate all the development they do into KDE eventually - not the contracting company, but they obviously will make their code available to the KDE open source developers (probably everyone).
The potential further exists for oppressive governments to use the revocation feature to censor what we see and hear. In this Orwellian scenario it would be possible to erase from the collective consciousness striking images of the lone student facing down a tank in Tiananmen Square...
But instead of censoring, he says, Microsoft's aim is more mundane - simply to use the free player to sell more.NET servers.
I suppose that being able to censor anything on people's computers will sell.NET servers like hotcakes? Maybe in communist China. With enough bad press I think a lot of companies will think twice about buying server software from microsoft. Oh right... we don't have much choice.
So what do new Windows versions have to offer me? More restrictions, more limitations, more tracking of my viewing/usage habits, a direct interface with the "copyright clearing house" to check every time I go to play an MP3 if I actually have 'rights' to play it.
I stopped "upgrading" at windows 2000. I suggest you do too.
I didn't take any courses from this prof, but some of my friends in school did.
What he is doing is kindof neat... He wants to equip poor villages (in places like Nepal) with electric lighting that better utilizes the minimal generating capacity they have.
I know you can get white LEDs as replacements for flashlights that will increase the battery life approximately 20x. For those Petzl headlamps a standard Duracell battery will give you about 6H of light with a standard bulb, but is rated at 100H with a superbright LED. And as far as I know the superbright gives you equivalent illumination - just at higher efficiency.
When I was in Nepal a few years ago, most rural villages would have power (all from hydroelectric) but it was unpredictable and unreliable. Also the generators were small and there were limits on how many bulbs each place could have. Replacing regular bulbs with white leds would save power - and make battery backups realistic.
When congress and senate just listen to big business... well thats sad. I keep having these dreams where law makers will listen to the people whose votes they need to get in. Why does it seem like they just don't hear us and don't want to? Thats just dirty, underhanded and shifty.
If they were working for me I'd fire them.
We vote these idiots in and then can't fire them when they turn their backs on us. We vote them in, we should be able to vote them out.
Isn't that the grander problem: How to put pressure on politicians so they will do their damn jobs they already get paid for and ignore lobbyists. How do we put fire in their belly's? That feeling like - OH MY GOD I'm gonna lose my job if I don't listen to voters.
Even though the US isn't my country, this bill would sure as heck have a negative impact on me (as Canada tends to follow the US in many ways).
What can I do to let US lawmakers know that this would impact me negatively even though I do not live in the US? (Both in personal, and professional ways)
Practically all computer hardware has it's biggest market in the US and of course even if Canada did not pass a similar bill you can bet practically 90% of the hardware would be compliant with the requirements of this bill.
I see this article written with a dark sort of humor which perhaps outweighed any objectivity Marty might have displayed.
I disagree with it being a waste of time. Katz tends to dwell on stuff like this (see his "Voices from the Hellmouth" series) regularly and this is a typical offering.
The only value I see here is the minority view of cheerleading being only of value to the sports oriented crowed in high school. Cheerleading being an overly celebrated group that really doesn't do anything to contribute to society other than give jocks some short skirts to chase after.
Sports hero worship was never my thing, and hence I don't see any value in cheerleading either.
I thought Marty's article might have been a little scathing and poorly written but his view point was valid. The article is definately not garbage.
The article was junk, basically just a diatribe and an illustration that Marty has some major issues to work out.
Yes, but it is not an uncommon attitude to any of those who always wanted to belong to any group of people and weren't allowed to (because of looks, family, smarts rather than looks). Doesn't this ring true wish a good percentage of the slashdot crowd?
I think that just because he expressed his view - angst perhaps, but with an underlying reason - he shouldn't be condemned.
Ever read any of Katz's "Hellmouth" series on the exclusion and ridicule of anyone deemed slightly different by the average high schooler's standards?
The smoothing over and avoidance of this by the mainstream media is a result of commercialization / homogenization - not wanting to rock the boat - is a problem.
I remember when aD was first appearing in the/. news. It really looked like a cool place: Lots of motivated, educated, driven people who had a new concept and it looked like although they expected a lot from employees they also seemed to give employees some fun stuff in return.
The teaching concept and also the mass of online material available to anyone for their learning pleasure was also mind blowing.
Definately a cool idea that I think would have best matured slowly on its own without outside help.
As for outside MBAs for management, hire them so you can fire them if need be. Once you give up control both equity-wise and management-wise to someone who does not share the same ideas and dreams as you you're pretty much their pet.
As for VCs I've read numerous articles, some story postings on/. that seem to say that VCs are bad if you actually care about your business and you don't want to see it become a cash cow and likely crater or become some monster you don't recognize.
I still think the ideas that Philip and Eve based much of the company on were good and sound, I'd use them in my own business - but I would hold back on growth and stay away from VC or any capital injection that would dilute my shares to less than 50.1% of voting stock. If you can't grow your business organically and keep hold of it - whats the value? Taking over the world with VCs at the helm? Slow and steady, one step at a time thats how you build something of lasting value.
I pay for shareware software licenses when:
- There is business exposure
- It can put my employer at risk
- A lot of people are watching
I don't when:
- I won't be busted or caught
I will pay all the time when:
- I have no choice
- Other people can see and will give me a hard time (social pressure)
- I've personally been stung by piracy enough to give a damn
Business exposure is simply if I'm using the program in any way to make money. Suddenly software is a business expense and I don't feel professional if I'm using a pirate version of whatever to do up my memo/document/spreadsheet. It doesn't look good, and isn't good for business in the long run. Do the work right in the right way and the business will come. Use bad or stolen tools for your trade is not the mark of a skilled, master craftsman.
If I prefer an editor and my employer doesn't want to pay for it (for example Ultraedit) and I really want to use it at work I will just buy it. I have done this with Ultra Edit and Real Player Plus because the Real Player basic sucks to listen to for 8 hours in a row. I don't like their version per year upgrade push (that pissed me off) so I switched to winamp. I will not use pirated software at work because if my employer ever gets checked out by BSA or friends and finds stuff that is unlicensed or pirated I will get in trouble (ie. lose job). If I have a valid license in my name on my computer that only I use on one computer it suddenly is not so illegal.
Anywhere where I can be shown to have low morals (using pirated whatever) in front of people who I look up to puts me in an awkward position. For example, with my boss at work, senior co-workers, people I'm trying to impress -- looking like a cheap pirate who does this secretly kindof undermines any image I may be trying to build as an upstanding, law abiding, dependable person. Because, lets face it - while piracy may not cost Microsoft or company X anything it does cost society (with the likes of PA, CD-keys,etc), and of course pissed off shareware authors (like several postings on/.) who will no longer contribute unless they get paid. The long term damage to society is on the order of rise in prices, struggling software businesses (Loki, Interplay), and good people who want to make money leaving the business.
I don't feel pressured to pay for software I may use at home now because i can do it in the privacy of my own home, and no one can see. If I had enough people around me looking down on that and giving me a hard time I would probably feel more tempted to give it up. The tragedy of the commons applies a little here as piracy is using common property because copies can't be restricted to the point that the software is worthless and not worth developing or selling (by the producer). The only solution to the piracy side is being able to see who is pirating software and having enough honest users to give the pirates a hard time. When the pirate can't hide his activities from the honest folk and he looks bad he will think seriously about quitting.
If I had no choice but to buy I would have to buy. This is the copy protected future that may yet come to pass (see DMCA, SSSCA (sp?))
After reading some shareware ex-authors' comments on/. I can empathize with the disappointment of 500 downloads of a shareware program, and 10 registrations (at say $10/license) and then finding a crack on the internet. I would be pretty pissed and would probably vow to register every piece of shareware I ever use, and quit writing shareware.
What you people have to realize is that movies and music ARE NOT PART OF YOUR INALIENABLE RIGHTS. Companies can charge WHATEVER THEY WANT for their products
At the same time the studios are more than amply guilty of wanting the same formats to be the basis of their business forever.
Then they see another new opportunity (the internet) that is open and free-for-all by nature, they decide that it would be nice to sell movies over it and proceed to lock it up so tight you can't squeeze a crumby byte through it without protections up the ying-yang.
Maybe they should leave the internet alone, make their movies undigitizable (sue all capture card makers) and revert to BetaMax format and stick with it forever... Want to rent a movie? You have to have a betamax.
They wanted convergence to digital, and got into something they underestimated and are trying to control - but they only own and have rights to a tiny bit of the traffic that flows over the internet. And they certainly don't have my permissions to lock up the internet as tightly as they want to.
They can have their content controls when they pry my open internet connection from my cold dead hands.
Let me put this in a context where this device could be useful (for me).
I walk to work right now because I live 5 blocks from where I work. When I was picking a place to live I wanted a place that:
1. Was not in a crummy area
2. Was walking or a short bike ride from work
3. Did not have to drive to work
Walking is okay, except in winter. Bike riding is okay too, except when I have to dress well for some reason, and I'm in a rush.
This thing solves the problem that: it does 3-4 times walking speed - it replaces the bike. It also can let me dress in work clothes and not arrive at work all sweaty and stuff. I could talk on the cell phone while riding the thing, or even check the time without worrying about falling off.
This device would widen the distance I can live from work without requiring me to get a car, use public transport or have to walk far. And you get to work less sweaty than on a bike.
In my situation, I found I was bored early on in my EE but I stuck with it because nothing else really caught my eye in uni. That and switching to a different major is a pain in the ass. CS or EE are both excellent degrees to earn a living should you ever need to.
In my situation I know that been a 733t c0d3r is not my bag. Computers are a great hobby, but I don't know about a living. I am definately missing something that I didn't see before. I need work that gives me what I need.
First problem: Need to get to know yourself. Figure out what makes you tick, for some its programming (other stuff than they program at work), for others its something completely different (HR, medical sciences, other physical sciences, business). Find and take as many apptitude and vocational inventories as you can find, try volunteering at various places, read books on careers, talk to people, spend time at the library.
For vocational inventories, try: jvis.com or acareertest.com.
Second: Write about what interests you, dream, generate ideas on what might make you happy doing day in day out. This may be the hardest thing you ever have to do, but something you really want to do. It will take a lot of looking, reading, asking yourself and repeating this cycle until you refine your essence - what makes you tick.
Last: Make a plan and start working towards it, get moving -- you got one shot this lifetime at finding what makes you really happy and every hour your employer takes from you in exchange for a few bucks is another hour gone forever from your limited number you have in your life.
Don't wait to find what you love doing, and once you find it (it will take time and lots of effort, consistent, persistent effort - but you will find it) do it well, and do it with all your heart.
Only people who don't like what they are doing retire - those doing what they love never retire.
I believe there is a way to estimate project time, but of course it is a learning process, experience matters and refinement of estimation techniques is the process.
In reading a book called 'Your Money or Your Life' - don't remember the authors (try Amazon) they talked about tracking fincances, and figuring out where the money was going had to be done before being able to plan for savings or doing what you wanted in life rather than letting bills, banks and credit cards run your life. You have to track your money before you can figure out how much it costs to do certain things, and before you can reallocate it to get the best bang for buck.
In reading a book called 'Introduction to the Personal Software Process' but Watts Humphrey he talks about first tracking accurately pretty much every minute in every day, each week and figuring out where the time is going before you can reallocate to important tasks. The major outcome of this is of course putting your time where it matters, and being able to figure out how long certain tasks and projects take based on history.
The lesson is to: watch what you do accurately, categorize and analyze, set your priorities and goals to reflect what you want to accomplish (project, product, whatever), plan and repeat until you know fairly accurately how long specific tasks in each project take, and how long certain projects take.
This way you can work on decreasing production times, work on important tasks first rather than leaving them to 'whenever' and determine where time is being wasted.
I think it is totally possible to estimate project times this way. It can be done if you are willing to put in the due diligence. If not, hey take a guess and multiply it by two -- then make up excuses until its done (way less stressful I'm sure).
To my own end of trying to find a decent player, I tried two... After investigating about 4 different ones.
My requirements were:
- Lots of MP3s, no point in a player that can only handle one CD and then needs a computer connection for more
- Long battery life (ie. >7 hours on one charge)
- Flexible, programmable, configurable (everything from the playlist to the kitchen sink)
- Backlit
- Upgradable firmware
- 2 minutes antiskip memory or better
To that end, I checked out the TDK Mojo, a MiSEL player, the Rio Volt, the AVC Soul and offerings from Philips (the father of the CD).
The TDK mojo had pretty much all the features except for buggy firmware - that could not be upgraded. Nice LCD display, good battery life.
The MiSEL is not really available in any quantities in North American yet.
The AVC is the company that makes player for Rio-Sonicblue (Volt) and iRiver. iRiver (Korea) designed the player, and it is built by AVC who also gets to sell some under its own name. The Volt is most similar to the iRiver IMP-100 (not available in North America). The nice thing is that iRiver firmware AND Sonicblue firmware will both work in the player - and it is backwards upgradable.
I settled on the Volt after trying it out for about 3 hours and here is why:
- Nice backlight that is configurable (hello Indiglo), can be set to off, a few seconds or on all the time
- Batteries last and last (7-10 hours typical on a fresh pair)
- Good sound quality
- Lots of firmware of different kinds and features around
- Does CDR, CDRW, 74, 80 minute
- Handles MP3 (CBR, VBR) (22050 - 44100 hz, mono and stereo, bitrates up to 320kBps)
- Handles Windows Media files (non-secure only)
- Tons of configuration - hold down the EQ button and you get a huge menu tree that lets you configure scrolling speeds, directory navigation features, playlists)
- Does M3U playlist files
- ID3 tag or file name selection for display
- Count down or count up on song timer
- Saving playlists for up to 10 CDs and remembers them when different CDs are inserted
- Resume remembers between up to 10 cds which song and how far through the song you were in
- Spins down the CD after reading music for 3 minutes ahead.
Downsides:
- Even with 2 minutes anti-skip you can't take it jogging. Even with walking - if its in your pocket - it will stop after 2 minutes
- Rayovac recharagable alkalines have to be 5 charges or else they don't have the juice to power it (1 hour typical on an old pair)
Conclusion:
- For a player that costs a bit of money (~150US, 300CAN) it has a hell of a lot of features. And its upgradable
After working with Oracle for some time, and getting tired of having to kill -9 the old jre.exe more than once a day...
Oracle is powered by Java (Sun). I don't know what kind of licensing scheme is used between Oracle and Sun, but I am sure that Sun will profit of Ellison gets his way (more licenses ==> more yachts)
I think we will see retaliation (returns, more lawsuits, hopefully a class action). Just watch and wait.
The problem is that although this hits most of us Slashdotters - we are ignoring the effect on the majority out there that may not be as computer literate as us. The people that buy CDs, listen to them on computers and got a burner last christmas so they can make mix cds. They will no longer be able to.
The music houses are doing this because CD sales fell 5%! I think they will get at least 5% returns from pissed off consumers if they convert everything to copy protect CDs.
More troubling is that Vivendi Universal is converting ALL of their music released on CD to protected formats.
It is just a matter of time before everything you buy will not play on computers. You will have to rip a disc using the line-in on your soundcard from a regular CD player, break up the tracks and then MP3 them. It won't stop trading, it will slow it down.
I think what might turn this around is... If at least one large music publisher converts all their offerings to CD protection - suddenly that may affect a lot of people (who listen to music on computers) and the number of returns (lost sales) may sky rocket. Consumers may get upset and this will probably cause CD sales in total to tumble maybe an additional 5% or so. Remember that Vivendi et al. are upset because the market dropped 5% over the last year.
I can also see at least one lawsuit (perhaps class action) if they piss off enough people. And if they convert all their offerings - they will piss off a lot of people. Sign me up for the class action when it happens.
It is also worth noting that many people who don't read slashdot have cd burners now - even those not computer literate. This will surely piss them off too. Not to mention that the question "Why can't I make a mix cd from cds I bought?" will come up VERY often, and be difficult to answer.
There will be backlash if a critical mass of CDs are copy-protected. I'm really interested to see the fallout. Remember, the consumer is king... And this sort of copy protection is definately "pissing on the king's cornflakes".
The hydrogen can be generated (as the article says) locally. Since hydrogen tends to leave any container because its molecules are so small... storing it doesn't make sense for any length of time.
If hydrogen is generated locally (by stripping hydrogen from say methanol, ethanol, or gasoline) and feed directly into the cell, all the hydrogen storage you have to worry about is your little buffer between the hydrogen generator and the fuel cell (likely a very short tube).
No need to store large amounts of a gas that just won't stay in any container.
My fear is that is Disney, Microsoft et al. have their way the internet will be molded into just another distribution medium for their wares so that they can have a nice cornered, predictable, stable, controlable market... Just like... Ummm TELEVISION.
The Internet gives me so much freedom, not just to participate (something TV does not do) but to disagree, bitch and then setup up my own opinion. Something you can't do on TV.
We have to keep the internet free of overbearing commercial interests, and leave it to the grass roots.
Ummm... I woke up around 8am (MST) and heard on the radio about the first plane having crashed into the WTC tower. I went to the computer (I don't watch TV) - tried to dial up ABCNEWS.COM -- nothing, tried MSNBC.COM -- nothing, CBC -- Nothing, slashdot -- finally something. I tried ABCNEWS and MSNBC from work at 9 and 10 am still nothing.
I don't think I actually could get onto either of ABCNEW or MSNBC until around noon MST.
I got the most useful information from a couple of mirror sites people set up and posted URLs on slashdot.
This might be important in a while - not right now... But
The SSSCA seeks to limit our copying and mirroring of copyrighted content. It would have been impossible to mirror news and events (pictures, view, text) from content owners such as ABCNEWS.COM (Disney) and MSNBC.COM (Microsoft) today if all hardware was locked down.
Seeing as these content owners (ABCNEWS.COM) were not able to keep the information flowing, shouldn't content controls be easily circumventable in times of crisis? Isn't the fact that all these news sites were down testiment to the fact that the SSSCA is a bad idea? Where would we be without individuals mirroring and copying information when the major news portals were down?
I obtained a lot of my info from mirrors today - not the major sites. Thank goodness for the individuals who mirrored information from the major news sites. I hope that in a few years time they will be able to do the same should another trajedy like this occur.
Slashdot Mirror
And I quote from the first link:
... We will therefore create our own branch called kroupware_branch in the modules kdelibs, kdebase, kdenetwork and kdepim. We aim to retrofit the changes on this branch as timely as possible back into the HEAD branch; this will happen in close collaboration with the maintainers of the affected projects, and following the KDE release cycle. ..."
"
All the development they do will be integrated into the main KDE branches after the fact, since they have to fast track this project.
The intend to integrate all the development they do into KDE eventually - not the contracting company, but they obviously will make their code available to the KDE open source developers (probably everyone).
The potential further exists for oppressive governments to use the revocation feature to censor what we see and hear. In this Orwellian scenario it would be possible to erase from the collective consciousness striking images of the lone student facing down a tank in Tiananmen Square ...
.NET servers.
.NET servers like hotcakes? Maybe in communist China. With enough bad press I think a lot of companies will think twice about buying server software from microsoft. Oh right... we don't have much choice.
But instead of censoring, he says, Microsoft's aim is more mundane - simply to use the free player to sell more
I suppose that being able to censor anything on people's computers will sell
So what do new Windows versions have to offer me? More restrictions, more limitations, more tracking of my viewing/usage habits, a direct interface with the "copyright clearing house" to check every time I go to play an MP3 if I actually have 'rights' to play it.
I stopped "upgrading" at windows 2000. I suggest you do too.
mike
I didn't take any courses from this prof, but some of my friends in school did.
What he is doing is kindof neat... He wants to equip poor villages (in places like Nepal) with electric lighting that better utilizes the minimal generating capacity they have.
I know you can get white LEDs as replacements for flashlights that will increase the battery life approximately 20x. For those Petzl headlamps a standard Duracell battery will give you about 6H of light with a standard bulb, but is rated at 100H with a superbright LED. And as far as I know the superbright gives you equivalent illumination - just at higher efficiency.
When I was in Nepal a few years ago, most rural villages would have power (all from hydroelectric) but it was unpredictable and unreliable. Also the generators were small and there were limits on how many bulbs each place could have. Replacing regular bulbs with white leds would save power - and make battery backups realistic.
Thats one way out of the dark.
m
Been using it for 2 weeks now.
Boy is life good without tons of popups.
And my firewall hasn't busted Kazaa Lite doing anything funky either.
Low popups, low funk, all good.
yummy.
When congress and senate just listen to big business ... well thats sad. I keep having these dreams where law makers will listen to the people whose votes they need to get in. Why does it seem like they just don't hear us and don't want to? Thats just dirty, underhanded and shifty.
If they were working for me I'd fire them.
We vote these idiots in and then can't fire them when they turn their backs on us. We vote them in, we should be able to vote them out.
Isn't that the grander problem: How to put pressure on politicians so they will do their damn jobs they already get paid for and ignore lobbyists. How do we put fire in their belly's? That feeling like - OH MY GOD I'm gonna lose my job if I don't listen to voters.
I'd like them to feel that for a change.
Greedy bastards.
Remember, you are dealing with organizations and companies that only care about increasing revenues
And they have the ability and method and option of going after the government to force consumers to help them make more revenues and profits.
Thats what scares the crap out of me.
Government and lawmakers for hire.
yeesh
I live in Canada.
Even though the US isn't my country, this bill would sure as heck have a negative impact on me (as Canada tends to follow the US in many ways).
What can I do to let US lawmakers know that this would impact me negatively even though I do not live in the US? (Both in personal, and professional ways)
Practically all computer hardware has it's biggest market in the US and of course even if Canada did not pass a similar bill you can bet practically 90% of the hardware would be compliant with the requirements of this bill.
Its too bad the article doesn't speak to you.
I see this article written with a dark sort of humor which perhaps outweighed any objectivity Marty might have displayed.
I disagree with it being a waste of time. Katz tends to dwell on stuff like this (see his "Voices from the Hellmouth" series) regularly and this is a typical offering.
The only value I see here is the minority view of cheerleading being only of value to the sports oriented crowed in high school. Cheerleading being an overly celebrated group that really doesn't do anything to contribute to society other than give jocks some short skirts to chase after.
Sports hero worship was never my thing, and hence I don't see any value in cheerleading either.
I thought Marty's article might have been a little scathing and poorly written but his view point was valid. The article is definately not garbage.
The article was junk, basically just a diatribe and an illustration that Marty has some major issues to work out.
Yes, but it is not an uncommon attitude to any of those who always wanted to belong to any group of people and weren't allowed to (because of looks, family, smarts rather than looks). Doesn't this ring true wish a good percentage of the slashdot crowd?
I think that just because he expressed his view - angst perhaps, but with an underlying reason - he shouldn't be condemned.
Ever read any of Katz's "Hellmouth" series on the exclusion and ridicule of anyone deemed slightly different by the average high schooler's standards?
The smoothing over and avoidance of this by the mainstream media is a result of commercialization / homogenization - not wanting to rock the boat - is a problem.
The guy has a point.
m
I remember when aD was first appearing in the /. news. It really looked like a cool place: Lots of motivated, educated, driven people who had a new concept and it looked like although they expected a lot from employees they also seemed to give employees some fun stuff in return.
/. that seem to say that VCs are bad if you actually care about your business and you don't want to see it become a cash cow and likely crater or become some monster you don't recognize.
The teaching concept and also the mass of online material available to anyone for their learning pleasure was also mind blowing.
Definately a cool idea that I think would have best matured slowly on its own without outside help.
As for outside MBAs for management, hire them so you can fire them if need be. Once you give up control both equity-wise and management-wise to someone who does not share the same ideas and dreams as you you're pretty much their pet.
As for VCs I've read numerous articles, some story postings on
I still think the ideas that Philip and Eve based much of the company on were good and sound, I'd use them in my own business - but I would hold back on growth and stay away from VC or any capital injection that would dilute my shares to less than 50.1% of voting stock. If you can't grow your business organically and keep hold of it - whats the value? Taking over the world with VCs at the helm? Slow and steady, one step at a time thats how you build something of lasting value.
A bit of a depressing story overall.
m
I pay for shareware software licenses when:
/.) who will no longer contribute unless they get paid. The long term damage to society is on the order of rise in prices, struggling software businesses (Loki, Interplay), and good people who want to make money leaving the business.
/. I can empathize with the disappointment of 500 downloads of a shareware program, and 10 registrations (at say $10/license) and then finding a crack on the internet. I would be pretty pissed and would probably vow to register every piece of shareware I ever use, and quit writing shareware.
- There is business exposure
- It can put my employer at risk
- A lot of people are watching
I don't when:
- I won't be busted or caught
I will pay all the time when:
- I have no choice
- Other people can see and will give me a hard time (social pressure)
- I've personally been stung by piracy enough to give a damn
Business exposure is simply if I'm using the program in any way to make money. Suddenly software is a business expense and I don't feel professional if I'm using a pirate version of whatever to do up my memo/document/spreadsheet. It doesn't look good, and isn't good for business in the long run. Do the work right in the right way and the business will come. Use bad or stolen tools for your trade is not the mark of a skilled, master craftsman.
If I prefer an editor and my employer doesn't want to pay for it (for example Ultraedit) and I really want to use it at work I will just buy it. I have done this with Ultra Edit and Real Player Plus because the Real Player basic sucks to listen to for 8 hours in a row. I don't like their version per year upgrade push (that pissed me off) so I switched to winamp. I will not use pirated software at work because if my employer ever gets checked out by BSA or friends and finds stuff that is unlicensed or pirated I will get in trouble (ie. lose job). If I have a valid license in my name on my computer that only I use on one computer it suddenly is not so illegal.
Anywhere where I can be shown to have low morals (using pirated whatever) in front of people who I look up to puts me in an awkward position. For example, with my boss at work, senior co-workers, people I'm trying to impress -- looking like a cheap pirate who does this secretly kindof undermines any image I may be trying to build as an upstanding, law abiding, dependable person. Because, lets face it - while piracy may not cost Microsoft or company X anything it does cost society (with the likes of PA, CD-keys,etc), and of course pissed off shareware authors (like several postings on
I don't feel pressured to pay for software I may use at home now because i can do it in the privacy of my own home, and no one can see. If I had enough people around me looking down on that and giving me a hard time I would probably feel more tempted to give it up. The tragedy of the commons applies a little here as piracy is using common property because copies can't be restricted to the point that the software is worthless and not worth developing or selling (by the producer). The only solution to the piracy side is being able to see who is pirating software and having enough honest users to give the pirates a hard time. When the pirate can't hide his activities from the honest folk and he looks bad he will think seriously about quitting.
If I had no choice but to buy I would have to buy. This is the copy protected future that may yet come to pass (see DMCA, SSSCA (sp?))
After reading some shareware ex-authors' comments on
my comments of course are GPL.
m
Larry Ellison won't be going any time soon.
What you people have to realize is that movies and music ARE NOT PART OF YOUR INALIENABLE RIGHTS. Companies can charge WHATEVER THEY WANT for their products
At the same time the studios are more than amply guilty of wanting the same formats to be the basis of their business forever.
Then they see another new opportunity (the internet) that is open and free-for-all by nature, they decide that it would be nice to sell movies over it and proceed to lock it up so tight you can't squeeze a crumby byte through it without protections up the ying-yang.
Maybe they should leave the internet alone, make their movies undigitizable (sue all capture card makers) and revert to BetaMax format and stick with it forever... Want to rent a movie? You have to have a betamax.
They wanted convergence to digital, and got into something they underestimated and are trying to control - but they only own and have rights to a tiny bit of the traffic that flows over the internet. And they certainly don't have my permissions to lock up the internet as tightly as they want to.
They can have their content controls when they pry my open internet connection from my cold dead hands.
m
The guys over at kuro5hin?
I bet they have some warm stories they'd like to share. Just watch the raw wounds and you should be ok.
m
Let me put this in a context where this device could be useful (for me).
I walk to work right now because I live 5 blocks from where I work. When I was picking a place to live I wanted a place that:
1. Was not in a crummy area
2. Was walking or a short bike ride from work
3. Did not have to drive to work
Walking is okay, except in winter. Bike riding is okay too, except when I have to dress well for some reason, and I'm in a rush.
This thing solves the problem that: it does 3-4 times walking speed - it replaces the bike. It also can let me dress in work clothes and not arrive at work all sweaty and stuff. I could talk on the cell phone while riding the thing, or even check the time without worrying about falling off.
This device would widen the distance I can live from work without requiring me to get a car, use public transport or have to walk far. And you get to work less sweaty than on a bike.
Cool. I'd buy one.
In my situation, I found I was bored early on in my EE but I stuck with it because nothing else really caught my eye in uni. That and switching to a different major is a pain in the ass. CS or EE are both excellent degrees to earn a living should you ever need to.
In my situation I know that been a 733t c0d3r is not my bag. Computers are a great hobby, but I don't know about a living. I am definately missing something that I didn't see before. I need work that gives me what I need.
First problem: Need to get to know yourself. Figure out what makes you tick, for some its programming (other stuff than they program at work), for others its something completely different (HR, medical sciences, other physical sciences, business). Find and take as many apptitude and vocational inventories as you can find, try volunteering at various places, read books on careers, talk to people, spend time at the library.
For vocational inventories, try: jvis.com or acareertest.com.
Second: Write about what interests you, dream, generate ideas on what might make you happy doing day in day out. This may be the hardest thing you ever have to do, but something you really want to do. It will take a lot of looking, reading, asking yourself and repeating this cycle until you refine your essence - what makes you tick.
Last: Make a plan and start working towards it, get moving -- you got one shot this lifetime at finding what makes you really happy and every hour your employer takes from you in exchange for a few bucks is another hour gone forever from your limited number you have in your life.
Don't wait to find what you love doing, and once you find it (it will take time and lots of effort, consistent, persistent effort - but you will find it) do it well, and do it with all your heart.
Only people who don't like what they are doing retire - those doing what they love never retire.
m
I believe there is a way to estimate project time, but of course it is a learning process, experience matters and refinement of estimation techniques is the process.
In reading a book called 'Your Money or Your Life' - don't remember the authors (try Amazon) they talked about tracking fincances, and figuring out where the money was going had to be done before being able to plan for savings or doing what you wanted in life rather than letting bills, banks and credit cards run your life. You have to track your money before you can figure out how much it costs to do certain things, and before you can reallocate it to get the best bang for buck.
In reading a book called 'Introduction to the Personal Software Process' but Watts Humphrey he talks about first tracking accurately pretty much every minute in every day, each week and figuring out where the time is going before you can reallocate to important tasks. The major outcome of this is of course putting your time where it matters, and being able to figure out how long certain tasks and projects take based on history.
The lesson is to: watch what you do accurately, categorize and analyze, set your priorities and goals to reflect what you want to accomplish (project, product, whatever), plan and repeat until you know fairly accurately how long specific tasks in each project take, and how long certain projects take.
This way you can work on decreasing production times, work on important tasks first rather than leaving them to 'whenever' and determine where time is being wasted.
I think it is totally possible to estimate project times this way. It can be done if you are willing to put in the due diligence. If not, hey take a guess and multiply it by two -- then make up excuses until its done (way less stressful I'm sure).
m
To my own end of trying to find a decent player, I tried two... After investigating about 4 different ones.
My requirements were:
- Lots of MP3s, no point in a player that can only handle one CD and then needs a computer connection for more
- Long battery life (ie. >7 hours on one charge)
- Flexible, programmable, configurable (everything from the playlist to the kitchen sink)
- Backlit
- Upgradable firmware
- 2 minutes antiskip memory or better
To that end, I checked out the TDK Mojo, a MiSEL player, the Rio Volt, the AVC Soul and offerings from Philips (the father of the CD).
The TDK mojo had pretty much all the features except for buggy firmware - that could not be upgraded. Nice LCD display, good battery life.
The MiSEL is not really available in any quantities in North American yet.
The AVC is the company that makes player for Rio-Sonicblue (Volt) and iRiver. iRiver (Korea) designed the player, and it is built by AVC who also gets to sell some under its own name. The Volt is most similar to the iRiver IMP-100 (not available in North America). The nice thing is that iRiver firmware AND Sonicblue firmware will both work in the player - and it is backwards upgradable.
I settled on the Volt after trying it out for about 3 hours and here is why:
- Nice backlight that is configurable (hello Indiglo), can be set to off, a few seconds or on all the time
- Batteries last and last (7-10 hours typical on a fresh pair)
- Good sound quality
- Lots of firmware of different kinds and features around
- Does CDR, CDRW, 74, 80 minute
- Handles MP3 (CBR, VBR) (22050 - 44100 hz, mono and stereo, bitrates up to 320kBps)
- Handles Windows Media files (non-secure only)
- Tons of configuration - hold down the EQ button and you get a huge menu tree that lets you configure scrolling speeds, directory navigation features, playlists)
- Does M3U playlist files
- ID3 tag or file name selection for display
- Count down or count up on song timer
- Saving playlists for up to 10 CDs and remembers them when different CDs are inserted
- Resume remembers between up to 10 cds which song and how far through the song you were in
- Spins down the CD after reading music for 3 minutes ahead.
Downsides:
- Even with 2 minutes anti-skip you can't take it jogging. Even with walking - if its in your pocket - it will stop after 2 minutes
- Rayovac recharagable alkalines have to be 5 charges or else they don't have the juice to power it (1 hour typical on an old pair)
Conclusion:
- For a player that costs a bit of money (~150US, 300CAN) it has a hell of a lot of features. And its upgradable
After working with Oracle for some time, and getting tired of having to kill -9 the old jre.exe more than once a day...
Oracle is powered by Java (Sun). I don't know what kind of licensing scheme is used between Oracle and Sun, but I am sure that Sun will profit of Ellison gets his way (more licenses ==> more yachts)
I think we will see retaliation (returns, more lawsuits, hopefully a class action). Just watch and wait.
The problem is that although this hits most of us Slashdotters - we are ignoring the effect on the majority out there that may not be as computer literate as us. The people that buy CDs, listen to them on computers and got a burner last christmas so they can make mix cds. They will no longer be able to.
The music houses are doing this because CD sales fell 5%! I think they will get at least 5% returns from pissed off consumers if they convert everything to copy protect CDs.
More troubling is that Vivendi Universal is converting ALL of their music released on CD to protected formats.
It is just a matter of time before everything you buy will not play on computers. You will have to rip a disc using the line-in on your soundcard from a regular CD player, break up the tracks and then MP3 them. It won't stop trading, it will slow it down.
I think what might turn this around is... If at least one large music publisher converts all their offerings to CD protection - suddenly that may affect a lot of people (who listen to music on computers) and the number of returns (lost sales) may sky rocket. Consumers may get upset and this will probably cause CD sales in total to tumble maybe an additional 5% or so. Remember that Vivendi et al. are upset because the market dropped 5% over the last year.
I can also see at least one lawsuit (perhaps class action) if they piss off enough people. And if they convert all their offerings - they will piss off a lot of people. Sign me up for the class action when it happens.
It is also worth noting that many people who don't read slashdot have cd burners now - even those not computer literate. This will surely piss them off too. Not to mention that the question "Why can't I make a mix cd from cds I bought?" will come up VERY often, and be difficult to answer.
There will be backlash if a critical mass of CDs are copy-protected. I'm really interested to see the fallout. Remember, the consumer is king... And this sort of copy protection is definately "pissing on the king's cornflakes".
The hydrogen can be generated (as the article says) locally. Since hydrogen tends to leave any container because its molecules are so small... storing it doesn't make sense for any length of time.
If hydrogen is generated locally (by stripping hydrogen from say methanol, ethanol, or gasoline) and feed directly into the cell, all the hydrogen storage you have to worry about is your little buffer between the hydrogen generator and the fuel cell (likely a very short tube).
No need to store large amounts of a gas that just won't stay in any container.
My fear is that is Disney, Microsoft et al. have their way the internet will be molded into just another distribution medium for their wares so that they can have a nice cornered, predictable, stable, controlable market... Just like... Ummm TELEVISION.
The Internet gives me so much freedom, not just to participate (something TV does not do) but to disagree, bitch and then setup up my own opinion. Something you can't do on TV.
We have to keep the internet free of overbearing commercial interests, and leave it to the grass roots.
just my 0.02
Ummm... I woke up around 8am (MST) and heard on the radio about the first plane having crashed into the WTC tower. I went to the computer (I don't watch TV) - tried to dial up ABCNEWS.COM -- nothing, tried MSNBC.COM -- nothing, CBC -- Nothing, slashdot -- finally something. I tried ABCNEWS and MSNBC from work at 9 and 10 am still nothing.
I don't think I actually could get onto either of ABCNEW or MSNBC until around noon MST.
I got the most useful information from a couple of mirror sites people set up and posted URLs on slashdot.
This might be important in a while - not right now... But
The SSSCA seeks to limit our copying and mirroring of copyrighted content. It would have been impossible to mirror news and events (pictures, view, text) from content owners such as ABCNEWS.COM (Disney) and MSNBC.COM (Microsoft) today if all hardware was locked down.
Seeing as these content owners (ABCNEWS.COM) were not able to keep the information flowing, shouldn't content controls be easily circumventable in times of crisis? Isn't the fact that all these news sites were down testiment to the fact that the SSSCA is a bad idea? Where would we be without individuals mirroring and copying information when the major news portals were down?
I obtained a lot of my info from mirrors today - not the major sites. Thank goodness for the individuals who mirrored information from the major news sites. I hope that in a few years time they will be able to do the same should another trajedy like this occur.