I can see it now: Pringles cans mounted all over the Eiffel Tower...
The hard part is finding enough French people to eat the chips.
Re:We need everything rolled into one device
on
Cisco's Wi-Fi Phone
·
· Score: 1
This is precisely the reason why the IT helpdesk exists.:)
We need everything rolled into one device
on
Cisco's Wi-Fi Phone
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
What they need to do now is create a hybrid cell/wi-fi/VoIP phone with bluetooth that can auto-sense where it is in relation to your desk and/or office building.
When at your desk, your wired desk phone rings. When in the hallway/bathroom/break room, your wireless phone rings. When outside the building, calls are forwarded to your cell number on the same device.
You would be able to customize each of the 3 zones (office, building, world) with its own call-handling rule set. Higher-end models would also auto-sense when you were in the bathroom, so you could avoid those embarrasing moments without thinking twice.
Breaking in is only the first step. Next, the hacker will deface your website with some sort of calling card that attract hundreds of other hackers to the site. Then, they will install a worm that will replicate itself across your entire network and erase all files anding in.dll from your computer. Then, they install a hidden FTP server from which they will share their personal collection of kiddie porn. Then, they call the feds and have you busted for sharing kiddie porn with the world.
So as you can see, being boring is not the best defense after all.
(On the other hand, if you've already got kiddie porn on your computer, you can use this security method and accuse the hackers when someone discovers it.)
Keep in mind who the target audience is. Those of us who care a lot about the recording and mastering quality of the music we listen to (this includes early adopters of DVD-A and/or SACD) will NOT be using this service as our main source of music.
When I want a quality listening session, I pull my chair into the sweet spot, fire up the Pink Floyd DSotM SACD, and enter a realm of auditory bliss. When I'm more interested in variety than quality, then I'll hook the iPod up to the stereo and rock out. The flexibity of custom playlists comprised of legally-acquired, good-quality music far outweighs the downsides of any compression arftifacts that I may hear.
This service is not intended to replace buying your music on physical media. It's intended to replace hunting and downloading music of questionable quality and unknown content. (Who among us has not downloaded an incorrectly labeled MP3?) At the same time, it encourages music companies to transition to a new business model -- away from the album paradigm and toward a track-based paradigm. Imagine an artist's popularity being based on the number of tracks they sell as opposed to albums? There'd be far less fluff out there.
This service is absolutely the right thing at the right time. I downloaded iTunes 4 and started browsing the store as soon as the link appeared on Apple's home page (after clicking reload every few seconds like a well-seasoned FP troll). I took some willpower not to click buy. The free 30-second previews play instantly and are the same quality as the whole song. Where else can you get that?
Yes, but only if there's a hot, bikini-clad chick taking a dump through said product.
The trouble is...
on
Film Gimp
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
There's a difference between movie production studios and other companies/corporations. Studios are extremely "tool-driven" in that the timeliness and quality of their production is extremely dependent upon the quality and flexibility of their tools.
The average corporation, on the other hand, is not as dependent on an extremely flexible desktop computer. All you need is a compter that runs an office suite, and they've already got that in Microsoft.
So the thought that studios might be setting an example for other corporations is a longshot indeed.
I've got a system set up at home that is much better than this, as far as sheer geek factor is concerned. Components are as follows:
1 home stereo system
1 iBook w/VNC server loaded
1 Airport network
a couple other computers throughout the house
What I do is connect my iBook's sound-out to the stereo. I have a bunch of mp3s on the local hard drive, but I can also connect to my other computers to access more music. Once I have a satisfactory playlist setup, I start playing it and then tuck the iBook out of sight somewhere.
With VNC viewer, I can connect to my iBook from any other computer in the house mess around with the play order or skip tracks at will. Since I don't have a remote control for my iBook, this is the next best thing.
What's really great is that I can give friends the IP and pass for my iBook/VNC and they can pick my music for me.:)
There's no sense boycotting the product. I would assume that the majority of users here on/. don't even use FrontPage, so a boycott is pointless.
I say instead of staging as boycott, go out and actually buy the product, then create a website detailing the terms of the FrontPage EULA. Include your opinions, but try to make it as informative as possible. Technically, this would be anti-MS (I don't see how it couldn't).
Then, wait and see what happens. My guess is MS will leave it alone. At worst, they might revoke your license, in which case you're better off that you were before.:P
I just got off the phone with my friend whose girlfriend has a nearly miraculous survival story.
She arrived at work on the 81st floor of the north tower at 8:45am EDT today. The first plane crashed into this tower at about 8:55am EDT about 5 floors above her. After the initial confusion and chaos, everybody on her floor headed towards the exits and began the slow evacuation down the stairs.
While the first building was being evacuated, the second plane hit the south tower at about 9:05am. An hour later while still making her way down the stairs of the north tower, the south tower collapses at 10:07am. 20 minutes after that at 10:27am, and nearly an hour and a half after the first plane crashed into her building, she makes it to the bottom floor as the north tower begins to collapse down onto her. (Sadly, I assume everybody in floors any higher than 81 probably didn't make it out of the building.)
She was one of the last people to make it out of the building, but she did not make it far before a door fell on top of her and pinned her to the ground. In retrospect, she was very lucky because the door shielded her from glass and other falling objects.
After the dust settled somewhat, she was discovered by police and taken to the hospital. She is in stable condition and is being treated for bruises, cuts, and broken bones.
I can only imagine how she must feel to have been at ground zero and still be alive to tell about it.
I had the chance to be a special computer guest for my teacher-friend. What I did was bring in a 3D graphics program. I showed them all some animations I had done and they were glued to the computer screen.
I then sent them off to their own computers where I had pre-laoded the software and ran them through the basics. By the end of the class period, they were making some really cool scenes! And they were only K-2!
Whatever you do, make sure it's something that's fun and involving. Kids are awesome and most of them pick up on things quick, so you have to keep it interesting.
I work for one of the USA's largest (if not THE largest) philanthropies and am part of a team responsible for maintaining servers and user workstations in each of the four time zones in the continental US. Until recently, all support calls were made to our headquarters in Maryland, but the help desk there only worked fstandard business hours.
Two months ago, to better service our user base, we outsourced our help desk support to a 24/7 company called Seneca that specializes in end-user support. They maintain a knowledgebase specific to our company, so the more calls they handle, the better they get at dealing with our specific users. If they can't fix a problem, they escalate it to an internal tech like me.
What's great about this company is that all the support calls are entered into a web-accessible database. Non-mission-critical calls are usually filtered out for us, and a list of currently unresolved calls is always available for us to view on the web.
Outsourceing saves all of us a headache, knowing support is always there and nobody has to have their private lives disturbed unless it's an absolute emergency.
I also was an early adopter of PacBell DSL in Oakland, Ca. I had a hell of a time getting the line provisioned and the equipment delivered for self-install, but after waiting a few weeks after the promised delivery/install date, all was good.
The self-install went very smoothly. It was almost literally plug and play after configuring my TCP/IP (I paid for the extended, static IP, non-PPPoE service).
I am near the outer limits of the DSL range, however I regularly get >1000kbps downstream. I have had zero downtime. I could not ask for better DSL service. The best tech support is the one you don't have to use.
I'm a mac user. The significance comes in later. Anyway, I heard horror stories about slow install service from PacBell, so when I ordered extended (static-IP) service, I asked to do a self-install. This was about April 10. They said they normally don't allow that, but I assured the tech that I knew what I was doing (having installed a few ISDN modems before, and knowing DSL is much easier). Somehow I impressed the tech and he put my order through as a self-install. My line was set to be conditioned on April 25, and the modem was supposed to arrive soon after.
My line was conditioned as promised, but no modem arrived. I spoke to three diffrent techs on two consecutive days. Finally I tracked down the problem. I have a Mac. They don't allow self-installs on a Mac. I asked why, but they had no straight answer. The real reason is probably nobody on their staff knows how, so surely no customer does....
To aviod the whole shenanigan, I changed my order and asked them to have someone come out and install it for me. Now my install date was May 10. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I really wanted the thing installed so I could start working from home via VNC. I couldn't wait to end my commuting.
Strangely, on May 5, I received a package from PacBell containing one DSL modem, one 10/100baseT NIC, 5 inline filters, a wall-mount filter, and one line splitter. "Hmmmm...," I thought. "It couldn't be as easy as plug and play, coult it?." The NIC was extraneous since I've got built-in 10bT ethernet (the DSL modem is only 10bT), so I plugged the DSL modem into the wall, and then ran a cable between it and the uplink port on my existing hub. I booted the Mac, entered the handily provided IP information and Voila! A quick trip to DSL Reports showed me downloading at over 1000kb/s. I couldn't have asked for a simpler install.
The funny thing is, I've since received two notices from PacBell in the mail -- the last via priority certified US Mail. They apologize for not yet getting to my DSL install. I wonder when, if ever, I'm going to be charged for my DSL service.:) Aside from clueless employees, I'm a curiously happy PacBell customer.
"There are a lot of x in the world." (where x = idiots).
The term a lot is an example of metaphorical speech. Literally, it likens the amount of x to an amount large enough to fill a lot (i.e. a large open space: e.g. a parking lot).
Alot is a non-word. A lot is two words that are perfectly fine to use. If I were going to be a proper grammarian, I'd tell you to avoid the term alltogether and use many instead. Here are some examples:
There are alot of idiots in the world. --This makes you one of them.
There are a lot of idiots in the world. --This makes you look like a person with average brains.
There are many idiots in the world. --This makes you look very intelligent.
Slashdot Mirror
I can see it now: Pringles cans mounted all over the Eiffel Tower...
The hard part is finding enough French people to eat the chips.
This is precisely the reason why the IT helpdesk exists. :)
What they need to do now is create a hybrid cell/wi-fi/VoIP phone with bluetooth that can auto-sense where it is in relation to your desk and/or office building.
When at your desk, your wired desk phone rings. When in the hallway/bathroom/break room, your wireless phone rings. When outside the building, calls are forwarded to your cell number on the same device.
You would be able to customize each of the 3 zones (office, building, world) with its own call-handling rule set. Higher-end models would also auto-sense when you were in the bathroom, so you could avoid those embarrasing moments without thinking twice.
Write a script that filters out non-suspicious activity in the logs so that you're left with only the stuff you want to see.
Of course, creating that data filter is the tough part. You don't want to be too inclusive or too restrictive.
Step 1: Secure Network
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit
You took the words right outta my mouth. :P
That is SO not true.
.dll from your computer. Then, they install a hidden FTP server from which they will share their personal collection of kiddie porn. Then, they call the feds and have you busted for sharing kiddie porn with the world.
Breaking in is only the first step. Next, the hacker will deface your website with some sort of calling card that attract hundreds of other hackers to the site. Then, they will install a worm that will replicate itself across your entire network and erase all files anding in
So as you can see, being boring is not the best defense after all.
(On the other hand, if you've already got kiddie porn on your computer, you can use this security method and accuse the hackers when someone discovers it.)
Keep in mind who the target audience is. Those of us who care a lot about the recording and mastering quality of the music we listen to (this includes early adopters of DVD-A and/or SACD) will NOT be using this service as our main source of music.
When I want a quality listening session, I pull my chair into the sweet spot, fire up the Pink Floyd DSotM SACD, and enter a realm of auditory bliss. When I'm more interested in variety than quality, then I'll hook the iPod up to the stereo and rock out. The flexibity of custom playlists comprised of legally-acquired, good-quality music far outweighs the downsides of any compression arftifacts that I may hear.
This service is not intended to replace buying your music on physical media. It's intended to replace hunting and downloading music of questionable quality and unknown content. (Who among us has not downloaded an incorrectly labeled MP3?) At the same time, it encourages music companies to transition to a new business model -- away from the album paradigm and toward a track-based paradigm. Imagine an artist's popularity being based on the number of tracks they sell as opposed to albums? There'd be far less fluff out there.
This service is absolutely the right thing at the right time. I downloaded iTunes 4 and started browsing the store as soon as the link appeared on Apple's home page (after clicking reload every few seconds like a well-seasoned FP troll). I took some willpower not to click buy. The free 30-second previews play instantly and are the same quality as the whole song. Where else can you get that?
Wow.
Yes, but only if there's a hot, bikini-clad chick taking a dump through said product.
There's a difference between movie production studios and other companies/corporations. Studios are extremely "tool-driven" in that the timeliness and quality of their production is extremely dependent upon the quality and flexibility of their tools.
The average corporation, on the other hand, is not as dependent on an extremely flexible desktop computer. All you need is a compter that runs an office suite, and they've already got that in Microsoft.
So the thought that studios might be setting an example for other corporations is a longshot indeed.
Weather balloons don't use hot air. They use helium. Hot air wouldn't stay hot for very long at the altitudes weather balloons reach.
I've got a system set up at home that is much better than this, as far as sheer geek factor is concerned. Components are as follows:
:)
1 home stereo system
1 iBook w/VNC server loaded
1 Airport network
a couple other computers throughout the house
What I do is connect my iBook's sound-out to the stereo. I have a bunch of mp3s on the local hard drive, but I can also connect to my other computers to access more music. Once I have a satisfactory playlist setup, I start playing it and then tuck the iBook out of sight somewhere.
With VNC viewer, I can connect to my iBook from any other computer in the house mess around with the play order or skip tracks at will. Since I don't have a remote control for my iBook, this is the next best thing.
What's really great is that I can give friends the IP and pass for my iBook/VNC and they can pick my music for me.
There's no sense boycotting the product. I would assume that the majority of users here on /. don't even use FrontPage, so a boycott is pointless.
:P
I say instead of staging as boycott, go out and actually buy the product, then create a website detailing the terms of the FrontPage EULA. Include your opinions, but try to make it as informative as possible. Technically, this would be anti-MS (I don't see how it couldn't).
Then, wait and see what happens. My guess is MS will leave it alone. At worst, they might revoke your license, in which case you're better off that you were before.
I just got off the phone with my friend whose girlfriend has a nearly miraculous survival story.
She arrived at work on the 81st floor of the north tower at 8:45am EDT today. The first plane crashed into this tower at about 8:55am EDT about 5 floors above her. After the initial confusion and chaos, everybody on her floor headed towards the exits and began the slow evacuation down the stairs.
While the first building was being evacuated, the second plane hit the south tower at about 9:05am. An hour later while still making her way down the stairs of the north tower, the south tower collapses at 10:07am. 20 minutes after that at 10:27am, and nearly an hour and a half after the first plane crashed into her building, she makes it to the bottom floor as the north tower begins to collapse down onto her. (Sadly, I assume everybody in floors any higher than 81 probably didn't make it out of the building.)
She was one of the last people to make it out of the building, but she did not make it far before a door fell on top of her and pinned her to the ground. In retrospect, she was very lucky because the door shielded her from glass and other falling objects.
After the dust settled somewhat, she was discovered by police and taken to the hospital. She is in stable condition and is being treated for bruises, cuts, and broken bones.
I can only imagine how she must feel to have been at ground zero and still be alive to tell about it.
ever watch Star Trek? He's been assimilated and is depictes as a Borg.
Didn't you see "Finding Forrester"? :)
I had the chance to be a special computer guest for my teacher-friend. What I did was bring in a 3D graphics program. I showed them all some animations I had done and they were glued to the computer screen.
I then sent them off to their own computers where I had pre-laoded the software and ran them through the basics. By the end of the class period, they were making some really cool scenes! And they were only K-2!
Whatever you do, make sure it's something that's fun and involving. Kids are awesome and most of them pick up on things quick, so you have to keep it interesting.
Do you at least get a baseball cap or bat with your purchase?
I work for one of the USA's largest (if not THE largest) philanthropies and am part of a team responsible for maintaining servers and user workstations in each of the four time zones in the continental US. Until recently, all support calls were made to our headquarters in Maryland, but the help desk there only worked fstandard business hours.
Two months ago, to better service our user base, we outsourced our help desk support to a 24/7 company called Seneca that specializes in end-user support. They maintain a knowledgebase specific to our company, so the more calls they handle, the better they get at dealing with our specific users. If they can't fix a problem, they escalate it to an internal tech like me.
What's great about this company is that all the support calls are entered into a web-accessible database. Non-mission-critical calls are usually filtered out for us, and a list of currently unresolved calls is always available for us to view on the web.
Outsourceing saves all of us a headache, knowing support is always there and nobody has to have their private lives disturbed unless it's an absolute emergency.
I also was an early adopter of PacBell DSL in Oakland, Ca. I had a hell of a time getting the line provisioned and the equipment delivered for self-install, but after waiting a few weeks after the promised delivery/install date, all was good. The self-install went very smoothly. It was almost literally plug and play after configuring my TCP/IP (I paid for the extended, static IP, non-PPPoE service). I am near the outer limits of the DSL range, however I regularly get >1000kbps downstream. I have had zero downtime. I could not ask for better DSL service. The best tech support is the one you don't have to use.
I'm a mac user. The significance comes in later. Anyway, I heard horror stories about slow install service from PacBell, so when I ordered extended (static-IP) service, I asked to do a self-install. This was about April 10. They said they normally don't allow that, but I assured the tech that I knew what I was doing (having installed a few ISDN modems before, and knowing DSL is much easier). Somehow I impressed the tech and he put my order through as a self-install. My line was set to be conditioned on April 25, and the modem was supposed to arrive soon after.
My line was conditioned as promised, but no modem arrived. I spoke to three diffrent techs on two consecutive days. Finally I tracked down the problem. I have a Mac. They don't allow self-installs on a Mac. I asked why, but they had no straight answer. The real reason is probably nobody on their staff knows how, so surely no customer does....
To aviod the whole shenanigan, I changed my order and asked them to have someone come out and install it for me. Now my install date was May 10. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I really wanted the thing installed so I could start working from home via VNC. I couldn't wait to end my commuting.
Strangely, on May 5, I received a package from PacBell containing one DSL modem, one 10/100baseT NIC, 5 inline filters, a wall-mount filter, and one line splitter. "Hmmmm...," I thought. "It couldn't be as easy as plug and play, coult it?." The NIC was extraneous since I've got built-in 10bT ethernet (the DSL modem is only 10bT), so I plugged the DSL modem into the wall, and then ran a cable between it and the uplink port on my existing hub. I booted the Mac, entered the handily provided IP information and Voila! A quick trip to DSL Reports showed me downloading at over 1000kb/s. I couldn't have asked for a simpler install.
The funny thing is, I've since received two notices from PacBell in the mail -- the last via priority certified US Mail. They apologize for not yet getting to my DSL install. I wonder when, if ever, I'm going to be charged for my DSL service. :) Aside from clueless employees, I'm a curiously happy PacBell customer.
"There are a lot of x in the world." (where x = idiots).
The term a lot is an example of metaphorical speech. Literally, it likens the amount of x to an amount large enough to fill a lot (i.e. a large open space: e.g. a parking lot).
Alot is a non-word. A lot is two words that are perfectly fine to use. If I were going to be a proper grammarian, I'd tell you to avoid the term alltogether and use many instead. Here are some examples:
- There are alot of idiots in the world. --This makes you one of them.
- There are a lot of idiots in the world. --This makes you look like a person with average brains.
- There are many idiots in the world. --This makes you look very intelligent.
Verstehen sie?