there is nothing about flash (the format) that is all that bad. sure the implementation could be a LOT better, including the plugin, but I think for what it is and considering how long it has been around, its not all bad. Until now, there hasn't been an equivalent on the web, at least not with the same market share. Up until recently, if you wrote a website using flash, you could deliver a rich multimedia experience to a very wide audience. What other choices did you have? not all websites are just about information and plain text.
I think flash is now reaching end of life, sure, but I also think it has served a purpose, while we wait for web standards to catch up and fully support rich content online.
One day the web will be an extension of what our desktops can already do...but that day is still a way off...and no HTML5 isn't going to fix this overnight.
How many people use GMail? GMail (and all other google services) represent cloud computing and how attractive it can be.
The ability to access ALL your email no matter where you are is pretty empowering. No need to do backups (although its still a good idea). Accessible with the same interface and settings no matter which PC you log in on, and no matter where you go.
I think non-geeks will be very interested in this.
hey look, I'm a software engineer and yes I fix my family and friends computers for free (because i'm nice and I care about them). but I understand both sides of the issue.
My point was that we can moan about clueless users when the other side to the story is that it is the IT "professionals" that are responsible for the problem in one way or another, either by flawed software or by writing viruses.
A certain level of education would help, but we cannot expect the public to gain an interest in computers like we have.
iphone users wont be annoyed that they cannot use flash, they'll just be annoyed that some (many?) websites wont work.
They will still be annoyed (my wife gets pretty frustrated with it), but SJ knew that he would win because most apple users are not technical enough to realise why these sites don't work and blame it on the lack of flash. Most users probably don't even know what flash is.
To pretend that the banning of flash was anything other than SJ sticking it to adobe in a "mine's bigger than yours" kind of way, is just naive and clueless.
well you can whine all you like about how bad flash is...but the fact still remains. At the end of the day it is the difference between accessing/reading the site, and not. And when you're out, and you really want to look up that business...flash support on your mobile can be a critical feature.
I had such a moment the other day. This isn't about my phone better than your phone or anything like that - its about where 1 person can make a decision that negatively impacts on millions of people, vs allowing the millions of people to make that decision themselves, and that is an issue that goes well beyond phones.
TFA pointed it out. I decided quite some time ago I'm just going to keep using my dumb phone; It's just smart enough to make calls, take calls, text, email, and access a limited internet.
I don't want a third party screwing around with MY property, thanks.
so let me get this straight.
1. you would have apps, but only if the rogue apps get free reign on your phone.
2. or if you cant have that, then you dont want any apps at all?
How is #2 not just the worst-case result of #1? Your own policy is therefore much worse than the third party...
I always reckon the best method is to let kids know that everything they do online is being monitored. Then if you find something you're not happy with them doing, you'll have an opportunity to discuss it and educate them on why its wrong or why you're not happy with it. It forces the child to take more responsibility for their own actions, and also the way you deal with any issues can increase the level of trust both ways.
being a parent is about giving your child the best head start in life that they can get, until its time for them to become independent and make their own way in life. leaving them to their own devices is not helping them in any way IMHO.
hey buddy - it was a continuation of the joke. all in fun...until you came along.
My samsung galaxy s lasts about 3-4 days on a single charge. Yes there are a few Android phones with poor battery life, just like older iphones didn't fare so well.
There are also phones like mine which I believe will outlast the iphone4 on a single charge.
but all of this is irrelevant...there was a joke, and then a big whoosh.
exactly. people WILL use it and they may find it improves their lives by helping them connect with others online and without needing to worry about mundain IT things like backups, configuration etc.
The world isn't full of IT people...and we should stop thinking these devices are being made for "us".
I believe the people you refer to are those who "have a life". Sure, people who dont know how to use computers well may be more likely to get viruses etc, but is it really their fault - considering it was computer geeks who originally wrote the buggy software...and other computer geeks writing the malware...??
If you think shutting ourselves up in a cave is the way forward for humankind in the modern tech era, then good for you.
Whilst I do mostly agree...there's also a part of me that is trying to be realistic.
The great thing about open source is that everyone has the code so bugs are found quicker.
The not so great thing is trying to find someone to fix them.
Then there's another layer of pain with android because if the manufacturers and carriers take 6 months to release an update, do you really think they'll fix these flaws? Google really should've stuck to the Windows model, requiring a standard android base so that updates could come directly from google, much like windows updates come from microsoft.
his point was that just because coverity finds bugs doesn't mean the bugs are automatically critical and representing actual useful security flaws.
they _may_ be, but we'll need to wait for the full report to know...so this is just a 'hype' headline for now...you know...like we've seen every few days since android was first released.
got proof? kubuntu is working just fine for me. openSUSE didn't fair so well though which is odd because it is often said to be "the" kde distro.
As far as I know fedora dont really make any changes to kde so you get a vanilla kde (the best sort).
Kubuntu shares a similar view, however they add their own userspace apps to help with certain tasks. I was never a (k)ubuntu fan but I cant argue with a system that "just works".
I dont have any friends and I live in a cave. no one knows who I am or where I live. I live on the slugs on the cave floor and drink water that trickles in the cave entrance when it rains.
I'm so glad my privacy is protected. All those people on facebook must live such horrible lives...
or the fact that the market is growing, and not as many new devices are getting IE. The market share drop does not necessarily mean people are ditching IE8. The number of IE8 users could in fact still be growing...who knows?
Slashdot Mirror
there is nothing about flash (the format) that is all that bad. sure the implementation could be a LOT better, including the plugin, but I think for what it is and considering how long it has been around, its not all bad. Until now, there hasn't been an equivalent on the web, at least not with the same market share. Up until recently, if you wrote a website using flash, you could deliver a rich multimedia experience to a very wide audience. What other choices did you have? not all websites are just about information and plain text.
I think flash is now reaching end of life, sure, but I also think it has served a purpose, while we wait for web standards to catch up and fully support rich content online.
One day the web will be an extension of what our desktops can already do...but that day is still a way off...and no HTML5 isn't going to fix this overnight.
does it get hard to walk with your knickers in such a twist?
you just got your nose out of joint because someone said something you didn't like or agree with.
suck it up princess.
do you really think so?
How many people use GMail? GMail (and all other google services) represent cloud computing and how attractive it can be.
The ability to access ALL your email no matter where you are is pretty empowering. No need to do backups (although its still a good idea). Accessible with the same interface and settings no matter which PC you log in on, and no matter where you go.
I think non-geeks will be very interested in this.
hey look, I'm a software engineer and yes I fix my family and friends computers for free (because i'm nice and I care about them). but I understand both sides of the issue.
My point was that we can moan about clueless users when the other side to the story is that it is the IT "professionals" that are responsible for the problem in one way or another, either by flawed software or by writing viruses.
A certain level of education would help, but we cannot expect the public to gain an interest in computers like we have.
I do agree with you, however, reality being what it is, its just unlikely to happen.
expecting it to happen is therefore foolish.
that's my opinion anyway. we must work with what we have...
iphone users wont be annoyed that they cannot use flash, they'll just be annoyed that some (many?) websites wont work.
They will still be annoyed (my wife gets pretty frustrated with it), but SJ knew that he would win because most apple users are not technical enough to realise why these sites don't work and blame it on the lack of flash. Most users probably don't even know what flash is.
To pretend that the banning of flash was anything other than SJ sticking it to adobe in a "mine's bigger than yours" kind of way, is just naive and clueless.
well you can whine all you like about how bad flash is...but the fact still remains. At the end of the day it is the difference between accessing/reading the site, and not. And when you're out, and you really want to look up that business...flash support on your mobile can be a critical feature.
I had such a moment the other day. This isn't about my phone better than your phone or anything like that - its about where 1 person can make a decision that negatively impacts on millions of people, vs allowing the millions of people to make that decision themselves, and that is an issue that goes well beyond phones.
ALL of them?
yes.
--Frederick.
what kind of flawed logic is that? or maybe you're smoking something.
Some may argue (and with reasons) that both are the "bad guys"...
but seriously the only reason Apple hasn't used it is because they've banned 90% of the apps submitted anyway.
Lets talk in terms of total apps "rejected" vs "approved" and then we'll see who the "bad guys" are...
TFA pointed it out. I decided quite some time ago I'm just going to keep using my dumb phone; It's just smart enough to make calls, take calls, text, email, and access a limited internet.
I don't want a third party screwing around with MY property, thanks.
so let me get this straight.
1. you would have apps, but only if the rogue apps get free reign on your phone.
2. or if you cant have that, then you dont want any apps at all?
How is #2 not just the worst-case result of #1? Your own policy is therefore much worse than the third party...
you lost your privacy?
hmm, have you tried searching on google?
Maybe you're not a parent.?...but anyway...
I always reckon the best method is to let kids know that everything they do online is being monitored. Then if you find something you're not happy with them doing, you'll have an opportunity to discuss it and educate them on why its wrong or why you're not happy with it. It forces the child to take more responsibility for their own actions, and also the way you deal with any issues can increase the level of trust both ways.
being a parent is about giving your child the best head start in life that they can get, until its time for them to become independent and make their own way in life. leaving them to their own devices is not helping them in any way IMHO.
hey buddy - it was a continuation of the joke. all in fun...until you came along.
My samsung galaxy s lasts about 3-4 days on a single charge. Yes there are a few Android phones with poor battery life, just like older iphones didn't fare so well.
There are also phones like mine which I believe will outlast the iphone4 on a single charge.
but all of this is irrelevant...there was a joke, and then a big whoosh.
exactly. people WILL use it and they may find it improves their lives by helping them connect with others online and without needing to worry about mundain IT things like backups, configuration etc.
The world isn't full of IT people...and we should stop thinking these devices are being made for "us".
This is going to go straight for Microsoft's jugular.
Apple has pretty well innoculated themselves with a strong tablet (touch) and ultralight notebook (full OS) offerings.
If this comes with net access it will pretty much eat up the remaining netbook fervor.
hmmm lets see...Google? yeah I reckon it'll come with net access.
I believe the people you refer to are those who "have a life". Sure, people who dont know how to use computers well may be more likely to get viruses etc, but is it really their fault - considering it was computer geeks who originally wrote the buggy software...and other computer geeks writing the malware...??
If you think shutting ourselves up in a cave is the way forward for humankind in the modern tech era, then good for you.
you might be surprised to learn that keeping these things private online is much the same as keeping them private offline.
the problem is that people seem to be more free with their private details online than offline, maybe due to some flawed feeling of anonymity?
Whilst I do mostly agree...there's also a part of me that is trying to be realistic.
The great thing about open source is that everyone has the code so bugs are found quicker.
The not so great thing is trying to find someone to fix them.
Then there's another layer of pain with android because if the manufacturers and carriers take 6 months to release an update, do you really think they'll fix these flaws? Google really should've stuck to the Windows model, requiring a standard android base so that updates could come directly from google, much like windows updates come from microsoft.
his point was that just because coverity finds bugs doesn't mean the bugs are automatically critical and representing actual useful security flaws.
they _may_ be, but we'll need to wait for the full report to know...so this is just a 'hype' headline for now...you know...like we've seen every few days since android was first released.
got proof? kubuntu is working just fine for me. openSUSE didn't fair so well though which is odd because it is often said to be "the" kde distro.
As far as I know fedora dont really make any changes to kde so you get a vanilla kde (the best sort).
Kubuntu shares a similar view, however they add their own userspace apps to help with certain tasks. I was never a (k)ubuntu fan but I cant argue with a system that "just works".
yeah i just feel like being controversial today...
so were these livers CREATED? or did they EVOLVE?
Yeah, trick question, but rather than requiring an answer, its just there to make you think...
Privacy is fine for me too.
I dont have any friends and I live in a cave. no one knows who I am or where I live. I live on the slugs on the cave floor and drink water that trickles in the cave entrance when it rains.
I'm so glad my privacy is protected. All those people on facebook must live such horrible lives...
but that's ok, because it beeped to let me know the battery was low, so I replaced it with a spare battery....
they're removable you know...
Too late, my Desire adjusted automatically and woke me. Prior art? :P
you must be new to the patent system...
or the fact that the market is growing, and not as many new devices are getting IE. The market share drop does not necessarily mean people are ditching IE8. The number of IE8 users could in fact still be growing...who knows?