Nintendo needs to go the way of Sega, and get out of the console market entirely. They could do really well just focusing on innovative peripherals and high-quality games that go cross platform. They do both really well, yet can't seem to design a console that has any staying power for the life of them. Why not just cut out the weak part and focus on the strong?
Send a few drones over my city and see how long it takes some bored hacker to gain control of one and smash int into a police cruiser or something. Bonus points if they're armed with missiles.
At what point is Ballmer going to be held responsible any of the "mistakes" that Microsoft has been making? The guy is bulletproof beyond all logic for a publicly traded company.
The size isn't as important as the orientation (queue the jokes). Two wide screen monitors, one setup as landscape, and one as portrait. It's actually a great setup for anything that involves reading or writing.
Your consumers don't drink "traditional morning beverages."
Mt. Dew takes like what I imagine fermented piss would taste like. I've never understood the addiction people have for it. At least crap like cocaine gives you something you can't really get with any other product...
I hardly have what I would consider a great internet connection, but losing network connectivity to any game other than an MMO doesn't cause problems for me. Not unless it's something crazy that takes the network down for several days. All my Steam games play just fine.
Posts like this really come off as a bunch of hyperbole. An IP change isn't going to kill your connection. Restarting their DNS service isn't going to kill your connection (unless it's down for hours). Router firmware updates aren't exactly daily occurances...
I have a hard time believing that "most of the world" has an unreliable internet connection. At least not the markets relevant to this discussion (console gaming markets).
But sure, I guess it might be death blow for that lucrative gaming market in Uganda...
I think the idea is that if you want to try a new game, they would rather you just download the demo or whatever instead of borrowing disks. It's becoming increasingly common to get demo access for all kinds of new releases.
So, on paper, I agree with your statement. I just don't think it's as big a deal as people think. Now the guys in the middle of nowhere with crappy internet connections have something to complain about, but their beef should be with their ISP anyway.
I can't imagine any legal grounds anyone would have for a lawsuit, in this instance. You can sell or trade or give away your games all you want, leaving the first sale doctrine intact. The fact that the game no longer works for the poor guy who bought it isn't Microsoft's problem since they aren't obligated to provide support for used products.
In reality, there will probably be a way to "unlock" a used game, by paying a fee through xBox live or whatever. It identifies a game disk is already tied to an account, and offers to change ownership for whatever they think is fair for the program (probably pretty close to current retail rather than something trivial like $10). There is built in accountability due to having account information from both the source and destination accounts, and they'll be able to gather a whole crap load of useful metrics about the used games market that they really don't have right now.
Everyone complains about changes like this, where games are tied to accounts that can't be resold or traded, but in the end, people will still keep buying the games and consoles. It's basically only going to cause problems for used game shops, like Game Stop. I'm sure they'll work out some kind of method with the publishers and/or manufacturers to sell used games with new activation codes or somethings.
Long story short, the used game market will continue to exist, although it will be a bit less lucrative than before for customers (not that it was ever that great a deal in the first place). The main difference is the manufacturers will see some kickback as a result, and they get to charge an extra fee or tax to the publishers for the feature, which publishers will actually love.
What exactly is an Ubuntu Phone going to offer that I can't get with an iPhone or Android? Or Win8 Phone or Blackberry, for that matter? Maybe something like this will do well in international markets, as a cheap smartphone alternative or something, but I can't imagine much else.
As a consultant, there was a brief period where I would have an existing client start asking for some very specific information about "how" to do things, like instructions on how to add users to Active Directory. Eventually, I got over the instinctive insecurity of giving away job secrets, especially when it's stuff that they could just google up answers for anyway, and found that promptly providing it only serves to strengthen the business relationship.
I haven't gone to an interview in ages, but I can't imagine getting too ruffled over one where they would basically be asking me how I'd fix a particular problem. Even if they came right out and said "we have a problem with this application and are looking to hire someone who can hit the ground running with ideas. What would you do to fix it?" The fact is, they aren't going to retain very much of anything that gets said anymore than I would retain asking a mechanic what he'd do to fix my hypendupulator pump. He get as detailed as he wants, and it wouldn't get me very far.
Actually, the comment you quoted was just a scare tactic by BMG to make it sound like artists that don't have the big labels to protect them from the evil streaming sites simply can't survive.
What he fails to mention is how she made 82k in that same six months through iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp.
This is just RIAA fearmongering trying to make her sound like she's in the poor house due to regulations.
What's interesting about that is how black and white the music industry is. If you're a top act, like the ones signing that ad, your label really does take good care of you. You make tons and get to basically blow your life away doing whatever you want, for the roughly 10 years you keep putting out new records and selling out venues.
It's the rest of the musicians, the majority, that get shafted by the RIAA business model.
Does her income from streaming services compare at all to what she gets through iTunes? No, but it's just a little extra icing on the cake for basically no work on her part, especially considering her style of music is unlikely to have much of a traditional fanbase (radio, top 40, etc). The nice thing about it all is that, as she gains more media exposure and traction, the basic infrastructure is already in place for her to make more as she gains new fans.
Again, 82k in six months is hardly a starving musician, especially considering the fringe nature of her music.
I'm convinced that Microsoft can't actually do much of anything right as long as Balmer gets the boot, which doesn't look likely any time soon. If any tech company is in need of a new CEO, it's Microsoft.
Major shifts in consumer desire are rarely brute-forced in the world. It takes a combination of having the right product at the right time. It's hard enough to do with untested markets, but much more difficult in existing ones. I think a shift is becoming more possible, with the smartphone market, but only because consumers are starting to lose interest in the current devices, and might be receptive to something new. Who knows what that will look like, but I doubt it will be another 3x5 touchscreen smartphone with hundreds of thousands of apps available (really need to move away from this whole quantity over quality thing...).
Everything I've read on the x10, including reports today, all pretty much say the same thing: it probably isn't going to launch with the Z10, but no one knows for sure. Since the x10 hasn't even been seen by developers and the SDK for it isn't available, I'm having a hard time believe it's anywhere near release.
The civilized world won't do shit, much less "hang its head in shame." Humans are not compassionate creatures, by nature, except the immediate few we care about.
I really want to get back to using a Blackberry. From what I understand, however, they aren't including a physical keyboard device with the launch lineup, instead releasing one down the road. That's a pretty big mistake.
Any time spent in school just to get some extra paper would be better spent expanding your network while looking for the right job. In the mean time, there are probably quite a few IT consulting companies in your area that are always looking to fill entry-level positions (basic network administration and desktop support). The pay isn't usually that great, but it's much better than retail, and gets you good working experience with the industry. Not to mention contacts.
Just be honest and upfront about your skill set and don't try and pass yourself off as someone you're not. You could probably expect $15-20 an hour, not to mention the free "education" and work experience.
Or, you could spend 20-50k (or more) learning "best practices" with how to configure WSUS and what an OU is. Your choice.
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Nintendo needs to go the way of Sega, and get out of the console market entirely. They could do really well just focusing on innovative peripherals and high-quality games that go cross platform. They do both really well, yet can't seem to design a console that has any staying power for the life of them. Why not just cut out the weak part and focus on the strong?
Send a few drones over my city and see how long it takes some bored hacker to gain control of one and smash int into a police cruiser or something. Bonus points if they're armed with missiles.
Can we go a week without some new 3d printing story?
At what point is Ballmer going to be held responsible any of the "mistakes" that Microsoft has been making? The guy is bulletproof beyond all logic for a publicly traded company.
The size isn't as important as the orientation (queue the jokes). Two wide screen monitors, one setup as landscape, and one as portrait. It's actually a great setup for anything that involves reading or writing.
Your consumers don't drink "traditional morning beverages."
Mt. Dew takes like what I imagine fermented piss would taste like. I've never understood the addiction people have for it. At least crap like cocaine gives you something you can't really get with any other product...
I hardly have what I would consider a great internet connection, but losing network connectivity to any game other than an MMO doesn't cause problems for me. Not unless it's something crazy that takes the network down for several days. All my Steam games play just fine.
Posts like this really come off as a bunch of hyperbole. An IP change isn't going to kill your connection. Restarting their DNS service isn't going to kill your connection (unless it's down for hours). Router firmware updates aren't exactly daily occurances...
Point taken, since obviously they could be better served by playing consoles offline... during power outages.
I have a hard time believing that "most of the world" has an unreliable internet connection. At least not the markets relevant to this discussion (console gaming markets).
But sure, I guess it might be death blow for that lucrative gaming market in Uganda...
Steam games are already tied to an account, so I can't see how a Steam Box would be any kind of savior here...
I think the idea is that if you want to try a new game, they would rather you just download the demo or whatever instead of borrowing disks. It's becoming increasingly common to get demo access for all kinds of new releases.
So, on paper, I agree with your statement. I just don't think it's as big a deal as people think. Now the guys in the middle of nowhere with crappy internet connections have something to complain about, but their beef should be with their ISP anyway.
I can't imagine any legal grounds anyone would have for a lawsuit, in this instance. You can sell or trade or give away your games all you want, leaving the first sale doctrine intact. The fact that the game no longer works for the poor guy who bought it isn't Microsoft's problem since they aren't obligated to provide support for used products.
In reality, there will probably be a way to "unlock" a used game, by paying a fee through xBox live or whatever. It identifies a game disk is already tied to an account, and offers to change ownership for whatever they think is fair for the program (probably pretty close to current retail rather than something trivial like $10). There is built in accountability due to having account information from both the source and destination accounts, and they'll be able to gather a whole crap load of useful metrics about the used games market that they really don't have right now.
Everyone complains about changes like this, where games are tied to accounts that can't be resold or traded, but in the end, people will still keep buying the games and consoles. It's basically only going to cause problems for used game shops, like Game Stop. I'm sure they'll work out some kind of method with the publishers and/or manufacturers to sell used games with new activation codes or somethings.
Long story short, the used game market will continue to exist, although it will be a bit less lucrative than before for customers (not that it was ever that great a deal in the first place). The main difference is the manufacturers will see some kickback as a result, and they get to charge an extra fee or tax to the publishers for the feature, which publishers will actually love.
What exactly is an Ubuntu Phone going to offer that I can't get with an iPhone or Android? Or Win8 Phone or Blackberry, for that matter? Maybe something like this will do well in international markets, as a cheap smartphone alternative or something, but I can't imagine much else.
As a consultant, there was a brief period where I would have an existing client start asking for some very specific information about "how" to do things, like instructions on how to add users to Active Directory. Eventually, I got over the instinctive insecurity of giving away job secrets, especially when it's stuff that they could just google up answers for anyway, and found that promptly providing it only serves to strengthen the business relationship.
I haven't gone to an interview in ages, but I can't imagine getting too ruffled over one where they would basically be asking me how I'd fix a particular problem. Even if they came right out and said "we have a problem with this application and are looking to hire someone who can hit the ground running with ideas. What would you do to fix it?" The fact is, they aren't going to retain very much of anything that gets said anymore than I would retain asking a mechanic what he'd do to fix my hypendupulator pump. He get as detailed as he wants, and it wouldn't get me very far.
Actually, the comment you quoted was just a scare tactic by BMG to make it sound like artists that don't have the big labels to protect them from the evil streaming sites simply can't survive.
What he fails to mention is how she made 82k in that same six months through iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp.
This is just RIAA fearmongering trying to make her sound like she's in the poor house due to regulations.
What's interesting about that is how black and white the music industry is. If you're a top act, like the ones signing that ad, your label really does take good care of you. You make tons and get to basically blow your life away doing whatever you want, for the roughly 10 years you keep putting out new records and selling out venues.
It's the rest of the musicians, the majority, that get shafted by the RIAA business model.
I just looked at the spreadsheet in question (found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkasqHkVRM1OdEJFUnhyNFFkZjVSUWxhWGl1dE9lQXc#gid=4) and found that all told, she made 82k in a six month period. She's hardly living hand to mouth at some dead end job she hates.
Does her income from streaming services compare at all to what she gets through iTunes? No, but it's just a little extra icing on the cake for basically no work on her part, especially considering her style of music is unlikely to have much of a traditional fanbase (radio, top 40, etc). The nice thing about it all is that, as she gains more media exposure and traction, the basic infrastructure is already in place for her to make more as she gains new fans.
Again, 82k in six months is hardly a starving musician, especially considering the fringe nature of her music.
I'm convinced that Microsoft can't actually do much of anything right as long as Balmer gets the boot, which doesn't look likely any time soon. If any tech company is in need of a new CEO, it's Microsoft.
Major shifts in consumer desire are rarely brute-forced in the world. It takes a combination of having the right product at the right time. It's hard enough to do with untested markets, but much more difficult in existing ones. I think a shift is becoming more possible, with the smartphone market, but only because consumers are starting to lose interest in the current devices, and might be receptive to something new. Who knows what that will look like, but I doubt it will be another 3x5 touchscreen smartphone with hundreds of thousands of apps available (really need to move away from this whole quantity over quality thing...).
Humans are not compassionate creatures, by nature, except the immediate few we care about.HUMANS are.
Sorry, but we didn't rise to the top of the food chain through compassion.
Everything I've read on the x10, including reports today, all pretty much say the same thing: it probably isn't going to launch with the Z10, but no one knows for sure. Since the x10 hasn't even been seen by developers and the SDK for it isn't available, I'm having a hard time believe it's anywhere near release.
The civilized world won't do shit, much less "hang its head in shame." Humans are not compassionate creatures, by nature, except the immediate few we care about.
I really want to get back to using a Blackberry. From what I understand, however, they aren't including a physical keyboard device with the launch lineup, instead releasing one down the road. That's a pretty big mistake.
Any time spent in school just to get some extra paper would be better spent expanding your network while looking for the right job. In the mean time, there are probably quite a few IT consulting companies in your area that are always looking to fill entry-level positions (basic network administration and desktop support). The pay isn't usually that great, but it's much better than retail, and gets you good working experience with the industry. Not to mention contacts.
Just be honest and upfront about your skill set and don't try and pass yourself off as someone you're not. You could probably expect $15-20 an hour, not to mention the free "education" and work experience.
Or, you could spend 20-50k (or more) learning "best practices" with how to configure WSUS and what an OU is. Your choice.