I would hardly call MEL an architecture. In fact, I would hardly call MEL a programming language either.
It may not be an OS, but it certainly is an API that can control every part of Maya from the GUI to dynamic animations to the tooltip bubbles. By the way, I called it a "scripting language".
However, Alias/Maya used to run on Irix, an SGI Unix variant (maybe still does).
Oddly, 6.5 was the last Irix version (Maya is now on 7.0). Hmmm..... Maybe that's because they were no longer owned by SGI as of July 2004. Then again...
The thing is, that was to an investment firm that would be hands off. We can only hope for the same from Autodesk, but they were the competition in many markets (especially game design - boy did they just become the 800lb Gorilla there too). My hope is much like the grandparent, that Max/GMax becomes a real-time platform and Maya becomes the film production platform. Those roles are already quite estabilished (within film and gaming at least) and a smart company would play those strengths.
...there'll be crazy anti-piracy attached to all the aquired products.
As a registered Maya user, I can tell you that there already is. Usually it's FlexLM, which gets bound to your hardware (or can run on a license server) or a bonafide hardware dongle. No changes expected there. Alias is just as careful (paranoid) as Audtodesk.
Maya Linux has been a long time coming. Alias has proof that not only do regular customers want Linux, high-end studios demand it. OSX is in an even better position. The architeture of Maya (a scripting language called MEL on top of a "kernel" of sorts) makes it quite portable I would think.
without installing the entire Windows Resource Kit tools
There are several RK tools in my MS toolbox, but the best thing is having real unix utils. Pop those in your %PATH% and enjoy some of the same fun that's being spoken of here. Of course there's always Cygwin, but these native ports are handy to keep on a USB drive and don't need any configuration/installation at all.
What does this say about the status of the project? Given up? Or ready to go with manufacturing new ones?
From TFA "Only 75 Neiman Marcus Special Editions will be produced and delivered in 2006." I was expecting a couple of prototypes, but 75! I'd say they're going onward full bore.
I think this one-liner sums up what Sci-Fi has been starving for:
"Like watching the original Star Wars for the first time, or better yet, watching The Empire Strikes Back... Mal is a guy who would shoot Greedo first."
-- Fred Topel, ABOUT.COM
The episode that won me over for the show was The Train Job. (small spoiler) This "bad" guy is blabbering about how he would hunt Mal down and make him pay. Since Mal had him tied up and in front of a large turbine, he just kicked the "bad" guy into it. Ended the whole "threat to hunt you down" thing right there. These are the cutthroat actions you always knew Han Solo and Kirk were capable of, but never saw them do.
We can just send in a squad of Toxic Dart Dolphins.
I can see the posturing now...
Invertibrates like these, and their cartelage allies, constitute an octopus of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. Either you're with above the surface or against us; and any species that thwarts our ability to rout invertabrates out where they exist will be held to account, one way or the other.
Hi there "Steve from HEXUS". Just a thought: This is a great idea for a follow up article... 'cause you know... you've got a few PSUs around. Since it was posted AC, I'll just quote it.
To be honest, at the moment my needs are more focused on the quietness of a power supply, I can quite easily cope with 300W on my main PC.
Sorry about your server. I didn't get the chance to read the article, but I'll be back for it.
First of all, I buy most of my software online direct from the manufacturer in the first place. All of them store a copy of my license key for me and will give it to me if I can identify myself properly - from my handheld to my PC. I can even download a fresh copy if I need to. I actually had to do this last week with Sony and they were really good about it.
Why would I want another copy of my license key floating around on a public network? Especially with MS "guarding"it. I would even venture to say that my license keys are more secure because they don't have a central access point (ie: different companies). If I were to use this service and someone could contact MS and autheticate they could grab _all_ of my license keys. Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Maya would total several thousand dollars in hard earned cash.
I won't even get into them wanting my credit card number. I've avoided giving them one for a couple of decades now and I'm not about to give in;)
Second: This is where they are taking Passport? Didn't Ebay leave the program a while back? From what I remember the list of participants is teeny.
I was thinking of how many little brothers will know genuine fear after seeing the video while I was watching it. Being a big brother, I lauged my ass off as soon as the gun started firing. I suddenly wonder what my little sister is up to...
making an object a paint brush seems to be just an unimaginative copy of the tool for the physical world
I realize that you may be saying that this is more convergence than invention, but I think a brush metaphor does best illustrate what this thing does. Despite the label, what it does to computing and kids is interesting. If you can call a wand a wang, you can call a brush a wand.
It just seems kinda silly to me that we repeat this same silly duplication of old interfaces each time. When cars were first invented people tried to put reigns on them along with many other examples I can't remember. I'm just surprised we haven't learned yet that new technologies generally demand new interfaces...
Cars weren't a whizbang!-Suddenly-you-have-a-BMW! type thing. You're forgetting that the interface for a car took a long time to settle (especially by today's standards). In fact, it's still evolving quite a bit. Remember saying:
Children are exceptionally good at learning new interfaces and ways of controlling things
I think this may be a good reason to give it to kids right away. Think of it as interface R&D if you have to.
(Note this isn't a real criticism just a general observation and nit picking)
Please be advised that you almost broke the Internet. Trying to get somewhere? Use the navigation at the top of the page. If you're still having problems, update your browser or your version of Flash. Just stop whatever it is that got you here because it's seriously freaking us out.
Apparently the Robot Chicken Download Page is not quite working... Nice to know they let their geeks get a laugh too at least.
If I start a fresh Fx run, and do heavy surfing (esp. many images, and moreso with viewing movies within Fx.) the memory that it uses swells up pretty quickly. OTOH, opening a fresh Fx to a blank page, or something minimalish like google, it can sit around for days and the memory used doesn't change.
Though I can't claim to have even seen the code for FF, you may be onto something. I think I'll set the history low and try for a low disk cache for some tests when I get the chance. Keeping histories, cache, form details, search histories all of that stuff across tabs has to be some goodly overhead. Especially with one of the tab browser extensions installed. Hmmmmm....
This must be a joke. Last I read, the median income for an SF resident was $160,000. I guess this means SF is looking out for those who are unfortunate enough to only earn $125,000 per year?
You, my friend, obviously don't live here. Walking a couple blocks without being spare changed is a luxury. There are far more crackheads and poor in the Tenderloin than people that make six figures on the entire peninsula. I see kids in the TL every day who need to see more of the world than the people smoking and selling themselves on the street.
Slashdot Mirror
Maya Linux has been a long time coming. Alias has proof that not only do regular customers want Linux, high-end studios demand it. OSX is in an even better position. The architeture of Maya (a scripting language called MEL on top of a "kernel" of sorts) makes it quite portable I would think.
Lucky-*ucker: Hi, I'd like to register my Moller Sky Car.
DMV drone: What year is your Buick Skylark?
Lucky-*ucker: No, my sky car. Sky CAR!
I can see the look on the driving tester's face at license renewal. $3.5 mil and flying, it gives new meaning to "Tax and Licensing".
(couldn't resist)
Sorry about your server. I didn't get the chance to read the article, but I'll be back for it.
Why would I want another copy of my license key floating around on a public network? Especially with MS "guarding"it. I would even venture to say that my license keys are more secure because they don't have a central access point (ie: different companies). If I were to use this service and someone could contact MS and autheticate they could grab _all_ of my license keys. Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Maya would total several thousand dollars in hard earned cash.
I won't even get into them wanting my credit card number. I've avoided giving them one for a couple of decades now and I'm not about to give in ;)
Second: This is where they are taking Passport? Didn't Ebay leave the program a while back? From what I remember the list of participants is teeny.
mmmmmm.... toys
mmmmmmmmm.... linky...
(/homer)