As I've just learned today, component video out isn't always a great thing on a MCE box. I've discovered that DVDs with Macrovision won't play back through component video at 720p or above for some f'ed up reason. On the other hand, it will work with DVI, which is higher quality. Don't you just love the hideous offspring that dumps out when the entertainment industry and the PC industry get it on?
Add to it the general feeling among business analysts that ellison's acquisitions are often targeted to remove "distructive competition" in markets that Oracle is in a position to dominate. So, he'll play hardball to acquire competitors who undermine Oracle's pricing power. Once acquired, their customers are transitioned to Oracle, they are dismantled, and the tech is basically scrapped.
It looks like he's doing something similar to try and contain the influence of mySQL. First, he's buying some of their major suppliers. That gives him leverage over mySQL AG, which he can exert in various ways, including as leverage to get a favorable price for acquiring them.
I bet that some of the facts are accurate, but the interpretation is informed more by the writer's deisre to create a "good story" that fits a well established pattern, rather than any informed analysis.
Google may well be building a global network. They may well be planning on opening it to consumers and they are no doubt doing it to serve their business interests. That doesn't mean they have to lock out their "competitors" for such an investment to be worthwhile.
A huge reason for them to make that kind of investment is so they have a lever against network providers (like AT&T) who think they deserve some of Google's revenue. They don't even necessarily have to do a complete build out, they just need the ability to reach a significant number of AT&Ts subscribers and be able to make a creditable threat they can extend their reach in the future and old Ed Whitacre is likely to change his tune. Google's ace in the hole is that they can subsidize access with ad revenues, which has got to scare the shit out of a telco guy even more than the idea of free long distance.
It's taking Microsoft so long to do anything about this because someone chose to make an issue of this longstanding problem at the end of the year, when half of Microsoft is on vacation so that the 4+ weeks of vacation they get a year won't expire.
That's why unions organize at an industry level. Doing so also mitigates employer concerns that if their workers unionize they'll be undercut by a competitor who'se haven't (yet).
You're a very enlightened patrician, congratulations on veiwing the plebes as actual humans.
Just don't worry too much about the fact that they get one week vacation a year, no sick leave (so they'll come to work and infect you), crummy heath insurance and lousy 401k, not to mention the guarantee that they have to look for work every year as punishment for getting too uppity once upon a time.
Just worry about sticking your blue nose up the ass of the other blue noses so you can be sure to get a good review, then shove your nose a little deeper so they don't see you frown when your raise for doing MORE than was expected of you still doesn't keep pace with the cost of living.
Unless this is bundled with Firefox, and I've seen no indication that it will be, this changes nothing. Users will still have to download and install this plugin before they can download bittorrent content, just like they need to download and install a bittorrent client before they can download bittorrent content today.
Why should a letter like this even be privileged information after it has been issued?
This administration has gone crazy for secrecy, classifying more documents than any previous administartion. We shouldn't roll over and accept that a letter like this should be anything but completely public.
One of the huge strengths of silicon valley is that it has a big population of technical and business savvy folks who have worked with each other at a succession of startups. When its time to ramp up at a new startup, people already know people they have a good track record and they'll either try to hire those people, or ask them to reccommend people they trust.
Similarly systems are at work in other areas like Seattle, Austin, Boston and even NYC, though none are as well developed as silicon valley.
You can try and tap these networks, though as an outsider, you're at risk for being played.
Similar networks also are at play in the virtual world. You might go looking for a well run small open source project whose developers have similar competencies to what you are seeking. You might be able to work a deal with some of the core developers to work on your project.
Whatever you do, you'll be best off if you structure the deal to align your interests with those of the development team as best as possible. They should be treated as individuals, rather than a collective entity. My first thought is to structure compensation as something like a weekly rate plus bonuses for crossing key milestones in a timely manner, or perhaps some upside from the finished product.
She was giddy last night after viewing all the demo videos and she's only ever played one video game. Of course, that game was Morrowind, and she played a lot of it.
I'm just wondering what sort of upgrades I'm going to have to do to see this at its best.
This sort of mindset is exactly why Google is dabbling in setting up WiFi networks and why Microsoft has been investing in community mesh networks. They need a credible alternative to DSL & Cabel internet access, or the providers of last mile connectivity will start looking for a share of revenue of everyone who delivers services over IP for access to "their customers" That's right, they want to charge you for the pipe on one end, and turn around and charge the people you are connecting to, on a per transaction basis, if at all possible.
Don't think they aren't determined to find a way to do it.
What's needed is enough competition to make it impossible for them, and that is going to take more than a choice between the cable company and the phone company, even better if some of that competition has ways of turning a profit beyond simply gouging for connectivity.
Not to mention that in many other countries (including european countries), the landline telco was long a nationalized monopoly. You think private monopolies are slow and stifling? Just throw in national politics and buracracy into the mix.
My understanding was that the EU broke with the US because it was thought that such a position would allow them to work as a bridge to the other side in order to come to an agreement. Instead, it's only made things more fractious.
Flagpole Sitta has also been covered by Green Day and someone else I can't remember ATM...
The original Harvey Danger version of Flagpole Sitta has also been swapped all over Kazaa and Limewire mislabeled as being by Greenday and someone else I can't remember ATM.
Slashdot Mirror
Clearly I'm a dolt who can't read benchmarks properly.
Where on earth did you get the idea that the 7900GT performs on par with the 7800GTX?
I think ExtremeTech and PC Mag have the exact same publisher.
As I've just learned today, component video out isn't always a great thing on a MCE box. I've discovered that DVDs with Macrovision won't play back through component video at 720p or above for some f'ed up reason. On the other hand, it will work with DVI, which is higher quality. Don't you just love the hideous offspring that dumps out when the entertainment industry and the PC industry get it on?
If the toads turned into wallruses, I'd toss out evolution and intelligent design and sign up for creationism (or satanism)
I think jadavis makes some great points here.
Add to it the general feeling among business analysts that ellison's acquisitions are often targeted to remove "distructive competition" in markets that Oracle is in a position to dominate. So, he'll play hardball to acquire competitors who undermine Oracle's pricing power. Once acquired, their customers are transitioned to Oracle, they are dismantled, and the tech is basically scrapped.
It looks like he's doing something similar to try and contain the influence of mySQL. First, he's buying some of their major suppliers. That gives him leverage over mySQL AG, which he can exert in various ways, including as leverage to get a favorable price for acquiring them.
I bet that some of the facts are accurate, but the interpretation is informed more by the writer's deisre to create a "good story" that fits a well established pattern, rather than any informed analysis.
Google may well be building a global network. They may well be planning on opening it to consumers and they are no doubt doing it to serve their business interests. That doesn't mean they have to lock out their "competitors" for such an investment to be worthwhile.
A huge reason for them to make that kind of investment is so they have a lever against network providers (like AT&T) who think they deserve some of Google's revenue. They don't even necessarily have to do a complete build out, they just need the ability to reach a significant number of AT&Ts subscribers and be able to make a creditable threat they can extend their reach in the future and old Ed Whitacre is likely to change his tune. Google's ace in the hole is that they can subsidize access with ad revenues, which has got to scare the shit out of a telco guy even more than the idea of free long distance.
It's taking Microsoft so long to do anything about this because someone chose to make an issue of this longstanding problem at the end of the year, when half of Microsoft is on vacation so that the 4+ weeks of vacation they get a year won't expire.
That's why unions organize at an industry level. Doing so also mitigates employer concerns that if their workers unionize they'll be undercut by a competitor who'se haven't (yet).
You're a very enlightened patrician, congratulations on veiwing the plebes as actual humans.
Just don't worry too much about the fact that they get one week vacation a year, no sick leave (so they'll come to work and infect you), crummy heath insurance and lousy 401k, not to mention the guarantee that they have to look for work every year as punishment for getting too uppity once upon a time.
Just worry about sticking your blue nose up the ass of the other blue noses so you can be sure to get a good review, then shove your nose a little deeper so they don't see you frown when your raise for doing MORE than was expected of you still doesn't keep pace with the cost of living.
Unless this is bundled with Firefox, and I've seen no indication that it will be, this changes nothing. Users will still have to download and install this plugin before they can download bittorrent content, just like they need to download and install a bittorrent client before they can download bittorrent content today.
What would the logic be?
Why do you assume that the person you are replying to knows anything at all about what actually happens at a food bank?
Ajax is a cleanser. Tide is a clothes washing detergent.
Comet, on the other hand is/was an ajax competitor.
Why should a letter like this even be privileged information after it has been issued?
This administration has gone crazy for secrecy, classifying more documents than any previous administartion. We shouldn't roll over and accept that a letter like this should be anything but completely public.
Nicely done!
One of the huge strengths of silicon valley is that it has a big population of technical and business savvy folks who have worked with each other at a succession of startups. When its time to ramp up at a new startup, people already know people they have a good track record and they'll either try to hire those people, or ask them to reccommend people they trust.
Similarly systems are at work in other areas like Seattle, Austin, Boston and even NYC, though none are as well developed as silicon valley.
You can try and tap these networks, though as an outsider, you're at risk for being played.
Similar networks also are at play in the virtual world. You might go looking for a well run small open source project whose developers have similar competencies to what you are seeking. You might be able to work a deal with some of the core developers to work on your project.
Whatever you do, you'll be best off if you structure the deal to align your interests with those of the development team as best as possible. They should be treated as individuals, rather than a collective entity. My first thought is to structure compensation as something like a weekly rate plus bonuses for crossing key milestones in a timely manner, or perhaps some upside from the finished product.
My wife is also a woman who showers daily.
She was giddy last night after viewing all the demo videos and she's only ever played one video game. Of course, that game was Morrowind, and she played a lot of it.
I'm just wondering what sort of upgrades I'm going to have to do to see this at its best.
Speakeasy is going to be paying higher and higher fees for access to the local loop because of recent FCC rulings.
This sort of mindset is exactly why Google is dabbling in setting up WiFi networks and why Microsoft has been investing in community mesh networks. They need a credible alternative to DSL & Cabel internet access, or the providers of last mile connectivity will start looking for a share of revenue of everyone who delivers services over IP for access to "their customers" That's right, they want to charge you for the pipe on one end, and turn around and charge the people you are connecting to, on a per transaction basis, if at all possible.
Don't think they aren't determined to find a way to do it.
What's needed is enough competition to make it impossible for them, and that is going to take more than a choice between the cable company and the phone company, even better if some of that competition has ways of turning a profit beyond simply gouging for connectivity.
Because more functionality isn't aways better, especially in a smaller device.
You might as well be asking why people buy screwdrivers and pliers instead of a single Leathermen.
Not to mention that in many other countries (including european countries), the landline telco was long a nationalized monopoly. You think private monopolies are slow and stifling? Just throw in national politics and buracracy into the mix.
My understanding was that the EU broke with the US because it was thought that such a position would allow them to work as a bridge to the other side in order to come to an agreement. Instead, it's only made things more fractious.
The original Harvey Danger version of Flagpole Sitta has also been swapped all over Kazaa and Limewire mislabeled as being by Greenday and someone else I can't remember ATM.
The HTTP direct downloads were encoded with LAME using the --alt-preset 160 setting. The Bittorrent MP3s were encoded using --alt-preset-extreme.