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User: Cyberdeck

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  1. Re:(Title error?) OB Book reference. on Animated Ads in a Subway Near You · · Score: 1

    I'm sure of the author. Title error then?

  2. OB Book reference. on Animated Ads in a Subway Near You · · Score: 1

    IIRC this technology was first proposed in the book _Time_Eenough_for_Love_ by Fred Saberhagen. Does anyone remember when that came out?

    -C

  3. So the requirements list looks like... on Design Hardware/Software for Global Civil Society · · Score: 1

    #ifdef RANT
    So the specs are like this?:

    It has to be so secure that when it's stolen it's not even worth the parts for anyone else but me.
    It has to be easily searchable by law enforcement otherwise they will block the production of said box.
    It has to be so simple to operate that Joe Sixpak can make it work. (He has trouble writing checks, much less balancing the checkbook.)
    It has to have enough flexibility that young Ivan Hackski can make it dance and grow into a potential engineer.
    It has to be cheap to make, to own, and to operate; US$99 to buy, $5 per month max to operate, and many people will want to run with no monthly cost at all.
    Finally, it has to last at least seven years to be taken as a serious product. (Cars and refrigerators last seven years easy, right?)

    #endif

    Nice idea. Good luck.

  4. FYI on Industry-Standard VOIP Phone Using All Free Software · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Just a couple of points I'd like to comment on.
    Open Source VoIP and telephony is tracked at http://www.linuxtelephony.org.


    VoIP hardware (PCI cards) is IIRC $79, gateways are $179, drivers have been in the kernel since (again IIRC) 2.2.16. http://www.quicknet.net.


    VoIP in the U.S. is almost pointless because the PSTN is too good. No one wants near perfect when perfect is cheap and easy. In the third world, if you can get a phone circuit it averages $1.27 per minute, whereas VoIP through a hop-off provider like Net2Phone (http://www.net2phone.com) runs average about $0.23 per minute or less. Straight IP to IP (like across a VPN from company branch to branch) is just the cost of the ISP (usually flat rate). So VoIP cafes are a popular way for the non-super-rich and powerful to make calls to their relatives in the first world.


    Personally, the VoIP calls I have made have an almost imperceptible latency problem and sounded *far* better than any GSM call I have ever heard. Then again, these calls were during business hours so net congestion was not an issue for me.


    The Ogg Vorbis has a low bit rate mode that is useful for VoIP telephony, and is grossly better than GSM to my ear.


    Finally, VoIP is used by the big players here in the US. Qwest and Sprint use VoIP in preference to ATM due to cost of the equipment (Bits per second/price of hardware. IP is more efficient than ATM due to less overhead). Any cross-country call is VoIP nowadays.


    Just my two bits.


    -C

  5. I'll believe it when I see it. on Can Superconductors Block Gravitational Fields? · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Extrordinary claims need extrordinary proof. Build the device and demonstrate that it works. Publish the specs. Have other people who are not associated at all with you build these devices. If they confirm the results then the claim can be made relatively authoritatively.

    If it doesn't happen then that's also fine, it means that a hypothesis was shown to be not an accurate model of how the universe works.

    The method described is science in action, the way it is supposed to work.


    Of course if this does work then they are going to have some surprises when they enable those underground superconductive power cables in, IIRC, downtown Chicago. (Detroit? Somebody help me out here, please?)

    -C

  6. Industry Embedded NAS projects. on Building a NAS Device w/ Embedded OS? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    On the high end there are many of these systems running 20-400 Terabyte arrays using Fibre Channel disk arrays attached to switches running VxWorks, pSOS, or Nucleus available, and I am aware of at least six start-ups doing work on this as well as many major players (Adaptech, Network Appliances, ...).

    The only low-end box I am aware of was available from a company called Promise Technology, called the Connectstore 2. Nobody wanted to buy it so I think they dropped the product line. (P233, 64Mb, 160GB HDD, 10baseT network, embedded Linux, no idea about the price.) Disclaimer: I used to work for Promise when they released it.

    For the low-end stuff it's simply too cheap and easy to get a Wal-mart special, stuff it into the telephone closet, load Linux onto it, connect it up to the LAN, and have cron do what it needs to do. Why pay more for special purpose hardware if the Wal-mart special will do the job?

    I wish you luck on your search!

    -C

  7. My thoughts. on Fair IP Laws? · · Score: 1

    I've always thought there should be three, not two categories:

    Copyright. For artistic works. I'd limit it to 21 years period. Copyright is inalienable: The creator may not lose their right to use their work at any time. Copyright is licensable: They may license there work to anyone under any terms (exclusive too, if they are really that dumb.) but they retain the right to use their work. For electronic or access-controlled works the work MUST be provided to the copyright office in unencrypted format for release upon expiration of the copyright in order to be granted the copyright in the firsat place.

    Patent. For industry. For physical objects and processes that produce physical objects (chemicals are physical objects.) Currently twenty years, I'd leave thatunchanged. Things that occur in nature are not patentable (DNA), but new processes are.

    Software Lock. For virtual "things". Code, API's, virtual processes. Three years max. I would consider running it out of the copyright office until a new branch would be created. A software lock allows exclusive or licensable(sp?) use of the published and registered software or API by the owner or licensor for the period of the lock, Said lock timed from the date of the acknowledgement of the receipt by the Copyright/SL office.

    Under no circumstances may an idea be patented, copyrighted, or SL'd. Only implementations. Examples: Image compression using fractals is an idea and may not be limited. The .iff format may be SL'd. A man in a maze is an idea, Pac-Man may be SL'd. My DNA is unpatentable, but the chemical that fixes an error in my DNA is patentable.

    Trademarks seem to be working OK and I would leave them alone.

    Doubtless there are many holes and counterexamples in my list. If anyone's interested in replying then please post.

    -C

  8. I'll bet Sears will be happy. on Virtual PC for OS/2 released · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I was there last week, and it looked like their package and warehouse tracking system was running OS/2 warp.

  9. I have seen this before. on End of the Free Internet · · Score: 1

    There are a few commercial/retail sites that won't let you in unless you have an account ($10) with them. They refund you the $10 with your first purchase, but you have to be charged first. (www.buttonstaiwan.co.tw I think that's right.) Basically, you have to buy something before they let you see the catalog.

    -C

  10. Re:What has caused this? on Industry Agrees On Next Gen Unified DVD Standard · · Score: 1

    That's easy.

    Here in the U.S. you pay something like $0.23 per minute to receive a call. Everywhere else it is free. Just another example of old-style capitalism in action.

    -C

  11. Complete blackout. on Some People @Home, Some Not @Home · · Score: 1

    Here in the East bay the lines are just dead. I have a good friend who recently signed on when Covad dropped the local service. Now @Home is dead. Back to dial-up.

    -C

  12. One good experience on What Pitfalls Exist When Outsourcing Code? · · Score: 1

    At my current company, we outsourced the task of making a high-level API for our hardware. For what we wanted, this was a good thing - provided you do proper prep work.

    1) Specifications. We wrote the full API spec as complete as we could (lotsa "result is undefined" spots), described exactly what the contractor company was to use in implementing the API (TCP/IP stack, H.323 stack, the following device drivers, ...)

    2) Performance. We included a test app and test cases that the coders could use to check their work. (Mostly ISO spec sheets and tests.)

    3) Payment. 20% down, the balance on completion of the stand-alone code demonstrateably(sp?) performing to the specifications provided.

    We got the first Beta in 6 weeks, and it was *really* close to what we wanted.

    For us this worked because it is a standalone thing we wanted built.

    The only real hassle we had was writing the specs in the first place.

    -C

  13. Just a curious thought... on ACLU Files For Carnivore Info · · Score: 1

    My ISP runs six OC48 lines into it's internal network. They claim the lines are running at about 70% use on average. I'm trying to imagine the size of a box that would handle that load...

    Anyone have any thoughts on this?

    -C

  14. Re:Best messages on Interview: CmdrTaco and Hemos Tell All · · Score: 1

    The question is "What's 'best'?" My best isn't going to be your best. So who decides?

    My opinion is that Hemos et al has the right idea to not even try to open this can of worms.

    -C

  15. What CSS was intended for. on Activist Defends DVD Hack · · Score: 1

    I used to work for Diamond Multimedia in their Hardware DVD decoder department. (They sold well in Brazil) Diamond had the internal documents as to why CSS endcryption and how it was supposed to work. It wasn't a pleasant read.

    What the designers were trying to do with the encryption was to prevent Nation-States from resetting the geographic region key. This was the prime requirement and it came from the US. Department of State. The argument was that there was a "matter of National Interest" in preventing someone from resetting the region key in order to protect distribution. (?) The example was that it should not be possible to cut a wire or disable a single instruction and get unencrypted data into the memory.

    If you read between the lines they were pretty clearly afraid of the following scenario: Fantastic movie is released in the U.S. Makes a fortune in DVD. Is released in zone 2 for Europe and makes a mint. Released in another zone and two people buy it, yet the same movie, poorly dubbed, is the number one seller in those regions. Some national government with access to high-tech and Nobel Laureates cracked the childishly simple older protection schemes and the national government is now engaged in wholesale piracy. A cease and desist order is issued and the response comes back "No. And we are willing to wage war to protect our right to rip you off." State thought that scenario was "likely". And they all but came out and said this in their documents.

    That's where CSS came from. Why it's weak is that consumer item manufacturerers will not pay to implement anything unless they risk going to jail for not doing so. There are thousands of examples of consumer goods out there that would have been grossly superior if the manufacturer had been willing to spend .1 cent more per unit, but didn't.

    I just wanted to set the record straight.

    -C

  16. Re:Can Someone Enlighten Me? on Activist Defends DVD Hack · · Score: 1

    I used to work for Diamond Multimedia in their Hardware DVD decoder department. (They sold well in Brazil) Diamond had the internal documents as to why CSS endcryption and how it was supposed to work. It wasn't a pleasant read. What the designers were trying to do with the encryption was to prevent Nation-States from resetting the geographic region key. This was the prime requirement and it came from the US. Department of State. The argument was that there was a "matter of National Interest" in preventing someone from resetting the region key in order to protect distribution. (?) The example was that it should not be possible to cut a wire or disable a single instruction and get unencrypted data into the memory. If you read between the lines they were pretty clearly afraid of the following scenario: Fantastic movie is released in the U.S. Makes a fortune in DVD. Is released in zone 2 for Europe and makes a mint. Released in another zone and two people buy it, yet the same movie, poorly dubbed, is the number one seller in those regions. Some national government with access to high-tech and Nobel Laureates cracked the childishly simple older protection schemes and the national government is now engaged in wholesale piracy. A cease and desist order is issued and the response comes back "No. And we are willing to wage war to protect our right to rip you off." State thought that scenario was "likely". And they all but came out and said this in their documents. That's where CSS came from. Why it's weak is that consumer item manufacturerers will not pay to implement anything unless they risk going to jail for not doing so. There are thousands of examples of consumer goods out there that would have been grossly superior if the manufacturer had been willing to spend .1 cent more per unit, but didn't. I just wanted to set the record straight. -C

  17. Re:Doesn't work on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    How did you get into indication of interest it isn't open for red hat yet? Please respond. cyberdeck@home.com.

  18. Re:I just called Etrade. on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    Don't have an account with them. They were first to start discout broker wave, but cost more to trade. If trading actively you need ticker or streamer. If daytrading need nasdaq level 2. If just investing use datek they are cheap 9.99 and have streamer and they are owner and built their own ecn which bypasses market makers mostly. You want to make money over time steadily, buy good companies. You want to add element of chance buy small caps with a portion of the money you have to
    invest and strong companies with the rest. Take money that is set aside each month and buy a few stocks, over time you will make money. To learn go to clearstation it's free, and you will learn and have traders who recommend and info on as many
    stocks as you want to follow. Mention my name, no benefit except brownie points,cyberdeck@home.com. Remember to check any info at at least two separate sources or more.

    Good Luck

  19. Re:Hmmm on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    Write a buy program. Just an idea but if you can
    get to whichever of the datek founders who wrote program for Island ecn whick belongs to datek and which is how they trade, maybe they'll let you see
    their code. If you write it send me one. With all you computer whiz's out there one of you should do it. There are buy programs there must be a way to make it work. Think how much money you could make, then you could IPO a company too.

  20. Re:NOT QUITE on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    Ok it's time to buy a clue. Info on Ipo is your responsibility their are many sites that give disclosure on ipo. Hoovers online, IPO.com, and cbs marketwatch for example. They flesh out the prospectus, which supplies legal details. Info is
    available weeks and sometimes months before ipo.
    Etrade opens their offer at sometime between 1pm and 3pm. not all day so suffer like the rest of us. The situation sucks only if you didn't deal with the old system where no real chance to get ipo short off six digit account.
    As far as the questionaire, they want to know that you understand that you can lose a lot or all of your money. This is to protect you and enforced by sec. Believe it or not sec is your friend. If not for the sec people would not get warning and for those who need a clue it is a good thing. All you have to do is think like an aggressive, risk taking investor. The ask if you take risks, say yes. Read the questions that way and you will be accepted. Now I can't get IPO,s because I have relatives in finanacial fields. They can't get me
    in on IPO but they prevent me from getting in on one. You want to live a normal life buy good companies over time and you will make money. Red hat will not disappear so buy a few shares at a time and you will average cost and if company does
    well you will profit. Good Luck

  21. Re:So how do us average people get in on this IPO? on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    No, no, no,no.
    1. You want short term profit, open an account at
    datek, take the day off and open their streamer, click add, type in rhat. Do not close streamer!!!
    You can minimize it. Go to quotes and trades and type in rhat under symbol, click select and select buy, leave order type at limit (unless you want to play it very risky then type market), leave expire on day. If you choose market the risk is that stock will go down and not regain buy
    price for months if ever, example dscm showed on screen at 105 and closed day at approx. 65.
    Now if streamer minimized open and wait. Don't minimize order page you were just on. Wait and wait and wait and wait. Blink and a flurry of numbers will appear if IPO is popular. If it looks like that pick the lowest number whick will be listed on the line and add x number of cents or
    dollars you are WILLING to pay enter that and number of shares hit enter order and enter password. Datek bypasses the market makers, it owns Island ecn it is entirely COMPUTERIZED your order goes out directly to market. This is one of the big changes to the market and big good old boy net of stockbrokers are pissed. By the way one of founders is computer guys, this company is
    or should be computer peoples best choice, not that I don't have my complaints about a few things
    like no Ipo's and bb, but all else best there is including speed.
    2. Buying during following time period, all stocks
    go up and down. Pick a price, put in a good till cancel order (lasts 30 days) and check how its doing when you get home each day. Risk - price drops way lower and you have to wait for rise but same is true for any of the buys including IPO (you also have to wait to sell with IPO based on brokerage policy now thats one unfair advantage market makers and institutions don't have they sell right away). If you don't do 1 then 2 gives long term return. 1 and 2 give you a chance at both.
    3. You only need 2k to open an account not 1/2 mil
    4. Don't daytrade it sucks.
    I should open my own business of pseudo stock broker just to buy ipo's for my friends, unfortunately I think that would get me 20 years.

    Good Luck
    I can't get in on IPO's because my family works in
    finance so I'm stuck too.

  22. Re:So how do us average people get in on this IPO? on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    The only way to get an IPO premarket is through the underwriters and brokers allocated shares, unless you get a direct offer from company IPOing.

    If you just want shares of the company the best plan is to wait and check prices over the 30 days after the IPO. Most times price drops from IPO price or stays in ballpark. Sometimes it goes through the roof and stays there and you can buy if for long term gain 1 to ? years. If you want to try your luck then you open an account with a company like Datek or MyTrade and take the day off and bid on it and try to get the best price. As far as automating the stock market, as someone who
    knows a little about the system, the changes so far are castrating the old system and I am happy so far. Since you write code why not investigate the buy programs the market makers and other big shots use and write something. If you do, since it was my idea, you should send me a copy. cyberdeck@home.com If the market was automated all the way it wouldn't be a stock market, which is a chance for people to profit from good decisions. The best bet for people not doing trading for a living is to do fundamental research
    and buy stocks to hold for a long time or through drips or mutual funds. A good research place is clearstation, cbs marketwatch, and websites that offer info on drips or mutual funds.

  23. Barred from Red Hat on Barred from Red Hat IPO? · · Score: 1

    Hi,

    Here is good news if you were really given an offer to participate in the red hat IPO (you lucky
    bastard) the offer letter will tell you info to transmit to your broker. Any broker. They can not prevent you and do not screen you and you would not fill out an indication of interest with etrade or anyone else. You bypass that with an offer. The shares you were offered are allocated from the underwriters and have nothing to do with the number of shares that the broker may have been allocated to offer clients. You contact broker and tell them you have been offered shares in IPO and wish to deposit funds, they will want proof, which letter will supply and all you need is money in account to cover. By the way Etrade is going to be offering redhat, but they are not yet accepting indications of interest yet, so how could you be rejected? I don't like etrade but you can't be rejected from something that hasn't been offered.

  24. Sounds like a business opportunity. on Passing Porn, Banning the Bible · · Score: 1

    Set up a blocker that rules like this:
    "That which is not explicitly permitted is absolutely forbidden"

    Then request sites that want to be listed. Have the staff check them out, and if acceptable (publish acceptance criteria), put them onto the permitted list. Ends the silliness of lexical analysers and other automated processes that have no sense.

    Market it and make money with the updates.

  25. But not the last... on Internet Payphones launched · · Score: 2

    There are several companies that have been beta testing in the US with this kind of equipment. One of them in downtown Philadelphia. Makes me wonder what the going rate for bulletproofing is.