The MPEG2/4 codecs which were already part of the standard already required "automatic royalties" on players so Microsoft or no this standard will mean players will carry a royalty.
However, an open source player, distributed in source form, could be considered a sample implementation and might thus avoid said royalties for users savvy enough to be able to compile them on their own.
The "pager thing" is the whole point of their invention.
It means you, the user, do not need to explicily activate and deactivate the device making it much more likelly to protect you.
The Targus device is next to useless because it does not permit you to use your laptop without turning the device off. (If you try to work while it is on you are likelly to trip the motion sensor accidentally, especially while working on the road - where you will have the laptop on your lap.)
It would appear that there are NASA/US Government policies and statutes that are incompatible with the GPL as described here...
http://news.osdir.com/article448.html
Needless to say, it is easier for NASA to simply propose a license that takes these into account then it would be for NASA to change policy and law so that they can use the GPL.
The fact that a VC is associated with more than one company does not mean that the companies have a "relationship" of any sort.
A suggestion to the contrary is simply wrong, a suggestion to the contrary leading to conclusion that the use of QT might someday require "indemnification to protect yourself from SCO" is quite clearly "Flamebait" (of which you are as guilty as the parent).
Actually, in many cases the situation is not as clear cut.
A number of GPL libraries include inlines or templates which are compiled into the programs. In order to make these usable with non-GPL software exceptions to the license are required.
The truth is, as any lawyer will tell you, that nothing related to the GPL is clear cut because none of it has been tested in court.
The Eurostar already has some luggage and personal screening (x-ray) but that only takes a few minutes. I normally leave my house 20 minutes before the train pulls out and it takes 10 minutes for me to reach the train station.
A train will always be more convenient than an airplane because it departs and arrives into the middle of the city and does not require complex check in or bagage handling as you carry your own bags onto the train.
Moreover, I cannot imagine anyone trying to attack a train as no doubt the subway would be much easier and would have a much bigger impact. The disruption to a city (like NY or London) if people felt the subway was unsafe makes the impact of any sort of attack on a train pale into insignificance.
Indivuals who make a copy of a copyrighted DVD, CD or music file, whether for back-up or for use on another device such as an MP3 player, are committing a crime. Even if this is for personal use they theoretically face up to two years in jail or an unlimited fine, and possible civil action from copyright holders.
The text of the law however states that:
The making in domestic premises for private and domestic use of a recording of a broadcast solely for the purpose of enabling it to be viewed or listened to at a more convenient time does not infringe any right..."
So it would seem I have every right to make a copy of my CD to my MP3 player or my PC jukebox.
Actually, this is a non-problem, even when you do not pay for incomming calls.
First, on most network in Europe, when you use a pre-paid GSM SIM card, you simply cannot receive calls when your credit runs out. I hear on some networks (in Germany for example) there is grace period before this shutdown occurs.
However, I can just keep a 1 EUR credit on my phone and it will last for about 12 months (the credit expires after that). Since the networks do not go out of business, I dare say this sort of usage must be covered by the caller to the networks satisfaction
Actually, IMO, the problem in the US is that many phones do not use a SIM. Often the phones, even the GSM ones, are _locked_ into one network.
(You have to call up and get your GSM phone "unlocked" when you want to change networks though.)
So, on most networks, you would have to buy a dedicated "rechargable" phone. Since the networks tie you into a plan and, as part of that, they give you a discount on the phone, for most it is _much_ cheaper to simply get a regular phone with a plan.
I have a tri-band but when we travelled to 900 Mhz countries we just bought my wife a GSM phone on eBay for $25 US. Her European GSM SIM worked like a charm.
We still have the phone, since we plan to go back in December, but I bet I could sell the phone back for $25. Since the original shipping was about $10 that would is all the cost we incurred.
Kristoph
PS. Now if only we could come up with something in Japan.
I can walk into any phone shop in Belgium and buy a pre-paid GSM card without leaving my name. I can then use that card in any GSM phone anywhere in Europe.
I am also aware of similar schemes in other European countries.
The criminals already have anonymous communication methods and that it is as it should be, because it means the rest of us do too.
It is not, as most developers will tell you, simply a question of hard work.
Often, to ensure maximum compatibility, you either needs to limit the scope of your modifications or you need to implement compatibility layers.
Needless to say, limiting modifications not only tends to limit innovation but also means you will occasionally be unable to correct historic design decisions. Compatibility layers, in turn, tend to cause a great deal of bloat, especially if you add one layer on top of another.
Does anyone know how this situation is handled in a larger organization where there would be hundreds of these 'mystery meat' EULAs that need to be 'agreed' to?
A large company typically has a EULA they consider acceptable which they then ask the software vendor to sign. Usually, there is some negotiation between the vendor and the company but, ultimatelly, the EULA that is signed is much less one sided then the vendors EULA.
The device won an award from Wind River systems for design and innovation. The press release relating to the award suggests that this is not the Linux operating system inside this device.
Having said that, if, in fact, the OS is not Linux, that should not in any way reduce the value of the device.
Slashdot Mirror
The MPEG2/4 codecs which were already part of the standard already required "automatic royalties" on players so Microsoft or no this standard will mean players will carry a royalty.
However, an open source player, distributed in source form, could be considered a sample implementation and might thus avoid said royalties for users savvy enough to be able to compile them on their own.
]{
The "pager thing" is the whole point of their invention.
It means you, the user, do not need to explicily activate and deactivate the device making it much more likelly to protect you.
The Targus device is next to useless because it does not permit you to use your laptop without turning the device off. (If you try to work while it is on you are likelly to trip the motion sensor accidentally, especially while working on the road - where you will have the laptop on your lap.)
]{
Insightful?
The article specifically addresses the question of the claims' validity.
]{
It would appear that there are NASA/US Government policies and statutes that are incompatible with the GPL as described here ...
http://news.osdir.com/article448.html
Needless to say, it is easier for NASA to simply propose a license that takes these into account then it would be for NASA to change policy and law so that they can use the GPL.
]{
The fact that a VC is associated with more than one company does not mean that the companies have a "relationship" of any sort.
A suggestion to the contrary is simply wrong, a suggestion to the contrary leading to conclusion that the use of QT might someday require "indemnification to protect yourself from SCO" is quite clearly "Flamebait" (of which you are as guilty as the parent).
]{
Actually, in many cases the situation is not as clear cut.
A number of GPL libraries include inlines or templates which are compiled into the programs. In order to make these usable with non-GPL software exceptions to the license are required.
The truth is, as any lawyer will tell you, that nothing related to the GPL is clear cut because none of it has been tested in court.
If you were to follow that logic would it be possible for any GPL program to run on a commercial OS?
The Eurostar already has some luggage and personal screening (x-ray) but that only takes a few minutes. I normally leave my house 20 minutes before the train pulls out and it takes 10 minutes for me to reach the train station.
A train will always be more convenient than an airplane because it departs and arrives into the middle of the city and does not require complex check in or bagage handling as you carry your own bags onto the train.
Moreover, I cannot imagine anyone trying to attack a train as no doubt the subway would be much easier and would have a much bigger impact. The disruption to a city (like NY or London) if people felt the subway was unsafe makes the impact of any sort of attack on a train pale into insignificance.
]{
The article claims that:
..."
Indivuals who make a copy of a copyrighted DVD, CD or music file, whether for back-up or for use on another device such as an MP3 player, are committing a crime. Even if this is for personal use they theoretically face up to two years in jail or an unlimited fine, and possible civil action from copyright holders.
The text of the law however states that:
The making in domestic premises for private and domestic use of a recording of a broadcast solely for the purpose of enabling it to be viewed or listened to at a more convenient time does not infringe any right
So it would seem I have every right to make a copy of my CD to my MP3 player or my PC jukebox.
Kristoph
Actually, this is a non-problem, even when you do not pay for incomming calls.
First, on most network in Europe, when you use a pre-paid GSM SIM card, you simply cannot receive calls when your credit runs out. I hear on some networks (in Germany for example) there is grace period before this shutdown occurs.
However, I can just keep a 1 EUR credit on my phone and it will last for about 12 months (the credit expires after that). Since the networks do not go out of business, I dare say this sort of usage must be covered by the caller to the networks satisfaction
Kristoph
Actually, IMO, the problem in the US is that many phones do not use a SIM. Often the phones, even the GSM ones, are _locked_ into one network.
(You have to call up and get your GSM phone "unlocked" when you want to change networks though.)
So, on most networks, you would have to buy a dedicated "rechargable" phone. Since the networks tie you into a plan and, as part of that, they give you a discount on the phone, for most it is _much_ cheaper to simply get a regular phone with a plan.
Kristoph
I have a tri-band but when we travelled to 900 Mhz countries we just bought my wife a GSM phone on eBay for $25 US. Her European GSM SIM worked like a charm.
We still have the phone, since we plan to go back in December, but I bet I could sell the phone back for $25. Since the original shipping was about $10 that would is all the cost we incurred.
Kristoph
PS. Now if only we could come up with something in Japan.
No idea why you say that.
I can walk into any phone shop in Belgium and buy a pre-paid GSM card without leaving my name. I can then use that card in any GSM phone anywhere in Europe.
I am also aware of similar schemes in other European countries.
The criminals already have anonymous communication methods and that it is as it should be, because it means the rest of us do too.
Kristoph
It is not, as most developers will tell you, simply a question of hard work.
Often, to ensure maximum compatibility, you either needs to limit the scope of your modifications or you need to implement compatibility layers.
Needless to say, limiting modifications not only tends to limit innovation but also means you will occasionally be unable to correct historic design decisions. Compatibility layers, in turn, tend to cause a great deal of bloat, especially if you add one layer on top of another.
]{
I seem to recall NASA loosing a spacecraft because one group used metric and the other imperial meashurements.
It is in no way "retarded" to ensure there is a standard system of meshurement.
]{
Does anyone know how this situation is handled in a larger organization where there would be hundreds of these 'mystery meat' EULAs that need to be 'agreed' to?
A large company typically has a EULA they consider acceptable which they then ask the software vendor to sign. Usually, there is some negotiation between the vendor and the company but, ultimatelly, the EULA that is signed is much less one sided then the vendors EULA.
]{
The device won an award from Wind River systems for design and innovation. The press release relating to the award suggests that this is not the Linux operating system inside this device.
Having said that, if, in fact, the OS is not Linux, that should not in any way reduce the value of the device.