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User: moosesocks

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  1. Will IPV6 really solve this? on Asia Running Out Of IP Addresses · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm not sure if IPv6 will solve anything. It seems to me that the whole concept of "IP addressing" seems quite archaic. The international telephone system doesn't need to 'dish out' phone numbers between countries - each country has its own country code, and everything else is handled wihin the country.

    Hell. The whole concept of the 'internet' by means of Tcp/IP is becoming quite dated. Why can't we combine the domain naming system with the IP system. What I would propose is to give each computer on a given domain an alphanumeric name (can contain any type of characters, and is decided by the owner of the domain - basically the same as todays concept of a 'hostname'. The domains, in turn, are managed by an independent organization in each country, followed by a country code. For example, a sample address would be
    Joe Smith@Earthlink@USA (users within the USA can leave the @USA blank)

    this eliminates the need for a domain naming system. takes a lot of power away from ICANN, would help to solve cybersquatting, and provides an infinite number of computer addresses (at no point should the 'name' need to be translated into a numeric address.

    Computers behind a router should be able to have their own address as well (multiple servers on one address without the mess of port forwarding! With many home users now running their own web/music servers, this could be a godsend. For example:
    MediaServer@JohnSmith@Earthlink@USA

    Anybody should be able to get their domain, but those who do not have their own should simply share one with their ISP.

    Unix geeks will probably balk at my radical ideas. but it needs to be done. the numbered IP system was concieved when the only computers on the 'net were run by the people who wrote the protocols,. Nowindays, computers are used by everybody (and their grandmothers!). and it made sense too, as bandwidth was very limited, and the programmers never intended for so many computers to be on the net, and cut corners to gain a small speed advantage (a few bits per packet - which was a lot back then. now, it's nothing). IPv6 simply continued to use (longer) archaic addresses - the problem still exists; we need another layer for domain names, and it's confusing as hell to non-geeky types)

    I know my ideas seem radical, and will probably never be accepted... but I certainly would hope that we fix some of this. IPv6 isn't a solution - it's avoiding the problem.

    (yes, this was somewhat inspired by Apple's rendevous, which addresses many of my concerns, but is by no means acceptable for a worldwide scale. On a side note, I believe that in order for rendevous to succeed, Apple needs to open it up, and allow M$ and Linux to interoperate with it.)

  2. Re:Why would they think that? on The Biggest MySQL Cluster, Ever? · · Score: 2, Informative

    10 of these ought to be more powerful than anything else that's been built. 1060 processors, 5760gb of RAM.

    It would definitely be the world's largest MySQL cluster. Of course, I dobut that anybody would even WANT a cluster that big. Once you get a database that size, you would probably want to custom-tailor your own solution, or not use a traditional database at all. The only databases big enough to warrant this type of power are probably those of the government (ie. the IRS); that being said, the government is probably using an ancient antiquated system which works just fine for their purpose.

  3. Sure, there's originality! on Game Originality: Any Left? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There are plenty of original games out there. Most of them simply don't do well, and those which do are copied and cliched into oblivion. Take for example:

    Uplink: Every Slashdotter's dream game. Very innovative idea, properly executed, as well.
    Escape Velocity Series: While the series is not exactly new, it is still an excellent idea. Completely open-ended, and quite fun. Windows port coming soon.
    Wulfram II: Multiplayer only. Free. Interesting combination of strategy and FPS. The graphics are a bit dated, although community-funded development work has begun on a new graphics engine. Addicting as hell.
    Black and White: Never played, but very innovative from what I've heard.
    The Longest Journey: While it's very similar to the LucasArts adventure games, this game plays like a novel. That being said, if all novels copied each other, we would have stopped writing them thousands of years ago. Recycled concept, AMAZING plot.
    Planescape: Torment: At first glance, this appears to be nothing more than a hackneyed D&D game/Diablo clone. Upon playing it, you begin to unravel a superb plot. Very little hack and slash.
    Dance Dance Revolution: Never played it, but it's popular as hell (you don't get much more original than THIS)
    Morrowind and GTA were both somewhat revolutionary in that they were completely open-ended, and created two of the most original games in two of the most hackneyed generes.
    Frozen Bubble/Snood/etc. More proof that such simplistic games can still become wildly popular. Revitalized a dying genere.

  4. Re:So what? on BitTorrent Blamed for Matrix2 Downloads · · Score: 1

    After all, the price of a movie ticket ($7.50) is cheaper than the price of a CD ($12.00).

    Um.... Yeah. Right. How is that a fair comparison? With a movie ticket, you (ie. ONE PERSON) get to see the movie once, at a set time, in a set location, with hundreds of other people. And the insensitive clods even have the nerve to make us buy THEIR POPCORN!

    With a CD on the other hand, you can listen to it as many times as you want, in anyplace you want, and you can even invite as many friends as you want, FOR FREE! And the best of all.... you can make your OWN POPCORN while listening to it, or any food for that matter. (And CDs now can be legally downloaded for $10 a'la Apple)

  5. Has existed for a LONG time on Transparent Screens on the Horizon? · · Score: 3, Informative

    Transparent LCD screens have existed for many, many years. They first appeared in the devices which were used to convert overhead projectors into a sort of ''poor man's projecter" (this was at the time when the only alternatives were 3-gun CRT projectors which were big, heavy, and expensive).

    How do you think LCD projectors work? Basically, they shine a bright light through a very small, transparent LCD.

    Desktop and Laptop LCDs are also transparent. Most simply have a piece of white plastic on the back of them (to reflect and evenly distribute light from the backlight. Of course, the big problem with LCDs are that they need to be backlit to increase contrast and brightness.

    I believe OLEDs were intended to eliminate the need for a backlight, and I'd presume that they'd be transparent like an LCD. Whichever way you look at, we've got some amazing technology headed our way in the next few years.

  6. HELLO? on 802.11g Slows Down · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm not sure why everybody here is panicing, and vowing not to upgrade firmware. IEEE is not planning on changine the manner in which the 802.11g protocol communicates - they simply want to revise their published specs on the realisticamount of bandwidth which the protocol is capable of (it's still CAPABLE of 54mbps, but this will NEVER realisitcally happen).

    Look at other protocols; 802.11b can't do anything near 11mbps, or even half that. Fast Ethernet actually runs at 125mbps, but achieves a real-world throughput of 100mbps. ATA transfer rates are pitiful compared to their published 'capabilities'; very few ATA devices exist that can even achieve 66mbps, while the spec has already been inflated to 133mbps. However, the more 'professional' standards live up to their quoted specs much better (ie. firewire and scsi).

    In short, all 802.11g hardware will continue to operate in the same fashion. The IEEE simply doesn't want to be making false claims.

  7. Re:MythTV is a better product and it's OPEN SOURCE on FSF Threatens GPL Lawsuit · · Score: 1

    MythTV and OpenTV have absolutely no relation. OpenTV is a new and upcoming software platform for cable and satelitte boxes.

    Basically, it's an entire embedded OS. Sort of like Symbian (only for set-top boxes)

  8. Re:The ultimate solution on Why Do Computers Still Crash? · · Score: 1

    Gosh darn it. Computers don't.........

  9. Cowboyneal? on Slashback: GSM, Buffy, Wobble · · Score: 3, Funny

    Bah. We all know that Lucas is going to surprise us in the next SW film with a 15-minute lightsaber sequence featuring Cowboyneal.

  10. No gamecubes.... on Does Gaming Reduce Productivity? · · Score: 5, Funny

    Instead of installing a gamecube on your desk, your boss will probably install a small rectangular pink piece of paper on your desk instead.

  11. Re:Dual boards have already been announced. on VIA's New Nehemiah M10000 Processor Reviewed · · Score: 1

    Not sure what good a dual board is going to do in this case, especially for MythTV. As it is, the older Ezra boards had a hard time PLAYING an MPEG-2 encoded DVD without relying on the dedicated decoder. Encoding requires even more processing power. Two chips just aren't going to cut it. Compare the 1ghz Via chips to 500mhz Intel/Amd parts.

  12. NyTimes, Eh on Hybrid Robot Uses Rat Brain · · Score: 2, Funny

    Seems fitting that NYTimes ran a story on this. How long before we start to see these things in NYC subway tunnels?

  13. Re:MMMORPG on Gameboy Advance Users to Get Bluetooth Internet · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good God!

    Real life RPG? How the hell are we supposed to do:
    combat?
    spell casting?
    necromancy?

    and all while in an active subway tunnel?

    *moosesocks attacks bigattichouse with battle axe: initial D4 roll: 2 *miss*
    *wait two turns*
    *a subway is approaching
    *D6 roll: 1: *hit* (is a miss even possible without some sort of "fly" spell?)
    *ananymoose has been killed by a subway car

  14. Isn't linux monolithic? on Linux Desktop Without X11 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Isn't it about time that the windowing system was directly implemented into the kernel?

    It certainly could be done without breaking compatibility with current console applications. After all, linux IS a monolithic kernel. I'd go as far as reccomending that some sort of graphical interface be intergrated into the POSIX standard. Limiting unix to a 640x480 console is ridiculous. Apple's been doing this since 1984 - long before X11 was drafted or Linux was created.

    X has so much potential to be great, but after 11 years, it has failed to show it. To me, that is a flawed system.

  15. Re:They don't have to buy Universal... on Apple Sells Two Million Songs in 16 Days · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Which would probably be bad. If apple owns a share in any of these labels, others may be reluctant to allow their songs to be sold through the service.

    Apple is dependent upon the whole music industry cooperating with them.

  16. Re:Let's hope this is standard in Panther on IP over Firewire Updated · · Score: 1

    Perhaps an ethernet router/hub would be more appropriate for your application than IP over Firewire. While firewire may be faster, ethernet is universally supported on every OS on every platform, and requires no additional configuration or software when using DHCP.

    and by the way - windows xp had this built in when it was released (I believe 2000 Pro did as well), and Linux has had this for some time too (although in the traditional linux fashion, it's difficult to set up, doesn't support all hardware, which completely defeats the purpose).

    Disclaimer: I love macs. I'm typing this on a mac. I just don't see this as a useful feature in the sense that you describe it.

  17. Re:Itsn't it a moot point? on TiVo Basic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Actually, I still see TiVo as a great solution to turn to for a software solution. Every person I've ever met (including myself) who has used both the Dish PVRs and the TiVo perferred the TiVo hands down.

    The Dish PVRs are simply too un-intuitive. They should have licensed the Tivo software as DirecTV did.

  18. MSCOS? on Dr. Dre to pay $1.5 mil for "Illegal Sample" · · Score: 1

    Something tells me that the Musicians Against the Copyrighting of Samples are going to get into a lot of trouble with apple (Take a look at their logo...)

    Funny, though. The name of an anti-copywright group violates copywright laws! Beautiful.

  19. Aurora was never planned. on Neverwinter Nights Tidbits · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you've read the bioware site and message boards, they never promised that they'd port Aurora. In fact, I remember them saying a LONG time ago that they would not port Aurora, as it would require them to strip many of the useful features out of both versions of Aurora, and rewrite the toolkit from scratch. NWN for the mac will also not include the toolset.

  20. Re:In other words... on Looking at Longhorn · · Score: 2, Funny

    In other news, the makers of prosthetic limbs expect a large increase in demand sometime during the summer of 2005.

  21. Re:This beats me on Looking at Longhorn · · Score: 1

    No, silly. that's a well known feature of Microsoft's Confuse the Elderly

  22. Re:Selling out on iTunes Music Store sells 275,000 Tracks in 18 Hours · · Score: 1

    True. They're all better formats, but you must also remember that AAC and OGG require a much faster processor in order to be played - something which very few portable media players have (and it keeps costs down). WMA is usually supported, however, due to its low-bitrate nature.

  23. IDSA has done this before. on IDSA Requests VIC 20 Cartridge Roms Takedown · · Score: 1

    The IDSA has done this to quite a number of sites before this. They are more annoying than the RIAA/MPAA, but much less visible.

    Mostly, they go around to sites which specialize in old or obscure games, and request them to take down full versions of the games (even when the games have been out of print for many years or when the developer has been out-of-business for many years). The Underdogs comes to mind as one such site - they're definitely not a warez site, but rather, are advocates of independent game publishers and obscure games (as you can guess, the members of the IDSA don't like this one bit, and chose to attack the site by abusing the copywright laws)

  24. Re:Here's what I'd do on Starting an After-School Computer Club? · · Score: 1

    Good luck finding a teacher that will spend extra time after school without pay.

    The teachers at my school are absolutely hopeless, and we have few or no extra-curricular activities (lots of bad sports teams though). The teachers do get paid to stay 15 minutes after school closes on Thursdays, however (big whoop).

  25. Re:Hrmm. on Starting an After-School Computer Club? · · Score: 1

    Football team??!! Are you trying to kill these poor kids?