If these fonts were bundled with Mozilla and similar browsers, we could have more variety in our web pages (i.e. not just Arial, Courier, and Times Roman) without font-embedding (which never worked very well anyway).
Now if only we could see these fonts... There's no match for Vera on the Bitstream font search.
For entry on the Palm, I have found that TealScript is the best--rather than making you conform to a user independent script, you enter all the different ways that you write a character and it then matches the input against _your_ standard handwriting.
I can print as fast on the Palm as I can on paper.
Why isn't there an effort underway to port XFS to OS X (and NT)?
This would afford one common file system across all modern operating systems. Regardless of architecture, this permits transfer of data from machine to another machine by simply connecting the hard drive (particularly useful for Firewire drives). For common architecture machines, this permits dual booting or simplified data migration. And, it leverages across all operating systems improvements to the XFS file system and file system utilities.
Given Mac OS X's Unix underpinnings, it would seem relatively trivial to port XFS to the OS. The technology is fully journaled, and proven for many years in Apple's target media market.
I wish someone were working on an open source firmware upgrade for the Rio 500.
Ultimately, I would like to see all portable music devices have the ability to run open source software a la Linux. Then, we could freely build a firmware with the audio formats that we want.
This really boils down to patent licensing. Specifically, any alternative implementation of MS's standard must not infringe upon US patent nos. 5,265,261 and 5,437,013 or any other MS or third party patent for which necessary patent rights haven't been obtained. If your implementation infringes upon one of those patents, you can obtain a royalty free license from Microsoft.
What you would do with this license is rather questionable since you can't sublicense and you can't implement such in a file server (see 3.2). So, you would undoubtedly need a different patent license from MS if you intended to build a file server infringing upon their patents even if you didn't use GPL/LGPL license terms. Note that this is contradictory to the explanation of their intent ("royalty-free basis for use on non-Windows client and server platforms").
As noted above, there's the slick interface and excellent handwriting recognition. Combine that with the latest kernel enhancements of Linux and you have the best of all worlds. And the decreases in PDA hardware costs since the Newton was last produced should allow for a significantly lower cost and greater market penetration.
Users gain a free (beer and speech) alternative to the PalmOS, which can only foster greater innovation in the PDA arena, more hardware producers and application vendors, and lower costs. Further, keeping the OS and associated applets open sourced will directly benefit integration with desktop applications and network services.
Ironically, there's only gain to Apple: right now the code base isn't being used (last updated in 1996) and Apple doesn't participate in the PDA market. GPL'ing it permits Apple to demonstrate it's committment to open-source software, without any financial cost (direct or indirect), while letting someone else keep it's old code current.
Finally, the standardization of the Newton GUI may benefit UI development on the desktop.
It appears that the commentator fails to appreciate the flexibility of Netscape's interface. Though the interface tools at mozdev.org (chameleon) is still relatively primitive, I anticipate that they will evolve to allow relatively easy modification of the interface.
Netscape has every right to create their own branded interface. Not just because they funded and staffed much of Mozilla's development but also because this is their interface. Heck, it's only a matter of time before AOL replaces it's kludgy access software with a Mozilla derivative--not just as an embedded module but rather as the entire access software, because ultimately it's just a new skin plus plug in modules.
If you don't like the Netscape branding use the chamleon program and create your own interface. Much more than just bookmarks, you could have your own shopping channel, your own travel channel, your own music channel, etc. Don't like the search or task menu items? Delete or replace them! You can easily keep the same essential look and feel but personalize it to meet your needs. And even share such with your friends.
And, of course, you could radically change the look and feel of the browser, given enough time and artistic talent, by creating your own theme from the ground up, a la Sky Pilot.
Personally, I want to see a MacOS X/ Aqua theme. I think that would rock. Whaddya say, Steve Jobs? Can you spare a HUI designer or two?
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If these fonts were bundled with Mozilla and similar browsers, we could have more variety in our web pages (i.e. not just Arial, Courier, and Times Roman) without font-embedding (which never worked very well anyway).
Now if only we could see these fonts... There's no match for Vera on the Bitstream font search.
It could be a good alternative to Via Eden platform... See http://www.mini-itx.com.
Based on the Tom's Hardware report, the Astro would be about twice the power of the next generation Via processor.
For entry on the Palm, I have found that TealScript is the best--rather than making you conform to a user independent script, you enter all the different ways that you write a character and it then matches the input against _your_ standard handwriting.
I can print as fast on the Palm as I can on paper.
Why isn't there an effort underway to port XFS to OS X (and NT)?
This would afford one common file system across all modern operating systems. Regardless of architecture, this permits transfer of data from machine to another machine by simply connecting the hard drive (particularly useful for Firewire drives). For common architecture machines, this permits dual booting or simplified data migration. And, it leverages across all operating systems improvements to the XFS file system and file system utilities.
Given Mac OS X's Unix underpinnings, it would seem relatively trivial to port XFS to the OS. The technology is fully journaled, and proven for many years in Apple's target media market.
I wish someone were working on an open source firmware upgrade for the Rio 500.
Ultimately, I would like to see all portable music devices have the ability to run open source software a la Linux. Then, we could freely build a firmware with the audio formats that we want.
What you would do with this license is rather questionable since you can't sublicense and you can't implement such in a file server (see 3.2). So, you would undoubtedly need a different patent license from MS if you intended to build a file server infringing upon their patents even if you didn't use GPL/LGPL license terms. Note that this is contradictory to the explanation of their intent ("royalty-free basis for use on non-Windows client and server platforms").
As noted above, there's the slick interface and excellent handwriting recognition. Combine that with the latest kernel enhancements of Linux and you have the best of all worlds. And the decreases in PDA hardware costs since the Newton was last produced should allow for a significantly lower cost and greater market penetration.
Users gain a free (beer and speech) alternative to the PalmOS, which can only foster greater innovation in the PDA arena, more hardware producers and application vendors, and lower costs. Further, keeping the OS and associated applets open sourced will directly benefit integration with desktop applications and network services.
Ironically, there's only gain to Apple: right now the code base isn't being used (last updated in 1996) and Apple doesn't participate in the PDA market. GPL'ing it permits Apple to demonstrate it's committment to open-source software, without any financial cost (direct or indirect), while letting someone else keep it's old code current.
Finally, the standardization of the Newton GUI may benefit UI development on the desktop.
It appears that the commentator fails to appreciate the flexibility of Netscape's interface. Though the interface tools at mozdev.org (chameleon) is still relatively primitive, I anticipate that they will evolve to allow relatively easy modification of the interface.
Netscape has every right to create their own branded interface. Not just because they funded and staffed much of Mozilla's development but also because this is their interface. Heck, it's only a matter of time before AOL replaces it's kludgy access software with a Mozilla derivative--not just as an embedded module but rather as the entire access software, because ultimately it's just a new skin plus plug in modules.
If you don't like the Netscape branding use the chamleon program and create your own interface. Much more than just bookmarks, you could have your own shopping channel, your own travel channel, your own music channel, etc. Don't like the search or task menu items? Delete or replace them! You can easily keep the same essential look and feel but personalize it to meet your needs. And even share such with your friends.
And, of course, you could radically change the look and feel of the browser, given enough time and artistic talent, by creating your own theme from the ground up, a la Sky Pilot.
Personally, I want to see a MacOS X/ Aqua theme. I think that would rock. Whaddya say, Steve Jobs? Can you spare a HUI designer or two?