Out of curiousity, have you ever looked at the guts of, say, a laptop vs. a desktop? How about actually opening up an iPod? How good are you with a screwdriver and a magnifying glass? Furthermore, where are you going to find the drives capable of fitting in these devices? The reason these are not upgradable is that each device is carefully custom-designed (thanks Johnathon!) pushing the absolute limit of "how much stuff can we cram in this tiny space." If you wanted an upgradable device, you can certainly build one with off the shelf parts -- it's called a PC.
As for iTunes, you can copy the songfiles from machine to machine if you like (I currently have my iTunes library mirrored on three machines), as long as you simply click "authorize this computer" when it prompts you and enter your Applestore password to play encrypted files.
As for streaming, you still have to authorize the computer to play back your encrypted (purchased) content, but the files stay put, removing redundancy and, if you disable the Windows firewall (or open up whatever ports) it automagically plays nicely with any other iTunes installs running (on Windows OR Mac). Your ripped songs will stream without authorization. You only have to authorize a machine to play protected content. This has been EXTREMELY useful when on the Univ. of Oklahoma campus network...
By the way, if you're feeling like pushing your luck, you might go bug whoever gave you the iPod, and tell them "I got this shiny new device, but it's empty! I need an iTunes Allowance to start filling it up and actually using it." Just an idea...;-)
Another point is that I'm betting Apple wouldn't be able to keep up with demand if they started selling them. $100(ish) is a VERY important price point for lots of people. It's a heck of a lot easier to rationalize a $100 investment rather than a $300 investment. If such a machine is produced, it'll sell almost as quickly as the iTMS sold it's first tracks, if Apple releases it with a big enough splash.
Look at some of the past product releases (pick a keynote, any keynote): The product is announced, and ordered are taken immediately after the keynote. Orders for higher end models are backordered and "expected to ship in ____." Something very similar might have happened if Apple released this device over a month ago (actually it would have had to have been 2 months ago to get volume up to hit Black Friday and make holiday shipments, in all liklihood). It makes sense to release it now, since they get to couple this with the Pepsi Superbowl spots, and they get all year to roll up production, release a point update for the iPod, iTMS, and iTunes itself, letting the product reach critical mass (if it hasn't already) in time for *next* year's holiday season.
Of course I don't have the foggiest idea what I'm talking about! This is slashdot!
So, did anyone else read through the threads about noise issues on the G5? I don't have one (just my blueberry iBook which refuses to die or become useless, damnit!) so I can't reproduce the issue or fiddle with it, but it was interesting to note that there were two distinct issues: 1. Analog hissing/humming due to what is probably a ground loop issue 2. Firewire crackling / popping due to ???
The analog issues can be contained with cabling and ground isolators, from the posts in the forums linked above. I'm more intrigued by the digital "popping" and "chirping" from the firewire ports. This sounds more like an electronics / software issue, possibly with an amplifer somewhere "falling asleep" and then getting powered back up. I'm fairly certain that's what this "CHUD" --> "Nap" thing fixes, but didn't find much information on it. Does anyone with a G5 (or without one for that matter) have any insight from a EE / software engineering (I'll even take 1337 haxors since you're out of skewl at the moment) perspective on these problems?
I've been known to make rather naive statements before. If I'm wrong, tell me. Otherwise, continue enjoying the holidays.
Get the cheapest DSL connection you can find in your area.
One thing to consider is your DSL or Cable provider may not allow you to redistribute the connection like you plan to for public consumption. You may have to buy some sort of "business" account to get what you want legally. This might be a good idea anyway, as these (generally) come with more bandwidth up and down stream, and also much, much better technical support.
I forgot to mention Bridge Construction Set, the sequel to Pontifex. Same idea, better implementation. Oh, by the way, there's a Linux version. Go to http://www.chroniclogic.com/pontifex2.htm for a demo.
It wasn't new for 2003, but I discovered it in 2003. Go to their website to find out more, and to play the demo. It's loads of fun! By the way, if you remember your latin, "pontifex" literally means "maker of bridges," iirc. In this game you're tasked with designing a 3D bridge spanning various bodies of water, capable of withstanding varying loads. It's deceptively simple, but, as far as I can tell, original and fun!
This is what I've always wanted in Airports. I make connections through MSP on a fairly regular basis, but, at most, my layover's about two hours. I've often wanted to jump up onto the net, but couldn't justify the $7-10 (can't recall the price) for the two hours of service, of which, I'd use maybe 20 minutes to check and reply to e-mails. If I could buy a 10 hour block, and use it over the span of a year, I'd pay about $25 (inc. tax) or so for it. $30 seems to high, but, of course, I have no references other than DialUp and Broadband ISP rates.
I fly roughly every three weeks, and have yet to have any trouble! In fact, it seems to me that the TSA screeners are getting better about tech, not worse. You just have to tell them you have X laptop(s) and that you'd like to let the guys at the other end of the line finish up first before you send them through -- they'll understand, if they're nice people. As far as having to pack and unpack and whatnot, all you have to remove is your laptop. You can cram whatever else into your carryon (cell, iPod, PDA, whatever) and run that through, rather than emptying your bag out into a bin.
A very useful hint: If you are tired of having your shoes scanned, or being wanded down because of your shoes, try Ecco shoes. They're incredibly comfortable and well-made, and don't have any metal in them at all (at least the suede ones I have don't -- bug your local shoe salesman about it to be sure).
Also, for some insight into travel security (or to post a story) about it, check out www.StupidSecurity.com -- "Exposing Fake Security since 2003."
I highly recommend a Kensington Saddlebag. It'll fit up to a 16" laptop, with plenty of padding for everyday use, and it looks fairly conservative. I use it in and out of classes, and with a few clicks of the straps, turn it into a briefcase that I can carry to meetings. It reconfigures three ways: 1. Backpack straps 2. Shoulder Strap 2.5 None of the above, straps tucked away in spare pocket.
It expands out to carry several notebooks or textbooks, as well as spare cables, pens, PDA / Calcs, and extra "stuff." I know of at least 5 people that own them that I deal with on a day-to-day basis, and we all recommend them.
I think you've stumbled onto the reason why we're seeing movies like this, Minority Report, and the rest of them. Asimov, Dick, and others of yesteryear wrote about our time. We're catching up to their future every time Intel releases a new processor that ticks along how many billions of times per second, or IBM creates a new mainframe capable of processing how many millions of transactons per minute, or L&H release a speech interpreter capable of handling how many thousands of word, or Sony releases a robot capable of understanding how many hundreds of commands -- you see my point?
We're getting there. It's helpful to take a step back and just look around at the world we're building. What's so intriguing about these concepts is that it no longer takes a huge leap of faith to imagine these things happening... just a little nudge in the right direction...
While I think the details of your post might be moderated "-1, Factually Inaccurate," I agree with the gist of your post. 2004 will be the shakeout for this new business model.
My question, though, is why can't we simply have three to four large players in the game that each solve this problem from a different angle.
That would be interesting, but you do realize that the other applications that Microsoft produces would go up in cost, with the exception (iirc) of MS Office and MS Flight Simulator. Somewhere I read (about a year ago) that Microsoft's development and research are basically bankrolled by Windows and Office, and that a good portion of the rest of their products are sold at a loss.
Uhh... for those of you that didn't actually look at what the thing does, it appears to simply validate each and every URL through a CGI script on their website. I, personally, don't need each URL I visit passed on to their site, as that data could be used to do some rather interesting things...
For those of you that say "Ahah! Look at what Open Source did! MS didn't make a patch, so we made one for them!" Take a look at what it does, and get back to me... Now, doesn't that sound like a (somewhat bastardized) hack?
Magnets? In the center of the road? Try this instead...
One thing that I've been thinking about for a while now is use of those metallic reflectors that seem to be cropping up everywhere between lane dividing lines, which, I suppose, aid vision at night, in bad weather, etc.
Anyway, why not add whatever device to the reflector/marker? They're becoming extremely common, iirc. If you do that, you won't be adding more hardware to the road -- you're just letting the same device pull double duty: It visually marks the edges of a lane, and it also electronically (either via magnets or your favorite shortrange active or passive RF system) marks the edges of a lane.
Furthermore, there's already an infrastructure to deploy them, as road crews have been sticking the things in pavement for years now.
As far as a super-commuter lane of some sort, you still have to deal with the transition from human to computer and vice versa. Doing this at-speed would be a Bad Idea. How about if the car comes to a full stop, and won't go anywhere until the driver put's in back into gear? That way you *know* that the driver's actually driving, and not, say, eating breakfast or reading a newspaper.
Hrm... what else... any other ideas?
I'm just sort of brainstorming. It's fun to do that every now and then. If anyone does anything with these ideas, I wrote it here first! So There! As if I have the foggiest idea of how patent law works... ~ MCH
Go look at Voodoo Chat. I know of several sites that run it. It allows for moderators, kicking / banning users, and user profiles. It works pretty well, IMHO.
He's referring to the CitiBank (I Think) identity theft commercials. The ones where you see some guy / girl / man / woman lip-synching to another girl / guy / woman / man's voice. They're pretty damn funny, IMHO.
I actually don't like them either. A lot of computer users who first worked with a touchpad seem to dislike the scrollpoints too. At the same time, lots of people seem to love the little things. I think that might be why IBM has given both a scrollpoint and a trackpad on several of its recent laptops, which I recommend highly, by the way.
As far as use as a simple scroll function, it works pretty well. You might have to tweak the gains a little bit to get the sensitivity where you like it, but it works quite well. My only complaint is that I rarely see the model I have (linked in my previous post) in Brick and Mortar stores.
Your best option is a trackpad or touchpad of some sort. Most modern touchpads have several functions you may assign to various actions such as double-tapping, tap-dragging, dragging along the left or right edges, tapping in certain zones, etc. to keep you from ever having to use the function buttons.
I stand by my IBM Scrollpoint Optical. You get a very nice ambidexterous mouse that happens to have three buttons, and instead of a scroll wheel, you get a pressure sensitive scrollpoint, which is similar to the eraser heads featured on IBM laptops. The scrollpoint even glows blue, contrasting the red LED for the optical sensor.
I tend to agree, but for different reasons. There's a bit more to it than "more leg room." For international travel, where business and first make a huge difference, you get a much higher quality of service -- better food and drinks, better entertainment, and of course, a better seat. I would say that a lot of people opt for a seat up front for these creature comforts. I'm not sure how popular the travel would be if you took those away, even if you're globetrotting in 2-3 hours.
Slashdot Mirror
Out of curiousity, have you ever looked at the guts of, say, a laptop vs. a desktop? How about actually opening up an iPod? How good are you with a screwdriver and a magnifying glass? Furthermore, where are you going to find the drives capable of fitting in these devices? The reason these are not upgradable is that each device is carefully custom-designed (thanks Johnathon!) pushing the absolute limit of "how much stuff can we cram in this tiny space." If you wanted an upgradable device, you can certainly build one with off the shelf parts -- it's called a PC.
As for iTunes, you can copy the songfiles from machine to machine if you like (I currently have my iTunes library mirrored on three machines), as long as you simply click "authorize this computer" when it prompts you and enter your Applestore password to play encrypted files.
;-)
As for streaming, you still have to authorize the computer to play back your encrypted (purchased) content, but the files stay put, removing redundancy and, if you disable the Windows firewall (or open up whatever ports) it automagically plays nicely with any other iTunes installs running (on Windows OR Mac). Your ripped songs will stream without authorization. You only have to authorize a machine to play protected content. This has been EXTREMELY useful when on the Univ. of Oklahoma campus network...
By the way, if you're feeling like pushing your luck, you might go bug whoever gave you the iPod, and tell them "I got this shiny new device, but it's empty! I need an iTunes Allowance to start filling it up and actually using it." Just an idea...
Another point is that I'm betting Apple wouldn't be able to keep up with demand if they started selling them. $100(ish) is a VERY important price point for lots of people. It's a heck of a lot easier to rationalize a $100 investment rather than a $300 investment. If such a machine is produced, it'll sell almost as quickly as the iTMS sold it's first tracks, if Apple releases it with a big enough splash.
Look at some of the past product releases (pick a keynote, any keynote): The product is announced, and ordered are taken immediately after the keynote. Orders for higher end models are backordered and "expected to ship in ____." Something very similar might have happened if Apple released this device over a month ago (actually it would have had to have been 2 months ago to get volume up to hit Black Friday and make holiday shipments, in all liklihood). It makes sense to release it now, since they get to couple this with the Pepsi Superbowl spots, and they get all year to roll up production, release a point update for the iPod, iTMS, and iTunes itself, letting the product reach critical mass (if it hasn't already) in time for *next* year's holiday season.
Of course I don't have the foggiest idea what I'm talking about! This is slashdot!
So, did anyone else read through the threads about noise issues on the G5? I don't have one (just my blueberry iBook which refuses to die or become useless, damnit!) so I can't reproduce the issue or fiddle with it, but it was interesting to note that there were two distinct issues:
1. Analog hissing/humming due to what is probably a ground loop issue
2. Firewire crackling / popping due to ???
The analog issues can be contained with cabling and ground isolators, from the posts in the forums linked above. I'm more intrigued by the digital "popping" and "chirping" from the firewire ports. This sounds more like an electronics / software issue, possibly with an amplifer somewhere "falling asleep" and then getting powered back up. I'm fairly certain that's what this "CHUD" --> "Nap" thing fixes, but didn't find much information on it. Does anyone with a G5 (or without one for that matter) have any insight from a EE / software engineering (I'll even take 1337 haxors since you're out of skewl at the moment) perspective on these problems?
I've been known to make rather naive statements before. If I'm wrong, tell me. Otherwise, continue enjoying the holidays.
Get the cheapest DSL connection you can find in your area.
One thing to consider is your DSL or Cable provider may not allow you to redistribute the connection like you plan to for public consumption. You may have to buy some sort of "business" account to get what you want legally. This might be a good idea anyway, as these (generally) come with more bandwidth up and down stream, and also much, much better technical support.
Be sure to check on that.
I forgot to mention Bridge Construction Set, the sequel to Pontifex. Same idea, better implementation. Oh, by the way, there's a Linux version. Go to http://www.chroniclogic.com/pontifex2.htm for a demo.
It wasn't new for 2003, but I discovered it in 2003. Go to their website to find out more, and to play the demo. It's loads of fun! By the way, if you remember your latin, "pontifex" literally means "maker of bridges," iirc. In this game you're tasked with designing a 3D bridge spanning various bodies of water, capable of withstanding varying loads. It's deceptively simple, but, as far as I can tell, original and fun!
Here's a review of an older version: Firing Squad Review.
This is what I've always wanted in Airports. I make connections through MSP on a fairly regular basis, but, at most, my layover's about two hours. I've often wanted to jump up onto the net, but couldn't justify the $7-10 (can't recall the price) for the two hours of service, of which, I'd use maybe 20 minutes to check and reply to e-mails. If I could buy a 10 hour block, and use it over the span of a year, I'd pay about $25 (inc. tax) or so for it. $30 seems to high, but, of course, I have no references other than DialUp and Broadband ISP rates.
I fly roughly every three weeks, and have yet to have any trouble! In fact, it seems to me that the TSA screeners are getting better about tech, not worse. You just have to tell them you have X laptop(s) and that you'd like to let the guys at the other end of the line finish up first before you send them through -- they'll understand, if they're nice people. As far as having to pack and unpack and whatnot, all you have to remove is your laptop. You can cram whatever else into your carryon (cell, iPod, PDA, whatever) and run that through, rather than emptying your bag out into a bin.
A very useful hint: If you are tired of having your shoes scanned, or being wanded down because of your shoes, try Ecco shoes. They're incredibly comfortable and well-made, and don't have any metal in them at all (at least the suede ones I have don't -- bug your local shoe salesman about it to be sure).
Also, for some insight into travel security (or to post a story) about it, check out www.StupidSecurity.com -- "Exposing Fake Security since 2003."
I highly recommend a Kensington Saddlebag. It'll fit up to a 16" laptop, with plenty of padding for everyday use, and it looks fairly conservative. I use it in and out of classes, and with a few clicks of the straps, turn it into a briefcase that I can carry to meetings. It reconfigures three ways:
1. Backpack straps
2. Shoulder Strap
2.5 None of the above, straps tucked away in spare pocket.
It expands out to carry several notebooks or textbooks, as well as spare cables, pens, PDA / Calcs, and extra "stuff." I know of at least 5 people that own them that I deal with on a day-to-day basis, and we all recommend them.
I think you've stumbled onto the reason why we're seeing movies like this, Minority Report, and the rest of them. Asimov, Dick, and others of yesteryear wrote about our time. We're catching up to their future every time Intel releases a new processor that ticks along how many billions of times per second, or IBM creates a new mainframe capable of processing how many millions of transactons per minute, or L&H release a speech interpreter capable of handling how many thousands of word, or Sony releases a robot capable of understanding how many hundreds of commands -- you see my point?
We're getting there. It's helpful to take a step back and just look around at the world we're building. What's so intriguing about these concepts is that it no longer takes a huge leap of faith to imagine these things happening... just a little nudge in the right direction...
While I think the details of your post might be moderated "-1, Factually Inaccurate," I agree with the gist of your post. 2004 will be the shakeout for this new business model.
My question, though, is why can't we simply have three to four large players in the game that each solve this problem from a different angle.
+ Audible.com -- audiobooks.
+ iTunes -- iPod + Coolness + Simplicity
+ Napster 2.0 -- Selection? Maybe?
+ Wally World -- Jane Q. Public's choice.
Perhaps I'm being a bit naive, but it worked for auto manufacturers. Why can't this approach work in the digital domain?
On a sidenote: Wally World's had a NetFlix-like service for some time now. Anyone got an update on how it's doing, vs. NetFlix?
That would be interesting, but you do realize that the other applications that Microsoft produces would go up in cost, with the exception (iirc) of MS Office and MS Flight Simulator. Somewhere I read (about a year ago) that Microsoft's development and research are basically bankrolled by Windows and Office, and that a good portion of the rest of their products are sold at a loss.
I must say that I agree totally with you on all the points you've made.
I know, I know... I brought that on myself... see my attached reply to my own comment...
Okie-dokie... it doesn't validate each and every one, it just sends suspicious ones there, but still....
Uhh... for those of you that didn't actually look at what the thing does, it appears to simply validate each and every URL through a CGI script on their website. I, personally, don't need each URL I visit passed on to their site, as that data could be used to do some rather interesting things...
For those of you that say "Ahah! Look at what Open Source did! MS didn't make a patch, so we made one for them!" Take a look at what it does, and get back to me... Now, doesn't that sound like a (somewhat bastardized) hack?
Magnets? In the center of the road? Try this instead...
One thing that I've been thinking about for a while now is use of those metallic reflectors that seem to be cropping up everywhere between lane dividing lines, which, I suppose, aid vision at night, in bad weather, etc.
Anyway, why not add whatever device to the reflector/marker? They're becoming extremely common, iirc. If you do that, you won't be adding more hardware to the road -- you're just letting the same device pull double duty: It visually marks the edges of a lane, and it also electronically (either via magnets or your favorite shortrange active or passive RF system) marks the edges of a lane.
Furthermore, there's already an infrastructure to deploy them, as road crews have been sticking the things in pavement for years now.
As far as a super-commuter lane of some sort, you still have to deal with the transition from human to computer and vice versa. Doing this at-speed would be a Bad Idea. How about if the car comes to a full stop, and won't go anywhere until the driver put's in back into gear? That way you *know* that the driver's actually driving, and not, say, eating breakfast or reading a newspaper.
Hrm... what else... any other ideas?
I'm just sort of brainstorming. It's fun to do that every now and then. If anyone does anything with these ideas, I wrote it here first! So There! As if I have the foggiest idea of how patent law works... ~ MCH
Go look at Voodoo Chat. I know of several sites that run it. It allows for moderators, kicking / banning users, and user profiles. It works pretty well, IMHO.
MCH
He's referring to the CitiBank (I Think) identity theft commercials. The ones where you see some guy / girl / man / woman lip-synching to another girl / guy / woman / man's voice. They're pretty damn funny, IMHO.
I actually don't like them either. A lot of computer users who first worked with a touchpad seem to dislike the scrollpoints too. At the same time, lots of people seem to love the little things. I think that might be why IBM has given both a scrollpoint and a trackpad on several of its recent laptops, which I recommend highly, by the way.
As far as use as a simple scroll function, it works pretty well. You might have to tweak the gains a little bit to get the sensitivity where you like it, but it works quite well. My only complaint is that I rarely see the model I have (linked in my previous post) in Brick and Mortar stores.
Your best option is a trackpad or touchpad of some sort. Most modern touchpads have several functions you may assign to various actions such as double-tapping, tap-dragging, dragging along the left or right edges, tapping in certain zones, etc. to keep you from ever having to use the function buttons.
I stand by my IBM Scrollpoint Optical. You get a very nice ambidexterous mouse that happens to have three buttons, and instead of a scroll wheel, you get a pressure sensitive scrollpoint, which is similar to the eraser heads featured on IBM laptops. The scrollpoint even glows blue, contrasting the red LED for the optical sensor.
360 Degree scrolling is very useful.
Oh. Wow.
/me tips his hat to dopaz.
Well done.
I tend to agree, but for different reasons. There's a bit more to it than "more leg room." For international travel, where business and first make a huge difference, you get a much higher quality of service -- better food and drinks, better entertainment, and of course, a better seat. I would say that a lot of people opt for a seat up front for these creature comforts. I'm not sure how popular the travel would be if you took those away, even if you're globetrotting in 2-3 hours.