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User: saddino

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  1. Microsoft by default on Is Microsoft Silent Before a Deadly Storm? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Despite all the rumors about Google and how it will topple Microsoft, I don't see that happening in the near future ... people (and I don't mean technology enthusiasts) will continue to purchase Microsoft products simply because of the sheer familiarity and comfort levels (BSoD et al) that they have with Microsoft software.'

    No, people (and I don't mean technology enthusiasts) will continue to purchase Microsoft products simply because it's Microsoft products that come in the bundle that's included with their PC. Doesn't matter whether it's an in-store purchase, or a checkbox they clicked on the web, 99% of the time, the decision is: do I order a PC with Windows and Office, or just Windows?

  2. Re:Burst Vs Microsoft?! on Burst.com Sues Apple Over Patent Infringement · · Score: 1

    I suppose if the Desk Accessories^H^H^H^H^H^H^HApple Dashboard used C or Pascal^H^H^H^H^H.ASP or .PHP to define the 'widgets' that would mean it was a whole other 'idea' and had no similarity to the XML or the HTML versions of the SAME FREAKING APPLICATION IDEA.

    Really, the hole you're digging is just getting deeper. Either the implementation doesn't matter, and Desk Accessories = Konfab = Dashboard, or the implementation does matter, in which case Dashboard != Konfab.

    Pure and simple...

    Which one are you arguing? ;-)

  3. Re:Burst Vs Microsoft?! on Burst.com Sues Apple Over Patent Infringement · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow you sure know your history better than I do. I had NO idea that Apple System 6 had a HTML based Widget technology on the desktop...

    LOL. By your own argument you admit that Dashboard ("HTML based Widget technology") is NOT a ripoff of Konfabulator ("XML based Widget technology"). So, which one is it?

  4. Re:Apple sends legal notice to 3rd grader on Mass Microsoft Defections to Apple Possible · · Score: 1

    I think you've got that backwards.

    All major corporations send similar form letters when consumers send in "ideas" to protect the company from future lawsuits (i.e. "I thought of the iPod first and told them about it"). You see, the whole point of these letters is to AVOID any chance to litigate.

  5. Re:Math skillz on Software Engineers Ranked Best Job in America · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Most of the actual advanced math in programming is so intuitive, you probably don't realize you're using it: discrete structures, set theory, topology logic, etc. If you can design an efficient, optimized well abstracted OO framework then your using math "skillz" whether you know it or not.

  6. Of course, there's still a gradient on Software Engineers Ranked Best Job in America · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Even being a "Software Engineer" varies from the "coding monkey" who gets it from the man, or the "unemployed contractor" who can't find a job, to the "game company project manager" or "I run my own successful software business" types.

    All in all, it's a great job, agreed. But there's always a better title in the field, with better perks and better pay, and better everything.

    So keep coding your butts off. ;-)

  7. Re:The Death of Windows apps being ported to OS X on Bunk Camp - Apple Gets It Wrong? · · Score: 1

    Good point, yes I didn't catch that. Okay:

    Because "OS X Requirements: Requires purchase of Windows XP." on your box isn't going to sell many copies of your product to Mac users.

  8. Re:The Death of Windows apps being ported to OS X on Bunk Camp - Apple Gets It Wrong? · · Score: 1

    Because "OS X Requirements: Requires purchase of Windows XP and reboot every time you want to run this software." on your box isn't going to sell any copies of your product to Mac users.

  9. Re:Bye Bye Mac Office on Bunk Camp - Apple Gets It Wrong? · · Score: 1

    Microsoft says otherwise. Note that this is a formal commitment (read: contract with Apple), so unless Microsoft is willing to breach and for some insane reason decides to kill a profitable software division (IMHO damn near impossibly unlikely), Office will exists on OS X for at least the next five years.

    Really, why people think that Intel Mac users would somehow prefer to boot into Windows everytime they want to run Office is beyond me. Mac users have $, and they haven't been shy in spending it on a nice, OS X compliant version of Office.

  10. Wanna demo? This technology has been around on Google Wins Rights to Aussie Algorithm · · Score: 1

    for a while. The idea of sifting through search results to find related topics has been done by at least a few companies (including mine), and these products predate this tech (which was officially anounced in Sep. 2005) so I don't think Google will be able to defend a US Patent on this.

    If you want a demo of a product (mine, natch) that's been around in one from or another since 2004, check out Q-Phrase's ConceptQ Pro product. A free version which does just web search will be coming soon.

    Here's a screenshot of a search of the entire 9/11 report, broken down into relevant topics.

  11. Re:2 points I would like to make on Why Windows is Slow · · Score: 2, Informative

    When it comes down to it, the more eye-candy, the slower the machine

    Mac OS X and Vista both employ the GPU on the video card for their "eye candy" effects, so your supposition is incorrect.

  12. Re:Following their lead, my next patents will be.. on eBay in 'Buy It Now' Patent Dispute · · Score: 1

    And don't forget the /. favorites:

    "Post lame 'prior-art' example as if you have somehow single-handedly defeated the patent now!"
    "Confuse trademarks, copyrights and patents in one barely readable post now!"
    "Ask "Uh, I thought words in the dictionary couldn't be trademarked?' now!"
    "Write self-referential I've-patented/trademarked-the-idea/word-"idea"/"wo rd"-so-now-you-all-owe-me-royalties now!"
    "Ignorantly compare story to woman who sued McDonalds for 'spilling hot coffee on lap' now!"

  13. Re:Why is this price acceptable? on Apple to Offer Monthly iTunes TV Subscriptions · · Score: 3, Informative

    The reason this price is acceptable has little to do with Steve Jobs or his blessings.

    Yes, any way you slice it a DVD is a better deal (high res, six channel sound, extras, etc.), but some consumers don't want to 1) buy a DVD or record a TV show on a DVR, 2) rip it, 3) encode it, 4) move it to their iPod, just so they can watch in while they're sitting on the train to work.

    For some of them, amazing as it sounds, paying a buck or two an episode to instantly acquire a commercial free version for their iPod is worth it: even with the low res and DRM.

    We live in an instant gratification world now, and that's why this price is perfectly acceptable.

  14. Re:Blackberry killer? Hmm, no. on Microsoft Origami Unfolds · · Score: 1

    This device unlike the Blackberry plays video's and wma's and perhaps even mp3's. It can be a multimedia device, a pda, and you can check yoru email.

    Except for one thing: RIM's customer base is overwhelmingly business and legal professionals who have absolutely no use for video, mp3s away from their desktops; instead they want real-time access to email for communication (which is why the lack of support for attachments doesn't affect its popularity) and the Blackberry fits the bill, especially with its small form factor.

    Will some consumers drool over this? Definitely. Will a professional who can't fit this monstrosity into their suit pocket give a whit? My guess is no. And since the average comsumer makes up just a small fraction of RIM's customer base, I can't see this being a Blackberry killer any more than it's a wristwatch killer.

  15. Some notable versions missing on Microsoft Confirms 6 Versions of Vista · · Score: 1

    Vista Super Edition Plus (only available in a CD binder with 64 other titles)
    You can get \/|s+/\ here!!!! (via email from Whitlette Rosalia)
    Vista BitTorrent Edition

  16. Yes, Really on Yahoo Reverses Allah Ban · · Score: 1

    Only here.

  17. Secondary filters? on Yahoo! Bans "Allah" in Screen Names · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Putting aside the debate of filtering some completely subjective list of "banned" words, how come companies chock full of techies can't write a simple secondary accept filter to deal with exceptions caught in the first filter? Really, the list of names that include the word "allah" can't be that large.


    if(strstr("allah", screenName)) {
            if(strcmp("Callahan", screenName) == NULL || ... || ...)
                    return true;

            return false;
    }
    else if(...) {
    }

  18. Re:Yes, but... on Microsoft Unveils 'Urge' Music Service · · Score: 1

    Bah, that was just a gimmick to show off Microsoft's new "Makes you gag for sure" initiative.

  19. Re:Exciting on KDE 4 to Support Apple Dashboard Widgets · · Score: 1

    It's success will probably hinge on its execution. Many people dislike Dashboard widgets existing in a seperate desktop layer than the rest of the OS. The KDE implementation would be wise to allow a desktop-centric Dashboard widget manager like Amnesty for OS X.

  20. Not "most" widgets on KDE 4 to Support Apple Dashboard Widgets · · Score: 2, Informative

    KDE's runtime will be able to run most widgets designed for Dashboard. Also, KDE's runtime will be limited in that it will not be able to run widgets properly that use AppleScript or Cocoa in some way.

    Those two statements are contradictory. Most widgets for Dashboard, especially for those that anyone considers useful, use Applescript and/or Cocoa. So in fact, KDE will be limited to only the simplest of widgets. Not much of a feature, IMHO.

  21. Here's a similar site, but Mac OS X themed... on Cash Pours in for Student with $1 Million Web Idea · · Score: 1

    http://www.macsquares.com/

    After this /. article, I imagine they'll be millions of pages like these now, but the real money will be the guy who turns this into a "how to make $1MM on the Internet" DVD course for sale for $49.95 on late night cable that tells you "the secret that got me out of my one bedroom apartment and into the babe-infested mansion you see here."

  22. Re:Dashboard on Google Adds Widgets to Homepage · · Score: 1

    Actually, only the simplest of Dashboard widgets are "just javascript." Most Dashboard widgets either make UNIX system calls (including calls to Apple-only command line tools like oascript) or utilize a Cocoa plugin to do the heavy lifting.

  23. Re:I love Dashboard, would I love Konfabulator? on Yahoo Updates Konfabulator · · Score: 1

    You can also use Amnesty Widget Browser if you want Dashboard widgets on your desktop selectable from the system menu bar, with opacity, window level adjustment, widget scaling and rotation etc. But it does cost $. Bonus: allows Panther 10.3.9 users to run many Dashboard widgets too.

  24. Re:Crap article. Check out OpenEXR on High Dynamic Range (HDR) Technology Analysis · · Score: 1

    If you're on Mac OS X, the easiest way to check out OpenEXR is to download the freeware utility OpenEXR Viewer. That page also has a direct link to the official distribution's sample images.

  25. Covering the bases on Flock, the New Browser on the Block · · Score: 5, Funny

    Expect Flock to crash and, from time to time, lose all your data.

    OK, so apparently it's at least as stable as IE.