Also, keep in mind that Novel is really secure. It's secure cause no one knows a blasted thing about it.
Hackers avoid it for this reason.
I would not setup a Novel system today, but if one already exists and it's serving the job.
But without knowing your application needs, it's difficult to make a judgement. For simple low load 20 employee file - print sharing - e-mail - centeralized backup can be accomplished by anything of the above.
As a rule the first thing when talking server class systems is do you want a desktop class or workstation class.
The usual arugument is as folllows:
You can get a Sun workstation for about $50k
You can get a Dell runing NT in the 10k.
The Nt on a dell averages about 40hours of downtime a year.
The Sun, while less bang for the buck, averages about 2 hours of downtime a year.
Linux/BSD on a PC falls into a similar boat, you it's difficult to beat the quality of a mainstream OS on industrual hardware. Though the downtime of a Linux/BSD box is primarly based on poor hardware support, drivers written by hackers in their spare time. BSD is by far more stable and networthy though.
I'd rather have either one then SCO
But the fine choice always is, what OS will run the applications you want, how much do you have to budget to the net information system. Which OS can be supported.
There is no shortage of Linux geeks, BSD geeks are harder to find. SunOS/SCI/HP/SCO/DEC a touch harder.
But it all depends on your application, and how much keeping the system online is worth to you.
It's all about marketing. As a direct result of digital convergence's marketing, they wish to make bar code readers a household appliance, which is fine by me as barcodes have been a stanard for some time.
If someone were to comeout with a sub $100 bar code reader like DCI's, I'd buy it, well, I'd pay $20 for one, perhaps, maybe. A typical keyboard web type would still work with their software, minus the auto trigger feature. Given barcodes are a standard, and the devices already on the market, no big deal, no IP violation.
Now the issue not being addressed is DCI attempting to corner the market on embeded media. Radio, Telivision, which at present the linux projects are not endanger of broaching. Microsoft (TM) is already working on concepts like this, but a touch more advanced. Taking into acount that digital media opens the door for imbedded information such as web pages, and a simple USB / network cable from your TV to your system. Such standards would make the DCI IP obsolete. The DCI model is one way intergration, and full report. I won't be happy until my TV is a peripheral.
This is just another futile attempt by the part of a company to become IBM, under the label, "Digital Convergence", a trademark unjusified considering their attempt to bridge the gap is via an analog signal over audio. Old idea, no points for attemting it today. A concept non to advanced than closed captioning, and about as useful.
I wonder of the designers took into account that there are some people out there who use the dovorak layout VS the QWERTY layout?
There are some users of any platform who choose to use keyboard maping as as the method of setting their keyboard to their personal preferences.
Just posted this question to tech support, at present they can only say, "doesn't work for the under Linux/Unix, and might be available for the mac next year". Perhaps if their 5 year plan actually included design rather than marketing, perhaps this rather simple issue would have been addressed! Note, I've not tested the output using a Dovork remapping.
Given that the Dovorak keyboard is popular among folks who don't have two hands, I would think it be a bad idea to have a device designed to read numeric data output it with alpha-numeric, and really BAD PR when discovered the company in question didn't support the handicapped.
The only program I know of for the win9x platform is from www.readerware.com. It's a minimalistic database application with onboard early generation Mosaic code to give it native ability to hunt the web for information. Good in concept, yet not very mature in code.
Why the hell they didn't just use a pre-existing browser installed in a machine I'll never know.
Needless to say, they so far have not make notice of being served with a letter prone to papercuts.
What is the status of your Linux Beta, and where can download a copy?
Currently, the:CueCat only works in these operating systems : Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT 4 or 2000 operating system. In addition, the minimum hardware requirements are: Intel Pentium or equivalent processor; 32 megabytes of RAM; Internet access; a web browser; a CD-ROM drive and a PS/2 style keyboard port. The:CueCat is not available for any version of unix/linux.
----crqhelp@crq.com 9/6/00
Which 3rd party application can you reccomend to provide fuctionality under linux?
Currently, the:CueCat only works in these operating systems Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT 4 or 2000 operating system. In addition, the minimum hardware requirements are : Intel Pentium or equivalent processor; 32 megabytes of RAM; Internet access; a web browser; a CD-ROM drive and a PS/2 style keyboard port.
The:CueCat is not available for any version of unix/linux, nor are there any plans at this time to offer the:CRQ software for Linux.----crqhelp@crq.com 9/6/00
I'm a Linux developer. Is there anyone who I can contact in regards to creating applications under Linux to use the CueCat device?
Thank you for your interest in Digital:Convergence's technical support services. While we are experts in helping you resolve technical issues that you may have with your:CRQ software or:CueCat, we are unable to address the question you submitted. For an answer to your question,
please send an e-mail to efaqadmin@digitalconvergence.com You should receive a response within 24 hours.
----crqhelp@crq.com 9/6/00
Unfortunatly even that is not a very unique concept. We in the tech world call them modems!
Memory doesn't serve me, I can think of at-least one case in 1981 where a radio station did brodcast software releases over the hair, where listeners would either record, or load the software in real time via their tape drive interface.
Also there is another that memory doesn't serve me where a band released software on their LPs compatable with PDP-11s. Not ever owning a PDP-11 I can't think of the artest or title.
Or even better yet, closed captioning??? Imbedded information to communicate text.
And isn't this all rather beside the point? Even if the pattent is justified doesn't it strike you as being an old way to exploit an old system, in light of digital cable, DSS, and the vast number of services on the edge of comming out, systems that are so much less sloppy then having to hook up your computer's sound card to your VCR?
Radio's and Televisions switching to the digital standard won't have to use the Digital Convergence standard. Imbedded information would just be a part of the standard.
Had this plan started 5 years earlier, then I can see Digital Convergence corning the market on imbedded information. But it's the year 2000 guys, and my TV already has an INFO button to read imbedded information, and the only leap I would need to incorperate that to my computer is ethernet. CLICK-CLICK.
Actually the only rights as a consumer is the product sold work as advertised. If not work, then it is our right to expect repacement within specified warrenty period. The product was never falsely advertised.
We as consumers don't have the right to the method a product is supported. You'll notice all the hardware that's out there for supported under windows but not linux, and the hardware that was only supported under windows 3.1 and not windows 95. We can not assume or force this company to conform to our standards, no can we force a company to right drivers for their hardware. It's in good form to do so, and right them.
But software drives are software, protected under copyright laws. I.e. I can't technicaly post a driver of my web page without the permision of the respective copyright holders. However, I can right a driver for a piece of software and do with it what I please, and the only way the hardware folk people would have any room to speak is if I misrepressented my work as being theirs.
I can not post a copy of:CRQ on my web page without their permision, their software is theirs to do with as they please. Just because they give it away doesn't mean I can too.
But with the permision of the respective copyright holders of linux edtions, those I can post.
If your going to site a violation, then site the correct one. Digital Convergence is not respecting the rights of the respective copyright holders of people who have written software to use this device. They are interfearing with their right to distrubute their product.
Keep in mind that this is a software issue, and not a hardware one. That's a whole other can of worms!
I'm sure per the licence agreement at a fee of $19.95 for month, you are granted unlimited amount of time per month to use AOL as a coaster.
However, you find out later the fact this is not true, and have to pay an hourly fee to use AOL as a coster. It's more cost effective in the long run to find a local coaster dealer and pickup coasters who actually do have an unlimited use license.
Microsoft dispite it's evils, does exersise commen sence.
Should microsoft have been handing this affair, they would have either:
1. Bought the rights to the software.
2. Bought the comapny issuing competive software.
3. Stolen the idea, and sued the origional copyright holder for infringement.
That's the honest (tm) way to handle such matters, and it's proper protocal!
Ok, I wonder how many users here who actually would use the:cue:cat with linux VS the average windows user?
I mean seriously. Speak to your average joe. Tell them RadioShack is giving out free bar code readers, what do they say? BIG DEAL, what would I do with a bar code reader.
900 replys in under 24hours. Hmmm. Did we miss our best demographic perhaps? Naaaa.
"...Privacy concerns may cause
users to resist providing the personal data necessary to support this profiling
capability. More importantly, even the perception of security and privacy
concerns, whether or not valid, may inhibit Internet user acceptance of our
technology and products..." --Digital Convergence prospectus
Now that's the ticket! The fact that this corp is attempting to mass a log of the purchacing habbits of 50million people, a log designed to be access by Digital Demographics on demand. But that's beside the point.
It seems to me that the greatest interest in this product / serverice are advertisers, and linux users? And you mean to tell me Digital Convergence DIDN'T expect this?
50 million, the number is 50 million!
But it's worse than mailing lists, real time advertiments feed to your computer, based on your buying habbits, and what you watch on telivision.
checkout www.digitaldemographics.com
Concept, you have to get alot of money from alot of people. How much money do you make a year, how much can you make in 5 years?
In 1998, DCI spent $47 Billion on television advertising, $87 billion on print catalogs, $40 billion on direct mail advertising, $44 Billion on classified advertising, $14 on trade an consumer mags. The object was to establish them as the primary means advertisers used to relay web based media.
But the major thing you have to keep in mind is the design, implementation, and production of the:cue:cat device, according to my information, 50 Million. Building up a relationship with a company you can meet with demand, tooling the factory, design, testing.
How many Cuecats can you produce in one day. How long would it take you to design one from scratch. How long to setup a network capable of handing the load of 50 million users, and keeping track of each users in a global database. Being able to cross reference that information with advertisers on the server next door, who then has to issue content on demand on a holistic demographic based on input fed.
But probally the longest part of this whole process is convencing people to invest money in your product or service. 3 years, no doubt! Documenting on hard copy, prospectuses, a system design plans that don't even touch the hardware aspect, but the vague concept of it all. This is the bussiness side of it, and it blows.
Plus there was the predisessor to Digital Convergence Infotainment Telepictures, Inc., as well as the other company, Digital Demographics.
(209.237.93.53 vs DCI at 209.237.93.52).
-----------------------------------------
Now, how long would it take you or I to complete the above task? We are geeks after all.
Phase one: Setup or purcahce or rent resources of someone's existing bar code database.
Phase two: impement centralized server to access this information
Phase three: develop hardware and software system
phase four: develop demographic database to customtarget individuals based on buying habbits
phase five: distrubute software / hardware
phase six: advertise system so to attract advertisers to your site, based on specific demographic forse fed advertising to maximize yield.
-----REMIND YOUR SELF THIS IS ONE SICK JOKE-----
-----Methphore for barcoding everyone in US-----
Remember, this isn't about barcodes to products, it's about demographics. How long would it take you to design an information system to keep track of 50 million people?
If $20 actually got you white papers on the a project, that would be well worth it. ESP. if the white papers in this case did include information regarding the Audio:Cue system. I have no interest in audio cues, but someone out there just might.
But what I might find insulting is IF for $20 you didn't get any documenation, do developers kit, and a contract agreeing all software is the property of Digital Convergence.
An ACCEPTABLE contract would be a 'free for non-commercial use' as is standard in the Linux world.
Terms like that from a corp. would be accepable, and no one could fault them for protecting their own interest.
Now, for $20, a licence to profit from the CUECAT device on the other hand is a good deal, depending on the terms of the contract. A viewbar from AOL for example would likely pay for it self in a matter of days. Assuming a profit, it's most just for the provider of the hardware be compensated.
But what really insults my inteligence, is the fact that these people are the copyright holders of their own software works, and those rights SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AWAY .
But let us put these statements to the test. I'll make an inquary regarding being a linux developer and who to contact in regards to bla bla bla. Let's see what happens?
..."
we expect significant operating and net losses and negative cash flow
for the foreseeable future. We do not have sufficient cash to indefinitely
sustain these operating losses. Further, we will need to generate significant revenues if we are to achieve and then maintain profitability. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do this. Our limited operating history and the rapidly evolving nature of our industry also make forecasting quarterly results difficult. Even if we do achieve profitability, we cannot be certain that we can sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future..." -http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1083392/00 00912057-00-020438.txt DigitalConvergence prospectus
The type of business who's prospectus admits a net loss as part of it's design in a market place that is non to forgiving when it comes to E-companies who's revinue does not jusify stock price
What a silly question:)
Now the business model of give the hardware away and charge for the software isn't a bad one. This has been done many times before. CREATE DEMAND, CREATE DEMAND FOR SOMTHING THERE IS AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY, SOFTWARE. Low overhead, unlimited yield. There was this little software company out of Bellevue Washington in 1982 who when public that no one took seriously because their product was so easily copied.
------PAGE 9 Risks---------------------
In order to gain broad market acceptance, we must, among other things:
- successfully implement and execute our business and marketing strategy,including the commercial release of our:C.R.Q. and:Cue:C.A.T.technology;
- develop, maintain and enhance our brand recognition;
- continue to develop and upgrade our technology, systems, products and services;
- respond quickly and effectively to competitive developments;
- generate sufficient revenue to achieve and maintain profitability;
- maintain existing and establish new strategic partnerships; and
- attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.
Digital Convgergence prospectus
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1083392/000 0912057-00-020438.txt
I will not post the complete prospectus here, but I will quote the important part.
We intend to initiate a nationwide roll-out of our technology in September
2000 and plan to distribute, free to the public, at least 50 million CD-ROMs
containing our:C.R.Q. software and 50 million:Cue:C.A.T. devices by the end of
2001. To assist in the promotion, marketing and deployment of our technology, we
have established several strategic media, advertising and distribution
partnerships. We expect that our strategic partners will provide promotional
support and distribution capabilities to help build consumer awareness and
adoption of our technology and products. Our media partners include National
Broadcasting Company, Inc., Belo Corp., Forbes Inc., The Milwaukee Journal and
Wired Magazine. These partners have agreed to implement our technology in
television and cable networks, local television broadcasts and print
publications. Forbes Inc., The Milwaukee Journal and Wired Magazine have also
agreed to distribute our products to their subscribers. We expect that these
relationships, taken together, will provide us with broad media exposure in six
of the top ten U.S. media markets and a number of smaller markets, for total
coverage of approximately 40% of U.S. households. In addition, we are in
discussions with broadcast media companies covering approximately an additional
20% of U.S. households to also implement our technology in their television
broadcasts. Additionally, we have partnered with Tandy Corporation to produce
our:Cue:C.A.T. devices and make them available, free to consumers, in over
7,000 RadioShack retail outlets throughout the U.S. In addition, Tandy has
invested in us. Other companies that have made investments in us include
Young & Rubicam, Inc., Belo Corp., The Coca-Cola Company, The E.W. Scripps
Company and Spielberg/Katz Associates, LLC.
Rather sounds like the Device and Software are seperate, and the end user can choose to have either one.
...Had Digital:Convergence been approached by developers we would have been (and still will be) happy to work with them in a constructive direction. Instead, our products were reversed engineered and what has occurred is a public display of what is clearly our intellectual property......
Um, sorry guys. You had been approched by many developers. Offers to provide assistence in the matter of:CRQ for the Unix platform were rejected.
...We employ various techniques for supporting our customers, however, currently we do not support sending information regarding the:Cue:Cat. Additionally, because we do not support Unix environments in any capacity, would do not have any additional
information we can provide in any form.... crqhelp@crq.com 22Aug2000
Actually there is nothing stoping them from having a page them selves and using the output to link the customer to web sites. In light of recent events, this would be smart.
"put your cue here", and wether you have a mac, PC, or whatever you can attach the thing to, send off serial.bartype.barcode in their own encrypted form. They can still required the registration of the "cuecat" to use "their" service, each unit does have a serial number after all.
That way, they can track the movements of anyone and find out who's drinking Jolt cola.
.."...to reiterate a very strong point we have been trying to make, we do NOT support any (OS) Operating System other than Microsoft Windows 95,
Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. "..efaqadmin@digitalconvergence.com 24Aug2000
As a direct result of neglect, Digital Convergence has lost control of key markets. It is their fault for failing to support their product in key platforms. The result is the control of the software for their CueCat device to the open source community.
Should Digital Convergence have wished, they could have created a secure system were by their product could be used on their web page without proprietary software, and making their support superior to that of other barcode sites presently available, and marketing them. Serial numbers could have been associated with households, and research could have been conducted REGARDLESS of platform.
But as their product was only supported under Microsoft (tm) platforms, they have lost the advantage. Others have released their own software and systems to use their free hardware, which all are protected by their own respective copyrights.
Result, Digital Convergence cannot issue software for Linux, without the respective copyright holders claiming a violation of their own copyrights. Given how simple the basic decoding sequence is, it's easy to accidentally have lines in common, there by infringing on someone else's rights. Even the, "look and feel" laws apply.
Now, I'm no businessman, but to allow someone else to release software before you do makes you a looser on the playing field.. There is presently no way to correct the fault without offering compensation to each respective copyright holder to gain the rights to their software. I.e.: You want my driver, give me money!
Should Microsoft(TM) see a software product on the marketplace, and wanted to release it, they would either make their own version, or buy the rights / company. There are established protocols and procedures that are just common sense..
The service of creating a database of barcodes to products is not unique, most stores employ a similar system. Even web-based engines to this end are not unique, I know of a few. To release a piece of hardware to market your product or service is not unique, I have many a free bottle opener my self. However, I have never used my Budweiser bottle opener to open a bottle of Budweiser as I drink real beer. For Budweiser attempt to contact me for violating the acceptable use of their promotional product would be silly. The best they could do is disclaim, "This device is best used on Budweiser bottles, and use of this product on other bottles is done so at your own risk. Use of this product in ways not intended is not supported by Budweiser".
Copyright (C) 1997 by The University of Birmingham and Oliver Mason for versions beyond 1.0, and
Copyright (C) 1997 The University of Birmingham, Oliver Mason and John Sinclair up to and including version 1.0
This software is free for non-commercial use; for commercial use please contact the author at the address below.
THE AUTHOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THE SOFTWARE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MECHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE AUTHOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY LICENSEE AS A
RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS DERIVATIVES.
-- Oliver Mason, O.Mason@bham.ac.uk
Sounds like a violation of Intelectual Property (tm) to me, this Cue as nothing to do with:Cue or:Crq, but never the less this is the man one needs to speak with to make any sort of reference to "CUE" or "CUECAT", as his copywrite is the older.
Microsoft may be a big corperate evil, but they are not IDIOTS.
Case in point, should this have been a Microsoft(tm) policy, Microsoft(tm) would have issued similar orders in regards to "Microsoft Compatible Mice(tm)" being used on NON-microsoft systems. How many linux users are using, "Microsoft Compatble(tm)" Mice? Everyone on the PC platform? Thought so.
Microsoft's Staff (tm) are much more likely to engage in hostice, preemptive proactive activities, but they are not dolts. While Microsoft Employee's (tm) would claim that the "Microsoft Mouse Protocal" (tm) is the property of Microsoft, even a Microsoft Employee (tm) would not to be dumb enough to sugest that only Microsoft Systems (TM) could use Microsoft Compatable Mice (tm). It's just a mouse after all. Not after the goverment shot down their case in regarads to their ownership of the mouse.
Concept 2: Microsoft does have a vested interest in the Mac(tm), and it's in their best interest to make their software compatable with the Mac(tm)
This is a case about rights. If Digital Convergence is granted to right to make it so that their product is only compatable with a set of machines of their choosing, then it does give Microsoft(tm) the power to issue the same rules regarding Microsoft Compatable Mice (tm), which would trully create an unfair market place.
The only power Digital Convergence (TM) should have in regards to their hardware products is the power to choose who to release their white papers to.
It's just an attempt to make up for the fact that Xerox didn't take their chance to take ownership of the Mouse, so another company is going to try with the Cat. Sorry Charley, 20 years too late.
Personaly I'd like to see at-least a cuecat compatable shell, or somthing that is at-least compatable with MAS-90, or other major UNIX applications.
Copyright all your works. Use the technique Compaq used to pirate IBMs bios. Authors by no means use or run the CueCAT software, not opening the disk grants you the right the write code based on perimeters others reverse engeniered.
Until such time CRQ software makes a Linux version, you've got the right as you are not interfearing with anyone's rights.
Slashdot Mirror
Also, keep in mind that Novel is really secure. It's secure cause no one knows a blasted thing about it.
Hackers avoid it for this reason.
I would not setup a Novel system today, but if one already exists and it's serving the job.
But without knowing your application needs, it's difficult to make a judgement. For simple low load 20 employee file - print sharing - e-mail - centeralized backup can be accomplished by anything of the above.
As a rule the first thing when talking server class systems is do you want a desktop class or workstation class.
The usual arugument is as folllows:
You can get a Sun workstation for about $50k
You can get a Dell runing NT in the 10k.
The Nt on a dell averages about 40hours of downtime a year.
The Sun, while less bang for the buck, averages about 2 hours of downtime a year.
Linux/BSD on a PC falls into a similar boat, you it's difficult to beat the quality of a mainstream OS on industrual hardware. Though the downtime of a Linux/BSD box is primarly based on poor hardware support, drivers written by hackers in their spare time. BSD is by far more stable and networthy though.
I'd rather have either one then SCO
But the fine choice always is, what OS will run the applications you want, how much do you have to budget to the net information system. Which OS can be supported.
There is no shortage of Linux geeks, BSD geeks are harder to find. SunOS/SCI/HP/SCO/DEC a touch harder.
But it all depends on your application, and how much keeping the system online is worth to you.
It's all about marketing. As a direct result of digital convergence's marketing, they wish to make bar code readers a household appliance, which is fine by me as barcodes have been a stanard for some time.
If someone were to comeout with a sub $100 bar code reader like DCI's, I'd buy it, well, I'd pay $20 for one, perhaps, maybe. A typical keyboard web type would still work with their software, minus the auto trigger feature. Given barcodes are a standard, and the devices already on the market, no big deal, no IP violation.
Now the issue not being addressed is DCI attempting to corner the market on embeded media. Radio, Telivision, which at present the linux projects are not endanger of broaching. Microsoft (TM) is already working on concepts like this, but a touch more advanced. Taking into acount that digital media opens the door for imbedded information such as web pages, and a simple USB / network cable from your TV to your system. Such standards would make the DCI IP obsolete. The DCI model is one way intergration, and full report. I won't be happy until my TV is a peripheral.
This is just another futile attempt by the part of a company to become IBM, under the label, "Digital Convergence", a trademark unjusified considering their attempt to bridge the gap is via an analog signal over audio. Old idea, no points for attemting it today. A concept non to advanced than closed captioning, and about as useful.
I wonder of the designers took into account that there are some people out there who use the dovorak layout VS the QWERTY layout?
There are some users of any platform who choose to use keyboard maping as as the method of setting their keyboard to their personal preferences.
Just posted this question to tech support, at present they can only say, "doesn't work for the under Linux/Unix, and might be available for the mac next year". Perhaps if their 5 year plan actually included design rather than marketing, perhaps this rather simple issue would have been addressed! Note, I've not tested the output using a Dovork remapping.
Given that the Dovorak keyboard is popular among folks who don't have two hands, I would think it be a bad idea to have a device designed to read numeric data output it with alpha-numeric, and really BAD PR when discovered the company in question didn't support the handicapped.
The only program I know of for the win9x platform is from www.readerware.com. It's a minimalistic database application with onboard early generation Mosaic code to give it native ability to hunt the web for information. Good in concept, yet not very mature in code.
Why the hell they didn't just use a pre-existing browser installed in a machine I'll never know.
Needless to say, they so far have not make notice of being served with a letter prone to papercuts.
What is the status of your Linux Beta, and where can download a copy?
Which 3rd party application can you reccomend to provide fuctionality under linux?
I'm a Linux developer. Is there anyone who I can contact in regards to creating applications under Linux to use the CueCat device?
Unfortunatly even that is not a very unique concept. We in the tech world call them modems!
Memory doesn't serve me, I can think of at-least one case in 1981 where a radio station did brodcast software releases over the hair, where listeners would either record, or load the software in real time via their tape drive interface.
Also there is another that memory doesn't serve me where a band released software on their LPs compatable with PDP-11s. Not ever owning a PDP-11 I can't think of the artest or title.
Or even better yet, closed captioning??? Imbedded information to communicate text.
And isn't this all rather beside the point? Even if the pattent is justified doesn't it strike you as being an old way to exploit an old system, in light of digital cable, DSS, and the vast number of services on the edge of comming out, systems that are so much less sloppy then having to hook up your computer's sound card to your VCR?
Radio's and Televisions switching to the digital standard won't have to use the Digital Convergence standard. Imbedded information would just be a part of the standard.
Had this plan started 5 years earlier, then I can see Digital Convergence corning the market on imbedded information. But it's the year 2000 guys, and my TV already has an INFO button to read imbedded information, and the only leap I would need to incorperate that to my computer is ethernet. CLICK-CLICK.
Actually the only rights as a consumer is the product sold work as advertised. If not work, then it is our right to expect repacement within specified warrenty period. The product was never falsely advertised.
:CRQ on my web page without their permision, their software is theirs to do with as they please. Just because they give it away doesn't mean I can too.
We as consumers don't have the right to the method a product is supported. You'll notice all the hardware that's out there for supported under windows but not linux, and the hardware that was only supported under windows 3.1 and not windows 95. We can not assume or force this company to conform to our standards, no can we force a company to right drivers for their hardware. It's in good form to do so, and right them.
But software drives are software, protected under copyright laws. I.e. I can't technicaly post a driver of my web page without the permision of the respective copyright holders. However, I can right a driver for a piece of software and do with it what I please, and the only way the hardware folk people would have any room to speak is if I misrepressented my work as being theirs.
I can not post a copy of
But with the permision of the respective copyright holders of linux edtions, those I can post.
If your going to site a violation, then site the correct one. Digital Convergence is not respecting the rights of the respective copyright holders of people who have written software to use this device. They are interfearing with their right to distrubute their product.
Keep in mind that this is a software issue, and not a hardware one. That's a whole other can of worms!
I'm sure per the licence agreement at a fee of $19.95 for month, you are granted unlimited amount of time per month to use AOL as a coaster.
However, you find out later the fact this is not true, and have to pay an hourly fee to use AOL as a coster. It's more cost effective in the long run to find a local coaster dealer and pickup coasters who actually do have an unlimited use license.
Microsoft dispite it's evils, does exersise commen sence.
Should microsoft have been handing this affair, they would have either:
1. Bought the rights to the software.
2. Bought the comapny issuing competive software.
3. Stolen the idea, and sued the origional copyright holder for infringement.
That's the honest (tm) way to handle such matters, and it's proper protocal!
"...Privacy concerns may cause users to resist providing the personal data necessary to support this profiling capability. More importantly, even the perception of security and privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may inhibit Internet user acceptance of our technology and products..." --Digital Convergence prospectus
Now that's the ticket! The fact that this corp is attempting to mass a log of the purchacing habbits of 50million people, a log designed to be access by Digital Demographics on demand. But that's beside the point. It seems to me that the greatest interest in this product / serverice are advertisers, and linux users? And you mean to tell me Digital Convergence DIDN'T expect this?50 million, the number is 50 million! But it's worse than mailing lists, real time advertiments feed to your computer, based on your buying habbits, and what you watch on telivision. checkout www.digitaldemographics.com
Concept, you have to get alot of money from alot of people. How much money do you make a year, how much can you make in 5 years?
:cue:cat device, according to my information, 50 Million. Building up a relationship with a company you can meet with demand, tooling the factory, design, testing.
In 1998, DCI spent $47 Billion on television advertising, $87 billion on print catalogs, $40 billion on direct mail advertising, $44 Billion on classified advertising, $14 on trade an consumer mags. The object was to establish them as the primary means advertisers used to relay web based media.
But the major thing you have to keep in mind is the design, implementation, and production of the
How many Cuecats can you produce in one day. How long would it take you to design one from scratch. How long to setup a network capable of handing the load of 50 million users, and keeping track of each users in a global database. Being able to cross reference that information with advertisers on the server next door, who then has to issue content on demand on a holistic demographic based on input fed.
But probally the longest part of this whole process is convencing people to invest money in your product or service. 3 years, no doubt! Documenting on hard copy, prospectuses, a system design plans that don't even touch the hardware aspect, but the vague concept of it all. This is the bussiness side of it, and it blows.
Plus there was the predisessor to Digital Convergence Infotainment Telepictures, Inc., as well as the other company, Digital Demographics.
(209.237.93.53 vs DCI at 209.237.93.52).
-----------------------------------------
Now, how long would it take you or I to complete the above task? We are geeks after all.
Phase one: Setup or purcahce or rent resources of someone's existing bar code database.
Phase two: impement centralized server to access this information
Phase three: develop hardware and software system
phase four: develop demographic database to customtarget individuals based on buying habbits
phase five: distrubute software / hardware
phase six: advertise system so to attract advertisers to your site, based on specific demographic forse fed advertising to maximize yield.
-----REMIND YOUR SELF THIS IS ONE SICK JOKE-----
-----Methphore for barcoding everyone in US-----
Remember, this isn't about barcodes to products, it's about demographics. How long would it take you to design an information system to keep track of 50 million people?
If $20 actually got you white papers on the a project, that would be well worth it. ESP. if the white papers in this case did include information regarding the Audio:Cue system. I have no interest in audio cues, but someone out there just might. But what I might find insulting is IF for $20 you didn't get any documenation, do developers kit, and a contract agreeing all software is the property of Digital Convergence. An ACCEPTABLE contract would be a 'free for non-commercial use' as is standard in the Linux world. Terms like that from a corp. would be accepable, and no one could fault them for protecting their own interest. Now, for $20, a licence to profit from the CUECAT device on the other hand is a good deal, depending on the terms of the contract. A viewbar from AOL for example would likely pay for it self in a matter of days. Assuming a profit, it's most just for the provider of the hardware be compensated. But what really insults my inteligence, is the fact that these people are the copyright holders of their own software works, and those rights SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AWAY . But let us put these statements to the test. I'll make an inquary regarding being a linux developer and who to contact in regards to bla bla bla. Let's see what happens?
Actually there is nothing stoping them from having a page them selves and using the output to link the customer to web sites. In light of recent events, this would be smart.
"put your cue here", and wether you have a mac, PC, or whatever you can attach the thing to, send off serial.bartype.barcode in their own encrypted form. They can still required the registration of the "cuecat" to use "their" service, each unit does have a serial number after all.
That way, they can track the movements of anyone and find out who's drinking Jolt cola.
Clearly you need more fiber in your diet if your movements are that big.
http://www-clg.bham.ac.uk/CUE/e /corpus/CueCat.html
:Cue or :Crq, but never the less this is the man one needs to speak with to make any sort of reference to "CUE" or "CUECAT", as his copywrite is the older.
http://www.clg.bham.ac.uk/CUE/uk/ac/bham/clg/cu
CUE version 1.3
Copyright (C) 1997 by The University of Birmingham and Oliver Mason for versions beyond 1.0, and
Copyright (C) 1997 The University of Birmingham, Oliver Mason and John Sinclair up to and including version 1.0
This software is free for non-commercial use; for commercial use please contact the author at the address below.
THE AUTHOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THE SOFTWARE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MECHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE AUTHOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY LICENSEE AS A
RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS DERIVATIVES.
-- Oliver Mason, O.Mason@bham.ac.uk
Sounds like a violation of Intelectual Property (tm) to me, this Cue as nothing to do with
Microsoft may be a big corperate evil, but they are not IDIOTS. Case in point, should this have been a Microsoft(tm) policy, Microsoft(tm) would have issued similar orders in regards to "Microsoft Compatible Mice(tm)" being used on NON-microsoft systems. How many linux users are using, "Microsoft Compatble(tm)" Mice? Everyone on the PC platform? Thought so. Microsoft's Staff (tm) are much more likely to engage in hostice, preemptive proactive activities, but they are not dolts. While Microsoft Employee's (tm) would claim that the "Microsoft Mouse Protocal" (tm) is the property of Microsoft, even a Microsoft Employee (tm) would not to be dumb enough to sugest that only Microsoft Systems (TM) could use Microsoft Compatable Mice (tm). It's just a mouse after all. Not after the goverment shot down their case in regarads to their ownership of the mouse. Concept 2: Microsoft does have a vested interest in the Mac(tm), and it's in their best interest to make their software compatable with the Mac(tm) This is a case about rights. If Digital Convergence is granted to right to make it so that their product is only compatable with a set of machines of their choosing, then it does give Microsoft(tm) the power to issue the same rules regarding Microsoft Compatable Mice (tm), which would trully create an unfair market place. The only power Digital Convergence (TM) should have in regards to their hardware products is the power to choose who to release their white papers to. It's just an attempt to make up for the fact that Xerox didn't take their chance to take ownership of the Mouse, so another company is going to try with the Cat. Sorry Charley, 20 years too late.
Personaly I'd like to see at-least a cuecat compatable shell, or somthing that is at-least compatable with MAS-90, or other major UNIX applications. Copyright all your works. Use the technique Compaq used to pirate IBMs bios. Authors by no means use or run the CueCAT software, not opening the disk grants you the right the write code based on perimeters others reverse engeniered. Until such time CRQ software makes a Linux version, you've got the right as you are not interfearing with anyone's rights.