Competition is good. It shouldn't really matter if there is a playing field. If someone discovers an "unfair advantage" and that makes them more efficient, they should do it and others should petition for and be given the same benefit. A process of continual improvement and competition can only improve schools.
If the 7 days is the issue (that you can finish a game). Why not let people download the game and play it for 4 hours. Then charge them to buy it or deactivate it without having the 7 day constraint as they won't be buying it sight unseen.
I had been waiting for months for the Bionic, but everything I'm reading about MotoBlur and Motorola's attempts to lock or close down their phones is scaring me away from their phones. I'm leaving the Blackberry and iPhone because I don't like their closed worlds. The closed formats go hand in hand with a closed philosophy that is not a technology track I want to be involved with.
I'm sure Motorola is not listening to this but I hope many many buyers of phone share this sentiment as demand will hopefully eventually drive supply!
This is all pretty dumm IMHO. There industry has self-policed pretty well today. Additionally, broadband delivery is becoming increasingly competitive (FTTH, Wimax, cable, fast copper, city wifi, etc., DSL). No it is very dumb.
All this regulation is around protecting future changes that might happen to the internet. The reality is that the FCC should not even be empowered to interfere with the internet (their previous attempt was barred from the courts).
If substantial problems do start to pop up (IF), then congress should legislate something to fix it. That day has not come
The result for my business from this thread is to seriously consider corporate gmail. Had been thinking about it, but this article and the link here from jimicus settles it.
Outlook server and the client have been a disaster for our 6 person business. We get lots of emails and lots of attachments. Outlook uses flat file to manage the emails. With 5-10 gig for each of us, this doesn't work. Breaking up email folders into smaller folders is an ongoing pain. And worst of all search doesn't work. Outlooks native search doesn't function across multiple folders (even in Office 2010), Xobni is slow and a hog, and even google's search can't handle these huge flat files.
The US figured out that excessive regulation can wipe out competition for the up-and-coming banks. Australia's probably not far behind if the "big 4" actually feel any pressure. Not to be cynical, but.......
I do not think that it is actually about competition. The issue for Google is that they are banking a lot on their online office applications (and other?) that will compete against the MS Word and MS Excel's of the world.
They need a reliable browser platform to support their applications and it is probably safer for them to launch Chrome than to arm wrestle with Mozilla or try to control its development path. Furthermore, it will be much easier to prioritize bells and whistles that support their apps in Chrome than it would be in Mozilla (not to mention the endless trolling they would get for it).
It would be like if GM was worried about the US road system so they would invest in some pothole repair service to keep the roads safe and people buying cars. Errr, make that Toyota...
It doesn't matter why the rule is in place or the validity of the rule. It is the rule. You are not allowed to compete in gymnastics if you are younger than 16. I don't think there is an exception if you have a forged passport or if you are from China.
By participating in the Olympics, you are agreeing to following the moral code and rules required by the IOC. Believing the rule was poorly devised doesn't make the Chinese government any less craven or petty. If the IOC flaunts enforcement, it makes them comparably destitute and further begs the question: why not create an entity that would promote and embody purer ideals.
(AP News) Guanzhou China - 35 unidentified bodies found in a ditch in China's Guangzhou province. The bodies are Caucasian and appear to be of Russian decent. Their are signs of abuse on the bodies, but the local police have no information on the subject.
--- The Chinese are known for quick justice. One possible outcome.
This whole article ignores a lot of new technologies coming out to synthesize usable hydrogen. As long as there is enough water for plants or water in the oceans - we are fine on clean energy. If there is no water for plants or fish, we have other problems.
Foresight Challenge: Providing renewable clean energy
Headline: Nanotechnology advances the efforts to achieve artificial photosynthesis News source: NanoWerk by Michael Berger
Artificial photosynthesis, using solar energy to split water generating hydrogen and oxygen, is often considered a 'Holy Grail' of chemistry which can offer a clean and portable source of energy supply as durable as the sunlight. It takes about 2.5 volts to break a single water molecule down into oxygen along with negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. It is the extraction and separation of these oppositely charged electrons and protons from water molecules that provides the electric power.
Well I almost suggested a (difficult to implement) retinal scanner. I'd rather lose a finger.
What else is there for the biometric approach?
-Hand scanner (worse than a finger)
-Foot scanner (no way)
-Scent (2020)
-Facial recognition
I think the coolest solution is the voice recognition when a computer welcomes you to the car and asks you by name (based on your unique key) for your code. To simplify voice recognition, it could transmit (GPS or CDMA) the encrypted (uh oh) code to a centralized unlocking area.
There are some simple ways to prevent this from happening that would have limited impact on the coolness factor of keyless:
-Install a $400 fingerprint scanner (for this and others non-secure people need a physical key) -Voice recognition of a code through a microphone -Require a 4 digit code input through the radio (or other) -Body weight of person in seat must be +/- 10 pounds last use -Require a different engine start code/security sequence than the door requires and only allow keyless engine start sequences within 30 seconds of the door opening (and the door must be opened and shut to reset + a 2 minute wait). If the second portion requires an expected 10 minutes to break the code of active attempts (assuming randomized attempts), it will require 40 minutes in stead and require them to get in and out of the car 20 times.
There are probably a few more options and things to add on here, but I would have to start invoicing Slashdot. In short though, I think the security approach (pure tech encryption) is shortsighted (albeit not knowing too much about it).
Xandros would be a much more appropriate acquisition:
1) Best in class business desktop
-Best desktop: LinuxWorld best business product
-Focused on the business user (vs the Novell Gnome focused desktop that is more all-purpose / home user market)
-Designed to provide an easy transition for Windows users (vs all of the other distros - more below)
2) Best in class Linux "business" server
-The new Xandros server offers the print serving, file serving, network management needed to run small businesses. I
-Provides unique capabilities (apart from Microsoft) that would instantly differentiate Oracle from all the other "me-too" Linux players
-Designed to provide an easy transition for Windows users (vs all of the other distros - more below)
3) Better strategic fit
-Xandros is a pure play in the Linux area and would not come with the "hair" and unwanted, sub-leading products that Oracle would pick up from Novell (and have to pay for)
-Xandros comes on top of the Debian server architecture. This would be an immediate and powerful win for Oracle to pick up the Debian Server base.
-Top business focused engineering team with long track record of efficient engineering (that delivered the award winning Corel Linux Desktop)
-Xandros was founded as an Simple Compatible replacement for Windows and Microsoft solutions that would provide an easy transition for Microsft users. Compared to the other Linux distros that have been laboring hard to create a new better product albeit alien to the marketplace. This company has not deviated from this strategy (plans for this server were announced years ago).
I agree with you, but let's break down the $100 for an item purchased from ACME Inc (a Texas firm sourcing from China) or alternately $80 to buy the same item Good Luck Co (a Chinese firm) - both items made in China. The breakdown will vary depending on the type of item (some cost more to make, some have larger profits, etc.). Reviewing the numbers may be insightful.
Here's where the money goes:
ACME Inc $100
Manufacturing $40
-$35 goes to Chinese suppliers of which they profit $3 Sales and Marketing $25
-All retained in US R&D $20
-All retained in US Profit $15
-All goes to shareholders (could be 20% international)
Good Luck Co $80
Manufacturing $40
-$3 goes to US distribution Sales and Marketing $15
-$5 goes to corporate HQ in China (they likely market less relying on lower cost) the rest to distribution US channel sales R&D $10
-All paid to Chinese 'labs' perfecting copy cat approach Profit $15
-All goes to Chinese owners
I assume all G&A is embedded in the above figures. Please note I'm also not judging which is better...
For US owned brands, the remitted profits go back to the US parent company (the Chinese benefit from labor wages and all the needed supplies at cost, but all the profit goes to the US parent and its (predominantly) US shareholders.
If a US firm owns and runs the brand, and it in turn is owned by US shareholders, they control the long-term profitability and value of the brand/revenue/user base.
If China was no longer a favored manufacturing location (e.g. distance, political instability, buyer perception of 'made in China'), then the manufacturers (HP, IBM, etc) could relocate their sourcing (although not an insignificant effort).
Totally been "there" though maybe not as bad. At two points in my life blew a few entire (and I mean entire) weekends (3-4 hours sleep and skipped out on friends). The humor is that the game was Civ.
Anyway, after feeling like I hit rock bottom, I would perform a similar catharsis:
-Deinstall -Hold the CD in one hand and smash it with the other
This worked for me though my problems were pretty small and only happened twice. Your best bet is to never get started on games:
-Don't buy them -Don't find them (e.g. don't search for them on del.icio.us -sorry for the suggestion) -Just don't even go near them
In as much as they are not really part of "this world", they are not "real" and so offer practically zero meaningful fulfillment at the end of the day.
Instead, if you are into gaming:
-Try to find groups of people to play with in person, there usually is a local gaming group (this may still be addicting but you are doing it with other people (not that much worse than basketball which is socially 'accepted'). Also your time will be limited by their appetite to overdue it (hopefully you find responsible gamers). -Go to an arcade or gaming place where you are at least around other people (the fees and hours of the place should place a limit - when you take away the ease of access you should naturally play less). -Make a hard budget (if you really must game, make plans with people to meet timed a few hours into your gaming, even if you are a little late at least you cut it down)...
There are about 6 billion people on earth. The forecast is for 33 B RFID tags made per year in 2010.
Everyone's concern is that these tags are intended to be stuck on people - hence all the privacy concerns. Privacy this, privacy that. If these were being made for people that would be about 5 per person each year. After a few years, you would have one for each ear, two piercing your nose and several taped to your side.
The actual use will be driven by retailers and logistics companies (ok really just Walmart). They will help track the flow of products through their supply chains and hence further reduce costs. Nothing to be afraid of and not a privacy issue.
For privacy you can worry more about: a- cell phones b- cookies c- sniffers d- surveillance cameras e- wire tapping f- e-cash g- all of your credit cards
The easiest solution is to buy some Antarctic property and wait for global warming to kick in.
Was there a preliminary report to this one that studied how Linux affected/eroded their business models? Perhaps they saw that Linux provided a very powerful base for NEW technologies to leverage it as a great springboard for potentially competing products. This report didn't make it out, but now they are on this bandwagon.
Do they cite an alternative that is better? I guess since Windows XP supports two processors (wow) they must be. Microsoft is also renowned for security (e.g. IIS, IE, Word, Exchange) so this MUST be what they are getting at.
I have to add that this comes across as a bit of a surprise from an Oracle backed group after seeing 5 years of Oracle adds on the back of the Economist magazine: "Unbreakable Linux" "Powerful Linux" - ok I made that one up "Unbeatable Linux" - and that one but you get the point
I guess now we can look forward to Oracle adds reading: "Unscalable Lnx" "Breakable Li n - u x" "Beatable linux"
Of course you can do anything with Linux. I was more referring to something that a MCSE could handle when , e.g., managing 1500 boxes with different application profiles...
The problem with Sun and Novell is that they are both approach the problem: how to be Microsoft. As such they are trying to be all things to all people (their own OS, own directory services, own productivity, etc.). I support the effort, but there are two many years and too much functionality of built up Microsfot competitive status to comprehensively replace in one package.
A more feasible / successful approach the "assimilation" that is being led by Xandros. Let the user keep his productivity suite (Crossover), keep his Active Directory (Xandros authenticates against it), keep their NTFS, etc. Above all, get the home and corporate user on the right OS (Debian in Xandros' case) and migrate the other functionality in a best of breed fashion in the future (when it is easier).
In some of the cases, Xandros did build out functionality that Linux normally lacks: e.g. remote application installation. In this case though, they also built Windows hooks so the same manager can control both Linux and Windows boxes: clever.
Slashdot Mirror
Competition is good. It shouldn't really matter if there is a playing field. If someone discovers an "unfair advantage" and that makes them more efficient, they should do it and others should petition for and be given the same benefit. A process of continual improvement and competition can only improve schools.
I do have to say that this article really isn't news. It is an opinion piece from an extremely statist, liberal publication. Out of thousands of publications:
http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-political-leanings-conservative-liberal-oreilly-msnbc-katie-couric-sean-hannity-2011-3?op=1
If the 7 days is the issue (that you can finish a game). Why not let people download the game and play it for 4 hours. Then charge them to buy it or deactivate it without having the 7 day constraint as they won't be buying it sight unseen.
I had been waiting for months for the Bionic, but everything I'm reading about MotoBlur and Motorola's attempts to lock or close down their phones is scaring me away from their phones. I'm leaving the Blackberry and iPhone because I don't like their closed worlds. The closed formats go hand in hand with a closed philosophy that is not a technology track I want to be involved with.
I'm sure Motorola is not listening to this but I hope many many buyers of phone share this sentiment as demand will hopefully eventually drive supply!
This is all pretty dumm IMHO. There industry has self-policed pretty well today. Additionally, broadband delivery is becoming increasingly competitive (FTTH, Wimax, cable, fast copper, city wifi, etc., DSL). No it is very dumb.
All this regulation is around protecting future changes that might happen to the internet. The reality is that the FCC should not even be empowered to interfere with the internet (their previous attempt was barred from the courts).
If substantial problems do start to pop up (IF), then congress should legislate something to fix it. That day has not come
The result for my business from this thread is to seriously consider corporate gmail. Had been thinking about it, but this article and the link here from jimicus settles it.
Outlook server and the client have been a disaster for our 6 person business. We get lots of emails and lots of attachments. Outlook uses flat file to manage the emails. With 5-10 gig for each of us, this doesn't work. Breaking up email folders into smaller folders is an ongoing pain. And worst of all search doesn't work. Outlooks native search doesn't function across multiple folders (even in Office 2010), Xobni is slow and a hog, and even google's search can't handle these huge flat files.
Disaster.
Thanks.
The US figured out that excessive regulation can wipe out competition for the up-and-coming banks. Australia's probably not far behind if the "big 4" actually feel any pressure. Not to be cynical, but.......
That is if you go with outdated technology. Any interstellar traveler worth their dust would of course use a Cochran field generator.
Don't worry, they will put on adblock like extensions and other bells and whistles. Soon it will be as full feature (and slow) as Firefox.
Yes - I put this in a tarball and sent it to a local tech news reporting agency last night. So far they have been able to download 37 bytes.
I do not think that it is actually about competition. The issue for Google is that they are banking a lot on their online office applications (and other?) that will compete against the MS Word and MS Excel's of the world.
They need a reliable browser platform to support their applications and it is probably safer for them to launch Chrome than to arm wrestle with Mozilla or try to control its development path. Furthermore, it will be much easier to prioritize bells and whistles that support their apps in Chrome than it would be in Mozilla (not to mention the endless trolling they would get for it).
It would be like if GM was worried about the US road system so they would invest in some pothole repair service to keep the roads safe and people buying cars. Errr, make that Toyota...
Welcome to the Genocide Olympics.
Go big government.
It doesn't matter why the rule is in place or the validity of the rule. It is the rule. You are not allowed to compete in gymnastics if you are younger than 16. I don't think there is an exception if you have a forged passport or if you are from China.
By participating in the Olympics, you are agreeing to following the moral code and rules required by the IOC. Believing the rule was poorly devised doesn't make the Chinese government any less craven or petty. If the IOC flaunts enforcement, it makes them comparably destitute and further begs the question: why not create an entity that would promote and embody purer ideals.
(AP News) Guanzhou China - 35 unidentified bodies found in a ditch in China's Guangzhou province. The bodies are Caucasian and appear to be of Russian decent. Their are signs of abuse on the bodies, but the local police have no information on the subject.
---
The Chinese are known for quick justice. One possible outcome.
It's going to come down to cost. The size is just the market segment they are starting off in.
This whole article ignores a lot of new technologies coming out to synthesize usable hydrogen. As long as there is enough water for plants or water in the oceans - we are fine on clean energy. If there is no water for plants or fish, we have other problems.
Foresight Challenge: Providing renewable clean energy
Headline: Nanotechnology advances the efforts to achieve artificial photosynthesis
News source: NanoWerk by Michael Berger
Artificial photosynthesis, using solar energy to split water generating hydrogen and oxygen, is often considered a 'Holy Grail' of chemistry which can offer a clean and portable source of energy supply as durable as the sunlight. It takes about 2.5 volts to break a single water molecule down into oxygen along with negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. It is the extraction and separation of these oppositely charged electrons and protons from water molecules that provides the electric power.
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=1098.php
Well I almost suggested a (difficult to implement) retinal scanner. I'd rather lose a finger.
What else is there for the biometric approach?
-Hand scanner (worse than a finger)
-Foot scanner (no way)
-Scent (2020)
-Facial recognition
I think the coolest solution is the voice recognition when a computer welcomes you to the car and asks you by name (based on your unique key) for your code. To simplify voice recognition, it could transmit (GPS or CDMA) the encrypted (uh oh) code to a centralized unlocking area.
There are some simple ways to prevent this from happening that would have limited impact on the coolness factor of keyless:
-Install a $400 fingerprint scanner (for this and others non-secure people need a physical key)
-Voice recognition of a code through a microphone
-Require a 4 digit code input through the radio (or other)
-Body weight of person in seat must be +/- 10 pounds last use
-Require a different engine start code/security sequence than the door requires and only allow keyless engine start sequences within 30 seconds of the door opening (and the door must be opened and shut to reset + a 2 minute wait). If the second portion requires an expected 10 minutes to break the code of active attempts (assuming randomized attempts), it will require 40 minutes in stead and require them to get in and out of the car 20 times.
There are probably a few more options and things to add on here, but I would have to start invoicing Slashdot. In short though, I think the security approach (pure tech encryption) is shortsighted (albeit not knowing too much about it).
Xandros would be a much more appropriate acquisition:
1) Best in class business desktop
-Best desktop: LinuxWorld best business product
-Focused on the business user (vs the Novell Gnome focused desktop that is more all-purpose / home user market)
-Designed to provide an easy transition for Windows users (vs all of the other distros - more below)
2) Best in class Linux "business" server
-The new Xandros server offers the print serving, file serving, network management needed to run small businesses. I
-Provides unique capabilities (apart from Microsoft) that would instantly differentiate Oracle from all the other "me-too" Linux players
-Designed to provide an easy transition for Windows users (vs all of the other distros - more below)
3) Better strategic fit
-Xandros is a pure play in the Linux area and would not come with the "hair" and unwanted, sub-leading products that Oracle would pick up from Novell (and have to pay for)
-Xandros comes on top of the Debian server architecture. This would be an immediate and powerful win for Oracle to pick up the Debian Server base.
-Top business focused engineering team with long track record of efficient engineering (that delivered the award winning Corel Linux Desktop)
-Xandros was founded as an Simple Compatible replacement for Windows and Microsoft solutions that would provide an easy transition for Microsft users. Compared to the other Linux distros that have been laboring hard to create a new better product albeit alien to the marketplace. This company has not deviated from this strategy (plans for this server were announced years ago).
I agree with you, but let's break down the $100 for an item purchased from ACME Inc (a Texas firm sourcing from China) or alternately $80 to buy the same item Good Luck Co (a Chinese firm) - both items made in China. The breakdown will vary depending on the type of item (some cost more to make, some have larger profits, etc.). Reviewing the numbers may be insightful.
Here's where the money goes:
ACME Inc $100
Manufacturing $40
-$35 goes to Chinese suppliers of which they profit $3
Sales and Marketing $25
-All retained in US
R&D $20
-All retained in US
Profit $15
-All goes to shareholders (could be 20% international)
Good Luck Co $80
Manufacturing $40
-$3 goes to US distribution
Sales and Marketing $15
-$5 goes to corporate HQ in China (they likely market less relying on lower cost) the rest to distribution US channel sales
R&D $10
-All paid to Chinese 'labs' perfecting copy cat approach
Profit $15
-All goes to Chinese owners
I assume all G&A is embedded in the above figures. Please note I'm also not judging which is better...
For US owned brands, the remitted profits go back to the US parent company (the Chinese benefit from labor wages and all the needed supplies at cost, but all the profit goes to the US parent and its (predominantly) US shareholders.
If a US firm owns and runs the brand, and it in turn is owned by US shareholders, they control the long-term profitability and value of the brand/revenue/user base.
If China was no longer a favored manufacturing location (e.g. distance, political instability, buyer perception of 'made in China'), then the manufacturers (HP, IBM, etc) could relocate their sourcing (although not an insignificant effort).
Totally been "there" though maybe not as bad. At two points in my life blew a few entire (and I mean entire) weekends (3-4 hours sleep and skipped out on friends). The humor is that the game was Civ.
Anyway, after feeling like I hit rock bottom, I would perform a similar catharsis:
-Deinstall
-Hold the CD in one hand and smash it with the other
This worked for me though my problems were pretty small and only happened twice. Your best bet is to never get started on games:
-Don't buy them
-Don't find them (e.g. don't search for them on del.icio.us -sorry for the suggestion)
-Just don't even go near them
In as much as they are not really part of "this world", they are not "real" and so offer practically zero meaningful fulfillment at the end of the day.
Instead, if you are into gaming:
-Try to find groups of people to play with in person, there usually is a local gaming group (this may still be addicting but you are doing it with other people (not that much worse than basketball which is socially 'accepted'). Also your time will be limited by their appetite to overdue it (hopefully you find responsible gamers).
-Go to an arcade or gaming place where you are at least around other people (the fees and hours of the place should place a limit - when you take away the ease of access you should naturally play less).
-Make a hard budget (if you really must game, make plans with people to meet timed a few hours into your gaming, even if you are a little late at least you cut it down)...
GOOD LUCK!
There are about 6 billion people on earth.
The forecast is for 33 B RFID tags made per year in 2010.
Everyone's concern is that these tags are intended to be stuck on people - hence all the privacy concerns. Privacy this, privacy that. If these were being made for people that would be about 5 per person each year. After a few years, you would have one for each ear, two piercing your nose and several taped to your side.
The actual use will be driven by retailers and logistics companies (ok really just Walmart). They will help track the flow of products through their supply chains and hence further reduce costs. Nothing to be afraid of and not a privacy issue.
For privacy you can worry more about:
a- cell phones
b- cookies
c- sniffers
d- surveillance cameras
e- wire tapping
f- e-cash
g- all of your credit cards
The easiest solution is to buy some Antarctic property and wait for global warming to kick in.
Was there a preliminary report to this one that studied how Linux affected/eroded their business models? Perhaps they saw that Linux provided a very powerful base for NEW technologies to leverage it as a great springboard for potentially competing products. This report didn't make it out, but now they are on this bandwagon.
Do they cite an alternative that is better? I guess since Windows XP supports two processors (wow) they must be. Microsoft is also renowned for security (e.g. IIS, IE, Word, Exchange) so this MUST be what they are getting at.
I have to add that this comes across as a bit of a surprise from an Oracle backed group after seeing 5 years of Oracle adds on the back of the Economist magazine:
"Unbreakable Linux"
"Powerful Linux" - ok I made that one up
"Unbeatable Linux" - and that one but you get the point
I guess now we can look forward to Oracle adds reading:
"Unscalable Lnx"
"Breakable Li n - u x"
"Beatable linux"
And in other news, IBM disagrees.
Of course you can do anything with Linux. I was more referring to something that a MCSE could handle when , e.g., managing 1500 boxes with different application profiles...
The problem with Sun and Novell is that they are both approach the problem: how to be Microsoft. As such they are trying to be all things to all people (their own OS, own directory services, own productivity, etc.). I support the effort, but there are two many years and too much functionality of built up Microsfot competitive status to comprehensively replace in one package.
A more feasible / successful approach the "assimilation" that is being led by Xandros. Let the user keep his productivity suite (Crossover), keep his Active Directory (Xandros authenticates against it), keep their NTFS, etc. Above all, get the home and corporate user on the right OS (Debian in Xandros' case) and migrate the other functionality in a best of breed fashion in the future (when it is easier).
In some of the cases, Xandros did build out functionality that Linux normally lacks: e.g. remote application installation. In this case though, they also built Windows hooks so the same manager can control both Linux and Windows boxes: clever.