Think of your gmail account as your home folder or My Documents for the Windows users. That is just the start. Google has the ability to provide you with a drive that goes forever and search abilities to find anything in a snap.
Netscape founder, Marc Andressen, once said "An OS is nothing but a bag of APIs we write to."
Once you have a working kernel you can do anything. The fear that Microsoft had was that their kernel would be the only thing that mattered and their API's would become irrelevant after Netscape and portable plug-ins and Java apps took over.
Look at version 4.0. It's features rivaled that of slow/homebrewed OS startups.
Microsoft started to see that the Internet was the new platform. It's true, I'm in my browser 99.9% of the time I'm on the PC. The OS doesn't matter.
Microsoft isn't known for their superb kernel, it's the whole user-land. Now that most people hit the browser after boot/login the kernel is the only thing that does matter. That is why people dual-boot with linux. It's stable and they can do most things. Occasionally they need to do something special so they reboot. Windows has become a mere application that loads your games.
Computer users don't usually care what type of file system it is or any of that mumbo-jumbo. They want to be able to work. If Google explodes into a Yahoo! type portal and provides portable (Java?) interfaces then they can become the "OS" of choice.
Look at this from Wikipedia:
Hardware <-> Kernel <-> Shell <-> Applications
Those are the four parts of your system. If the shell is replaced by the browser then the Internet as a whole is the application. That is what scared Microsoft into killing Netscape. (if you want to put it that way)
This is only a loss to those silly people who think that their $50 web cam is so damn important that all of the kernel developers should support binary interfaces to cater for undocumented video hardware
I own this "$50 web cam" and I love it. Never worked in linux until lately but hey, can't complain the kernel (thus whole OS) is free.
The point is that linux was created as a free alternative to other software (minix). It was written for x86 systems for god sakes, not huge expensive machines.
I see this as a huge step back in term of usability. Linux was made to run on cheap hardware (x86) and now that it's gone somewhat-mainstream and entered the coporate marketshare there is too many problems in supporting *silly* stuff like this.
Maybe this will get Philips to support us, maybe not. I don't care. Personally I find end-user linux (webcam/video) apps lacking. I'm not a programmer so most are useless to me.
But when you complain about "undocumented" anything you forget that much of the hardware supported by the kernel and it's modules are undocumented. Hell, most kernel options are undocumented. There is always going to be a fight between supporting hardware that doesn't want to be anywhere but on Windows systems and people who need it supported.
Let's say I had this camera for security, monitoring a server room. Nothing fancy, just a live picture. Well there goes a shot at $150 system (PC+Camera) that does the job of a $1500 camera. Point is, you can make this camera anything you want once it's plugged into a linux box - the point was supposed to be that I could do anything I want. Now it seems restrictive.
I don't know (and that is a problem too, it's early and I'm just typing.)
"gentlemanly cooperation" is seen as a way to maintain safe sales levels for everyone, while going for the jugular on external (overseas) sales
Just for clarification this is referred to as a "cartel" in economics terms.
OPEC, the RIAA, the Cali (cocaine) Cartel, all the same.
Definition of cartel from my economics text (from the glossary):
A form of oligopoly characterized by collusion; intended to increase profits, but illegal in the United States.
From the actual text:
The objective of a cartel is to increase price to the profit-maximizing monopoly price. The higher price implies a smaller output, which must be allocated among members of the cartel.
Basically the group gets together and decides that they will compete but not enough to put each other at risk. No one member can do something that would be harmful to the group.
For example, this is the reason that OPEC collectively controls oil output and not just one OPEC country. They decide together what is in the best interest of them all, creating unfair prices for the rest of the world as suplus is un-naturally replaced with deficit. (as opposed to an equilibrium being struck on its own)
I was suprised when I was on AOL today and saw their prices for ringtones.
I signed up for AOL because of that "freeipods" deal (I referred you, wink wink). During my exploration of all the new stuff put on AOL over the past 10 years since my last free trial I noticed an area called AOL "My Mobile".
Well, clicking around I found a "ringtones" section and checked it out. Seems that they offer a subscription(!!!) to their ringtones service which makes them 60 cents a piece or they sell them outright for $1.20.
What? How many ringtones can you use at once? I'm not aware of a phone which will cycle ringtones from a playlist but I'm sure that is next. I'm happy with the Imperial March... why would I change it anyways.
Seems like a huge waste of money. Next your phone company will be charging you for receiving ringtones. Either way, I could get the entire songs from iTunes anyways.
Notice, the prices above are close to what I remember... don't hold me to it. Get free ringtones from this site anyways.
Don't search for "Free Ringtones" because you can only find pages with text that says "Free Ringtones**". Usually with disclaimers at the bottom of the page like: **Free Ringtones by opening your phone and letting them out.
Try this site, went to check if it still worked and voila! Getting "Star Wars Theme".
I wonder which it is because I already have both of my cell phones set to "Imperial March" (been there for over year, had Super Mario Brothers Theme for a few weeks).
Check out their XXXtext messages too. They include classics such as:
Id fuck u sitting id fuck u lying, if u were a bird id fuck u flying. And when ur dead and long forgotten ill dig u up and fuck u rotten
I've only used the TDMA (monophonic) tones from this site but they always worked, and sounded good.
Executive Software is the company which makes the defrag code for Windows 2000 (and XP, 2003 I assume also). Their link to Windows 2000 and Scientology made Win2K almost illegal in Germany. Germany demanded a special version as Scientology is classified an illegal cult there.
In Windows 3.x it was Symantec who made many utilities (look in the about boxes and when starting the programs, "undelete" and defrag for example).
Just think when you are buying the third-party apps (SystemWorks) you are getting registered versions of the trialware that came pre-loaded with Windows.
This, to me, is a strong case for any GNU system. Make the kernel and utilities GPL and sell the fancy stuff (like games, work applications).
My only question is why does the police have the "right" to ask for ID, get you out of the car, etc when they don't tell you what it is for.
It's obvious to me that with Hiibel, and every other COPS episode I've seen, the police want you to commit a crime. After they've taken the time to show up there better be an arrest.
It's ego. Hiibel was baited IMHO. You do have the right to ask what you are being stopped for, but how many times does this result in an arrest not related to the original "crime"?
If Hiibel would have shown ID there would have been an arrest for something else.
It's always funny to me when police show up and try to break up an argument. Nine times out of ten the police show up after both parties are calm and neither want to see the other arrested. Sure, they wanted to scream and maybe hit each other but there are further implications to being arrested. Seems the police just unite the two parties under the common cause of hating the police.
(Funny though, I was in the car today doing nothing. Sitting in a parking lot. Just smoking a cigar... needed to get out of the house. Committed no crime... likely a loitering charge if anything. I noticed an "unmarked" car watching me. I just pulled up to the guy and asked him if he needed help. He said no and asked me what I was doing there. Funny thing is, he was doing the same thing that I was - sitting there not breaking the law. My license plate number was on a piece of paper however. I guess it's because I'm still young. Thing is, I watched a girl roll a joint two spaces from me. Why wasn't she arrested, beaten or otherwise harassed?)
It's like the nice Dell computers at my school. They all came with optical mice and mousepads with a reflective Dell logo.
I was actually yelled at for getting up and throwing a pad away in the middle of class. I was told it was needed to keep the ball clean.
Funny though because the ball gets dirty from the sweat on the pad. Plus, there was no ball in the mouse, just an "eye".
Everytime you took it across the rhombus shaped reflective pieces you got jumpy. Thing is, the best place to use a optical mouse is on your jeans. Lots of pretty textures there.
I have the Optical Explorer (Trackball) and the problem is about the same.
The cable has developed a short and moving it, which happens more often than you'd think, turns it off.
Actually killed a computer of mine. I picked the thing up to move it over and it kept going on and off. Well, since the thing is USB powered, drawing power from the power supply through the USB cord, it killed the power supply and then the CPU.
Sounds weird I know - but it's the only thing that could be traced. Tried everything else and swapped every other part out into (now) working PC's.
That was 3 years ago (about right, disected that PC right after 9/11/01)
Why? You should be happy as an American citizen that you don't pay in the upwards of $5/gallon.
The government already uses your tax money to subsidize oil (and gas by extension). Sure, you pay based on market value but not the full price.
I'm a liberal, but I'm also a pragmatist. When I see how I used to stand on economic issues I wince. Why not tax gas? My local highways and byways aren't fine, but that isn't where the tax should go IMHO. Makes sense though - pay as you go taxing (term=consumption tax). I drive so I pay for improvements. Beats making non-drivers pay for improvements (considering they are saving the environment and a bunch of our money in the long run). This is what you'd call an "efficient tax".
Think of it as toll roads. There were once private roads that you paid to drive on and thus take care of. Now, we all own the roads (well most) and we all, us drivers that is, pays for the upkeep. Roads do need upkeep plus more people driving every year means more roads, wider roads, and it goes on.
Problem is however that as gas is subsidized by income taxes I'm paying for some, ahem people, to drive cars which use gas (and my money) inefficiently. This means you SUV/hoopty owners...
I'm in favor of what you could call "consumer-side" economics. Consumption does drive production - no matter what the other liberals say. If you look at "supply side economics" you wonder how those people ever passed Econ 101. Creating too much supply without consumption and thus demand will only create a surplus and lead to lower prices which a producer certainly doesn't want. Especially when he thought he'd get $10 for a widget when now he has to take $7 or even $5. You want to be a price maker, like Microsoft, not a price taker, like everyone else. (Their case however is based on their monopoly, which is legal in these United States. It's their practices which get them into trouble.)
Consumerism is a byproduct. Sure, greed is bad, but we can't fight consumption when in it there is demand for product.
Cutting tax breaks for the poor is a good idea. It lets the people at the lowest rung not only consume more but also strive for higher pay. Belive it or not!
Take this example from an economics text book:
...consider an increase in the income tax. Some workers, especially those who are not head of households, would cut back their work efforts. Even those who do not cut back would find that getting ahead in the workplace would bring less reward. For this reason, people are less likely to invest their time and money to acquire more human capital.
It's a hard balance to strike. When is a certain income enough that it should be taxed? That is, when can people afford it. Because the cost of living is different everywhere, what may be efficient in Seattle may not work in San Francisco.
Hey, no one said it would be easy. It just makes sense to cut taxes on the "poor" as they will inevitably be able to consume more common items. Cheaper milk is cheaper milk. If people substitute it for water, for example, then that effect is felt all the way up and down the line. Less taxes for the poor also means entry into markets they wouldn't be otherwise able to get into. Personal computers are a good example. "Rich" people could buy as many as they like, tax or no tax. Their tax break may get more boats sold but that only affects them and above. Therefore, trickle down can't work. See where I'm going with this?
Of course not. You can also give tax breaks to rich people, and it helps you and I because they have more money to spend on hiring us to scrub their mansion floors with toothbrushes!
Don't you mean your toothbrush? Can't waste money on new ones...
I'm Working more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke...
...ah, uhh myocardial infarction
Actually it makes sense. Check out Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. Either we try to support a dinosaur (RIAA, CD's) or we embrace the future (iTunes).
Think about it... let services go where they do best. It's the underlying principle of free trade and it must be followed in order to ensure we don't pay a lot for this muffler. (?)
If most of the updates will be available for current versions of Windows, what is the incentive to upgrade?
I know this line has been beat to death, but I'll tell you the incentive...
Being the coolest guy on the block running a cracked copy you got from Gnutella or some other P2P network. You are cool if you install it 3 days before release in my 'hood.
This is somewhat relevant as its about an mp3 player... Free iPods. An actually legit pyramid scheme. There's a Wired article about it here. Check it out.
I notice however that you do post a referral link to freeipods.com... how horrible is that?
In fact, this seems to be against their terms of service.
(BTW, I see nowhere until signing up that you need to get 5 people to activate an account, damn pyramid schemes!)
Slashdot Mirror
Think of your gmail account as your home folder or My Documents for the Windows users. That is just the start. Google has the ability to provide you with a drive that goes forever and search abilities to find anything in a snap.
Netscape founder, Marc Andressen, once said "An OS is nothing but a bag of APIs we write to."
Once you have a working kernel you can do anything. The fear that Microsoft had was that their kernel would be the only thing that mattered and their API's would become irrelevant after Netscape and portable plug-ins and Java apps took over.
Look at version 4.0. It's features rivaled that of slow/homebrewed OS startups.Microsoft started to see that the Internet was the new platform. It's true, I'm in my browser 99.9% of the time I'm on the PC. The OS doesn't matter.
Microsoft isn't known for their superb kernel, it's the whole user-land. Now that most people hit the browser after boot/login the kernel is the only thing that does matter. That is why people dual-boot with linux. It's stable and they can do most things. Occasionally they need to do something special so they reboot. Windows has become a mere application that loads your games.
Computer users don't usually care what type of file system it is or any of that mumbo-jumbo. They want to be able to work. If Google explodes into a Yahoo! type portal and provides portable (Java?) interfaces then they can become the "OS" of choice.
Look at this from Wikipedia:
Those are the four parts of your system. If the shell is replaced by the browser then the Internet as a whole is the application. That is what scared Microsoft into killing Netscape. (if you want to put it that way)
Well, I hate the British for jumping on board with the whole WMD thing...
Well just Tony Blair.
This is only a loss to those silly people who think that their $50 web cam is so damn important that all of the kernel developers should support binary interfaces to cater for undocumented video hardware
I own this "$50 web cam" and I love it. Never worked in linux until lately but hey, can't complain the kernel (thus whole OS) is free.
The point is that linux was created as a free alternative to other software (minix). It was written for x86 systems for god sakes, not huge expensive machines.
I see this as a huge step back in term of usability. Linux was made to run on cheap hardware (x86) and now that it's gone somewhat-mainstream and entered the coporate marketshare there is too many problems in supporting *silly* stuff like this.
Maybe this will get Philips to support us, maybe not. I don't care. Personally I find end-user linux (webcam/video) apps lacking. I'm not a programmer so most are useless to me.
But when you complain about "undocumented" anything you forget that much of the hardware supported by the kernel and it's modules are undocumented. Hell, most kernel options are undocumented. There is always going to be a fight between supporting hardware that doesn't want to be anywhere but on Windows systems and people who need it supported.
Let's say I had this camera for security, monitoring a server room. Nothing fancy, just a live picture. Well there goes a shot at $150 system (PC+Camera) that does the job of a $1500 camera. Point is, you can make this camera anything you want once it's plugged into a linux box - the point was supposed to be that I could do anything I want. Now it seems restrictive.
I don't know (and that is a problem too, it's early and I'm just typing.)
I love Kashmir too but a quick Google search tells you that many other people have it too. Albeit in the form of "Come With Me" by Puff Daddy.
True, it's not "the" Kashmir, but it sounds the same coming from a phone which plays midi files.
(Likely because it is the same though too).
Just for clarification this is referred to as a "cartel" in economics terms.
OPEC, the RIAA, the Cali (cocaine) Cartel, all the same.
Definition of cartel from my economics text (from the glossary):
From the actual text:
Basically the group gets together and decides that they will compete but not enough to put each other at risk. No one member can do something that would be harmful to the group.
For example, this is the reason that OPEC collectively controls oil output and not just one OPEC country. They decide together what is in the best interest of them all, creating unfair prices for the rest of the world as suplus is un-naturally replaced with deficit. (as opposed to an equilibrium being struck on its own)
I was suprised when I was on AOL today and saw their prices for ringtones.
I signed up for AOL because of that "freeipods" deal (I referred you, wink wink). During my exploration of all the new stuff put on AOL over the past 10 years since my last free trial I noticed an area called AOL "My Mobile".
Well, clicking around I found a "ringtones" section and checked it out. Seems that they offer a subscription(!!!) to their ringtones service which makes them 60 cents a piece or they sell them outright for $1.20.
What? How many ringtones can you use at once? I'm not aware of a phone which will cycle ringtones from a playlist but I'm sure that is next. I'm happy with the Imperial March... why would I change it anyways.
Seems like a huge waste of money. Next your phone company will be charging you for receiving ringtones. Either way, I could get the entire songs from iTunes anyways.
Notice, the prices above are close to what I remember... don't hold me to it. Get free ringtones from this site anyways.
Usually with disclaimers at the bottom of the page like: **Free Ringtones by opening your phone and letting them out.
Try this site, went to check if it still worked and voila! Getting "Star Wars Theme".
I wonder which it is because I already have both of my cell phones set to "Imperial March" (been there for over year, had Super Mario Brothers Theme for a few weeks).
Check out their XXX text messages too. They include classics such as:I've only used the TDMA (monophonic) tones from this site but they always worked, and sounded good.
Powers of two are more accurate.
1000 Megabytes (Is not Equal To) 1 Gigabyte
1024 Megabytes (Is Equal To) 1 Gigabyte
Executive Software is the company which makes the defrag code for Windows 2000 (and XP, 2003 I assume also). Their link to Windows 2000 and Scientology made Win2K almost illegal in Germany. Germany demanded a special version as Scientology is classified an illegal cult there.
In Windows 3.x it was Symantec who made many utilities (look in the about boxes and when starting the programs, "undelete" and defrag for example).
Just think when you are buying the third-party apps (SystemWorks) you are getting registered versions of the trialware that came pre-loaded with Windows.
This, to me, is a strong case for any GNU system. Make the kernel and utilities GPL and sell the fancy stuff (like games, work applications).
My only question is why does the police have the "right" to ask for ID, get you out of the car, etc when they don't tell you what it is for.
It's obvious to me that with Hiibel, and every other COPS episode I've seen, the police want you to commit a crime. After they've taken the time to show up there better be an arrest.
It's ego. Hiibel was baited IMHO. You do have the right to ask what you are being stopped for, but how many times does this result in an arrest not related to the original "crime"?
If Hiibel would have shown ID there would have been an arrest for something else.
It's always funny to me when police show up and try to break up an argument. Nine times out of ten the police show up after both parties are calm and neither want to see the other arrested. Sure, they wanted to scream and maybe hit each other but there are further implications to being arrested. Seems the police just unite the two parties under the common cause of hating the police.
(Funny though, I was in the car today doing nothing. Sitting in a parking lot. Just smoking a cigar... needed to get out of the house. Committed no crime... likely a loitering charge if anything. I noticed an "unmarked" car watching me. I just pulled up to the guy and asked him if he needed help. He said no and asked me what I was doing there. Funny thing is, he was doing the same thing that I was - sitting there not breaking the law. My license plate number was on a piece of paper however. I guess it's because I'm still young. Thing is, I watched a girl roll a joint two spaces from me. Why wasn't she arrested, beaten or otherwise harassed?)
It's like the nice Dell computers at my school. They all came with optical mice and mousepads with a reflective Dell logo.
I was actually yelled at for getting up and throwing a pad away in the middle of class. I was told it was needed to keep the ball clean.
Funny though because the ball gets dirty from the sweat on the pad. Plus, there was no ball in the mouse, just an "eye".
Everytime you took it across the rhombus shaped reflective pieces you got jumpy. Thing is, the best place to use a optical mouse is on your jeans. Lots of pretty textures there.
Picture of the pad here. (small).
I have the Optical Explorer (Trackball) and the problem is about the same.
The cable has developed a short and moving it, which happens more often than you'd think, turns it off.
Actually killed a computer of mine. I picked the thing up to move it over and it kept going on and off. Well, since the thing is USB powered, drawing power from the power supply through the USB cord, it killed the power supply and then the CPU.
Sounds weird I know - but it's the only thing that could be traced. Tried everything else and swapped every other part out into (now) working PC's.
That was 3 years ago (about right, disected that PC right after 9/11/01)
I was always confused by unemployment numbers. I couldn't understand why there were no jobs available when so many people were out of work.
Seemed to me that there should be plenty of jobs available, you know with everyone out of work and all....
Why? You should be happy as an American citizen that you don't pay in the upwards of $5/gallon.
The government already uses your tax money to subsidize oil (and gas by extension). Sure, you pay based on market value but not the full price.
I'm a liberal, but I'm also a pragmatist. When I see how I used to stand on economic issues I wince. Why not tax gas? My local highways and byways aren't fine, but that isn't where the tax should go IMHO. Makes sense though - pay as you go taxing (term=consumption tax). I drive so I pay for improvements. Beats making non-drivers pay for improvements (considering they are saving the environment and a bunch of our money in the long run). This is what you'd call an "efficient tax".
Think of it as toll roads. There were once private roads that you paid to drive on and thus take care of. Now, we all own the roads (well most) and we all, us drivers that is, pays for the upkeep. Roads do need upkeep plus more people driving every year means more roads, wider roads, and it goes on.
Problem is however that as gas is subsidized by income taxes I'm paying for some, ahem people, to drive cars which use gas (and my money) inefficiently. This means you SUV/hoopty owners...
I'm in favor of what you could call "consumer-side" economics. Consumption does drive production - no matter what the other liberals say. If you look at "supply side economics" you wonder how those people ever passed Econ 101. Creating too much supply without consumption and thus demand will only create a surplus and lead to lower prices which a producer certainly doesn't want. Especially when he thought he'd get $10 for a widget when now he has to take $7 or even $5. You want to be a price maker, like Microsoft, not a price taker, like everyone else. (Their case however is based on their monopoly, which is legal in these United States. It's their practices which get them into trouble.)
Consumerism is a byproduct. Sure, greed is bad, but we can't fight consumption when in it there is demand for product.
Cutting tax breaks for the poor is a good idea. It lets the people at the lowest rung not only consume more but also strive for higher pay. Belive it or not!
Take this example from an economics text book:
It's a hard balance to strike. When is a certain income enough that it should be taxed? That is, when can people afford it. Because the cost of living is different everywhere, what may be efficient in Seattle may not work in San Francisco.
Hey, no one said it would be easy. It just makes sense to cut taxes on the "poor" as they will inevitably be able to consume more common items. Cheaper milk is cheaper milk. If people substitute it for water, for example, then that effect is felt all the way up and down the line. Less taxes for the poor also means entry into markets they wouldn't be otherwise able to get into. Personal computers are a good example. "Rich" people could buy as many as they like, tax or no tax. Their tax break may get more boats sold but that only affects them and above. Therefore, trickle down can't work. See where I'm going with this?
I hope so because I'm tired of typing.
(we all know bashing is best in a *nix environment)
Don't you mean your toothbrush? Can't waste money on new ones...
I'm Working more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke, to work more, to make more money, to do more coke...
Actually it makes sense. Check out Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. Either we try to support a dinosaur (RIAA, CD's) or we embrace the future (iTunes).
Think about it... let services go where they do best. It's the underlying principle of free trade and it must be followed in order to ensure we don't pay a lot for this muffler. (?)
Excuse me sir, will that be crash or charge?
I know this line has been beat to death, but I'll tell you the incentive...
Being the coolest guy on the block running a cracked copy you got from Gnutella or some other P2P network. You are cool if you install it 3 days before release in my 'hood.
If con is the opposite of pro, is congress the opposite of progress?
On a few web pages I'm credited with the creation of that line (or close to it).
I however stole it in 1995...
Just some trivia. ("Informative" right?)
This is somewhat relevant as its about an mp3 player... Free iPods. An actually legit pyramid scheme. There's a Wired article about it here. Check it out.
I notice however that you do post a referral link to freeipods.com... how horrible is that?
In fact, this seems to be against their terms of service.
(BTW, I see nowhere until signing up that you need to get 5 people to activate an account, damn pyramid schemes!)
No?
Patriot Act?
(BTW: they must hate freedom because they hate the French, the only people who was there for us fighting for it!)
Zippy the Pinhead strikes again!
Want a fortune without Zippy quotes? (which are mainly cooler than Zippy's?)
Then Click here!
Sorry, no ASCII art either though.
But when will the computer writers and re-writers be released?
I'd love to backup my hard drive onto this media. Let's see, I can put my hard drive onto it 6.25 times!
Ok, so what can this be used for besides keeping copies of my families DNA or all the books at the public library?