Coca-Cola is a good example of a proprietary "format." Their recipe for Coke is a company secret. They don't have it Registered because that would require they register the formula (where everyone would be able to see it). So Coke has simply relied on their ability to keep the formula secret.
The implications of requiring a company to release the specifications of their file format, would be much further reaching. Imagine Pepsi lobbying for Coca-Cola to open up their formula, because it's been proprietary for however-many years.
We tend to view the technology industry in a vaccum. But in fact, many discussions like this have already been resolved in the "real world."
The market needs to drive these things. If corporations feel safe using a proprietary format, let them use it. Then let them get bit on the ass for it several years later when they can't read their historical documents with the latest version of their proprietary software. Eventually, the market will demand open formats. In fact, there seems to be evidence (no, I can't cite, you'll just have to trust me or do your own research) that this is already happening.
I remember the day when Slashdot was considered fresh and innovative. Yet, they were completely unable or unwilling to draw on their readership and say "listen up, we need to come up with a new way to bring cash in, so we can continue to provide Slashdot. Ideas anyone?"
They're relying on an economic model that didn't work in 2000, or 2001, and won't work now. As I said, this solution shows a complete lack of imagination. I choose not to participate.
Let me get this straight. You want me to pay for the priveledge of not having advertisements being crammed down my throat in an obtrusive way?
What happens when subscriptions don't make enough money? Will you then have "premium" subscriptions? Normal subscriptions will now bypass all but the smaller ads, and premium bypasses them all. But wait, eventually that won't work either. You'll have to have "Gold" subscriptions. *sigh*
The internet is a means to an end, not the end itself. There's a reason the dot-com economy went bust. This plan reflects a lack of imagination, and a basic misunderstanding of the *new* new economy.
Okay, that was more than two words. If you want the two-word version, you'll need to subscribe to my new "Rant subscription service." Currently we accept cash.
...until MS incorporates "Trusted Sender" seals into Exchange. Pretty soon, everyone running an Exchange server has a seal. Makes filtering on the seal pretty worthless then, unless you don't mind throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
As for effectiveness? Look at how many sheisters out there get "trusted" SSL certificates. All these seals are going to prove is that a real live person went through the trouble of designing some company letterhead in Word, and faxed it to Truste.
It's been said before, but it bears repeating. What if Microsoft were doing this instead of Napster? Would the "internet community" be so eager to back Microsoft? Napster is a corporation, like any other, beholded to it's stockholders. It's not about freedom, or sharing, or ideals. It's about money, and what they can get away with.
Somewhat lengthy, and written with an agenda, but very interesting...
An agenda? Oh dear.
I've always depended on Slashdot to take a neutral stance on all issues, especially subjects like free software and Linux. What will now become of this bastion of impartial reporting?
For the same reason Tobacco isn't controlled by the Food & Drug Administration (in the United States). Powerful lobby groups.
There's also a lack of motivation to research new technologies. The perception is that oil supplies won't run out in our lifetime, so let it be our grandkid's problem.
Looks like Apple is taking pains to make sure the end-user isn't exposed to *nix "yuckiness." And while projects like Gnome and KDE do this to a great extent, Linux/xBSD won't catch on at the desktop until the OS becomes almost entirely invisible to the end-user. Not that your average/. reader would be caught dead using a system like I'm describing, but then World Dominance comes at a small price.:)
Until the cost of hi-res printers (and associated paper) goes way down, image quality will only matter on the monitor. The ink jet picture of grandma hanging over the fireplace (the picture's hanging, not grandma:) leaves a lot to be desired.
It's Deja Vu all over again. Remember when Archie Comics tried to shut down (and steal the domain) Veronica.org? ACP backed down, but only after being nailed in the press for trying to take a domain away from a toddler.
The original/. story is here. The story generated over 1,300 letters to Archie Comics, causing them to back down. It'll take more than that to take Mattel on, I'm sure.
Strangly enough, www.veronica.org doesn't seem to be up anymore. Hmmm...black helicopters...
I'm not a HAM enthusiest, but I know that there is a message relay service offered by amateur volunteers all over the world. She may not be able to read email, but any important messages she needed to send/receive would be relayed.
This is fascinating. Before I read this, I really thought it was yet another attempt by music companies to stop/control yet another medium. And of course, it is.
BUT...
What was great about this interview (besides the free-form, flow-of-conciousness style interview, which we should see a lot more of please!) was that you can actually see Lars struggle with the various shades of grey involved with this case. I mean, how many times do you hear somebody in his position say "well, I've rethought my position on this" or "I probably shouldn't have said that".
So, while I still think Metallica needs to take a much different tack, I can really appreciate that they are truly trying to wrap their arms around this, and are trying to do what they consider is the right thing. Who knows, maybe through their continuous education on the facts, they'll see the light.
If the Kerberos developers had the foresight to release modern versions of the package under something like the GPL, Microsoft wouldn't have been able to add proprietary extensions in the first place (I think Kerberos predates the GPL, which is why I say "modern versions." I could be wrong). But the current license, if you can call it that, allows anyone to do anything with it, as long as they don't implicate MIT. Woohoo.
This is what RMS and other Free Software advocates mean when they say that the GPL actually frees software for others, rather than restricting it. The Linux kernel, GNOME, and other Free projects will never have this problem.
Using one of the OpenSRS affiliates (ObPlug: Like Domaingeeks.com:), the transfer process is pretty uncomplicated. All you need to agree to is registering the domain for an additional year. So if you have a year left on your NetSlo domain, transfering it would give you a total of 2 years (of course, you have to pay the affiliate whatever the cost of that year is).
Why is Microsoft not being held at least 50% culpable? ILOVEYOU is nothing more than a cheap rip-off of Melissa and others; very well-known explots. We've been screaming at Microsoft for years to close these holes, yet they continue to treat it as a Virus vendor problem.
Corporate America/Europe/Asia/etc needs to stand up and tell Microsoft to fix their problem. -k
The whole idea behind having a National [insert occupation here] Day is to appreciate people that are traditionally under-appreciated, such as teachers and secretaries. Or to heighten awareness, such as National [insert disorder here] Day, Week, or Month.
Are we under-appreciated? Cripes, most techies in the US are *way* above the poverty line, some are millionaires, and many are overpaid (probably including myself). How many of these Silicon Valley millionaires and 3-digit income geeks have been supporting charities with their new-found wealth? (answer: very few!) How many teachers have become millionaires by teaching, yet use their own paycheck to buy classroom supplies?
This is a stunt I'd expect to see from Microsoft/IBM/Sun/Netscape--push a self-important, over-hyped agenda for the sole purpose of inflating the ego. I for one don't plan to participate, and I'd urge others in the community to nip this idiocy in the bud before it gets any bigger.
Typically, at the conclusion of a successful revolution the "founding fathers" don't hang around to enjoy the fruits of their success. So where will you and what will you be doing be when Free/Open Source becomes the norm, and the need to evangelize is gone?
Slashdot Mirror
Coca-Cola is a good example of a proprietary "format." Their recipe for Coke is a company secret. They don't have it Registered because that would require they register the formula (where everyone would be able to see it). So Coke has simply relied on their ability to keep the formula secret.
The implications of requiring a company to release the specifications of their file format, would be much further reaching. Imagine Pepsi lobbying for Coca-Cola to open up their formula, because it's been proprietary for however-many years.
We tend to view the technology industry in a vaccum. But in fact, many discussions like this have already been resolved in the "real world."
The market needs to drive these things. If corporations feel safe using a proprietary format, let them use it. Then let them get bit on the ass for it several years later when they can't read their historical documents with the latest version of their proprietary software. Eventually, the market will demand open formats. In fact, there seems to be evidence (no, I can't cite, you'll just have to trust me or do your own research) that this is already happening.
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
...because, this was the *only* solution, right?
I remember the day when Slashdot was considered fresh and innovative. Yet, they were completely unable or unwilling to draw on their readership and say "listen up, we need to come up with a new way to bring cash in, so we can continue to provide Slashdot. Ideas anyone?"
They're relying on an economic model that didn't work in 2000, or 2001, and won't work now. As I said, this solution shows a complete lack of imagination. I choose not to participate.
-k
Use lynx.
Let me get this straight. You want me to pay for the priveledge of not having advertisements being crammed down my throat in an obtrusive way?
What happens when subscriptions don't make enough money? Will you then have "premium" subscriptions? Normal subscriptions will now bypass all but the smaller ads, and premium bypasses them all. But wait, eventually that won't work either. You'll have to have "Gold" subscriptions. *sigh*
The internet is a means to an end, not the end itself. There's a reason the dot-com economy went bust. This plan reflects a lack of imagination, and a basic misunderstanding of the *new* new economy.
Okay, that was more than two words. If you want the two-word version, you'll need to subscribe to my new "Rant subscription service." Currently we accept cash.
...until MS incorporates "Trusted Sender" seals into Exchange. Pretty soon, everyone running an Exchange server has a seal. Makes filtering on the seal pretty worthless then, unless you don't mind throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
As for effectiveness? Look at how many sheisters out there get "trusted" SSL certificates. All these seals are going to prove is that a real live person went through the trouble of designing some company letterhead in Word, and faxed it to Truste.
It's been said before, but it bears repeating. What if Microsoft were doing this instead of Napster? Would the "internet community" be so eager to back Microsoft? Napster is a corporation, like any other, beholded to it's stockholders. It's not about freedom, or sharing, or ideals. It's about money, and what they can get away with.
An agenda? Oh dear.
I've always depended on Slashdot to take a neutral stance on all issues, especially subjects like free software and Linux. What will now become of this bastion of impartial reporting?
There's also a lack of motivation to research new technologies. The perception is that oil supplies won't run out in our lifetime, so let it be our grandkid's problem.
Humans suck.
Looks like Apple is taking pains to make sure the end-user isn't exposed to *nix "yuckiness." And while projects like Gnome and KDE do this to a great extent, Linux/xBSD won't catch on at the desktop until the OS becomes almost entirely invisible to the end-user. Not that your average /. reader would be caught dead using a system like I'm describing, but then World Dominance comes at a small price. :)
A self replicating lego factory!
The original /. story is here. The story generated over 1,300 letters to Archie Comics, causing them to back down. It'll take more than that to take Mattel on, I'm sure.
Strangly enough, www.veronica.org doesn't seem to be up anymore. Hmmm...black helicopters...
HTH.
This is fascinating. Before I read this, I really thought it was yet another attempt by music companies to stop/control yet another medium. And of course, it is.
BUT...
What was great about this interview (besides the free-form, flow-of-conciousness style interview, which we should see a lot more of please!) was that you can actually see Lars struggle with the various shades of grey involved with this case. I mean, how many times do you hear somebody in his position say "well, I've rethought my position on this" or "I probably shouldn't have said that".
So, while I still think Metallica needs to take a much different tack, I can really appreciate that they are truly trying to wrap their arms around this, and are trying to do what they consider is the right thing. Who knows, maybe through their continuous education on the facts, they'll see the light.
Then again...maybe it IS about the money. :-)
So, free beer will *finally* become a reality, eh? Or, at least the super-disease-resistant grain to make it will be :-)
Ohmy.god.
This is what RMS and other Free Software advocates mean when they say that the GPL actually frees software for others, rather than restricting it. The Linux kernel, GNOME, and other Free projects will never have this problem.
Regarding your request #3, you should read our Privacy Policy.
Using one of the OpenSRS affiliates (ObPlug: Like Domaingeeks.com :), the transfer process is pretty uncomplicated. All you need to agree to is registering the domain for an additional year. So if you have a year left on your NetSlo domain, transfering it would give you a total of 2 years (of course, you have to pay the affiliate whatever the cost of that year is).
So does this mean I can grab somebody's Amazon.com cookie, paste it into my own cookie file, and order stuff from Amazon using "One-click"?
Corporate America/Europe/Asia/etc needs to stand up and tell Microsoft to fix their problem. -k
So when do they make the film version of Bored of the Rings? :->
Semi-seriously though, this is a work dying to have Terry Gilliam direct it!
"Scoff not at the Great White Wizard, for I have many powers! Here, pick a card, any card..."
- Goodgulf Greyteeth
The whole idea behind having a National [insert occupation here] Day is to appreciate people that are traditionally under-appreciated, such as teachers and secretaries. Or to heighten awareness, such as National [insert disorder here] Day, Week, or Month.
Are we under-appreciated? Cripes, most techies in the US are *way* above the poverty line, some are millionaires, and many are overpaid (probably including myself). How many of these Silicon Valley millionaires and 3-digit income geeks have been supporting charities with their new-found wealth? (answer: very few!) How many teachers have become millionaires by teaching, yet use their own paycheck to buy classroom supplies?
This is a stunt I'd expect to see from Microsoft/IBM/Sun/Netscape--push a self-important, over-hyped agenda for the sole purpose of inflating the ego. I for one don't plan to participate, and I'd urge others in the community to nip this idiocy in the bud before it gets any bigger.
Typically, at the conclusion of a successful revolution the "founding fathers" don't hang around to enjoy the fruits of their success. So where will you and what will you be doing be when Free/Open Source becomes the norm, and the need to evangelize is gone?