Actually, this is a great idea! By giving the ability to close the analog hole they can drive an increase of the purchase of HDMI capable televisions in this country and improve retail sales throughout the country. This will help save and/or create jobs at high paying employers such as Walmart, getting more money flowing to the entertainment industry.
Sure it might affect your grandparents or people too poor to afford a new TV but then again they would not be buying these premium services anyway. Just a 1 percent jobs increase would give us 14,000 jobs at Walmart alone making it well worth the minor inconveniencing of a few people.
It is our patriotic duty to contact the FCC and support SOC. Forget the rhetoric about corporate profits and control and think of the little people.
Stimulate the economy by stimulating the MPAA...everyone wins!
I would never dream of saying everyone has enjoyed Vista that has invested money in decent systems, I was saying the majority of complaints have been from lower end systems. As for the Sony Vaio laptops I have been VERY disappointed with them in both bloat and system performance. Several of the applications on them seem to take an extraordinary amount of system resources. With base installs of either Vista or XP without the Sony crapware the performance is greatly increased.
As for the two specific problems you mentioned, I cannot say I have seen many Sony laptops exhibiting those particular problems. Working near a university I have the opportunity to work on a lot of laptops and I think I have seen the wireless problem twice (turned out to be a software conflict from a 3rd-party application both times). The video resize error I have not had the (mis)fortune to encounter and I am certain if this was a common problem I would have had a more than a few customers asking to have it fixed.
Vista as it stands now is not for everyone. My personal opinion is that just like XP it will take a couple of years for baseline systems to "catch up" with the real resource requirements and not a minimum requirements that is for successfully starting the OS that most vendors are looking at.
Disclaimer: I do use Vista, but I also have Ubuntu on my laptop, a Mac serving media files to my network and a FreeBSD system acting as a network gateway/firewall.
Having Microsoft provide copies of Windows XP to customers will only fix half of the problems on many new PCs as several of the newest laptops and desktops have limited support from the manufacturers for Windows XP (read: non-existent in most cases). In many cases I get a customer who "downgraded" their system only to find that several components are unsupported in XP or have proprietary settings that prevent the generic drivers from working. I hold the Toshiba A215-S7447 laptop up as a good example of this. Although the cynical part of me praises the industry for this revenue stream, it shows that just giving the OS would cause more problems and frustrations for customers in the long run as the software and features pre-installed by the manufacturer that the customer has come to expect are missing from a "vanilla" install of XP.
Most of the complaints I get regarding Windows Vista are of the "I cannot find this feature" or "my 5+ year old piece of software will not work". In nearly all cases like this the problem can be fixed by a little advise on the help system and showing the customer how to use compatibility mode. Hardware is the biggest complaint but again it is almost always for 5+ year old equipment (many of which are no longer supported by the manufacturer) and these are incidentally the same type of customers who complain their sub $500 computer does not have a parallel port.
The majority of the customers that come to me and say "Vista sucks!" are the ones who bought a sub $500 desktop or laptop running Windows Vista Basic meeting the absolute lowest requirements. When you add shared video memory overhead to an already low installed RAM it is no wonder the system bogs down when attempting to do more than one task at a time. Microsoft's biggest mistake was to make this version as in my experience the person who wants to pay the least for a product is the one who tends to be the most vocal about any perceived problems.
One more thing that comes to mind is "who pays"? Microsoft can not be required to pay companies to develop and support their operating system or provide OEM copies of additional value-added software such as DVD decoding or advanced burning capability. The manufacturers of the hardware and especially the large system builders are just as guilty of making the transition as painful as it is.
Vista is not perfect, in fact it reminds me a great deal of Windows XP pre-SP1 and there are a lot of problems that are being ironed out over time. The fact of the matter is unless the hardware manufacturers are willing to incur the additional expense of continuing to develop and support Windows XP drivers, a move to "force" Microsoft to provide "downgrade" disks would be useless to the average customer.
As optimist as this article is (and adds a nice bashing of Microsoft that should please this crowd), it fails to take in account the other side of the telecomms strategy for "metering the internet". There has been a legislative push to throw so many roadblocks against municipal broadband projects at both the state and federal level, often citing "anticompetive environment" as a justification against them. Considering the virtual monopoly positions held by most providers in their areas of services, it is apparent they have seen the potential (and threat) of municipal broadband projects to their mid and long term plans for the internet. "Owning the last mile" is a beautiful vision and expresses the American dream in the digital age...unless you they have already outlawed it in your area.
It depends on your employer. When I quit my last job at L. Rife Enterprises I simply had to look at a static-filled screen. They did not require anything el...me li se ka la be so
On their FAQ (dated 5 Oct 2000!), they state they will support Linux initially and are looking for sponsorship to port the client to Windows. Considering the "What's New" page was last updated on 17 Aug 2001, the actual status of ports for different clients is unclear.
It seems like there is a bit of professional dueling going on between this project and Seti@home looking at their FAQ and the quote by Dr Meyers Allen saying about their project "It's not a stripped down 'toy' version, so the runs take time"
My favorite quote from their FAQ was in response to the possible affect the computers running the client might have on the environment:
"Each day, about 23 times more energy will be spent boiling water for tea in the United Kingdom than would be used by the computers involved in the Casino-21 project."
According to the Lindows Licensing Information page Source code is available for download at http://net2.com/lindows/source/. Of interest is the statements to check the main developer trees for products they use (KDE, Denbian, Wine), as most modification made by Lindows have been accepted and integrated into the main trees.
The dates on the source files are 12 Apr 02, although the downloader is cautioned in two places the Lindows OS software "has not even been released in beta", so the source may not reflect the most current build.
Actually, it is the teachers and the "guidance" counselors that are labeling the students as dangerous...not the other students. But I was just using that as an example. How about this one: Microsoft feels you are more likely to be a pirate if you buy a computer system without an Operating System, so they ask manufacturers for your personal information to be able to investigate this further. Or the RIAA feeling you should only get music through their approved channels regardless of who the music actually is created by. Perhaps the MPAA fighting a legitimate project for Linux because they could not be bothered to create a DVD player for a "niche" operating system. Or the various media corporations saying individuals cannot report the news via the internet they own the rights to.
Considering the subtitle of this site "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters." the average reader should be aware of how society separates those they consider different. How many of you have had your friends comment on how you "hacked" their system, when all you did was fix a minor problem, or asked you to "hack somebody" that made a stupid comment on the Internet. It does not matter if you actually know intrusion/counter-intrusion techniques, in society's mind "computer savvy" = "Hacker".
As for High School, I haven't been there for almost 12 years now, but the world still does not quite make sense to me yet. *g*
Actually, I stand by my comment. Try being a high-school student and wear a leather trenchcoat, talk about your love of games like Unreal or Quake, or be seen reading about firearms or military history, and see how quickly you get labeled as "dangerous".
Instead of the government agressively pursuing those who do not toe the line, the corporations and media conglomerates do the same thing using patent law, the DCMA, litigation, and unremitting advertising to ensure the public stays in the approved (and profitable) channel.
As I read through the article, it was indeed interesting to see the picture of what life was "supposed" to be by now. In many cases, his predictions were correct in spirit (like the fax machine), but it was interesting to see where we exceeded and missed expectations. A perfect example was the prediction regarding us having high-speed transcontinental travel, but not having made it to the moon yet! Of course I realize there are those who would argue that point, but I digress.
Perhaps the most insightful prediction he made was this comment:
Any marked departure from what Joe Dobson and his fellow citizens wear and eat and how they amuse themselves will arouse comment.
This, more than anything else predicted about the 21st century, is true. From what we wear, to the music we listen to, and even the software we access the Internet, it seems that society (at least the organizations that influence it most) ostracizes you if you step outside of the "approved channel"
In the end though, each generation needs its rebels to ensure there is a future, since what is progress but a desire to break the staus-quo.
As a tribute, we should all fly our towels at half mast today...
On a more serious note, I will never forget the day I walked into the school library to see the new paperbacks that arrived and the strange book that was sitting near the front of the stack.
At first, I was not sure what to make of it, the title seemed to imply Science Fiction, but the cover, with a strange impish green face sticking its tongue out and cartoonish artwork seemed to imply humor. Still, something about it appealed to me, so I went to a secluded corner to check it out.
What I had not counted on was the addictive nature of this book. It seemed silly and pointless, but I could not put it down. After I read that last line "Okay, baby, hold tight," said Zaphod. "We'll take in a quick bite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe", I could only think of two things. First, where (or when) would the next book be available, and how could I explain having missed the last three periods of school!
That book, was of course the Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy, and that paperback was later bought by me at a school library sale. It has been with me for over a decade, traveled to 24 countries on 4 continents, and although dog-eared and tattered, remains a treasured part of my collection.
Thank you Mr Douglas, for making fun of our flaws and obsessions, and helping us to laugh at ourselves. From Arthur to Zaphod, and everyone in-between, you have made, at least for me, life a richer experience. You will be missed.
I think I shall honor Mr Douglas in the fashion he would have liked best, by sitting back, curling up with the Guide, and letting his magic touch me again.
Although the article primarily focuses on new UCAVs been developed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses and Precision Strike missions, the Air Force is currently working on a plan to convert their existing fleet of Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from a reconnaissance to an anti-tank mission
In Febuary, the Predator successfully acquired, launched, and "destroyed" a target using a Hellfire-C anti-tank missile. Phase II, when approved, will contain further challenges for the Predator, to include firing at a higher operational altitude and moving targets.
The Predator has already proved itself a valuable assest in its primary role in locations such as Bosnia, it will be interesting to see how well the Predator can adapt to a more lethal mode.
This makes you wonder how this development will affect the projects of individuals like Ingo Potrykus, the creator of "Golden Rice" (see previous story here). His efforts to create a beta-carotene enhanced strain of rice to fight malnutrition has already been seriously challenged by patent holders of the genetic transfer techniques used to create it.
Now with a company claiming to have mapped the genome of rice, will they try to restrict use of genetic modification to those who pay royalties for use of "their" genome? Before you pass judement on this line of thought, you may want to consider the fact Potrykus wants to provide his rice at cost or lower to ensure the people who need it are able to afford it. In today's cutthroat legal world, I doubt a company (or more specifically their lawyers) would idly stand by and watch someone give away something they could sell for profit.
The fact a 9-foot monolith appeared in Seattle is not really the suprising thing...I am suprised we have not seen a rash of "monolith-like" objects sprouting up around the world.
Of course maybe a higher power is trying to "encourage" Microsoft to evolve into a higher lifeform (open source of course)
One thing that is interesting about this is the fact AOL is already dominating the Internet arena, and with the upcoming merger with Time-Warner is poised to make significant inroads into the broadband market, making it much more attractive to consumers.
If you take a look at the list of assets and capabilities the AOL-TW conglomerate will offer, the only thing they would lack to provide a similar set of services would be a "pet" operating system to bundle.
Imagine this scenario:
Linux continues to grow in popularity and develops into a (more) user-friendly alternative to the various Microsoft Windows OSs. As Microsoft begins to deploy "Next Generation Internet" and being hounded by the DOJ and competitors alike, AOL decides to release a low-end "Net Box" built around Cyrix chips and "AOL-Linux". Using a campaign blitz across its vast multimedia holdings (and limiting access to Microsoft for its own commercials), it begins to dominate the sub $500 PC market.
Of course AOL has not been idle during this time, and has entered in "strategic alliances" with several applications companies, and begins to offer "net centric" applications scaled down for home users (similar to Microsoft Works).
Due to the continuous updating of the Linux source, AOL doesn't have to spend as much as Microsoft on R&D, so offers free upgrades to its integrated operating system. That with a "multi-level" approach to marketing (free basic upgrades with your $35 a month for internet, deluxe upgrades available at a "nominal fee"), as well as reducing pricing for packaging other services (AOL TV, AOL Phone, etc.), causes multitudes to "make the move to AOL".
Between a slowing but still viable Microsoft and the new AOL juggernaut, the Internet is polarized between the two and the competition stifles all comers (similar to the way our two main political parties stifle competition from any other party).
Of course imagine how fast AOL-TW could implement this kind of plan if the DOJ is successful and forces Microsoft to make its source code available and breaks it up. It would take Microsoft a couple of years to really reorganize after the kind of breakup that has been proposed...time that AOL-TW would gladly use to consolidate and extend its influence throughout the digital realm.
Bottom line. Although I may not agree with the idea of Microsoft running the "net centric" world, it is going to happen one way or another. Yes, a breakup might help competition in the short term, but that big of a power vacuum will be filled by the strongest...and unfortunately very likely that will be AOL.
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Actually, this is a great idea! By giving the ability to close the analog hole they can drive an increase of the purchase of HDMI capable televisions in this country and improve retail sales throughout the country. This will help save and/or create jobs at high paying employers such as Walmart, getting more money flowing to the entertainment industry.
Sure it might affect your grandparents or people too poor to afford a new TV but then again they would not be buying these premium services anyway. Just a 1 percent jobs increase would give us 14,000 jobs at Walmart alone making it well worth the minor inconveniencing of a few people.
It is our patriotic duty to contact the FCC and support SOC. Forget the rhetoric about corporate profits and control and think of the little people.
Stimulate the economy by stimulating the MPAA...everyone wins!
I would never dream of saying everyone has enjoyed Vista that has invested money in decent systems, I was saying the majority of complaints have been from lower end systems. As for the Sony Vaio laptops I have been VERY disappointed with them in both bloat and system performance. Several of the applications on them seem to take an extraordinary amount of system resources. With base installs of either Vista or XP without the Sony crapware the performance is greatly increased.
As for the two specific problems you mentioned, I cannot say I have seen many Sony laptops exhibiting those particular problems. Working near a university I have the opportunity to work on a lot of laptops and I think I have seen the wireless problem twice (turned out to be a software conflict from a 3rd-party application both times). The video resize error I have not had the (mis)fortune to encounter and I am certain if this was a common problem I would have had a more than a few customers asking to have it fixed.
Vista as it stands now is not for everyone. My personal opinion is that just like XP it will take a couple of years for baseline systems to "catch up" with the real resource requirements and not a minimum requirements that is for successfully starting the OS that most vendors are looking at.
Disclaimer: I do use Vista, but I also have Ubuntu on my laptop, a Mac serving media files to my network and a FreeBSD system acting as a network gateway/firewall.
Having Microsoft provide copies of Windows XP to customers will only fix half of the problems on many new PCs as several of the newest laptops and desktops have limited support from the manufacturers for Windows XP (read: non-existent in most cases). In many cases I get a customer who "downgraded" their system only to find that several components are unsupported in XP or have proprietary settings that prevent the generic drivers from working. I hold the Toshiba A215-S7447 laptop up as a good example of this. Although the cynical part of me praises the industry for this revenue stream, it shows that just giving the OS would cause more problems and frustrations for customers in the long run as the software and features pre-installed by the manufacturer that the customer has come to expect are missing from a "vanilla" install of XP.
Most of the complaints I get regarding Windows Vista are of the "I cannot find this feature" or "my 5+ year old piece of software will not work". In nearly all cases like this the problem can be fixed by a little advise on the help system and showing the customer how to use compatibility mode. Hardware is the biggest complaint but again it is almost always for 5+ year old equipment (many of which are no longer supported by the manufacturer) and these are incidentally the same type of customers who complain their sub $500 computer does not have a parallel port.
The majority of the customers that come to me and say "Vista sucks!" are the ones who bought a sub $500 desktop or laptop running Windows Vista Basic meeting the absolute lowest requirements. When you add shared video memory overhead to an already low installed RAM it is no wonder the system bogs down when attempting to do more than one task at a time. Microsoft's biggest mistake was to make this version as in my experience the person who wants to pay the least for a product is the one who tends to be the most vocal about any perceived problems.
One more thing that comes to mind is "who pays"? Microsoft can not be required to pay companies to develop and support their operating system or provide OEM copies of additional value-added software such as DVD decoding or advanced burning capability. The manufacturers of the hardware and especially the large system builders are just as guilty of making the transition as painful as it is.
Vista is not perfect, in fact it reminds me a great deal of Windows XP pre-SP1 and there are a lot of problems that are being ironed out over time. The fact of the matter is unless the hardware manufacturers are willing to incur the additional expense of continuing to develop and support Windows XP drivers, a move to "force" Microsoft to provide "downgrade" disks would be useless to the average customer.
As optimist as this article is (and adds a nice bashing of Microsoft that should please this crowd), it fails to take in account the other side of the telecomms strategy for "metering the internet". There has been a legislative push to throw so many roadblocks against municipal broadband projects at both the state and federal level, often citing "anticompetive environment" as a justification against them.
Considering the virtual monopoly positions held by most providers in their areas of services, it is apparent they have seen the potential (and threat) of municipal broadband projects to their mid and long term plans for the internet.
"Owning the last mile" is a beautiful vision and expresses the American dream in the digital age...unless you they have already outlawed it in your area.
It depends on your employer. When I quit my last job at L. Rife Enterprises I simply had to look at a static-filled screen. They did not require anything el...me li se ka la be so
On their FAQ (dated 5 Oct 2000!), they state they will support Linux initially and are looking for sponsorship to port the client to Windows. Considering the "What's New" page was last updated on 17 Aug 2001, the actual status of ports for different clients is unclear.
It seems like there is a bit of professional dueling going on between this project and Seti@home looking at their FAQ and the quote by Dr Meyers Allen saying about their project "It's not a stripped down 'toy' version, so the runs take time"
My favorite quote from their FAQ was in response to the possible affect the computers running the client might have on the environment:
According to the Lindows Licensing Information page Source code is available for download at http://net2.com/lindows/source/. Of interest is the statements to check the main developer trees for products they use (KDE, Denbian, Wine), as most modification made by Lindows have been accepted and integrated into the main trees.
The dates on the source files are 12 Apr 02, although the downloader is cautioned in two places the Lindows OS software "has not even been released in beta", so the source may not reflect the most current build.
Actually, it is the teachers and the "guidance" counselors that are labeling the students as dangerous...not the other students. But I was just using that as an example. How about this one: Microsoft feels you are more likely to be a pirate if you buy a computer system without an Operating System, so they ask manufacturers for your personal information to be able to investigate this further. Or the RIAA feeling you should only get music through their approved channels regardless of who the music actually is created by. Perhaps the MPAA fighting a legitimate project for Linux because they could not be bothered to create a DVD player for a "niche" operating system. Or the various media corporations saying individuals cannot report the news via the internet they own the rights to.
Considering the subtitle of this site "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters." the average reader should be aware of how society separates those they consider different. How many of you have had your friends comment on how you "hacked" their system, when all you did was fix a minor problem, or asked you to "hack somebody" that made a stupid comment on the Internet. It does not matter if you actually know intrusion/counter-intrusion techniques, in society's mind "computer savvy" = "Hacker".
As for High School, I haven't been there for almost 12 years now, but the world still does not quite make sense to me yet. *g*
Actually, I stand by my comment. Try being a high-school student and wear a leather trenchcoat, talk about your love of games like Unreal or Quake, or be seen reading about firearms or military history, and see how quickly you get labeled as "dangerous".
Instead of the government agressively pursuing those who do not toe the line, the corporations and media conglomerates do the same thing using patent law, the DCMA, litigation, and unremitting advertising to ensure the public stays in the approved (and profitable) channel.
As I read through the article, it was indeed interesting to see the picture of what life was "supposed" to be by now. In many cases, his predictions were correct in spirit (like the fax machine), but it was interesting to see where we exceeded and missed expectations. A perfect example was the prediction regarding us having high-speed transcontinental travel, but not having made it to the moon yet! Of course I realize there are those who would argue that point, but I digress.
Perhaps the most insightful prediction he made was this comment:
This, more than anything else predicted about the 21st century, is true. From what we wear, to the music we listen to, and even the software we access the Internet, it seems that society (at least the organizations that influence it most) ostracizes you if you step outside of the "approved channel"In the end though, each generation needs its rebels to ensure there is a future, since what is progress but a desire to break the staus-quo.
As a tribute, we should all fly our towels at half mast today...
On a more serious note, I will never forget the day I walked into the school library to see the new paperbacks that arrived and the strange book that was sitting near the front of the stack.
At first, I was not sure what to make of it, the title seemed to imply Science Fiction, but the cover, with a strange impish green face sticking its tongue out and cartoonish artwork seemed to imply humor. Still, something about it appealed to me, so I went to a secluded corner to check it out.
What I had not counted on was the addictive nature of this book. It seemed silly and pointless, but I could not put it down. After I read that last line "Okay, baby, hold tight," said Zaphod. "We'll take in a quick bite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe", I could only think of two things. First, where (or when) would the next book be available, and how could I explain having missed the last three periods of school!
That book, was of course the Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy, and that paperback was later bought by me at a school library sale. It has been with me for over a decade, traveled to 24 countries on 4 continents, and although dog-eared and tattered, remains a treasured part of my collection.
Thank you Mr Douglas, for making fun of our flaws and obsessions, and helping us to laugh at ourselves. From Arthur to Zaphod, and everyone in-between, you have made, at least for me, life a richer experience. You will be missed.
I think I shall honor Mr Douglas in the fashion he would have liked best, by sitting back, curling up with the Guide, and letting his magic touch me again.
I forgot to include this link as well for those who like to know more about these craft: Predator UAV Fact Sheet
Although the article primarily focuses on new UCAVs been developed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses and Precision Strike missions, the Air Force is currently working on a plan to convert their existing fleet of Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from a reconnaissance to an anti-tank mission
In Febuary, the Predator successfully acquired, launched, and "destroyed" a target using a Hellfire-C anti-tank missile. Phase II, when approved, will contain further challenges for the Predator, to include firing at a higher operational altitude and moving targets.
The Predator has already proved itself a valuable assest in its primary role in locations such as Bosnia, it will be interesting to see how well the Predator can adapt to a more lethal mode.
More information can be found here: Predator missile launch test totally successful
Now with a company claiming to have mapped the genome of rice, will they try to restrict use of genetic modification to those who pay royalties for use of "their" genome? Before you pass judement on this line of thought, you may want to consider the fact Potrykus wants to provide his rice at cost or lower to ensure the people who need it are able to afford it. In today's cutthroat legal world, I doubt a company (or more specifically their lawyers) would idly stand by and watch someone give away something they could sell for profit.
For more information, see this article in Time.
Clarke must be scandalized! Everyone knows "2001" ushered in the new Millenium.
Of course maybe a higher power is trying to "encourage" Microsoft to evolve into a higher lifeform (open source of course)
One thing that is interesting about this is the fact AOL is already dominating the Internet arena, and with the upcoming merger with Time-Warner is poised to make significant inroads into the broadband market, making it much more attractive to consumers.
If you take a look at the list of assets and capabilities the AOL-TW conglomerate will offer, the only thing they would lack to provide a similar set of services would be a "pet" operating system to bundle.
Imagine this scenario:
Linux continues to grow in popularity and develops into a (more) user-friendly alternative to the various Microsoft Windows OSs. As Microsoft begins to deploy "Next Generation Internet" and being hounded by the DOJ and competitors alike, AOL decides to release a low-end "Net Box" built around Cyrix chips and "AOL-Linux". Using a campaign blitz across its vast multimedia holdings (and limiting access to Microsoft for its own commercials), it begins to dominate the sub $500 PC market.
Of course AOL has not been idle during this time, and has entered in "strategic alliances" with several applications companies, and begins to offer "net centric" applications scaled down for home users (similar to Microsoft Works).
Due to the continuous updating of the Linux source, AOL doesn't have to spend as much as Microsoft on R&D, so offers free upgrades to its integrated operating system. That with a "multi-level" approach to marketing (free basic upgrades with your $35 a month for internet, deluxe upgrades available at a "nominal fee"), as well as reducing pricing for packaging other services (AOL TV, AOL Phone, etc.), causes multitudes to "make the move to AOL".
Between a slowing but still viable Microsoft and the new AOL juggernaut, the Internet is polarized between the two and the competition stifles all comers (similar to the way our two main political parties stifle competition from any other party).
Of course imagine how fast AOL-TW could implement this kind of plan if the DOJ is successful and forces Microsoft to make its source code available and breaks it up. It would take Microsoft a couple of years to really reorganize after the kind of breakup that has been proposed...time that AOL-TW would gladly use to consolidate and extend its influence throughout the digital realm.
Bottom line. Although I may not agree with the idea of Microsoft running the "net centric" world, it is going to happen one way or another. Yes, a breakup might help competition in the short term, but that big of a power vacuum will be filled by the strongest...and unfortunately very likely that will be AOL.
Just some food for thought.
"Breakup AOL - 2015"