I got to try out a version of this at the Game On exhibition in the UK a while ago (awesome exhibition, btw - if you get the chance to go take it).
I stood in front of a large screen that had the camera perched on top. I could see myself on the screen, and at the top of the display were some buttons that applied visual effects (eg. motion blur, negative colour, etc). By reaching up (into thin air) i could seemingly press the buttons, and the camera detected my hands and apply the effect.
Also, there was a looping demo on the next screen of a guy using the EyeToy. He was holding two orange balls, and on the screen a little character was jumping back and forth between the balls.
I don't know how extensively a peripheral like this might be used. I'm sure there are a lot of creative applications, but unless they're going to be really cheap people won't buy them unless there are a lot of games supporting them. And unless a lot of people have them not many developers will bother making games for them. Catch 22.
I do agree. Russia was falling apart long before they became a democratic nation. The cold war was obviously expensive, as well. However, I would suggest that under Mao, China could have gone down the same path (of fast, sweeping reform) and experienced similar inflationary & political instability problems. Having chosen to take reform slowly might still turn out in everyone's interest in the end.
Sorry to cost you a mod point. I was simply pointing out that China is not the deep, dark hole of censorship and tyrrany that so many people assume it is. We always get news about how the people are so downtrodden and oppressed. When you're there, though, that's not what you see. As many other people in this discussion have pointed out the news is available publicly. Sure, you can't get to cnn (but you can get to Washington Post), but you can still get to BBC World (but not BBC).
The fact that the majority of the chinese people aren't interested in what the world thinks of them. I can't say I regularly read an Indian newspaper, or frequent Italian news sites. That doesn't mean my news is censored, right?
Ahh... that'd be Capitalism again. You see, the Chinese government might not want its people to hear from CNN, but they sure as hell want all their people eating KFC and wearing Nike. It brings the foreign money into China. Hell, they probably manufactured half the stuff anyway, right?
And foreign corporates won't be moving into China unless there's a nice big telecommunications network. So there you go. I'd say that'd be the number one motivation for the Chinese government installing a tool in order to hamstring it later.
I do agree with the majority of what you say, particularly with regard to relinquishing all claim on Taiwan (though not Hong Kong. That i don't understand).
What i do disagree with, though, is your assertion that "when China truly becomes "the people's" then the economic boom you speak of will have an environment in which it can flourish."
I look at that comment, and then i look at Russia... I think China has chosen the correct path there. They now have a free market, and the economic boom will continue. If the government were to come apart quickly for any reason (rebellion, factional fighting, etc) it would be disastrous. In time the political freedom's of the people will return. Their political freedom was much greater than people remember, i think, before Tiannemen Square. That was a disaster for all involved - the students, the government AND the people of China.
How about three thousand years of emperors and warlords?
Yes, there were long periods of peace during which the chinese civilisation advanced at an astonishing pace. Their technology in sailing was roughly a thousand years in advance of the equivalent European by the 9th century (yes, a thousand years: no shit). Similar achievements were had in other areas. These would not have been (indeed, were not) possible in the dynamic and changing political landscape of Europe and the Middle East.
There is an ancient chinese curse which evokes the Chinese feeling towards quick and violent change:
"May you live in interesting times."
It's not bad. I lived there for 6 months and hardly noticed any difference, apart from not being able to access geocities, as mcdirmid points out above. And hey - when was the last time you went to a geocities site and enjoyed the experience? : ) Seriously though, the internet cafes are everywhere and they're very cheap. It should be noted that my cousin who is in Shanghai right now has told me there are two types of internet connection: domestic and international. All the international licenses are given to businesses. That could be the distinction that's missing in the article above... but somebody should verify my cousin's facts before shouting it from the hilltops.
In any case - I was in Shanghai for a while and used the internet heaps. Never noticed anything was wrong. Have a nice trip!
I think the main reason this IS feasible in China is that there are only a handful (as in 3 or 4) ISPs, and they are all government owned. I don't think this would be possible in many (if any) other countries where internet use has already reached significant levels: too many ISPs.
The chinese government aren't criminals. It's incredibly naive to apply US laws (i'm assuming, but substitute another country if incorrect) to China. It's a different nation. Along with that they uphold different laws. Guess who writes the laws? The Chinese Government. If you've been to China you'll know that it's not a censored hell-hole. I think we should be thanking Deng Zhou Ping for setting up the free market economy which, in my opinion, is a vital stepping stone to a more benevolent government (hey, it doesn't have to be democratic to be benevolent! Yes, I'm idealistic: point taken).
I'm not in the field of astronomy, but i'm going to attempt to express and intelligent opinion anyway. Tell me how i go.
I don't think the fact that a large proportion of planets discovered by us so far are massive indicates that a large proportion of ALL planets are massive. Of course, this is one possibility. I would say, however, that our methods and technology are quite primitive for the task at hand. The resolution of our view of the universe if low and finite (but getting higher). As our surveilance resolution gets higher we might start discovering smaller planets.
I'm only suggesting that i fear their incompetence much more than i fear their clumsy deceits. I agree they should release the lists, but if it keeps them happy to make secret a list which they themselves have all but admitted does nothing, so be it.
Because i'm reading it right now! I may a critical or skeptical person at times, but i draw the line as conspiracy mongering. Bring me truth and then show me the evidence.
I'm yet to see any numbers of any kind (statistics, annual revenue, etc) that depict a drop in RIAA sales due to P2P sharing and MP3 technology.
Surely these should be absolutely ESSENTIAL to the RIAA case for proving that the artists are being ripped off. Why has the RIAA not produced these figures? Or have they, and simply not publicised them?
If anyone has info on this i would be particularly interested.
You've mentioned that CD keys keep people playing online games honest. Well, true to a certain extent. Other people have raised the issue that key generators exist. I had an interesting experience with this:
I bought Half-Life legitimately. Out of the box, installed, patched, entered my key and went online. Was immediately told that i couldn't play because this key already existed online. So basically someone using a key generator had 'stolen' my key. Bastard.
Just thought that people would be interested that there a consequences of using this type of key generator beyond merely ripping off the company.
It's also sold under its original name in Australia. Unfortunately it's no longer the metal Meccano - its plastic now for safety and economic reasons. Plastic is generally perceived as 'safer' by parents who are the likely purchasors, and it's definitely cheaper.
Well, aside from the arguments above regarding bioterrorism, warfare and squirrels there is also the argument that medical science should endeavour to raise the quality of life for ALL people (not just middle-class white Americans). Bubonic plague is still deadly, and can still be found in the unhygenic squalor of many a shanty-town in third and second world countries.
I'm wondering whether that statement is accurate, given that one of the changes that they mention in the readme is:
Within this release is an Auto Update system that can be used to at any time to check for and download updates to Quake 3 and Team Arena.
Kind of pointless if they don't plan to be releasing any more. Perhaps a better interpretation would be that they're going to halt active development in preference for yet-to-be-released projects (Bring it on, i say)
Slashdot Mirror
As for letting Peter Jackson decide for himself - who's betting that Saruman will be in the director's cut?
Isn't a lot of the pr0n copyrighted as well? I mean, not that i would know...
So basically take out the pr0n, take out the music, take out the movies and other copyrighted materials. What's left?
World's Funniest Home Videos.
I got to try out a version of this at the Game On exhibition in the UK a while ago (awesome exhibition, btw - if you get the chance to go take it).
I stood in front of a large screen that had the camera perched on top. I could see myself on the screen, and at the top of the display were some buttons that applied visual effects (eg. motion blur, negative colour, etc). By reaching up (into thin air) i could seemingly press the buttons, and the camera detected my hands and apply the effect.
Also, there was a looping demo on the next screen of a guy using the EyeToy. He was holding two orange balls, and on the screen a little character was jumping back and forth between the balls.
I don't know how extensively a peripheral like this might be used. I'm sure there are a lot of creative applications, but unless they're going to be really cheap people won't buy them unless there are a lot of games supporting them. And unless a lot of people have them not many developers will bother making games for them. Catch 22.
I do agree. Russia was falling apart long before they became a democratic nation. The cold war was obviously expensive, as well. However, I would suggest that under Mao, China could have gone down the same path (of fast, sweeping reform) and experienced similar inflationary & political instability problems. Having chosen to take reform slowly might still turn out in everyone's interest in the end.
Sorry to cost you a mod point. I was simply pointing out that China is not the deep, dark hole of censorship and tyrrany that so many people assume it is. We always get news about how the people are so downtrodden and oppressed. When you're there, though, that's not what you see. As many other people in this discussion have pointed out the news is available publicly. Sure, you can't get to cnn (but you can get to Washington Post), but you can still get to BBC World (but not BBC).
The fact that the majority of the chinese people aren't interested in what the world thinks of them. I can't say I regularly read an Indian newspaper, or frequent Italian news sites. That doesn't mean my news is censored, right?
You don't get censored, as long as you say the right thing(s).
Sounds like anywhere, really.
Most of the "corporations" are still under the control of the government or army.
Most of the "corporations" are foreign-owned, apart from in Hong Kong where i'd say you're view would be totally wrong.
Finally, a rational view! Good to see that someone else hasn't been forced to quit their job over guilt as part of the capitalist machine.
The US government is already monitoring citizens without the help of Cisco.
See Carnivore and Magic Lantern
As Morpheus would say: "Welcome... to the real world."
Ahh... that'd be Capitalism again. You see, the Chinese government might not want its people to hear from CNN, but they sure as hell want all their people eating KFC and wearing Nike. It brings the foreign money into China. Hell, they probably manufactured half the stuff anyway, right?
And foreign corporates won't be moving into China unless there's a nice big telecommunications network. So there you go. I'd say that'd be the number one motivation for the Chinese government installing a tool in order to hamstring it later.
I do agree with the majority of what you say, particularly with regard to relinquishing all claim on Taiwan (though not Hong Kong. That i don't understand).
What i do disagree with, though, is your assertion that "when China truly becomes "the people's" then the economic boom you speak of will have an environment in which it can flourish."
I look at that comment, and then i look at Russia... I think China has chosen the correct path there. They now have a free market, and the economic boom will continue. If the government were to come apart quickly for any reason (rebellion, factional fighting, etc) it would be disastrous. In time the political freedom's of the people will return. Their political freedom was much greater than people remember, i think, before Tiannemen Square. That was a disaster for all involved - the students, the government AND the people of China.
How about three thousand years of emperors and warlords?
Yes, there were long periods of peace during which the chinese civilisation advanced at an astonishing pace. Their technology in sailing was roughly a thousand years in advance of the equivalent European by the 9th century (yes, a thousand years: no shit). Similar achievements were had in other areas. These would not have been (indeed, were not) possible in the dynamic and changing political landscape of Europe and the Middle East.
There is an ancient chinese curse which evokes the Chinese feeling towards quick and violent change:
"May you live in interesting times."
It's not bad. I lived there for 6 months and hardly noticed any difference, apart from not being able to access geocities, as mcdirmid points out above. And hey - when was the last time you went to a geocities site and enjoyed the experience? : )
Seriously though, the internet cafes are everywhere and they're very cheap. It should be noted that my cousin who is in Shanghai right now has told me there are two types of internet connection: domestic and international. All the international licenses are given to businesses. That could be the distinction that's missing in the article above... but somebody should verify my cousin's facts before shouting it from the hilltops.
In any case - I was in Shanghai for a while and used the internet heaps. Never noticed anything was wrong. Have a nice trip!
I think the main reason this IS feasible in China is that there are only a handful (as in 3 or 4) ISPs, and they are all government owned. I don't think this would be possible in many (if any) other countries where internet use has already reached significant levels: too many ISPs.
The chinese government aren't criminals. It's incredibly naive to apply US laws (i'm assuming, but substitute another country if incorrect) to China. It's a different nation. Along with that they uphold different laws. Guess who writes the laws? The Chinese Government. If you've been to China you'll know that it's not a censored hell-hole. I think we should be thanking Deng Zhou Ping for setting up the free market economy which, in my opinion, is a vital stepping stone to a more benevolent government (hey, it doesn't have to be democratic to be benevolent! Yes, I'm idealistic: point taken).
I'm not in the field of astronomy, but i'm going to attempt to express and intelligent opinion anyway. Tell me how i go.
I don't think the fact that a large proportion of planets discovered by us so far are massive indicates that a large proportion of ALL planets are massive. Of course, this is one possibility. I would say, however, that our methods and technology are quite primitive for the task at hand. The resolution of our view of the universe if low and finite (but getting higher). As our surveilance resolution gets higher we might start discovering smaller planets.
I'm only suggesting that i fear their incompetence much more than i fear their clumsy deceits. I agree they should release the lists, but if it keeps them happy to make secret a list which they themselves have all but admitted does nothing, so be it.
Because i'm reading it right now! I may a critical or skeptical person at times, but i draw the line as conspiracy mongering. Bring me truth and then show me the evidence.
I'm yet to see any numbers of any kind (statistics, annual revenue, etc) that depict a drop in RIAA sales due to P2P sharing and MP3 technology.
Surely these should be absolutely ESSENTIAL to the RIAA case for proving that the artists are being ripped off. Why has the RIAA not produced these figures? Or have they, and simply not publicised them?
If anyone has info on this i would be particularly interested.
NOOOOoooo! I still use a 56k dial-up modem! I'd look like i was an RIAA snail-trail machine for sure considering my average transfer rate...
You've mentioned that CD keys keep people playing online games honest. Well, true to a certain extent. Other people have raised the issue that key generators exist. I had an interesting experience with this:
I bought Half-Life legitimately. Out of the box, installed, patched, entered my key and went online. Was immediately told that i couldn't play because this key already existed online. So basically someone using a key generator had 'stolen' my key. Bastard.
Just thought that people would be interested that there a consequences of using this type of key generator beyond merely ripping off the company.
It's also sold under its original name in Australia. Unfortunately it's no longer the metal Meccano - its plastic now for safety and economic reasons. Plastic is generally perceived as 'safer' by parents who are the likely purchasors, and it's definitely cheaper.
I watch South Park. I know what goes on down there... Colorado Springs can't be too different.
Well, aside from the arguments above regarding bioterrorism, warfare and squirrels there is also the argument that medical science should endeavour to raise the quality of life for ALL people (not just middle-class white Americans). Bubonic plague is still deadly, and can still be found in the unhygenic squalor of many a shanty-town in third and second world countries.
If you're paranoid (or lazy) use this to log into fileplanet:
user: wuuhuu@eudoramail.com
pass: slashdotted
I'm wondering whether that statement is accurate, given that one of the changes that they mention in the readme is:
Within this release is an Auto Update system that can be used to at any time to check for and download updates to Quake 3 and Team Arena.
Kind of pointless if they don't plan to be releasing any more. Perhaps a better interpretation would be that they're going to halt active development in preference for yet-to-be-released projects (Bring it on, i say)