Dashwerks is about to release our flagship telematics server. It's a very similar product, however, ours originates in (and is) open-source. It's been seen on here before (back in 2001).
One could couple this page with javascript and you could make your webserver display a screensaver if someone was idle on your webpage too long. When the animation detects mouse movement, have the browser reload your page.
Linux doesn't have a guerilla marketing team asking questions like this just so they can make money - that's why I like it.
A question like this is highly questionable in nature considering that Microsoft is going to make the next Windows offering (Longhorn) "much more linux-like".
I smell a Microsoft rat. As such, my first response to this question is: Use a non-Microsoft operating system [for a while] and find out.
Some things can't be told - they can only be experienced.
I'm new to X.org's release and I'm wondering why it's better than Xfree86. Are there any compelling reasons to switch? In my mind, compelling reasons are existing irritations with X that have been resolved (specificially the issues between switching among text and X consoles)...
Anyone care to post a few reasons why we should switch?
Please note: Slackware has switched, and since slackware is my Distro of Choice (DioCh - [pronounced: deeotch]), I'm going to end up using it in the end anyway. I'm just curious to know whats so great about it...
That video is one of the most impressive things I've seen (as related to PC video/games). The scene that looks like a night club is astounding, and the scenes with the mirrors are extremely cool.
I can't wait to see this technology in production.
I read a thread on here about a year ago, and it inspired me to come up with a great new device: An array of IR bulbs placed behind the movie screen. Since CCD cameras pick up infrared light as BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT, it would make the recorders non-functional. Since humans can't see IR light, it wouldn't affect their movie going experience what-so-ever. However, since CCDs see IR light (it's how night-vision cameras work) they would see the array lights and make the video imperceptible.
Here's an experiment to try - Point an IR remote at a video camera and see what happens. Here's a hint: BRIGHT WHITE FLASHES from that little device is what happens.
How did I get the idea... hrmmm... lemme see - Oh yeah, it was based on an article I read here on Slashdot last year!
I will a link to the article when/if I find it.
I'm not trying to stifle innovation here, I'm just pointing out that you can't claim originality to and idea that was posted publicly a little while back.
Meanwhile the manager and the executive team who were probably missing in action most of the late nights and weekends, probably busy partying, will get a shit load of options and huge bonuses.
Welcome to capitalism, ain't it grand.
I love it when intelligent people bitch and moan about their situation in life while giving advice to someone else!
If you're so "together" why don't you heed your own advice and start your own company/project and put all of your skills to use (instead of just those that your employer wants [or will let you use]).
'The executive team' have paid their dues, whether you like them or not. As 'droll' as he/she/they may seem to you, they are at the top of their game (whatever it may be). They probably put in more hours than you can ever moan about, AND they had the balls to persue their dreams and give it their all.
Until you're willing to do the same, please quit complaining about Capitalism and "working for the man" whilst simultaneously advising against someone who is working hard for their dreams.
I only mean this post in a constructive way (however negative it may sound). I just want to motivate you and rest of the OS crowd to action. Society needs more intelligent people calling the shots - just please remember from whence you came when your company is shaping the world...
Now that Sun is in bed with Microsoft (Java Desktop anyone?), it should be a peice of cake for them to release the obsolete JVM code about 11 months from now.
(yes, I know that is an old link; the point is illustrate how far back Sun was getting nailed by MSFT; a quick slashdot search will show more recently how they're still bent over)
Do you have any idea how much money it would cost you to defend yourself against a patent infringement case?
Patent law is a HUGE money industry. AVERAGE Patent lawsuits are counted by "millions", not "thousands" like your average jackass civil case.
If MSFT or one of the other 500lb gorillas came knocking on your door, you would have no choice but to bend over and take it.
Don't even try and say that you're going to put your family's home, your car, and your girlfriend's jewelry up in an attempt to protect your open-source latest-greatest media player - I think you'd be lying if you said that you would.
The point being that patents are an EXTREMELY POWERFUL OFFENSIVE tool that hasn't really be used in the non-commercial arena - YET. The fact that they're racking up these patents without enforcing them, inclines me to believe that a mass exodus is on the horizon: attack every major open-source package with a combination of injunctions, cease-and-desist letters, and lawsuits. The end result could probably look like this:
-Those that don't even fight and just take their projects down: 35% -Those that want to fight, but don't have the financial legal backing to fight but ultimately end up taking their sites down: 30% -Those that fight and lose everything they put on the line for the sake of the industry: 15% -Those that fight and win (after putting everything on the line for the sake of the industry): 10%
[ Please note: this is purely speculation ]
Net result: an overnight shutdown of about 80% of the _major_ open-source projects out there.
This one happens to be good, and just makes me think - how can we, the developers of the web, stp this from happening?
By breaking IE. As content providers and web"masters" we have control of the web. My website intentionally renders very poorly in IE. I use PNGs with alpha transparency. I delay serving pages on the server side to people using IE. IE is a second rate browser, and as a result my website gives it second hand treatment.
If Apache shipped with a module that fed pages to IE slower than W3C compliant browsers, it could dramatically affect the landscape of the web. Why does Apache not use it's monopoly power to better it's cause? That's the problem with the open-source crowd: We're too nice. The corporations are playing hardball, and we're still playing Mr. Niceperson.
Before someone posts a rebuttal to this saying, "But then your website is not being standards compliant and open to the web... boo hoo hoo..."; let me preempt them with this thought:
Why should I as a content provider, have to cater to someone who wants needs(or wants) to visit my site when THEY have selected to use a crippled peice of software? Why should I have to develop 2 websites (one for IE and one for the rest of the world W3C)?
I shouldn't and I don't. In fact, I'd like to propose a day called the "Great IE Blackout Boycott".
Let's get as many webmasters as possible to all stop serving pages to IE browsers all on ONE DAY.
Or better still, why don't we build marketing hype like a corporate entity and then on some predetermined day, we all advertise and market Mozilla/Opera/whatever and redirect IE lusers to it. Effectively a Dragnet to convert the IE sheep that are using IE because they don't know about anything else. If 30-40% of the web suddenly advertised a new browser on the same day, I bet a paradigm shift would occur.
there needs to be another American revolution, one which breaks up the Union into a set of smaller unions where the federal government isn't so separated from the people
This is inevitable. The US will segregate itself based on state laws. In fact, it's happening right now. Gay people can wed in some states but not others (at present). As a result, Gay people will tend to 'migrate' to those states that allow it.
On the other side of the coin, but on the same token - States like Utah (which outlaw alcohol), tend to draw more religious right wing people. California (particularly San Fran.) tends to draw progressive people to it; and LA tends to draw plastic/fake people that value their apperance and little more. Florida draws old people seeking serenity, and Vermont draws people looking to go back in time.
Granted there will always be people that aren't happy where they live, however, in general I think that a cultural revolution/migration is taking place now. Within a few generations the separation is going to become much more apparent. The federal government is going to become increasing called into question as it's forced to see-saw among the left and right wings. The power struggle between the left and the right will eventually crumble under its own momentum shifts (picture an amplified wave).
Put an operating system on the machine that runs VMware (Linux, Windows, whatever). Install your "desktop machine" as you want it configured and then save the image on a read-only partition (or as a read-only file). Configure it to boot into the VMware image by default, and when the luser fscks it up, you can just step in with a knoppix CD, copy the image file over, and reboot the machine. Instant Computer Restore - ICR(tm), just add water(tm).
If I read correctly, Brun's theory (and constant) are saying that dual primes become increasingly difficult to find even with an infinite amount of numbers. To me, this sounds like an asymtote, and the only way to describe Pi would be an asymtotic function of primes, right (since primes are unique and non-formulaic)?
I'm not sure if I'm explaining this correctly, but couldn't this shed some light on pi and e.
I think you mean: "Linux users are an inevitable new market phenomenon, and [our company] wants to increase profits by jumping on this great new bandwagon early."
The money that M$ is losing on this MP3 player project could be invested in market research and finding the next User Interface design geniuses that will put out something that'll make every M$ bashing geek on/. cream in his pants.
If you think that throwing money at R&D will create "innovation" you are sadly mistaken. In my opinion, the surest way to stifle innovation is to force it. It's much like sex in that way - the more you think about it, the worse it is. Deadlines, financial restrictions, etc. are all dampers on R&D. These companies would be much better suited to put money into smaller companies and projects that are truly innovating (around them).
Only in this way will they really be able to claim true "innovation". Forcing a bunch of Post-Doctorates to "just come up with something" will likely produce nothing marketable. I'm basing this statement on the timely manner that the current IT marketplace demands. If you quote me, please quote me in context.
Not masking tape!!! I absolutely abhor putting tape on my cables/wires/etc. Few things are worse than pulling a cool "retro" box from the garage or attic and finding tape-that-became-goo all over your cables (especially if it's a hard to find specialty cable that you HAVE to use). Electrical tape tends to be the biggest culprit of goo-residue, but I digress...
I also tried the tie-wraps but if you need to get to a cable and you don't have your utility knife/boxcutter (*shudder*), your cable will be limited to 6" or so.
The best solution that I've found is to buy a $0.99 box of hair-tie rubber band thingys. Interestingly, I discovered these little beauties when I grew my hair long and had them laying all over the place. The ones that I use are the little black rubber-band looking things that are made for girls and designed "not to tear hair". They're basically some type of plastic coated rubber band. They're very strong (compared to typical rubber bands), they stretch more than standard rubber bands [I believe], and they work great on PC cables (and long hair when necessary).
The only problem that it's continually overlooked when people propose the PDA idea is that there is no haptic (tactile) interface. Watching a moving and having to look down at the PDA's interface to change the volume is not pleasant (IMHO). It's much nicer to be able to mindlessly reach down and push a button on a normal remote/kb via touch and not sight+touch.
Heh! When I was in High-school we took things a step farther by taking Mr. Bouknecht's overhead projector lens out of the housing. [I'm quite certain] it's a true Fresnel Lens - but the point is that it was like a magnifying glass on steroids. We had to be careful just walking out into the parking lot with it because if it caught a friends leg and the sun at the right angle, they'd be in a world of hurt.
Aaahh, fun times being a juvenille. My advice to the next generation though - be as mischievious as normal, but don't do anything stupid or anything that will get you thrown in jail. Be intelligent with your "inevitable" delinquency [you call it rebellion] - we've all been there - however don't get anyone hurt or needlessly damage property.
Life is much more exciting as an experienced adult making thousands of dollars a month. Trust me on this one all you guys. Science is fun, but it can also be very dangerous... Be safe - because if you go to jail or die, the guy you hate will likely reproduce and you never will. And that would suck.
Cutting service costs will definitely help the bottom line.
Particularly, when they have a very low cost capital outlay in the matter. If they were having to invest capital into this idea, they would easily tell the consumer where to stick it.
Slashdot Mirror
Dashwerks is about to release our flagship telematics server. It's a very similar product, however, ours originates in (and is) open-source. It's been seen on here before (back in 2001).
One could couple this page with javascript and you could make your webserver display a screensaver if someone was idle on your webpage too long. When the animation detects mouse movement, have the browser reload your page.
It's funny how when this was originally posted on slashdot, he didn't have an anti-Kerry animation running on the site.
Now he does. Enjoy the Patriot Act and John Ashcroft if "your GW boy" gets elected.
Sounds like this little LED project is being used as election year propaganda.
Linux doesn't have a guerilla marketing team asking questions like this just so they can make money - that's why I like it.
A question like this is highly questionable in nature considering that Microsoft is going to make the next Windows offering (Longhorn) "much more linux-like".
I smell a Microsoft rat. As such, my first response to this question is: Use a non-Microsoft operating system [for a while] and find out.
Some things can't be told - they can only be experienced.
"Are you experienced?" -jimi hendrix
I'm new to X.org's release and I'm wondering why it's better than Xfree86. Are there any compelling reasons to switch? In my mind, compelling reasons are existing irritations with X that have been resolved (specificially the issues between switching among text and X consoles)...
Anyone care to post a few reasons why we should switch?
Please note: Slackware has switched, and since slackware is my Distro of Choice (DioCh - [pronounced: deeotch]), I'm going to end up using it in the end anyway. I'm just curious to know whats so great about it...
That video is one of the most impressive things I've seen (as related to PC video/games). The scene that looks like a night club is astounding, and the scenes with the mirrors are extremely cool.
I can't wait to see this technology in production.
I read a thread on here about a year ago, and it inspired me to come up with a great new device: An array of IR bulbs placed behind the movie screen. Since CCD cameras pick up infrared light as BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT, it would make the recorders non-functional. Since humans can't see IR light, it wouldn't affect their movie going experience what-so-ever. However, since CCDs see IR light (it's how night-vision cameras work) they would see the array lights and make the video imperceptible.
Here's an experiment to try - Point an IR remote at a video camera and see what happens. Here's a hint: BRIGHT WHITE FLASHES from that little device is what happens.
How did I get the idea... hrmmm... lemme see - Oh yeah, it was based on an article I read here on Slashdot last year!
I will a link to the article when/if I find it.
I'm not trying to stifle innovation here, I'm just pointing out that you can't claim originality to and idea that was posted publicly a little while back.
Meanwhile the manager and the executive team who were probably missing in action most of the late nights and weekends, probably busy partying, will get a shit load of options and huge bonuses.
Welcome to capitalism, ain't it grand.
I love it when intelligent people bitch and moan about their situation in life while giving advice to someone else!
If you're so "together" why don't you heed your own advice and start your own company/project and put all of your skills to use (instead of just those that your employer wants [or will let you use]).
'The executive team' have paid their dues, whether you like them or not. As 'droll' as he/she/they may seem to you, they are at the top of their game (whatever it may be). They probably put in more hours than you can ever moan about, AND they had the balls to persue their dreams and give it their all.
Until you're willing to do the same, please quit complaining about Capitalism and "working for the man" whilst simultaneously advising against someone who is working hard for their dreams.
I only mean this post in a constructive way (however negative it may sound). I just want to motivate you and rest of the OS crowd to action. Society needs more intelligent people calling the shots - just please remember from whence you came when your company is shaping the world...
... I thought I had the top [level] IQ !!!
Now that Sun is in bed with Microsoft (Java Desktop anyone?), it should be a peice of cake for them to release the obsolete JVM code about 11 months from now.
(yes, I know that is an old link; the point is illustrate how far back Sun was getting nailed by MSFT; a quick slashdot search will show more recently how they're still bent over)
Do you have any idea how much money it would cost you to defend yourself against a patent infringement case?
Patent law is a HUGE money industry. AVERAGE Patent lawsuits are counted by "millions", not "thousands" like your average jackass civil case.
If MSFT or one of the other 500lb gorillas came knocking on your door, you would have no choice but to bend over and take it.
Don't even try and say that you're going to put your family's home, your car, and your girlfriend's jewelry up in an attempt to protect your open-source latest-greatest media player - I think you'd be lying if you said that you would.
The point being that patents are an EXTREMELY POWERFUL OFFENSIVE tool that hasn't really be used in the non-commercial arena - YET. The fact that they're racking up these patents without enforcing them, inclines me to believe that a mass exodus is on the horizon: attack every major open-source package with a combination of injunctions, cease-and-desist letters, and lawsuits. The end result could probably look like this:
-Those that don't even fight and just take their projects down: 35%
-Those that want to fight, but don't have the financial legal backing to fight but ultimately end up taking their sites down: 30%
-Those that fight and lose everything they put on the line for the sake of the industry: 15%
-Those that fight and win (after putting everything on the line for the sake of the industry): 10%
[ Please note: this is purely speculation ]
Net result: an overnight shutdown of about 80% of the _major_ open-source projects out there.
Are you getting angry yet?
This one happens to be good, and just makes me think - how can we, the developers of the web, stp this from happening?
By breaking IE. As content providers and web"masters" we have control of the web. My website intentionally renders very poorly in IE. I use PNGs with alpha transparency. I delay serving pages on the server side to people using IE. IE is a second rate browser, and as a result my website gives it second hand treatment.
If Apache shipped with a module that fed pages to IE slower than W3C compliant browsers, it could dramatically affect the landscape of the web. Why does Apache not use it's monopoly power to better it's cause? That's the problem with the open-source crowd: We're too nice. The corporations are playing hardball, and we're still playing Mr. Niceperson.
Before someone posts a rebuttal to this saying, "But then your website is not being standards compliant and open to the web... boo hoo hoo..."; let me preempt them with this thought:
Why should I as a content provider, have to cater to someone who wants needs(or wants) to visit my site when THEY have selected to use a crippled peice of software? Why should I have to develop 2 websites (one for IE and one for the rest of the world W3C)?
I shouldn't and I don't. In fact, I'd like to propose a day called the "Great IE Blackout Boycott".
Let's get as many webmasters as possible to all stop serving pages to IE browsers all on ONE DAY.
Or better still, why don't we build marketing hype like a corporate entity and then on some predetermined day, we all advertise and market Mozilla/Opera/whatever and redirect IE lusers to it. Effectively a Dragnet to convert the IE sheep that are using IE because they don't know about anything else. If 30-40% of the web suddenly advertised a new browser on the same day, I bet a paradigm shift would occur.
there needs to be another American revolution, one which breaks up the Union into a set of smaller unions where the federal government isn't so separated from the people
This is inevitable. The US will segregate itself based on state laws. In fact, it's happening right now. Gay people can wed in some states but not others (at present). As a result, Gay people will tend to 'migrate' to those states that allow it.
On the other side of the coin, but on the same token - States like Utah (which outlaw alcohol), tend to draw more religious right wing people. California (particularly San Fran.) tends to draw progressive people to it; and LA tends to draw plastic/fake people that value their apperance and little more. Florida draws old people seeking serenity, and Vermont draws people looking to go back in time.
Granted there will always be people that aren't happy where they live, however, in general I think that a cultural revolution/migration is taking place now. Within a few generations the separation is going to become much more apparent. The federal government is going to become increasing called into question as it's forced to see-saw among the left and right wings. The power struggle between the left and the right will eventually crumble under its own momentum shifts (picture an amplified wave).
This is, of course, just a theory...
Wasn't the Electrolux the name of the thing in Who Frammed Roger Rabbit?
Put an operating system on the machine that runs VMware (Linux, Windows, whatever). Install your "desktop machine" as you want it configured and then save the image on a read-only partition (or as a read-only file). Configure it to boot into the VMware image by default, and when the luser fscks it up, you can just step in with a knoppix CD, copy the image file over, and reboot the machine. Instant Computer Restore - ICR(tm), just add water(tm).
If I read correctly, Brun's theory (and constant) are saying that dual primes become increasingly difficult to find even with an infinite amount of numbers. To me, this sounds like an asymtote, and the only way to describe Pi would be an asymtotic function of primes, right (since primes are unique and non-formulaic)?
I'm not sure if I'm explaining this correctly, but couldn't this shed some light on pi and e.
I think you mean: "Linux users are an inevitable new market phenomenon, and [our company] wants to increase profits by jumping on this great new bandwagon early."
The money that M$ is losing on this MP3 player project could be invested in market research and finding the next User Interface design geniuses that will put out something that'll make every M$ bashing geek on /. cream in his pants.
If you think that throwing money at R&D will create "innovation" you are sadly mistaken. In my opinion, the surest way to stifle innovation is to force it. It's much like sex in that way - the more you think about it, the worse it is. Deadlines, financial restrictions, etc. are all dampers on R&D. These companies would be much better suited to put money into smaller companies and projects that are truly innovating (around them).
Only in this way will they really be able to claim true "innovation". Forcing a bunch of Post-Doctorates to "just come up with something" will likely produce nothing marketable. I'm basing this statement on the timely manner that the current IT marketplace demands. If you quote me, please quote me in context.
So have we: http://www.dashpc.com. Ours, however, runs Linux.
I think he means sex with a real person, not his browser.
Not masking tape!!! I absolutely abhor putting tape on my cables/wires/etc. Few things are worse than pulling a cool "retro" box from the garage or attic and finding tape-that-became-goo all over your cables (especially if it's a hard to find specialty cable that you HAVE to use). Electrical tape tends to be the biggest culprit of goo-residue, but I digress...
I also tried the tie-wraps but if you need to get to a cable and you don't have your utility knife/boxcutter (*shudder*), your cable will be limited to 6" or so.
The best solution that I've found is to buy a $0.99 box of hair-tie rubber band thingys. Interestingly, I discovered these little beauties when I grew my hair long and had them laying all over the place. The ones that I use are the little black rubber-band looking things that are made for girls and designed "not to tear hair". They're basically some type of plastic coated rubber band. They're very strong (compared to typical rubber bands), they stretch more than standard rubber bands [I believe], and they work great on PC cables (and long hair when necessary).
The only problem that it's continually overlooked when people propose the PDA idea is that there is no haptic (tactile) interface. Watching a moving and having to look down at the PDA's interface to change the volume is not pleasant (IMHO). It's much nicer to be able to mindlessly reach down and push a button on a normal remote/kb via touch and not sight+touch.
.02 cents.
Just my
Yes, however, the rest of the American media at least doesn't use the tagline "Fair and Balanced" when they're clearly the biggest spinners of all.
Heh! When I was in High-school we took things a step farther by taking Mr. Bouknecht's overhead projector lens out of the housing. [I'm quite certain] it's a true Fresnel Lens - but the point is that it was like a magnifying glass on steroids. We had to be careful just walking out into the parking lot with it because if it caught a friends leg and the sun at the right angle, they'd be in a world of hurt.
Aaahh, fun times being a juvenille. My advice to the next generation though - be as mischievious as normal, but don't do anything stupid or anything that will get you thrown in jail. Be intelligent with your "inevitable" delinquency [you call it rebellion] - we've all been there - however don't get anyone hurt or needlessly damage property.
Life is much more exciting as an experienced adult making thousands of dollars a month. Trust me on this one all you guys. Science is fun, but it can also be very dangerous... Be safe - because if you go to jail or die, the guy you hate will likely reproduce and you never will. And that would suck.
Cutting service costs will definitely help the bottom line.
Particularly, when they have a very low cost capital outlay in the matter. If they were having to invest capital into this idea, they would easily tell the consumer where to stick it.