Why couldn't Napster block all songs except songs on an approved list? Therefore, all of the Metallica songs would be blocked, but all of the independent artists that Slashdotters seems to care so much about could get their songs registered and promoted on Napster. It's very difficult to produce a filter based on every permutation of artist, album, track names, but it is quite easy to have an approved list. The approved list could have IP address and track name, plus possibly some MD5 signature attached to it. It also makes it easier to check for violations.
You're "A Parody of Metallica" could be on the approved list. Independent artists that want to be on Napster could do so quite easily.
It's just typical Microsoft bashing. Because Microsoft has invested some money into NBC, all of the NBC journalists have lost all journalistic integrity! Yeah right. Besides, the story came from ZDNet and MSNBC must have some kind of redistribution agreement.
Ah.. The Straight Dope. A great source for a dose of reality.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_139.html
The rich really do pay the most and very few are able to escape the tax man.
Plus, Warren Buffet probably makes very little compared to how much he's worth. He seldom sells his shares and unless you want some sort of system where you are taxed based on your net worth instead of your income, then they'll probably not pay the taxes you seem to want. But do we want a system where we are taxed on net worth? Well, I certainly wouldn't (and I don't have much) because most of the ultra-rich have unrealized gains. If I were taxed on unrealized gains, and I now sold my mutual funds, I would be in some real trouble right now! Just like most Americans and Canadians with their mutual funds, etc..
I don't think anybody's actually CLAIMING that Napster helped the RIAA.
Where have you been! Once I get some time, I'll also try to find other examples of Slashdot foolishness. I could find more examples of people claiming that Napster helps record sales, but it was too easy!
CmdrTaco (Napster Usage Quadruples)
tewl noted a CNN story that says that Napster's usage has quadrupled... it stands among the fastest
growing software apps ever. And since the record industry sold more CDs then ever last year, that
of course proves what all these lawsuits are about *cough*.
JonKatz (The Truth About File-Sharing)
A series of new studies of Napster users suggests everything you've been reading about music
file-sharing systems is baloney. You're not thieves and pirates, it turns out, but marketing pioneers
and music lovers quite willing to pay for music. These new stats suggest that file-sharing could have enormous
implications for the selling of content, culture and information online, none grasped by dunder-headed corporations
like the record labels.
Hemos (Jupiter Report Says Napster Users Buy MORE Music)
I'm sure that the RIAA has statistics that will say the opposite, but
I think I agree with this - just because I can download something doesn't mean I don't want the CD as well.
michael (Pirates Steal Negative $1,400,000,000 from Music Industry)
Oh, I can't keep up the fake news any more... In fact, the RIAA reports that the music industry - especially non-copy-protected CD's - is booming. Not only did the record industry sell 10.8% more CD's than last year, they raised their income on those disks by 12.3% - so not only are you buying more music, but you're paying more for each disk you buy. Income from CD's alone increased by 1.4 billion dollars last year. So where's the crippling damage from evil music pirates? If they're suffering so badly, why does their profit chart look like Microsoft's?
Are you trying to say that most artists aren't starving? Try tell that to many of the artists I see in downtown Toronto. While there is a filming boom, the vast majority are not rich and well off. That include music artists.
My objection is to the fact that he wants artists to give up their monetary pursuits. Artists that pursue the big bucks are suddenly not artists! That's like saying people who program for money are not real programmers!
How the hell is this insightful?! I personally would hate to be under this type of system where the only artists are "poor starving artists". Many Slashdot readers are students and how would you like it if someone said that you should persue an education for pure intellectual curiosity only and remain a "starving student". Forget about work terms that just teach you programming skills and "real world" work experience. Only dedicated students should work out the latest theories on the Universe and solve PDEs analytically. People shouldn't persue computer science degrees and engineering degrees for the money!
Art is not an endeavor in which one should expect to "Earn a living". It is a gift which the artist willingly and lovingly shares with others. His expected reward comes from self-satisfaction, and, hopefully, the appreciation of his audience. Any artist who would give up his art because no one would pay for it, is most likely a very poor artist.
Computer science is a gift which the artist willing and lovingly shares with others. His expected reward comes from self-satisfaction, and, hopefully, the appreciation of his audience. Any programmer who does not program Open Source is most likely a very poor programmer!
Radio Shack I believe uses this information for mailings etc. (a cashier told me this). Plus, mail-in rebates according to the news can use this information for marketing purposes.
If you look at it, Amazon probably got what they wanted, which is make Barnes and Noble.com waste resources in the courts for over a year (Since December 1999) and to make them remove the "one-click" shopping with their affliate stores. Believe me, I'm pretty pissed that the courts made Bn.com remove its version of "one-click" payment. This is such as stupid patent that Bn.com should be compensated for their legal fees and any possible revenues! Unfortunately, that requires cash, something that both companies need to spend elsewhere.
Another source of income for the companies is selling the information that you provided for the rebate. Plus, I really hate it when a cashier asks for your name, address and telephone number at Radio Shack or Futureshop. Again, they can sell this information.
A much better and realistic idea is to restrict the advertising to media (print and TV, not Internet) to times when a certain percentage of children under 12 are watching the shows. The rest of the population is subjected to incredible amounts of fake violence and sexuality on TV and movies. It makes no sense to allow teenagers to watch these movies and to also restrict games that portray the same levels of violence and gore. We need controls, but realistic ones. I wouldn't want young children watching pornographic videos, and yet that is a form of "advertizing" control.
Currently the Canadian Supreme Court is looked at almost exactly the same case. A British Columbia man is charged with possession of child porn and is contesting it since criminalizing possession itself is unconstitutional; secondly, he is also contesting it due to the fact that stories that he wrote were considered illegal child porn. I do have a problem with child porn created using real children because that obviously harms the child. However, imaginary works and stories really crosses the line into thought control! Look at all the other cases where artists' (-and I'm not saying that man is an artist) works that were confiscated because of "illegal" thoughts and writings. What next: criminalizing computer generated murders, drug use, etc.. While I really do not like the idea of photorealistic portrayals of child pornagraphy, I hope that both courts respect freedom of speech. Freedom is something like air; you don't notice it until it is gone.
Few companies are ever really going to take a chance on the Linux platform if there are already 5 major platforms already (Windows, X-Box, Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Gamecube).
The development costs are too high; therefore, the perfect solution is to support the use of cross-platform APIs (OpenGL, OpenAL, SDL,..). That means adding new APIs and functions to match the monster of all Windows gaming APIs: DirectX and Direct3D. If we can't improve our APIs to match Microsoft's versions, then its really going to be an uphill battle. Look at all of the features in DirectX 8: an audio API for multi-player online gaming, interpolated key-frames, force-feekback input device support, etc...
To further improve chances of Linux games, we should probably also work on a BSD-licensed 3D game engine using open APIs. If a cross-platform engine was developed that can compete with the best games engines out there was available for free (remember some engines like the Unreal engine can cost upwards of several hundred thousand dollars to license), it would certainly help Linux games in general.
The only way to get Linux games is make it financially profitable for the developers to make games
Jar Jar is essential to the plot so we can't kill him. However, he could be frozen in carbonite at the beginning of Episode II and thawed out at the end of Episode III. That's my suggestion anyways.
Another possible reason may be that Intervideo decided that they could not make money with the small Linux DVD market. Presently the Linux market is just too small for some commercial ventures. If we take a look at the Quake III sales under Linux they are pathetic. While this will change when more Linux desktops become available, Intervideo is not out to promote Linux necessarily but to make a buck.
Look at how many OS/2 developers are really willing to create OS/2 games?
Napster is not the same as a search-engine. It advertises and promotes itself as a great way to get illegal mp3. Plus, a search engine is largely content-agnostic (it does not care about the content being served). Napster's user agreement states that if you try to disrupt the ability for other users to use the system, you will be removed. Therefore, if you put Napster bombs in the system - fake songs with barking dogs - they'll try to kick you off. However, put commercial music on and violate the user agreement and they say they can't do anything. Plus, many Slashdotters already complain about being banned. I don't consider Napster a search-engine per se and it promotes and aids in the distribution of copyrighted materials in a gross and willful manner.
While I feel apprehensive about this variable pricing, Amazon is just trying to get more of the supply-demand curve. If there are people willing to pay $20 for a item and others are only willing to pay $10, then it's their fault for not researching prices better. Of course, this could also backfire on Amazon once a customer realizes that he/she is consistently being overcharged.
However, I don't see how this is really different from buying a car. I would pissed if someone else got an incredible deal on a new car and I payed $2000 more, but I know of other people that have payed the first price on a car with little negotiations. Plus, I'm sure that many of you guys have haggled a bit on the price of computer, stereo system or even rent.
What about Free Battle.net servers? While several places have free Battle.net servers so that a group of people can play together, others could use it to play over the Internet with useless keys and burnt CDs. That would be circumventing the copy protection of a game; because of this Battle.net key problem, I'll never give out my key to anyone!
While I'm not a geologist, I have seen on TLC that ice cores can help determine the events of the last hundred thousand years. Each year's ice accumulation can be determined through stratification of the ice. Plus, inclusions in the ice can contain atmospheric gases from that timeperiod. They can determine the age through the radioactive decomposition of Carbon-14 and Chlorine-36.
A more informative link on ice cores can be found at talk.origins.
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/icecores.html
Without a resonable expectation of profits, artists will have little incentive to continue to produce works of art. While I admit that some artists will continue regardless of if they make money or not, some can not. Hunger etc. will force them into other occupations. A great example of how piracy is crippling an industry is the Hong Kong movie and music industry. Type in "VCD Hong Kong piracy" and you'll have many web sites, many by fans, complaining about how they are driving everyone from Hong Kong. The movie theatres are empty, while the VCD shops are packed. The number of movies scheduled has dropped from 200 to 75 this last year. Plus, Hong Kong's biggest artists are leaving it for Hollywood. I believe the same thing will happen to music and intellectual property rights must be enforced for it to stop!
Disney is not clueless and they did their market research. In fact, the original plan for a dubbed US DVD was to make more money on the Japanese DVD. Princess Mononoke was a huge success in Japan (beaten only by Titanic) and the anime audience in the US is comparatively small. By producing a DVD with no Japanese dialog, Disney (Bueno Vista) would be able to sell a Japanese-only DVD in Japan forcing Japanese customers to buy the more expensive Japanese DVDs. If the US DVD had the Japanese tracks, they could just buy the cheaper Region 1 DVD from Amazon and hack their players to be region-free. It the choice between royally annoying the small North American audience or losing money on the huge Japanese audience.
PS: I really want a multi-language Princess Mononoke DVD. Anime just does not sound right dubbed. However, I can see why Disney chose to market Princess Mononoke this way.
Unfortunately for some North American audiences, Princess Mononoke will probably not be available until after the Japanese Region 2 DVD launch.
It is their choice to make to persue electronic distribution or not. That is something so fundamental that I can't believe that I had to say it. It is my choice to publish pictures of myself on the Internet and it is my choice to not provide any pictures at all. The record companies have no obligation to provide mp3s of their songs or to allow massive mp3 distribution. It does not matter if I will make a ton of money, no money or lose money on this venture. People can be near-sighted, stupid, crazy etc.. if they want. Plus, the record companies shareholders probably want controlled electronic distribution - it's not in their interest to allow free copies of their music. It is still my choice! Now if I started a recording company that distributes online, I can publish all I want online with no government interference; mp3.com was originally all about a new distribution method. People can buy instruments, recording time, recording equipment, etc.. for far less than before. Nothing is stopping artists from distributing on mp3.com.
I find it highly disturbing that Hatch is suggesting that the government force a business into a decision. Businesses make decisions based on the expected return and the risk involved. If they feel that the risk is too much, they don't do it. If others feel that the risk is not too large, they can take advantage of the opportunity. However, to force a company that is operating within the law into a decision is very unAmerican. Freedom to do nothing should be one of our most fundamental rights. It is almost like saying that since we don't have pictures of your wife on the Internet and there is great demand for these pictures, you should be forced into providing pictures of your wife for distribution.
Some people may suggest that the record companies have significant barriers to entry for new record labels: limiting radio play time, shelf space at the local CD warehouse, etc... The government should lower barriers to entry and allow more independent record companies to experiment with mp3 download - free or not. That is real competition! If you want free music, start a record company and get artists with the same vision to join!
While the Princess Mononoke English dub was very good, somethings you have to hear the original Japanese. Project A-Ko's C-Ko is far more annoying in the original Japanese and it really is missing in the English language version. It is almost impossible to convey the same feeling in another language. For most anime and many foreign films, subtitling is better way.
Microsoft has to place it in a box that consumers expect good software to be in - a big box with colourful graphics, not just a jewel case along with the DOOM CDs. Consumers relate size and graphics of the box with the contents; I do the same thing all the time. I never head over the cheap CD rack, but to the big displays. I also buy the retail version of Mandrake in the big box - just so I can have it in the corner of my room. Red Hat also places their CDs in a huge box with a very small install manual.
At the very least, it is more environmentally friendly than the 10 pound Microsoft Office boxes a few years ago. 9.5 pounds of useless manuals that are included online + 25 diskettes!
The article mentions two very important aspects unique to open source projects: security audits and obfuscated code. I know that I hate looking at spaghetti code and the world of open source community development can be great spaghetti code generator. It works but can be very difficult to debug. Under strict development guidelines this can be reduced (e.g. NASA space shuttle code). Unfortunately, it's going to be difficult to dictate a strict programming model when the programs are developed on the programmer's own time. Plus, security audits by other companies is something that OSS can't afford (unless a company like Red Hat pays for it). Yes, I know that many security experts examine the Linux OS and its code. While I still believe that Linux is more secure that most OSes out there (especially Windows 98/2000), we should not be zealots. Commericial development houses can enforce standards and pay to have extensive external audits.
Slashdot Mirror
You're "A Parody of Metallica" could be on the approved list. Independent artists that want to be on Napster could do so quite easily.
It's just typical Microsoft bashing. Because Microsoft has invested some money into NBC, all of the NBC journalists have lost all journalistic integrity! Yeah right. Besides, the story came from ZDNet and MSNBC must have some kind of redistribution agreement.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_139.html
The rich really do pay the most and very few are able to escape the tax man.
Plus, Warren Buffet probably makes very little compared to how much he's worth. He seldom sells his shares and unless you want some sort of system where you are taxed based on your net worth instead of your income, then they'll probably not pay the taxes you seem to want. But do we want a system where we are taxed on net worth? Well, I certainly wouldn't (and I don't have much) because most of the ultra-rich have unrealized gains. If I were taxed on unrealized gains, and I now sold my mutual funds, I would be in some real trouble right now! Just like most Americans and Canadians with their mutual funds, etc..
Where have you been! Once I get some time, I'll also try to find other examples of Slashdot foolishness. I could find more examples of people claiming that Napster helps record sales, but it was too easy!
CmdrTaco (Napster Usage Quadruples)
tewl noted a CNN story that says that Napster's usage has quadrupled... it stands among the fastest growing software apps ever. And since the record industry sold more CDs then ever last year, that of course proves what all these lawsuits are about *cough*.
JonKatz (The Truth About File-Sharing)
A series of new studies of Napster users suggests everything you've been reading about music file-sharing systems is baloney. You're not thieves and pirates, it turns out, but marketing pioneers and music lovers quite willing to pay for music. These new stats suggest that file-sharing could have enormous implications for the selling of content, culture and information online, none grasped by dunder-headed corporations like the record labels.
Hemos (Jupiter Report Says Napster Users Buy MORE Music)
I'm sure that the RIAA has statistics that will say the opposite, but I think I agree with this - just because I can download something doesn't mean I don't want the CD as well.
michael (Pirates Steal Negative $1,400,000,000 from Music Industry)
Oh, I can't keep up the fake news any more... In fact, the RIAA reports that the music industry - especially non-copy-protected CD's - is booming. Not only did the record industry sell 10.8% more CD's than last year, they raised their income on those disks by 12.3% - so not only are you buying more music, but you're paying more for each disk you buy. Income from CD's alone increased by 1.4 billion dollars last year. So where's the crippling damage from evil music pirates? If they're suffering so badly, why does their profit chart look like Microsoft's?
Plus, look at the title of the current article.
Are you trying to say that most artists aren't starving? Try tell that to many of the artists I see in downtown Toronto. While there is a filming boom, the vast majority are not rich and well off. That include music artists. My objection is to the fact that he wants artists to give up their monetary pursuits. Artists that pursue the big bucks are suddenly not artists! That's like saying people who program for money are not real programmers!
Art is not an endeavor in which one should expect to "Earn a living". It is a gift which the artist willingly and lovingly shares with others. His expected reward comes from self-satisfaction, and, hopefully, the appreciation of his audience. Any artist who would give up his art because no one would pay for it, is most likely a very poor artist.
Computer science is a gift which the artist willing and lovingly shares with others. His expected reward comes from self-satisfaction, and, hopefully, the appreciation of his audience. Any programmer who does not program Open Source is most likely a very poor programmer!
Radio Shack I believe uses this information for mailings etc. (a cashier told me this). Plus, mail-in rebates according to the news can use this information for marketing purposes.
If you look at it, Amazon probably got what they wanted, which is make Barnes and Noble.com waste resources in the courts for over a year (Since December 1999) and to make them remove the "one-click" shopping with their affliate stores. Believe me, I'm pretty pissed that the courts made Bn.com remove its version of "one-click" payment. This is such as stupid patent that Bn.com should be compensated for their legal fees and any possible revenues! Unfortunately, that requires cash, something that both companies need to spend elsewhere.
Another source of income for the companies is selling the information that you provided for the rebate. Plus, I really hate it when a cashier asks for your name, address and telephone number at Radio Shack or Futureshop. Again, they can sell this information.
A much better and realistic idea is to restrict the advertising to media (print and TV, not Internet) to times when a certain percentage of children under 12 are watching the shows. The rest of the population is subjected to incredible amounts of fake violence and sexuality on TV and movies. It makes no sense to allow teenagers to watch these movies and to also restrict games that portray the same levels of violence and gore. We need controls, but realistic ones. I wouldn't want young children watching pornographic videos, and yet that is a form of "advertizing" control.
Currently the Canadian Supreme Court is looked at almost exactly the same case. A British Columbia man is charged with possession of child porn and is contesting it since criminalizing possession itself is unconstitutional; secondly, he is also contesting it due to the fact that stories that he wrote were considered illegal child porn. I do have a problem with child porn created using real children because that obviously harms the child. However, imaginary works and stories really crosses the line into thought control! Look at all the other cases where artists' (-and I'm not saying that man is an artist) works that were confiscated because of "illegal" thoughts and writings. What next: criminalizing computer generated murders, drug use, etc.. While I really do not like the idea of photorealistic portrayals of child pornagraphy, I hope that both courts respect freedom of speech. Freedom is something like air; you don't notice it until it is gone.
The development costs are too high; therefore, the perfect solution is to support the use of cross-platform APIs (OpenGL, OpenAL, SDL,..). That means adding new APIs and functions to match the monster of all Windows gaming APIs: DirectX and Direct3D. If we can't improve our APIs to match Microsoft's versions, then its really going to be an uphill battle. Look at all of the features in DirectX 8: an audio API for multi-player online gaming, interpolated key-frames, force-feekback input device support, etc...
To further improve chances of Linux games, we should probably also work on a BSD-licensed 3D game engine using open APIs. If a cross-platform engine was developed that can compete with the best games engines out there was available for free (remember some engines like the Unreal engine can cost upwards of several hundred thousand dollars to license), it would certainly help Linux games in general.
The only way to get Linux games is make it financially profitable for the developers to make games
Jar Jar is essential to the plot so we can't kill him. However, he could be frozen in carbonite at the beginning of Episode II and thawed out at the end of Episode III. That's my suggestion anyways.
Look at how many OS/2 developers are really willing to create OS/2 games?
Napster is not the same as a search-engine. It advertises and promotes itself as a great way to get illegal mp3. Plus, a search engine is largely content-agnostic (it does not care about the content being served). Napster's user agreement states that if you try to disrupt the ability for other users to use the system, you will be removed. Therefore, if you put Napster bombs in the system - fake songs with barking dogs - they'll try to kick you off. However, put commercial music on and violate the user agreement and they say they can't do anything. Plus, many Slashdotters already complain about being banned. I don't consider Napster a search-engine per se and it promotes and aids in the distribution of copyrighted materials in a gross and willful manner.
However, I don't see how this is really different from buying a car. I would pissed if someone else got an incredible deal on a new car and I payed $2000 more, but I know of other people that have payed the first price on a car with little negotiations. Plus, I'm sure that many of you guys have haggled a bit on the price of computer, stereo system or even rent.
What about Free Battle.net servers? While several places have free Battle.net servers so that a group of people can play together, others could use it to play over the Internet with useless keys and burnt CDs. That would be circumventing the copy protection of a game; because of this Battle.net key problem, I'll never give out my key to anyone!
While I'm not a geologist, I have seen on TLC that ice cores can help determine the events of the last hundred thousand years. Each year's ice accumulation can be determined through stratification of the ice. Plus, inclusions in the ice can contain atmospheric gases from that timeperiod. They can determine the age through the radioactive decomposition of Carbon-14 and Chlorine-36. A more informative link on ice cores can be found at talk.origins. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/icecores.html
Without a resonable expectation of profits, artists will have little incentive to continue to produce works of art. While I admit that some artists will continue regardless of if they make money or not, some can not. Hunger etc. will force them into other occupations. A great example of how piracy is crippling an industry is the Hong Kong movie and music industry. Type in "VCD Hong Kong piracy" and you'll have many web sites, many by fans, complaining about how they are driving everyone from Hong Kong. The movie theatres are empty, while the VCD shops are packed. The number of movies scheduled has dropped from 200 to 75 this last year. Plus, Hong Kong's biggest artists are leaving it for Hollywood. I believe the same thing will happen to music and intellectual property rights must be enforced for it to stop!
PS: I really want a multi-language Princess Mononoke DVD. Anime just does not sound right dubbed. However, I can see why Disney chose to market Princess Mononoke this way.
Unfortunately for some North American audiences, Princess Mononoke will probably not be available until after the Japanese Region 2 DVD launch.
It is their choice to make to persue electronic distribution or not. That is something so fundamental that I can't believe that I had to say it. It is my choice to publish pictures of myself on the Internet and it is my choice to not provide any pictures at all. The record companies have no obligation to provide mp3s of their songs or to allow massive mp3 distribution. It does not matter if I will make a ton of money, no money or lose money on this venture. People can be near-sighted, stupid, crazy etc.. if they want. Plus, the record companies shareholders probably want controlled electronic distribution - it's not in their interest to allow free copies of their music. It is still my choice! Now if I started a recording company that distributes online, I can publish all I want online with no government interference; mp3.com was originally all about a new distribution method. People can buy instruments, recording time, recording equipment, etc.. for far less than before. Nothing is stopping artists from distributing on mp3.com.
Some people may suggest that the record companies have significant barriers to entry for new record labels: limiting radio play time, shelf space at the local CD warehouse, etc... The government should lower barriers to entry and allow more independent record companies to experiment with mp3 download - free or not. That is real competition! If you want free music, start a record company and get artists with the same vision to join!
While the Princess Mononoke English dub was very good, somethings you have to hear the original Japanese. Project A-Ko's C-Ko is far more annoying in the original Japanese and it really is missing in the English language version. It is almost impossible to convey the same feeling in another language. For most anime and many foreign films, subtitling is better way.
At the very least, it is more environmentally friendly than the 10 pound Microsoft Office boxes a few years ago. 9.5 pounds of useless manuals that are included online + 25 diskettes!
The article mentions two very important aspects unique to open source projects: security audits and obfuscated code. I know that I hate looking at spaghetti code and the world of open source community development can be great spaghetti code generator. It works but can be very difficult to debug. Under strict development guidelines this can be reduced (e.g. NASA space shuttle code). Unfortunately, it's going to be difficult to dictate a strict programming model when the programs are developed on the programmer's own time. Plus, security audits by other companies is something that OSS can't afford (unless a company like Red Hat pays for it). Yes, I know that many security experts examine the Linux OS and its code. While I still believe that Linux is more secure that most OSes out there (especially Windows 98/2000), we should not be zealots. Commericial development houses can enforce standards and pay to have extensive external audits.