No idea of course, but their press release about his hiring was pretty... wild...
"Google has already made tremendous strides in making access to information on the web a reality for users across the globe, but we're still in the Internet's early innings," he said. "This medium will enjoy wider-spread use than television, radio or phones, and will ultimately expand beyond planet Earth. Google has always believed in doing things differently, and I believe that places us in a unique position to help bring even the wildest Internet visions into reality."
The "design for all browsers" paradigm isn't a good one. It promotes the use of non-compliant browsers. It's much better to design to the standards no matter what.
I doubt it, just look at the Acid Test what you may end up with then if you're careless. My suggestion: Design to standards, but try to find a reasonable lowest common denominator.
I really doubt that... Do you hear many speak of Windows Chicago, Windows Memphis, or Windows Whistler today? Longhorn will quickly fade as the Microsoft marketing machine comes into play, just like we got Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows XP respectively above.
You speak of fragmentation too... Do you hear a lot of confusion between what Windows 2000 and NT 5.0 is? Do you hear many call Windows XP as NT 5.1? Windows 2003 Server as NT 5.2?
It's the marketing machine that decides, unless maybe for a percentage or two consisting of geeks that have been really deep into Windows alphas and betas.
The focus in the guide is about warning how the services restrict music. They correctly state that Apple limits copies to 5 computers, and that is indeed the unspinned, real deal truth. Why should they for all companies examined write a detailed history of how their offers have changed? That's not too interesting to know in the eyes of a consumer, but rather how the music that person buys now won't be able to be played.
They need access to the outside world, to the internet.
How would that help any of those trapped on the roofs now, or those still stuck in the Superdome? Those in the worst situations will still not be helped from what I can see.
If they had internet access a while ago perhaps we'd have better been able to coordinate rescue attempts.
I agree on this, however, at this point? Should they really start a brand new strategy now on establishing Firefox terminals, or is the time in the very future better used otherwise? Is putting up terminals really the best way to most quickly get aid to all these people? From what I keep hearing, the place isn't even safe enough to work with establishing IT infrastructure, at least it wasn't yesterday according to a blog by that DirectNIC Crisis Manager, and I trust him at the situation more than fellow Slashdotters.
Are you telling me with all of laser guns and sophisticated technology we can't arrest a few criminals?
I think the people there would tell you so by now. I keep hearing it on the news anyway. Actually, almost exactly like in your words too -- "we're the richest nation in the world, we can precision bomb any place on Earth, we can fly to the moon, and we can't evacuate people from a place in our own country". But they can probably be arrested, sure. Some day.
But from how I understand it, what they need now isn't technology, not even electricity, but to be moved out from their hell hole and get some food, instead of starving to death in the heat on their roofs or have their children raped by armed criminals.
Re:Guild Wars -- a better alternative to DS2?
on
Review: Dungeon Siege II
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
DS1 is a Diablo-style game with focus on PvE, GW is a tactical semi-MMORPG with split focus on PvE and PvP. They aren't too similar really. You really have to like PvP in tournaments to some extent, and preferrably get into a guild too, to get most out of the game, which are aspects that are basically missing in DS2. But I agree GW is a greater game than DS1 as in "having more fun with it". We're talking evolution there, as opposed as with DS2, which is more in the cash cow milking department.
People who have played D2 will like this game and find it very easy to play.
Actually, I didn't, and the same goes for the majority of the community of 9,757 registered members that I'm part of.;-) We have about 5-10 people I know are interested in the game.
It just feels like a game lacking spirit and attention to detail to me. It doesn't even look good for being a game of 2005. Compare DS2 to Guild Wars in that department. And when you dig deeper in its actual gameplay, it's DS1 all over with a few tweaks and replaced content. I think it should be more appropriately called Dungeon Siege 1.5.
I'd rather keep an eye on Hellgate: London if you're looking forward to a fresh game Diablo-style with random items and maps (yes, in a 3D game too). That time it's coming from the developers of Diablo as well.
And, unfortunately, using something else than Vista won't help here as long as there isn't some kind of global boycott (yeah, right!)
Using e.g. Linux instead of Vista to avoid these practices will give you content that may not even be playable at all, unless Linux supports the DRM mechanisms and hardware of course. So it's really a lose/lose situation, no matter how you look at it.
The implications of this is, of course, that you have nothing to lose on using Windows Vista, rather just things to gain on it. All non-DRM content on it will work just like before, and the rest will have strict rules applied to it. While on a OS that don't support this, you'll get the same thing, but instead of strict rules, you just won't be able to play it at all.
Just saying this, because NGSCB is often looked at as a major downside with Vista, when the real downside will instead come to each and every OS not even supporting the protection mechanisms. At least Vista users will be able to use the media/hardware if complying to the terms.
MS Plan: 1. Suffix a well-known product with the word "killer". 2. Hold a press conference of your product. 3. Release a pale version of the suffixed product above. 4. ??? 5. Profit!!
Right. You won't *have* to buy new hardware for Vista either, provided you don't intend to use many of Vista's features.
In other words: If you aren't a fan of DRM and thus need special hardware, and you aren't a fan of a GUI with "cool" effects all over the place, you don't need to upgrade.
I replied to one post, but instead of replying to the dozens here, I'll just ask if this patent really applies to Nethack, being drunk, eating a mushroom, eating unicorn horn, bathing in a fountain of doom, or whatever.
The patent is very clear that it's about insanity from involvement in gruesome sitations, i.e. a post-traumatic stress thing. Artificially induced insanity doesn't seem to apply, aka "I drank a Potion of Insanity and got insane".
The patent even goes as far as to narrow it down to saying that the stress is only caused if the situation was unexpected.
OK, here's what I believe is about the second half of the party chat on IRC:
ROBOd asks: how you like the "all-new, brand-new and polished" Internet Explorer 7? Haakon: They have made some improvements in the UI, it took them 4 years or so. I was very disappointed that they didn't fix any rendering bugs. They have promised some fixes, but will not support Acid2 fully. That's a mistake.
ROBOd asks: can you express your feelings about William Henry Gates the 3rd? Haakon: I've never met him. I had lunch with one of his men, Ballmer, though. I believe they are hardworking successful man that, unfortunately, not have accepted the responsiilities that comes with their size and power.
Jazmo__ asks: So what is typical workday for you? Do you code or is it more like sending mails and speaking on phone? Haakon: I don't read or write Opera source code. I code in HTML, CSS and other web languages, but email takes most of my days. Sometimes meetings, although I try to cut back. Phone confereces are also common. I like lounging on a couch, bean bag or bed while working.... Haakon: Where I'm most productive though, is in the shower. It'a great place for thinking. Haakon: I shower a lot.
PowerUser asks: You all use emacs I assume? Haakon: Absolutely, I've been using gnu-emacs since 1987 and have found no reason to quit.
eps asks: working in a company that actively tests compatibility of our software with firefox and opera (most of our programs are webbased now, activex/java/js horrid mixtures) and is interested in linux, what efforts are you making to support (I hate the idea too, but it would be handy for bussiness) activex webbased apps under windows (and possibly linux as we are moving to FOSS in as many areas as possible) Haakon: Active-X is a security threat and a windows-only solution. I don't think it would do us much good to support it, although I have sympathy with your position.
Jakub81 asks: Did you (or: will you) implement support for CSS3 selectors in the new (Opera 9?) core? Haakon: I should know the answer to that one, I'm afraid the deatails are slipping me at the moment. CSS3 Selectors is one of the most mature CSS3 modules and I think we should support it.
ROBOd asks: Will Opera ever have something like iCab browser which shows a crying smiley face when a page contains invalid code? That would let users know about which sites are better and would also give the devs an impulse to follow the standards. Haakon: Actually, I implemented that feature in the Arena browser (now historical) in 1994. I think it's great and have been suggesting it internally. However, there are thousands of good ideas, but only that many developers....
Danimal82 asks: I am wondering, what do you think the world would be like without microsoft? Haakon: a better place, I believe. Although windows, word, powerpoint and other applications have made computers easier to use for many, I consider the PC -- as MS developed it in the 80/90s to be a dead end. Only the internet saved it, and we didn't need MS for that.
Moderator: (To answer some questions about women at Opera: yes, we have women at Opera. Yes, some are coding;))
RedPing asks: freedom of choice in the mainline. Is that round now in the level of smart devices (smartphones, tablet pcs, handhelds, and so on)? Is this the new battlefield? Haakon: Yes, I think so Haakon: MS won the desktop, but the mobile market is much more open. I hope we can build it on standards -- so that we don't battle unnecessarily.
Joshtek asks: What do you feel is special about software development? Haakon: It's so easy to get started -- all you need is a computer. In other areas -- math, physics, music -- you often need years of training to make a difference. Haakon: This is also why I'm against software patents -- it's so easy to have good ideas in this field.
Slashdot Mirror
No idea of course, but their press release about his hiring was pretty... wild...
"Google has already made tremendous strides in making access to information on the web a reality for users across the globe, but we're still in the Internet's early innings," he said. "This medium will enjoy wider-spread use than television, radio or phones, and will ultimately expand beyond planet Earth. Google has always believed in doing things differently, and I believe that places us in a unique position to help bring even the wildest Internet visions into reality."
Hmm, I think these zealots forgot about the commandment "thou shalt not kill".
It was a very weird debate from the start, and it's not even a logical one if you look at it from a religious person's view.
I unfortunately don't think these overlords ruling us are new. :-(
"I'm going to bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to kill Google."
This should clearly tell you that Google is already undead, and keep rising again. He has already killed them before. Don't worry!
The "design for all browsers" paradigm isn't a good one. It promotes the use of non-compliant browsers. It's much better to design to the standards no matter what.
I doubt it, just look at the Acid Test what you may end up with then if you're careless. My suggestion: Design to standards, but try to find a reasonable lowest common denominator.
There's another word in there too -- laser beams for a fusion in a confined plasma.
I really doubt that... Do you hear many speak of Windows Chicago, Windows Memphis, or Windows Whistler today? Longhorn will quickly fade as the Microsoft marketing machine comes into play, just like we got Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows XP respectively above.
You speak of fragmentation too... Do you hear a lot of confusion between what Windows 2000 and NT 5.0 is? Do you hear many call Windows XP as NT 5.1? Windows 2003 Server as NT 5.2?
It's the marketing machine that decides, unless maybe for a percentage or two consisting of geeks that have been really deep into Windows alphas and betas.
Get the popcord and sit back and watch.
:-S
I'll just assume using a "pop cord" when enjoying a show is some kind of geek activity and move on...
Pretty cool, but the U2 songs I downloaded from them were only 22 kbps.
Sounds to me like they can't have hq music freely downloadable then.
You hear about Ballmer flippin out, throwing chairs because he lost someone to Google, but what does he care? How OLD is he?
;-)
Physical age or intellectual age?
The focus in the guide is about warning how the services restrict music. They correctly state that Apple limits copies to 5 computers, and that is indeed the unspinned, real deal truth. Why should they for all companies examined write a detailed history of how their offers have changed? That's not too interesting to know in the eyes of a consumer, but rather how the music that person buys now won't be able to be played.
I was shocked to see this was actually not a The Onion article like last time.
That monkey dancer never cease to amaze me.
They need access to the outside world, to the internet.
How would that help any of those trapped on the roofs now, or those still stuck in the Superdome?
Those in the worst situations will still not be helped from what I can see.
If they had internet access a while ago perhaps we'd have better been able to coordinate rescue attempts.
I agree on this, however, at this point? Should they really start a brand new strategy now on establishing Firefox terminals, or is the time in the very future better used otherwise? Is putting up terminals really the best way to most quickly get aid to all these people? From what I keep hearing, the place isn't even safe enough to work with establishing IT infrastructure, at least it wasn't yesterday according to a blog by that DirectNIC Crisis Manager, and I trust him at the situation more than fellow Slashdotters.
Are you telling me with all of laser guns and sophisticated technology we can't arrest a few criminals?
I think the people there would tell you so by now. I keep hearing it on the news anyway. Actually, almost exactly like in your words too -- "we're the richest nation in the world, we can precision bomb any place on Earth, we can fly to the moon, and we can't evacuate people from a place in our own country". But they can probably be arrested, sure. Some day.
But from how I understand it, what they need now isn't technology, not even electricity, but to be moved out from their hell hole and get some food, instead of starving to death in the heat on their roofs or have their children raped by armed criminals.
DS1 is a Diablo-style game with focus on PvE, GW is a tactical semi-MMORPG with split focus on PvE and PvP. They aren't too similar really. You really have to like PvP in tournaments to some extent, and preferrably get into a guild too, to get most out of the game, which are aspects that are basically missing in DS2. But I agree GW is a greater game than DS1 as in "having more fun with it". We're talking evolution there, as opposed as with DS2, which is more in the cash cow milking department.
People who have played D2 will like this game and find it very easy to play.
;-) We have about 5-10 people I know are interested in the game.
Actually, I didn't, and the same goes for the majority of the community of 9,757 registered members that I'm part of.
It just feels like a game lacking spirit and attention to detail to me. It doesn't even look good for being a game of 2005. Compare DS2 to Guild Wars in that department. And when you dig deeper in its actual gameplay, it's DS1 all over with a few tweaks and replaced content. I think it should be more appropriately called Dungeon Siege 1.5.
I'd rather keep an eye on Hellgate: London if you're looking forward to a fresh game Diablo-style with random items and maps (yes, in a 3D game too). That time it's coming from the developers of Diablo as well.
Fuck Micro$oft Windoze and fuck revisionists who say this isn't a Linux site!
You're the revisionist if you want to make it a Linux site.
The special Linux section of Slashdot is right here.
What does Linux stand for then...?
;-)
Laziness
Isolation
Nerds
Unibrows
Xenophobia
Hmm?
And, unfortunately, using something else than Vista won't help here as long as there isn't some kind of global boycott (yeah, right!)
Using e.g. Linux instead of Vista to avoid these practices will give you content that may not even be playable at all, unless Linux supports the DRM mechanisms and hardware of course. So it's really a lose/lose situation, no matter how you look at it.
The implications of this is, of course, that you have nothing to lose on using Windows Vista, rather just things to gain on it. All non-DRM content on it will work just like before, and the rest will have strict rules applied to it. While on a OS that don't support this, you'll get the same thing, but instead of strict rules, you just won't be able to play it at all.
Just saying this, because NGSCB is often looked at as a major downside with Vista, when the real downside will instead come to each and every OS not even supporting the protection mechanisms. At least Vista users will be able to use the media/hardware if complying to the terms.
These news quickly turned into these news.
These news quickly turned into these news.
MS Plan:
1. Suffix a well-known product with the word "killer".
2. Hold a press conference of your product.
3. Release a pale version of the suffixed product above.
4. ???
5. Profit!!
Right. You won't *have* to buy new hardware for Vista either, provided you don't intend to use many of Vista's features.
In other words: If you aren't a fan of DRM and thus need special hardware, and you aren't a fan of a GUI with "cool" effects all over the place, you don't need to upgrade.
I replied to one post, but instead of replying to the dozens here, I'll just ask if this patent really applies to Nethack, being drunk, eating a mushroom, eating unicorn horn, bathing in a fountain of doom, or whatever.
The patent is very clear that it's about insanity from involvement in gruesome sitations, i.e. a post-traumatic stress thing. Artificially induced insanity doesn't seem to apply, aka "I drank a Potion of Insanity and got insane".
The patent even goes as far as to narrow it down to saying that the stress is only caused if the situation was unexpected.
However, this patent is regarding insanity caused by participating in a gruesome situation.
Potions and horns therefore don't apply.
It seems this wasn't quite the end of it, as the browser designer for their desktop version of Opera will answer related questions to that one now.
Although it seems to be mostly marketing answers, it would be interesting to know if the full transcript will be posted on Opera.com later...
OK, here's what I believe is about the second half of the party chat on IRC:
;))
ROBOd asks: how you like the "all-new, brand-new and polished" Internet Explorer 7?
Haakon: They have made some improvements in the UI, it took them 4 years or so. I was very disappointed that they didn't fix any rendering bugs. They have promised some fixes, but will not support Acid2 fully. That's a mistake.
ROBOd asks: can you express your feelings about William Henry Gates the 3rd?
Haakon: I've never met him. I had lunch with one of his men, Ballmer, though. I believe they are hardworking successful man that, unfortunately, not have accepted the responsiilities that comes with their size and power.
Jazmo__ asks: So what is typical workday for you? Do you code or is it more like sending mails and speaking on phone?
Haakon: I don't read or write Opera source code. I code in HTML, CSS and other web languages, but email takes most of my days. Sometimes meetings, although I try to cut back. Phone confereces are also common. I like lounging on a couch, bean bag or bed while working....
Haakon: Where I'm most productive though, is in the shower. It'a great place for thinking.
Haakon: I shower a lot.
PowerUser asks: You all use emacs I assume?
Haakon: Absolutely, I've been using gnu-emacs since 1987 and have found no reason to quit.
eps asks: working in a company that actively tests compatibility of our software with firefox and opera (most of our programs are webbased now, activex/java/js horrid mixtures) and is interested in linux, what efforts are you making to support (I hate the idea too, but it would be handy for bussiness) activex webbased apps under windows (and possibly linux as we are moving to FOSS in as many areas as possible)
Haakon: Active-X is a security threat and a windows-only solution. I don't think it would do us much good to support it, although I have sympathy with your position.
Jakub81 asks: Did you (or: will you) implement support for CSS3 selectors in the new (Opera 9?) core?
Haakon: I should know the answer to that one, I'm afraid the deatails are slipping me at the moment. CSS3 Selectors is one of the most mature CSS3 modules and I think we should support it.
ROBOd asks: Will Opera ever have something like iCab browser which shows a crying smiley face when a page contains invalid code? That would let users know about which sites are better and would also give the devs an impulse to follow the standards.
Haakon: Actually, I implemented that feature in the Arena browser (now historical) in 1994. I think it's great and have been suggesting it internally. However, there are thousands of good ideas, but only that many developers....
Danimal82 asks: I am wondering, what do you think the world would be like without microsoft?
Haakon: a better place, I believe. Although windows, word, powerpoint and other applications have made computers easier to use for many, I consider the PC -- as MS developed it in the 80/90s to be a dead end. Only the internet saved it, and we didn't need MS for that.
Moderator: (To answer some questions about women at Opera: yes, we have women at Opera. Yes, some are coding
RedPing asks: freedom of choice in the mainline. Is that round now in the level of smart devices (smartphones, tablet pcs, handhelds, and so on)? Is this the new battlefield?
Haakon: Yes, I think so
Haakon: MS won the desktop, but the mobile market is much more open. I hope we can build it on standards -- so that we don't battle unnecessarily.
Joshtek asks: What do you feel is special about software development?
Haakon: It's so easy to get started -- all you need is a computer. In other areas -- math, physics, music -- you often need years of training to make a difference.
Haakon: This is also why I'm against software patents -- it's so easy to have good ideas in this field.
keny asks: What do you think of firefo