The ability to jailbreak a device has little to do with it's security.
Agreed. Jailbreaking the OS is like signing a release before you skydive out of an airplane: you're admitting you don't want to play it safe and voluntarily take on all possible risks yourself.
I'm starting to like Russia. It's also understandable why US tried to fight for copyrights so much - that's basically the only thing they produce now. Rest of the world produces actual products.
Copyright law goes hand-in-hand with patent law. Patents govern who can make those actual products. China's flagrant disrespect for patent rights is almost as bad as their disrespect for copyright, and it means that if other countries manufacture in China, they have to assume their designs will be stolen and pirated sooner or later.
Like it or not, there should be SOME incentive for innovators and creators to continue to innovate and create, without having to rush to be first to market in order to make any money on it.
Android may have more software features, but the hardware is a little behind. The only true Android OS for a tablet requires hardware that costs at least $100 more than a comparable iPad.
And that's not even looking at the differences in their app libraries.
Finally, it'll be possible to buy an iPad or iPod Touch and use (and upgrade) it without syncing it to a PC. This was a big issue, for instance, for people (like my wife) who want an iPad as a second computer but whose first computer is too old to run iTunes 10. (She solved that problem by taking it back to Best Buy and having them start it up.)
Nintendo gives the 3DS a switch to turn the 3D off completely. They've basically told developers that it's a gimmick, not an essential gameplay feature, and that they shouldn't make games that rely upon this feature.
Given that's the case, why would most developers stick their neck out to use it at all? Without a must-have exclusive game, Nintendo will always have trouble getting people to replace their DSi with something that costs almost twice as much.
Paying $8 a month isn't a hardship and you're contributing to our culture by paying those who produce our entertainment rather than leeching and not giving back for what you receive.
Sums it up nicely. For years we've been complaining that we'd gladly pay a reasonable fee for unlimited streaming, and not only does Netflix finally deliver that, it does it on more internet-enabled devices than any other provider.
There was one episode of ST:TNG from season 1 that I never, ever got to see the beginning of. No matter how many times it popped up in syndication and reruns, I always tuned in just after the title sequence.
I'm not sure how, but I believe this is related to the phenomenon where, when there's a popular syndicated show you almost never watch, on the rare occasions that you do tune in you always see the same episode.
USB is the most puzzling one to me, since noone ever explains what they want with it. Do you want a USB host port, or a slave port, or both? Which connector? What devices do you then expect to attach to it?
I assume they want to read/write files from a USB flash drive.
From Apple's POV, though, I imagine the problem with USB or SD card slots is the same as that for the user-replaceable battery: thickness would have to increase. Frankly, I'm surprised the current one has room for the dock connector.
What I wonder is: how well would Flash web video play with these faster graphics, and exactly how much would it impact the battery life?
(I'm not sure which is more of an issue with Flash: the battery impact, or Apple's fear of web Flash apps duplicating in-store apps. Probably both in equal measure.)
As soon as an article about something like this hits the mainstream press, the damage is done from a marketing perspective. If Android (Marketplace) loses the trust of the users, Google may never be able to make it back up.
This is the reason Apple does things the way they do. Sure, it's draconian, but remember that we're still hearing about the "death grip" issue every couple of months. If Apple allowed a single popular piece of malware into their Store, it would be news everywhere. Instead, Apple has been able to successfully preserve their image as a maker of "consumer-friendly" products.
Breaking a screen into two smaller ones and sticking a giant hinge/bezel in the middle isn't an advantage.
Sure it is; it's the single best way to keep your screen from getting scratched, and it makes the device half as large and therefore more portable.
Think about watching video on this. You have half the screen and turned sideways.
Have you seen the screenshots? This thing isn't designed for consumers to watch video on like the iPad is; it's designed for successful businesspeople to carry into meetings and synchronize all their schedules and email via wi-fi.
If someone is so incapable of using a computer without fucking it up, they don't need a "locked down appliance", they just need to be kept the hell away from computers period.
Rather than comparing inept computer users to incompetent drivers, you should compare them to drivers who don't remember to get their oil changed or other maintenance done.
Should those drivers be criticized because they want a digital odometer that says "service needed" every 3,000 miles, and then take it to a mechanic who does the oil and filter work at a higher cost than doing it oneself? Of course not. Not everyone wants to be a mechanic just because they need to drive somewhere.
Apple wants to sell the iPad to people who don't like upgrading their software, installing from DVDs, or properly connecting a wi-fi router. These skills should not be considered mandatory learning for someone who just wants to email and surf.
A netbook is cheaper, probably has better battery life, is less "closed", and by all accounts is a better solution to any problem you care to name. But, sitting in bed or lounging in the easychair wanting to look up some obscure bit of trivia or watch a video from the Olympics (can't do it on the desktop - Linux Users Need Not Apply at nbcolympics dot com), I find myself snagging the iPod more often than I dig out the laptop. The tablet-style form factor is just too convenient.
There's something else some people have overlooked, I think: the 3G networking. That means that if your mom and dad got one for just surfing and emailing from the bedroom, they don't need to buy broadband internet and a Wi-Fi router (unless they already have one), they can just spend $20/month directly to AT&T without needing to worry about anything else.
As a computer-for-someone-who-hates-computers, it's nearly perfect.
According to this article, Motorola is #1 in world mobile phones, while Blackberry is #1 in world smartphones. Blackberry is at 41%, the iPhone is 25%, but you ought to consider that (1) iPhones are slowly eating away at Blackberry's share and (2) the iPhone is doing amazingly well considering it's only available on one network, unlike Blackberries.
Some of us are deaf, and would much rather Youtube caption their videos. You don't HAVE to watch it. That's why it's called CLOSED CAPTIONING. Don't like it? TURN IT OFF.
Just because you're hard-of-hearing doesn't mean you have to shout all the time.
Slashdot Mirror
The ability to jailbreak a device has little to do with it's security.
Agreed. Jailbreaking the OS is like signing a release before you skydive out of an airplane: you're admitting you don't want to play it safe and voluntarily take on all possible risks yourself.
I'm starting to like Russia. It's also understandable why US tried to fight for copyrights so much - that's basically the only thing they produce now. Rest of the world produces actual products.
Copyright law goes hand-in-hand with patent law. Patents govern who can make those actual products. China's flagrant disrespect for patent rights is almost as bad as their disrespect for copyright, and it means that if other countries manufacture in China, they have to assume their designs will be stolen and pirated sooner or later.
Like it or not, there should be SOME incentive for innovators and creators to continue to innovate and create, without having to rush to be first to market in order to make any money on it.
Welcome to last year.
Love and kisses,
Android
Android may have more software features, but the hardware is a little behind. The only true Android OS for a tablet requires hardware that costs at least $100 more than a comparable iPad.
And that's not even looking at the differences in their app libraries.
Finally, it'll be possible to buy an iPad or iPod Touch and use (and upgrade) it without syncing it to a PC. This was a big issue, for instance, for people (like my wife) who want an iPad as a second computer but whose first computer is too old to run iTunes 10. (She solved that problem by taking it back to Best Buy and having them start it up.)
Nintendo gives the 3DS a switch to turn the 3D off completely. They've basically told developers that it's a gimmick, not an essential gameplay feature, and that they shouldn't make games that rely upon this feature.
Given that's the case, why would most developers stick their neck out to use it at all? Without a must-have exclusive game, Nintendo will always have trouble getting people to replace their DSi with something that costs almost twice as much.
Sums it up nicely. For years we've been complaining that we'd gladly pay a reasonable fee for unlimited streaming, and not only does Netflix finally deliver that, it does it on more internet-enabled devices than any other provider.
There was one episode of ST:TNG from season 1 that I never, ever got to see the beginning of. No matter how many times it popped up in syndication and reruns, I always tuned in just after the title sequence.
I'm not sure how, but I believe this is related to the phenomenon where, when there's a popular syndicated show you almost never watch, on the rare occasions that you do tune in you always see the same episode.
May be a good time to post Neil Gaiman's blog entry on why George R.R. Martin is not your bitch.
USB is the most puzzling one to me, since noone ever explains what they want with it. Do you want a USB host port, or a slave port, or both? Which connector? What devices do you then expect to attach to it?
I assume they want to read/write files from a USB flash drive.
From Apple's POV, though, I imagine the problem with USB or SD card slots is the same as that for the user-replaceable battery: thickness would have to increase. Frankly, I'm surprised the current one has room for the dock connector.
What I wonder is: how well would Flash web video play with these faster graphics, and exactly how much would it impact the battery life?
(I'm not sure which is more of an issue with Flash: the battery impact, or Apple's fear of web Flash apps duplicating in-store apps. Probably both in equal measure.)
Things normal people wanted and didn't get: USB port, wireless syncing, lower price, 7-inch version
Things normal people wanted and did get: faster, more powerful, same battery life, white body, two cameras, FaceTime
Things geeks wanted and didn't get: oh, hell, I'll be here all day. The geeks can go buy a Xoom to hack instead.
As soon as an article about something like this hits the mainstream press, the damage is done from a marketing perspective. If Android (Marketplace) loses the trust of the users, Google may never be able to make it back up.
This is the reason Apple does things the way they do. Sure, it's draconian, but remember that we're still hearing about the "death grip" issue every couple of months. If Apple allowed a single popular piece of malware into their Store, it would be news everywhere. Instead, Apple has been able to successfully preserve their image as a maker of "consumer-friendly" products.
Still no FLAC support in iTunes or anywhere else in the Apple music infrastructure.
Google "flac quicktime" and pick your favorite plug-in. Seriously, it took you this long?
If only I could deal with my taxes in the same way.
not only there's not a peep about the DRM in the iDevices but many Slashdot posters fawn all over and write long justifications about how it is good.
You must be reading a different Slashdot than I've been reading.
Unibody (unopenable) case: BOO
Actually, it looks like the bottom is supposed to be easy (or at least easier) to open to allow RAM upgrades by the owner. Mini design page
Breaking a screen into two smaller ones and sticking a giant hinge/bezel in the middle isn't an advantage.
Sure it is; it's the single best way to keep your screen from getting scratched, and it makes the device half as large and therefore more portable.
Think about watching video on this. You have half the screen and turned sideways.
Have you seen the screenshots? This thing isn't designed for consumers to watch video on like the iPad is; it's designed for successful businesspeople to carry into meetings and synchronize all their schedules and email via wi-fi.
You missed the most important thing: a netbook will run any application I want it to run.
No, it will run any application designed for that operating system and hardware configuration. Good luck installing iPhoto on one.
If someone is so incapable of using a computer without fucking it up, they don't need a "locked down appliance", they just need to be kept the hell away from computers period.
Rather than comparing inept computer users to incompetent drivers, you should compare them to drivers who don't remember to get their oil changed or other maintenance done.
Should those drivers be criticized because they want a digital odometer that says "service needed" every 3,000 miles, and then take it to a mechanic who does the oil and filter work at a higher cost than doing it oneself? Of course not. Not everyone wants to be a mechanic just because they need to drive somewhere.
Apple wants to sell the iPad to people who don't like upgrading their software, installing from DVDs, or properly connecting a wi-fi router. These skills should not be considered mandatory learning for someone who just wants to email and surf.
A netbook is cheaper, probably has better battery life, is less "closed", and by all accounts is a better solution to any problem you care to name. But, sitting in bed or lounging in the easychair wanting to look up some obscure bit of trivia or watch a video from the Olympics (can't do it on the desktop - Linux Users Need Not Apply at nbcolympics dot com), I find myself snagging the iPod more often than I dig out the laptop. The tablet-style form factor is just too convenient.
There's something else some people have overlooked, I think: the 3G networking. That means that if your mom and dad got one for just surfing and emailing from the bedroom, they don't need to buy broadband internet and a Wi-Fi router (unless they already have one), they can just spend $20/month directly to AT&T without needing to worry about anything else.
As a computer-for-someone-who-hates-computers, it's nearly perfect.
I don't want movies, music, games, or a camera on a phone. I have better devices for all of that stuff.
Then clearly an advanced "smartphone" is not for you. Well and good.
Since you have nothing useful to contribute, you can go on to the next discussion now.
Sorry, it's this article.
According to this article, Motorola is #1 in world mobile phones, while Blackberry is #1 in world smartphones. Blackberry is at 41%, the iPhone is 25%, but you ought to consider that (1) iPhones are slowly eating away at Blackberry's share and (2) the iPhone is doing amazingly well considering it's only available on one network, unlike Blackberries.
According to Apple's tech specs this thing requires OS X 10.5.8 to sync to a Mac, but WinXP is okay for a PC.
What the hey? I've got an older Mac that syncs fine with my iPod nano; can anyone explain why Apple would alienate all their own OS X 10.4 users?
Some of us are deaf, and would much rather Youtube caption their videos. You don't HAVE to watch it. That's why it's called CLOSED CAPTIONING. Don't like it? TURN IT OFF.
Just because you're hard-of-hearing doesn't mean you have to shout all the time.